Night had fallen deeply over the Fire Capital.
Only the busy streets still glimmered with lights.
Ordinary people had long since retired, but for some, the night was the time to act.
Orochimaru moved silently across the intricate rooftops.
His golden, slit-pupiled eyes gleamed in the darkness with the cold sharpness of a serpent.
Even the moonlight failed to reveal him.
Infiltrating the Daimyo's manor was, to him, no different from returning home.
The guards along the way, both hidden and visible, were nothing more than decoration before his flawless stealth Ninjutsu.
He even had time to evaluate their skill levels.
"Their breathing is too heavy."
"The flow of their Chakra isn't concealed at all."
"This level of defense is weaker than Konoha's Anbu."
Orochimaru's expression was filled with disdain, though his mind was already set on his plan for the night.
He always acted with caution, making full preparations even against seemingly weak opponents.
If the Daimyo's manor had been well-guarded, he would have withdrawn immediately to reconsider.
But as things stood, that wasn't necessary.
If the manor was truly this undefended, things would be simple.
He would move directly, control the target, and turn the supreme ruler of the Land of Fire into his puppet.
Thinking of that, Orochimaru licked his lips.
His research could continue.
He quickly located the Daimyo's bedchamber.
The guards there were clearly several times more numerous, and their Chakra flow was much more stable, a sign of elite strength.
But before Orochimaru, they were still insignificant.
He moved like an invisible wind, approaching silently, his Chakra completely concealed, blending into the darkness.
Inside the hall, the lights were bright, and incense smoke curled lazily.
A figure reclined on a soft couch, holding a beauty in his arms.
Decadent music, wine, women, and luxury.
Orochimaru's contempt deepened.
Even with power over the entire country, he was still a man indulged in desire.
He was about to approach, searching for the best moment to act.
"How disappointing."
Inside the hall, the lazy Daimyo suddenly chuckled.
His voice was soft, but it made Orochimaru's skin crawl.
He felt the distinct sensation of being targeted.
Something was wrong.
A moment later, the Daimyo's voice echoed from within.
"My beauty, wait a moment."
"Let me deal with the little mouse that's eavesdropping."
The voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly through the window and into Orochimaru's ears.
He had been discovered.
The thought flashed instantly through his mind.
How was that possible?!
Even his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, couldn't easily detect his stealth Ninjutsu.
Escape!
There was no time to hesitate.
Orochimaru immediately decided to retreat.
His body shot backward, swift and precise.
However—
He had just leaped when a figure appeared before him, blocking his path.
It was none other than Arashi, the Daimyo who had been lounging with a woman only moments ago.
How did he get here?
Orochimaru's pupils constricted sharply.
He hadn't sensed any spatial Ninjutsu fluctuations.
The other party had simply appeared out of thin air.
"Since you've come all this way, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
Seeing the familiar face, Arashi smiled calmly.
Orochimaru.
He silently repeated the name in his mind, amusement flickering in his eyes.
It was like someone offering a pillow to a tired man.
According to the original course of events, Orochimaru hadn't defected yet at this time, and Danzō was still secretly supporting him.
Unfortunately, Danzō was dead, Root had been eliminated, and the Shimura Clan had already pledged allegiance to Arashi.
So Orochimaru's reason for visiting the Daimyo's manor tonight was obvious.
Either he wanted a new patron.
Or, he intended to make Arashi his puppet.
Knowing Orochimaru's nature, the latter seemed more likely.
Originally, Arashi had planned to recruit this scientist after dealing with matters in the Land of Lightning.
He hadn't expected Orochimaru to walk straight into his palace.
Seeing Arashi blocking his escape, Orochimaru twisted his body midair, landing steadily three steps away.
His expression had grown grim.
Not just because of Arashi's sudden appearance, but because the moment he landed, more than a dozen powerful auras surrounded him from all directions.
Each one carried strength no less than a Konoha Anbu captain.
He was surrounded.
"Who are you?" Orochimaru asked, his gaze fixed on Arashi, searching for any weakness.
But there was none.
The man before him had no Chakra fluctuations whatsoever.
Just like an ordinary human.
But could an ordinary man appear in an instant and block him like this?
"You came to find me, and you're still asking who I am?" Arashi smiled faintly. "Then let me introduce myself. I'm the master of this manor."
"Why aren't you sleeping in the middle of the night, and instead sneaking into my residence?"
"I got lost…" Orochimaru replied casually, his eyes darting around for an escape route.
"Lost?" Arashi burst into laughter. "Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, gets lost too?"
Orochimaru's expression changed instantly.
He was exposed.
The man before him not only knew who he was but revealed his identity in one sentence.
"It seems Daimyo-sama knows me quite well."
There was no longer any point in pretending.
Orochimaru stopped hiding, his long tongue licking his lips, his golden pupils glinting dangerously.
"Since you know who I am, you should also know that these guards of yours can't stop me."
"Oh? You can try," Arashi said lightly, raising an eyebrow, his gaze filled with amusement. "And while you're at it, test the strength of my guards."
His calm tone carried an unmistakable challenge.
Orochimaru's pupils contracted, a dangerous gleam flashing across them before he moved.
...At the same time.
Inside the bedchamber, Mei froze completely.
When she heard Arashi say, "deal with the little mouse that's eavesdropping," she hadn't even reacted before he vanished.
He disappeared into thin air.
Moments later, three masked figures emerged from the shadows inside the hall, surrounding her tightly.
A cold killing intent filled the air.
If she made even the slightest move, she would be torn apart instantly.
She couldn't move at all.
It was over.
Mei stared at the empty couch and the scroll tossed carelessly aside.
The vermilion brush still lay quietly on the table.
The cinnabar ink on the tip glowed a deep red.
So, from beginning to end, she had been performing alone.
He had never fallen under her genjutsu.
He had only been playing along with her.
Watching her flirt, act, and give her all.
A crushing sense of humiliation flooded her chest.
Followed by deep frustration.
Her beauty, her schemes, her genjutsu—everything had been turned into a joke.
Outside the hall, Orochimaru didn't attack Arashi.
His instincts screamed that the man before him was extremely dangerous.
To strike first would be to fall into a trap.
In the blink of an eye, Orochimaru made his decision.
Break through.
He scanned the encirclement, analyzing for weaknesses.
Finally, his eyes locked on a Shadow Guard positioned on the eastern rooftop.
That was the weakest point in the formation.
And his only chance at escape.
His figure blurred, moving forward instead of back, sliding across the ground toward the Shadow Guard on the rooftop.
(To be continued.)
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