Accountability

"Interesting, why do you have time to come to my place?"

Mizuki, who works as a manager in a building built among high mountains, was somewhat surprised to see Kakashi coming to see him.

This is the eastern stronghold of Orochimaru's forces. It takes about four days to walk from Otogakure Village. If you run, you can reach it in less than half a day.

Since it was still winter, most of the wild beasts were sleeping in their lairs, making the mountains look extremely empty and deserted.

Because the building is also built in a relatively hidden place in the mountains, it will not be easily noticed. As long as you are not too unlucky, you will basically not encounter any battles here.

Moreover, no one has nothing to do and comes here to find trouble in a barren land.

"I just came here to check on the situation on your side. The ninja world is not peaceful recently."

Kakashi sat on the sofa familiarly, as if he was the manager here, not paying any attention to Mizuki's slightly unhappy eyes.

"Chun, please go out first. Just leave this guy to me to entertain him."

After driving away his fiancée who was lingering in the living room, Minato sat down on the sofa opposite Kakashi.

"It seems that you are living a good life here."

Kakashi glanced around and said.

"Huh, it's just a completely abandoned stronghold. The people detained here are ordinary prisoners, or guys who have been forgotten by Orochimaru. They are not even qualified to go to Orochimaru's operating table."

Mizuki sarcastically poured himself a cup of hot water. There was no heating device here, and there was no room for enjoyment.

Being thrown here means that you won't be able to see Orochimaru all year round. More often than not, Orochimaru sends envoys to inspect and see if there are any management problems.

The only time you can see Orochimaru is when the person in charge of the four bases goes to Otogakure to report to Orochimaru.

However, due to the abandoned nature of the Eastern Stronghold, he is the least popular among the stronghold managers.

Compared to other base managers, he has the least qualifications here under Orochimaru.

Although he is confident in his strength, he is not inferior to other base managers.

"That's why people here can save a small life."

"So, what about you? What did you find out about Orochimaru?"

Mizuki continued to ask.

Being placed in an abandoned stronghold by Orochimaru means that his work, or mission, will be extremely difficult to complete.

Because the base manager is basically unable to leave the base and move freely without a summons.

Although the position is high and powerful, it also loses the convenience of free movement.

"We have already discovered something, but this guy's ability to dig 'holes' is no worse than that of the one we are loyal to in the Kingdom of Ghosts. In other words, this is a common problem of superiors, cunning rabbits have three holes. Also

Before leaving Konoha, he liked to dig holes everywhere for emergencies."

Kakashi sighed with emotion.

It is simply impossible to detect all the branch strongholds of Orochimaru's forces in a short period of time.

These strongholds are far apart, and regardless of country or environment, no one knows how many holes Orochimaru has dug in the years since he left Konoha.

Some strongholds are not on the list, but they are more important than the four strongholds in the southeast, northwest and northwest.

Inside those strongholds, the secrets hidden are even more important.

"It doesn't matter, just add my name when the time comes... For example, 'With my best efforts and my cooperation regardless of life safety, I discovered most of Orochimaru's secrets.' In a report similar to this, I

I wouldn’t mind at all.”

Mizuki nodded and asked Kakashi.

"You really don't know how to be polite at all."

Kakashi was speechless.

"There is no way. My talent as a ninja can only be considered mediocre, and there is no blood limit. If I want to climb to a high position, I can only use this method. And with your ability, you may be qualified to compete.

That position... I am investing in advance. After all, you are too weak around me."

Mizuki smiled, giving people a sinister and annoying feeling.

Thinking correctly, completing tasks and working hard have always been his life mottos.

The path to promotion in Konoha has come to nothing. In the next path, only Kakashi can support him to take a further step.

Otherwise, with his ability that is neither high nor low, reaching this level, it is basically the end.

But he still has most of his life left, and he doesn't want to be in an embarrassing situation all the time.

Keep forging ahead and fighting for your life.

He also doesn't think his values ​​are shameful.

"It's too early to say such a thing. Besides, it depends on Sasuke's progress."

Kakashi was making tea for himself leisurely, feeling no urgency about what was coming next.

