"Until you finally become a true Sage!"
"Brilliant. What a beautiful path of cultivation."
As Orochimaru spoke, he seemed almost crazed, his excitement reaching a fever pitch.
Sakumo stood there in a daze, staring at Orochimaru. "What on earth are you talking about?"
But Orochimaru was too absorbed in this new path of cultivation to answer him.
Xia Le smiled faintly and explained calmly, "A completely new path of cultivation."
"Interested, Sakumo?"
Sakumo froze, his pupils contracting. "Huh?"
Konoha.
Two figures in cloaks patterned with red clouds on black, conical hats on their heads, walked slowly down the street.
"You seem to be looking for something, Itachi."
The hoarse, deep voice held a trace of curiosity.
"Sorry for the trouble, Mr. Kisame. I asked you to sneak in here with me."
At those words, his companion replied quietly.
"It's an assignment from the organization. No trouble at all."
"Besides..."
Kisame paused, narrowing his eyes.
"I have my reasons for staying out of the mission the others are carrying out right now. This gives me a chance to come here and clear my head with you, Mr. Itachi."
Itachi turned slightly at his words and glanced at the large sword on Kisame's back, his eyes narrowing.
"Then thank you."
Neither spoke after that. It was their first time working together, and a rough sense of each other was enough for now.
Compared with Itachi, Kisame was fairly talkative.
The two walked down the street without drawing anyone's attention.
In fact, with Itachi's Sharingan, finding a gap in Konoha's defenses and slipping inside had been easy.
Finding the person he had come for in a village this vast was another matter.
Suddenly, Itachi's gaze shifted and he stopped.
Kisame reacted at once, following his line of sight.
At a street corner,