With the abilities of the Hidden Mist Village, finding Kimimaro and his companions was naturally unlikely.
So the three of them successfully left the Land of Water and escaped the tracking range of the Hidden Mist Village.
"Deidara-senpai, Kimimaro-senpai, I've learned a lot this time. Trust me, I'll soon become a core member and then join you all again in action. Well, goodbye!"
Tobi waved his hand in farewell and then ran off.
Kimimaro and Deidara didn't try to stop him.
"Tobi really is a good kid."
Deidara had a pretty good impression of Tobi.
"I'm curious, though—how did someone like him get into the Akatsuki?"
Kimimaro couldn't help but comment.
He knew Tobi's true identity, so it wasn't strange to him.
But why did Deidara seem to approve of Tobi?
Doesn't he find Tobi an odd fit for the Akatsuki?
"Tobi's personality is strange, yes, but it's not that bad."
Deidara also found Kimimaro's comment a bit odd.
At this moment, Kimimaro understood.
Compared to Tobi, Deidara was not that different either.
Shaking his head, Kimimaro chose not to say anything more.
After they left, Tobi mysteriously reappeared on a tall tree.
His mask revealed his right Sharingan eye, staring closely at the two.
In the next moment, Zetsu also appeared beside Tobi.
"This Kimimaro really isn't simple," Zetsu said slowly.
"What did you discover?"
Obito's voice rang out.
"The way he infiltrated the Hidden Mist Village was peculiar. He moved around in front of a strong individual like Mei Terumi without revealing any flaws."
"Oh?"
Obito's visible eye narrowed slightly.
"For someone pursuing a cure to survive, to possess such incredible infiltration skills? It is indeed surprising."
Obito felt even more uncertain about Kimimaro.
"Based on our previous investigation, he possesses quite a few strange techniques. It seems he learned a lot of theory during his time with Orochimaru. For him to master it all to this degree—he is a true genius."
"Hmph, a genius? After joining the Akatsuki, he'll be nothing more than a pawn. Zetsu, keep a close eye on him."
"That might be difficult."
"Difficult? Why?"
"Because his sensory abilities are also very strong. I can monitor him from afar, but once I get closer, he might notice."
Zetsu seemed rather helpless.
"Even you can't keep track of him?"
"I'm not omnipotent. Against highly perceptive types, it's indeed troublesome."
"Just how much does this Kimimaro know?" Obito couldn't help but feel more wary of Kimimaro.
He hadn't initially considered this young man to be such a problem.
"From what we know now, Kimimaro likely harbors no malice toward the Akatsuki. You previously worried he might have connections with Itachi. But it's almost been a year since he joined, and they haven't had any interaction.
I think the previous speculation doesn't hold up. Itachi was just Kimimaro's excuse to join the Akatsuki. Now, we should be more suspicious about what Kimimaro and Orochimaru are trying to do together.
Given Kimimaro's abilities, if Orochimaru wanted to kill him, it would come at a huge cost and might not even succeed.
It's more likely they're collaborating. And their goal might be the Akatsuki itself. But Orochimaru is hard to read. Is he interested in the Rinnegan, or is he fixated on Itachi's Sharingan?
Or has he somehow gotten wind of the Akatsuki's ultimate objective and sent Kimimaro to infiltrate us? We can't be sure yet."
"Orochimaru? Hah, what a joke. If he really dares target the Akatsuki, Nagato will deal with him before I even need to lift a finger.
"In terms of power, Orochimaru is no match for Nagato. But as for Nagato actually killing Orochimaru? That might not be possible. The man is more resilient than a cockroach."
Zetsu sighed helplessly.
He had lived for thousands of years but had never encountered a ninja with such tenacious vitality.
A ninja delving into science—this was truly a first for him.
Orochimaru had touched on areas even Zetsu was unfamiliar with.
Obito pondered for a moment before saying, "Before we start the plan officially, let's avoid alerting them. Let them carry on. They are in the light, and we are in the shadows—we hold the advantage. If, in the end, Orochimaru still has value, I wouldn't mind collaborating with him."
"Collaborate?"
Zetsu was a bit surprised.
"With both Orochimaru and Kimimaro, they already qualify for collaboration with us. Besides, you investigated before—there are several strong ninjas in the Sound Village. Though not at Kage level, together they could match two or three Kage, right?"
"That's true. Uchiha Sasuke and Hyuga Neji are growing at an incredible pace. Members of the Uzumaki Clan, the Hozuki Clan, and the origin of the Curse Mark are also developing rapidly.
In addition to other talents, the Sound Village indeed has potential. By the time we initiate our operations, they will be a terrifying force.
If anyone can rapidly cultivate talent, it's definitely Orochimaru.
He may use any means necessary, but his methods are undoubtedly effective. Under him, potential is fully realized—Kimimaro is a perfect example.
Moreover, the Curse Mark, aside from Orochimaru's control, is genuinely a powerful asset."
Zetsu couldn't help but marvel that Orochimaru had turned being a "civilian player" into an art form.
If Orochimaru had been the reincarnation of Asura or Indra, the whole ninja world would be in serious trouble.
"Keep a close watch on Orochimaru's actions. Let's see what he's really up to," Obito instructed Zetsu.
Zetsu nodded in agreement.
Investigating Orochimaru was indeed a challenging task.
Elsewhere, at the Sound Village...
Orochimaru looked at Sasuke and Neji before him, his golden pupils filled with delight.
"Hey, Orochimaru, we've finished today's training. Isn't there a more challenging regimen?" Sasuke asked, his red Three Tomoe Sharingan glinting with dissatisfaction.
"Is this level of training supposed to look down on us?"
Next to the Sharingan, there was a pair of white eyes with a faint purple glow.
The speaker was Neji.
At this moment, the aura of these two was equally matched.
And on Neji's neck was also a curse mark.
However, unlike Sasuke's, Neji's curse mark was a white three-tomoe design.
This curse mark wasn't placed by Orochimaru—it was from Kimimaro!
To control Neji, Kimimaro naturally left a failsafe.
This Curse Mark was one such measure.
Although Kimimaro hadn't yet fused the Curse Mark with the Yin Seal, he was still able to place a curse mark on others.
(End of Chapter)