"What?!" Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi's expressions changed drastically.
The news struck like a thunderbolt, shattering the last of Orochimaru's composure. He whipped around and stared fixedly at Toru Kujyo, his eyes filled with horror and disbelief. The operation he had thought so secret had long since been exposed to the other man, who even knew Konoha's movements inside out!
"You... who exactly are you?" Orochimaru's voice was painfully dry.
Toru Kujyo did not answer. He merely shrugged and turned toward the exit with Sasuke, leaving them with a glimpse of his carefree, enigmatic retreating figure.
"Let's go, Sasuke-kun. This place will become a battlefield soon."
As the two disappeared down the passage, Orochimaru clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked, his face alternating between livid and pale. Finally, he slumped into his chair in defeat and roared at Kabuto Yakushi beside him, "Kabuto! Now! Move all the core research files! Abandon this place! Hurry!"
They emerged from the gloomy underground base into warm sunlight. For a moment, Sasuke felt dazed.
The deal had been a breathtaking gamble. In exchange for a vague promise of instruction in Senjutsu, Orochimaru had gained hope of restoring his hands in the future, along with invaluable data on Sasuke's Sage transformation. For him, it had been an enormous profit with nothing to lose.
As for Toru Kujyo, he had seemingly given up a Shinigami Mask that could be exchanged for untold wealth and power, but he had firmly bound Sasuke-a future top-tier fighter-to his side. He had even squeezed a Kusanagi Sword out of the bargain, all while playing Orochimaru like a fiddle, doing him a favor and demonstrating his own strength.
Sasuke himself had gained even more. Not only had he escaped the backlash of the Hashirama cells, but he had turned misfortune