Almost at the same moment Haku and Sasuke charged into the Infinite Castle, Neji and Kimimaro happened to run into an elite force from Konoha led by the Third at the other end of the castle.
Neji was surprised and a little uneasy.
But he quickly noticed that after encountering him, the Third didn't attack right away. Instead, he kept his distance and stayed on guard.
Had I actually made Lord Hokage wary of me?
Neji froze for a moment.
With his Byakugan, he naturally caught the unease the Konoha shinobi felt deep down when they saw him.
He was completely unaccustomed to it, having spent so long as an ignored member of the branch family!
Kimimaro, who was traveling with Neji, also looked toward the Konoha shinobi in the distance. But unlike Neji, his gaze fixed on one person among them.
"Lord Orochimaru."
After only a glance, Kimimaro looked away.
There was no doubt about it.
Even after putting on a Red Cloud outfit and becoming a member of the Akatsuki Organization, he was still loyal to Orochimaru. He continued to pass information to Orochimaru by his own means.
What even the Third hadn't expected was that Orochimaru had boldly disguised himself as an ANBU and infiltrated the elite force he was personally leading.
Orochimaru, mingling with the Konoha shinobi, gazed at the Infinite Castle in the distance, excitement glimmering in his eyes. "I never expected the Akatsuki Organization and the Upper Rank to go to war. This is quite a spectacle!"
Being watched by the Konoha elite was uncomfortable, so Neji quickly put the thought aside and urged Kimimaro to enter the Infinite Castle.
After Neji and Kimimaro entered the Infinite Castle, the Third hesitated briefly, then led the Konoha elite inside as well.
Inside the Infinite Castle.