[CH-306: Space Sealing Techniques]
Speak of the devil.
That evening, in the office. Yuji was busy reviewing and approving documents, having kept Black Zetsu stationed at the Land of Grass base without summoning it.
"What is it?" Yuji looked at Black Zetsu emerging from the ground and asked, already knowing the answer.
"Orochimaru is currently in the Hidden Sound Village in the Land of Rice," Black Zetsu said.
The implication was obvious. Orochimaru's attack on Sasori had been tantamount to provoking the Sand Village directly. Given Black Zetsu's understanding of Yuji, the Kazekage could not possibly let this go unchallenged.
Therefore, its earlier statement that Orochimaru's whereabouts were so mysterious that even White Zetsu could not detect them had been deliberately misleading. This was now presented as the best opportunity to strike at Orochimaru.
"Given the resources of the Land of Rice, the Hidden Sound Village is incomplete and occupies a very small area. To put it plainly, it is just a small village with no meaningful military defensive capabilities whatsoever. Orochimaru will likely remain in the Hidden Sound Village for some time. What do you think?" Black Zetsu said meaningfully.
"Given Orochimaru's personality, even if he were to leave..."
"The Hidden Sound Village certainly would not be easily exposed again. It is rare that White Zetsu managed to locate it this time," Yuji said with a quiet chuckle.
"The Hidden Sound Village has only just been established. Even if he wanted to avoid detection he could not do so indefinitely. He, as the creator of the Hidden Sound Village, will eventually have to appear. It is only a matter of time," Black Zetsu added, its tone carrying a laugh. It sounded completely aligned with the Sand Village's interests, as though sharing a common enemy.
"Regardless, I do not have time to deal with him right now. He is just a rogue ninja who does not dare show his face openly. I do not even consider him a serious threat," Yuji said.
This statement clearly left Black Zetsu somewhat stunned.
It had clearly assumed before arriving that Yuji would immediately set out for the Land of Rice. Even if not openly using the Sand Village's power, he would at minimum take secret action to eliminate Orochimaru as a hidden threat.
"But if we do not eliminate him now, we do not know when we will find him again. Moreover, once Sasori learns of this location, if the two of them meet, I am afraid..."
Black Zetsu let the implication hang.
"Orochimaru is not necessarily a match for Sasori," Yuji replied simply.
Black Zetsu saw his resolute attitude and fell silent.
It was afraid of displeasing Yuji. Perhaps because of the recent birth of his child, the Fourth Kazekage had temporarily set aside the idea of moving against Orochimaru.
Ryuu's existence was something Black Zetsu naturally took note of. However, it could not lay a hand on Pakura or the child. This was the Sand Village, and Yuji was present in the village. There was simply no opportunity. Beyond that, Pakura's own strength was far from weak.
"Is there anything else?" Yuji asked.
"No," Black Zetsu replied.
"Go back then. When I have any decisions regarding Orochimaru I will let you know."
After Black Zetsu departed, Yuji thought quietly to himself.
Attacking Orochimaru directly was not a good move. But there was still another angle to consider.
There was also someone who might be lured into a situation. And that someone could be made to represent the Sand Village's interests from a distance.
Black Zetsu nodded once after thinking this over and disappeared underground.
After it had gone, Yuji took out paper and pen and began writing letters.
He realized that if he actually went to the Hidden Sound Village, he would probably not find Orochimaru there at all. The latter would most likely have already fled. And the Hidden Sound Village would be turned into a farce by the Fourth Kazekage's intervention, with Black Zetsu able to shift all blame onto Orochimaru afterward, claiming it had been Orochimaru's conspiracy all along. Such tactics were simply too transparent and childish.
For now, staying put was the best option.
"Baki."
Within half a day he finished writing three letters. The content was extremely simple. To inform the recipients that the Hidden Sound Village had been established under suspicious circumstances. Beyond Orochimaru, the Hidden Sound Village was likely harboring rogue ninja. Although he had no definitive proof, he presented it as a strong possibility.
