Naruto: Shinobi Payday
Chapter 70: Meeting Orochimaru

Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Meeting Orochimaru

Morning came quickly.

The first golden rays of sunlight spilled across the land, marking the start of a new day.

Sasori stepped out of his room, stretching his limbs as he prepared for another mission. But the moment his eyes glanced skyward, his body froze.

There, floating several meters above the ground, stood Zeldris.

Not jumping. Not standing on some invisible platform.

Just... floating.

Like gravity had politely asked for a day off.

Sasori blinked once. Then twice.

"...Huh?"

His breath hitched, and for the first time in years, panic crept into his chest.

"What the hell...?"

Zeldris, as if hearing him, simply waved and flashed a casual smile—completely at ease mid-air, like this was his usual morning routine.

Sasori staggered back a step, disbelief washing over him. "Y-You... You bastard! What kind of technique is this?!"

Before he could wrap his head around it, footsteps sounded behind him. Uchiha Itachi appeared, calm as ever—until his eyes followed Sasori’s gaze upward.

Even he paused.

A rare crack in his usual composure.

"...He’s floating?" Itachi muttered, eyebrows barely twitching—but that alone said enough.

Still suspended in the air, Zeldris gave a slow spin like some kind of show-off magician, then slowly descended to the ground. His boots touched down with a soft thud.

"Morning," he greeted with a grin, looking way too proud of himself.

Sasori stared at him like he’d grown wings. "What... what kind of ninjutsu is that?"

Zeldris tilted his head innocently. "You could say it’s... next-level chakra control," he said with a wink.

Sasori clearly wasn’t buying it, and Itachi narrowed his eyes, already sensing something deeper.

Before they could push further, Zeldris turned to Itachi.

"I need your help."

Itachi raised a brow. "With what?"

"I need you to hit me with ninjutsu."

The silence that followed was deafening.

"...Excuse me?" Sasori asked, genuinely concerned.

Zeldris just clapped his hands once, all fired up. "Let’s call it a test, Itachi go wild... don’t hold back."

Itachi studied him for a long moment, then, surprisingly, gave a faint nod. "Alright... but don’t regret it."

Sasori, meanwhile, took a cautious step back. "You really are insane..."

Zeldris simply flashed a thumbs-up. "That’s the spirit. Come at me."

Itachi didn’t waste another second.

His hands blurred into motion, seals forming at an impossible speed.

Sasori’s eyes widened. "Tch... that’s fast. No wonder he’s feared."

"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!"

("Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!")

Before Sasori could fully process what was happening, a sudden wave of heat rushed over him.

In front of him, Uchiha Itachi had already finished forming seals. A jet of scorching fire burst from his mouth, quickly condensing into a massive fireball.

The moment it touched the ground, the fireball erupted—its size expanding in a flash as fierce flames consumed the space around them. The air itself seemed to twist under the sudden heat, and the temperature soared by at least ten degrees.

The flames didn’t just burn—they surged forward like a living creature, targeting Zeldris directly.

Sasori instinctively backed away, shielding his face. The fire had nearly grazed him too. Feeling the raw power of the flames, his expression shifted.

"Damn... that’s just a C-rank Fire Style?" he muttered, stunned. "How is it this powerful?"

He turned toward Zeldris with wide eyes.

But Zeldris—facing the storm of flames head-on—stood completely still. Not a single flicker of fear showed on his face. If anything, he seemed amused.

Then, with a calm smirk, Zeldris slowly raised his right hand.

Both Sasori and Itachi were taken aback.

"He’s... not defending?!" Sasori whispered in disbelief.

There were no signs of him preparing a jutsu, no chakra buildup, nothing. Was he planning to take the hit directly?

Just as the fireball was about to crash into him, a sudden shimmer rippled in front of Zeldris. A translucent, white shield materialized—thin, elegant, and glowing faintly.

"What the hell is that?" Sasori gasped.

Then, unbelievably, the massive fireball began shrinking—being pulled inward, absorbed by the shield itself. Itachi’s attack was disappearing, eaten away by this strange technique.

"Absorbed?!" the two exclaimed in unison.

Sasori’s jaw nearly hit the ground. "When the hell did he learn this kind of jutsu?!"

He stared at Zeldris like he was seeing a ghost.

Itachi, on the other hand, remained silent, his gaze darkening. He had always suspected Zeldris had hidden depths, but this... this was on another level.

Zeldris had just taken one of the Uchiha’s signature jutsu and erased it from existence.

Within seconds, the fireball was gone. Only the scorched ground and a lingering heat hinted that it had ever been there.

Zeldris looked at his palm, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"So this is what the Rinnegan’s Preta Path technique feels like," he muttered under his breath. "I can control it this well now? Not bad... With this, I can avoid a lot of unnecessary fights."

The air grew still as a heavy silence settled over the trio.

Then Sasori approached quickly, his eyes wide with awe.

"Hey! You—when did you learn that?" he demanded. "You can fly, and now you can absorb ninjutsu? Seriously, what kind of monster are you?!"

Despite his words, Sasori sounded more amazed than afraid. There was a glint of excitement in his tone—he was glad to be on Zeldris’s side.

Zeldris just gave a light nod, a small smirk tugging at his lips.

His gaze shifted to Itachi, who remained still and contemplative. Clearly, even someone as calm as him had been shaken. Zeldris knew Itachi was here partly to observe and understand him—and what he had just shown couldn’t be ignored.

Before anyone could say more, a faint rustle echoed from behind them.

The three immediately turned, eyes narrowing.

"...Someone’s there," Zeldris said quietly.

The next moment, a slender figure emerged from the shadows.

The man had long black hair, unnaturally pale skin, and unsettlingly narrow eyes. A soft, unreadable smile played on his lips as he stepped forward.

