Orochimaru's abandoned base.
Beside Orochimaru's sickbed.
Karin suddenly widened her eyes. "It's Lord Shamu's and Kabuto's Chakra, and two more unfamiliar Chakra signatures."
Kimimaro's eyes lit up. "Karin, go notify Haku. Jūgo, stay here and look after Lord Orochimaru."
"Lord Orochimaru, I'm going out to meet Lord Shamu."
"Hack... hack..."
Orochimaru's condition had worsened. He merely nodded without speaking.
Once Shamu's group arrived, they found Kimimaro already waiting for them.
"Lord Shamu." Kimimaro's eyes were filled with excitement when he spotted Shamu's group from afar.
"We can catch up later. Tell me about Orochimaru's condition first."
Shamu patted Kimimaro on the head. Because he had taken medicine that inhibited growth, Kimimaro had not grown at all.
He looked exactly the same as when Shamu had left.
As Kimimaro led them through a hollow tree and down into a secret passage, he said, "Lord Orochimaru's illness came on especially fast this time."
"When we arrived near here, Lord Orochimaru suddenly fell ill, and he quickly became unable to leave his bed."
"He can barely even use ninjutsu anymore."
After winding through countless twisting corridors, Kimimaro finally led Shamu's group to Orochimaru, who lay on the bed.
Sweat continuously beaded on Orochimaru's pale face, and his body shook in intermittent spasms.
Seeing Orochimaru in that state, Yakushi Kabuto immediately tossed the sack containing Anko onto the ground.
The sack landed with a dull thud. Shamu silently mourned for Anko.
"Lord Orochimaru..."
Kabuto stepped forward to examine him, his concern plain to see.
Though Orochimaru was in great pain, he could still smile at a time like this.
"Hack... I'm... fine."
Shamu shook his head. He was not medical personnel, so he would be hard-pressed to help. "Orochimaru, we've brought Anko."
Orochimaru nodded. When he saw Kabuto, a trace of relief appeared on