When Rengoku came out, Karin peeked her head out, sneaking around carefully, as if afraid someone would see her.
When she saw Rengoku, she waved at him repeatedly.
"What is it?", Rengoku asked in puzzlement.
Karin gestured for him to lower himself a bit. After all, Rengoku was 1.8 meters tall, and she, only ten years old, could only reach his waist.
Rengoku crouched down, and only then did Karin whisper to him:
"Shishou, I just saw Gaara crying."
Rengoku was about to get up, but Karin grabbed him, "Shishou, don't go over there."
"Gaara has a lot of pride, he definitely wouldn't want anyone to see."
Rengoku patted Karin's head, "You little clever fox, thinking of him like that."
"Fine, then I won't go."
Karin chuckled smugly, a little proud on her face, "I just saw people from Sunagakure come, was it because of them?"
Rengoku nodded, "Sunagakure wanted to take Gaara back, but Gaara refused."
When Karin heard this, she planted her fists on her waist angrily, "As if! Gaara had such a miserable time in Sunagakure, and they still have the nerve to come here."
They'd been classmates long enough that even if Gaara could keep his lips sealed, Naruto wouldn't.
So their close circle all knew what kind of life Gaara had lived before.
Though Gaara didn't talk much, he was very friendly toward his classmates, so naturally everyone felt indignant for him.
Karin tugged at Rengoku's sleeve, "Shishou, just let Gaara stay in the Uchiha."
She had suffered herself, so she couldn't stand to see a teammate live poorly. Naturally, she wanted to shelter others too.
Rengoku promised, "Don't worry, with me here, he won't leave the Uchiha."
"Yay! Shishou, you're the best!"
Karin hugged Rengoku's face and planted a kiss on him.
Rengoku fondly patted her head, "Alright, don't think any more about Gaara."
"Did you finish yesterday's sealing technique homework?"
"Ah! Oh no, I haven't finished it yet!", Karin yelped, then bolted off like the wind.
"Heh…", Rengoku shook his head.
———
After acquiring a large amount of Water of Life,
many of Orochimaru's experiments could be accelerated.
The most recent one, naturally, was the frail Kurama Yakumo.
Kurama Yakumo's kekkei genkai was essentially a type of spiritual talent.
But since her body couldn't withstand it, it had given rise to a second soul, Ido.
And Ido's root was Yakumo herself.
For Ido to grow, it needed to consume Yakumo's bodily energy.
With insufficient energy, Yakumo naturally became weak.
Now Orochimaru used the Water of Life to begin pharmaceutical adjustments.
Yakumo was about to undergo her first infusion.
Before the IV began, Orochimaru instructed her, "This medicine is different from before. You will feel a massive surge of energy entering your body."
"You must learn to consciously control how much Ido absorbs from your body's energy."
"If you can successfully control Ido, or even let Ido form a complete personality, then you will be able to master your body."
With his experimental subjects, Orochimaru was still very patient.
After all, naturally-born spirit hosts like her were rare.
Though Yakumo had heard many bad things about Orochimaru before, and had been quite afraid of him at first, after more contact, she realized Orochimaru was far less terrifying than she imagined.
He was busy every day, spoke without politeness, usually going straight to the point.
Yet he was very patient with her.
So Yakumo also cooperated with all kinds of Orochimaru's experiments.
"I understand, Orochimaru-sama."
Orochimaru hung up the prepared solution and connected the IV to Yakumo.
Yakumo instantly felt her body warm, the usual weakness swept away. She felt so comfortable she almost drifted off to sleep.
At this moment, Ido also appeared behind her.
"Control Ido's energy absorption," Orochimaru reminded. Yakumo snapped awake.
She then continuously sent out thoughts toward Ido.
Ido began twisting and spiraling, and Yakumo also felt her body's energy gradually being drawn away.
Orochimaru monitored the data at the side, eyes full of excitement.
Ido kept surging nonstop, as if it were evolving.
"Alright, that's enough for today."
At Orochimaru's words, Yakumo stopped controlling.
Orochimaru added some nutrients before removing the IV.
"Sense your body's condition."
Yakumo followed his words, stood up, moved her left arm a few times, her face filled with joy.
"Orochimaru-sama, I don't feel as tired as before."
Orochimaru nodded slightly:
"From now on, you'll begin high-intensity physical training. The stronger your body, the further you can go in the future."
Yakumo's face was full of excitement. She had been frail for so many years,
always longing for a healthy body.
Now that she had such a chance, how could she not be thrilled.
"I understand, Orochimaru-sama, I will work hard."
———
[Sunagakure]
[Kazekage's Office]
"Refused?", Rasa was dumbfounded.
"Didn't the Uchiha say they didn't care about the tailed beasts?"
Chiyo's expression was strange, "That's true, but Rengoku thinks highly of Gaara, and Gaara himself doesn't want to come back."
Then she repeated Gaara's very words.
Rasa's face turned dark as iron, "That failure. He lost control and killed so many before, and he still dares to say such things."
A mocking glint flashed in Chiyo's eyes and quickly vanished, "In any case, Uchiha Rengoku used this as an excuse, and isn't planning to let Gaara return."
"You should make preparations."
"I understand. Thank you for your trouble, Elder Chiyo."
Chiyo said no more and directly left.
Rasa narrowed his eyes slightly.
'That Chiyo, did she really think I haven't noticed the ridicule in her eyes just now?'
"Attend me."
"Yes, Lord Kazekage," A Sunagakure shinobi quickly entered from outside.
"Call Maki here."
"Yes."
Not long after, Maki entered the office.
"Lord Kazekage."
As the Kazekage's right-hand man, Maki had Rasa's deep trust.
"Maki, go to Amegakure. Contact Akatsuki, and see if Monk Senku can help us get the tailed beast back."
Maki froze for a moment. He knew about the Third Hokage's cooperation with them, "The Uchiha refused to release him?"
Rasa shook his head and relayed to Maki the details of Rengoku's trip.
Maki frowned in thought, "But Akatsuki might very well be colluding with the Uchiha."
Rasa nodded, "Try it anyway. Just as well. It will reveal whether Akatsuki is truly just a mercenary organization, or if they have their own position."
Rasa had few options now. The Third Hokage had given them thirty billion precisely to get the jinchuriki out of the Uchiha's hands.
Now the only choice was to test Akatsuki's stance. If discovered, it didn't matter.
"I understand. I'll depart at once."
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