Once the aftermath had been dealt with, the remaining Konoha Ninja and the wounded, escorted by Orochimaru, relocated to a valley farther into the Land of Fire and established another temporary medical station.
Security here was tighter, and the main force was a little closer as well.
Orochimaru did not linger. After arranging the basic defenses, he prepared to leave.
Before departing, his golden snake eyes settled on Lin Ze once more, and he licked his lips meaningfully.
"You're a very interesting little fellow. I hope you'll have more surprises for me the next time we meet. Don't go dying too easily on the battlefield."
That chilling gaze seemed to pierce right through him, making Lin Ze feel as though a venomous snake had fixed its eyes on him. A slight chill ran down his back.
Sure enough, this snake has taken an interest in me...
Lin Ze sighed inwardly, but maintained a respectful expression as he lowered his head and replied, "Yes. Thank you for your concern, Lord Orochimaru."
Orochimaru chuckled softly. Without another word, his figure dissolved into a wisp of pale smoke and vanished.
Watching Orochimaru disappear, Lin Ze felt utterly helpless.
Orochimaru's words were certainly not mere concern. They were more like a mark placed on a promising piece of "experimental material," along with expectations for it.
In short-I marked a location~
Fortunately, Orochimaru was still in the early stages of his "research into human cell activity." He had yet to venture into the crazed, forbidden territory he would later explore, and his hunger for "materials" had not yet reached the point where he would stop at nothing.
There was also the central project in his collaboration with Danzo-Wood Release!
That occupied a considerable amount of his energy as well.
Moreover, with Konoha hard-pressed on the