"Ah!"
A pained groan rang out as the kunai flew, startling everyone.
"Just as I thought!"
The kunai Mikoto threw had been a spur-of-the-moment decision even for her. The target struck by it had not noticed a thing.
It was an Earth Clone that had already turned into a lump of dirt!
And the place he appeared was directly behind the old butler!
"Mas... What's going on?!"
Mr. Ito was badly startled, and the old butler finally lost his composed demeanor, breaking out in a cold sweat.
"How is that possible?!"
The Sunagakure jonin fighting Orochimaru blurted out:
"How did you know where my clone was?!"
Orochimaru slowed his attacks as well. Only then did he notice Mikoto's scarlet eyes. He was mildly surprised before bursting into uncontrollable laughter:
"Ha ha ha! Of course, it's because she's my disciple!"
"Whew..."
Mikoto let out a long breath, revealing a confident smile as she walked over to the old butler.
"I didn't sense the Earth Clone's location..."
"I attacked that direction on instinct because, before we split up, Satoru-kun told me something."
"That kid Satoru?" Orochimaru nodded with interest. "If it was that kid, he really might have noticed something."
"Teacher..."
Mikoto blushed. Only after walking up to the old butler did she notice a purple snake silently burrowing into the ground behind him.
"You'd already left yourself a backup plan?"
"Heh heh... Don't worry about it. Go on, Mikoto."
Orochimaru simply stopped fighting, and the Sunagakure jonin across from him finally breathed a sigh of relief. Orochimaru had put far too much pressure on him—the man had not even gotten serious!
"Yes... Satoru previously told me that he believed this old butler was the real employer, Mr. Ito!"
Mikoto pointed at the old butler, who was shaking his head with a