His gaze drifted lazily across the group before landing directly on Zeldris.

Sasori’s expression tensed. Itachi’s eyes narrowed. Zeldris, however, raised an eyebrow in confusion.

That face was familiar—too familiar.

"Orochimaru?" he murmured.

What’s he doing here...?

The person who had arrived was none other than Orochimaru—one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha, and its most infamous defector.

Just as Zeldris had sensed, Orochimaru’s snake-like voice slithered through the air, instantly catching the attention of everyone present.

"Well, well... Look at you, Zeldris. Grown up already, haven’t you?"

There was a twisted amusement in his tone as he continued, "The so-called genius of Konoha, now standing in the same shoes as me—a traitor to the Leaf. Doesn’t it feel... liberating?"

Zeldris offered only a faint smile, his voice cool and unshaken.

"Konoha was never big enough to hold those with true potential."

He paused, locking eyes with Orochimaru, his tone sharpening ever so slightly.

"So, tell me... What brings one of the Sannin to my doorstep?"

Standing behind Zeldris, both Uchiha Itachi and Sasori remained silent, though their gazes were locked onto Orochimaru.

There was history between them—Itachi knew Orochimaru well from their shared origins in Konoha, and Sasori, while not personally familiar, had certainly heard of the infamous Sannin.

Orochimaru smiled thinly, almost fondly.

"Oh, you flatter me. But let’s not pretend—your name is spreading through the underworld faster than mine ever did. I’ve been watching... I must say, even I am impressed."

Zeldris didn’t flinch at the praise. He kept the same easy expression and replied dryly, "Spare me the compliments. Just tell me what you’re here for."

Typical Orochimaru—never one to show his hand too soon. The man loved his games. But if he’d come here in person, there had to be something serious behind it.

Orochimaru’s lips curled into a grin, one filled with venom and excitement.

"Straight to the point. Good. I need your help, Zeldris... I intend to destroy Konoha."

The words hung in the air like poison. Even Zeldris, composed as he was, raised a brow. Behind him, Itachi narrowed his eyes. Sasori’s head tilted slightly in curiosity.

Attack Konoha?

He’d known Orochimaru would one day make his move, but now? Wasn’t it too soon?

Zeldris had heard of the Chunin Exams plan, the so-called ’Konoha Crush’ in collaboration with Sunagakure—but this wasn’t it. This felt more... personal. Reckless, even.

Was this connected to the Uchiha clan’s downfall? No—Hiruzen would’ve suppressed that news instantly. Then what was the real motive?

After a pause, Zeldris chuckled.

"Interesting. But..."

Before he could finish, Orochimaru raised a hand and spoke knowingly.

"I understand. You and your group... mercenaries, after all. It’s about money, isn’t it?"

Zeldris gave a slow nod. "Of course. That’s part of it. But more importantly—now isn’t the right time. We’ve got other priorities."

To his surprise, Orochimaru didn’t press.

"I see. That’s fair. I’m still preparing myself, truthfully. Just wanted to see if you’d be open to it. I didn’t expect such a quick ’yes’—seems you don’t hold much love for the Leaf either."

Zeldris’s smile returned, colder than before.

"What’s there to love? That village threw away its finest. When you’re ready, find me."

He reached into his coat and flicked a small black card toward Orochimaru.

"Crush it. I’ll come to you. Until then—our business is done."

Orochimaru caught the card midair, his eyes gleaming as he read it. His grin widened.

"You’re even colder than I imagined, Zeldris-kun. We really are alike, aren’t we? Two shinobi cast out by the very place we once called home."

Then, with a sudden shift in his gaze, he turned to the silent figure standing behind Zeldris.

"Uchiha... Itachi. I must say, I didn’t expect to see you here."

Greed flickered in his eyes—the kind of obsession only Orochimaru could possess. His voice dropped, almost reverent.

"Ah... that beautiful Sharingan. The Uchiha truly are magnificent."

Itachi remained still, unfazed. His eyes, however, had grown noticeably colder, a quiet warning in their depths.

Before Orochimaru could linger further, Zeldris stepped between them.

"I said," his voice dropped to a sharp, cutting tone, "we’re done here."

Orochimaru blinked, then chuckled softly. For a moment, something darker passed through his expression—but it vanished as quickly as it came.

"I’m looking forward to our next meeting, Zeldris-kun. Until then..."

With a flicker of movement, he was gone, leaving behind only a faint trail of unsettled silence.

As Orochimaru’s figure disappeared into the shadows, silence settled over the room. Zeldris narrowed his eyes, deep in thought. The atmosphere, once tense with Orochimaru’s presence, now simmered with uncertainty.

Behind him, Uchiha Itachi’s expression had darkened. His usual composure faltered—ever so slightly.

Attacking Konoha... seriously?

He hadn’t expected Orochimaru to be planning something so bold—and reckless. But what unsettled him more was Zeldris’s response.

He didn’t even hesitate... Is he really planning to go along with it?

If Zeldris sided with Orochimaru, things could spiral out of control fast. And worst of all... Itachi might be forced to make a choice he wasn’t ready for.

Still, there was one sliver of relief.

At least Orochimaru doesn’t know about the Uchiha clan yet...

If he had, he’d already be marching toward Konoha with bloodlust in his eyes.

They needed to use this time—however little it was—to prepare.

Itachi turned slightly, his gaze falling on Zeldris.

This man... he’s dangerous. Not because he’s heartless, but because he sees the world like a game of shogi—and he’s always ten moves ahead.

As if sensing Itachi’s unease, Zeldris broke the silence, his voice low and calm:

"Let’s move."

Itachi’s eyes flickered.

Zeldris turned, walking toward the exit without even glancing back.

"We’re heading to... Iwagakure."

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