"Long time no see..."
The sudden greeting from behind swept away Orochimaru's reflections on how times had changed, replacing them with wariness. Had someone discovered his true identity?
Orochimaru turned around warily and saw an old acquaintance, Zou Hyuga.
But Zou Hyuga was not greeting him. He was greeting Rasa's son, Gaara, who possessed the same ability to control sand as Shukaku.
Gaara also spotted Zou Hyuga, and a rare look of respect appeared on his face.
Zou Hyuga, who had rescued him from the desert, was second only to Pakura among the people he respected. Everyone else, even his father, the Kazekage, came after them.
After the Akatsuki attacked their village, his father had treated him more gently and shown him more concern.
But Gaara could still sense the icy attitude beneath that gentle expression. That supposed concern was not a father's care for his son, but a Kazekage's concern for a capable subordinate.
If he had not mastered his powerful gift for controlling sand, he would have been sidelined just like Kankuro and Temari.
"How has your training been going lately?"
Zou Hyuga bent down to look at Gaara, who raised his head and said, "Big Brother Zou, I've already become a genin of our village. I'll work hard to become a chunin, a jonin, and even the Kazekage someday. Will you become the Hokage?"
Zou Hyuga's expression froze. Gaara's words had dealt him a devastating blow.
Was this what being a second-generation Kage meant? As long as they demonstrated enough strength, they could naturally inherit their father's position...
Just then, several more ninja from the Fire Squad appeared beside Orochimaru, who had relaxed slightly.
Oto Uchiha, Kakashi, Guy, and Shisui Uchiha...
Seeing them, Orochimaru inexplicably felt that not even Impure World Reincarnation could offer him any security.