Chapter 74: A Serpent's Assignment
The lingering warmth from Kushina's letter was a rare comfort as Kagenori stepped out of his earthen room. The sun was bright, the air crisp, a good day for training. A faint, genuine smile, born of thoughts of Konoha and his only friend, still touched his lips.
This small change did not go unnoticed. The shinobi milling about the camp did a double-take. The boy they knew was a figure of grim intensity, his face a mask of cold calculation. This sudden, human softness was jarring, almost unsettling. It was as if a statue had briefly come to life.
Jiraiya, who had been on his way to check on Minato's progress with the Flying Thunder God scroll, skidded to a halt upon seeing the expression. His eyes widened. Without a second thought, he changed course, heading straight for Orochimaru's command quarters at a near-jog.
"Orochimaru! Something's wrong!" Jiraiya announced, bursting into the room.
Orochimaru was seated, calmly studying a complex ninjutsu scroll. With the arrival of the Nara clansmen—all four of them possessing formidable strategic intellect—the burden of command had lessened, granting him precious time for his own research.
Without looking up, Orochimaru replied, his voice a dry hiss. "What is it? Has the Cloud launched an attack?"
"Worse!" Jiraiya exclaimed, his voice dramatic. "It's your disciple! Kagenori... he was smiling!"
Orochimaru finally lifted his gaze, his golden eyes narrowing in mild annoyance. "Is that so strange? He is capable of the expression."
"You call that mocking smirk he usually wears a smile?" Jiraiya retorted. Then he paused, considering his audience. "Actually, on second thought, to you, a smirk probably does count. You two really are cut from the same cloth. Forget I said anything."
Orochimaru returned his attention to the scroll. He understood the source of Jiraiya's surprise. There was only one person who could inspire such a look on Kagenori's face. It was a vulnerability, but one so well-guarded it was nearly a strength.
"Since you are here," Orochimaru said, effectively ending the discussion of smiles, "we have matters to discuss. The camp is secure, and our forces are consolidated. The time for passivity is over. We will begin actively eliminating the Cloud outposts in the area."
Jiraiya's demeanor shifted instantly to that of a seasoned commander. "With the clan shinobi, we have the strength for targeted strikes."
Orochimaru sealed the scroll he was reading and sent a messenger to summon Nara Shoji. The three of them—the two Sannin and the acting commander—began to plan. With over a hundred shinobi now at their disposal, they could afford to be aggressive while maintaining a strong defensive force of at least fifty at the camp itself.
After outlining the basic strategy of three-man teams assigned based on enemy strength, Jiraiya brought up the other matter. "Orochimaru, you're still going through with it? You're really putting Kagenori in charge of those five?"
Orochimaru gave a single, slow nod. "The time is right."
Nara Shoji looked between them, confused. "My lords? Who is 'those five'?"
Jiraiya clarified, "Orochimaru intends for Kagenori to assume command of the five Uchiha chunin. The boy has already agreed."
Nara Shoji's composure broke. "What? But... Lord Orochimaru, those five are currently under the command of Uchiha Kazuo, one of their jonin. Placing them under Kagenori's authority... is that feasible?"
Orochimaru's slit-like eyes fixed on Shoji. "Is there an issue?"
"W-well," Shoji stammered, searching for a diplomatic way to phrase the impending disaster. "The dynamics... given Kagenori's history with the clan..."
Jiraiya cut in, a knowing look on his face. "Shoji, tell us honestly. How did the six Uchiha behave under your temporary command?"
Nara Shoji's expression became pained. "They are... highly independent. They possess a certain... confidence. They did not always find my orders to their liking."
Jiraiya snorted. "Which is a polite way of saying they're arrogant and insubordinate. That is precisely why Orochimaru is doing this. You've heard the reports of Kagenori's... methods?"
"I have," Shoji admitted. "He is decisive and powerful. But does he have the authority to command their respect? The animosity between him and the clan is no secret. They will never accept him."
Orochimaru's voice was cold and final. "Kagenori's strength and his will are more than sufficient to compel their obedience. On my battlefield, I require shinobi who follow orders, not proud children playing at war. The matter is settled."
Seeing the resolve in the Sannin's eyes, Nara Shoji bowed his head in acquiescence, though a part of him was morbidly curious to see how the notoriously stubborn Uchiha would react to being placed under the command of the clan's greatest shame.
Later, the entire garrison assembled in the central compound. Orochimaru stood before them, his presence silencing the murmurs instantly.
"Listen carefully," he began, his voice carrying without effort. "The chain of command is as follows: Jiraiya and Nara Shoji serve as acting commanders. In my absence, their orders are absolute."
He continued, appointing four acting squad captains from the Nara, Hyuga, and Yamanaka clans, who would lead the primary three-man teams.
Then came the final, anticipated announcement. "Finally, the following shinobi will form a special team: Uchiha Ryuhei, Uchiha Keiichi, Uchiha Kyosuke, Uchiha Yorito, and Uchiha Jinno."
The five named Uchiha chunin stiffened, their faces hardening as they braced for the inevitable.
Orochimaru's gaze swept over them. "Your team captain will be Kagenori."
A tense silence gripped the assembly for a single heartbeat before it was shattered.
"Lord Orochimaru, I must protest!"
Uchiha Kazuo, the Uchiha jonin, stepped forward, his posture rigid with suppressed anger. The five chunin behind him looked to him with palpable relief.
Orochimaru turned his impassive gaze on the man. "State your objection, Kazuo."
"With all due respect," Kazuo said, his voice tight, "I am the direct superior and clansman of these five. For the cohesion and effectiveness of the unit, I must request that I continue to lead them!"
The air grew thick. Every shinobi in the camp watched, understanding that this was more than a simple personnel dispute. It was a direct challenge, and the outcome would set the tone for the Uchiha's place in Orochimaru's command structure. All eyes shifted to Kagenori, who stood silently, his brief moment of warmth gone, replaced by the familiar, unnerving calm of a predator assessing its prey.