"Senjutsu?"
Orochimaru glanced at Kabuto Yakushi as he turned back to work, then licked his lips.
An unreadable Hikari flickered in his slit-pupiled eyes.
"Heh... Compared with eternal life and the countless ninjutsu and truths this world has to offer, what is mere Senjutsu?"
Besides...
A gleam of Hikari flashed in Orochimaru's eyes.
He turned toward the dense row of culture dishes on the laboratory bench and smiled dreamily. "Shinji, a partnership between unequal parties is hardly a partnership at all!"
Whoosh!
When Shinji appeared inside the tent, Zabuza Momochi, Hozuki Mangetsu, and Ao were all there.
Mei Terumi was saying something to the three of them.
She stopped short when Shinji returned.
"Where is she? How is she? Can the person you mentioned cure Yūyuri?"
Shinji shook his head. "I can't be sure. But if even he can't, then the Shinobi World has abandoned that little girl to die."
Mei's brows drew together. "Who exactly is this person?"
Shinji looked around at their puzzled faces and smiled faintly. "Orochimaru."
"What?!"
Mei's breath caught. She strode up until she was pressed against Shinji, then looked up at him furiously. "You handed Yūyuri over to that madman?!"
"Huh?"
Shinji stared down into Mei's emerald-green eyes, plainly surprised. "Is Orochimaru's reputation really that bad throughout the Shinobi World?"
"What do you think, you bastard?!" Mei glared at him, breathing hard with anger.
"..."
Feeling the force of her pressing against him, Shinji silently took a step back.
"If you don't trust me... why did you ask me to save her?"
Mei stared at him in disbelief. "I thought you'd at least go to Princess Tsunade!!!"
"...Ahem. That's quite a beautiful misunderstanding." Shinji pinched his earlobe. "Sorry, but Lady Tsunade has gone to the front lines."
"You..."
"That's enough!"
Shinji waved a