"Uehara, let's celebrate!"
Deidara held up a strange-looking clay bomb and shouted, "Celebrate you becoming the Alliance Commander-in-Chief, let's set off a grand fireworks display!"
Sasori of the Red Sand examined the clay bomb, his brow involuntarily furrowing, "Deidara, what are you holding?"
"C4·Garuda!"
Deidara had one hand holding the clay bomb, his palm cradling his chin, as he pouted, "This was a Ninjutsu I prepared to kill Uchiha Itachi, but I never got the chance to use it!"
The power of this Jutsu is very strong.
Unfortunately, Deidara never had the chance to use it.
Ever since Deidara created the Garuda, it had been sitting in his ninja pouch, and he never had the opportunity to use it.
Now Deidara plans to use it as a big firework.
"You could save it for Sasuke..."
Uehara Naraku rubbed his temples, declining Deidara's silly idea of celebrating his appointment as Alliance Commander-in-Chief.
Because he has more important things to do right now.
The first thing, naturally, is to check in on Yakushi Kabuto's progress.
Uehara Naraku slowly raised his fingers, and his will descended upon the Reanimation Minato beside Kabuto, "Kabuto, now that I'm the Ninja Alliance Commander-in-Chief, when can we expect the enemy I'm to face to be revived?"
Uehara Naraku had prepared a wide enough stage for Orochimaru, had set grand enough targets, had prepared strong enough forces, and had arranged terrifying enough enemies...
Now all that's missing is Orochimaru, the main actor!
Yakushi Kabuto: "..."
Uehara Naraku really knows how to say the most inhuman things!
But now is indeed the time, given the characteristics of the fusion of White Zetsu and the first-generation cells, as long as there are enough first-generation cells, White Zetsu's body can withstand the implantation of the Rinnegan's power.
Kabuto glanced at the White Zetsu in the lab, adjusted his glasses, and said, "It should be within a few days. I'm a bit worried, though, what if Orochimaru's body collapses right after the implantation..."
"No worries."
Uehara Naraku said indifferently, "Doesn't Orochimaru still have a soul? Anyway, body collapse is something Orochimaru should already be used to!"
Yakushi Kabuto: "..."
Orochimaru is indeed quite used to that kind of thing.
But it can't be a reason to let Orochimaru endure the pain of body collapse, right? It's quite troublesome to remake a body at that point...
Besides, Orochimaru can't live for many days after he's resurrected...
Moreover, Orochimaru has been holed up in Ryuchi Cave for such a long time, shouldn't we give him a strong body to let him enjoy it well?
After thinking for a while, Kabuto offered a reason, "If the body collapses, it would affect Orochimaru-sama's ability to extract the Chakra of the Eight-tail and Nine-tail, and would it affect his ability to become the Ten-tailed Jinchuriki?"
"It shouldn't affect it, right?"
Uehara Naraku thought for a while and gave a definite answer, "As long as Orochimaru becomes the Ten-tailed Jinchuriki in time, his body shouldn't collapse... uh, perhaps his consciousness might collapse faster than his body."
Uehara Naraku thought back to the Fourth Great Ninja War, where the first Ten-tailed Jinchuriki, Uchiha Obito, was nearly consumed by the consciousness of the Ten-tails...
Even the resolute Uchiha Obito almost got consumed, could Orochimaru handle not getting consumed by the Ten-tails?
Uehara Naraku suddenly felt a bit worried.
What if Orochimaru's consciousness gets consumed?
Should he, as General Uehara, step in to take on the Ten-tails?
Right now, Uehara Naraku is overthinking a bit, because what Orochimaru would think about freeing himself from the Ten-tails' will in the future is something Uehara would never imagine...
"Should be able to hold on for a while, right?"
Uehara Naraku stroked his chin, thought for a moment, then decided to stop overthinking and just instructed, "Forget it, as long as Orochimaru can help us revive Uchiha Madara and Nagato-sama before his body or consciousness collapses, that's all we need..."
"Alright then..."
Kabuto reluctantly agreed and said quietly, "Then I'll implement the plan to resurrect Orochimaru-sama in the next few days..."
"Can you be sure to convince him to trust you?"
Uehara Naraku's voice took on a serious tone, "If you're not confident, I can come over to ensure your safety... It's not like Orochimaru is our only option!"
"Rest assured, Lord Naraku."
Kabuto's voice lowered, with a hint of amusement in the whisper, "I'll convince him... Besides, who else could Orochimaru-sama trust besides me?"
"Hmm..."
Uehara Naraku fell into thought again, and after a moment, he asked, "Can you convince Orochimaru to trust me?"
"That... probably not."
Kabuto's voice held a subtle hesitation, as if he was holding back, "After all, there is no reason for Lord Naraku to help Orochimaru-sama, especially considering what you did to him before..."
Uehara Naraku sighed and said, "Sigh, what I did to Orochimaru in the past was a bit overboard indeed."
