Yōkō's summoning beast knowing Reverse Summoning was exposed!
Yōkō slowly turned his head to look at Orochimaru.
He had already died once by Orochimaru's hand this full moon cycle.
Beneath his disguise, beneath his mask, Yōkō instantly had a stress reaction, activating Absolute Defense: Copper Light.
Yōkō rapidly considered his words, trying to minimize logical flaws. He said:
"Lord Orochimaru, my summoning beast is far inferior to your sage land summoning beasts.
Lord Orochimaru's abilities are truly formidable, to have discovered this so quickly. This is just a little trick of mine.
To complete the mission, I just infiltrated near Kumogakure. When Kumo-nin pursued me, I used Reverse Summoning to disappear instantly, ensuring no traces were left."
"Heh heh, infiltrated near Kumogakure?" Orochimaru's vertical pupils were filled with the delight of discovering an interesting prey. He said:
"Fox, I'm not a fool. There's no need to use explanatory rhetoric on me.
The issue now isn't where you just went, but that you possess abilities beyond the Anbu's control.
Don't underestimate the Reverse Summoning Technique.
Without Reverse Summoning, you are an elite absolutely trusted by the Anbu.
With Reverse Summoning, Yellow Dog cannot know your location.
I used to frequently visit Ryūchi Cave and operate around it. I can imagine the extraordinary flexibility you now possess.
Loss of control. For Yellow Dog, you are out of control."
Yōkō quickly said: "My loyalty to the Hokage and Chief Yellow Dog cannot be questioned, even by you, Orochimaru!"
Yōkō was already feeling somewhat uneasy inwardly.
What Orochimaru said was true. His summoning beast could use Reverse Summoning, meaning he could leave Konoha without village approval and appear beside his summoning beast.
Yellow Dog would suspect him, the Third Hokage would suspect him, everything he had in Konoha could be exposed.
"Loyalty?" Orochimaru let out two strange laughs:
"You, Yōkō, aren't from the Sarutobi clan. You don't actually think that just by shouting 'loyalty,' even if you shout yourself hoarse, the Third Hokage and his son would truly trust you, do you?"
Yōkō was stunned. Orochimaru had called out his real name?
His real name wasn't a big deal; he had no relatives or ties, his only connections within Konoha were Kyōi and Yamanaka Ruri.
But Orochimaru had investigated him in advance? That was troublesome.
"Whether the Hokage trusts me or not, I'm not entirely sure, but Chief Yellow Dog absolutely trusts me."
"Yōkō, don't be so foolish. Don't lower my estimation of you." Orochimaru's eyes held contempt as he said:
"Sarutobi Shinnosuke trusts you because you are indeed capable.
You don't actually think they truly trust you, do you?
You don't actually think the Water Release: Water Cutting Wave you obtained is the original created by the Second Mizukage, do you?"
Yōkō was stunned. Was there something wrong with his Water Release: Water Cutting Wave?
Thinking carefully, after obtaining the Mastery Level Water Cutting Wave, the chakra flow method had indeed changed drastically.
He had mastered it instantly with the system's help and hadn't fully understood the principles yet.
Orochimaru continued:
"Heh heh, the Water Cutting Wave you obtained is a degraded version designed by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The most crucial part of a ninjutsu is the chakra flow method. Sarutobi Hiruzen used his talent as the 'Professor' in reverse, creating a batch of degraded ninjutsu.
He can't let you and those he truly trusts learn the same ninjutsu, can he?
Knowledge is also a form of power.
In my view, knowledge, meaning ninjutsu, is far more important than any Jōnin title.
I sometimes even feel sorry for you. Sarutobi Hiruzen gave you a degraded ninjutsu, yet you treat it like a treasure.
Their trust in you is limited. Come, let me show you what a true Water Cutting Wave is!
What the Second Hokage's top-tier Water Release truly is!"
Orochimaru quickly formed hand seals, and a water jet shot out rapidly, slicing through the mountain above the cave entrance.
In his previous "life," Yōkō hadn't paid close attention during the battle, but now he saw that Orochimaru's Water Cutting Wave was thinner and faster than his own.
So, it wasn't that Orochimaru's Water Cutting Wave was stronger, but that the one he had obtained was truly a degraded version.
No wonder Yōkō had practiced Water Cutting Wave so diligently for so long, yet its power was still inferior to Orochimaru's.
And he was even using his own improved Twin Vortex Water Cutting Wave, yet its power was still less than the Second Hokage's original version.
Fortunately, he had drawn the Mastery version of Water Cutting Wave from Orochimaru, making up for the deficiency.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Yellow Dog were indeed guarding against him.
Orochimaru said: "Haven't you realized it yet? Anbu Squad Leader is already your ceiling."
Yōkō frowned. Was Anbu Squad Leader really his ceiling? How did Orochimaru come to that conclusion?
That wouldn't do. Yōkō still planned to become Vice-Chief, even Anbu Chief.
Orochimaru continued:
"You don't bear the Sarutobi name, so you can never enter their core.
Your fate is to diligently complete missions for Sarutobi Shinnosuke, then die silently in some mission.
It's not just you; even I cannot enter Konoha's true core.
You don't actually think I am highly trusted by the Third Hokage, do you?
Those who truly control Konoha are the few guards who have survived since the Second Hokage's time, the rulers of Konoha led by Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu.
I am merely someone the Third Hokage pushed out to compete with Hatake Sakumo.
Who the Third Hokage wants to become Hokage isn't certain yet.
In these years, Hatake Sakumo and I have been competing fiercely, but in a few years, or over a decade, perhaps another person will become Hokage.
Whether the Third Hokage is just paying lip service or genuinely wants me to be Hokage, I can still tell the difference.
The possibility of Shimura Danzo, or even Sarutobi Shinnosuke, becoming Hokage is much greater than mine or Hatake Sakumo's."
So that was it. Orochimaru had such a clear understanding of his own position.
Yōkō also felt that the position of Fourth Hokage wasn't something Orochimaru would desperately fight for.
Yōkō noticed that Orochimaru was speaking so much, seemingly without killing intent.
He asked: "Lord Orochimaru, what exactly are you trying to say?"
"Finally relaxed a bit?" Orochimaru said:
"Don't take the village too seriously. Don't take the Will of Fire too seriously.
The village is their village, not our village.
The Will of Fire is their Will of Fire, not our Will of Fire.
The reason I cooperate with the Third Hokage and compete with Hatake Sakumo is merely to conveniently obtain more resources.
Fox, you are a smart person, knowing to keep some trump cards for yourself.
I acknowledge your strength.
In fact, I've been watching you for several months and finally caught your tail here.
Don't use the excuse that you just infiltrated near Kumogakure. Where you just went is unimportant; what matters is that you are out of control for the higher-ups.
If you are out of control, for Sarutobi Hiruzen and his son, you already have a reason to die.
Why not cooperate with me?
Everything is false; only power is real.
Cooperate with me. I don't need you to perform loyalty games for me; we just need to fulfill each other's needs.
You provide what I need; I give you what you need.
You be my mole in the Anbu; we exchange benefits. How about it?"
The clear-eyed Orochimaru!
***
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(End of Chapter)