Chapter 213 : Uzumaki Karin
Konoha did not undergo any special changes due to the disappearance of two Genin.
The villagers went about their daily lives as usual, and the ninjas did the same. Everything remained normal, as if nothing had happened.
Aside from the slight shifts in behavior among the few who knew the truth, it was as if nothing had occurred.
There was just an extra stack of paperwork in the Hokage's office, a new mission assigned to the ANBU, and a few squads dispatched from the village. That was all.
Even the Uchiha clan did not experience any major upheaval over the defection of the clan head's youngest son.
The clan members lived, worked, and patrolled as usual. Those in the know kept a tacit silence, while outsiders remained completely oblivious.
However, the Hyuga clan did show some noticeable changes.
The Main House members, who rarely showed their faces to begin with, completely vanished from the public eye. The gates to their grand estate were shut tighter than ever.
The Branch House members also seemed to reduce their outings, with fewer of them visiting the mission assignment desk. Everything felt somewhat bizarre, as if a heavy burden was pressing down on them, leaving them breathless.
Konoha, Forest of Death, underground laboratory.
The glaring white lights illuminated the entire room, leaving not a single shadow.
Orochimaru sat before a low table, holding an open scroll. It was densely packed with text, line after line cascading downward. He kept his head bowed, his gaze slowly tracking across the parchment. His expression was calm, a faint, enigmatic smirk playing at the corners of his lips.
The door opened, and Yakushi Kabuto walked in. Wearing a gentle smile, he approached Orochimaru and bowed slightly.
"Lord Orochimaru, he has arrived."
Orochimaru did not look up. His eyes remained on the scroll, and the curve of his lips did not falter.
"Mm, show him in."
His voice was casual, as if he were speaking of something trivial.
Yakushi Kabuto smiled and nodded. He turned, walked to the door, and made an inviting gesture toward the corridor.
Footsteps echoed from the hallway. They were slow and steady, the soft thud of shoe soles against the floor reverberating through the empty corridor.
An old man walked in.
He was short and frail, dressed in a gray robe. His hair was completely white, and the wrinkles on his face were so deep they looked as though they had been carved by a knife. His eyes were cloudy, resembling two dried-up wells.
Yet, his gait was remarkably steady, lacking the frailty expected of an old man.
If Uchiha Sasuke were here, he would immediately recognize this elder as the one from the clan's shrine.
The old man entered the laboratory, swept his gaze around the room, and finally locked eyes with Orochimaru.
Orochimaru raised his head, placed the scroll on the table, and gave a slight nod to Yakushi Kabuto at the door.
Yakushi Kabuto bowed slightly, stepped out, and gently closed the door behind him.
The hinges clicked softly, and then everything fell into absolute silence.
Orochimaru looked at the old man, his smile deepening.
"Seeking me out at a time like this... it seems you are finally ready, Elder Setsuna."
He spoke as if greeting an old friend.
Uchiha Setsuna sat down across the low table.
"Of course."
His voice was hoarse but perfectly clear.
"Those two boys have already left Konoha. By the looks of it, it won't be long before they find Uchiha Taiga."
Orochimaru chuckled softly.
"Do you still believe it is absolutely necessary to forge a pair of Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan?"
He narrowed his eyes slightly, his golden, slit-like pupils gleaming under the lights.
Hearing this, a fanatical expression surfaced on Uchiha Setsuna's face.
It was not the flamboyant, outward zeal of a young man, but the suppressed obsession of an old man who could finally unleash a lifetime of pent-up fervor.
His mouth stretched into a wide grin, revealing his few remaining, solitary teeth.
"Hahaha... Don't tell me you don't want the same?"
He countered, staring straight at Orochimaru.
Orochimaru licked his lips, his tongue slowly tracing his mouth. "Of course I do."
He lowered his voice.
"But are you certain you can control that kind of power?"
His eyes narrowed even further, his gaze sweeping across Setsuna's face as if searching for something.
Uchiha Setsuna shook his head, his smile growing increasingly unbridled.
"You underestimate me, Orochimaru. That kind of power was never meant for me to control."
He rested his hands on his knees, his fingers tapping rhythmically.
"All I want is to witness the birth of those eyes."
As he spoke, a light flickered in Uchiha Setsuna's cloudy eyes, like a fire burning at the bottom of a dried-up well.
Orochimaru looked at him, remaining silent for a moment before speaking. "If that is the case, what is the point of all this?"
His tone was perfectly calm.
"Do not forget, as long as Uchiha Taiga draws breath, your Uchiha clan will never face any true danger."
He paused, tapping a finger lightly against the table.
"The restrictions the Second Hokage and I currently place on the Uchiha clan are nothing more than a tacit understanding between us."
Uchiha Setsuna scoffed coldly, his disdain palpable.
