Chapter 122: The Other Heavenly God

Shisui only felt his heart pounding and his flesh trembling, and for a moment didn't know how to react.

And Jin Huo's guess was correct; shortly after their conversation, the voices of Sima Yi and Ying Shu came from the courtyard.

Shisui immediately grabbed the books and rushed to the front yard; when he saw the books Ying Shu was holding, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he instantly recalled the things Orochimaru did.

"Grandpa, you wouldn't be interested in that kind of thing, would you?"

Sima Yi was startled, but only after seeing the book in Shisui's hand did he recover, smiling lightly: "Don't worry, I'm only slightly interested, just planning to read a few books to get the basics, I won't go deep."

Sima Yi finally understood why Orochimaru even bought those worthless adult men; the ninja world is truly bizarre, and his worldview was refreshed once again.

Moreover, the fascinating study of the human body attracted him, prompting him to set aside his sealing technique and borrow Ying Shu's textbook; he was eager to know what Orochimaru intended to research.

However, given the Uchiha situation, even if he were interested, he wouldn't practice it now; he still had that patience.

"Then, that's good."

Shisui breathed a sigh of relief; he truly feared Sima Yi might also conduct such experiments like Orochimaru. Of course, the experiment itself wasn't the issue; it was that Orochimaru chose the wrong subjects. If the test subjects were enemy‑country ninjas, Shisui would at most sigh, but he wouldn't despise Orochimaru that much.

Speaking, he stepped forward and took the books Sima Yi had purchased; these were rather obscure knowledge, not obtainable in ordinary shops, but with Uchiha energy, that's not a problem.

The two returned to the study, and Sima Yi asked, "How's Orochimaru? Given the Third's temperament, he shouldn't execute him, right?"

"The Third plans to lock him in the Police Department's prison; barring any mishap, he'll be there for life."

"Oh?"

Sima Yi's interest was piqued; after a moment he asked, "What about the documents from Orochimaru's laboratory?"

"Huh? Those kinds of things are probably sealed away."

"Are the guards strict? Could we bring some out to see?"

【8】 Shisui was startled and instinctively asked, "Grandpa, didn't you say you weren't interested?"

Shisui was startled and, subconsciously, asked, "Grandpa, didn't you say you weren't interested?"

Sima Yi chuckled teasingly, "I'm old, but my memory's still fine; I clearly said I was only slightly interested.

But I really want to know what kind of research would make Orochimaru go so far as to attack the Village."

"And since you refuse to transplant Fugaku's eyes, we have to consider whether another method can cure your Kaleidoscope side effects."

The Great Elder's guarded secret records have all been conveyed to Sima Yi through Shisui; the Eternal Kaleidoscope is powerful, but its connection to Fugaku makes Shisui very averse.

However, Shisui rarely uses the Kaleidoscope, and his eyes are still in good condition, so the matter was temporarily set aside by the two, though the issue remains and will have to be faced eventually.

"Moreover, his research has probably been ongoing for a long time; if all those records are lost or sealed away forever, wouldn't those people have died in vain?"

Shisui was speechless; he naturally couldn't argue with Sima Yi, so he sighed and whispered, "I'll find a way to get the documents."

After speaking, Shisui hurried away, fearing Sima Yi might utter more harsh words.

Sima Yi, however, shook his head, spread out the newly bought books to skim, and after a moment exclaimed, "The mysteries of the human body are truly a marvelous and complex study~"

That night, in the ANBU interrogation room, dim and enclosed, one couldn't see a hand's fingers.

Orochimaru sat silently inside, motionless; after an unknown amount of time, a faint sound came from outside the interrogation room, and he slowly opened his eyes, gave a faint smile, and, guided by memory, gently pushed the door.

The interrogation room's main door opened effortlessly.

In the moonlight, several ANBU, their bodies limp, collapsed on the ground; a few dark little snakes, only a finger's length, slithered off them and returned to Orochimaru's palm via his fingers.

Lick~ The night wind brushed by, stirring his long hair; his pale cheeks bore a slight flush. Orochimaru licked his lips and gazed toward the Uchiha lands, his eyes dreamy.

