Interloper Appears Midway... (Request Subscription)

The Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, was killed by Takigawa Hyuga's Gentle Fist on the left, and the Mist Ninja Anbu who sealed the Three-Tails Isobu was unconscious on the right. Orochimaru's mission to Kirigakure concluded perfectly!

All that remained was to bring the new Three-Tails Jinchuriki back to the Land of Rain and hand him over to Pain.

Or...

Keep him for himself?

It took several days of sea travel to return from the Land of Water to the Land of Rain, and White Zetsu Clones could not integrate with the sea. This meant Orochimaru could swallow the Three-Tails on the sea and escape!

But was it worth it?

If he did this, he would inevitably have to withdraw from Akatsuki and be hunted by them!

Orochimaru's purpose in joining Akatsuki was simple: initially, it was for Pain's Rinnegan, and now, it was for the Sharingan as well.

Besides these, what else in the Akatsuki organization was worth him lingering for?

Hidan's Immortal Body and Kakuzu's Jiongu?

Not attractive enough.

After all, Orochimaru had already developed Living Corpse Reincarnation and achieved eternal life, so his need for similar abilities was not strong.

Yuki Kanpyo's Hyoton?

Sasori of the Red Sands' Puppetry?

Konan's paper ninjutsu?

Orochimaru had no interest in them.

He had also studied Zetsu's cells. Although they were special, they were trivial to Orochimaru.

He was very interested in researching Takigawa Hyuga's Byakugan, but unfortunately, Takigawa Hyuga was from a Branch House, so he couldn't take it.

Therefore, after careful consideration, besides the Rinnegan and the Sharingan, the Akatsuki organization held no further attraction for him!

And neither the Rinnegan nor the Sharingan could be easily obtained by Orochimaru!

Shisui's Genjutsu was too terrifying, and with the surveillance of White Zetsu Clones, Orochimaru couldn't get close.

He couldn't defeat