The secret passage of the underground base hissed open, and Orochimaru emerged into a dense forest just outside the Sound Village.
"Lord Orochimaru."
Kabuto Yakushi, who had been waiting for some time, immediately offered a respectful bow.
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes narrowed slightly as he studied his subordinate. "Kabuto? Why are you here? I tasked you with managing the new base. Besides, I never told you about this place. It seems your information network is more advanced than I gave you credit for."
Faced with the Sannin's questioning, Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "Lord Orochimaru, you misunderstand. I returned because Sasori of the Red Sand contacted me."
"Sasori contacted you!?" Orochimaru's pupils constricted sharply. "So it wasn't Konoha ninjas who attacked, but members of Akatsuki?"
Before Kabuto could reply, Orochimaru leaped to the top of a nearby tree, his gaze sweeping toward the Sound Village. Explosions and screams still echoed from the distance.
"It's Sasori's new partner in Akatsuki," Orochimaru muttered, spotting Deidara perched on a clay bird, scattering Explosive Clay. "That brat from Iwagakure's demolition squad."
"They abandoned their missions just to hunt you down once they learned about the Sound Village," Kabuto observed from below. "Akatsuki really hates traitors."
Orochimaru dropped back to the ground, shaking his head with a strange smile. "They're probably after this." He reached into his palm and pulled out a white Akatsuki ring. "It seems this ring is quite dangerous to carry. Kabuto, you'll hold onto it for me."
He tossed the ring. Kabuto's lips curled into a smile as he caught it — but Orochimaru's voice turned cold.
"Did you really think you could fool me? I never told Kabuto about the ring... Sasori of the Red Sand!"
The figure holding the ring transformed. With a heavy thud, it became a massive white python that coiled around Sasori's true form, the sand-disguise collapsing as the puppet master revealed himself.
"Sasori. Long time no see. Your disguise has gotten sloppy."
Orochimaru licked his lips, his hands shooting forward to summon countless pythons. "Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
"Tch. You filthy snake found me after all," Sasori scoffed, unbothered as pythons coiled around him. "I hoped to get the ring first to appease my new leader. Now I'll just have to kill you with everything I've got."
Sharp windmill blades erupted from Sasori's sides, spinning like a meat grinder that shredded the pythons into mincemeat.
"New leader?" Orochimaru didn't have time to process the words. His eyes widened as Sasori's body shifted. "This is a puppet! You turned your own body into a puppet? You madman!"
"I'm nothing like you," Sasori retorted, blue chakra threads dancing from his fingertips. "Your ugly ninjutsu can't compare to eternal art!"
The Third Kazekage puppet burst from the earth. Iron sand geysered upward, forming countless black needles that surged toward Orochimaru like a tidal wave.
"Iron Sand Rain!"
Orochimaru bit his finger, slamming it into the ground. A massive white snake appeared, wrapping around him as a living shield. The iron needles rattled against its scales.
"Still using the same old tricks," Orochimaru taunted. "Kusanagi Sword!"
The Kusanagi sword shot from the snake's mouth as a blinding streak of light, aimed straight at Sasori's head.
"Still spitting things from your mouth like the disgusting snake you are." Sasori's fingers moved like a conductor's. Iron sand formed a solid wall. Clang! The sword struck sparks but couldn't penetrate.
Meanwhile, the Third Kazekage puppet used the impact to flank Orochimaru. Blades extended from its right hand, slashing in a cold flash toward the back of Orochimaru's skull.
The strike connected, cleaving Orochimaru from head to chest — but the body dissolved into white snake fragments.
"A Substitution Jutsu! That bastard got away again!"
Before Sasori could pursue, a golden-red chakra fox tail appeared in the distance. Wind screamed, and Orochimaru was blasted backward.
"You have five more minutes to finish this," a cold voice echoed. "Otherwise, I'll handle it myself."
"Understood. He won't escape this time!" Sasori snarled, his hands moving again.
Orochimaru tumbled through the air, disbelief etched on his face. "That four-star mask... and that tailed beast chakra resembling Kurama's! That's the man from Four Star Village — the one who controls Tailed Beast chakra without being a jinchūriki!"
You actually joined Akatsuki!
Orochimaru had planned to investigate Four Star Village after his next body transfer. Now, before he could even make his move, they'd brought war directly to his doorstep.
---
---
Like this story?
Support it with a Power Stone and leave a review to help more readers find it.
Your support keeps the story growing.