The Hunt Begins!

"W-Who are you?"

Though badly injured and barely conscious, Kurotsuchi still realized how terrifying the person before her was.

A strong shinobi like this could never be a Chunin from Kusagakure!

Orochimaru smiled. "For someone your age, you use Lava Release pretty well. Too bad you never learned your grandfather Ōnoki's Dust Release!"

"You?"

Hearing the way Orochimaru spoke, Kurotsuchi's expression tightened.

Orochimaru said no more. He didn't even search Kurotsuchi for her mission scroll. He simply tossed her aside and headed deeper into the forest.

He had attacked Kurotsuchi on a whim, curious to see whether Ōnoki's granddaughter had learned any impressive techniques.

Once he realized she had nothing to surprise him, he quickly lost interest.

After all, he wasn't idle right now.

This time, he had decided that he would either abduct Sasuke or simply take his Mangekyō Sharingan. He had to find Sasuke as soon as possible to avoid any unexpected complications.

Watching Orochimaru leave, Kurotsuchi struggled to get up. "That man is too dangerous. I have to notify Grandpa as soon as possible..."

But before she could even push herself upright, she realized her entire body had gone limp. She couldn't muster the slightest bit of strength.

"What's happening to me?"

She fell back to the ground. Her gaze landed on her arm, and only then did she notice two inconspicuous bite marks there. They looked like the marks of a venomous snake.

"I've been poisoned?" Realizing how serious the situation was, she struggled to set off a distress flare, but found she could no longer move. In the end, she passed out, unwilling and helpless.

Thump.

With a dull thud, a Kusagakure shinobi crumpled to the ground.

Sasuke shot him a cool glance, then slowly crouched down and searched through the man's ninja pouch for