"Lord Orochimaru, aren't you worried that unsealing her might let her escape?"
"She won't run," Orochimaru replied calmly.
Kabuto was confused. If i wanted to escape, this would be her best opportunity.
But Orochimaru was right— i had no intention of running.
Soon, she appeared before the two of them, now wearing her signature blue dress and fishnet stockings.
"She… she didn't run?" Kabuto muttered in disbelief.
Orochimaru, gazing at the distant sea, didn't even turn around. "She knows I have valuable dicine, and by staying with , she can learn things she'd never hear otherwise. What reason does she have to leave?"
"Orochimaru, you're terrifying," i said, approaching them.
She had overheard his comnt and couldn't help but be startled by his accuracy. Orochimaru had perfectly articulated her own thoughts.
The conflict between Kirigakure and Konoha served no real purpose, making her return to the battlefield aningless.
Instead, following Orochimaru and uncovering his plans for Kirigakure seed far more worthwhile, especially after experiencing the effects of the strengthening liquid.
A single vial that could enhance one's physical abilities?
Such technology was enough to shake the entire ninja world.
And deep down, she was still curious. Why had Orochimaru defected in the first place?
"Smart choice," Orochimaru said, smiling faintly as i returned to the poised, composed woman from his mories. "Now, let's go. Take to your Kirigakure Village."
"What do you want to do?"
"You're in no position to ask questions," Orochimaru replied bluntly.
"You…"
i was visibly upset and wanted to argue further, but Orochimaru had already started walking away. Frustrated, she had no choice but to follow him.
Her ninja tools had been confiscated by Orochimaru, leaving her unable to threaten him. And with Kabuto nearby, ever-watchful, she had no room for resistance.
---
Orochimaru led the group onto a boat, easily bypassing the Land of Water's border defenses and entering its territory.
When they arrived on the massive island housing Kirigakure Village, a black-and-white head erged from the ground.
"Lord Orochimaru, be careful!"
Kabuto imdiately drew his kunai, stepping in front of Orochimaru to shield him.
Despite knowing Orochimaru's strength, Kabuto took his role as a follower and bodyguard seriously, ready to deal with minor threats.
i was also on high alert, but she found herself instinctively glancing at Orochimaru instead.
He remained calm, his expression relaxed and unbothered.
They… know each other?
"Orochimaru, everything alright?" Zetsu asked, briefly glancing at Kabuto and i.
Orochimaru, understanding the context of Zetsu's inquiry, patted Kabuto on the shoulder to signal him to stand down. "Of course. What's the matter?"
"Here, this is for you," Zetsu said, reaching out and handing him a ring.
The ring bore the character for "Void" (空).
"Hmm?" Orochimaru paused, then smiled faintly as he slipped it onto the pinky finger of his left hand. "Have you gathered everyone?"
"Not yet. I'm just delivering this to you first. It will make etings easier."
"I see," Orochimaru replied with a nod.
He was well aware that the Akatsuki's rings were not just decorative, they were linked to the ten fingers of the Gedo Statue.
When Pain activated the Projection Jutsu, the rings allowed the mbers' consciousnesses to be drawn into the Gedo Statue's fingers, enabling remote etings and even combat projections.
"Do you want to et them now?" Zetsu asked gently.
"There's no need for that," Orochimaru waved him off. "Let finish my business here first."
"Understood." Zetsu nodded before sinking back into the ground.
---
After Zetsu left, i couldn't suppress her curiosity any longer.
"Orochimaru, what exactly are you planning to do in my village?" she asked, her tone sharp.
Although she couldn't understand the specifics of Orochimaru's conversation with Zetsu, it was clear that he was plotting sothing significant.
"Let's make a deal, i," Orochimaru said cryptically.
"A deal?" Terumi i repeated, startled. "What kind of deal?"
"I want you to beco the Mizukage of Kirigakure Village. Once you're in power, I want you to lead your village to submit to . What do you think?"
Orochimaru's words were so shocking that i froze, struggling to process what he had just said.
He wanted her to beco Mizukage? And then submit her entire village to him?
Was this so kind of joke?
"You want to be your puppet?" Terumi i spat, her fists clenched and her voice filled with fury.
Never mind whether Orochimaru's outlandish plan to make her Mizukage could even succeed. The re thought of becoming his puppet was intolerable.
She'd rather die.
"Don't use such an unpleasant word as 'puppet.'" Orochimaru shrugged. "We're all working toward peace."
"Peace?" i shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"The current situation in your village is dire," Orochimaru continued, unfazed. "I can solve that problem for you. Isn't it only natural to make a deal in return?"
"No matter how bad things are, it's still an internal matter. It's not your place to interfere!" i interrupted, her anger boiling over.
"Is that so?" Orochimaru smirked, his golden eyes narrowing. "If you refuse, I'll have no choice but to kill everyone in your village."
"What?!" i's eyes widened in shock.
"Most of the ninjas in your village have already killed their own comrades. They're hardly paragons of virtue. Wouldn't you agree?" Orochimaru's tone was calm, but his words were laced with nace.
"You…" i gritted her teeth, stepping forward into a fighting stance. "Damn it! As a ninja of Kirigakure, I won't just stand by and let you do this to my village!"
"You can't stop ," Orochimaru replied coldly. "If you oppose , Kirigakure will be reduced to ruins because of your actions. Are you sure you want to fight , Terumi i?"
***
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