"Sensei! This Iwagakure squad has been completely wiped out!"
Deep within the woods along the front-line border, Nawaki returned, faintly excited.
Orochimaru and several Konoha ninja were waiting for him.
"Not bad. You truly have a strong talent for Water Release. When we return, I'll help you request Water Severing Wave."
Orochimaru reached out and patted Nawaki's head. Though his expression appeared gloomy, Nawaki, who had long grown familiar with him, could easily sense the care and gratification in his demeanor.
Before he knew it, he had already studied under Orochimaru for five years.
"Let's go. Clean up the battlefield and see whether we can obtain any intelligence, as well as Iwagakure's recent movements..."
Orochimaru glanced westward, in the direction of the Sand Village, and thought to himself, The squad Tsunade leads is fighting the Sand Village. Things look easy right now, but that isn't normal. The Sand Village suffered heavy losses three years ago. They wouldn't...
"Sensei, I'll go take a look!"
Still brimming with excitement, Nawaki immediately ran toward the fallen Iwagakure ninja after hearing him.
"Wait! Don't be reckless! First..."
Orochimaru snapped out of his thoughts and saw Nawaki rushing out again. He had barely begun his warning.
Suddenly, a flash of light lit up the darkness—right beneath Nawaki's feet!
"Boom—!"
The violent explosion swallowed Nawaki whole.
Orochimaru: "..."
"Nawaki..."
He neither screamed nor panicked. He merely walked over with a cold expression and crouched beside Nawaki's mangled body.
"I'm... very... sorry..."
"Orochimaru... Sensei..."
Blood spilled from Nawaki's mouth as he slowly closed his eyes, forever.
Orochimaru simply watched in silence, without saying a word.
"Lord Orochimaru..."
The other ninja did not dare approach him. It was as though they were not facing the commander of this front-line unit, but an enraged snake demon.
"I didn't expect...