A few kilometers outside Konoha.
Two figures in black cloaks patterned with red clouds gazed at Konoha in the distance.
They were Orochimaru, who had yet to leave the Akatsuki, and Sasori of the Red Sand.
"Hehehe... Sasori, aren't you going to come take a look around Konoha with me?"
Orochimaru looked toward Konoha and asked with a sinister chuckle.
"I have no interest in Konoha. You're the one who accepted this private assignment. I'm not interested in going with you."
Sasori's voice was extremely hoarse, and he showed no respect whatsoever for Orochimaru, a former member of the Konoha Sannin.
"You should know that I don't like waiting for people, so I won't wait here for you."
Sasori's words didn't upset Orochimaru. Instead, he laughed again.
"Hehehe... You really are heartless, Lord Sasori!"
"In that case, let's part ways here! If you come across any interesting specimens during your mission, don't forget about me..."
With that, Orochimaru sank underground and disappeared.
Once Orochimaru had left, Sasori slowly headed in the opposite direction from Konoha.
As a former member of the Konoha High Command, Orochimaru could infiltrate Konoha with ease.
After entering Konoha, Orochimaru used the Transformation Technique to disguise himself.
Orochimaru knew Konoha better than most ninja did. After all, he had nearly become the Fourth Hokage.
If Danzo hadn't screwed him over back then, the Fourth might have been Orochimaru rather than Minato Namikaze.
But he bore Danzo no resentment. It was precisely because Danzo had screwed him over that he had left Konoha, and leaving meant he no longer had to worry about so many taboos while conducting his scientific research.
Becoming Hokage had never been his goal. He had only two goals: understanding the origins of ninja-or rather, chakra-and every ninjutsu, and developing the art