A few days later.
Outside the base Orochimaru had built near Bird City, Souya came to visit for the first time with Sasori in tow.
"Souya, what new and interesting thing have you brought me this time?"
Orochimaru stuck out his slick, long tongue and licked his lips.
Souya, however, keenly noticed a strange glint in Orochimaru's eyes when he saw him.
It had only flashed for an instant, but after dealing with Orochimaru several times, Souya still caught the oddity.
Come to think of it, if Shisui's eyes had been Mangekyo, the first person Souya would have used them on was this sinister, treacherous Orochimaru, making him happily conduct research under Souya's command.
Unfortunately, Souya's plan would have to remain just that.
"Orochimaru, why does your lab have to be underground? Doesn't staying in a dark, damp place all the time bother you?"
Souya looked casually around, left and right, without answering Orochimaru's question.
"Heh-heh!"
"You understand that better than anyone, Souya."
"Some experiments can't be conducted in the sunlight."
"Just like the roots of a tree: no matter how lush and magnificent the results of an experiment may be, their nourishment depends on roots that burrow deep into the darkness and spread as they please..."
"Isn't that right?"
Orochimaru replied in a hoarse, sinister voice.
"This must be Sasori of the Red Sands, the genius Puppet Master from Sunagakure?"
Seeing that Souya had no intention of introducing Sasori, Orochimaru finished speaking and turned his gaze to the red-haired young man beside him, asking on his own.
The young man had a rather unusual appearance. A bandage was wrapped around his right eye, as if it had suffered some terrible injury.
Sasori's expression, however, was utterly indifferent. In response to Orochimaru's question, he merely nodded.
"That's right!"
"Didn't you