"Got delayed on the way."
Kiyohara Michi hurried over to Nohara Rin, Kurenai Yuhi, and the others.
In war, circumstances could change in an instant. Any extra bit of strength was always a good thing.
He turned to look at the man standing at the very front.
Orochimaru.
Come to think of it, Kiyohara had only ever seen Orochimaru from afar before.
When he had received the hundred thousand from Orochimaru's sponsorship last time, Kiyohara had honestly been rather surprised.
If his surname had been Uchiha, Kiyohara would have suspected Orochimaru wanted to stab him.
To shove Orochimaru's cold soul into his body and seize his flesh.
After all, in order to obtain Sasuke's body, which carried Uchiha blood, Orochimaru had painstakingly taught him for three years, only to overturn the cart at the end.
Of course, he probably had not become that deranged yet. He was merely interested in the Sharingan and had dealings with Shimura Danzō.
It would only be after Orochimaru encountered the rival of his lifetime, Itachi, that he would completely descend into madness and crave the Uchiha.
"Everyone, quiet down."
Orochimaru stood atop a hastily erected wooden platform. His golden slit pupils slowly swept over every ninja present, and an invisible pressure spread through the area. The previously noisy grounds quickly fell silent.
As one of the Sannin, Orochimaru's influence needed no explanation.
"Everyone is here."
Orochimaru's hoarse voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.
"Recently, Kirigakure... has no longer been content with harassing the border. They have begun testing the waters... extending their claws into the territory of the Land of Fire."
His tongue unconsciously slid over his lips, as though he were anticipating something.
"I believe everyone knows how difficult the current situation is, but the village needs us."
Orochimaru