Snatching Someone from Orochimaru

Aragaki Yasushi smiled without another word, turned, and left the inn, seeking out a secluded, deserted alleyway to avoid being discovered.

His figure flickered, and with a single Body Flicker Technique, he vanished into thin air.

By the time he reappeared, he was already in a forest near the Kaguya Clan grounds.

Standing atop a tree trunk, he looked down toward the Kaguya compound from his vantage point.

Although it was deep into the night and the mist of Kirigakure was growing thicker, reducing visibility to a minimum, the Kaguya Clan's territory was brightly lit and visible from a great distance.

The entire clan's ninja were gathered in the plaza at the center of the compound, each one rubbing their palms and wearing expressions of fanatical fervor, clearly ready to set off at any moment to overthrow the rule of the Third Mizukage.

They were called ninja, but almost every member of the Kaguya Clan—men, women, young, and old—had come; not a single one was left behind.

After all, the Kaguya Clan were a bunch of lunatics who lived for battle; one could say the entire clan was an army.

To them, this rebellion was nothing short of a carnival.

Once the main force of the Kaguya Clan had marched out of the compound in a grand procession, Aragaki Yasushi immediately used a Body Flicker to slip into the Kaguya grounds.

He remembered from the original story that Kimimaro was physically weak, suffering from a bloodline disease, and unable to join his clansmen in battle; it was precisely because of this that he had managed to keep his life.

Since childhood, this child had been treated as a weapon of murder by the clan and kept locked away in a prison.

It was only tonight, amidst the chaos in the clan, that he had managed to sneak out.

Thinking of this, he was certain the boy was still locked away in some dark corner of the compound, preparing to break out.

Thus, Aragaki Yasushi did not dare to be careless, searching through the Kaguya compound while fearing he might miss a glimpse of Kimimaro.

Suddenly, his peripheral vision caught sight of several venomous snakes slowly slithering through the darkness, their forked tongues flicking out—a truly chilling sight.

Aragaki Yasushi realized the truth in an instant.

Weren't these the pets of that old schemer, Orochimaru?

He had arrived.

At this thought, Aragaki Yasushi's figure flickered, and he vanished without a trace.

When he appeared again, he was standing on a large tree branch outside the perimeter of the compound, staring down at the movements within.

Aragaki Yasushi observed patiently for a while until he saw a youth with an eerie aura walking slowly into the compound—it was none other than Orochimaru.

Aragaki Yasushi's heart tightened; had he arrived too late?

Could Kimimaro have already been found by Orochimaru?

He looked closer and let out a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, he wasn't too late.

Orochimaru was alone and still searching, clearly having not yet located Kimimaro's whereabouts.

Opportunity knocks but once!

Aragaki Yasushi's figure swayed and instantly vanished from the tree branch.

When he reappeared, he was standing silently right behind Orochimaru.

Orochimaru's footsteps faltered slightly, and his body stiffened imperceptibly, clearly having sensed the movement behind him.

Aragaki Yasushi deliberately drew out his words, speaking in a provocative tone: "Senior Orochimaru, long time no see. What brings you to Kirigakure?"

"And sneaking around trying to abduct children? How embarrassing if word of this got out."

Orochimaru's golden snake-like pupils constricted sharply, a flash of surprise crossing his slit eyes, yet there was no trace of fear at being discovered—only intense curiosity.

Strange. There was clearly no one behind him a moment ago; how could someone have appeared so suddenly?

Could it be space-time ninjutsu?

Orochimaru turned slowly, and upon seeing Aragaki Yasushi's face, a sinister smile curled his lips. He extended his long, thin tongue to lick his lips slowly, his voice viscous: "So it is you, Yasushi. I did not expect to run into you here."

Aragaki Yasushi was not surprised that Orochimaru knew him.

Although they had never formally interacted, Aragaki Yasushi was on good terms with Anko, Orochimaru's student.

Plus, he had been killing with such ferocity on the battlefield lately that his reputation had soared.

It would be abnormal if Orochimaru hadn't heard of him.

"Senior Orochimaru, don't change the subject. You still haven't answered my question."

Aragaki Yasushi raised an eyebrow, pressing him relentlessly.

Orochimaru acted as if he hadn't heard, not only failing to answer but instead staring intently at Aragaki Yasushi with those snake eyes, countering: "And what is the reason for your presence here, Yasushi?"

Aragaki Yasushi replied candidly: "Of course, I am here to carry out a mission for the village. Surely you are aware that the village intends to overthrow the Third Mizukage's rule?"

Orochimaru extended his long, thin tongue to lick his lips, his tone viscous: "I am naturally aware of that..."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a sharp sound rang out nearby, accompanied by the hissing of snakes; the sounds of combat instantly shattered the silence of the compound.

Aragaki Yasushi raised an eyebrow, instinctively looking toward the direction of the noise.

Under a wall not far away, a thin, small child was gripping a bone blade, having just sliced a lunging venomous snake in two. His movements were crisp and clean, and there was not a shred of childish cowardice in his eyes.

Aragaki Yasushi's eyes lit up.

So this was Kimimaro.

He really was hiding here.

The brat looked young, but his strikes were ruthless; he was truly born into a clan of warriors.

At this moment, Orochimaru's golden snake-like pupils narrowed slightly.

Before Aragaki Yasushi could react, Orochimaru suddenly raised his hand.

Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!

Several thick, venomous snakes instantly lunged from his sleeves, flicking their forked tongues as they shot straight toward Aragaki Yasushi, clearly intending to bind him before seizing Kimimaro.

Aragaki Yasushi had long since noticed his subtle movements, yet there wasn't a hint of panic on his face; he even curled his lips into an infuriating smirk.

The moment the venomous snakes were about to coil around him, Aragaki Yasushi's figure vanished, perfectly evading the attack.

When he reappeared, he was already standing firmly in front of Kimimaro, looking down at the scrawny child.

"Sleep."

Aragaki Yasushi spoke indifferently, his tone as casual as if he were discussing daily chores, while simultaneously activating the hypnosis technique he had just drawn.

An invisible wave of drowsiness instantly swept over Kimimaro. The child's eyelids grew heavy, and he fell into a deep sleep on the spot, the bone blade in his hand clattering to the ground.

Aragaki Yasushi leaned down, grabbed Kimimaro by the back of his collar, and hoisted him up as if he were a kitten.

He turned to look at Orochimaru not far away, his face full of smugness.

"Clap, clap, clap!"

Orochimaru slowly began to applaud, his golden snake-like pupils fixed tightly on Aragaki Yasushi, his tone filled with admiration.

"Space-time ninjutsu. Yasushi, your talent as a ninja is truly outstanding."

As soon as he finished speaking, he leaned in closer, tempting him: "Are you interested in working under me?"

"Follow me, and you can obtain even greater power."

Aragaki Yasushi shrugged, noncommittal, his tone perfunctory: "We'll see. I don't have any such plans for the time being."

"Senior Orochimaru, if there is nothing else, I'll be taking my leave."

As he spoke, he deliberately shook the unconscious Kimimaro in his hand, showing off with an infuriating expression.

"I'll be taking this child with me."

He paused, then added: "Oh, and don't worry, I won't report to the village that you snuck into Kirigakure to kidnap children."

The moment he finished, Aragaki Yasushi's figure flashed, and with the sleeping Kimimaro in tow, he vanished without a trace, leaving Orochimaru standing alone in place, a playful glint flashing in his snake-like eyes.