"Hehe, Shisui, wait for me~"

Swoosh~ Late at night, the sleeping Shisui suddenly opened his eyes, sat up, and looked beyond the door wall.

He saw five figures lined up on the other side of the door wall.

Hui, Dao Huo, Tie Huo, Shi Liu Ye, Gong Ping.

"What's the matter?"

Hui, Dao Huo, and Shi Liu Ye were in charge of Police Department affairs; Tie Huo and Gong Ping handled the clan's guard unit. The arrival of these five at once made Shisui's heart sink.

"The Hokage sent a report that Orochimaru has defected; the clan head is requested to go to the Hokage Tower immediately."

"What?"

Shisui's complexion changed; he immediately dressed himself. He hadn't expected that so many ANBU couldn't keep an eye on Orochimaru?

"Has it been confirmed that Orochimaru has left the Village?"

"Insufficient intel; we don't know the specifics."

Shisui went outside, looked at the five, and immediately ordered: "Hui and Dao Huo, come with me to the Hokage Tower; Shi Liu Ye, inform the Eighth and Yang Zhe to go to the Police Department and await orders; Tie Huo and Gong Ping, take people to guard the clan lands, be careful of anyone taking advantage of the chaos."

"Yes!"

At the command, the Uchiha clan sprang into action, and Shisui turned back to Sima Yi's door.

"Grandpa, something's happened."

As soon as the words fell, Sima Yi, fully dressed, opened the door and stepped out; he had awakened as soon as the five triggered the barrier upon entering the courtyard.

"They're in such a hurry; could it be that the northern war has been lost?" Sima Yi wondered, what else could cause a village‑wide crisis at this time.

"Orochimaru has defected!"

Sima Yi was startled, then his gaze hardened; he looked at Shisui with a very serious expression and said, "The study of the human body is indeed profound; I know too little about it, and starting from scratch now would take years before I could grasp it."

He had originally planned to visit the prison frequently to converse with Orochimaru, but now it was clear that opportunity was gone.

Shisui, puzzled, hurriedly said, "Grandpa, it's already this time, why are you still saying these?"

"Tonight the Third might pursue Orochimaru; you could help. If there's a chance, talk to Orochimaru and see his skill in this area; if possible, use these eyes to control him."

"Control Orochimaru!"

Shisui was shocked inside; he naturally understood Sima Yi's meaning, but he didn't refuse. The Kaleidoscope issue had to be solved, not just for him, but also for Fugaku, and perhaps other clan members in the future.

"I understand, I will do my best!"

After they finished speaking, Shisui immediately led people to the Hokage Tower; upon entering, he saw the Third, dressed in combat gear, sitting there smoking a dry pipe.

Inside, three assistants were also seated, each watching the other's eyes, then nose, then heart; the atmosphere was very oppressive.

"Third Lord."

"Orochimaru has defected from the village. Although I have already wounded him, his strength is still not to be underestimated. The ANBU are short on manpower, so I want the Police Department to help with the pursuit."

The Third Hokage's mood was clearly not good, and upon seeing Shisui enter he immediately ordered.

The other three showed varied expressions; even entrusting this matter to Shisui shows that the Third Hokage is increasingly trusting him.

Tuan Zang squinted at the boy inside the house, recalling that whispered phrase from long ago, and his thoughts grew increasingly chaotic.

"Yes! I'll lead the chase right now!"

Shisui responded without any hesitation. Seeing Shisui's compliance, the Third Hokage sighed, his expression conflicted, but ultimately just nodded and said, "Please do."

Shisui felt a stir in his heart, realizing the Third Hokage was hesitating again; without further words he instantly teleported away, then, accompanied by several ANBU, led Hui and Da Huo in pursuit outside the village.

Meanwhile, not far outside Muye Cun, Orochimaru's cold, serpentine eyes indifferently scanned the people before him.

He hadn't expected the Third Hokage to react so quickly and act so decisively, unlike his usual behavior.