If the Fourth Kazekage said so, the other Kage could not simply ignore it. At that point, the Hidden Sound Village would face pressure from several major hidden villages simultaneously, including the Hidden Cloud Village.
"Lord Kazekage," Baki said, pushing open the door upon hearing his name called.
"Have someone deliver these three letters separately to Konoha, the Hidden Mist Village, and the Hidden Cloud Village. See that the respective Kage read them personally," Yuji instructed.
"Yes," Baki nodded, took the letters, and left.
Dealing with Orochimaru did not require the Sand Village's direct intervention. Now was not the time for war. Most critically, the Fourth Great Ninja War could not be instigated by the Sand Village, and the Sand Village must not be seen as the one instigating it.
After Baki left, Yuji snapped his fingers once. A dark figure immediately appeared in the room, kneeling before him.
"Take this letter to Sasori and deliver it as quickly as possible," Yuji said, picking up a separate piece of paper and handing it over.
"Yes," the figure accepted it and disappeared.
Black Zetsu did not dare overstep its boundaries in Yuji's presence. And of course, since it could not do anything directly against Yuji himself, it certainly would not attempt anything against those around him either.
Keep a close eye on Sasori.
Shortly after, Yuji found himself looking up and realizing how late it had gotten. He left the office building alone and strolled to a closed indoor training arena within the village, turning on the lights as he entered.
He retrieved an object, placed it at a distance from himself, and immediately began forming seals. With the manipulation of chakra, the object was instantly enveloped by a transparent triangular spatial barrier.
The Kaguya clan's secret technique. The Mandala Binding Technique.
Next he opened his palms. A crimson chain formed from fresh blood emerged and quickly wrapped around the drill-shaped spatial barrier. The chain transformed into liquid blood, filling the outer shell of the spatial structure, causing it to appear as a solid red triangular mass. After the blood solidified, black sealing script patterns appeared across its surface.
After completing all of this, Yuji held the spatial entity in his hand and examined it carefully.
The Mandala Binding Technique, this space-time ninjutsu, was not only capable of being used to kill or incapacitate opponents. It also possessed a powerful controlling nature toward its target. In other words, it carried the characteristics of Sealing Jutsu.
Therefore, for many years he had been continuously practicing and refining this secret technique. His goal was to develop it into a spatial sealing jutsu.
Originally, to activate this secret technique one had to continuously maintain the hand seals, ensuring chakra was constantly being released and absorbed. If the hand seals were broken, the space would shatter and disappear, and the target would escape.
So he had incorporated his own Blood Release Sealing Jutsu characteristics into the technique to modify it. He had removed the ability of the jutsu's created space to continuously contract and compress, instead strengthening its consolidating and stabilizing properties, allowing it to exist indefinitely without requiring maintained hand seals.
It had become a spatial Pandora's Box.
It no longer possessed destructive power. It possessed only control and sealing.
Up until now, he had acquired most of his abilities from the system, including cultivating various techniques, which he also relied on for raw jutsu power. To the point that even helping the village improve some low-level ninjutsu had not been particularly difficult for him.
In other words, even having become Kazekage, there was a sense in which he had never truly developed a powerful jutsu entirely through his own effort.
One thing he could not deny was that without the system, purely in terms of native ninja talent, he was far inferior to top-tier geniuses like Namikaze Minato. Everything he currently possessed had been given to him by the system.
But the time he had spent training in Sealing Jutsu under the system had genuinely benefited him enormously. It had even helped him find a direction for growth as a ninja. Sealing Jutsu was his path.
Of course, the system had also provided various hidden capabilities on top of this. However, even setting all of that aside, the more he considered it, the more he felt his aptitude in sealing specifically was genuinely quite good.
Once this Space Sealing Technique was fully perfected, he could completely seal Black Zetsu. Outside of someone possessing Six Paths level power, no one in the ninja world would be capable of unsealing it.
