- The Reincarnation World Where Only I Know the Storyline
- RWWOKS Chapter 124
“Stop!”
With that shout, a figure flashed into the scene like lightning.
Of course, if Fang Bo truly intended to kill Zaku, there wasn’t anyone who could prevent it. Fortunately, Fang Bo understood the importance of the situation.
Killing this guy would at best yield a purple-grade chest, but the cost would be completely offending Orochimaru.
Despite Zaku’s unimpressive strength, he was handpicked by Orochimaru as a sacrificial pawn.
A pawn intended for the **Impure World Reincarnation**.
From the moment the trio joined the Chūnin Exams, Orochimaru had planned to use them to summon past Hokage.
At this point in time, Orochimaru had yet to perfect the technique of cellular transplantation, so he had to resort to sacrificing his own village’s shinobi.
Without the presence of the First and Second Hokage, the Konoha Crush Plan would be a joke. No one understood Konoha’s hidden strength better than Orochimaru.
There was no way those second-rate ninjas from the Hidden Sand Village could defeat Konoha. From the very start, Orochimaru never expected them to succeed.
He intended to use Impure World Reincarnation to defeat his former teacher, followed by unleashing the First Hokage’s large-scale Wood Release to wipe out the battlefield.
Even at partial strength, Hashirama Senju was an overwhelming force. Not to mention, Orochimaru had a hidden ally within Konoha.
Understanding this, Fang Bo wisely chose to spare Zaku’s life, otherwise, a single bullet would’ve been enough to end him.
Seeing Fang Bo retract his weapon, Kabuto Yakushi let out a quiet sigh of relief.
His return to the Hidden Sound Village this time was primarily to check on Kimimaro’s condition. After the ambush on the Fourth Kazekage, the boy had reached a point of extreme exhaustion.
Forget fighting; it was uncertain if Kimimaro would even survive the year.
Orochimaru-sama’s intention was clear: to see if Kimimaro’s remaining life force could still be used to participate in the Konoha Crush Plan.
Just as he was heading to treat Kimimaro, Kabuto noticed the commotion in this area.
Since Zaku was one of Orochimaru’s chosen sacrifices, he couldn’t just stand by and watch him get killed, leading to his intervention.
“You’re from the Hidden Sound Village?” Fang Bo asked, feigning ignorance.
As one of the masterminds behind the Fourth Great Ninja War, and holder of the “Dream Master” title, Fang Bo recognized Kabuto immediately.
He hadn’t expected to see this guy so soon; he thought Kabuto would still be playing the role of a loyal Konoha ninja.
Kabuto nodded, and Fang Bo tossed him Orochimaru’s letter. He didn’t know its contents, and forcibly opening it could destroy the message.
For the sake of his hidden mission, Fang Bo chose to respect Orochimaru’s privacy.
After a long pause, Kabuto looked up, pushing his glasses up with his middle finger. That realistic but fake smile of his was infuriating.
“I understand. Welcome, Hiroki, to the Hidden Sound Village.”
Hiroki—that was the identity Orochimaru had given him. Whether this person had once existed or was entirely fabricated, Fang Bo didn’t care.
“Would you mind showing me around?” he asked.
“It would be my pleasure.”
Maintaining that fake smile, Kabuto gave him an elaborate tour of the village.
As for the injured Zaku lying on the ground, neither of them paid him any mind, showing just what kind of place the Hidden Sound Village really was.
The moment Fang Bo stepped inside the Hidden Sound Village, a familiar prompt echoed in his ears.
[Step 1: Arrive at the Hidden Sound Village (Completed)]
[Step 2: Find Your Teammates]
[Task Summary: To participate in the Chūnin Exams, you must find two suitable teammates.]
“Just as I expected.”
Interrupting Kabuto’s ongoing explanations, Fang Bo asked directly, “I need a list of your members. The more detailed, the better. He promised me this.”
As he spoke, Fang Bo revealed the **Destiny Token** in his hand, the ethereal glow immediately capturing Kabuto’s curiosity.
“I can see the threads of your intertwined destinies. Don’t even think about hiding anything from me.”
To achieve his goals, Fang Bo had to continue playing the role of a soothsayer, despite not knowing what consequences this might bring.
“…Fine.” For reasons unknown, Kabuto indeed handed him a list of Hidden Sound Village members.
Not just this village but personnel from other bases were also included, such as the one person Fang Bo was most eager to recruit as a teammate—**Jūgo**.
Holding the coin, Fang Bo pretended to scrutinize the list carefully before firmly pointing to one name.
“I want him. Destiny tells me that he possesses an extraordinary strength that surpasses all others.”
Jūgo, one of Orochimaru’s most prized experimental subjects, was the source of the Cursed Seal technique.
This person naturally possessed the ability to absorb natural energy.
When the surrounding natural energy exceeded a certain threshold, he would automatically transform into Sage Mode, though he often lost control and went berserk.
Orochimaru’s Cursed Seal technique originated from Jūgo’s Sage Transformation, and even Sasuke was one of its many beneficiaries.
With Jūgo’s help, Fang Bo’s chances in the Chūnin Exams would be significantly improved.
While he wouldn’t be as strong as the future Team Taka, a regular Jūgo was at least as powerful as a jōnin-level threat.
If he tapped into his Cursed Seal abilities, he might even be capable of taking down an ordinary jōnin on his own. In the worst-case scenario where Jūgo went berserk…
Fang Bo thought, “At least I still have the three giant brothers to rely on.”
Hearing his selection, Kabuto’s eyes flashed with surprise. Clearly, he had never believed in this so-called destiny nonsense.
But now, seeing Fang Bo choose Jūgo, one of the most formidable members, Kabuto finally began to build some trust.
