Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 146: Orochimaru and Uchiha Obito’s Actions

Nagato wasn't particularly naive.

Both he and Konan had used aliases.

Nagato registered as "Zero," and Konan as "White Tiger."

As for Deva Path Pain, he simply used his real name, "Pain." To any observer, their registration appeared completely normal—even Jiraiya couldn't detect any issues.

"Pain..."

Jiraiya frowned in thought.

"The way they move is ridiculously arrogant..."

Kakashi glanced at the surveillance monitors, where the Amegakure team—one of the best-performing squads—was swiftly making its way through the Forest of Death.

Clearly...

Either their sensory abilities were exceptional...

Or they simply didn't consider the other examinees a threat.

Or perhaps...

It was both.

While they pondered, a Konoha ninja rushed in with a report from the second phase of the Chunin Exams.

"Lord Jiraiya, something's happened!"

Indeed.

Something had happened.

And it was serious.

Konoha ninja had discovered three bodies—three ninja, their faces completely melted away by a strange jutsu.

"Face-Stealing Jutsu..."

When Jiraiya arrived at the scene, his expression darkened.

He immediately thought of an old teammate.

"This technique... It's Orochimaru's..."

Face-Stealing Jutsu.

This jutsu erased a person's face, allowing the caster to graft it onto themselves—making it the perfect infiltration technique.

It was nearly undetectable.

Very few in the ninja world knew how to perform it. In fact, Jiraiya had only ever seen one person use it before.

Orochimaru.

The expressions of the Konoha ninja changed instantly.

Orochimaru...

Had he really infiltrated the Chunin Exams?

Even though he had defected from Konoha long ago, his influence still lingered over the village.

Especially in recent months, when he orchestrated a Four-Tails Incident in Konoha, manipulating Mizuki into causing havoc.

Although other high-ranking rogue ninja, such as Itachi or Obito, had also caused serious damage in Konoha, Orochimaru was still considered the most dangerous.

"Even Anko agrees..."

A nearby ninja reported Anko Mitarashi's assessment.

"She believes Orochimaru has infiltrated the Chunin Exams and is already tracking him down."

"She's what?!"

Jiraiya was startled by her recklessness and immediately rushed toward the Forest of Death.

There was no way Anko could handle Orochimaru alone.

In theory...

Only another Sannin could take on a Sannin.

But...

What was Orochimaru really planning here?

Jiraiya's muscular frame blurred as he sprinted through the forest, a growing unease settling in his mind.

Could Orochimaru be here to trigger another Four-Tails Incident?

If Konoha suffered another such disaster during the Chunin Exams, Jiraiya couldn't even begin to imagine the chaos it would cause across the entire ninja world...

And the worst part...

Jiraiya didn't yet know that this time, things were different.

Last time, Minato's final failsafe had barely managed to stop the Four-Tails from breaking free inside Naruto.

But if it happened again...

Jiraiya's face tensed as he pushed forward, his speed increasing.

Meanwhile, as Konoha ninja cleaned up the bodies, Kakashi suddenly noticed something unusual.

"...It's not just Orochimaru."

Lifting his forehead protector, Kakashi revealed his Sharingan, his face darkening.

"There's... Genjutsu residue."

Since learning that his Kamui Mangekyō Sharingan was linked to Uchiha Obito's own Kamui dimension, Kakashi had been training his eye extensively.

Because that Sharingan...

Might be the key to defeating Obito.

And now, he recognized the Genjutsu signature on the bodies.

His fingers traced the marks on a corpse's neck, his frown deepening.

"...Obito."

"He's here too."

Kakashi couldn't ignore this.

He didn't know what his old friend was up to...

But it definitely wasn't good.

Could it be...

Another attempt to trigger the Four-Tails Incident?

After all...

Both Obito and Orochimaru were S-rank rogue ninja.

Both had orchestrated past attacks on Konoha.

And now, they were working together.

Was this their real plan?

Kakashi clenched his fists.

"The last time Orochimaru tried this, he failed."

"If they're working together now..."

"...Then this time, they won't fail."

And worse—Naruto was right here in the exams.

If another Four-Tails Incident erupted now, Konoha wouldn't be able to contain it.

Jiraiya couldn't fathom the destruction Orochimaru might cause.

And Kakashi couldn't believe that his old friend, Obito, would go this far.

His Sharingan spun.

He had to stop this.

Inside the Forest of Death.

Indeed...

Obito had infiltrated Konoha.

And he was working alongside Orochimaru.

After all, Shigen had ordered Obito to keep an eye on Orochimaru.

But of course, Obito wasn't going to waste time actually watching him.

Instead, their alliance became more cooperative.

Obito followed closely behind Orochimaru, glancing lazily toward the resting Team 7.

"...The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is here," Obito muttered.

"The Akatsuki needs him for their Tailed Beast plan."

"If you plan on hurting him..."

"...Neither Shigen nor I will let you."

Orochimaru, wearing his straw hat, smirked.

"Oh, don't worry," he chuckled.

"I'm only interested in one of those little brats."

"...Sasuke, huh?"

Obito wasn't surprised.

He knew Orochimaru wouldn't be interested in Sakura.

Scoffing, he smirked.

"That brat's talent isn't even close to Itachi's."

While Shigen seemed to favor Sasuke, Obito had always downplayed the boy's potential.

At seventeen, Sasuke was only a Special Jonin.

At seventeen, Itachi already wielded the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Orochimaru licked his lips greedily.

"You're only interested in his body, huh?"

"A backup vessel, just in case," Orochimaru admitted, smiling.

"It wouldn't hurt to have a spare—just in case my true plan fails."

"Hmph."

Obito scoffed again.

Then he warned, "Just be careful."

"If Itachi finds out, you won't get far."

"Besides..."

Shigen also had his eyes on Sasuke.

If Orochimaru made a move, he'd be making two enemies instead of one.

But Orochimaru just laughed.

"Relax."

"I'm only here to observe his talent."

Even if Orochimaru needed a new vessel, he wasn't stupid enough to make a move now.

Not when Shigen was watching.

"That brat..."

"...I'll consider him a trophy for after we succeed."

Orochimaru's gaze shifted to Obito, his smirk deepening.

"There shouldn't be any problem with that, right?"

"...Do what you want."

Obito couldn't care less about Sasuke's fate.

All that mattered was this:

As long as Orochimaru successfully resurrected the past Hokage, helping him eliminate Shigen...

Then Obito would sacrifice anyone.

Once he activated the Infinite Tsukuyomi...

The entire world would fall under his control.

Sasuke, Orochimaru, even himself—none of it mattered.

Only the dream world mattered.

"This is perfect..."

Orochimaru smirked, forming hand seals.

"If that boy's talent is good enough..."

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