Before he could leave Muye Cun, they chased him down and wounded him; fortunately the opponent softened, allowing him to escape safely.

But it was clear that shortly after his departure, the opponent changed their mind, sending wave after wave of pursuers.

The four before him were already on the third wave; all wore masks, and the leader, with striking silver hair, was Kakashi.

Kakashi, wielding a kunai, together with the other three formed an encircling formation around Orochimaru, moving with extreme caution.

After all, the person before them was one of the Legendary Sannin of the Ninja World, and even wounded, they had no certainty.

Orochimaru, however, had no patience to waste on them; he broke through toward the direction away from Muye Cun, and the four rushed forward simultaneously. Having fought countless battles, even while gravely wounded and surrounded by strong enemies, his expression remained unchanged; he twisted his body at will, and using only body technique, knocked the four to the ground within a few moves.

Kakashi, clutching his stomach, struggled to rise; as he watched Orochimaru's retreating silhouette, one hand suddenly crackled with thunder and he charged forward.

Orochimaru seemed unaware until the thunder neared, then he slightly sidestepped to avoid a close pass with Kakashi.

His complexion grew even paler; after all, the attackers were ANBU Elite Forces, and several waves had already aggravated his wounds, causing continuous bleeding.

He could only cover his wound and stare at the boy blocking him; Kakashi panted lightly, the lightning in his hand brightening, its crack louder, and he surged toward Orochimaru again.

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, a cold glint appearing; he leapt, his kunai slashing down, and as he evaded the lightning blade, he instantly sliced through Kakashi's mask, revealing the three‑tomoe Sharingan.

Lick~ The originally cold‑expressed Orochimaru subconsciously averted his gaze upon seeing that eye, then quickly recovered, and a barely restrained greed flashed in his eyes.

He stepped forward step by step; his greedy stare and terrifying aura made cold sweat bead on Kakashi's forehead, his pupils trembling.

"Nice eyes, keep them well~"

Orochimaru let out a light sigh, and as he looked at the boy, several silhouettes flashed through his mind; in the end he did not strike, but instead slipped past Kakashi into the forest.

Only after Orochimaru left did Kakashi relax, slumping loosely onto the ground.

He hadn't rested for minutes before noticing several people passing over his head, heading straight toward the direction Orochimaru had taken.

Kakashi's expression was shocked; he couldn't see who had passed, assuming it was a new batch of ANBU pursuers, so he got up and moved the other teammates under the tree, preparing to go support.

"Kakashi?"

At that moment, several people came from Muye Cun's direction; Kakashi turned his head and saw them wearing various masks and uniform attire—it was his ANBU comrades.

"Hmm? Who just passed by?"

"Shisui Uchiha!"

Meanwhile, the fleeing Orochimaru wore an exceptionally vivid expression, glancing back as he ran.

"Why them!"

He had considered other pursuers, even imagined the Third Hokage coming personally, but never expected anyone from the Uchiha clan to be involved.

This is a family affair of the Hokage line! What could they gain by joining? Shisui didn't mind; they had outrun the ANBU and came early to find the opponent first.

"Stop him!" Shisui, predicting Orochimaru's move, casually flung several shuriken, ordering the two.

Hui and Da Huo immediately understood and circled around from the left and right.

Orochimaru's complexion changed; clutching his wound he accelerated, but Shisui's masterful shuriken technique repeatedly blocked him, nearly causing new injuries; his speed was forced to drop, and soon the three cornered him.

"Heh, Shisui, we meet again."

Orochimaru didn't panic, speaking very calmly, but his gaze deliberately avoided the three's eyes.

Shisui didn't respond immediately; instead, together with the other two, he formed a seal, Wu‑Wei‑Si‑Yin.

"Three Temporal Light Formation!"

After the three simultaneously cast the Yin seal, three beams of blue light burst forth, intertwining to form a hemispherical dome that enveloped the four, isolating them from the outside.

Once the formation solidified, Hui and Da Huo exchanged a glance, then swiftly exited the formation, hiding at a distance to keep watch.

