Chapter 49: The Naive, One-Eyed Youth
"Your trap is a bit too blatant."
"It's a trap set by the Mist."
"Ha! The Mist? The Mist! That old bastard Danzo really dares to do anything."
Hearing Orochimaru slander Danzo-sama, Aburame Torune's expression remained unchanged. He simply treated it as if Orochimaru had passed gas—in one ear and out the other.
After commenting on Shimura Danzo, Orochimaru continued, "Torune, your trap is so obvious that as long as Hyuga Ritsu's brain isn't broken, he won't possibly jump into it. Aren't you afraid you're engaging in futile effort?"
"What does that have to do with me? I already said it's a trap set by the Mist. I imagine the Mist dare to do this because they're certain the Hyuga clan head won't give up the opportunity to recover the Byakugan..."
"Suppose—just suppose—Hyuga Ritsu doesn't take the bait. What do you plan to do?"
But Orochimaru wouldn't let Aburame Torune off, adopting an attitude of getting to the bottom of things.
In an instant, Aburame Torune's rigid, pottery-like face slowly revealed a trace of gloom and wariness. His eyes as he looked at Orochimaru were filled with suspicion. Feeling that gaze full of distrust, the corners of Orochimaru's mouth couldn't help but curl up. With an ambiguous smile, he said, "Torune, what are you worried about? Worried I'll ruin your plans?"
"Yes."
Aburame Torune admitted directly. He stared at Orochimaru and asked bluntly, "Orochimaru, what are you trying to do? You should understand better than anyone—don't try to learn about things you don't need to know. Or is it that you actually care about that classmate of yours named Hiruko? And by extension, you love the house and its crow, caring about Hyuga Ritsu, Hiruko's student?"
Hearing this, Orochimaru's face displayed an obvious mocking sneer. "Torune, you and I have worked together more than once or twice. Do you really think I'd care about anyone?"
"Who can say for certain about such things? Just because it hasn't happened in the past doesn't mean it won't in the future. Besides, I can see you quite appreciate Hyuga Ritsu." Aburame Torune's vigilance didn't relax in the slightest.
"Because he's interesting. Not just that he possesses both Byakugan and Shikotsumyaku bloodline limits, but more that he's turned the stagnant water of the Hyuga clan into flowing water."
Having said this, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, his face showing a trace of sentiment. "Torune, you're worried I'll be biased toward Hyuga Ritsu and ruin Danzo and Sarutobi-sensei's plans. But in fact, I actually want to tell you—you're underestimating Hyuga Ritsu a bit."
"I've never underestimated—"
"Torune, don't rush to refute me. I also have no interest in debating with you."
Orochimaru interrupted Torune's urgent impulse to defend himself, speaking as if possessed by a fortune teller. "I'm merely reminding you out of an attitude of enjoying the spectacle. Whether you listen or not is entirely up to you. If your plan's advancement isn't going smoothly, that means there's still possibility of success. But if your plan advances very smoothly, you need to be extraordinarily careful!"
Having heard Orochimaru's words, Aburame Torune's eyebrows nearly twisted into knots.
Though Orochimaru spoke mysteriously, he did understand the implication Orochimaru wanted to express. Roughly speaking, if the plan's advancement wasn't smooth, it meant Hyuga Ritsu had detected danger and chosen to avoid it. As long as they resolutely pushed the plan forward, there was possibility of achieving their objective. But if the plan advanced smoothly, it might mean Hyuga Ritsu was fearless—daring to jump into a trap he knew existed because he possessed trump cards to break through it!
However—
He truly couldn't believe Hyuga Ritsu still concealed trump cards capable of reversing the situation. Next time, the Mist side would certainly send out all their elites. How could they possibly fail to take down one Hyuga Ritsu?
Did he really think that having the nickname White Yaksha meant he could be mentioned in the same breath as the Yellow Flash and Shisui of the Body Flicker?
He'd carefully questioned Yamanaka Kaito—Hyuga Ritsu, who possessed two bloodline limits, still excelled primarily in close combat. He didn't possess the mobility of the Yellow Flash or Shisui of the Body Flicker, who could advance and retreat freely, come and go like the wind, completely unafraid of encirclement!
"Alright, Torune, our conversation ends here. Go about your business! As long as you don't disrupt the overall front-line situation, whatever you do is fine. I also won't interfere with you carrying out Sarutobi-sensei and Danzo's orders."
Orochimaru waved his hand dismissively.
Aburame Torune left without a word. He felt Orochimaru was completely being alarmist. However, he'd also resolved to contact the Mist immediately and have them place even more importance on Hyuga Ritsu. This time, they absolutely must kill him.
Otherwise, if they delayed until the war's end, there'd be no way to use the Mist as a sharp blade to eliminate Hyuga Ritsu. At that point, wanting to kill Ritsu in a reasonable and justified manner would be extremely difficult.
With this thought, Aburame Torune's pace quickened.
---
In an underground cavern, candlelight flickered dimly.
A one-eyed youth, half his body grafted with white flesh, was performing a one-finger handstand. After several seconds, at the instant his strength gave out, he executed a beautiful backflip and stood steadily on the vertical rock wall.
"Obito, you're recovering better and better!"
A pure white, humanoid creature with a Venus flytrap face sidled up to the one-eyed youth.
"Give me one more week, and I'll completely master this body. Then I can return to the village. Tobi, do you think I should bring Rin flowers when I go back?"
The one-eyed youth called Obito crossed his arms over his chest, seriously pondering this question that seemed utterly meaningless and foolish to any observer. He even earnestly sought the opinion of the flytrap-faced humanoid beside him.
"Eh? I don't understand such things. Why send flowers? Can't you send poop instead?"
"Ah! Tobi, you bastard, that's too disgusting! Who would send a girl... send... Argh! Get away from me! I was so stupid to ask you!"
The one-eyed youth grabbed his head and shouted in frustration, as if trying to erase the unbearable images that unconsciously surfaced in his mind.
The flytrap face, however, looked completely aggrieved, muttering quietly, "What's wrong with what I said? What's interesting about flowers? How could they be as interesting as poop?"
In the shadows of a corner, a yin-yang face emerged. Watching the quarreling one-eyed youth and Tobi with the flytrap face, the half-white face said with a smirk, "The timing is about right. We need to make Uchiha Obito experience despair as quickly as possible. Otherwise, if he really insists on forcibly returning to Konoha, that'll be troublesome!"
"Then, initiate!"
The half-black face issued a hoarse, deep voice.
In the next second, the yin-yang face sank into the rock wall, leaving not the slightest trace of anyone having been there. The naive, ignorant one-eyed youth in the room knew nothing of the suffering and torment he was about to face, still immersed in innocent, simple worries and happiness!
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