Chapter 208: Rejecting Orochimaru
Fox Squad sacrificed two members, Yoru submitted an application to Root, asking Root to send two more Anbu new recruits, preferably from twice-conscripted retired Anbu Ninjas.
Danzo Advisor was holding up the training and allocation of Anbu new recruits, which made people very uncomfortable.
Who knows if among the new recruits sent, there are Danzo Advisor’s spies.
Hiruzen Sarutobi trusted Danzo too much; Danzo was an important aide in Hiruzen Sarutobi’s early rise to power, and the two formed path dependence.
For tricky problems, Danzo would handle them himself; when Danzo went too far and too bloody, Hiruzen Sarutobi would step in to mediate.
Kiiroinu and Yoru now could not shake Danzo’s position in Hiruzen Sarutobi’s heart.
Yoru gathered all squad members:
“Post-war missions are more dangerous, but the mission frequency is not as frequent as during the war.
Besides executing missions, every squad must prepare for training and find ways to enhance team members’ strength.
Those lacking ninjutsu, tell me; the squad’s resources are open to you.
I will irregularly join one of your squads’ training.
No notification, no greeting, no reports, no escort, straight to and straight into the training ground.
I hope everyone in the squad has at least Special Jonin strength.
I will keep an eye on your mission records and recommend you to become Special Jonin or even Jonin as soon as possible.
Just like this time Aries and Hanashika were promoted to Special Jonin.”
The team members excitedly looked at Fox Captain; Fox Captain really hoped they would improve their strength and become Anbu elites.
After the meeting, Aries Squad escorted six Stone Ninja prisoners, following behind Yoru, heading to Root’s new base.
After Anbu reform, Root moved away from Anbu Base and constructed a separate base.
Root Base is more remote than Anbu Base, outside Death Forest, at the foot of Konoha Village’s wall.
Root’s C was very surprised: “Escorting a few prisoners, and Fox Captain actually came personally?”
Yoru said: “Nothing to do tonight; Root requires too many prisoners, probably have to come often in the future.”
C didn’t say much; Lord Orochimaru needs at least 50 test subjects every month.
Anbu using a squad leader to escort prisoners expressed dissatisfaction.
This quantity is too much; Anbu’s pressure is very high.
After entering Root, C led the way to the experiment area.
In the depths of the dark corridor, the unpleasant smell of preservatives grew stronger.
Orochimaru walked out of the laboratory and saw the six tied-up prisoners.
He pinched each prisoner’s neck one by one and twisted them off.
Not only Yoru, but even C was stunned.
C spoke up: “Lord Orochimaru… these are freshly captured prisoners.”
Yoru watched Orochimaru’s smooth killing, puzzled but didn’t ask much.
Until the last one, Orochimaru didn’t kill him.
“In the future, my laboratory will only accept prisoners with both Earth Release and Water Style attributes.
Single-attribute Stone Ninjas have no value whatsoever.”
Hanashika thought to himself, capturing these Earth Release ninjas from Land of Earth was already good; at the time they were chased by several squads, no time to distinguish prisoners’ chakra natures.
Yoru said: “Lord Orochimaru, if it’s Earth-Water dual attributes, Anbu cannot provide 50 prisoners per month.
Three assassination special squads, doing nothing else, still couldn’t capture so many, so special prisoners.”
Orochimaru glanced at Fox and said:
“Then Anbu 25 prisoners, Root 25 prisoners.
If not enough prisoners, use children with chakra talent as substitutes; I can cultivate Earth-Water dual attributes in them.”
Yoru felt he had a lot of face; Orochimaru had made a concession. He said nothing and left with Aries Squad.
A cold wind!
Yoru turned back, looking puzzled at Orochimaru.
In the dark corridor, the atmosphere suddenly dropped to freezing point.
C, more familiar with Orochimaru, couldn’t help reaching for his ninja tool bag.
Orochimaru’s left hand shook, somehow producing a shuriken; the shuriken quickly flew toward Yoru.
“Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!”
Yoru raised his hand; his whole body skin turned red copper color, and after several clanging sounds, it blocked the shuriken.
Orochimaru quickly formed hand seals, and a bolt of lightning like a white snake stabbed toward Yoru.
