Last time infiltrating the Akatsuki base, he was tricked by Konan's paper clone and failed to successfully subdue that cold beauty.
This matter had always weighed on Gento's mind.
Every time he thought about it, he felt it was a pity.
This time, no matter what, he couldn't let her go!
What excited Gento even more was that in the Hidden Mist, there was another target he had long been thinking about!
The future Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi.
That was a sexy great beauty!
However, the current Hidden Mist was still in the hands of the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi.
Mei Terumi had not yet launched a coup to seize the position of Mizukage.
And the Fourth Mizukage…
Gento knew very well that he was nothing more than a puppet controlled by Obito using the Sharingan.
Obito secretly controlled the Hidden Mist, using Yagura Karatachi's hands to implement the "Bloody Mist Village" policy, while also accumulating strength for the development of the Akatsuki.
At present, there were not many experts in the Akatsuki, so sending a core member like Konan to carry out missions was reasonable.
In short, the waters of the Hidden Mist ran very deep.
But for two kunoichi qualified to undergo Dual Cultivation with him…
No matter how deep the water was, he would wade through it!
Gento's gaze fell on the name "Orochimaru" on the commission letter, and his expression became playful.
To snatch two Kekkei Genkai ninjas…
He knew Orochimaru too well.
That guy had a pathological interest in young geniuses with special bloodlines, always wanting to take their bodies for himself.
But who exactly was Orochimaru going to seize in the Land of Water?
"Forget it, I'll just call him over and ask."
Gento put down the mission commission and said to Itachi beside him:
"Go call the client who issued the mission."
"Yes!"
Itachi slightly nodded, his figure flashing as he disappeared from the office.
Not long after, the office door was pushed open.
A slender figure walked in.
Orochimaru wore that signature gray-brown kimono, with a purple rope belt tied at his waist, his black hair hanging loosely.
A faint smile hung on his pale face, and his golden vertical pupils flickered slightly.
Behind him followed two boys.
One was about eight or nine years old, with white hair, a pale complexion, and a cold sharpness in his features that did not match his age.
It was Kimimaro of the Kaguya clan.
The other had orange hair, a tall build, and a hint of innocence and curiosity in his eyes.
It was Jugo.
"Gento-kun, I didn't expect your Uchiha clan to also leave the Hidden Leaf Village."
Orochimaru's voice carried a hint of amusement.
Gento did not respond, going straight to the point:
"Tell me the detailed intelligence of the mission."
Orochimaru walked to the desk and sat down on his own, licking his lips:
"I've gathered some interesting intel."
"Behind the Hidden Mist, there seems to be a mysterious organization operating."
"And the current Fourth Mizukage's behavior is very strange."
"I suspect he's being controlled!"
"Since he took the position, he restarted the Bloody Mist Village policy and has been persecuting the Bloodline clans left behind by previous Mizukage."
He turned and pointed at Kimimaro behind him:
"This child comes from the Kaguya clan of the Hidden Mist and possesses the Shikotsumyaku Bloodline."
"This clan is known for being warlike, and previous Mizukage all valued their combat power."
"But after Yagura Karatachi took power, for some reason he wiped out the Kaguya clan."
Kimimaro stood there expressionlessly.
Orochimaru continued:
"Kimimaro was saved by me, which is why he managed to survive."
"There are many cases like the Kaguya clan in the Hidden Mist."
He paused, his golden vertical pupils narrowing a bit:
"Now I've received news that the Fourth Mizukage has already begun to take action against the number one great clan of the Hidden Mist, the Hozuki clan."
Gento's expression shifted.
The Hozuki clan…
That was a great ninja clan that had produced the Second Mizukage!
It seemed that even though Obito directly controlled the Mizukage, he would still face dissatisfaction from the clans below when implementing certain policies.
Sure enough, it wasn't that by controlling the Kage of a ninja village, one could do whatever they wanted within that village.
The series of abnormal actions Obito made Yagura Karatachi carry out could only be explained as: his ruling power was unstable.
He had no choice but to use the Bloody Mist Village policy to slaughter other great clans, weakening the ninja clans of the Hidden Mist.
By eliminating dissidents in this way, he consolidated his own power.
