Waterfall Grass.
As the name suggested, it grew behind waterfalls. It could be eaten, but was more often used in medicinal baths. Its effect was similar to an ice bath, though it also provided nourishment from the medicine.
Because it was rare and difficult to harvest, it was expensive, costing around two hundred thousand ryo per plant.
With all those factors in mind, Shinmoku had chosen it as his excuse.
"I know where we might find some," Anko said. "Come with me."
Who could tell genuine feelings from feigned ones? People were complicated.
Their destination was a large body of water, with waterfalls of all sizes scattered around it.
"Let's search together."
After speaking, Anko tossed a Kunai attached to a steel wire. She hooked it around a tree above, tied the other end around her waist, then leaped into one of the waterfalls.
Shinmoku did the same.
But when he slipped behind the waterfall he'd chosen, Waterfall Grass, washed by the rushing water, came into view in a crack between the rocks.
"..."
He'd gotten a little lucky.
After plucking the Waterfall Grass, Shinmoku cut the rope.
"Splash!"
The sound of someone falling into the water caught Anko's attention. She had found nothing and was just emerging from behind the waterfall.
When she saw Shinmoku clamber out of the river looking like a drowned rat, she burst into laughter without mercy.
"You're so clumsy! How do you manage to fall when you're tied to a rope?"
"Cough, cough—I got a little excited."
"What do you mean?"
"I found it."
"..." Anko's laughter slowly faded. "Two hundred thousand ryo. You're way too lucky."
"We can head back."
"Okay."
The clone drifted downstream for five minutes. When it climbed out of the riverbed, it left behind a Flying Thunder God Mark.
Hidden Sound had begun to make its move. The Kazekage had most likely already been killed.
Orochimaru would disguise himself as the Kazekage and attend the Chunin Ninja Exams. Shinmoku needed to intercept them along their route.
The Land of Fire and the Land of Wind didn't share a border. The Land of Rain and the Land of Rivers lay between them. The Land of Rain was closed off year-round, so the only possibility was the Land of Rivers. There was no single route they had to take, but the Kazekage wouldn't travel along back roads. Shinmoku just needed to take the nearest main road.
After removing his Forehead Protector, Shinmoku bought a mask on a whim as he passed through the commercial district.
It didn't matter if Orochimaru recognized him. But if the Hidden Wind shinobi traveling with him did, that would be troublesome.
After racing at full speed through the woods beside the main road for more than ten hours, Shinmoku sensed five chakra signatures. The strongest was in the middle, and from its height, he could tell its owner was riding in a carriage.
That had to be them.
Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique.
The convoy turned onto a side road, and Orochimaru, inside the carriage, smiled.
"Boom—"
"Watch out! Poison gas! Protect Lord Kazekage!"
After the sounds of a brief fight, the carriage curtain was lifted. The newcomer removed his mask and sat down opposite Orochimaru.
"Who are you!?"
"...Cut the act, Orochimaru."
"Heh." Orochimaru returned to his own voice. "Can't you humor me for a little while?"
"There's no audience. What's the point?"
"Ah, true." Orochimaru agreed, then asked, "So you came to find me... Are you planning to throw in your lot with Hidden Sound?"
"No."
"Then you came to stop me?"
"If that were the case, I wouldn't be alone. Besides, I can't exactly be called a person... I want to sign a contract with Ryūchi Cave."
"I see... Why should I help you?"
"What do you think?" Shinmoku asked in return.
"..."
Orochimaru fell silent for a moment. A murderous glint flashed in his eyes, but once it faded, he summoned a contract scroll. "Just sign it with your blood."
"Um..."
The scroll looked convincing enough, and the last person to sign it had indeed been Mitaraishi Anko. But if Orochimaru wanted to, he could find countless ways to set Shinmoku up.
"Could you tell me more?"
"About what?"
"Everything. For example... Can Mitaraishi Anko choose who gets to sign the contract? What's the difference between your authority and hers? Is this scroll genuine? What exactly is Ryūchi Cave? And what's Senjutsu?"
"..."
"As one of the Shinobi World's foremost researchers, you're the only one who can answer all my questions."
"Heh." Orochimaru sorted out his thoughts and began to explain:
"As far as I know, there are two contract scrolls. One is the original, kept at Ryūchi Cave. The other is a branch scroll, and this is the one in front of you.
"So Anko can't choose who gets to sign the contract.
"Ryūchi Cave is one of the Three Great Sage Regions. It's a cave teeming with snakes, and its leader is the White Snake Sage.
"To learn Ryūchi Cave Senjutsu, you first have to pass the White Snake Sage's test. Then she'll infuse you with energy. It's extremely difficult. If you fail, you'll turn to stone and become one of her ornaments."
Shinmoku nodded repeatedly.
"Thanks... So where is Ryūchi Cave?"
"You want to learn Senjutsu? Senjutsu is—"
"No. I want to sign a contract using the original scroll."
"You don't trust me?"
"...What do you think?" Shinmoku smiled.
First, the scroll might be fake.
Second, he suspected that the scroll could only summon temporary workers—summons who had already signed a contract with Orochimaru.
Those temporary workers might be weak, and they might not even want to sign a contract with him. So no matter what, he had to visit Ryūchi Cave.
"Fine." Orochimaru told him roughly where Ryūchi Cave was, then added, "I hope you die there."
"Thanks for the kind words."
He released the seal.
"Poof!"
The clone vanished. Orochimaru woke the Kazekage's escort team with an expressionless face.
"Lord Kazekage!"
"It's all right now. Let's keep moving."
"Yes, Lord Kazekage! You're incredible!"
"Heh."
The clone returned, bringing its memories with it.
"Knock, knock—"
That night, he knocked on Shinna's door.
"I'm going out for a while. Can you use the Clone Technique to disguise yourself as me for a few days?"
"You're not taking me?"
"I can't take you this time."
"Be careful."
"Mm."
With that, Shinmoku disappeared.
Shinna was silent for a moment, then used the Shadow Clone Technique.
"Hiss—"
Shinmoku appeared in the riverbed.
It still hurt a little, but no longer enough to affect his mobility.
He leaped onto a branch and used the moonlight to determine his direction, then raced toward the place Orochimaru had indicated.
After a night of travel, he reached a dense forest. As the first rays of dawn appeared, he found the entrance to Ryūchi Cave.
It was low-key and concealed, with moss creeping over the stone platform and the marks of age all around.
He passed through a long, dark tunnel, and suddenly the view opened up. A magnificent golden temple filled his entire field of vision.
There were many caves on both sides of the temple, their tunnels branching in every direction. It truly lived up to its name as a den of snakes.
Just as Shinmoku was wondering which way to go, the temple's doors slowly opened, and smoke billowed out.