"Yes, Lord Orochimaru, I'll go immediately!"
Though uncertain why Orochimaru suddenly suspected an infiltration, Kimimaro's fanatical devotion prevented him from questioning his master. He simply acknowledged the order and departed.
Orochimaru nodded, returning his attention to the experiment before him. After Kimimaro's exit, he meticulously dissected the test subject on his table. A look of disappointment crossed his deathly pale features.
With a sigh, Orochimaru set aside his scalpel, washed his hands, and left the laboratory to examine the new experimental subject Kimimaro had delivered.
Despite Orochimaru's premonition, Richard had not yet reached Otogakure. Unhurried, he maintained a flight speed of Mach 5—well below his maximum capacity.
En route to Otogakure, Richard mentally reviewed everything he knew about the settlement and its inhabitants—which notable shinobi resided there, what techniques they specialized in, and other relevant details.
Within Otogakure, the most renowned figure was undoubtedly Orochimaru himself. A villain who survived until the story's conclusion and ultimately underwent redemption, Orochimaru possessed not only formidable power but also undeniable charisma as an antagonist.
Judging solely by his actions, Orochimaru could hardly be considered virtuous. Yet this didn't diminish his captivating persona. One needed only to observe Kimimaro's unwavering loyalty to recognize Orochimaru's magnetic influence over others.
In terms of devotion, none of the other four members of the Sound Five matched Kimimaro's absolute fidelity.
As for Kabuto Yakushi—while outwardly loyal, Kabuto viewed Orochimaru more as a partner than a master. He had accepted Orochimaru's invitation and assumed the role of subordinate purely to discover his own identity. Lacking better options, he chose to emulate Orochimaru.
After reviewing mental profiles of the other like Kabuto Yakushi, Kin Tsuchi, Dosu Kinuta, Zaku Abumi, and others, Richard arrived in the airspace above Otogakure.
Otogakure was situated in the Land of Rice Fields, directly north of the Land of Fire, bordering smaller nations like the Land of Frost and the Land of Hot Water. The village's symbol—an eighth note—reflected its shinobi's specialization in sound-based techniques.
During the Chunin Exams, Otogakure and Sunagakure would ally to assault Konohagakure. Though the operation ultimately failed, Orochimaru would still succeed in killing the Third Hokage. The price of this victory: having the souls of both arms sealed by the Reaper Death Seal.
Not until the Fourth Great Ninja War would Orochimaru reclaim his sealed arms, when the First and Second Hokages and others were released from the Reaper Death Seal's grip. Despite being unable to use his arms for much of the storyline, Orochimaru's prowess remained formidable—firmly establishing him as a Kage-level combatant.
Upon reaching the Land of Rice Fields, Richard located Otogakure without difficulty. The country's modest size made navigation simple, even without directions.
After positioning himself above Otogakure, Richard descended directly into its center without hesitation.
Nestled within a forest in the Land of Rice Fields, Otogakure covered a relatively small area—incomparable to Konoha's sprawling expanse. Despite its limited size, the village housed a considerable number of shinobi.
The village's history explained this apparent contradiction. If Richard's memory served correctly, Otogakure had been established only a year prior. After departing from Akatsuki, Orochimaru had arrived in the Land of Rice Fields during a period of military expansion.
Though the manga never detailed precisely how Orochimaru founded Otogakure, the process wasn't difficult to deduce. With Orochimaru's overwhelming power, no one in the Land of Rice Fields could oppose him. A single meeting with the country's daimyō would have secured approval for establishing the village.
With the daimyō's "support," founding Otogakure presented few obstacles. The only real challenge was concealing Orochimaru's role as the village's founder and controller. Though ambitious, the Land of Rice Fields' daimyō was no fool—he harbored no delusions about competing with the Land of Fire.
Richard's landing in the village center immediately attracted attention from nearby shinobi. More accurately, the Sound ninja had detected his presence before he even touched the ground.
Though a minor village, Otogakure's shinobi maintained fundamental vigilance. Anything less would have rendered Orochimaru's "hard work" meaningless.
Upon spotting Richard, the surrounding Sound ninja immediately moved to encircle him. Many drew kunai from their pouches, regarding him warily, poised to attack at any moment.
Despite being surrounded, Richard remained entirely unconcerned. These ninja registered as no more threatening than civilians to him. Even if they employed Otogakure's signature sonic techniques, they posed no danger.
To put it bluntly, even if he stood motionless and allowed these Sound ninja to attack freely, they couldn't penetrate his defenses.
"I'm here to see Orochimaru," Richard stated calmly. "If you don't want to die, stand aside."
His words, though delivered evenly, struck the surrounding Sound ninja as a blatant provocation.
While these shinobi couldn't fathom how Richard knew Orochimaru led their village, one thing was certain—they could never allow him to share this information. If word reached Konoha, which had never abandoned its pursuit of Orochimaru, they might dispatch forces to investigate.
The Sound ninja offered no verbal response. After exchanging glances, those at the front channeled chakra and launched their assault.
Empowered by chakra, the ninja moved with impressive speed. Unfortunately for them, their opponent was Richard.
To his perception, their movements appeared comically slow—like footage slowed to a fraction of its normal speed.
Why must you force my hand? Richard lamented internally.
Unhurriedly, he withdrew Masamune from his system space.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
He didn't employ specialized techniques like Octaslash or Gravesong. Instead, with a few casual swings of Masamune, he effortlessly dispatched his attackers.
To Richard, he'd merely executed a few perfunctory strikes. To the remaining Sound ninja, however, his assault had been so blindingly fast that the naked eye couldn't follow. They couldn't hope to counter an attack whose trajectory they couldn't even perceive—they could only infer its path from the wounds inflicted on their comrades.