Yakushi Kabuto: "..."
Naraku-sama, have some decency!
What you did to Orochimaru, wasn't that a bit excessive?
Even someone as forgiving as Uzumaki Naruto might not be able to forgive you, let alone someone as vengeful as Orochimaru!
Betray someone once, apologize, and they may forgive you.
Betray them twice, apologize, and it might lead to a falling out.
Naraku-sama, you've wronged Orochimaru so many times, and even at his moments of pride, arrogance, and indulgence, you shattered his hopes and toyed with his life… if Orochimaru could forgive you, would he still be human!
Yakushi Kabuto sighed quietly, advising, "Naraku-sama, since, in your plan, Orochimaru-sama won't live long, there's no need for you to waste time on him, right?"
"You're right."
Uehara Naraku readily agreed, raising a concern of his own: "Will Orochimaru sell out my information? What if he reveals my secrets? I remember he saw me kill Uchiha Obito personally…"
"Naraku-sama, may I speak honestly?"
Yakushi Kabuto was a bit speechless, his voice even carrying a hint of helplessness: "If Naraku-sama's true identity is exposed, wouldn't that be the most exciting moment of this Ninja World War?"
"…You're right."
After nodding, Uehara Naraku sighed deeply: "Kabuto, do you know how I've lived these eight years?
For eight years, I've been both anticipating and fearing this day!
I long for the surprise and rage on everyone's faces when my identity is revealed, and their helpless despair; I fear that once my identity is exposed, there's no turning back… except to rule the Ninja World, there's no other choice!"
Yakushi Kabuto: "…"
Hearing this is truly infuriating…
For others, ruling the Ninja World is a lifelong dream, how did it become a helpless choice for Naraku-sama?
"Forget it, you wouldn't understand anyway."
Uehara Naraku shook his head and continued: "Leave Uchiha Madara to you for Reanimation, you can communicate with him in advance, and secretly reveal my identity, let him know I've always been on his side!"
"Yes."
Yakushi Kabuto respectfully agreed, so after betraying Orochimaru, the next person to fall victim would be Uchiha Madara?
"There's one more thing."
Uehara Naraku manipulated Namikaze Minato's will, continuing to issue orders using his body: "There's no need to keep Uchiha Itachi, find an opportunity to have him attack Uzumaki Naruto!
When you manipulate Uchiha Itachi to attack Uzumaki Naruto, he will surely have his will altered by Kotoamatsukami. I'll prepare two Summoning Beasts for you to deal with Uchiha Itachi.
Also, remember to use Uchiha Sasuke's life to threaten Itachi, ensuring he attacks Uzumaki Naruto as an enemy, and make sure to praise me a few more times!"
"Yes."
After silently grumbling for a moment, Yakushi Kabuto agreed, then continued: "Once I deal with Uchiha Itachi, I'll transplant Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan to Sasuke, allowing him to participate in this Ninja World War…"
This Naraku-sama…
Must he meticulously plan and make use of everyone completely?
"Precisely, that's the way."
Uehara Naraku praised: "However, the Uchiha Clan are all traitors, Sasuke might just defect to our side!"
Yakushi Kabuto couldn't help but show a slight smile: "Sasuke still thinks Naraku-sama is a good person, but he currently only wants to destroy Konoha…"
"Alright then!"
Uehara Naraku nodded, leaving a final order: "That Eight-tailed Jinchuriki Killer Bee seems to have a method to survive after extracting the Tailed Beast…
Leak some of your information to him, along with some highly beneficial information to me, and let him go back!"
"…Okay."
Yakushi Kabuto sighed deeply, finally unable to resist praising: "Truly… in Naraku-sama's eyes, everyone, regardless of their condition, has some use, even that value will be squeezed completely by Naraku-sama…"
Truly… inhumane!
After a moment of silence, Uehara Naraku continued: "I suspect you're mocking me, but I'm too lazy to argue with you now. Go handle the Reanimation of Senju Hashirama… have someone send me a White Zetsu sacrifice!"
After he finished speaking, Uehara Naraku severed the connection.
On the other side.
In a dark underground base.
Yakushi Kabuto adjusted his glasses and went to fetch a White Zetsu sacrifice, instructing Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Obito to deliver it to Uehara Naraku immediately.
After Minato and Uchiha Obito left.
Yakushi Kabuto slowly turned his gaze to another White Zetsu body lying in the laboratory, which he had prepared for Orochimaru.
This body was complete with everything, only missing the installation of the Rinnegan.
Yakushi Kabuto took out a small bottle containing the Rinnegan, slowly playing with it: "Orochimaru-sama, I can finally bring you out of despair with my own hands…"
After opening the bottle and taking out the Rinnegan, a gleam flashed in Yakushi Kabuto's eyes!
"Orochimaru-sama, I hope you will forgive me when you're about to rise to the peak once again, yet be forced to fall from the peak once more…"