Drip. Drip. Drip.
In the Underground Plaza, an Evil God Cult Elite hurried in.
He immediately dropped to one knee and urgently reported as though a ninja were briefing a superior:
"Squad Leader—uh, Bishop!"
"That brat who could fight Kakuzu has gone missing. He may have already broken into our headquarters."
"A female ninja from Kirigakure is with him. She can use the Kirigakure Jutsu and a Kekkei Genkai Secret Jutsu. She's extremely formidable and probably difficult to deal with."
The Bishop of the Evil God Cult shook his head and lifted his gaze toward the ceiling of the cavern.
"With the defenses stationed at the entrance, there shouldn't be any problems unless an enemy on the level of the Sannin attacks."
"But... but..."
The Evil God Cult Elite hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth and reporting:
"One of the Sannin, Orochimaru, suddenly appeared outside just now. The Great Snake he summoned crushed quite a few of our members when it landed."
The Bishop of the Evil God Cult: "..."
After taking two deep breaths, the Bishop's expression darkened. He asked coldly, "How many died?"
The Evil God Cult Elite licked his dry lips and answered heavily, "More than twenty elites. That's almost half our strength."
Upon hearing the news, the Bishop closed his eyes. His breathing gradually quickened as he muttered under his breath:
"Again!"
"Again!"
"This disaster that descends without warning... this humiliation of being utterly powerless!"
He suddenly opened his pale violet eyes, bloodshot and filled with unforgettable hatred.
His molars ground together as the hand beneath his Black Robe clenched a Pitch-Black Spear, driving its tip into his palm.
Drops of blood continuously splattered onto the ground.
Yet beneath that pain,
his face returned to its usual cold indifference as he calmly ordered:
"Go