During the few days after Gua returned to the village, Orochimaru hadn't been idle either.
As founding members of the Akatsuki,
they were now starting to recruit.
Naturally, everyone had to pitch in.
Their first target was a man named Kisame, a Missing-nin from the Land of Water.
Orochimaru volunteered.
After exchanging blows, Orochimaru was trapped by his opponent's Water Release and suffered a crushing defeat. In the end, Pain stepped in and recruited Kisame.
Their second target was a Puppet Master, reportedly from the Land of Wind.
Orochimaru volunteered, fought three hundred rounds with him, and had his body pierced by the Puppet Master's scorpion tail. Orochimaru suffered a crushing defeat. In the end, the Masked Man stepped in and recruited Sasori of the Red Sand.
Their third target was an Immortal.
Full of confidence, Orochimaru volunteered and fought him for three days and three nights without a clear winner. In the end, the Masked Man stepped in and subdued him.
Their fourth target was a man named Juzo Biwa.
Orochimaru volunteered.
"Shut up!"
Obito swore at him. "Just focus on your research for now."
He had no idea why Orochimaru was so useless!
Every time, he just went out there to get himself killed!
He was ruining the Akatsuki's reputation!
Orochimaru headed back to Amegakure, with Konan accompanying him. He noticed that Konan didn't trust him, but he didn't care. He had no intention of running away yet.
Although the fifty million in funding had arrived,
there was still no news of Gua. Even if he left the Akatsuki, he had nowhere to go.
He might as well stay here.
With the Akatsuki's intelligence network, his chances of finding Gua were better than if he blundered around on his own.
But on the way back from the Land