Finding White Zetsu Clones was no easy task. White Zetsu loved hiding underground and often stayed with Black Zetsu. Those two were every bit as elusive as Sora himself with his Flying Thunder God Technique.
To find them, he would have to locate the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
But that clearly would not be easy.
Still, Uchiha Sora had a way. He knew Orochimaru should have joined the Akatsuki by now. As long as he found Orochimaru and struck a deal with him, getting him to bring over some White Zetsu should be possible.
Of course, he could also use ordinary ninja as sacrifices, but their bodies could never compare to White Zetsu bodies containing hashirama cells.
So he would rather go to the extra trouble and get his hands on White Zetsu.
Half a month later.
Uchiha Sora finally found Orochimaru.
Wearing an Akatsuki cloak, Orochimaru was strolling through a small town in the Land of Fire with his partner, Sasori of the Red Sands.
The two seemed to be in the middle of a mission.
Uchiha Sora did not approach him to talk. Instead, he and Zabuza posed as passersby and walked past Orochimaru.
As they passed each other, the Three Tomoe appeared in his eyes, and he immediately cast a genjutsu.
Orochimaru's expression changed sharply the moment he sensed the chakra fluctuation. Beside him, Sasori of the Red Sands froze in surprise as well.
But Orochimaru's expression soon returned to normal.
"What's wrong, Orochimaru?" Sasori of the Red Sands gave Orochimaru a puzzled look, then turned to look at Uchiha Sora and Zabuza, who had just passed them.
"Those two... isn't that man Demon Zabuza of Kirigakure? Did that chakra fluctuation come from the fellow beside him?" Sasori of the Red Sands asked in a hoarse voice.
Orochimaru chuckled and shook his head. "It's nothing. Don't stir up trouble. We're here on a mission."
"Heh, Orochimaru, has the leader scared you out of your wits? Since when did one of the Sannin become such a coward? Those two look like excellent puppet specimens to me!" Sasori of the Red Sands sneered.
Orochimaru ignored his partner's teasing and mockery, merely giving a low chuckle.
Finding no satisfaction in that response, Sasori of the Red Sands fell silent.
Although he resented Orochimaru, he was still deeply wary of him. When they had fought during his recruitment a while back, Orochimaru had not shown his true strength. In the end, the leader had intervened himself.
Presumably, the leader considered Orochimaru stronger than him.
That was also why Sasori of the Red Sands resented Orochimaru.
After dark, Orochimaru sent a Shadow Clone quietly into a forest outside town.
Uchiha Sora had already been waiting there for quite some time. Zabuza had not come with him.
"Uchiha Sora, it's been a while. Just as I said, Konoha had no place for you!" Orochimaru said with a raspy laugh, seeming rather pleased.
He saw a reflection of himself in Uchiha Sora. Hadn't he been driven out in much the same way?
All I did was conduct a few human experiments. Those sacrifices were worthwhile for the sake of great research, yet Konoha had no place for me. How laughable! How utterly narrow-minded!
The genjutsu Uchiha Sora had cast on Orochimaru as they passed each other that afternoon had merely been a way to convey information.
Through the genjutsu, Uchiha Sora had given Orochimaru the agreed time and place for their meeting.
"Yes, Orochimaru. It's been a long time!" Uchiha Sora replied with a smile.
"Heh, I've heard about your exploits! Konoha put out a public bounty of a hundred million ryo just for you, Uchiha Sora. I'm truly curious-what exactly did you do to them?" Orochimaru asked with interest.
Uchiha Sora waved a hand. "That doesn't matter. I came to you today because I need your help with something else!"
"Oh? Sora, what an honor!" Orochimaru chuckled. "Don't you know I've always been very interested in your body? And yet you came to me for help? Interesting. Very interesting!"
"Orochimaru, you don't need to probe my true intentions, and I won't waste time talking in circles." Uchiha Sora smiled faintly and got straight to the point. "I need you to capture some living White Zetsu Clones from the Akatsuki! The more, the better! In exchange, I can give you information you desperately want!"
Orochimaru paused in surprise.
Uchiha Sora's bluntness made him frown, and his playful manner faded somewhat. "Uchiha Sora, White Zetsu Clones aren't that easy to get hold of!"
"I know you can do it!" Uchiha Sora said calmly. "Don't you want to know the secret behind Pain's Rinnegan?"
"You even know about Pain's Rinnegan!" Orochimaru's expression turned startled. "Uchiha Sora, just how much do you know?"
"Once you have enough White Zetsu Clones, I'll tell you what you want to know!" Uchiha Sora left him a coded message indicating their next meeting place, then vanished in a flash.
Watching Uchiha Sora disappear, Orochimaru could not help smiling in anticipation. "Uchiha Sora, you really do surprise me. So young, yet you seem to possess some remarkable secrets!"
Ten days later.
Uchiha Sora met Orochimaru again.
This time, Orochimaru came in person.
The two met in a canyon.
As soon as he arrived, Orochimaru summoned a Yellow-brown Giant Snake.
The snake opened its mouth and immediately spat out ten White Zetsu Clones.
Cursed Seals bound the White Zetsu Clones, leaving them unable to break free or move. Only their mouths could still open to speak.
"Orochimaru! How dare you betray the organization!"
"When the leader finds out, he'll make you die a horrible death!"
"Orochimaru! You scoundrel! Traitor!"
The White Zetsu Clones hurled curses at him.
Although these clones were merely inferior creations of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, each still had emotions.
Ignoring their angry curses, Orochimaru said to Uchiha Sora, "I've brought what you wanted. Now you can give me information that will satisfy me, can't you?"
Uchiha Sora smiled faintly and nodded. "Don't worry, I'll tell you. But first, to keep these White Zetsu from escaping, you don't mind if I secure them somewhere, do you?"
"Go ahead." Orochimaru nodded generously.
Uchiha Sora stepped forward, picked up the White Zetsu one by one, and transported them into the mirror space with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Once these White Zetsu were inside the mirror space, they would have no way to escape even if they broke free of the Cursed Seals.
Besides, Uchiha Izumi and her daughter were there to watch over them. Although the two were not strong yet, they were more than capable of dealing with these inferior White Zetsu.
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