Once he discovered Uchiha Itachi, he would take no more risks. Fortunately, aside from Shisui Uchiha with his Mangekyō Sharingan, Konoha had no other top-tier fighters here.
The war between the two sides hardly resembled a war. It was more like a performance: they threw kunai at one another every day, and by the end of the day, aside from losing a few kunai, they had not even used up any explosive tags.
Mitaraishi Anko was so bored that she sat alone by the sea, soaking her feet. She had thought coming here would let her contribute to Konoha, but the two sides were acting as though they were playing a game. Her captain even called it an exercise to prepare for war.
"Prepare for war, my ass. Even an idiot could tell this is an act. Apart from Shisui Uchiha, there isn't a single jonin here."
"That isn't necessarily true!"
A voice both familiar and unfamiliar reached her ears. Anko turned toward it, and her eyes instantly reddened. Her voice took on a sobbing edge:
"Teacher, it really is you. Have you come to take me with you?"
"What a foolish child!"
Orochimaru stepped forward and stroked Anko's head. "Staying in Konoha is better than following me. Uchiha Yan changed Konoha. You need to learn to change too.
"When you have time, read more of the books Uchiha Yan left behind."
Smack!
Anko slapped Orochimaru's hand away and said angrily:
"If you aren't taking me with you, what did you come here for?"
"To tell you not to waste your talents, and to retrieve what I left in your body while I'm here."
As he spoke, Orochimaru pressed a hand over Anko's neck, rendering her completely immobile. Then a streak of blue light emerged from her neck and slipped