The fact that Mei Terumi later successfully launched a coup further proves that even if Obito controlled the Mizukage, he could still be overthrown by those below.
Otherwise, directly controlling the Hidden Mist, such a great ninja village, would have been the most suitable path for the development of the Akatsuki.
Orochimaru licked his lips and continued:
"Right now, the Hozuki clan has been greatly weakened, but two geniuses have still emerged within the clan."
"The brothers Mangetsu Hozuki and Suigetsu Hozuki."
"Especially Mangetsu Hozuki, known as a prodigy of ninja blades, capable of summoning and wielding all seven ninja swords of the Hidden Mist!"
"This mission is to ask Gento-kun to assist me in seizing these two brothers."
After hearing this, Gento's eyes flickered.
Just then, a system notification sounded in his mind:
[Ding! The host has triggered a Main Quest.]
[Main Quest issued: Ninja Blade Prodigy]
⟩ The Hozuki clan is currently undergoing a bloody purge by the Fourth Mizukage.
⟩ Mangetsu Hozuki, known as a "ninja blade prodigy," is in grave danger. As the head of a clan, one should understand the importance of talent for the development of the family. Proceed to the Hidden Mist, rescue Mangetsu Hozuki, and bring him under your command. Such a genius ought to be used by our Uchiha clan!
⟩ Reward: Mangekyo Sharingan Awakening Card ×1
Looking at the reward for this mission, Gento felt a surge of excitement.
A Mangekyo Awakening Card!
This thing had come at the perfect time!
This reward could be used perfectly for Itachi Uchiha!
With the Mangekyo Sharingan, Itachi's strength would undoubtedly surge.
The fourth Kage-level combat power of the Uchiha clan was about to be born!
Gento suppressed the excitement in his heart and looked at Orochimaru:
"Of course I can help you. But… what are you giving me as compensation?"
A system reward was a system reward.
Orochimaru's commission naturally required additional payment.
After all, this guy had quite a few good things in his possession; there was no reason not to take them.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes upon hearing this:
"What does Gento-kun want?"
Gento thought for a moment, then said slowly:
"After it's done, give me your improved version of the Edo Tensei technique."
"Also, I want Mangetsu Hozuki."
Upon hearing this, Orochimaru stuck out his tongue and licked his lips:
"Gento-kun, that's asking a bit much for compensation…"
Gento let out a light laugh:
"After defecting from the Hidden Leaf, your research funds must be tight. Even if I asked you for money, you wouldn't have any."
"As for ninjutsu, those are things that can be copied infinitely."
"You give me one copy, and you still have one in your head. You lose nothing."
He paused:
"So the first part of the compensation doesn't really count. It's basically as if I didn't ask you for anything at all."
Orochimaru: "…"
"As for Mangetsu Hozuki…"
He stared at Orochimaru and said:
"If I'm not mistaken, your Reanimation technique works best on children with weaker souls, not fully grown geniuses. Am I right?"
Orochimaru's pupils shrank sharply.
How did he know about Reanimation?
Those vertical pupils stared at Gento for a long moment.
After a while, Orochimaru suddenly let out a hoarse laugh:
"Hehehehe… Gento-kun, you're more interesting than I imagined."
He withdrew his smile:
"Deal!"
"When do we leave?"
"Now."
Thinking about how Konan was still waiting for him to take her, he couldn't wait even a moment longer!
Orochimaru stood up and licked his lips:
"Alright, Gento-kun acts decisively. Then let's depart."
Gento turned to Itachi beside him:
"Let's go. You're coming along on this mission as well."
Right now, Uchiha missions had surged. Shisui was out leading the Anbu on an S-rank mission and wouldn't be back anytime soon.
He could only bring the available Itachi along.
Although Itachi was only twelve this year, with his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, he was already an absolute expert among Jonin.
He could even contend with some weaker Kage.
Hearing this, Orochimaru's gaze suddenly fell on Itachi, a trace of interest flashing in his eyes:
He circled around Itachi, sizing him up from head to toe, as if admiring a finely crafted work of art.
"So this is the Uchiha prodigy, Itachi Uchiha?"
...
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