Subordinates

Looking at Guren and Gozu lying on the ground, Uzumaki Hane Yu said, "I recognize you. You're Orochimaru's subordinates, aren't you?"

Guren idolizes Orochimaru and is proud to be his Orochimaru, so she naturally wouldn't deny it, stating directly, "That's right, I am Lord Orochimaru."

Upon hearing this, Shion asked with some doubt, "Uzumaki Hane, who is this Orochimaru? Is he very powerful?"

Before Shion could finish speaking, and before Uzumaki Hane could even open his mouth, Guren roared angrily, "Orochimaru is a renowned and powerful ninja, and you don't even recognize him?"

Shion pouted and chanted a spell. A purple halo emanated from Guren's body. She felt the restraints on her body begin to tighten, let out a muffled groan, and then her face began to turn pale.

Uzumaki Hane said, "Alright, Shion, let her go. I still have questions for her."

Shion snorted, "I'll let you go this time for Uzumaki Hane's sake. But this Orochimaru was captured so easily by me. It seems Orochimaru isn't so formidable after all?"

Guren was furious. "How do you know how great Lord Orochimaru?" How dare the other party slander Lord Orochimaru! Guren struggled desperately, but she didn't expect that the restraints on her body were put on by this little girl, and she couldn't break free.

Shion, however, looked down at Guren with disdain.

Guren, no longer provoked, had completely calmed down. She realized she had overestimated her own strength, underestimated the priestess of the Land of Demons, and underestimated everyone in the world. She hadn't properly investigated Uzumaki Hane beforehand, and her reckless arrival had resulted in the death of one of her newly recruited subordinates, and her own capture. The death of her subordinate wasn't the biggest problem; her failure to complete Lord Orochimaru's orders was the greatest defeat. However, as long as she was alive, she still had a chance to fulfill Lord Orochimaru's orders.

Uzumaki Hane explained to Shion, "Orochimaru, missing-nin from Konoha Ninja Village, was once one of the Konoha Sannin and a disciple of the Third Hokage. He was skilled in Ninjutsu research and possessed immense strength. However, he became missing-nin due to human experimentation. Recently, he launched the Konoha Crush, nearly destroying Konoha. Ultimately, the Third Hokage sacrificed his life to seal his hands."

Shion Satori and said, "Uzumaki Hane, a missing-nin Konoha Ninja Village, which is your village. So he must be very powerful." Actually, Shion wasn't involved in the ninja world and didn't know exactly how powerful Orochimaru was, but he figured that being able to contend with a village's Kage meant he must be very strong.

Uzumaki Hane said, "That's right." If Orochimaru's hands hadn't been sealed by the Third Orochimaru, he wouldn't have been so easily killed.

Shion asked, "So Uzumaki Hane, who's stronger, you or Orochimaru?"

Uzumaki Hane smiled slightly and said, "We'll only know after we've fought." After killing Kakuzu, Uzumaki Hane had a full understanding of his own strength. Although Orochimaru was powerful, Uzumaki Hane was no longer afraid of him; on the contrary, he was somewhat interested in Orochimaru.

Guren scoffed at Uzumaki Hane: "Hmph, with your strength, you dare to compare yourself to Lord Orochimaru?" Although Guren acknowledged that the other party was very strong, wanting to contend with Orochimaru was far too much of an overestimation of himself.

Uzumaki Hane remained noncommittal about Guren's contempt, but Shion was somewhat angry. She let out a soft snort and began chanting a spell, activating the Sealing Jutsu on Guren's body. Guren felt her whole body being locked up, let out a painful groan, and her face was full of pain.

Uzumaki Hane stopped Shion, saying, "Alright, Shion, stop."

Shion pouted and reluctantly stopped chanting the spell.

Once Guren recovered, Uzumaki Hane said to Guren, "Don't worry, just answer a few questions for me, and I'll let you go."

Guren was somewhat suspicious that Uzumaki Hane would be so kind as to let her go.

Gozu then looked at Shion. In Gozu's view, Shion was very strong, and he himself had been captured by Shion.

Shion sensed Gozu's thoughts and said, "If Uzumaki Hane says she'll let you go, then I'll let you go."

Guren said, "Don't even think about it. I will never reveal anything about Lord Orochimaru."

Gozu immediately interjected, "Uzumaki Hane, ask me anything. I'll tell you everything, as long as you spare Lady Guren."

Instead of asking questions immediately, Uzumaki Hane looked at Gozu. Gozu had repaid Guren's kindness with his life. In the original story, he died to save Guren, which shows that he was a person of great loyalty and righteousness. Uzumaki Hane admired him very much.

Suddenly, Uzumaki Hane had an idea and said, "Gozu, you're Orochimaru's experiment, aren't you? I suppose you have no loyalty to Orochimaru whatsoever. Why don't you become my subordinate?"

Gozu was taken aback, not expecting that Uzumaki Hane would recruit him. After hesitating for a long time, he looked at Guren and said firmly, "As long as you release Lady Guren, I agree to become your subordinate."

Uzumaki Hane said, "Oh, so you'll agree to become my subordinate if I release Guren? That's fine, but why?"

Gozu looked at Guren and began to recount their past. Guren was surprised that Gozu still remembered this, but she still let out a cold snort and turned her head away.

After hearing Gozu's story, Shion and Taruho's opinion of Gozu changed slightly.

Uzumaki Hane said, "Shion, release Gozu from his restraints."

Shion was still a little uneasy. After all, they had just been enemies, and suddenly he had become a subordinate. Could he really trust him?

Seeing Shion's worry, Uzumaki Hane said, "Don't worry, I trust him."

Upon hearing the name Uzumaki Hane, a strange glint flashed in Gozu's eyes.

Shion said, "Alright, since you believe in him, Uzumaki Hane, I'll believe him for now." She began chanting a spell and pointed at Gozu. A mysterious pattern reappeared beneath Gozu, and countless purple wisps of gas emerged from Gozu, flowing into the pattern. Soon, no more purple gas appeared from Gozu. Feeling his restraints disappear, Gozu immediately stood up, knelt before Uzumaki Hane, and said, "Greetings, Lord Uzumaki Hane. Lady Guren..." Gozu looked at Guren, hesitant to speak, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Uzumaki Hane said, "Don't worry." Then she looked at Guren and said, "Since Gozu pleaded for you, I will let you go. But before that, you have to answer one question for me."

Guren said coldly, "What's the problem?" Although Gozu did it to save her, his choice to become someone else's subordinate still made Guren very uncomfortable.

Uzumaki Hane said, "Tell me where Orochimaru's base is?"

Without any hesitation, Guren firmly stated, "Don't even think about me revealing Lord Orochimaru's base. I will never betray Lord Orochimaru."