Chapter 163: The Inertia of the Plot
"When did this happen?" Ren's voice was calm, but it carried an undeniable weight.
The death of Orochimaru was a seismic event that would inevitably send shockwaves throughout the shinobi world. Yet, during their rest stops in various towns over the past few days, Ren and his team had heard no such news. This could only mean one thing: it had occurred very recently, and the information had not yet spread beyond the village's borders.
"J-just... yesterday!" the Sound-nin stammered.
"Then tell me," Suigetsu stepped forward, his voice demanding, "who could possibly kill Orochimaru?"
The ninja's terrified eyes flickered towards Ren. Seeing that look, Ren's suspicion was confirmed. He had a strong intuition, and the man's fearful glance made him certain.
"Who was it? Spit it out!" Suigetsu pressed impatiently.
"Was it Sasuke?" Ren interjected, a cold smirk playing on his lips.
"Sasuke? Boss, how is that possible?" Suigetsu exclaimed, turning to Ren in disbelief. "I know Sasuke's strength. He's good, better than me, sure. But he's no match for Orochimaru!"
The Sound-nin confirmed it, his voice trembling. "Y-yes... It was Lord Sasuke who killed Lord Orochimaru. We all found it hard to believe, but... but Lord Kabuto, Orochimaru's assistant, confirmed it. After the news spread, he didn't deny it. He even fled the village. In the past, he would have silenced anyone spreading such rumors. His silence... his flight... it means it's true."
"So it is true..." Karin whispered, a complex look on her face.
"Hmph. Nothing is impossible," Ren stated dismissively. "You overestimate Orochimaru. His obsession with forbidden techniques had already corroded his soul and body. He was being sustained by drugs and constant body-swapping. I anticipated this. My actions in Kumogakure must have threatened him, forcing him to attempt the reincarnation ritual prematurely to regain his peak strength. He targeted Sasuke's body, but in his weakened state, Sasuke reversed the process and took everything from him."
"So, Orochimaru brought this upon himself," Jugo commented softly.
"But if Orochimaru is dead, why are you all still here?" Suigetsu asked, gesturing to the desolate village.
The Sound-nin's shoulders slumped further. "Many of us... we had nowhere else to go. Lord Orochimaru gave us a place here. When the news first came, many refused to believe it. We waited for him, or for Lord Kabuto, to come forward and deny it. But the result... Now that he's truly gone, we feel lost. We've lost our purpose. A group of Orochimaru's most loyal followers tried to attack Lord Sasuke for revenge... but they were all defeated. He was too strong."
"Where is Sasuke now?" Karin demanded, stepping forward urgently.
"Lord Sasuke... he didn't leave the village. He is... in the main hall," the man replied hesitantly, nodding toward the large building at the village's center.
"Really?" Ren's smirk returned. "It seems Sasuke is waiting for us. Let's not keep him waiting. To the main hall."
As they approached the hall, Ren could sense it clearly—a familiar chakra signature, yet different. It was Sasuke's, but it felt darker, sharper, more potent than before.
*As I thought,* Ren mused inwardly. *The inertia of the plot is strong. Even with my presence altering the landscape, some key events still find a way to unfold.*
He pushed open the heavy doors to the hall. The scene inside was exactly as he expected. Sasuke Uchiha sat upon the throne that once belonged to Orochimaru, his posture relaxed yet exuding a new, dangerous authority. His dark eyes, cold and impassive, watched as the Eagle team entered.
When they stood before him, Sasuke was the first to speak, his voice devoid of warmth. "You're late."
"Unexpected detour," Ren replied casually, unfazed by the chilly reception. "We ran into two members of Akatsuki on the way back. Dealing with them took some time."
"Tch. That unpleasant attitude and tone again," Suigetsu muttered under his breath just loud enough for everyone to hear.
Both Ren and Sasuke ignored him. Ren continued, his tone light, almost conversational. "More importantly, you actually disposed of Orochimaru. While I expected it, I must admit, it's still a noteworthy achievement."
"It was nothing," Sasuke said, his expression unchanging. "The serpent had grown weak. Since his failed reincarnation three years ago, his body deteriorated daily, sustained only by medicine. Your... spectacle in Kumogakure likely made him feel threatened. He attempted the reincarnation ritual on me prematurely. He had nothing left to teach me. The moment he tried to steal my body, I ended him."
"Just as I thought," Ren nodded. "And Kabuto? Where is he?"
"He fled the village after Orochimaru's death. Unlike the other fanatics, he didn't cause trouble. He was no longer relevant, so I let him go."
"No matter," Ren waved a hand dismissively. "I merely had some questions for him. Since he's gone, he's inconsequential. Let's focus on our own affairs. We have secured the Two-Tails Jinchuriki. The next step is to collect the remaining Tailed Beasts."
The two Uchiha stood facing each other in the silent hall, one having usurped a Sannin's legacy, the other having laid waste to a great village. The path ahead was clear, and their combined ambition cast a long shadow over the future of the shinobi world.
💀 WANT TO READ AHEAD? 💀
👉 JOIN MY PATREON — Patreon.com/The_Ripper_87
════════ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ════════
🔥 CURRENTLY AT CHAPTER 263: THE ATTACK ON KILLER B 🔥
⚡ SUPPORT THE STORY WITH YOUR POWER STONES! ⚡
🖤 EVERY STONE AND EVERY PLEDGE HELPS KEEP THE STORY GOING! 🖤
BONUS CHAPTER FOR EVERY 100 POWERSTONE