When he saw Orochimaru stop nearby, Byakuya felt a chill run through his body.
Orochimaru had once said at Root's underground base that he had memorized Byakuya's scent.
But when he noticed a flicker of surprise in Orochimaru's eyes, it seemed he hadn't expected to run into him here.
Only then did Byakuya feel a little reassured.
"Shuten-doji. Hah, Lord Danzo really dotes on you. He even personally gave you the name of a legendary figure as your codename."
"Greetings, Lord Orochimaru." Byakuya kept his eyes fixed on Orochimaru. Even as he bowed, he didn't dare let his guard down for a moment.
Orochimaru hissed with laughter like a snake and deliberately approached Byakuya at a leisurely pace.
The pressure he exerted was like a mountain, making Byakuya even more reluctant to act rashly.
"You fought Pakura of Sunagakure in the Land of Rivers?"
"Yes. I was lucky to escape from Pakura."
Orochimaru studied the Shuten-dōji Mask with interest and said softly, "Pakura fought several battles in the Land of Wind. Her injuries never fully healed. If she'd been at full strength, you would've had a hard time making it back to Konoha."
As he listened, Byakuya silently sensed the Flying Thunder God Formula he'd left behind. If Orochimaru turned hostile, he'd leave at once, even if it meant pushing his body past its limits.
"Tell me what you know about Pakura's Scorch Release."
Byakuya held nothing back, telling Orochimaru about her Scorch Release: Extreme Steam Killing.
Orochimaru furrowed his brow. "In your opinion, is there any chance we could recruit Pakura?"
"Not at the moment."
"Heh. Interesting. What do you mean, 'not at the moment'?"
"Pakura is still loyal to Sunagakure."
Orochimaru's brow relaxed. "You mean she might lose faith in Sunagakure someday?"
Byakuya nodded.
"Ha ha..." Orochimaru threw his head back and laughed as though he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world.
He laughed for a long while before finally managing to stop.
"What about you, Shuten-doji? Are you loyal to Konoha?"
"Why ask me that, Lord Orochimaru?"
"Oh, I almost forgot. You once told me you were interested in power. You're already strong enough that the village's rules can't hold you back. When you reach my current level, you'll have no choice but to abandon the village and devote yourself entirely to pursuing power. Shuten-doji, you're even more cold-blooded than I was when I was young!"
Orochimaru saw himself in Byakuya—not the person he'd been when he was young, but the person he was now.
He continued, "But it's not enough. Being cold-blooded alone won't get you anywhere."
"I'll keep your advice in mind, Lord Orochimaru."
"Aren't you afraid of dying?" Orochimaru suddenly asked.
Byakuya knew he meant Ryūchi Cave Sage Art. "I am afraid of dying. Very afraid."
"Interesting. If you're afraid to die, why gather information about Ryūchi Cave?"
"That? I just got curious after encountering that Azure-Black Serpent in the Land of Rivers."
"Curiosity killed the cat, boy. Where did you hear the name Ryūchi Cave? There aren't many people in Konoha who know of it."
Behind his mask, Byakuya's expression remained unchanged, and his tone was just as earnest. "I heard it in a conversation between members of the Anteater Bounty Group."
"The Anteater Bounty Group? An organization from the Bounty Exchange?"
"Yes. My first mission after joining Root was to kill two bounty-group shinobi."
"I see."
The explanation was just enough to convince Orochimaru. After all, the shinobi from the Bounty Exchange came from all walks of life, so it was possible one of them knew about Ryūchi Cave. But Orochimaru only "just enough" believed him.
Orochimaru drew closer and closer. Byakuya could even feel his breath on his skin.
He'd thought Orochimaru's body temperature would be as cold as a snake's, but it was human after all.
"What did they say?"
"The location of Ryūchi Cave."
"Quick! Tell me! Every word they said—don't leave anything out!"
Watching Orochimaru's anxious expression, Byakuya couldn't help wondering if Orochimaru didn't know where Ryūchi Cave was yet.
Then where had his Summoning Beast come from?
Had he only mentioned it at Root's underground base to keep Byakuya curious?
