The two raced east at tremendous speed. Sasuke stayed close behind Toru Kujyo, his mind full of questions, but he forced himself to remain silent.
Only after they crossed the border of the Land of Fire and entered a lawless land steeped in corruption did Sasuke finally lose his patience.
"Where are we going?" he asked, his brows furrowed as he watched the wandering ninja around them, their faces vicious and their intentions plainly hostile.
"The Land of Rice Fields," Toru Kujyo answered without looking back.
The Land of Rice Fields? Sasuke's pupils abruptly contracted. The name immediately brought to mind a man he loathed.
"Don't tell me... we're going to see Orochimaru?" Sasuke's voice carried disbelief and horror.
Orochimaru! That rogue ninja from Konoha, that sick bastard who coveted his Sharingan, that enemy who had nearly killed him during the Chunin Ninja Exams! Toru Kujyo had brought him here to find that man?
"That's right." Toru Kujyo's answer confirmed his worst suspicions.
"Are you insane?" Sasuke stopped and shouted sharply. "Don't you know what kind of man Orochimaru is? He'll kill us! Especially with how obsessed he is with my body!"
"He isn't capable of that right now." Toru Kujyo finally stopped and turned to face the agitated Sasuke, his expression perfectly calm. "Don't forget, the Third Hokage crippled his arms with the Reaper Death Seal. He can't form hand seals to use his ninjutsu, and he has less than a tenth of his strength left. Right now, he's nothing more than a venomous snake hiding in the shadows, clinging to life."
He looked at Sasuke with a hint of mockery in his eyes. "Besides, do you think I'm going there to have tea and chat with him? I'm going to take what I need. His knowledge, Kabuto Yakushi's