The prolonged debate inside the Hokage's office showed no signs of resolution. Initially, Uchiha Yue held a modicum of interest, secretly observing from afar, but that curiosity quickly waned. After all, his current power had transcended the stage where the words of a few Kage-level shinobi or their combined forces could significantly sway him.
Just as he'd expressed earlier when dismissing Jiraiya, regardless of the path those people chose, the ending had already been determined. Their deliberations held no weight in the larger picture. And with his present strength, Yue didn't require their validation nor feared their judgment. His power stood apart from numbers, titles, or tradition.
Since their choices wouldn't affect him, Yue saw no reason to waste time listening to their inconsequential chatter. That time was better spent honing his abilities, sharpening the edge of his ever-evolving power.
Notably, the space-time technique he used to send Jiraiya away had not existed before; it was an original jutsu of his own creation. By accelerating his understanding of the Flying Thunder God Technique through his illusory domain—where subjective time flowed differently—and integrating Obito's Kamui abilities, he had forged something entirely new.
Unlike the standard Flying Thunder God, his version required no pre-set seals to teleport. Simultaneously, it addressed Kamui's well-known flaws: the slow activation and inability to sustain chained teleportation during close-range combat. With his heightened sensory field, Yue could now teleport instantaneously anywhere within its range, unconstrained by distance markers.
Naturally, while he could teleport freely, dragging someone else across space still required either expanding his perceptual field or using a medium to carry them through—just as he had done with Jiraiya. The ease of that attack stemmed from the microscopic surveillance spores Yue had scattered across the Uchiha district, forming a covert yet omnipresent network.
By fusing Minato's precision, Obito's dimensional warping, and his own illusory acceleration, the resulting technique far exceeded its components in versatility and power. It didn't just elevate Yue's fighting potential—it made him far harder to predict or contain.
Time passed swiftly.
Whatever conclusion Jiraiya and the retired Third Hokage might reach, Yue paid them no more mind.
As dusk deepened into night, an unexpected presence intruded upon the Uchiha district.
"Hm?" Yue, halting his training immediately, furrowed his brows. "This cold and massive chakra… easily Kage-level. The Uchiha are popular tonight."
Without hesitation, he vanished from the training grounds. Almost simultaneously, on the outskirts of the Uchiha compound, just as a cloaked figure crept through the shadows, Yue materialized in front of them—cutting off their path like a phantom.
"Was that the Flying Thunder God Technique? Remarkable."
The intruder reflexively leapt backward, keeping distance. A low, raspy voice followed the movement, thick with surprise.
"I see. You're Orochimaru," Yue said, eyes narrowing. "Two of the Sannin in a single day. I should feel honored."
"But tell me… a traitor like you, back in Konoha? In our district? Are you in league with Sarutobi Hiruzen again, planning to move against the Uchiha? Or did you come here chasing power, only to dig your own grave?"
Recognizing the snake-like features and the unmistakable aura, Yue's voice grew cold. Despite his curiosity, his tone conveyed contempt.
He was more than familiar with Orochimaru's notorious ability to survive virtually any fatal blow—an infuriating persistence Yue had studied extensively. Yet, however slippery, Orochimaru's actual strength paled in comparison to his own. Yue had long stopped viewing him as a true threat.
"Hehehe… so you're Uchiha Yue," Orochimaru hissed, licking his lips. "Fascinating…"
He didn't answer the accusations. Instead, his golden, slit-pupiled eyes gleamed with undisguised hunger. Then, with no warning, the ground beneath Yue erupted—massive serpents exploding upward, attempting to constrict his body.
"Hmph!"
Yue didn't even blink. With a single, forceful stomp, his chakra surged violently—raw, precise, and overwhelming. The monstrous pythons were instantly pulverized into nothing more than bloody pulp, crushed into the earth as if by an invisible weight.
"You're in a hurry to die, I see."
His Sharingan spun swiftly from three tomoe into the elegant, curved design of the Eternal Mangekyō. His voice was flat, his gaze unwavering. Each step toward Orochimaru radiated a sense of doom.
Orochimaru did not move. Cold sweat slid down his temples.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
He had lost all ability to act. His limbs wouldn't respond. His breathing was shallow. The moment their eyes met, he'd been snared.
Yue's genjutsu was not just Mangekyō-grade—it was beyond.
Just like when Orochimaru once tried to steal Itachi's body during his time in Akatsuki—only to be instantly subdued by a single glance—he had underestimated a higher-tier Sharingan. And this time, the pupil power surpassed even that.
To stare into Uchiha Yue's eyes… was suicide.
"Hehehe… Such overwhelming pupil power…" Orochimaru laughed weakly, trying to remain composed. "But surely… you don't intend to kill me outright? I have no intention of opposing you. In fact, I've brought sensitive intelligence on Konoha's inner workings. Perhaps we can… cooperate?"
Yue's footsteps didn't falter.
"Oh? You can still speak?" he said with a tinge of irony. "Looks like my illusions still lack the finesse of Itachi's… even if my raw power eclipses his."
He spoke calmly, unaffected by Orochimaru's offer.
Each word pushed Orochimaru further toward panic.
"Damn it… Am I… Orochimaru… truly going to die here tonight?" The thought screamed in his mind, a realization more terrifying than any technique. This was no ordinary Uchiha before him.
This was something else entirely.
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