Orochimaru's Trail

Hearing Inuzuka Fū's words, Uchiha Toko began to take the matter seriously. This was the first ninja clan to proactively show goodwill toward the Uchiha.

It seemed that after the former Big Brother, the Senju Clan, had been brought so low within the village, the Inuzuka Clan—who served as Konoha's dedicated Veterinarians and struggled to enter its center of power—had developed some thoughts of their own. Still, out of caution, they had no plans to formally take sides yet.

However, for a jonin like Inuzuka Fū to personally raise this matter with Uchiha Toko, the gesture of goodwill could not have been clearer. The Inuzuka Clan was not like the Uchiha, with dozens of jonin across the clan who could fill several rows at a clan meeting. Inuzuka Fū's standing within the Inuzuka Clan was likely second only to their Clan Head.

"This information from Big Brother Fū really solves the Military Police Force's urgent problem," Uchiha Toko said. "The strength of the ninja we've newly recruited has yet to develop. If we have the assistance of the Inuzuka Clan's Ninja Dogs, that would be even better."

Uchiha Toko naturally welcomed the Inuzuka Clan's goodwill. The Uchiha had not yet formally stepped into the spotlight, so the Inuzuka Clan's current attitude was already enough to pleasantly surprise him.

The Inuzuka Clan's goodwill represented a good beginning.

"Come to think of it, the Military Police Force's benefits really are enviable," Uzuki Yugao suddenly said. "After learning about its benefits, I even considered resigning from the Anbu and joining the Military Police Force."

"Yugao, that way of thinking won't do!" Uchiha Toko said sternly. "Isn't working anywhere all about serving Konoha? If the Third Hokage heard that, he might think I was forming a faction for personal gain."

"Oh, I was only saying it," Uzuki Yugao said, sticking out her tongue. "I finally managed to rise to the position of Special Jonin in the Anbu. There is no need for me to resign."

"Enough of that. Come, everyone, cheers!" Uchiha Toko raised his cup. After clinking glasses with everyone one by one, he drained the wine in a single gulp.

Throughout the meal, Kakashi, who sat beside Uchiha Toko, did not say a word. Yet his eyes remained fixed on everything happening at the table, and he seemed lost in thought.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they returned to the inn.

Early the next morning, they continued their journey.

This time, however, the group did not even maintain the most basic communication with Utatane Kui and Mitokado Hayate.

At noon that day, the group reached the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rice Fields.

Before arriving at the specific area indicated by the clue, Kakashi began fulfilling his responsibilities as the person in overall command of this mission.

"Inuzuka Fū, search along the scent with Sumimaru. Hyuga Ken'ya, Hyuga Keito, you two watch the surroundings. Make sure at least one Byakugan remains activated at all times. Everyone else, prepare for battle."

"Understood." Everyone, including Uchiha Toko, nodded and accepted the order. Even Utatane Kui and Mitokado Hayate, who had practically fallen out with the rest of the group, raised no objections.

Inside Orochimaru's experimental base in the Land of Rice Fields.

Orochimaru seemed to sense something and set down the test tube in his hand.

Orochimaru, who was still working for the Akatsuki, had not yet considered establishing Otogakure. However, he had set up an experimental base here for his research. Small countries like this, situated between great nations and without any ninja village, were practically lawless zones beyond anyone's jurisdiction for powerful ninja like them.

Although Orochimaru had defected from the village, he still had a number of contingencies left behind within Konoha.

He knew every recent change in the village, especially the death of Danzo, who had once cooperated with him, and Uchiha Toko's recent major moves.

Moreover, as soon as the team sent to capture Orochimaru departed from the village, the spies he had left behind there sent word back.

Not wanting trouble, Orochimaru's first thought upon learning of the pursuit force was to flee.

However, after learning that the pursuit team included Uchiha Toko, a member of the Uchiha Clan who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, Orochimaru developed some interest in testing him.

Although Orochimaru did not yet possess such a pathological obsession with the Uchiha Clan's bloodline limit, the Mangekyō Sharingan had once belonged to Madara Uchiha, the legendary powerhouse of the previous generation. As a researcher, Orochimaru naturally felt a measure of curiosity.

As the pursuit team searched the surrounding area, Sumimaru suddenly tensed all over and let out a low growl.

Hyuga Keito, who was standing guard, also noticed something amiss and shouted a warning. "There are Chakra signatures underground! At the same time, a huge creature is rapidly approaching from the west. It's a snake!"

"Prepare for battle!" Kakashi shouted, assuming a combat stance.

"Watch out below!" Hyuga Keito cried, then grabbed Hyuga Ken'ya beside him and leaped away.

At that moment, the ground around them shook violently. Several enormous white snakes burst from the earth, opening their crimson maws from below.

At the critical moment, those targeted leaped high into the air and each used their own methods. Inuzuka Fū immediately merged with Sumimaru and used his clan's secret technique, transforming into a gigantic two-headed hound to evade the attack from below. Uchiha Inaho and Uchiha Saito fired Kunai wrapped in wire toward trees on their left and right, seized the lines to change direction in midair, then formed hand seals and unleashed the Great Fire Dragon Technique, striking the giant snakes that had attacked from below.

Although Nagai Seiichi looked rather disheveled under the assault, he still used Water Replacement at the crucial moment to evade the fatal blow.

The several Special Jonin in the group, on the other hand, reacted a little too slowly and fell into danger.

Fortunately, just as they were about to be swallowed by the snakes, a streak of blue lightning flashed. Uchiha Toko, having entered Lightning Release Chakra Mode, moved like a phantom and brought them all to safety in the blink of an eye.

Utatane Kui and Mitokado Hayate, who had deliberately kept their distance from the others during the search because of the conflict within the team, were not so fortunate.

The attackers had intended to deal with those who had split off first. Four enormous Summoned Beast snakes attacked the two of them from underground. Combined with the distance between them and Hyuga Keito, which gave them less time to react to his warning, the many factors piled together and this ambush dealt them devastating losses.

Utatane Kui, who was stronger, barely survived the ambush, but his entire right arm was bitten off. Mitokado Hayate, whose strength was only at the level of a Special Jonin, was swallowed directly by one of the snakes.

Before the others could think further, a gigantic snake dozens of meters tall flickered in and out of view amid the dust raised by the collapse of vast swaths of trees in the direction Hyuga Keito had indicated.