Konoha Notes

Chapter 349 Racing

After fully explaining his purpose, Shuji was originally preparing to return.

After all, he had seen most of the mountains at various points in time and eaten mutton. Unless he wanted to climb a third or fourth mountain, there was no need for him to stay any longer.

However, just as he was about to leave, Onoki formally invited him to the Tsuchikage Building.

The office windows were open, offering a view of the layered, rocky buildings outside.

"I have no reason to stop you from acting recklessly." Onoki floated behind the desk. "At present, Konoha is the strongest and most influential of the five great ninja villages. For Iwagakure, there is no harm in agreeing to the proposal of the strong."

"Even if there is a conflict with the Daimyo in the end, they can use the pressure from Konoha as an excuse to shirk responsibility."

Upon hearing this, Shuji said, "Lord Tsuchikage once mentioned that he hoped Konoha and Iwagakure could establish a closer relationship. Does that mean it no longer counts now?"

"I didn't even go to Kumogakure; I came directly to you to open my heart."

"Open your heart?" Onoki chuckled. "For troublesome matters like this, next time you should just go directly to the Raikage. That guy might just slam his fist on the table and agree, saving you the trouble of going around in circles with me."

Shuji smiled but didn't reply.

After floating back to his desk, Onoki took a document from the drawer and placed it on the table.

“Also,” he said, his tone becoming more casual, “you should probably head back now. On your way back, take these exchange students from Iwagakure with you. It’s about time, so let them get familiar with each other beforehand, so we don’t have to send someone to escort them later.”

Shuji stepped forward, his gaze falling on the list in the document. After scanning a few names, his gaze paused for a moment.

“Deidara… Although he is ten years old this year, he graduated a long time ago and obtained his ninja identity early on, Lord Onoki.”

"He even sat in on the proceedings of the Five Shadows Conference as one of the attendees."

Onoki said expressionlessly, "Because of his recent misconduct and repeated violations of village rules, which have caused a negative impact, I have revoked his official ninja qualification."

"Let him go to Konoha to study again for a while. Maybe a change of environment will make him more disciplined."

Shuji's gaze returned to the list. After Deidara's name, there was another name worth noting: Kurotsuchi.

These two people...

“I understand,” Shuuji said. “I will be responsible for bringing these exchange students back to Konoha safely.”
-
The underground base was dimly lit, with only the experimental equipment and culture tanks emitting a cold glow.

Jue appeared silently in a corner of the laboratory.

He looked at the tall, focused figure in a white lab coat standing at the workbench.

"Orochimaru, your research... is truly astonishing."

The person at the workbench didn't turn around, remaining focused on adjusting the microscope's focus.

Jue continued, "It seems the organization's decision to support you was the right one."

He was referring to the results Orochimaru quickly demonstrated after receiving preferential treatment in resources—the former Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Burubi, who was summoned by Edo Tensei and could use the Eight-Tails' chakra.

"Truly remarkable technology, Orochimaru," Zetsu exclaimed in admiration. His black half of his face remained expressionless, while his white half remained curious. "If this technology could be perfected, wouldn't it be possible to summon the tailed beasts of past generations through the Impure World Reincarnation technique...?"

"Ah……"

A soft laugh interrupted Jue's reverie.

From the source of the laughter, Orochimaru was slowly wiping his hands with a soft cloth.

"Unfortunately, Zetsu, your idea is based on a flawed premise." "What died was only the Jinchuriki, not the Tailed Beast. The Tailed Beast itself did not die; it was merely extracted and sealed away. Therefore, in most cases, the Impure World Reincarnation can only resurrect the Jinchuriki as a vessel, and cannot completely reproduce the Tailed Beast's chakra along with it."

Jue remained silent, his white half of face seemingly confused, while his black half appeared even more somber.

"So, Briubi..."

“The reason why Brubi is able to use the power of the Eight-Tails,” Orochimaru interrupted him, “is because I happen to have preserved samples of active tissue from the Eight-Tails itself in some of my past collections.”

“So, Zetsu,” Orochimaru stared directly at Zetsu with his golden vertical pupils, “if you want me to reincarnate more beings with the power of tailed beasts, then what you need to provide me is not information about the Jinchuriki of past generations.”

"Instead, it is an individual sample that was deeply integrated with the Tailed Beast during its lifetime, and whose cells and genes were infiltrated and modified by the Tailed Beast's chakra. Or, to put it more directly, the tissue of the Tailed Beast itself."

"Only such 'materials' can reproduce the corresponding power after being resurrected through the Impure World Reincarnation."

Are you digging up graves to find something...?

This would be perfect for White Zetsu.

Jue finally said, "I'll keep an eye out for suitable materials."

"Very good." Orochimaru smiled with satisfaction. "If there's nothing else, I'll continue my experiments."

He turned and walked to the workbench, bending down again to face the microscope.

“There’s one more thing,” Jue’s voice rang out again, “The organization’s recent expansion seems to have encountered some obstacles.”

Orochimaru continued adjusting the slide without stopping: "Is that so? As expected. The people of Kumogakure can't be unaware that someone is competing with them for customers."

"However, the sea is now partly within the organization's sphere of influence. In order to protect their greatest interests, the five great ninja villages dare not arbitrarily deploy their forces outside their homeland. The only action they can take is to address the problem at its source."

Jue asked, "Are we just going to do nothing?"

"I've completed my experiment," Orochimaru said without turning his head. "The organization doesn't need to do anything to accumulate enough power."

"These things are just games that drain their energy."

Jue then left, saying, "I understand. I'll get on with finding the materials as soon as possible."

When the vegetative state patient completely disappeared, Orochimaru's smile faded.

He put down his tools and walked to the laboratory window—if it could be called a window, it was just an observation port through which one could see the rocky wall outside.

As his interactions with Jue increased and the resources he acquired grew, he naturally became aware of some things.

This includes seemingly simple but actually chaotic relationships within the organization.

However, none of this had anything to do with him.

With actions among the five major powers becoming increasingly restricted, his goal is to utilize the opportunities and resources provided by the organization to accomplish his own objectives.

“Shuji-kun…” he muttered to himself, “If I’m not mistaken, this is a racing game.”

"You may seem to have made a good move, but if you're not careful, you could fall behind."

　Okay, time for bed. Happy New Year!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)