Naruto: Uchiha's Intelligence Dealer

A tense silence hung in the air as the meeting began under the dim light of the orphanage's main room.

"For some reason," said Aburame Tatsuma, standing behind Danzo, his tone cold and emotionless, "a clan within the village has developed a deteriorating relationship with Konoha. After this intel reached Iwagakure, they seem to be preparing for a large-scale invasion."

His words echoed ominously. Across the room, facing them with clenched fists, sat Yakushi Nono, the current head of the orphanage.

"We don't yet know if the information is accurate." Tatsuma continued flatly. "Which is why we need you to investigate."

Nono's nails dug into her palms. Her voice was steady, but the resolve behind it burned fiercely. "You've come to the wrong person. I'm just the director of this orphanage now."

Danzo's brow furrowed slightly, his one visible eye narrowing. "Then perhaps you understand why the funding for your orphanage has been… delayed."

Tatsuma's cold voice followed immediately, like a shadow to Danzo's words. "The funds might eventually be processed. After all, it was a promise made by the Fourth Hokage. But this location is awfully remote. It would be a shame if you couldn't hire protection... What would you do if those funds were stolen? Or worse… if something happened to the children?"

Orochimaru stepped forward from the shadows, his smile wide and unnatural. "Children with unregistered identities... are quite useful, and I'm in great need of them."

He didn't finish the sentence, but the implication hung thick in the air. Nono's heart sank.

'I have to agree...'

She knew she could try and find another way to fund the orphanage. Perhaps appeal to Hiruzen or Tsunade. But the children…

As someone who had once served within Root herself, Nono understood exactly how they used orphans. She had witnessed firsthand how Danzo molded them—stripped of identity, brainwashed into emotionless tools of war, and at worst… used for inhuman experimentation.

'No matter what, I can't let that happen to them.'

"Hahh…" she exhaled softly. "I understand."

When your weakness is exposed, surrender comes quickly.

Danzo's only response was a slight nod. Orochimaru's grin widened, his serpentine eyes flickering with amusement.

"This mission has already cost me one operative," he said, stepping forward. "So I'll need compensation. One child... should suffice."

"No!"

Nono's voice cracked like a whip. She stood sharply, her chair skidding behind her.

Her orphanage—the children—were her redemption. The light she had clung to after crawling out of Root's darkness. They were not bargaining chips.

…

Outside the orphanage, Kabuto stood near the window, trembling with clenched fists. His expression twisted between helplessness and determination.

'I have to do something…'

*Pah!*

A sudden smack on his shoulder startled him. He whirled around, only to see the red-haired older brother who had invited him to barbecue days ago—Sora.

"You—"

Sora smiled casually. "Planning to rush in and offer yourself? Noble, but do you even understand what Root is?"

Kabuto looked down, voice quiet. "I don't care what it is. I just don't want the director to suffer anymore. I'm… I'm not important."

Sora stared into the building, his eyes narrowing. A shadow was moving—fast, large, and full of killing intent.

"Get out of the way." Sora muttered, gently pushing Kabuto aside.

The long sword strapped across his back hummed as it was drawn, and with a swift motion, he slashed.

*Bang!!*

*Shua!*

The wooden door exploded into splinters. A serpent-like appendage—Shadow Snake Hands—shot out to retaliate but was instantly severed in midair.

Sora winced.

'Too much power.'

His vitality, strength, and chakra had surged beyond control. The technique was successful, but the cost was precision. He frowned, thinking, 'Wait, did I just dislocate Kabuto's shoulder by accident earlier?'

Inside, Orochimaru's eyes glinted as his long, scarlet tongue flicked across his lips.

"Red hair… Uzumaki clan? You're not one of Konoha's official shinobi. Hm... I'll enjoy turning you into material for my experiments."

Sora wrinkled his nose. "You're disgusting."

He moved both hands and threw out eight specialized kunai, each marked with the three-character seal of the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Though his aim was scattered—two towards the enemy, the rest landing across the room—he only needed one to hit.

Orochimaru chuckled. "That accuracy reminds me of that white-haired fool's sloppy style."

But the moment he noticed the formula etched onto the kunai, his pupils shrank.

"Flying Thunder God..."

*Poof!*

One of the kunai lodged in the ground, and before Orochimaru could react, Sora appeared behind him in a flash and plunged a blade into his heart.

"You guessed right, Orochimaru."

His voice whispered behind the Sannin's ear.

But Orochimaru didn't collapse. In fact, he simply turned his neck around unnaturally, his snake-like anatomy stretching so his head hovered beside Sora.

*Swish!*

The Kusanagi no Tsurugi erupted from Orochimaru's mouth and drove straight into Sora's neck—cutting horizontally.

*Puff!*

Smoke exploded. A Shadow Clone.

"You were never my target."

Sora reappeared behind Danzo, kunai in hand, striking with precision.

*Bang!*

But the attack was intercepted. A long sword clanged against his kunai. Standing in front of Danzo was Aburame Tatsuma, completely unreadable.

"You weren't looking at me." Sora muttered. "You were watching Danzo the entire time. You're loyal, I'll give you that."

Tatsuma didn't blink. "Root's mission is to protect Danzo-sama. The Flying Thunder God Technique may be fast, but speed alone isn't invincibility."

*Buzzzzz...*

A swarm of black insects poured from Tatsuma's body, spreading like a cloud to engulf Sora.

*Shua!*

Sora vanished again, reappearing just out of reach. "No, you don't understand the true terror of the Flying Thunder God."

*Bang!*

Flames erupted as he coated one of his kunai in fire chakra and hurled it toward Danzo.

*Clang!*

The first was blocked—but the second came immediately after.

Then the third.

*Shua!*

Sora teleported mid-throw, slicing Tatsuma from behind with his kunai.

*Puff!*

But again, a cloud of bugs burst forth. A Bug Clone.

"Uzumaki-kun." Orochimaru sneered, reemerging from the rubble. "What makes you think speed alone is enough?"

With a hand sign, several massive serpents burst forward, coiling around Sora.

*Shua!*

He vanished once more—and this time, reappeared behind the real Tatsuma.

*Snap!*

A clean slash. Blood sprayed as Tatsuma's arm fell to the ground. But Sora frowned.

That hit wasn't clean—it was deliberate.

Tatsuma had twisted slightly, accepting the hit as part of some deeper tactic.

"Hahh…"

Blood trickled down Tatsuma's chin, but he didn't flinch. His expression remained cold, even as pain began pooling around his nerves.

"For the chance to bind you… an arm is a fair price."

He raised his head. "Space-time ninjutsu gives you confidence. You only attacked because you believe you can flee whenever things go wrong."

"You've likely placed a marker somewhere outside. One jump and you vanish."

Sora hesitated for a split second. Then he felt it—something wriggling beneath his skin.

'Chakra... being drained?'

Tatsuma's eyes sharpened. "The parasitic insects I deployed earlier have already latched onto your chakra network. Now they're multiplying."

He didn't need to say more. As a member of the Aburame clan, Tatsuma wielded Konoha's most versatile and insidious secret techniques.

And right now, they were blooming inside Sora's chakra system like a silent plague.

*****

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