A small bottle was tucked between his fingers. It was made of clear glass, about as long as his index finger, and the metal nozzle at its mouth gleamed coldly in the sunlight. It looked exactly like the bottle Jiraiya had gotten from Tsunade.
His thumb settled on the nozzle and pressed down hard.
Hiss—
A fine spray burst from the metal nozzle. Milky-white mist shot out at tremendous speed, spreading into a dense cloud in midair.
A faint rainbow sheen shimmered in the sunlight. Tiny bubbles churned along the mist's edges, like a cloud brought to a boil.
The thick mist enveloped Yongye. Its edges roiled around him for an instant, then spread rapidly, swallowing his figure whole. No movement could be seen inside it. No sound could be heard.
Shisui did not slow down. His toes touched the hard earth, and he sprang backward from where the mist had erupted.
The move was precise and swift. Less than a breath passed between his departure from the mist-covered spot and his arrival in the open ground between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru.
He turned before landing. His shoes struck the hard earth with two short, muffled thuds, and he steadied himself, arms at his sides, the now-empty bottle still clutched in his left hand.
"Well done, Shisui!"
"You've done Konoha a great service. You've given it a new beginning!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's praise rang out, brimming with excitement and joy he could not contain. His hands released their Hand Seals, his guarded stance eased slightly, and the corners of his mouth lifted.
Orochimaru burst into laughter.
He tipped his head back slightly. A string of hoarse, shrill laughter poured from his throat, ricocheting inside the purple barrier until it became a grating din.
"Hahaha... That makes things simple... Argh!"
His laughter