Inside the cave.
Shimura Danzō was resting.
Several Root ninja outside the cave were tending to one another's wounds.
Root was carrying out an urgent secret mission this time. Since not every Medical Ninja had blond hair, they had not brought one along.
Just as Yamanaka Fu had finished having his wound bandaged by his subordinates and was preparing to arrange patrols and sentries, two dark figures entered his field of vision.
Two people advancing slowly...
Yamanaka Fu leaped forward, intending to intercept and kill the two people approaching them. Root ninja could never allow their movements to be discovered by outsiders.
Yet when he stood before them, he saw only one of them slowly raise his head and reveal his eyes.
Snake pupils glinted, murderous intent spilling forth!
Yamanaka Fu froze involuntarily. That murderous aura alone intimidated him so thoroughly that he did not dare make any rash move, and could only grit his teeth...
One of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru!
Kimimaro, standing beside Orochimaru, extended his palm. A bone spike grew from it as he hunched over, staring intently at Yamanaka Fu.
"Kimimaro, no need to be so tense..."
Orochimaru smiled faintly and looked at Yamanaka Fu. "Take us there. I have no intention of killing an ally before the plan begins."
"..."
Yamanaka Fu nodded helplessly. As one of Danzo's trusted confidants, he knew very well about the relationship between Danzo and Orochimaru, as well as the dealings they had once had.
Inside the cave.
Shimura Danzō's expression was rather unpleasant when he saw Orochimaru arrive. "Orochimaru, if you could have held Jiraiya off a little longer... I would definitely have had the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and Sasuke Uchiha in my grasp!"
"Jiraiya isn't the Dead Last he used to be. It isn't so easy for me to