Even without possessing Six Paths power himself, relying solely on Blood Release Sealing Jutsu could tightly bind Black Zetsu, though it would not be maximally effective on its own. Combining two distinct types of sealing power was the better approach.
"That direction looks promising. But at present it can only seal something this small. If the scale gets any larger, the transformation and fusion of the techniques becomes considerably more difficult, and spatial stability and duration of effect both need further consideration. There is still work to be done."
"Even without Six Paths level power, this sealing capability is sufficient to deal with it. It will be enough."
He examined the red triangular block resting in his hand, his eyes brightening slightly.
...
[CH-307]
"Lord Kazekage has just had a child, so naturally he does not have time to concern himself with Orochimaru, this dangerous hidden threat. But Lord Sasori, if we do not take advantage of this opportunity to deal with Orochimaru now, his future threat to the Sand Village will only grow."
"He dared to attack you. This shows he does not even consider the Sand Village worth respecting."
"Now he has established the Hidden Sound Village. When the Great Ninja War comes, the Hidden Sound Village will surely become our enemy."
A few days later, Sasori was at a secret base outside the village. He appeared to be busy with something, the ground around him covered with various scattered objects and components in various states of assembly.
Standing behind him was Black Zetsu.
It had found Sasori and was preparing to instigate a confrontation between Sasori and Orochimaru.
"Did the Kazekage send you to find me?" Sasori turned and fixed Black Zetsu with a cold look.
The Sand Village's core senior members were well aware of Black Zetsu's existence. It was not a secret among them, but they understood clearly that Yuji kept it at arm's length, allowing it to roam outside the village without interfering in the Sand Village's power structure. For some time now it had rarely appeared in the village itself. Even when Black Zetsu did return to the Sand Village, it only reported work-related matters to the Kazekage.
To outsiders, Black Zetsu appeared to be nothing more than a minor subordinate. But for the Sand Village's core members like Sasori, the true background was no secret.
"No," Black Zetsu answered immediately and honestly.
"I am suggesting that Lord Kazekage personally go to the Hidden Sound Village to eliminate Orochimaru. That way it can be done silently and discreetly with no one on the surface being the wiser.
Furthermore, the Land of Rice has not publicly announced that Orochimaru is the founder of the Hidden Sound Village. Therefore, even if Orochimaru dies, the outside world will simply think the Kazekage eliminated a Konoha traitor," Black Zetsu said.
Then, shifting its approach, it continued.
"The reason I came to you specifically is simply because I feel that Lord Kazekage's circumstances make direct travel inconvenient. His identity is extremely prominent and sensitive. But this potential threat, Orochimaru, must be eliminated. Once the Hidden Sound Village develops further..."
"This is also for the sake of the Sand Village. I believe Lord Sasori will understand."
"Cutting the grass at its roots, eliminating future troubles, taking advantage of the fact that the Hidden Sound Village has not yet developed into a significant force."
"Besides, Orochimaru was foolish enough to come cause you trouble first. Even if you cannot kill him, giving him a painful lesson is only right," Black Zetsu said in a deliberately provocative tone.
"Cannot kill him? Are you underestimating me?"
"Of course not!" Black Zetsu immediately changed its tone.
"It is also because I know that right now, within the village, only Lord Sasori has the capability to handle Orochimaru, which is why I came to find you directly. Lord Kazekage does not know about this either."
"Hmph."
Hiruko, its entire body concealed beneath a loose robe with its feet invisible beneath it, moved slowly forward.
"Wait here. I will go inform my people below."
"Yes," Black Zetsu replied.
Its mind stirred with satisfaction.
Done.
Sasori still needed to oversee the progress of the mountain excavation and canal construction projects, but at this point he no longer needed to personally intervene or manage the teams directly. Through years of accumulated practice, the Sand Village construction teams were already thoroughly familiar with the work. Therefore Sasori had time to disappear into his secret base and pursue his art.
Black Zetsu had naturally developed some understanding of Sasori through observation. And it was very accurate in its judgment of people.
