Chapter 97: A Failed Deal
Though the process had been dangerous, in the end, with the right countermeasures, it had turned out to be quite manageable. This highlighted the advantage of being a versatile ninja—someone who, with preparation and tactical insight, could always find a way to adapt and survive. Simply put, a ninja with no weaknesses had the highest survival rate.
"The enemy retreated that easily?" Uchiha Sasuke, lacking Mizuki's sensory and intel-gathering advantages, had no idea just how powerful the intruders had been. He had brushed shoulders with death and remained completely unaware.
"They were all injured or in bad condition, and with Konoha's pursuers closing in, a direct confrontation wouldn't have been smart. Retreating was the most logical choice."
After a few encounters, Mizuki had grown quite disappointed in Sasuke. Uchiha Itachi had been right—Sasuke lacked the presence and composure of a true powerhouse. Though he had talent, lineage, and capable teachers, all he showed was arrogance, hatred, and impatience. He couldn't accurately assess his own strength, nor evaluate that of his enemies. He was jealous of Naruto's progress, yet blind to the hard work Naruto put in. That whole "fated rivalry" thing sounded poetic, but in reality, it was just his refusal to admit defeat.
Mizuki had no intention of getting involved with this so-called avenger and his childish emotions. Right now, Sasuke was clearly lagging behind Naruto—who had a clear goal and worked toward it step by step—while Sasuke relied on talent and dreamed of instant success.
Despite his dislike, Mizuki never tried to change anything. The Uchiha, heirs of the Sage's eyes, possessed the immensely powerful Sharingan—a bloodline that leaned heavily toward yin-type attributes and mental strength. The more obsessive a Uchiha was, the stronger the Sharingan became. Only intense emotional turmoil could awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan. In Mizuki's view, such an evolution method was one step away from madness. This whole "kill a loved one to gain power" philosophy was just outright lunacy.
Even so, Mizuki never tried to correct any of it. These ancient ninja clans, born in the Warring States era, had their own reasons for existing. He might dislike it, but he had no interest in judging others' way of survival. It simply didn't concern him. This time, he was only fulfilling his duties as a Konoha Chūnin and a teacher protecting his students.
Hearing Mizuki's explanation, Sasuke nodded. "Where do we go next?"
"You'll regroup with Sakura, then return to the village. Remember—once you're back, trust no one but Kakashi-sensei, especially not—"
Without the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen around to suppress the village's various political factions, who knew what kind of chaos would erupt? Mizuki could no longer rely entirely on the plot as he remembered it.
"I need to constantly remind myself—the original storyline is becoming less reliable by the day. This isn't an anime—it's a real, living world."
"Only Kakashi-sensei?" Sasuke asked, confused. "Even the Third Hokage—?"
"You'll understand soon enough…" Mizuki handed Sasuke a sealing talisman. "Stick this on your forehead and focus—it'll help you resist genjutsu-based interference."
"We're not going together?"
Mizuki shook his head. "You go first. Be careful. I've got some things to take care of."
With the pursuit forces sweeping the surrounding areas, the way back shouldn't be too dangerous now. And Mizuki did, indeed, have unfinished business.
Watching Sasuke disappear into the distance, Mizuki turned to a nearby shadow. "He's gone. You can come out now."
"Knew I couldn't hide from you," a figure appeared out of thin air.
"An illusion of this level can only fool children. What do you want, Kabuto? And lose the ridiculous mask—you're not fooling me."
The figure removed the mask, revealing none other than Yakushi Kabuto—who should've already fled far from here.
"You really have a way of surprising people lately," Kabuto said with a smirk, adjusting his glasses. "Even with intel in Konoha harder to come by now, we still managed to learn a lot. You saved Moonlight Gekkō, didn't you? That cost us quite a bit."
"You didn't come all this way just to say that, did you? Also, how'd you know it was me inside?"
"We met not long ago. It wasn't hard to plant a little trick. You hit me pretty hard back then—it really hurt," Kabuto said, rubbing his forehead. "But you didn't send anyone after me, which was... surprising."
Mizuki sneered. "Trying to call me stupid? If I publicly revealed a connection to you using a shadow clone, I'd have all kinds of trouble on my hands. It's a chaotic time—I've got better things to worry about than you."
"Fair enough. Then why don't you guess what I'm here for?"
"Guess? I don't have time for games. If you're not going to say it, don't bother. I'm not the one asking for anything here."
Kabuto shrugged. "You're as blunt as ever. We were comrades once, you know…"
"Don't get friendly with me. What do you want? More importantly, what are you offering that's worth my attention?"
"Your green potion, and that sealing technique used on Gekkō—what was it called… the Soul Convergence Array?"
"You even know the name?" Mizuki's eyes narrowed. "Seems your intel really is everywhere."
"Anything worth knowing, we find out eventually," Kabuto said with a smile.
"So—what's your offer?"
The effects of Mizuki's universal potion, demonstrated so dramatically with Moonlight Gekkō and Hiruzen Sarutobi, had made a deep impression on Kabuto. And that spiritual sealing technique? Priceless.
Kabuto answered slowly, "The forbidden technique—Impure World Reincarnation. How's that?"
"No need. I already know about it." Mizuki wasn't surprised by the high price, but offering Edo Tensei in exchange was… over the top.
"Is there something more to it that I don't know?"
Edo Tensei was the kind of jutsu Mizuki never expected to obtain. Without connections or influence, unless he became Hokage, he'd never get access. But he wasn't actually interested in it. Not only did it require human sacrifices—something Mizuki found morally unacceptable—it was also inherently dangerous. Summoning souls from the Pure Land was no small matter. Everyone who had used Edo Tensei in the canon had died—at least once. Mizuki couldn't explain it, but something about it just felt wrong.
Sure, having the technique to study would be valuable. But as payment? Not satisfying.
"I don't want Edo Tensei," Mizuki said plainly. "I want Flying Thunder God and the complete set of Curse Mark techniques. One for each."
"Uh…" Kabuto looked stunned. "That's impossible. Way too much."
"I'm not the one who came begging. You approached me, remember?"
"We just can't do it," Kabuto replied firmly.
"Can't? Or won't?" Mizuki raised an eyebrow. Then realization struck. "I see. This isn't an official trade on Orochimaru's behalf. You're acting on your own, aren't you?"
Even as an adversary, Mizuki had to admit—Kabuto had a keen eye. But admiration didn't mean he'd lower the price. If anything, it gave him a chance to squeeze a little more.
"Slipped up and said too much, huh?" Kabuto laughed bitterly.
Konoha's forbidden jutsu—especially things like the Reaper Death Seal—might have eluded Orochimaru because they were passed down only through certain lineages. But other jutsu like Flying Thunder God or Curse Marks? It was absurd to think Orochimaru didn't know them. The only reasonable explanation was that this was Kabuto's own scheme, using Edo Tensei as bait to get Mizuki's secrets.
"No wonder he came sneaking around. Trying to moonlight on the side, huh?"
"Come back when you've got better chips to play, Kabuto. I'm not buying what you're selling." As Kabuto stood there stunned, Mizuki hurled a kunai that pierced the shadow clone's forehead.
Far away, the real Kabuto—still supporting the fleeing Orochimaru—suddenly stiffened.
"What is it, Kabuto?" Orochimaru asked immediately.
"It's nothing, Lord Orochimaru. Just lost a backup shadow clone."
"Forget that. Hurry up."
"Failed, huh? What a shame. Looks like I'll have to figure it out on my own after all…" Kabuto thought regretfully.
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