After joining the Akatsuki, he received the ring marked "Void" and wore it on his left little finger. At an Akatsuki meeting, he shared intelligence about experiments on immortality conducted by a cult in Kawagakure. Pain's Deva Path sent him and Kakuzu there to recruit the successful test subject-Hidan. After subduing Hidan together with Kakuzu, he used a Sealing Tag and the Akatsuki's ideals to persuade Hidan to join. Once the Akatsuki's roster was complete, he teamed up with Sasori for missions. (As depicted in the game Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution.)
Sasori (in Hiruko form) and Orochimaru
After Uchiha Itachi joined, Orochimaru sought the power of the Sharingan and attempted to seize Itachi's body as a vessel for reincarnation. However, Itachi subdued him with genjutsu and severed one of his hands. He then retreated under Kabuto Yakushi's cover. Later, he ultimately left the Akatsuki because his goals differed from the organization's. 4
Orochimaru later gathered his forces and established his own ninja village, Otogakure, in the Land of Fields. Its symbol was an eighth note, and its sphere of influence lay north of the Land of Fire. His key subordinates included Guren (an anime-original character), Hozuki Suigetsu, Jugo (at the northern hideout), Karin (at the southern hideout), Kabuto Yakushi, and the Sound Five-Kimimaro of the Kaguya clan, Tayuya, Jirobo, Kidomaru, and Sakon and Ukon-among others. 5
Chunin Ninja Exams
Twelve years later, Orochimaru had reached middle age. He allied with the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, and the two launched a joint attack on Konoha, an operation called the "Konoha Crush Plan." He sent his subordinate Kabuto Yakushi into Konohagakure as a spy, while he himself infiltrated the village disguised as a female Chunin exam candidate from Kusagakure. Orochimaru encountered Sasuke Uchiha in the Forest of Death. Intending to use