The more it considered this type of person, the more certain it was. Making any further moves against Yuji directly would displease Sasori and risk everything. But Sasori was ruthless and decisive, cold-blooded in temperament.
Although the Sand Village had changed enormously in recent years, none of this had significantly altered Sasori's underlying nature. Akasuna no Sasori was still the same person who had once been as infamous as the Blood-Clad Yuji, equally decisive and merciless on the battlefield.
Most critically, Sasori had a temper. He held grudges and did not let them go.
This type of person, with just a small amount of provocation, would fall directly into the trap.
"If he makes a move, it will signify that the Sand Village is secretly conspiring against the Land of Rice, launching an unprovoked attack. At that point, even if the Fourth Kazekage wanted to refuse the consequences, it would not be easy to do so."
"Furthermore, the Land of Rice has a Daimyo's government. The Daimyo can completely utilize political mechanisms to seek assistance from Konoha or the Hidden Cloud Village on behalf of the country and village."
"Just a slight shift, a single spark, is enough."
"Ideally, we deal with Sasori in the process. Given his relationship with the Kazekage, Sasori's death would definitely provoke the Sand Village's full wrath," Black Zetsu thought to itself with quiet satisfaction.
It seemed to have already envisioned the outbreak of the Fourth Great Ninja War. The Sand Village and the Fourth Kazekage would become the target of criticism from all sides, drawing the focused attacks of every major hidden village.
Then it would not be long before Sasori emerged from the base.
He had a Sand Village member traveling with him, a subordinate and puppet corps fighter who served as his assistant.
"Let us go," Hiruko said, fixing Black Zetsu with its gaze and speaking.
According to Black Zetsu's information, Orochimaru's presence in the Hidden Sound Village this time was uncertain. He might flee soon. Therefore they needed to act as quickly as possible.
Immediately they set out, heading straight toward the Land of Rice with Sasori leading the way.
The next day, news arrived.
Sasori, while passing through a neighboring country, had temporarily delegated his ongoing responsibilities to his subordinates.
Yuji himself did not entirely know what he had set in motion.
The calmer he remained, the more clearly he understood that Black Zetsu was up to something. The more he watched that creature stick its hand into the situation, the more precisely he could read what it was after.
As someone who had grown up alongside Sasori and knew him better than anyone, no one understood Sasori more clearly than Yuji did.
The message he had sent Sasori had been a calculated move aimed directly at Black Zetsu's scheme. He also knew he could not stop Sasori even if he tried. Even Yuji himself would not necessarily be listened to, because Orochimaru actively coming to seek out Sasori first was something absolutely intolerable in Sasori's eyes.
That was simply the kind of person he was.
So Yuji had gone with the flow, playing along with the situation. This also allowed Sasori to vent some of his anger and find some thrill and intense feeling in the act of combat.
In this peaceful era the ninja world had become like this, everything perfectly calm and tranquil. For someone like Sasori, having lived like this for so long, there was genuine boredom in the stillness. He definitely still preferred the atmosphere of war. He preferred decisive killing and collecting powerful individuals as his form of art.
Orochimaru was clearly also a rare and worthy specimen in that regard.
Given all of this, Yuji was actually less concerned about the outcome than even Sasori himself was. The last time Orochimaru and Sasori had crossed paths, the battle had not been a full engagement and neither side had used their true capabilities. Orochimaru had launched a surprise attack on Sasori that had not succeeded. Once Sasori began to counterattack, Orochimaru had escaped.
"This is a good opportunity to see what kind of talent the Hidden Sound Village has managed to gather," Yuji thought, leaning back in his chair with a quiet smile.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the equation, before Sasori and Black Zetsu had even arrived in the Land of Rice, news had already reached Orochimaru's ears.
"Ha ha."
At this moment, in a dimly lit room deep within the Hidden Sound Village, Orochimaru's pale face revealed a cold and sinister smile.
"It seems the Kazekage has not noticed either."
He curled his lips, his voice carrying a hint of dark amusement.
"The truly big fish has not taken the bait. But catching a fish of comparable size is not bad at all."