Swish, swish, swish, swish!
Before Orochimaru could utter another word, the swarm of Ryūjin Uchiha moved at once. Each figure flickered forward using the Body Flicker Technique, closing in from every direction until Orochimaru was completely surrounded, leaving no gap to escape through.
"You wish," Orochimaru hissed, his expression turning feral.
He could not distinguish the original from the clones, but that no longer mattered. His hand shot forward decisively.
From his sleeve, a mass of black snakes burst forth, writhing and hissing as they lunged outward.
"Chidori Current."
Ryūjin did not give him the chance to counter.
Every clone attacked simultaneously. Lightning surged outward, forming a dense and violent web that crashed down onto Orochimaru.
Unlike Hashirama Senju, Orochimaru lacked overwhelming vitality. The moment the current struck, his body convulsed violently as electricity coursed through him, slamming him straight to the ground.
Before he could recover, countless hands seized him.
They dragged him forward and forced him down before one of the Ryūjin.
That Ryūjin's Sharingan spun slowly, locking onto Orochimaru's eyes.
The instant their gazes met, the technique activated.
Kotoamatsukami.
Orochimaru blinked once.
Then his expression relaxed completely, as though nothing had happened.
"Lord Ryūjin, what would you have me do?"
His voice was calm, obedient.
His will had already been rewritten.
"Find the Four-Tails and Six-Tails Jinchūriki, quietly," Ryūjin said, his tone casual, almost indifferent.
"I will devote every effort to locating them, my lord," Orochimaru replied without hesitation.
With a simple thought, Ryūjin opened his Kamui space and released Kimimaro.
The pale boy appeared silently at his side.
Orochimaru glanced at him, a faint chuckle escaping his lips.
"So it's this child. He belongs to you as well, Lord Ryūjin?"
"From now on, Kimimaro is no longer a shinobi of the Hidden Mist," Ryūjin said. "Take him with you for now. I have other things to deal with."
Orochimaru's gaze lingered on Kimimaro, interest flickering in his eyes.
"It seems you value him greatly," he said, reaching out to ruffle the boy's hair.
"Kimimaro, go with Orochimaru for now. Train under him until I return."
Ryūjin's tone softened slightly, though his expression remained the same.
Kimimaro simply nodded.
There was no hesitation, no question.
"Good. Come along, Kimimaro," Orochimaru said, taking the boy's hand and leading him away without delay.
Swish!
Ryūjin vanished in an instant, leaving no trace behind.
Moments later, Mei Terumī arrived with a group of Hidden Mist shinobi.
They froze the moment they saw the scene before them.
A dense forest stood where none had existed before.
Towering trees stretched in every direction, their presence abrupt and unnatural.
Everyone present was stunned.
What happened here?
How could an entire forest appear out of nowhere?
The sight was unsettling, completely beyond reason.
None of them could understand it. Their perception of reality itself felt shaken.
At the edge of the forest near the Kirigakure, two figures walked slowly among the trees.
One had a pitcher plant growing from his body, its structure enveloping his head.
The other wore a white mask with a spiral pattern.
They were Zetsu and Obito Uchiha.
"Obito, are you certain about this? You're the most wanted man in the Hidden Mist. Coming here is risky," Zetsu said casually as he moved alongside him.
Obito's strength was undeniable, and his Kamui was absurdly powerful, but even he could not take on an entire hidden village alone.
With Yagura Karatachi on guard, victory was not guaranteed.
After all, Yagura was both a Kage and a Jinchūriki.
On top of that, Kirigakure was surrounded by water, giving its shinobi a natural advantage.
Just as Rasa was far more dangerous within the Land of Wind, Yagura within the Hidden Mist was far more formidable than anywhere else.
"Kisame's strength is exactly what I need right now," Obito replied, his voice low.
He had once controlled more than just Yagura.
Kisame Hoshigaki had also been under his influence.
The difference was clear.
Yagura had been nothing more than a puppet controlled through Genjutsu.
Kisame, however, had genuinely believed in the Eye of the Moon Plan.
After Ao exposed the Genjutsu on Yagura and the Mizukage regained control, Kisame's involvement had been uncovered.
He was captured and imprisoned within the village.
Obito had come to retrieve him.
The Eye of the Moon Plan was far too vast for one person to accomplish alone.
He needed capable allies.
The White Zetsu were numerous, but their combat ability was laughable. Aside from Zetsu himself and Tobi, the rest were practically useless in battle.
At best, they served as scouts.
Obito could not carry everything on his own.
Kisame was different.
He was the first true subordinate Obito had cultivated, not a puppet, but a believer.
That made him valuable.
"You're also concerned about that Uchiha, aren't you?" Zetsu said suddenly, recalling the man who had overwhelmed Obito in Amegakure.
Obito's tone sharpened immediately.
"He's strong, sure. But I don't fear him. In a real fight, the outcome isn't decided."
He would never admit it.
That Ryūjin was one of the reasons he was moving so quickly.
Zetsu did not press further.
"According to our information, Kisame is being held in the Anbu detention facility. And right now, someone is attempting to assassinate Yagura. The timing couldn't be better."
Obito let out a quiet scoff.
"Still trying to kill Yagura."
During the time Yagura had been under his control, countless enemies had been created.
Even now, many refused to believe the truth, dismissing it as an excuse.
"Perfect," Obito said.
"Let's move."
A vortex spiraled open.
And in the next instant, Obito disappeared into Kamui.