When Byakuya suddenly fell silent, Orochimaru realized he wanted something in return. "What do you want?"
"Root's missions are dangerous. I want to have as many trump cards as possible to deal with them."
"Heh. You've come to the right person."
Orochimaru glanced at the forest. "Someone's coming. Wait here while I kill him."
Byakuya knew it was Kakashi. "Please spare him, Lord Orochimaru. I still have a use for him."
"Oh? He's one of yours?"
"He's Namikaze Minato's student, Hatake Kakashi."
"So it's Kakashi. He's useful to you? Boy, I like you more and more. You're fascinating."
In an instant, they both vanished from where they stood.
They'd both used the Body Flicker Technique.
But Orochimaru seemed intent on killing Kakashi. He flickered into the darkness, his slitted pupils fixed on Kakashi...
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
As if he'd known Orochimaru would attack Kakashi, Byakuya had grabbed him beforehand and used Storm Release: Body Flicker Technique to evade Hidden Shadow Snake Hands. But the technique could track its target, so Byakuya had no choice but to step in front of the bewildered Kakashi and form Hand Seals.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Countless venomous snakes crashed into the Water Formation Wall one after another. Water splashed everywhere, accompanied by bursts of thunder.
Looking at the Water Formation Wall protecting Byakuya and Kakashi from every angle, Orochimaru murmured, "The Second, Senju Tobirama's Water Release: Water Formation Wall. I didn't expect this kid to know the technique. No, there's a Lightning Release nature transformation in it, too."
Even after the snakes stopped striking the Water Formation Wall, Byakuya didn't dare let it down. Who knew what jutsu Orochimaru might use to ambush them the moment it vanished?
Byakuya quietly asked Kakashi, "What was that underground technique you used when we sparred?"
Though Kakashi was still shaken, he hurried to answer. "Earth Release: Subterranean Voyage."
"How does it work?"
"Using chakra, you turn the soil beneath the surrounding ground into liquid and swim through it like a fish."
"Can you use it to escape?"
Hatake Kakashi shook his head. "I'm sorry, senpai. I can't."
"Understood."
Byakuya suddenly shouted, "Senpai, are you done joking around?"
There was no answer. Only the forest's muffled insects and the cries of birds whose species he couldn't identify.
Cold sweat trickled down Byakuya's forehead.
If he had to choose between Pakura and Orochimaru as an enemy to fight to the death, he'd choose Pakura without hesitation. Even hesitating for a second would be disrespectful to Orochimaru.
"Kakashi, do you know I saved your life?"
"May I ask... who's trying to kill me, senpai?"
"Forget who's trying to kill you. Do you admit I saved your life?"
The killing intent in the forest's darkness was unmistakable. Hatake Kakashi immediately nodded. "I do. You really did save my life, senpai. I owe you a great deal."
"Good. Grab my hand."
"Yes."
Byakuya didn't hesitate any longer.
He gathered chakra and sensed the Flying Thunder God Formula he'd left on the outskirts of the forest.
Some of the chakra inside him transformed into spatial energy.
Kakashi's heart pounded, as though it were about to leap out of his throat. He had no idea how his senpai would save him now... Or would he leave on his own and let Kakashi be killed by the unknown enemy lurking in the darkness?
When there was enough spatial energy to transport two people, Byakuya immediately used the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Kakashi's vision blurred. When it cleared, he saw that his senpai had taken him somewhere else.
They were still on the outskirts of the forest, but this place was far from where they'd just been.
"Quick... Get away..."
"Senpai!"
Kakashi hurriedly hoisted his senpai onto his back. His senpai had passed out as soon as he finished speaking. Kakashi rushed back to Konoha as fast as he could.
Orochimaru slowly emerged from the darkness.
His expression was unusually solemn.
"That boy is as cunning as I am. I thought I could capture Hatake Kakashi and force him to reveal information I didn't know."
He'd only come up with the idea on the spur of the moment.
Of course, it had nothing to do with information about Ryūchi Cave.
What did Ryūchi Cave matter? Manda came from there.
Orochimaru wanted to know why Danzo valued Byakuya so highly.
It was important!
Before you continue