Takagi took a deep look at Rinya and did not press further.
The battlefield was like a meat grinder; who didn’t have a few trump cards to save their own life?
Since the kid wasn’t willing to reveal it, there was no point in forcing the issue.
As long as he was still in the squad, if they encountered a fatal danger next time, could he really just stand by and watch his teammates die?
“Fine, you don’t have to be a full-time medical Ninja, as long as you can handle emergencies. Let’s retreat, quickly!”
With a wave of his hand, Takagi was the first to leap onto a thick tree trunk, clearing the path ahead.
Rinya and Chiba Mai followed closely behind.
The three of them zipped through the dense canopy like arrows released from a bow.
Takagi was at the very front, Chiba Mai was in the middle, and Rinya was responsible for bringing up the rear.
As they rushed forward at high speed, the wind howled around them.
A large patch of fabric on Chiba Mai’s abdomen had just been torn off by Rinya, and she could only barely tie it in a knot for now.
As the strong wind blew, the tattered clothes clung tightly to the girl’s delicate body, tracing the thrillingly full curves of her chest.
Following behind, Rinya’s gaze inevitably swept over the girl’s graceful back.
He looked, but his mind remained absolutely clear.
Lust is a knife overhead; if one’s strength isn’t enough but they still mess around with women everywhere, they won’t even know how they died.
The environment of the Land of Fire was indeed impeccable.
Towering trees were everywhere, and the air was so fresh it could cleanse one’s lungs.
Unfortunately, a thick scent of blood drifted through the air from time to time, completely ruining the beautiful scenery.
After rushing for half a day, the three of them finally arrived safely at the Konoha front-line camp.
Thinking back, they were incredibly lucky to be alive.
A most ordinary border patrol squad had actually run headfirst into an elite enemy raid formation.
If Rinya hadn’t activated his cheats on the spot and instantly killed the enemy leader, they would have all gone to the Pure Land to meet the Six Paths Sage today.
After undergoing strict password verification at the camp gates, the three of them successfully entered the camp grounds.
“You two stay outside and on standby. I’ll go in to hand over the mission.”
Takagi brought the two of them outside the supreme command tent, gave them a brief instruction, then turned around, lifted the curtain, and walked in.
Inside the tent, the light was somewhat dim.
A pale-faced man with long black hair was standing in front of a sand table, studying the terrain.
His golden, slit-like snake pupils radiated a heart-palpitating pressure.
It was none other than the camp’s supreme commander, Orochimaru!
At this moment, Orochimaru was an absolute pillar of Konoha, possessing peak quasi-Kage level combat power, with his mind entirely focused on achieving great deeds.
“Lord Orochimaru!” Takagi knelt on one knee and presented a sealing scroll with both hands.
“The border patrol squad has urgent military intelligence to report!”
Orochimaru looked up, his gaze sweeping over the dried blood on Takagi.
“Takagi-kun, did you run into trouble?”
“We encountered an Iwagakure raid squad at the border. After a fight to the death, we brought back the body of the enemy’s leading Jonin. Please have the Interrogation Unit extract the intelligence immediately.”
Takagi spoke extremely fast, fearing he might delay the tactical opportunity.
Orochimaru’s eyes narrowed.
The elites of Iwagakure had actually sneaked in?
He took the scroll, his hands flying as he rapidly formed hand seals.
“Release!”
With a dull thud, the white smoke dispersed.
A charred, carbonized corpse emitting a pungent smell of roasted meat crashed onto the floor with a clatter.
The air instantly fell silent.
Orochimaru stared intently at the black, human-shaped object on the ground, his eye twitching violently twice.
The skull was burnt to the point of cracking and shattering!
Even the facial features had melted into a mush!
This is called a corpse?
It was clearly a burnt whole roasted sheep!
“Takagi-kun,” Orochimaru spoke softly, his voice raspy.
“How come I didn’t know your Fire Release had reached such a level? The power is indeed impressive.”
Pausing, Orochimaru pointed at the charcoal on the ground, his tone turning cold.
“But can you tell me, with the brain matter completely dried out from roasting, what is the Interrogation Unit supposed to use to extract memories? Scrape off the black charcoal and dissolve it in water to drink?”
Takagi broke into a cold sweat, so embarrassed he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
He was in such a hurry to retreat at that time that he didn’t check the spoils of war carefully.
Who could have thought that a Great Fireball could burn someone into this ghostly state!
“L-Lord Orochimaru, you misunderstand, I really wasn’t the one who killed him!” Takagi quickly shifted the blame.
“It was done by the Genin in my squad, Uchiha Rinya! He used a single Fire Release technique to instantly kill this Jonin!”
Takagi spilled everything like beans pouring out of a bamboo tube.
“Uchiha Rinya awakened the Sharingan in a desperate situation, instantly killed a Jonin, then cut down two Genin in succession, and even blasted a Chunin to death head-on with Fire Release!”
“It was entirely thanks to him turning the tide that the squad was able to preserve the important intelligence! Please evaluate him, Lord Orochimaru, and exceptionally promote him to Chunin!”