"I know."
He stared at Orochimaru, the light in his cloudy eyes burning brighter.
"But if those two boys can obtain those eyes, it would be equivalent to the birth of another Uchiha Madara."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly, his golden pupils contracting.
"So, you feel that Uchiha Madara is no longer reliable?"
His voice remained as calm as ever.
Uchiha Setsuna sneered. "Uchiha Madara cannot be relied upon."
His tone was absolute, spoken with the certainty of an undeniable fact.
"Furthermore, that man would never allow himself to be someone else's crutch. He only believes in his own power."
Hearing this, Orochimaru chuckled softly.
"Hehehe..."
The laughter was faint.
"I see. It appears Elder Setsuna still holds onto his own convictions."
He lifted a hand from the table, gestured vaguely in the air, and let it drop.
"In that case, I will proceed according to our agreement. I only fear that those two boys will ultimately become completely loyal to Uchiha Taiga. If that happens, your plans will fall through."
Uchiha Setsuna looked at him, his smile not fading but deepening instead.
"It does not matter. I only wish to see those eyes come into existence."
He paused.
"Even if those two boys ultimately make a different choice, it will not be a bad thing for the Uchiha clan."
At this, he began to laugh again, his voice louder than before.
"After all, no matter what happens, Uchiha Taiga is still an Uchiha."
Orochimaru merely chuckled and said no more.
Uchiha Setsuna did not waste any more words. Having said his piece, he stood up, turned around, and headed for the door.
Orochimaru was left alone in the laboratory.
He sat at the low table, gazing in the direction Uchiha Setsuna had left, and remained silent for a moment. Then, the corners of his mouth curled upward into a smile—a smile wider than any before, baring both rows of his teeth.
"This ninja world is truly becoming more and more interesting."
He muttered to himself, his voice so soft it was as if he were speaking to the air.
Four days passed.
Uchiha Sasuke and Hyuga Neji crossed the border of the Land of Fire and entered the Land of Grass.
The two traveled along the road for another two days before finally arriving at Kusagakure.
Kusagakure was not large. The buildings were low, the streets narrow, and it looked as though nothing had changed in the past ten years.
There were not many people in the village. Most of those walking the streets were ordinary civilians; ninjas were a rare sight. When the locals noticed the two foreign youths, their gazes lingered on Sasuke and Neji for a brief moment before shifting away, showing no further interest.
Uchiha Sasuke and Hyuga Neji found an inn in the village, planning to rest and regroup.
After four days of travel, their clothes were dirty, and their rations were nearly depleted. They needed to restock.
However, neither of them expected that the moment they settled into their room, someone would knock on the door.
Footsteps echoed from the hallway. They were synchronized and steady, like a well-trained squad.
Uchiha Sasuke and Hyuga Neji exchanged a glance. Neither spoke, but their eyes conveyed the exact same thought: 'Someone has come looking for us.'
Hyuga Neji moved to the door, resting his hand on the hilt of his blade. He stood sideways against the doorframe and gave Sasuke a nod.
Uchiha Sasuke walked over and pulled the door open.
Four people stood outside.
At the front was a red-haired girl, roughly the same age as Uchiha Sasuke and Hyuga Neji—around twelve years old.
Her long, dark red hair was tied back into a high ponytail, with a few loose strands framing her face. She had fair skin and large, pale red eyes that resembled freshly washed glass beads.
She wore a dark ninja outfit with a cloak-like haori draped over it. The ninja tool pouch at her waist was bulging. Overall, she looked sharp and highly capable.
Behind her stood three ninjas—two men and one woman—all dressed in standard shinobi attire.
The red-haired girl looked at Uchiha Sasuke, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment before shifting to Hyuga Neji. Her brows furrowed slightly, her expression one of blatant scrutiny.
"You two brats, you're from Konoha, aren't you?"
Her voice was not loud, but her tone was heavy, sounding like an interrogation.
Uchiha Sasuke stared at her, offering no reply.
The red-haired girl spoke again, her voice louder this time.
"Why are you here?"
Her gaze darted back and forth between Sasuke and Neji.
"And what is your relationship with that guy from before?"
Hearing this, Uchiha Sasuke's expression shifted slightly. He instinctively asked, "That guy you're talking about... who is he?"
The red-haired girl replied, "An Uchiha."
Uchiha Sasuke immediately grew agitated. "Where is he?"
The red-haired girl chuckled softly. "Answer my questions first."
Hyuga Neji interjected at this moment, "We are indeed from Konoha. And who might you be?"
The red-haired girl scoffed lightly. "My name is Uzumaki Karin, and I am the administrator here."
The two boys exchanged a look of sheer astonishment. This girl standing before them was the same age as they were, yet she was the administrator of Kusagakure?
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