Naruto finally calmed down.
He nervously kept an eye on Sakura's situation.
After all... she was going to be his future wife!
Half an hour passed.
Two familiar chakras finally appeared within Yoruha's Byakugan range.
"The big fish has taken the bait. Everyone, follow the plan."
Yoruha gave the signal.
Immediately, Sai activated his Super Beast Imitation Drawing technique, summoning a massive ink bird.
He and Naruto leapt onto its back.
Yoruha, meanwhile, used Flying Thunder God to instantly teleport to Sakura's side.
"Huh? Yoruha, why are you here already? I haven't even gathered any intel yet," Sakura said, puzzled.
"No need," Yoruha replied with a faint smile, his gaze turning to the cloaked figure ahead. "Kabuto Yakushi isn't someone who'd fall for your act."
He looked at the man hiding his face under the hood with clear disdain. "Long time no see... Senior Kabuto."
"What... why are you here?"
Kabuto's face changed the moment he heard Yoruha's voice.
He pulled back his hood, revealing an expression that mixed fear, hatred... and a strange excitement.
"So, your arms and ears have been repaired by Orochimaru?" Yoruha said, raising a brow. "Shame they might get wrecked again today."
He shrugged casually and smiled with a hint of cruelty.
"Hmph! Yoruha!" Kabuto snapped. "We originally planned to kill Sasori of the Red Sand today, but instead, we've got you? Fine! Orochimaru's arms are 80% recovered—we'll kill you here and now!"
Kabuto's voice grew cold as he pushed up his glasses, a flash of white light bouncing off the lenses.
He really thought this would be easy?
"Oh? So that's why you're so calm. Orochimaru's arms are healed, huh?"
Yoruha sneered and narrowed his eyes.
"But what made you think that's enough to break my genjutsu?"
Orochimaru's recovery was thanks to his Living Corpse Reincarnation technique, gradually fusing his soul with a new host. It had taken three years of trial and error, but his arms were finally functional again.
That's why they dared to target Sasori.
But even so, Orochimaru was never someone Yoruha feared.
"Orochimaru," Yoruha said calmly, turning his head toward the bushes, "are you really going to keep hiding? You reek like a snake—I've already smelled you from here."
A cold, hoarse voice echoed out from the shadows.
"Hehehe... Yoruha-kun, it's been a while. You've become even more interesting."
Orochimaru stepped forward in a gust of foul wind, appearing beside Kabuto.
"I thought Kabuto and I would have some fun with Sasori today," Orochimaru said, his snake-like eyes glowing, tongue flicking across his lips. "But I didn't expect you to come instead."
He gave a crooked smile.
"What's the matter? Couldn't wait to become one of my test subjects, so you rushed here yourself?"
Yoruha chuckled, shaking his head.
"Orochimaru, you and Sasuke are two of a kind—always thinking you've made a comeback, only to get beat down again. Isn't it exhausting?"
"Haha, of course we're alike," Orochimaru hissed. "We'll be together for a long time to come."
His twisted expression made him look as if he was drooling just thinking about Sasuke's body.
At that moment, Sai and Naruto arrived on the ink bird.
Sai remained on the bird's back, pretending to observe from above—but in reality, he was waiting for a chance to meet Orochimaru alone.
Yoruha didn't stop him.
After all, his real goal was to track Sasuke through Orochimaru.
Yoruha had already placed a Flying Thunder God seal on Sai. Once Sai followed Orochimaru back to the Grass Country stronghold, he'd be able to teleport there instantly.
"Orochimaru!" Naruto shouted, jumping off the bird. "Where's Sasuke? Why isn't he here?"
He was clearly furious.
If not for Yoruha's presence, he might've already gone into full Nine-Tails mode.
"Haha... So the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails came along too?" Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "I was never that interested in tailed beasts... but since you're here, I wouldn't mind taking you with me."
From his perspective, neither Yoruha nor Naruto were threats. He had his arms back and countless forbidden jutsu at his disposal.
But Orochimaru's smug attitude only reignited Naruto's longing for Sasuke.
How could someone like Sasuke fall in with this lunatic?
With a loud yell, Naruto formed a Rasengan and charged at Orochimaru.
"Your opponent is me."
Kabuto appeared, blocking Naruto's path with a sinister grin.
"Naruto... last time you hit me with that Rasengan because I underestimated you. But don't think it'll be that easy again."
Kabuto was strong—last time had just been carelessness on his part.
He genuinely believed he could take on someone like Kakashi.
But Naruto didn't care about his excuses.
With a burst of chakra, he created multiple clones, all holding Rasengans as they charged at Kabuto.
At the same time, Sakura slammed her fist into the ground.
The earth trembled violently, knocking Kabuto off balance.
Clone barrage above, quake below.
"W-what the—?! When did they get this strong?" Kabuto muttered, barely avoiding the assault.
Meanwhile, Yoruha and Orochimaru had begun their own battle.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Boom!
Dozens of massive snakes lunged at Yoruha, fangs bared.
Yoruha drew his black katana.
With a swift, fluid slash—so sharp it cut the air itself—the tongues of every snake were severed at once.
"Orochimaru... don't bring these playthings to a real fight. It's embarrassing."
He twisted his wrist, and a flash of black steel shot toward Orochimaru like a crescent moon.
"Haha... Yoruha-kun, your swordplay's gotten sharper," Orochimaru admitted, smiling wickedly.
"But without backup, do you really think your sharpest blade is enough to hit me?"