Kabuto was performing a technique on a Kusagakure ninja covered in dust before him.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
His mouth was covered, leaving him able to make only helpless sounds.
Kabuto formed hand seals: Tiger—Snake—Dog—Dragon, then finally pressed his palms together.
"Summoning Technique: Impure World Reincarnation."
Dust engulfed the Kusagakure ninja and gradually formed into a middle-aged Amegakure ninja in worn clothing. He did not look particularly strong.
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. Although he was eighty percent sure of the answer already, he still unwillingly asked, "Which battle did you die in? How strong were you?"
The middle-aged ninja immediately began rambling. "Ah, young man, this old man really suffered! I didn't die in battle—I died while hunting in the mountains. I ran into a tiger. You have no idea, that tiger, it just—"
Before he could finish, Kabuto had already released the Impure World Reincarnation. He turned back into the Kusagakure ninja from before, only now he had lost his life. Kabuto let out a long sigh.
He turned to the relaxed man in the corner. "Another useless ninja. This is already the twenty-second one, Lord Feng Yao."
Feng Yao fought back the urge to laugh and comforted him, "It's fine. Haven't you already summoned two Kage-level fighters? Don't rush this sort of thing. Besides, you've already become very proficient with Impure World Reincarnation."
Feng Yao opened the Kamui Dimension with his right eye again and tossed out another Kusagakure ninja. Orochimaru also walked in at that moment.
Beside him was a boy of around thirteen or fourteen. He wore a gray ninja outfit and had a slender build. His brown pupils were so narrow they looked almost comical, and tear tracks remained on his face.
Rare excitement showed on Orochimaru's face, as though a child had just found a toy.