In the Land of Rice Fields, inside one of Orochimaru's secret bases.
"Hehe, cough, cough... Finally, success."
Orochimaru coughed weakly, but his face was filled with excitement.
In front of him stood a burly man with jet-black skin, long blonde hair and beard, and a tattoo of the character for "Lightning" on his right arm.
"Is this the legendary Third Raikage, said to be the strongest in Kumogakure's history?"
Beside him, Kabuto remarked with a hint of emotion.
But this was just his usual pretense.
Having never personally faced the Third Raikage, he didn't know just how powerful he was.
Orochimaru glanced at him, unconcerned with Kabuto's hypocrisy.
He was used to it by now.
"His Lightning Release Chakra Mode is extremely powerful, cough, cough... Back then, to kill him, Onoki dispatched a full ten thousand Shinobi."
Orochimaru spoke between coughs. "Possessing the so-called strongest spear... cough, cough... and the strongest shield."
"He was the first Raikage able to suppress the Hachibi with just his... cough, cough... physical body."
"Now, finally... cough, cough... I can obtain Takumi's body."
His gaze burned with fanaticism.
Kabuto listened to the Raikage's series of earth-shattering achievements. Though his face showed nothing,
The unconscious act of pushing up his glasses, the lenses glinting to hide his eyes, betrayed his shock.
"Hmm?"
The Third Raikage opened his eyes at that moment. "Orochimaru? What is the meaning of this?"
The Third Raikage was stunned. He had clearly died, yet he had suddenly returned to the mortal world from the Pure Land.
And standing before him was Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin.
"Heh heh, old man... cough, cough... You are now a toy in my hands."
Orochimaru was immensely pleased.
The Third Raikage frowned deeply. When he tried to move against Orochimaru, he found he was unable to do so.
"Prepare yourselves. It is time to reclaim Takumi's body."
Orochimaru, brimming with confidence, led the confused Third Raikage out.
"Orochimaru-sama!"
Sakon and the others, seeing Orochimaru emerge with someone, immediately knelt on one knee, their attitudes extremely respectful.
"Hmm?"
Orochimaru noticed someone was missing. "Where is Tayuya?"
"..."
Jirobo wasn't sure if he should speak.
"She went to Konoha."
Sakon stated it directly.
He had no intention of hiding this matter anyway.
Tayuya wasn't trying to betray Orochimaru; there was nothing to hide.
"Hmm?"
Orochimaru frowned slightly. "What did she go there for?"
"For your sake, she wanted to bring Takumi back."
Sakon truthfully revealed Tayuya's purpose.
"Hmph!"
Orochimaru let out a derisive snort. "With her being a waste, what could she possibly accomplish by going?"
"If even Kimimaro and I couldn't do it, does she think she can surpass us?"
Orochimaru's words showed no mercy.
Sakon and the others lowered their heads further, not daring to add anything.
Just then, footsteps sounded from outside, drawing everyone's attention.
"She's back."
Kidomaru, with his exceptional hearing, immediately identified Tayuya's footsteps. "She's alone."
"She failed then."
A trace of mockery curled at the corner of Orochimaru's mouth. "As expected."
Soon, a dazed-looking Tayuya walked in.
Upon seeing Orochimaru, her spirits immediately lifted, and she quickly knelt on one knee. "Orochimaru-sama."
"I heard you went to Konoha."
Orochimaru said flatly. "How did it go?"
"I'm very sorry, Orochimaru-sama. I failed."
Tayuya kept her head low. "I will accept any punishment."
"You did it for my sake."
Orochimaru spoke words of comfort flatly, as if he hadn't been the one mocking her moments before. "Cough, cough... Tell me about the intelligence you gathered."
"I assume you won't tell me you came back with nothing?"
Though his words were calm, Tayuya felt immense pressure.
Normally, she would have immediately disclosed all the information.
But her heart was wavering now.
At this moment, she was like a young girl who had just fallen in love.
Her mind was filled only with her beloved.
So, even facing Orochimaru, whom she both respected and feared, she hesitated for the first time, wondering if she should conceal things.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
Orochimaru frowned slightly. Tayuya wasn't usually this silent. "Don't tell me you really have nothing?"
The thick disappointment in his words made Tayuya's heart tremble.
"I do!"
As soon as she said it, she was filled with regret.
But the words were out. She had to speak truthfully. "Takumi used an incredibly powerful Genjutsu on me. My crude skills are nothing compared to his."
"Oh?"
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. This was new intelligence. The dissatisfaction he felt at Tayuya's hesitation immediately dissipated. "Then how did you manage to return alive?"
He wasn't particularly concerned with how Tayuya survived.
He was more concerned about whether Tayuya was still under Takumi's Genjutsu, and whether Takumi had followed her back.
"He said he admired me, so he let me go."
Even as she said it, Tayuya found the reason somewhat absurd. "I know it sounds ridiculous, but it's the truth!"
With Kimimaro as a precedent, although Tayuya's reason was absurd, Orochimaru didn't entirely disbelieve it.
"Is that so?"
Orochimaru said flatly, offering no further comment.
"Hey! If you say his Genjutsu is stronger than yours, how do you know you're not still trapped in his Genjutsu?"
Kidomaru growled at Tayuya. "Even such an absurd reason comes out of your mouth; you've definitely been fooled by Takumi!"
"I haven't!"
Tayuya retorted anxiously, like a young girl defending her boyfriend from insults. "He really is a good person. He definitely wouldn't do something like that to me!"
"How can you be so sure?"
Sakon frowned. "Don't forget, he is our enemy."
"Why is it impossible?"
Just then, Kimimaro spoke calmly. "Don't forget how I returned alive."
"Hmph!"
Kidomaru, who had always been dissatisfied with Kimimaro, snorted coldly. "Maybe you're also under Takumi's Genjutsu control, it just hasn't activated yet."
"Orochimaru-sama, I strongly suspect that these two might be under Takumi's control."
He even ventured a suggestion. "I think it's necessary to conduct a thorough examination of them."
"Are you telling me what to do?"
Orochimaru's calm words made Kidomaru feel like a duck with its neck clutched – mouth open but unable to speak.
Cold sweat beaded on his face, and he quickly lowered his head, not daring to meet Orochimaru's gaze.
"This matter ends here."
Orochimaru snorted coldly. "Tayuya, cough, cough... I think you know how urgent things are for me right now."
"I don't have time to deal with your issues now, cough, cough... Stay here for the time being. We'll talk when I return."
With that, Orochimaru prepared to leave with the Third Raikage and Kimimaro.
Sakon and the others also stood up.
It was only then that Tayuya noticed the stranger behind Orochimaru.
But this stranger's presence was immense; just being glanced at by him, her instincts told her this was absolutely not an opponent she could challenge.
"Wait, Orochimaru-sama!"
She called out to him instinctively. "Are you going to Konoha now?"
Orochimaru frowned slightly. "What do you want to say?"
"..."
Tayuya's eyes darted about as she quickly scrambled for a reason. "Well, Konoha is on high alert now because of my earlier intrusion, so..."
"You're lying."
Orochimaru said flatly. "I don't know what Takumi did to you, Tayuya."
"But time is pressing for me now, cough, cough... I don't have leisure to waste here with you."
"What I need now is... cough, cough... Takumi's body."
Saying this, his eyes were filled with impatience.