Orochimaru leaped onto the tallest tree nearby and looked toward the wire mesh in the distance.
The Third Kazekage reluctantly withdrew the chakra from the wire mesh. Like melting snow and ice, the mesh slowly dissolved onto the ground.
The Third Kazekage slowly rose into the air and immediately spotted Orochimaru in the tree opposite him.
Their eyes met. Knowing the matter was not yet settled, the Third Kazekage could only fly toward Orochimaru.
Seeing the Third Kazekage approach, Orochimaru jumped down from the tree, found a nearby clearing, and waited there with Ye Feng and his two companions for the Third Kazekage to arrive.
Before long, the Third Kazekage landed in the clearing opposite Orochimaru. More than a dozen Sunagakure ninja also emerged from the woods behind him. They were Rasa and the others, who had spotted the Third Kazekage earlier and followed him together.
The Third Kazekage turned to look at the Sand Ninja behind him, his brow furrowing as he asked:
"Why are there a few people missing? Where are Chiyo and the others?"
When Rasa heard the Third Kazekage's question, he immediately stepped forward and answered respectfully:
"Lady Chiyo was badly injured and has already been sent back to the Sunagakure Camp. As for the others, these damned Konoha ninja killed them in sneak attacks!"
As Rasa finished, anger appeared on his face, and he pointed his right hand toward Ye Feng and his two companions.
The Third Kazekage's brow furrowed even deeper at those words. Orochimaru was right across from him, and he had failed to defeat him with the "Iron Sand World Method" earlier. Trying the same move again could no longer succeed.
More importantly, the "Iron Sand World Method" had also consumed an enormous amount of the Third Kazekage's chakra. He had less