Kusagakure, the Village Hidden in Grass.
"Lord Orochimaru."
A figure clad in a blue hooded robe entered the Kusakage's office, bowing respectfully towards the man standing silently by the window.
The man at the window was none other than Orochimaru.
He now possessed a new identity: the leader of Kusagakure.
Several months prior, caught between the forces of Orochimaru and Hozuki Castle, the original Kusagakure had been powerless to resist. Kusakage Kyosuke had been cut down by Orochimaru on the battlefield, and the village changed hands.
After occupying Kusagakure, Orochimaru initiated a bloody purge that lasted for months. All the established major powers and ninja clans within the village were swept away.
Presently, Kusagakure consisted only of the subordinates Orochimaru had brought with him, along with a populace of powerless civilians and low-ranking ninja. Under Orochimaru's oppressive and terrifying methods, everyone who remained had chosen submission.
Now, only one voice held sway in Kusagakure – that of the new Kusakage, Orochimaru.
"Kabuto. You've finally arrived."
Orochimaru turned, his voice a dry rasp as he looked at the man standing within the room. The man had lowered his hood, revealing a shock of white hair and a face that still held a trace of youthfulness.
Yakushi Kabuto, Orochimaru's trusted confidant, lured away from Danzo.
"Lord Orochimaru, congratulations on taking Kusagakure," Kabuto said deferentially.
"Mere Kusagakure is hardly worth mentioning," Orochimaru replied with a faint, dismissive smile. "This is merely the first step in our plan. There is still a long road ahead."
"Lord Orochimaru, what should we do next?"
"First, let's cultivate a batch of useful individuals."
"Are you planning to bring Jugo and Kimimaro here?" Surprise flickered across Kabuto's face.
"Mm. Not just the two of them. Select others from the base who are usable must also be brought over first. Kusagakure is currently an empty shell; it must be rebuilt as quickly as possible," Orochimaru stated firmly.
"Lord Orochimaru, what about me?" Kabuto nodded, then posed the question. He was keenly aware of his own position – at this stage, it wasn't suitable for him to remain by Orochimaru's side.
"Kabuto, you should return to Konoha for now. There are still quite a few interesting things happening in the village," Orochimaru mused thoughtfully. As he finished speaking, a look of keen interest spread across his face.
"Are you suggesting I continue observing Danzo and the Third Hokage's movements up close, Lord Orochimaru?" Kabuto asked, searching Orochimaru's expression for confirmation.
Orochimaru shook his head. "Heh heh, no. Those two old men are thoroughly rotten. Their existence doesn't warrant my excessive attention. There is someone else I want you to learn about."
"Who?" Kabuto asked, puzzled. He knew well that Orochimaru's feelings towards the Third Hokage were far more complex than his dismissive words suggested. Who in Konoha could possibly warrant Orochimaru's attention more than the Hokage himself?
"Akimichi Tatsuya," Orochimaru breathed the name.
"Him!" Kabuto's expression shifted from shock to dawning comprehension.
Although Tatsuya had maintained a low profile in Konoha for the past two years, his strength and standing had been steadily increasing in the eyes of those who paid attention. Furthermore, Kabuto was well aware that Tatsuya and Orochimaru had maintained considerable private contact before the latter's defection from Konoha.
Kabuto himself had always been quite interested in the rapidly rising Tatsuya.
Konoha Village, inside Yakiniku.
The dinner rush had passed. Kyoko was hunched over the counter, engrossed in sorting through the accounts, while Mitarashi Anko sprawled lazily across a nearby chair, head drooping.
"Hey, Kyoko," Anko mumbled, "you think maybe that guy got himself snatched away by that beautiful Miko? It's been over four months, and he's still not back."
Kyoko paused her work, looking up at Anko with a deeply knowing gaze. "You seem to mention him quite a lot lately! Miss him?"
Caught by Kyoko's pointed look, Anko instantly felt her cheeks flush hot. "Who— Who misses him!" she stammered defensively, glancing nervously at Kyoko.
"Keep pretending, tough guy!" Kyoko rolled her eyes good-naturedly at the girl. With a sigh, she lowered her head again and resumed her work on the ledgers.
Seeing this, Anko quickly got up and cautiously approached the counter.
"Hey, Kyoko... are you mad?" Anko gently nudged her arm, whispering.
"What is it!" Kyoko didn't look up, her voice muffled and sounding slightly sullen.
Anko reached out, intending to gently lift Kyoko's head, but Kyoko slapped her hand away.
That gesture sent Anko into a greater panic.
"Kyoko, what's wrong?" Anko threw her arms around Kyoko, her voice tinged with alarm.
Kyoko finally lifted her head, her expression unreadable as she looked directly at Anko. "Do you like Tatsuya-san too?"
"I... I..." Anko's face paled slightly. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
It was the question she had been desperately avoiding.
But now, Kyoko had brought it directly into the open.
What should I do! Anko's mind raced in panic.
Pfft!
Just as Anko was spiraling into flustered uncertainty, Kyoko's stern expression broke into sudden laughter. She reached out and gently pinched Anko's pretty cheek. "You really are... still so dense!" she said softly.
Kyoko's laughter and affectionate gesture eased some of Anko's anxiety, but her face remained a mask of confusion. "Then... Kyoko... you... that question just now..." she stammered.
"I've known the answer to that question for a long time," Kyoko stated, exasperated by Anko's slow uptake.
"Then... then why?" Anko's pale cheeks flushed faintly pink.
"Are you asking why I haven't kicked you out?" Kyoko gently pinched Anko's cheek again, her expression affectionate. "Blame yourself for being too darn likable to resent."
As she spoke, a faint shadow of melancholy crossed Kyoko's face. When it came to love, women were inherently selfish. Yet, faced with this straightforward, boisterous beauty, she just couldn't bring herself to harden her heart.
"Kyoko, you're the best!" Anko threw her arms around Kyoko again, lifting her slightly off the ground in an exuberant hug, her face beaming with excitement.
Inside the barbecue restaurant, the two women clung tightly to each other.
At the entrance, Uchiha Misuke stopped abruptly, her expression decidedly odd as she took in the scene before her.
Locked in Anko's embrace, Kyoko spotted Misuke standing just outside the door. Her face instantly turned crimson, and she hurriedly pushed the tightly hugging Anko away. If she didn't separate them quickly, she feared the strikingly cool and beautiful woman outside might get entirely the wrong idea.
"Misuke-san," Kyoko greeted, moving towards the door with flushed cheeks to welcome Uchiha Misuke inside.
After entering, Misuke didn't speak, merely swept her peculiar gaze over both women once more.
"Hmph!"
Being scrutinized like that by Misuke made Anko flush with embarrassment. However, unwilling to show weakness in front of someone she constantly clashed with, she let out a defiant huff and turned sharply, walking away.