"Speaking of which, can you not watch from Sasuke's side? Orochimaru is a guy who eats people without spitting out their bones."

Mizuki asked.

Sasuke is concerned about his promotion possibility, so he should be concerned about it, right?

"He is not a child either... Moreover, in the past year, his strength has improved extremely rapidly. Even when I meet him now, I find it very difficult. It is better to let him have some free space."

After all, he couldn't keep an eye on Sasuke all the time.

Without a sense of crisis, Sasuke's growth rate will also decrease. This is not what Kakashi wants to see, and similarly, Sasuke may not be able to accept such a thing.

Compared to when he just graduated, Sasuke is now a ninja who can independently decide on his own future life. It is no longer suitable to treat him as a child who needs to be taken care of.

"Is that so? He is indeed a ninja who has inherited the name of 'Uchiha'. The Blood Successor Kaikai is such an enviable power... Why didn't my ancestors study the Blood Successor Kaikai?"

Mizuki sighed.

Whether it is secret techniques or blood inheritance limits, they are very powerful inheritances in the ninja world. They have more heritage than ninjas born from civilian backgrounds.

Although the former can be relatively popular and does not require the corresponding bloodline to perform, it can also increase the upper limit of a ninja.

Most ninjas are still struggling at the bottom, unable to make any progress.

"This kind of thing depends on fate. If you want to achieve the limit of blood inheritance, it is not impossible. For example, you can fuse two attributes of chakra and create it yourself, or you can voluntarily participate in the wood escape experiment. No matter which one succeeds

, will make your strength skyrocket."

The former, as the independent pioneer of the Blood Succession Limits, is equivalent to the source of the Blood Succession Limits. A ninja who can achieve this level cannot be a weakling.

Although there are certain risks in the latter, this technological ghost country is already quite mature and there is no danger to life... but the probability of its birth makes people a little desperate.

Over the years in Konoha, there has only been one awakened person, Tenzo, and the situation in the Kingdom of Demons is not much better.

This is a fundamental change in the source of a ninja's power, and can even be passed on to one's own descendants... A hundred years later, there will be a miniature bloodline limited family. The probability of success is naturally not too high.

The possibility of one in 10,000 is considered high. The real probability is lower than this.

After continuing to chat for a while, Kakashi stood up and left.

"Be careful lately. Kumogakure's ninjas are targeting Orochimaru. They have destroyed several Orochimaru strongholds before. They want to use this as a breakthrough to uncover information about the organization and recover the lost two tails."

After speaking, Kakashi took out a scroll and a white metal pill box.

Mizuki took the scroll and the medicine box and weighed the contents.

“The preparations are really thorough.”

Mizuki smiled.

He had also heard a little bit about Kumogakure's actions. Some of Orochimaru's strongholds had been hit by disasters and were almost completely destroyed.

Only the manager guarding the stronghold saw that the situation was not good and managed to escape, but was seriously injured and died in the end.

During this period, Orochimaru's power was reduced a lot because of Kumogakure.

Although his environment here is hidden, there is no guarantee that he will not be investigated by Kumogakure's Anbu.

The intelligence and operational capabilities of these powerful ninja villages cannot be underestimated.

Orochimaru's reputation can only scare those small countries.

"If you, the manager, die, things will be quite troublesome. In addition, with the shrinkage of Orochimaru's power, many managers have been taken over by Kumogakure ninjas. Maybe you will be promoted here by the end of this year.

possibility."

Kakashi mentioned this possibility.

Kumogakure's attack resulted in the death of many capable men under Orochimaru. As long as Mizuki can hold his own, there is a high possibility that he will be promoted and go to guard key strongholds.

"Then wish me good luck. I also hope that Kumogakure's attack will be more intense. It would be best if all the branch stronghold managers except me die."

Mizuki put away the scroll and the medicine box, laughed, and cursed the fellow managers.

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Sitting on a bench on the park path, Naruto's right arm was wrapped with a bandage, and he stared at the slope in front of him, and the river that ran through the park and extended into the woods, which was now frozen.
To be continued...