Where did this equipnt co from? It was a valid question.
But Tsunade didn't seem too interested in the answer. "Why should I even ask? Isn't it natural for you to have these things?"
Natural?
"Heh, I suppose you're right."
Hearing Tsunade's response, a small smirk appeared on Orochimaru's face. The surveillance screens he was using weren't state-of-the-art computers but rather small television monitors stacked together. To Tsunade, it wouldn't have appeared too different from Konoha's own monitoring setup.
Tsunade, like others who knew Orochimaru, was already familiar with his reputation for innovation. He had been behind several of Konoha's scientific advancents, including the developnt of advanced ninja tools. So, seeing any form of high-tech device in his possession was hardly surprising.
It was part of why she trusted him. Orochimaru was an enigma—brilliant, unconventional, yet undeniably loyal to Konoha's cause, or at least to his own ambitions that aligned with it.
Smiling softly, Orochimaru sat back and gestured for Tsunade to co closer. Without hesitation, she moved to sit on his lap. The familiarity between them spoke volus; they were more than just teammates or childhood friends, they were lovers who shared a deep, albeit unconventional, bond.
Tsunade's eyes shifted to the screens again, her curiosity piqued. She still wondered why he would go through the trouble of monitoring Kushina. But before she could ask, she noticed the figures in the black uniforms and their distinctive headbands moving stealthily in the shadows.
"Orochimaru, what are they planning to do?" she asked, her tone serious.
"You'll find out soon enough," Orochimaru said, his golden eyes gleaming with anticipation.
---
On the far side of Konoha, in a modest house near the village's edge, Kushina had been woken by faint noises outside. She wrapped her robe around her and cautiously opened the door. But before she could call out for help, her vision was suddenly blocked by several unfamiliar figures.
Before she could even scream, a rough hand clamped over her mouth, and everything went dark.
The Kumo ninjas acted swiftly. In less than a minute, they had subdued Kushina, tied her hands, and carried her off into the night.
"We're clear!" one of the ninjas whispered as they made their way through the village streets, weaving into the shadows and heading toward the periter wall.
Everything was going according to plan. As expected, the barrier fluctuated during the brief changeover at the security post, allowing them a window of opportunity. Within monts, the team had scaled the wall and disappeared into the forest beyond Konoha.
After a couple of kiloters, the Kumo ninjas slowed their pace, confident that they'd avoided detection.
"Alright, we're in the clear," said the leader, catching his breath. He glanced over at the young girl in their grasp. "Tie her up properly."
Kushina, who had begun to regain consciousness, felt her heart drop as reality hit her, she'd been kidnapped. The mories of her village being attacked, of losing her parents and ho, rushed back like a cold wave. ꞦÅŊȱᛒĚṡ
Was she to lose everything again?
"Please... soone, help ," she thought desperately as she struggled against the ropes binding her wrists. But the more she twisted, the more hopeless her situation seed. She could feel the rough hands of her captors and the chill of the night pressing in around her.
Despite the overwhelming fear, she resolved to leave a trail. When the Kumo ninjas weren't looking, Kushina discreetly pulled at strands of her vivid red hair, letting them fall to the ground as subtle markers, hoping soone, anyone—would follow.
But doubt crept in. Who would notice her absence? She had no real friends in Konoha, and the village was already shrouded in sleep.
"Am I really going to be taken away? Is this... the end?" Despair started to consu her.
Just then, a shout broke through the silence.
"Who's there?"
Kushina's eyes snapped open as she felt a sudden tug at the rope around her wrists, yanking her backward. The jolt sent her sprawling to the ground. The rough impact made her wince, but it was enough to clear her vision.
Ahead, in the faint moonlight, a lone figure stepped out from the shadows of the trees. His hands were casually tucked into his pockets, his eyes glowing with an eerie intensity.
"Orochimaru-sama?" Kushina gasped, stunned.
The three Kumo ninjas were visibly tense, drawing their weapons as they recognized the emblem on Orochimaru's flak jacket. He was no ordinary shinobi—he was a legend.
"Stay back!" the leader shouted, pressing a kunai to Kushina's neck. "Even if you're a Konoha elite, don't co any closer, or she—"
But before the Kumo ninja could finish, Orochimaru vanished from sight, reappearing in an instant directly in front of them. His cold, golden eyes locked onto the leader's as a sinister smirk crossed his lips.
"Is that really your plan? Surrender now and spare yourself the humiliation."
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