After easily eliminating these Sound ninja, Richard addressed the survivors: "If you're eager to die, I'm happy to oblige."
"Let me repeat myself: I'm here to see Orochimaru. If you value your lives, stand aside."
Though killing meant little to him, Richard wasn't inherently bloodthirsty.
Just as the remaining Sound ninja contemplated a coordinated assault, a voice called from the distance.
"Who are you, and why do you seek Lord Orochimaru?"
Turning toward the sound, Richard beheld a familiar figure.
The newcomer had white hair, green eyes, red markings beneath his eyelids, and two crimson dots adorning his forehead. As Richard recalled, Kimimaro wore a white kimono secured by a thick purple rope around his waist.
The shimenawa rope held sacred significance in japan culture, carrying powerful mystical connotations. Throughout the nation, people, objects, and places of spiritual importance were adorned with such ropes.
In essence, shimenawa ropes served a purpose similar to magatama beads—both symbolized mystical attributes.
After appraising Kimimaro, Richard frowned slightly. If his memory served correctly, Kimimaro should have been gravely ill at this point.
It was precisely this illness that prevented him from accompanying the Sound Four to retrieve Sasuke. Instead, he would later appear to intercept Rock Lee and Gaara when they pursued Sasuke after the Sound Four departed from the forest.
Yet observing Kimimaro now, he appeared completely healthy—showing no signs of terminal illness whatsoever.
What's different here? Richard wondered. Perhaps this was Kimimaro's condition during this period, and his health didn't deteriorate until around the Chunin Exams?
Though puzzled by Kimimaro's apparent wellness, Richard didn't dwell on the matter. "My name is Richard," he replied casually. "I come from a small island in the Northern Sea."
The northernmost region of the shinobi world consisted of ocean. While no recognized countries or ninja villages existed there, it provided adequate cover for his origin story. Even if Kimimaro suspected deception, he'd find no evidence to challenge Richard's claim.
Throughout the northern and southern seas, and surrounding the Land of Water, countless obscure islands existed—largely uncharted and unknown.
Richard? Kimimaro regarded him suspiciously.
"You haven't explained why you wish to see Lord Orochimaru," he pressed.
"My reasons for seeking him need not be explained to you," Richard replied.
Though Kimimaro led the Sound Four, held Orochimaru's trust, and bore the Earth Curse Mark, Richard felt no obligation to elaborate. Simply put, Kimimaro lacked the standing to address him as an equal.
Kimimaro's impression of this intruder grew increasingly negative. After regarding Richard coldly for a moment, he raised his hands, fingertips pointed toward the stranger.
Though Kimimaro spoke no words, Richard immediately recognized his intentions.
Come then! he thought, anticipating the technique. Show me your Shikotsumyaku—your Dead Bone Pulse bloodline!
Richard observed Kimimaro calmly, eager to witness his legendary ability.
As expected, Kimimaro elevated his hands and activated his kekkei genkai.
"Shikotsumyaku: Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!"
Using his bloodline limit, Kimimaro launched ten finger bones toward Richard at tremendous velocity, like organic projectiles.
Though not actual bullets, the phalanges traveled at considerable speed. In an instant, they closed in on Richard.
Just as the bone projectiles were about to strike, Richard raised his left hand, casually swinging Masamune.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
With minimal effort, Richard deflected every bone bullet Kimimaro had fired.
Witnessing this display, Kimimaro's expression grew grave.
Just as he prepared to execute another Shikotsumyaku technique, Richard vanished from sight.
Body Flicker Technique!
Whether Kimimaro or the other Sound ninja, all mentally identified Richard's disappearance as the Body Flicker Technique. In the shinobi world, any jutsu enabling instantaneous movement fell under this classification.
Regardless of whether it was ninjutsu, taijutsu, space-time ninjutsu, or dōjutsu—any technique achieving teleportation-like movement qualified as a Body Flicker variant. Moreover, different villages developed distinct versions: Sunagakure employed the Sand Body Flicker, Konoha utilized the Leaf Body Flicker, Kirigakure deployed Mist and Water Body Flickers, and so on.
Upon realizing Richard had executed a "Body Flicker Technique," Kimimaro immediately searched for signs of his opponent.
Before he could locate Richard, however, a voice sounded directly behind him.
"I have no desire to kill you. Take me to Orochimaru."
Beyond Richard's words, Kimimaro felt the cold edge of Masamune resting against his neck.
Richard possessed no knowledge of the Body Flicker Technique. Lacking chakra, he couldn't perform any ninjutsu whatsoever.
He had simply utilized the superhuman speed granted by the Superboy-Prime template to position himself behind Kimimaro faster than the naked eye could track.
Kimimaro detected no killing intent emanating from Richard. Nevertheless, he had no intention of bringing him to Orochimaru.
Though uncertain of Richard's identity, his instincts warned that this stranger posed a significant threat to his master.
Just as Kimimaro prepared to engage Richard in mortal combat, a distinctive, magnetic voice interrupted.
"Your sword is quite impressive."
The speaker was none other than Orochimaru himself.
After examining the experimental subject Kimimaro had delivered, the uneasiness in Orochimaru's heart had intensified rather than diminished. Seeking the source of his disquiet, he'd left his underground facility and entered the village.
There, he witnessed Richard holding Masamune against Kimimaro's throat.
Upon hearing Orochimaru's voice, Richard withdrew his blade from Kimimaro's neck and turned toward the sound.
Like Kimimaro, Orochimaru's appearance matched Richard's memory perfectly. Though not conventionally handsome—his features instead conveying an unsettling, sinister quality—Orochimaru possessed undeniable charisma as a villain.
His serpentine golden pupils with vertical slits and the purple markings extending to his nasal bridge gave him the appearance of a deadly venomous snake in human form.