Danzo and Orochimaru parted ways, Orochimaru choosing the opposite route.
He walked alone on a forest path, his snake-like eyes looking towards an inconspicuous spot deep within the dense forest.
There, a secret base he had abandoned for many years was still hidden, one that even Jiraiya, who had pursued him for years, had never found.
Inside, there were still some useful documents.
Just as he stepped over a large rock, preparing to continue forward, he suddenly stopped.
A tall figure stood a few meters ahead. Like a statue solidified from the shadows, he stood there silently. He was completely enveloped in a wide black cloak, with only a pair of glowing green eyes burning with a suffocatingly pure killing intent.
This oppressive feeling instantly tensed all of Orochimaru's muscles.
Such a dangerous feeling, such an unprecedentedly powerful oppressive feeling... a name surfaced in his mind.
The man rumored to have fought First Hokage Hashirama and survived.
The ceiling of bounty hunters, the rogue ninja of Takigakure, Kakuzu.
Orochimaru asked in a low voice, "Kakuzu, are you here for me?"
"Someone wants your life." Kakuzu's voice was very calm, as if he were talking about something as trivial as eating and drinking.
"They're willing to pay a lot."
Tsk.
Orochimaru knew he had countless enemies in the Ninja World, but he hadn't expected someone would actually be able to afford Kakuzu.
Who could it be?
His whereabouts had always been hidden. Unless he actively appeared, it would be impossible for anyone to find him.
It couldn't possibly be Danzo, whom he had just met, could it?
Then he would be too uncooperative.
Orochimaru's golden pupils flickered slightly in the shadows, and he subtly took half a step back.
He didn't want to get entangled with this guy, lest Konoha's subordinates track him down by scent.
"Kakuzu." He deliberately slowed his speech, making himself seem less suspicious.
"Perhaps I could offer some money to buy my life?"
He tried to negotiate with Kakuzu this way.
Light gleamed in Kakuzu's green eyes, and his stagnant voice finally showed some fluctuation. "Are you rich?"
"A little, but I can get you even more."
Kakuzu's voice suddenly rose. "Then why are you wasting time?"
He casually threw his black robe aside, revealing the tall body hidden within. A bizarre mask was slowly crawling up his body.
Fire Release: Searing Migraine!
The mask's crevices suddenly expanded, and the next second, a huge fireball erupted. With devastating force, it shot straight at Orochimaru.
The air was distorted by the high temperature, and the surrounding trees turned to ash before they could even burn.
The pungent smell of charring spread, leaving only a blinding fire and thick smoke where he stood.
Kakuzu stood his ground, his green eyes coldly watching the inferno.
After a long while, the fierce flames reluctantly dispersed, revealing a charred crater in the ground. In the center of the pit, there was a completely dried snake skin, emitting a burnt odor.
"What an annoying technique. The twenty million I was about to get just flew away."
Kakuzu had received some intelligence on Orochimaru, knowing he was difficult to kill. But who would have thought he'd be this difficult to kill?
He glanced disdainfully at the snake skin, then picked up his cloak and put it on.
Just as he was about to leave, a very faint "thump" sound, like a dry branch breaking, sounded from the bushes not far away.
Kakuzu instantly became excited. "Let me see if these little bugs can make up for some of the loss."
The leading ninja thought, 'This is bad, we've been discovered.'
At this point, they could only push forward.
"Attack!"
As soon as he finished speaking, various ninja tools were thrown at Kakuzu without restraint. However, Kakuzu, standing at the center of the destruction, didn't even bat an eyelid.
Clang... Clang... Clang...
Countless kunai shot from blind spots fiercely struck his black body, but couldn't even leave a scratch.
The ambushing ninjas couldn't help but gasp.
Kakuzu's defense was terrifyingly strong!
"Now, it's my turn."
Kakuzu's figure instantly disappeared.
"Ah!"
Two elite squads, in the face of absolute power, were as fragile as paper, annihilated in the blink of an eye.
Only one ninja, who was at the very back and responsible for outer perimeter security, was alive.
Because he was half a beat late entering the battlefield, he happened to witness the terrifying scene of his teammates being instantly slaughtered.
He scrambled to his feet and turned, using all his might to run desperately towards the camp. He stumbled into the camp, falling with a thud in front of Danzo.
"Danzo-sama, something has happened!"
Danzo kicked over his injured subordinate and asked, "What's with all this panic? With me presiding here, nothing can go wrong outside."
"Yes, Danzo-sama. We were attacked and suffered heavy casualties."
Danzo suddenly stood up, a cold light blazing in his single eye.
"What insolent wretch dares to run wild on the Land of Fire's soil?"
His right hand clenched into a fist, a violent killing intent mixed with unvented rage instantly ignited his murderous intent.
Good timing, you bastard.
He just needed a hearty battle to vent the anger in his chest.
Danzo lifted the tent flap and smelled the scent of blood in the air.
"It seems a formidable character has arrived."
His voice was hoarse, even carrying a hint of excitement, "Has his identity been confirmed?"
The subordinate kneeling on the ground trembled slightly, difficultly squeezing out a sentence. "The person who came is the rogue ninja of Takigakure — Kakuzu."
"What did you say?!" Danzo actually shouted out loud.
The flame of anger that had just ignited in the depths of his pupils was extinguished as if by a bucket of ice water the moment he heard that name.
Kakuzu is here?
That monster who fought the First Hokage and survived.
A calamity whose presence meant someone was going to die.
Why would he appear here?
Danzo knew that Kakuzu never did business at a loss.
Who hired him, and who was he here to kill?
He wouldn't be here to kill me, would he?
A chill instantly surged to the top of his head, and Danzo was momentarily speechless.
"Danzo-sama? What should we do next?"
Danzo then came back to his senses, forcibly suppressing the fear in his heart.
He spoke again, his voice once again turning cold, "Notify everyone to face the enemy head-on, target the bounty hunter Kakuzu."
He fiercely waved his hand, a look of determination on his face. "The time has come to be loyal to Konoha. I will personally lead the elite guards to launch a fatal blow from the flank."
"Remember, everything is for Konoha!"
Inside and outside the camp, cheers erupted.
"Everything for Konoha, charge!"
They rushed out without hesitation, their figures quickly disappearing from sight.
Danzo was instantly the only one left in the camp. Only when he could no longer hear footsteps did he gasp for air, slumping into a chair. He then realized that his back was already soaked with cold sweat.
A few minutes later, he stood up.
After confirming that no one was around, he unhesitatingly ran frantically in the opposite direction.
He had only one thought in his mind.
Run!
Run back to Konoha!
He had more subordinates there, they could save his life!
(End of Chapter)
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