To deal with the newly formed Sea Ninja Village, Kirigakure dispatched quite a number of personnel this time. In addition to three Jonin—Suikazan Fuguki, Zabuza Momochi, and Suikazan Fuguki's subordinate, Kisame Hoshigaki—there were also a double-digit number of Chunin.
As for Genin cannon fodder, they are generally not sent out during preliminary reconnaissance activities unless a full-scale war is truly about to begin.
Just like how in Konoha during times of peace, Genin can only perform C-rank missions at most—meaning they will fight ordinary bandits and the like at most, but will not participate in battles between Ninjas—the regulations across the entire Ninja World in this regard are similar.
Of course, while this regulation in Konoha might still carry some intent of protecting young seedlings, in Kirigakure, it is purely because Genin serve no purpose in such missions and would only get in the way.
Ninja villages also have success rate requirements for executing missions. The higher the success rate and the more famous the Ninja village, the more missions they can naturally receive. Therefore, from a certain perspective, Ninja villages will not casually involve weak Ninjas in dangerous missions for the sake of the mission's success rate.
After Suikazan Fuguki and Zabuza Momochi exchanged a few words at the pier, the two sides directly parted ways. Although theoretically the leader of this mission was Suikazan Fuguki, Zabuza, also being a Jonin, was clearly unwilling to take orders under him and left with his own subordinates.
Because Suikazan Fuguki had other ideas in mind, he did not hinder Zabuza's actions. Not only that, he soon sent out all of his own subordinates, putting Kisame Hoshigaki in command, while he himself used a Transformation Jutsu to quietly slip away... The location of the Sea Ninja Village was originally Orochimaru's secret base. The transportation conditions here weren't great, but with Ninjas possessing extraordinary power, such things weren't actually much of a problem.
Suikazan Fuguki stealthily arrived at the coast near the Sea Ninja Village and found a hidden cave. Seeing a scratch-like mark on a rock next to the cave, he immediately checked his surroundings and then walked inside.
"I've told you, under normal circumstances, don't contact me frequently!...It's you! Orochimaru!"
Upon seeing the Konoha Ninja he was meeting, Suikazan Fuguki's face showed shock. He directly reached out and pulled out the mace-like Great Sword from his back, holding it in front of him, looking at the other party with a face full of vigilance.
It couldn't be helped; a person's reputation follows them like a shadow. Although Suikazan Fuguki was considered a figure of some standing in the entire Ninja World—with the exception of the Kages of the major Ninja villages and people like Jinchuriki—it could be said that not many Ninjas were his match.
But the person before him was someone whose strength was comparable to a village Kage. If Orochimaru truly wanted to kill him, the success rate would be at least fifty to sixty percent.
And that was referring to an encounter; if it were an ambush, the possibility of him escaping with his life wouldn't even be one-tenth.
"Hehehe, Suikazan Fuguki, you are supposedly the Head of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen after all. Now, why do you look like a mangy dog with a broken spine?"
Orochimaru, standing in the cave, licked the corner of his mouth with a smile on his face, speaking very calmly.
"Cut the crap, Orochimaru! You are already a Rogue Ninja of Konoha. Why did you contact me this time?!"
Suikazan Fuguki spoke with a fierce voice but a frightened heart. In fact, this Kirigakure Ninja had always maintained a certain connection with Konoha and could be considered a collaborator of Konoha within Kirigakure.
A Ninja of his level, while almost impossible to be bought off by Konoha, found it quite normal to cooperate with other Ninja villages for his own interests.
Especially since Kirigakure itself had little cohesion and implemented various policies that were almost perverse. Suikazan Fuguki was a fellow with a keen sense of smell and vaguely felt that something was wrong with Kirigakure, so he had sought a way out for himself early on.
If it were a year or two ago, meeting Orochimaru would have been quite normal. After all, Orochimaru himself was an expert at gathering underground intelligence. It could be said that in the entire Konohagakure, aside from a certain 'Pot Kage', Orochimaru was the best at such things.
But now, Orochimaru had already defected from Konoha! Who knew what this guy wanted by appearing before him?
"How cold! I remember when I first interacted with Fuguki-kun, you weren't so guarded!"
"However, since Fuguki-kun doesn't want to talk about feelings, I'll be blunt. I am very interested in the Great Sword Samehada in Fuguki-kun's hands. I wonder if Fuguki-kun is willing to part with it?"
As soon as Orochimaru finished speaking, Suikazan Fuguki's expression instantly changed. The Great Sword Samehada, which was originally wrapped in layers of sealing cloth, suddenly burst open, truly taking the shape of a mace, and swung directly down toward Orochimaru's head.
With a thud, blood splattered from Orochimaru's head, red and white fluids flowing everywhere. However, a moment later, the blood and brains that flowed out turned into grayish-brown mud. The entire body collapsed to the ground, turning into a pool of sludge. Clearly, this was just an Earth Clone.
But Suikazan Fuguki didn't expect this move to actually hurt Orochimaru. If a famous Sannin like Orochimaru could be killed by him so easily, then he should change his surname to Ōtsutsuki.
At the same time he swung his blade down, he also flew backward. Ninjas are different from warriors; because of their powerful destructive force and survival capabilities no different from ordinary people, this is a profession that relies heavily on intelligence.
Theoretically, as long as an ambush is cleverly arranged, even the Kage of a village could be killed by a few dozen ordinary Ninjas!
So, facing a Ninja of Orochimaru's level, having stepped into this cave under unclear circumstances, Suikazan Fuguki's first thought was to escape quickly.
Just as he was about to reach the cave entrance, a purple glow suddenly flashed across the opening. It was a seal that Orochimaru had set at the entrance long ago.
"Arghhhhh!"
Having just crashed into that purple wall of light, Suikazan Fuguki immediately let out bursts of miserable screams. His entire person seemed to be scorched by purple flames, and then, in a puff of smoke, he turned into a pool of boiling water.
Orochimaru slowly rose from the ground, his tongue licking the corner of his mouth, a strange smile on his face: "A Water Clone... It must be an improved special clone Ninjutsu, to actually be indistinguishable even to me. That fellow Suikazan Fuguki still has a few tricks up his sleeve."
"But a clone cannot be too far from the main body. Hehe, it seems it's time to let those modified Ninjas have a real combat exercise!"