"Nagato, do you have a plan?" Under the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Konan asked softly.
"The plan is to get Yonbi." Nagato stated resolutely.
"Orochimaru is an extrely dangerous and cunning individual. Trying to get Yonbi from him…"
Konan hesitated, and continued, "Besides, Zetsu is clearly collaborating with Orochimaru. With Zetsu around, we'll be at a significant disadvantage. And your body can't withstand intense battles in the short term."
"Don't worry."
Nagato said solemnly, "Orochimaru and Zetsu presenting Yonbi at this ti must an they want sothing from Akatsuki. I'll act accordingly."
"I hope everything goes well." Konan sighed quietly.
...
In the city.
Kanpū and Kakashi found a barbecue restaurant. While eating and drinking, they waited for Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin.
Over an hour later, with their bellies full, Naruto and the others, having gathered information, followed the signs left by Kanpū and arrived at the restaurant.
"Kanpū-sensei, Kakashi-senpai, you guys…"
Upon entering the restaurant, Naruto saw the at skewers, bottles, and the omnipresent aroma of grilled at at Kanpū's table, then he imdiately beca furious, "How sneaky!!!"
Karin couldn't stand it either, "It's too much, big brother! You sent us out to work while you feasted here. Doesn't your conscience hurt?"
Sasuke didn't mind and, with hands in his pockets, got straight to the point, "According to our investigation, the person you're looking for indeed appeared here, but they left two days ago, seemingly chased by debt collectors. That's about it."
"Did you find out where the fat sheep went?" Kanpū asked.
"Yes."
Sasuke, rather proud of himself, said, "I specifically went to the black market for information. They said she was at a gambling den twenty kilomters away in a small town."
'Black market information?'
Kanpū and Kakashi look at each other in shock.
Black market will not collect other people's information for no reason, unless soone posted a bounty!
So the question is, were the debt collectors placing a bounty on Tsunade's whereabouts, or were there other Shinobi searching for her besides them?
Kanpū's eyes flickered as he recalled the original plot where Orochimaru, after having his hands sealed by the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, went to look for Tsunade.
"Kakashi-senpai, you're the employer. What do you say?" Kanpū asked with a smile.
"Ti waits for no one. We set off imdiately!" Kakashi declared with a wave of his hand.
"Wait a minute! Kanpū-sensei, none of us have eaten yet!!" Naruto pointed at the few pieces of grilled at on the plate, jumping up and down with hunger.
"Don't forget you're on a mission, so use so Military Food Pills to tide you over." Kakashi interjected bluntly.
"How can that be? You two clearly…" Naruto was very aggrieved, and even his stomach growled in protest!
Leaving the barbecue restaurant, the five of them imdiately set off eastward.
...
In the east, in a small town built along a mountain, Orochimaru, wearing the epic-level Tobi skin, strolled under a long wall, his golden slit pupils glancing around.
Following behind him was a Shinobi wearing an Agakure's forehead protector.
This was an unfortunate fellow Orochimaru had captured on the way to serve as a temporary Yonbi's Jinchuriki. His Chakra have been sealed by Orochimaru and he turned into a fish on chopping board.
After a while, they arrived at a gambling den.
"Is this the place?" Orochimaru asked in his hoarse voice.
"The information from black market indicates it's here."
Tobi said cheerfully, "Orochimaru, for your sake, I had to ask another clone to stay at the black market day and night, and the money for the black market bounty …"
"Shut up." Orochimaru interrupted impatiently.
"Tch."
Tobi shook his leg in dissatisfaction, but when his leg brushed against a small blade of grass by the door, he suddenly froze.
Orochimaru has no sensation in his legs, so if Tobi doesn't move, he can't move either.
"What is it?" Orochimaru asked in sowhat irritable tone.
Right now, he just wanted to find Tsunade quickly and heal his legs.
"I just received an information."
Tobi chuckled, and while continuing to walk forward, he spoke softly, "Zetsu's task is complete. When do you plan to see him?"
"After my legs are cured." Orochimaru replied coldly.
"Got it, got it." Tobi didn't dare to say more and quickly moved his legs into the gambling den.
After a bit of searching, they soon found their target mingling among the many gamblers.
Tsunade!
"Hmm?"
When Orochimaru's gaze locked onto Tsunade, she imdiately sensed sothing unusual and turned her head sharply, "Orochimaru?"
"Long ti no see, Tsunade." Orochimaru walked toward her step by step, with the Agakure's Shinobi following closely behind.
"Hey, big cash cow, hurry up and place your bet. Everyone's waiting for you!" A gambler nearby urged.
Tsunade ignored him, got up, and left swiftly.
Orochimaru sneered and grabbed the Agakure's Shinobi, then quickly followed her.
"Tsunade, I'm not here to trouble you."
Following Tsunade, Orochimaru hoarsely stated his request, "As long as you heal my legs, I'll leave imdiately. How about it? You wouldn't want to keep pestering you, would you?"
"Annoying!"
Tsunade looked disgusted. After running to the outskirts of the city, she stopped in the wilderness, turned around, and said, "Orochimaru, even though I've left Konoha, I'm still a part of it. You previously allied with other villages to invade Konoha, so I won't help you heal your legs no matter what. Just give up on that thought!"
"Is that so?"
Orochimaru didn't see it that way, "If you don't intend to heal my legs, why did you lead here?"
Tsunade remained silent.
Orochimaru suddenly chuckled sinisterly, "Are you worried I'll harm the civilians, or are you afraid I'll kill Shizune?"
Boom!
A violent wave of energy suddenly overflowed from Tsunade's body, sending dust and grass flying.
"Orochimaru, you dare!!" Tsunade clenched her fists, and gathered her Chakra Enhanced Strength.
Orochimaru watched Tsunade's posturing with amusent, then said with mocking tone, "Tsunade, after all these years, I wonder if your hemophobia is cured?"
'He has seen through …' Tsunade's heart sank, but she remained defiant, "Even if you kill , I won't help you."
"Even if Shizune dies before your eyes…"
Orochimaru threatened ruthlessly when Tobi urgently interrupted, "Orochimaru, there's big trouble!!"
Hearing this, Orochimaru is very, very annoyed!
"What is that thing?" Tsunade looked at Orochimaru's skin with disgust.
"Bastard, I'm not a thing, I'm Tobi!"
Tobi retorted, then quickly said to Orochimaru, "Orochimaru, I just got information from the black market. A Konoha brat bought the information about Tsunade's whereabouts, twenty kiloters from here!"
"Konoha brat?" Orochimaru's heart tightened, "Who is it?"
"It's Uchiha Sasuke!" Tobi said.
"Is he alone?" Orochimaru squinted, his eyes begin to stir.
Although Sasuke had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, he was still just a Genin after all. Orochimaru believed he had a 100% chance of defeating Sasuke!
"Of course not!"
Tobi imdiately interrupted his fantasy, "He is with the team led by Gekko Kanpū. They will be here soon!"
Orochimaru frowned and looked sharply at Tsunade, contemplating whether he could capture her before Kanpū arrived.
But he quickly dismissed the idea.
Capturing Tsunade alone was useless. After all, with her character, she'd rather die than submit. Unless, he also captured Shizune!
But there is no ti now.
Orochimaru glared at Tsunade, then said with a sneer, "Tsunade, I'll co for you next ti."
With that said, Orochimaru's face was covered by Tobi's skin, and after grabbing the Agakure's Shinobi, he swiftly burrowed into the ground, disappearing from sight.
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