Kazama wanted to check if Sasuke, who had been hit with Izanagi, had successfully awakened. If Sasuke could snap out of it on his own, it'd mean he'd finally untangled the obsession knotting his heart. But, to Kazama's surprise, Sasuke was still trapped in the endless loop of Izanami.
"This guy Sasuke! Looks like the knot in his heart isn't so easy to undo. Fine, stay stuck here then!" Kazama sighed helplessly, then slipped out of Konoha without a sound, heading straight for Otogakure.
Since he'd already tamed Orochimaru, Otogakure was basically his turf now. With no recent news about the Tailed Beasts, Kazama figured he'd swing by to check out his new domain. But what he didn't expect was that the moment he stepped into Otogakure, a gang of rough-looking thugs surrounded him.
"Hey, kid! What's your business in Otogakure?" Their faces screamed trouble, and Kazama could tell they'd pegged him as an enemy.
"I'm here to see Orochimaru. I—"
"Punk! How dare you speak Orochimaru-sama's name so casually!" Before Kazama could finish, the thugs charged at him.
"Guess this is Orochimaru's Otogakure, huh? The locals sure are fierce," Kazama said with a cold smirk. He didn't bother fighting back, just let them come at him. With his absolute defense, their attacks were about as effective as a breeze.
"Haha, what's wrong, kid? Scared stiff? Forgot how to run?" The thugs thought they had him, but to their shock, every single attack was blocked by Kazama's body alone. Seeing his insane defense, the gang stood there, jaws on the ground.
"Let me say it again. I'm here for Orochimaru. Since you're his underlings, go fetch him. Now," Kazama said calmly.
"Quit yapping! Like Orochimaru-sama would waste his time on a nobody like you!"
"Yeah, kid, don't think your tough skin makes you untouchable! Fūma Zan!" One guy, looking like the leader, swung his weapon at Kazama again. But before he got close, a bone spike sent him sprawling, and a massive cleaver—Kubikiribōchō—rested against his neck.
"Filth! You dare raise a hand against Kazama-sama? Tired of living, huh?" Out of nowhere, Kimimaro, Zabuza, and others appeared, surrounding the thugs.
"Kazama? True Kazama?!" Hearing Kimimaro and Zabuza, the thugs started shaking like leaves. As Orochimaru's lackeys in Otogakure, how could they not know Kazama's name? The guy was Orochimaru's master!
"We're late, Kazama-sama. Please punish us!" Orochimaru himself rushed over, bowing low. Seeing Orochimaru kowtow to Kazama, the thugs didn't dare stay on their feet. They dropped to their knees, trembling, too scared to even look up.
"You idiots! How dare you attack Kazama-sama!" Orochimaru hissed, ready to unleash Sen'eijashu to wipe them all out. The thugs, bawling with snot and tears, started begging Kazama for mercy.
"Kazama-sama, please spare us! We were blind, thinking you were Orochimaru-sama's enemy. That's why we attacked!"
"Please, give us a chance! Spare us, and we'll climb mountains of blades or dive into seas of fire for you!"
"Orochimaru, enough," Kazama said, waving a hand to stop him.