Yoru hurriedly dodged, evading the lightning.
This full moon cycle he had already died once; it hadn’t reached the next full moon yet.
Yoru hesitated; if Orochimaru went mad and wanted to kill him here, what should he do.
Aries blocked in front of Yoru; dense parasitic insects rushed out, instantly filling the corridor.
Yoru sensed no killing intent from Orochimaru and reached out to press Aries’s shoulder: “Wait, Aries.”
The parasitic insects slowly returned to Aries’s body.
Orochimaru stopped, no longer attacking; he looked Fox up and down and said: “Fox, your absolute defense is an Earth Release secret jutsu, right?”
Yoru was stunned; he had never told outsiders the principle of his secret jutsu, yet Orochimaru directly guessed the answer.
Was it his action dodging Lightning Release just now that gave Orochimaru a guess.
“You also excel at Water Style: Water Severing Wave, that top-tier Water Style.” Orochimaru’s eerie voice echoed in the corridor:
“Fox, are you interested in participating in my experiments?”
Yoru simply said: “No.”
Yoru not only had Earth-Water dual attributes but also Senju Clan bloodline limit.
Hashirama Cells were an inevitable strength enhancement method he would try.
But not now.
Orochimaru had just started researching Wood Style; the experiments were extremely crude; going now would be suicide.
It wouldn’t be too late to cooperate after Orochimaru’s research matured.
Now was Konoha Year 40; he remembered Yamato was born in Konoha Year 41, captured by Orochimaru for experiments in infancy.
Yamato could master Wood Style, meaning next year Orochimaru’s research would be basically mature.
This year he absolutely would not touch Hashirama Cells.
Watching Fox leave with his squad, Orochimaru felt very regretful.
That night, Danzo entered Hokage’s Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to Danzo’s complaints and said: “What did you say? Orochimaru invited Fox to participate in Orochimaru’s experiments, and Fox refused?
Orochimaru said Fox, a Jonin strong in both Earth Release and Water Style, has extreme experiment value?”
Third Hokage thought for a moment, then said to his assistant: “Have Kiiroinu come see me.”
Kiiroinu entered Hokage’s Office, heard Danzo’s request, and fiercely resisted:
“Absolutely impossible! Fox will never participate in Orochimaru’s experiments!
He is my squad leader, not some extremely valuable test subject!
Danzo Advisor, please don’t mention this again.”
Kiiroinu rarely refused Danzo to his face.
Seeing Kiiroinu so resolute, Third Hokage spoke before Danzo:
“Danzo, put this matter on hold for now; Fox is not an ordinary Jonin, he is Anbu Squad Leader.
Find other test subjects; leave Fox out of it.”
Danzo said: “You won’t let me touch Senju Clan either; without test subjects, how can experiments proceed smoothly?”
Hiruzen Sarutobi said: “Tsunade is very cautious now; don’t touch Senju Clan recently.”
Danzo said nothing and left Hokage’s Office.
Kiiroinu said to Third Hokage:
“Hokage, Black Ant Squad is responsible for your safety and delivering your orders.
Lynx Squad is more often commanded by Danzo Advisor.
In other words, under me I only have Golden Eagle and Fox, two Jonin.
After Anbu streamlining, it must go the elite route; where to find another Jonin like Fox who has followed me for nearly two years, powerful strength, outstanding potential, and fully known background?
Didn’t you say to strictly control the number of village Jonin; Jonin like to point fingers in Jonin meetings, who wants to come to Anbu.”
“Fine, fine, my mistake.” Rarely seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi admit fault proactively, he changed the topic and said:
“Next, you are to secretly investigate the Jonin candidates recommended by Sakumo Hatake, Tsunade, and Uchiha Kane.
Find problems with backup Jonin candidates; if no problems, create problems.
For Special Jonin they recommend, I will selectively approve promotions, but for Jonin they recommend, do not pass them easily.
This is Anbu’s most important work post-war.”
Kiiroinu said: “I understand; I will have Golden Eagle Squad and Fox Squad investigate Tsunade, White Fang, and Uchiha Kane’s recommended ninjas as soon as possible.”
