Uchiha Kazuo stood before Orochimaru, his request firm. "Orochimaru-sama, I request permission to continue leading the five Uchiha Chūnin."
Orochimaru stared at him, his snake-like eyes unblinking, exuding an oppressive aura that made the room feel colder.
Sweat began to bead on Kazuo's forehead, but he pressed on, his voice steady despite his nerves. "Orochimaru-sama, I am very familiar with Kyosuke's abilities. I have led countless missions as a captain and am fully qualified to lead this team."
Orochimaru's lips curled into a faint smile, though his tone was sharp and mocking. "Oh? Truly exceptional..."
Kazuo, mistaking this for praise, felt a brief flash of pride. But his confidence was shattered as Orochimaru's tone turned icy. "But tell me, what does this 'excellence' of yours have to do with me? Everyone here is excellent in their own way. Why should I choose you over anyone else to lead them?"
The weight of Orochimaru's gaze bore down on Kazuo, and his voice grew colder still. "I am your supreme commander, and this is my decision. Do you intend to defy my order? Answer me."
Kazuo's head lowered instinctively under the pressure, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to back down completely. "I would never defy you, Orochimaru-Sama. I only ask that you reconsider—or, if not me, then at least assign someone else to lead them."
Orochimaru stepped closer, his tall frame towering over Kazuo. Looking down at him with a condescending smirk, Orochimaru spoke, his tone laced with menace. "I said this is my order. If you have an issue with it, you're free to return to Konoha and report it to the Hokage himself. Let him decide. But as long as you are stationed here, my word is law."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle before continuing. "There is, of course, one other option. If the captain I've chosen—Sora—himself refuses the position, then I may reconsider."
Turning, Orochimaru directed his attention to Sora, who stood a short distance away. "Sora, do you accept the role of captain for these five Uchiha?"
Sora's lips curled into a faint smile, his tone confident. "Of course, Orochimaru-sensei. It would be an honour to lead them. You have my word—I won't disappoint."
Orochimaru turned back to Kazuo, his snake-like eyes narrowing. "Sora is willing to take the position. Now, Uchiha Kazuo, do you have any further objections?"
It was clear to everyone present that Orochimaru was intentionally putting the Uchiha in their place—whether out of disdain for their clan or favouritism toward his own student.
The other Konoha shinobi in the room watched with thinly veiled amusement, their dislike for the Uchiha evident. The so-called "greatest clan" of Konoha had no shortage of detractors.
Kazuo seemed to deflate under Orochimaru's gaze. His shoulders slumped as he responded in a defeated tone. "No, Orochimaru-sama. I have no objections."
The five Uchiha Chūnin behind him turned pale, their pride deeply wounded. The idea of serving under Sora—a former member of their own clan, now shunned—filled them with a mix of anger, humiliation, and helplessness.
They exchanged glances, silent but unified in their determination. There was no way they would willingly submit to Sora's leadership. They would create trouble—enough that Sora would have no choice but to relinquish his position.
Orochimaru, indifferent to the underlying tension, outlined a few rules before dismissing the group. His snake-like smirk lingered as he turned and walked away, leaving the Uchiha to stew in their frustration.
Sora stepped forward, his expression unreadable, and commanded the five Uchiha Chūnin. "Follow me."
The five Uchiha ninjas tilted their heads, gazing up at the sky as if they hadn't heard him. Their defiance was blatant.
From the sidelines, Uchiha Kazuo sneered at the display. Orochimaru could force them into Sora's team, but Kazuo knew his people would never take orders from the Uchiha clan's abandoned son.
Other shinobi, who had been preparing to leave, stopped in their tracks, curious to see how the scene would unfold.
Sora's cold gaze swept over the group. "I will say this one last time. Come with me."
Once again, the five Chūnin ignored him, their dismissive attitudes an open challenge.
Without warning, Sora drove his knee hard into the abdomen of Uchiha Ryuhei, the nearest to him.
Ryuhei doubled over, coughing violently as blood spilt from his mouth—a clear sign of the force behind Sora's strike. He collapsed to his knees, clutching his stomach, his face contorted in agony.
The crowd was stunned. No one had expected Sora to act so decisively or strike in public.
The remaining four Uchiha Chūnin erupted in outrage at the attack. They immediately charged Sora with intent on retaliation.
Sora moved with precision. He landed a sharp left hook to Uchiha Keiichi's temple, knocking him to the ground in an instant. Keiichi's eyes were unfocused as he struggled to remain conscious.
Uchiha Kyosuke attempted to attack from behind, but Sora countered swiftly, driving his elbow into Kyosuke's throat. Kyosuke stumbled back, choking and clutching his neck as he gasped for air.
"A**hole!" Uchiha Yorito yelled as he swung a punch at Sora's head. Sora tilted his head, narrowly dodging the blow, and retaliated by grabbing Yorito and throwing him over his shoulder. Yorito hit the ground hard, and before he could recover, Sora stomped on his abdomen, leaving him writhing in pain.
Uchiha Jinno, now the last of the group still standing, watched in shock as his comrades were effortlessly taken down. His Sharingan activated out of sheer anger, its Two Tomoe pattern spinning as he began forming the seals for a Fireball Jutsu.
But before Jinno could release the jutsu, Sora closed the distance in a blur, grabbing Jinno's hands and forcibly interrupting the technique. Sora's own Sharingan activated, its crimson glow matching Jinno's, though his tone remained ice-cold.
"Two Tomoe Sharingan? Not bad. Your talent shows promise," Sora remarked mockingly. "But you're still far beneath me."
With a cruel twist, Sora broke Jinno's wrist, eliciting a sharp cry of pain. He followed up with a brutal kick to Jinno's knee, sending him crumpling to the ground.
Sora showed no mercy. He stomped on Jinno's head, pressing it into the dirt. His voice dripped with scorn as he addressed the group. "This is the best the Uchiha clan could muster? Is there truly no one left in the so-called 'greatest clan' of Konoha? Pathetic."
He leaned in closer, his words venomous. "Where did you get the audacity to defy me? Weaklings like you should know your place!"
The onlookers collectively drew sharp breaths. They had just witnessed Sora take down five Uchiha Chūnin with ruthless efficiency. His movements were swift and calculated, leaving no room for counterattacks. But what shocked them even more was his audacity to insult the Uchiha clan openly. Even those who harboured resentment toward the clan wouldn't dare mock them so blatantly.
Uchiha Kazuo's eyes burned with fury, his rage barely contained. Though he hadn't activated his Sharingan, his gaze was sharp and threatening. "You bastard... How dare you?!"
Kazuo took a step forward, his anger propelling him toward Sora. But before he could move any further, two snakes shot out from the shadows, coiling tightly around his body and halting him in place.
A sinister voice echoed from behind. "Sora is their captain. As subordinates, they disobeyed their leader's orders. Is there a problem with him teaching them a lesson?"
It was Orochimaru. He stepped into view, his golden eyes glinting with amusement as he observed the scene. His serpentine smile widened as he spoke again. "If you have any issues, Kazuo, you're welcome to take them up with me."
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