Within the Barrier, Orochimaru, intrigued, examined the unfamiliar formation and exclaimed, "Truly worthy of the thousand‑year ninja clan, its depth is unimaginable~"

Then a greedy thought rose in his mind: if he could obtain the Uchiha clan's depth, it might greatly aid his research.

"Lord Orochimaru, we'll discuss these later; I have many questions I hope you can advise on."

Shisui kept his focus; the tomoe in his eye slowly rotated, taking the shape of shuriken.

"Gaga~"

As his words ended, no action was seen, and dozens of crows circled the bewildered Orochimaru.

Orochimaru grew puzzled, not grasping Shisui's meaning, and had to watch Shisui's position while cautiously guarding against the surrounding crows.

Seeing his caution, Shisui whispered, "Lord Orochimaru, this is meaningless; my genjutsu doesn't necessarily need to be activated through the eyes."

"What?"

Orochimaru's expression froze; he suddenly looked up as several crows flew past his eyes, each reflecting a pupil like a shuriken within the crows' eyes.

The sky turned a scarlet red.

"Damn!"

Moonlight was cold, the east wind howled; Hui and Da Huo lingered at a distance only briefly, and the formation dissolved under their astonished gazes.

The moment the formation ended, Orochimaru fled toward the distance without hesitation.

"This"

Hui scratched his head, curious about what they discussed inside, but it was clearly not a time for idle chat.

"Help him erase the traces; we'll take another route."

Shisui covered his eyes, turned around, sensed someone approaching from afar, and whispered an order.

"Yes!"

The two responded with a voice, then each set to work; after finishing, they headed in another direction, returning empty‑handed only at dawn.

On the way back, the three encountered a ninja wearing a monkey mask; the boy had a short brown haircut, and the familiar cold aura made Shisui recognize his identity.

"Root?"

But he paid it little heed, and swiftly returned to Konoha with the two; by the time they arrived, the news of Orochimaru's defection had already spread throughout the Village.

The Third Hokage seemed as if a withered twenty‑year‑old after one night, his body hunched, pondering something unknown.

In the office, the three original assistants were gone, leaving only Danzo, but a Sarutobi Shinzusuke had appeared.

"We're sorry, Lord Orochimaru is highly experienced; we cannot track him accurately," Shisui bowed his head and reported the result.

Danzo, upon hearing the result, leaned his body back slightly, then closed his eyes in meditation, ignoring it.

The Third Hokage sighed, made no accusations, and merely covered his forehead, feeling bewildered.

Why did all three disciples leave him? Though only slightly confused, the Third Hokage quickly adjusted his mindset and ordered Shinzusuke, "Issue a bounty mission to hunt down Orochimaru; you must bring him back."

Orochimaru holds so many of Konoha's secrets; we must not let him fall into enemy hands.

"Yes!"

After speaking, he turned to Shisui, his expression slightly softer, and said, "You should go back and rest; the Village's recent stability now depends on you."

"Yes, Third Hokage."

Shisui nodded, but did not leave immediately; instead he glanced at the Third Hokage, who seemed about to speak, hesitated a moment, then said, "Please, Third Hokage, take good care of your health."

The Third Hokage was startled, then managed a rare smile, "Don't worry."

Their brief conversation caused Danzo's brows to knit; he opened his eyes, watched Shisui's departing back, and felt displeased.

Shisui ignored it, and after leaving the Hokage Building, hurried toward the clan grounds.

"Lord Orochimaru actually defected; didn't the ANBU already capture him? How could he still escape the Village?"

"Who knows? I heard even the Third Hokage couldn't stop Orochimaru; he's the Village's last of the Legendary Sannin."

"Even the Hokage couldn't block him; what if this rogue ninja defects to an enemy nation?"

"At least he's a disciple of the Third Hokage; he shouldn't… right?"

"Impossible, it's all a misunderstanding; Lord Orochimaru could never betray the Village!"

Listening to the villagers' discussion, Shisui realized that Orochimaru's departure not only deprived Konoha of a high‑level combatant, but that the real turmoil was just beginning.

(End of Chapter)