Chapter 117: Terra's Ambition

The Uchiha compound, inside Uchiha Li’s room.

After thoroughly crushing Itachi’s pride, Uchiha Li returned to his room.

For him, Itachi’s “instruction” had only just begun. It was still far from over.

From now on, he intended to spur Itachi on again and again, until his image was engraved deeply into Itachi’s heart.

That was something for the days ahead, however, and Uchiha Li was in no hurry.

At that moment, he was seated in a chair, writing furiously.

After making Kakashi the successor to the Apostles, he was also preparing to begin publishing the second volume.

After estimating the time, Uchiha Li felt that by the time the second volume was released, Itachi should have been tempered enough.

Once Itachi became Terra’s fourth Apostle, Terra’s foundations would essentially be complete.

With four Apostles, Terra would have enough strength to maintain its operations. By then, there would be no need to continue hiding as they did now.

Instead, they could move openly throughout the shinobi world, gathering everything capable of helping Terra recover.

Uchiha Li understood perfectly well that as Terra’s restoration progressed, the amount of energy it required would inevitably increase.

Unclaimed and easily absorbed energy sources like the Dragon Veins and the Greer Stone were rare in the shinobi world. It was impossible to rely on such things forever.

Perhaps, in the future, Terra’s restoration would require even greater sources of energy—natural energy, for instance, or the chakra of the Tailed Beasts.

It might not even be enough to absorb the Tailed Beasts individually. They might need to absorb the Ten-Tails itself.

Perhaps even the resources of the shinobi world would prove insufficient, forcing them to seek out…

The Ōtsutsuki clan!

If things truly reached that point, his current strength would be little more than a drop in the ocean.

So although his strength was already considerable and Terra’s Apostles were increasing one after another, it was still far from enough.

He needed to grow stronger himself. The other Apostles also needed sufficient power to share the burden of restoring Terra.

“The road ahead is long, and the burden is heavy.”

Uchiha Li sighed, temporarily setting down his pen as he prepared to rest for a while.

Just then, a strange noise suddenly came from outside the window, drawing his attention.

He walked to the window and looked down, where he saw a white snake.

The snake flicked its tongue as it calmly gazed at him.

“Orochimaru.”

The moment Uchiha Li saw the white snake, he knew who had arrived. After all, this was not the first time he had experienced such a visit.

However, it had already been more than two years since Orochimaru’s last visit.

After their transaction back then, the only further contact between them had been Uchiha Li purchasing a batch of experimental equipment from Orochimaru. Since then, they had not been in touch.

He had not expected Orochimaru to appear now, and he had no idea what the man wanted.

Without thinking any further, Uchiha Li leaped directly from the window and followed the white snake out of the compound.

After winding through several paths, man and snake entered a thicket.

Uchiha Li felt they had gone far enough and was just about to greet Orochimaru through the snake when, unexpectedly, the white snake transformed directly into smoke.

A figure then emerged from within it.

“Long time no see, Teacher Orochimaru. I never expected you to come in person.”

As he spoke, Uchiha Li casually swept his gaze over Orochimaru’s clothing, pretending not to pay it much attention.

The reason was that Orochimaru was now wearing clothes Uchiha Li had once seen on Kakuzu two years earlier.

The Akatsuki’s cloak, patterned with red clouds.

At the thought of the Akatsuki, Uchiha Li’s heart tightened slightly.

As he had gradually grown stronger, the Akatsuki had also been expanding little by little.

Although the two sides had yet to develop many conflicts of interest, that could change at any moment.

In particular, the energy sources Terra needed for its restoration would almost certainly make the Tailed Beasts unavoidable targets.

While Uchiha Li observed Orochimaru, Orochimaru was also examining him.

They had not seen each other for two years, and Orochimaru could sense that something about Uchiha Li had changed.

Standing before him, Uchiha Li now gave him a faint, almost imperceptible feeling of pressure.

Such a transformation in bearing and aura was not something an ordinary person could achieve easily.

“Li.” Orochimaru’s hoarse voice held little emotion. “It seems the First Hokage’s cells have brought you considerable benefits.”

Rice Ball Book Search

Uchiha Li’s expression did not change. He replied calmly, “Teacher Orochimaru, may I ask what brought you here this time?”

He knew that Orochimaru had originally studied the First Hokage’s cells because of Wood Release, a kekkei genkai.

Later, Orochimaru had discovered that the cells could be used to neutralize the Sharingan. He had therefore created an arm from them for Danzo, allowing him to suppress the Sharingan’s power.

Thus, Uchiha Li was not surprised that Orochimaru could guess the First Hokage’s cells had strengthened him.

What Orochimaru could never have imagined, however, was that the cells’ true effect on the Sharingan would only become apparent once the Mangekyo Sharingan was involved.

“Li, you are as direct as ever.” Orochimaru did not mind Uchiha Li’s coldness. Changing the subject, he said, “Then I will be frank. How is the intelligence I requested coming along?”

Two years earlier, he had asked Uchiha Li to gather intelligence on Shisui and Itachi.

At the time, Uchiha Li had said that he needed some time, so Orochimaru had never come to demand it.

Now that so much time had passed, he felt Uchiha Li should have gathered nearly everything.

Hearing this, Uchiha Li nodded.

“The intelligence has naturally been collected.”

He paused before continuing.

“But, Teacher, I still believe you will not have an opportunity. The two of them spend nearly all their time in the village.”

“The village is no longer what it used to be. More importantly, our clan head possesses the Mangekyo Sharingan. If you act rashly, I fear you will be the one to suffer.”

Uchiha Li was not offering the warning out of genuine concern for Orochimaru. Orochimaru surely understood the situation himself.

He was merely mentioning it in passing, fulfilling the duty of a “good student.”

Upon hearing Uchiha Li’s warning, Orochimaru’s expression turned cold as he weighed his options.

Although he desperately desired to obtain either Shisui’s or Itachi’s body, he also knew perfectly well that Uchiha Li was speaking the truth.

The changes in Konoha over the past two years had long since spread throughout the shinobi world.

The Uchiha were now bound to the village, while Minato was a young and vigorous Hokage. Orochimaru truly would find it difficult to act.

Unless he could persuade Pain’s side to assist him—but that was impossible.

The Akatsuki was still in the process of recruiting members. Pain had no reason to support him.

With that thought, Orochimaru gave a cold snort.

“Let it go for now. Continue gathering intelligence on the two of them.”

After a brief pause, Orochimaru spoke again.

“There is actually one more matter I came here to discuss.”

“Please, go on.”

Uchiha Li leaned forward slightly and listened attentively.

He was extremely curious about what had brought Orochimaru to him at this particular moment.

Orochimaru slowly began, “I recently joined an organization. They are currently recruiting new members, and I believe your strength would make you an excellent fit…”

As Uchiha Li listened to what Orochimaru said next, a strange expression appeared in his heart.

He had never expected Orochimaru’s purpose this time to be recruiting someone for the Akatsuki.

And the person he wanted to recruit was him.