Even in broad daylight, the Konoha Military Police Force's underground Prison District remained dim.
Torches lined the walls, casting parallel shadows across the stone floor. Moisture glistened where light met dark.
The air smelled of blood and damp stone. The scent seeped from the corners, was drawn into the vents, and returned again and again.
Kabuto Yakushi walked down the middle of the corridor at an even pace, each step landing on the boundary between firelight and shadow. The torchlight left two dull orange halos on the lenses of his round glasses.
He passed through two Iron doors. At the first, the guard looked up, recognized him, and stepped aside without a question.
The second Iron door stood at the end of the corridor. Twice as thick as the first, it had no window, only a narrow viewing slit at eye level.
Kabuto pushed the Iron door open and stepped inside.
The cell was darker than the corridor.
The wick of the oil lamp in the corner had burned down. Its flame wavered inside the glass cover, throwing Orochimaru's shadow across the stone wall, now long, now short.
He sat on the edge of the stone platform with his back against the wall. His long, silvery-gray hair fell over his shoulders, edged with a dull sheen in the firelight.
Kimimaro stood in the shadow beside the platform, leaning partly against the wall. The moment Kabuto entered, his gaze lifted and fixed on him.
Kabuto stopped outside the Iron bars and spoke slowly.
"Orochimaru, Kimimaro, listen carefully."
"I'm Kabuto Yakushi, Lord Yongye's subordinate. I'll be handling your continued interrogation."
"The more you tell us, and the more valuable it is, the sooner you can leave this place."
"If Lord Yongye remains dissatisfied, you can expect to rot in this cell!"
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