Hearing this, a surge of intense interest flashed in the depths of Orochimaru’s eyes.
His golden snake pupils narrowed slightly.
“A kid from the Uchiha family? Just awakened the Sharingan?”
Orochimaru licked his lips, his voice carrying a hint of raspy curiosity.
“Have him come in. I’d like to see what kind of rookie can play with Fire Release in such a violent manner.”
Takagi took his leave and stepped out.
Inside the tent, Orochimaru stood alone in front of the sand table.
His golden snake pupils stared coldly at the charred charcoal on the ground emitting a burnt stench, his thoughts deep and unreadable.
Outside the tent.
Rinya and Chiba Mai were standing side by side, waiting.
“Rinya, come in with me. Lord Orochimaru wants to see you.”
The tent curtain was lifted, and Takagi’s shout broke the romantic atmosphere.
Rinya smacked his lips and followed Takagi inside.
As for Orochimaru, Rinya knew him inside out.
The current Snake Uncle hadn’t completely blackened yet.
If he found an opportunity to guide him slightly in the future, he could directly trick him into becoming an honest research department head for Konoha.
If he wanted to complete the system-assigned mission of having children to obtain the Rinnegan, he would have to rely entirely on this kind of mad scientist to help wholesale some Sharingan as insurance.
The first rule of survival: absolutely never put on airs in front of top-tier heavyweights.
The two of them stood still.
Just as Takagi was about to introduce him, Rinya, being very sensible, bowed his head slightly.
“Lord Orochimaru!”
He looked exactly like a little fanboy meeting his idol.
Orochimaru didn’t waste words, his gaze locking directly onto Rinya’s face.
“A kid from the Uchiha family? I heard you awakened the Sharingan. Activate it and let me see.”
Rinya did not hesitate.
Chakra rapidly surged into his eyes, and his pupils instantly turned crimson.
Two black tomoe slowly spun in his pupils, exuding a cold and heart-palpitating aura.
“Two tomoe right upon awakening?”
Orochimaru’s golden, slit-like snake pupils contracted slightly.
“Your talent is indeed excellent.”
Being stared at directly by these snake-like eyes made Rinya feel a bit creeped out, but fortunately, Orochimaru quickly shifted his gaze.
Orochimaru turned to look at Takagi, his voice raspy.
“Takagi-kun reported your achievements. Defeating a Jonin above your rank, instantly killing Genin, and blasting a Chunin to death head-on. Coupled with the two-tomoe Sharingan, your strength has already far exceeded the standard of a Genin.”
“Right now, the front line is short on manpower. The Chunin exam is waived. I will sponsor you and directly promote you to Chunin. Do you have any objections?”
Rinya’s heart skipped a beat.
Getting promoted, striking it rich, and losing a wife—being promoted on a battlefield like a meat grinder was definitely not a good thing!
It meant taking on even more dangerous tasks.
But did he dare to refuse?
Obviously not.
He could only hope to kill a few more people next, storing up more life force to use as a death-immunity pass.
“Thank you for the promotion, Lord Orochimaru!” Rinya immediately straightened his back and began talking nonsense.
“I am a person of Konoha in life, and a ghost of Konoha in death! For the Village, and for the Will of Fire, I am willing to shed my blood and sacrifice my life, without a single regret…”
Hearing this, Takagi’s forehead was covered in black lines.
Weren’t the members of the Uchiha Clan all proud, nose-in-the-air, silent types?
Why was this kid as talkative as a pyramid scheme scammer?
Fearing that Rinya might say something even more shocking, Takagi quickly grabbed his arm to interrupt him.
“That’s enough! Let’s not waste Lord Orochimaru’s precious time. We shall take our leave first.”
He pulled Rinya and was just about to turn and walk out.
“Wait.”
Orochimaru’s slightly playful voice stopped them.
“Takagi-kun, actually, the intelligence you brought back has already been reported by other squads.”
Orochimaru walked to the sand table, his slender fingers tapping on several key locations.
“According to the compilation, Iwagakure has sent a total of ten elite squads to infiltrate the Land of Fire this time, intending to destroy our rear supply lines.”
“The main forces on the front line are currently in a standoff and cannot be redeployed. I have decided to secretly draw manpower to form three Special Operations Squads specifically to hunt down these rats. If necessary, I will personally lead and assist them.”
Orochimaru looked up at Takagi, his eyes filled with pressure.
“Takagi-kun, although your squad only has three people left, your combat strength is impressive. Are you willing to join the Special Operations Squad?”
Without even thinking, Takagi knelt on one knee and loudly accepted the order.
“Obeying orders is a Ninja’s bounden duty! The Takagi Squad is ready for deployment at any time!”
Standing to the side, Rinya was instantly petrified.
A stampede of ten thousand ‘grass mud horses’ galloped through his mind!
Damn!
Just now he was comforting himself, saying he wouldn’t be so unlucky as to immediately go risk his life right after being promoted to Chunin.
This retribution came way too fast!
Three squads going to surround and annihilate ten of their elite squads?
Isn’t this just pure suicide!