The sounds of battle in the Hidden Mist Village had vanished.
Hatake Kakashi didn't have time to rush over to search for Uchiha Obito, because he and Karin happened to encounter another roadblock.
Hatake Kakashi shielded Karin behind him, gripped his ninja blade tightly, and warily eyed the ninja blocking their path, "Orochimaru..."
"What a coincidence, Kakashi-kun!"
Orochimaru couldn't help but chuckle lightly. Ever since he completed his Immortal Reanimation and defected from the Akatsuki, he had been searching for suitable vessels within the ninja world.
Thus, he utilized Shimura Danzo to send Yakushi Kabuto back to Konoha, having Yakushi Kabuto continuously partake in the Chunin Exams to find some young genius ninjas.
Besides that, Orochimaru himself also came to the Land of Water, hoping to find some youths with a Kekkeigenkai here.
With the commotion in the Hidden Mist Village today, Orochimaru naturally wouldn't miss it.
Coincidentally, Orochimaru also encountered a young boy suitable as a reincarnation vessel, because the boy's gaze was appealing, and he had the Dead Bone Pulse Bloodline.
If this boy with the Dead Bone Pulse managed to fight his way out of the Hidden Mist Village and survived, Orochimaru intended to bring him back to his base as an alternate vessel.
As a result, while Orochimaru was waiting here with eager anticipation, he unexpectedly saw Hatake Kakashi surfacing near the Hidden Mist Village.
This situation...
Being out and about, it's rare to encounter a ninja from home, Orochimaru felt it wouldn't be right not to say hello!
Orochimaru sized up Hatake Kakashi and Karin behind him, recalling how Kakashi had saved Yamato in front of him, a hint of a smile flickered in his eyes, "Oh, Kakashi-kun, saving someone again?"
Hatake Kakashi ignored him, with sweat trickling down his face, he tensely asked, "Orochimaru... why are you showing up in the Land of Water now!"
"Shouldn't I be asking Kakashi-kun that?"
Orochimaru spread out his hands, speaking leisurely, "This is the Land of Water, not a place where a Konoha ninja should appear!"
Hatake Kakashi focused intently on his movements, feeling a sinking sensation, he pushed up his ninja forehead protector, "No matter which country this is, if I encounter the village's most dangerous rogue ninja, I can't possibly let you go!"
This man was simply his demon!
Ever since Orochimaru's defection, Hatake Kakashi had been tracking his whereabouts, encountering many incidents along the way, which made Kakashi despise Orochimaru even more.
"Ha, isn't the village's most dangerous rogue ninja supposed to be Itachi-kun?"
Orochimaru laughed out loud, watching Hatake Kakashi, "If we fight here, it will attract the Mist Village Ninja. I don't mind, but the little girl behind you, Kakashi-kun, will find it tough to survive, won't she?"
"..."
Hatake Kakashi fell silent.
Because Karin had saved him earlier, he couldn't abandon her to fight recklessly, forcing him into a passive restraint.
Now, for Karin's sake, Kakashi had to find a way to escape first.
Orochimaru seemed to sense Kakashi's thoughts, smiling as he said, "Rest assured, I won't make a move on you here. Before the vessel I want arrives, how about having a chat with me here?"
Hatake Kakashi: "..."
Orochimaru was indeed still that lunatic!
One being a Konoha ninja and the other a Konoha traitor, how could they peacefully chat in such a dangerous place near the Hidden Mist Village?
Orochimaru glanced at Kakashi, continuing to watch the Hidden Mist Village below, which was gradually calming down. It seemed the boy he wanted to take away had no chance of returning.
Orochimaru was unaware that the vessel he longed for was with Uehara here.
Uehara Naraku and Hoshigaki Kisame first picked up Haku, and then outside the Hidden Mist Village, they met with Momochi Zabuza and Hozuki Mangetsu, yet they also encountered another white-haired boy escaping the village amidst the chaos.
This boy tightly clutched a bone spike in his hand, nervously evaluating this group with many members.
Uehara Naraku's brows furrowed as he looked at the familiar-looking boy before him, asking in a low voice, "Was the one attacking the Hidden Mist Village the Kaguya Clan?"
"Yes."
Momochi Zabuza nodded, coldly smiling at the white-haired boy, "Is this little brat a remnant of the Kaguya Clan? Let me kill him!"
"..."
The white-haired boy's face turned pale at Momochi Zabuza's words, and instead, he gripped the bone spike in his hand and charged first!
But with his strength, wanting to defeat Momochi Zabuza was far-fetched, not to mention he had just fought his way out of the Hidden Mist Village, his stamina and chakra were far from sufficient.
Momochi Zabuza quickly severed the white-haired boy's bone spike with the Decapitating Carving Knife, raising his hand to behead him!
"Wait..."
Uehara Naraku stopped Momochi Zabuza, walked to the side of the white-haired boy, and asked, "What's your name?"
"Kaguya... Kimimaro."
The white-haired boy seemed unaccustomed to speaking, his words were gradually slow.
Uehara Naraku's eyes brightened, unexpectedly running into Kaguya Kimimaro when planning to leave the Land of Water, he thought Kimimaro had already been taken away by Orochimaru!
Looking at the white-haired boy, Uehara Naraku softly said, "Now all your clansmen have fallen in the Hidden Mist Village, where do you intend to go?"
"I..."
Kaguya Kimimaro lowered his head, hesitating before quietly answering, "I don't know, I have... nothing left now."
Kaguya Kimimaro had always been living alone within his clan, imprisoned by his clansmen as a weapon, yet he always considered that prison his home, those responsible for guarding him as his family.
Now that the entire Kaguya Clan had perished in the Hidden Mist Village, Kaguya Kimimaro gained freedom but lost everything, including the meaning to live.
Uehara Naraku recalled Kaguya Kimimaro's short life and the bloodline disease he bore, subconsciously speaking out, "You have not lost everything; you still carry a disease, right?"
As soon as he spoke, Uehara Naraku regretted it.
Everyone turned their puzzled gazes toward Uehara upon hearing his words, puzzled by what kind of devilish words these were.
Different from them, Kaguya Kimimaro stared at Uehara Naraku in astonishment, "You... how did you know?"
"Uh..."
A hint of embarrassment crossed Uehara Naraku's face.
Fortunately, Haku, who was beside Uehara Naraku, tugged at his arm, worrying he'd utter something inappropriate again.
As a wanderer in the Land of Water, Haku somewhat understood Kaguya Kimimaro, speaking to him with an invitation, "Kimimaro, why not join me and Uehara? We can pick food from dumps together; we can work to make a living together..."
The daze in Kaguya Kimimaro's eyes gradually faded, and he gazed at Haku with growing warmth, "Can I... stay with you?"
With an especially endearing appearance, Haku indeed carried a certain affinity.
At least seeing Haku's image, Kimimaro felt a sense of trust toward him.
"Of course..."
Before Haku could answer, he paused, turning to Uehara Naraku, "Uehara, as we leave here, can we bring Kimimaro with us?"
Thankfully, he knew who led their group.
Uehara Naraku remained silent for a moment, then sighed, "Of course you can, but please, refrain from saying we live in the dumps..."
————
Seeking recommendations and rewards!