Discovery and Conflict!

In the blink of an eye, Orochimaru had taken the dead Grass shinobi's place outside the temporary Kusagakure camp, disguising himself completely as the Genin he had just killed.

"Tsk, tsk. Your disguise is simply flawless!" After praising him, Kabuto Yakushi handed Orochimaru a file. "The Grass shinobi you're impersonating is named Shinji Kotera. He's actually an elite Chunin in Kusagakure, but the village deliberately altered his records and entered him in this Chunin exam."

After a pause, Kabuto continued, "He specializes in Taijutsu and Earth Release, and—"

Orochimaru raised a hand to cut him off. "I don't need to know any of that. I only need his face!"

"Yes, sir!"

Kabuto obediently fell silent.

With security at stake, everyone entering Konoha would undergo strict inspections. There was no way to slip through by using the Transformation Technique.

That was why Orochimaru had gone to such lengths to ambush and impersonate a Grass shinobi.

The human-skin mask he had made with his own hands was indistinguishable from the real thing. Even Dojutsu or other methods would have a hard time seeing through it.

Hoisting the Grass shinobi's corpse over his shoulder, Kabuto said, "Lord Orochimaru, I'll dispose of the body. Please be careful. All Five Kage have gathered in Konoha, and the village is full of powerful shinobi. Danzo has lost his authority, too. If you're exposed, it'll be a serious problem!"

Orochimaru smiled and waved dismissively.

Kabuto bowed once more, then vanished with the corpse in a flash.

At that, Orochimaru's lips curled into a grin, and he strolled toward the Grass camp.

Inside the camp,

Ryūsetsuna nudged the sleeping Chiyo.

Chiyo sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What is it?"

"Something seems off about Shinji."

As she spoke, Ryūsetsuna pointed toward Shinji Kotera, who was approaching the camp