Not long afterward, several Anbu escorted Orochimaru, his entire body bound in Fuinjutsu, into the Hokage's office.
The moment Naruto saw Orochimaru, he immediately stepped forward and urgently demanded, "Where is Sasuke now?"
Orochimaru ignored the boy before him, licked his lips, and bypassed him entirely. "Tsunade, it has been a long time."
Getting here had taken quite a few twists and turns. Although Hyuga Kei had been held back by Jiraiya, several Federation ninja had pursued him all the way to the Land of Fire's border.
Tsunade had no mood for pleasantries with Orochimaru. She slammed her hand onto the desk and rose to her feet, demanding furiously, "Where is Jiraiya? He went to rescue you, so why did he not return with you? What exactly did you encounter in the Federation?"
Orochimaru sneered. "That fool risked his life against Hyuga Kei to help me deliver intelligence. He is probably dead already."
Tsunade's face instantly went pale. Her body swayed, and Shizune hurried forward to support her.
"What Federation? What Hyuga Kei? What happened? Impossible! Teacher Jiraiya would not go down so easily..." Naruto's eyes widened, his voice thick with tears.
Kakashi lightly patted Naruto's shoulder, his brow tightly furrowed. "Orochimaru, you had better explain everything exactly as it happened!"
Orochimaru smiled, utterly unfazed by their anger. "I promised Jiraiya that I would bring you this intelligence, so here I am."
Tsunade's gaze sharpened. "Then speak quickly!"
Feeling that he held the upper hand, Orochimaru said unhurriedly, "I have one condition. Consider it part of the deal."
Suppressing the grief and fury in her heart, Tsunade ground her teeth. "Orochimaru, what right does a villain like you have to make a deal with me?"
Orochimaru merely smiled. "Do not be so heartless, Tsunade. The intelligence I have brought concerns