At the very least, this guy wasn’t just bluffing. Whatever method he used, it was still a kind of ability.
“I have no objections on my side, but whether Jūgo agrees to participate is another matter,” Kabuto noted.
Within the Hidden Sound Village’s ranks, Jūgo was a rather unique presence, and even Orochimaru found it difficult to order him around directly.
This kid had a tendency to lose control, so it was safer to keep him confined at the base.
“Don’t worry, I have a way to make him agree.” As Fang Bo spoke, he fiddled with the Destiny Token. “Remember, I can see the threads of destiny, and bonds play a significant role in influencing one’s fate.”
Seeming to realize something, Kabuto suddenly invited him, “If you don’t mind, Hiroki, would you like to accompany me to meet someone?”
“Who?”
“A patient.”
—
In the dimly lit infirmary, the electronic beeping echoed constantly, adding to the suffocating atmosphere.
On the bed lay a young man with white hair, his green eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. The two red dots on his forehead seemed dull and lifeless.
**Kimimaro**—born in the Hidden Mist Village of the Land of Water, a member of the Kaguya clan, a warrior race renowned for their brutal strength and wielders of the Shikotsumyaku, a powerful kekkei genkai.
Orochimaru had openly admitted that Kimimaro had played a crucial role in the ambush of the Fourth Kazekage, showing just how formidable he was at his peak.
But now, he was afflicted with a terminal illness, his life barely sustained by medication.
Kabuto’s trip back to the Hidden Sound Village was mainly to treat Kimimaro’s injuries. At the very least, he needed to keep him alive, as such a valuable piece wasn’t easily replaced.
As he pushed open the door, Kabuto approached the bedside, gazing softly at the young man, and asked, “How are you feeling?”
Shaking his head weakly, Kimimaro struggled to sit up, a hopeful look in his eyes as he glanced toward the doorway.
Realizing it wasn’t the person he expected, his eyes clouded with disappointment.
“I… I won’t last much longer. I wonder if Orochimaru-sama’s plans are going well.”
Even at death’s door, Kimimaro’s thoughts were fixated on the one person who understood him more than anyone else.
“Even the most basic sense of perception is gone,” Kabuto thought, gripping the medical equipment more tightly than he realized.
Maybe he hadn’t noticed it himself, but facing Kimimaro in this state, his emotions weren’t as composed as he’d expected.
Turning back to Fang Bo, Kabuto spoke with a hint of regret in his voice. “With our current technology, there’s no way to treat his condition. I want to know… can you save him?”
Hearing this, Kimimaro instinctively turned to look at the unfamiliar man standing before him.
**He didn’t fear death; he only feared that he wouldn’t be able to help Lord Orochimaru realize his ambitions.**
Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, he still wanted to live a little longer—at least long enough to assist Orochimaru in the Konoha Crush Plan.
The odds might be slim, but the light in the young man’s eyes still radiated a peculiar brilliance.
It was a kind of “energy” that seemed capable of burning one’s gaze, to the point where even Kabuto found himself involuntarily looking away.
After a moment of silence, Fang Bo’s hesitant voice finally broke through. “Maybe… I have a way.”
Faced with their piercing stares, he didn’t immediately disclose the treatment method. Instead, he laid out two conditions.
Seeing Kabuto’s slightly stunned expression, Fang Bo calmly added, “Don’t forget, I can see through your destiny.”
“… I understand.”
Returning to his senses, Kabuto’s expression turned noticeably solemn. He wanted to speak several times but ultimately just nodded quietly.
If Kimimaro could regain his peak strength and join forces with him and others, then the chances of success would greatly improve.
Why not agree? After all, Kabuto had long wanted to eliminate this lingering problem.
“I agree too,” Kimimaro responded without hesitation. “If I can recover, I will personally take part in the Konoha Crush Plan.”
[User #14552 has triggered a Side Quest: The Bloodline Curse!]
[Quest Summary: The young man before you has a mysterious illness, and you’ve promised to help find a cure.]
[Quest Requirement: Restore Kimimaro’s health to at least 60%.]
[Hint: Perhaps you could explore the three Great Sage Regions.]
One of Fang Bo’s conditions was for the fully recovered Kimimaro to participate in the upcoming operation.
True, Konoha was currently in a weakened state.
The Three Legendary Sannin had left, White Fang had committed suicide, the Fourth Hokage was dead, the Third was aging, the Uchiha Clan had been massacred, and the Hyuga Clan had to sacrifice their leader to appease others.
Even so, could the combined might of the Sand and Sound Villages really defeat Konoha?
Gaara, the promising Jinchuriki, was defeated by Naruto, and the invading Sand shinobi were easily overpowered by Konoha’s clans.
Even Orochimaru ended up having his jutsu sealed by the Third Hokage, losing much of his standing as a fearsome boss.
In the entire battle, Konoha never even used its full strength.
There was the wandering sage Jiraiya, Might Guy who could open who-knows-how-many Gates, and Kakashi, who could fight on par with just about anyone.
Other jōnin also barely faced any serious opponents, wrapping up the fight with little difficulty.
Meanwhile, aside from Gaara and Orochimaru, their side had barely any formidable fighters.
Baki?
He was barely capable of handling a mid-tier opponent like Hayate Gekkō; against anyone tougher, he’d be done for.
The disparity in combat power between the two sides was vast, and truly destroying Konoha would be far more challenging than taking over Infinity Castle.
To complete this hidden quest, Fang Bo needed to boost his side’s combat strength as much as possible.
From the lower ranks to top-tier elite fighters, the more, the better.
Kimimaro was the first ally he planned to bring into the fold.
Under their watchful eyes, Fang Bo slowly pulled out a small, crystal-clear vial from his cloak.
“Inject what’s inside,” he instructed.
**(End of Chapter)**