Chapter 213: Waiting for the Rabbit
Uchiha Fugaku hadn't rested properly in a while—and frankly, he didn't want to run around the entire shinobi world either.
This trip to capture Orochimaru was motivated by something… less serious.
He wanted to play games.
Yes—games.
He wanted computers and mobile phones to exist earlier in this world.
After all, entertainment here was practically nonexistent. Once night fell, there was nothing fun to do—no novels to read, no TV shows, no video games. He could only go to bed early.
It was unbearably dull.
He deeply missed his days on Earth.
That's why he was so eager to find Orochimaru—he wanted the snake Sannin to start researching advanced technology for him as soon as possible.
Konoha already had some primitive computing technology, mostly used for administrative purposes.
But with Orochimaru's genius, enhancing and adapting it for entertainment would be child's play.
Fugaku was looking forward to that day immensely.
So the moment he received intelligence about Orochimaru's possible whereabouts, he rushed out of the village without hesitation.
He was that eager.
He wanted to play games—immediately.
---
"No rush," Fugaku muttered, narrowing his eyes as he glanced at the town before him. "We'll wait here for two days and see if Orochimaru shows up."
He led his two subordinates to a small hotel, quickly checked in, and fell into a deep sleep. The two jōnin took turns keeping watch, carefully monitoring the city for any sign of their target.
If they spotted Orochimaru, they were to wake Fugaku immediately.
When he finally awoke that afternoon, there was still no sign of the Sannin. But Fugaku wasn't worried—he had said two days, and only one morning had passed.
He casually took his men downstairs for a meal.
After eating, boredom set in again. So he decided to walk around the city with his two subordinates.
The place was crude—houses were unevenly built, most made from thatched straw and yellow mud. It was only bustling because it bordered the Land of Fire.
At first, Fugaku found it mildly interesting, but the novelty wore off quickly. He soon returned to the hotel and lay down to rest again, eyes closed, drifting in and out of sleep.
---
He didn't know how long he had been dozing when he heard two faint voices at his bedside.
"Hokage-sama… Hokage-sama!"
It was the Yamanaka and Hyūga jōnin, both speaking in hushed tones. They wouldn't have dared disturb him unless it was something urgent.
Fugaku blinked awake, his voice groggy. "Hmm? What is it?"
Then realization dawned on him, and his eyes lit up.
"You found Orochimaru?"
The Yamanaka jōnin nodded solemnly.
"Yes, Hokage-sama. Orochimaru has been spotted at the marketplace."
"Excellent."
Fugaku sprang to his feet in one fluid motion, excitement replacing his drowsiness.
"Let's move!"
Yamanaka jōnin quickly led the way, and the three hurried out of the hotel. The marketplace was only a few hundred meters away—a short walk.
---
"Where is he?" Fugaku whispered when they arrived, his sharp gaze sweeping over the bustling market crowd. People were shoulder-to-shoulder, chatting, buying, and selling.
The Yamanaka jōnin almost pointed, but quickly thought better of it.
If Orochimaru noticed them, their Hokage's plan might fail.
So instead, he leaned closer and quietly described Orochimaru's direction, clothing, and appearance.
After listening, Fugaku's eyes gleamed with recognition.
He looked toward the direction described—and there he was.
A tall, slender man with long, flowing black hair and elegant clothing. Even from behind, Fugaku instantly knew.
Orochimaru.
He was accompanied by two assistants who appeared to be buying supplies.
Fugaku wasn't surprised. If Orochimaru intended to establish a hidden base in this area, he would naturally need resources first.
---
"You two stay here. Don't make a sound," Fugaku ordered softly.
His eyes shifted—deep scarlet patterns spun into a complex six-pointed pinwheel.
The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
Orochimaru was notorious for his escape techniques. This was a rare chance to catch him off guard—so Fugaku wasn't going to take any risks.
He began walking quietly toward Orochimaru.
Just as he was about to circle around for a clear view, Orochimaru seemed to sense something. He turned slightly—and their eyes met.
Fugaku smiled inwardly.
"Perfect," he thought.
The moment their gazes locked, Fugaku's Eternal Mangekyō flared.
In an instant, Orochimaru's mind was engulfed by the overwhelming force of a genjutsu.
His sharp, serpentine eyes went blank and unfocused.
---
At a nearby stall, his two followers—busy gathering supplies—looked up in confusion.
"Orochimaru-sama?" one of them called softly.
No response.
They tried again. "Orochimaru-sama?"
The Sannin remained motionless, eyes vacant.
Before they could panic further, a deep, calm voice spoke from behind them.
"No need to call him," Fugaku said, stepping forward with a faint smile. "Your Orochimaru-sama can't respond anymore."
The two subordinates froze, turning to face him.
"Who are you? Get lost!" one of them barked, glaring defiantly.
"Oh?" Fugaku raised an eyebrow. "Quite the temper."
He didn't seem angry—if anything, amused.
This boy was like a yapping little dog.
The subordinate shoved his goods into the hands of the other and stormed forward, clearly intending to fight.
Behind them, the Hyūga and Yamanaka jōnin tensed, ready to intervene—but before they could move, the aggressor suddenly collapsed with a dull thud.
He was fast asleep on the ground.
Fugaku hadn't lifted a finger—just met his gaze.
"Genjutsu," the Hyūga jōnin murmured under his breath, awed.
The remaining subordinate's face went pale.
He turned toward Orochimaru in panic, shouting, "Orochimaru-sama!" and even shook him violently.
But the Sannin remained motionless, eyes glazed over.
Cold sweat dripped down the subordinate's back as realization hit.
"I told you," Fugaku said lightly, placing a hand on the man's shoulder. "Your Orochimaru-sama can't answer you anymore."
The man flinched. He barely had time to turn around before dizziness overtook him, and he too crumpled to the ground.
Fugaku exhaled quietly and shrugged.
After dealing with the two "chihuahuas," he finally withdrew the power of his Sharingan.
"Now then," he murmured, a faint smile on his lips, "let's take our guest home."
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