Outside the small town, Tsunade and Shizune were making their way toward it.
According to the intel they had gathered, Orochimaru had likely set his sights on something in Kirigakure, so he should be nearby.
The two had been passing through one small town after another around the Hidden Mist Village, searching for any trace of Orochimaru.
"Who's there...?"
Suddenly, Tsunade became highly alert, a guarded and stern light flashing in her beautiful eyes.
Her gaze locked onto a figure emerging from the ground before them.
It was a stunningly beautiful woman with long black hair. Despite wearing somewhat masculine clothing, it didn't appear out of place on her.
"Tsunade, long time no see."
The beautiful woman greeted her with an eerie smile.
"You know me? Who are you?"
Tsunade remained on guard. The person before her gave off an unsettling and dangerous feeling.
"What? Still can't recognize me? Then how about this face—does it look familiar?"
The woman paused, then wiped her hand across her face, revealing a new one.
It was the face of a man with narrow eyes and purple eyeshadow.
"Orochimaru..."
Tsunade was stunned for a moment. Then, as if something dawned on her, she stared at him in shock.
"You've already completed that jutsu?"
This wasn't a transformation jutsu—the woman's appearance was likely the actual face of the body he had taken over.
Thinking of the forbidden technique Orochimaru had long been researching, Tsunade drew in a sharp breath, realizing he had finally succeeded.
"That's right, I've completed it," Orochimaru said, a trace of pride in his voice.
The Living Corpse Reincarnation technique recorded in the Scroll of Seals had been incomplete—an unfinished jutsu.
It had taken him over a decade, combining it with a secret art he obtained from someone named Shinnō, to finally perfect the Living Corpse Reincarnation.
Completing such a monumental jutsu—if no one knew of it, it would be a shame.
"You're insane..."
Tsunade looked at Orochimaru with deep apprehension. He had actually perfected that cruel technique.
And he had already used it once—seizing control of a woman's body.
"Ordinary people are far too fragile. Nawaki was, Dan was. But I'm different. Now, I possess eternal life—"
There was a twisted excitement on Orochimaru's face.
"Don't you dare mention their names."
The moment Orochimaru spoke those two deeply painful names, Tsunade's voice rose sharply, cutting him off.
She took a deep breath, calming herself, and then asked,
"Orochimaru, I have something to ask you. What is your connection to that Wood Release bloodline-limit shinobi?"
"You came because of the Wood Release user?"
Orochimaru blinked in realization. So she hadn't come for Kirigakure, but for him.
He shook his head.
"You've got the wrong person. That individual has nothing to do with me."
He had, of course, heard of the Wood Release user who had caused major losses to Konoha—and was a bit surprised, too. He hadn't expected that someone besides himself could study Hashirama's cells to such a degree—perhaps even more deeply than he had.
"Nothing to do with you?"
Tsunade frowned as she looked at Orochimaru.
She knew him well—his pride wouldn't allow him to lie.
But if this person had no ties to Orochimaru, how could they possess the Wood Release?
"Truly nothing to do with me. In fact, when it comes to research on Hashirama's cells, that individual might surpass me."
"If I had the chance to meet them, I'd be very interested in exchanging insights on Hashirama cell research."
Orochimaru spoke with keen interest.
"Shut up, Orochimaru."
At the mention of "Hashirama's cells," Tsunade's face darkened with rage. She suddenly stomped the ground.
With a thunderous crack, the earth split in a web-like pattern, destabilizing the ground beneath Orochimaru's feet.
Even if the Wood Release user had no connection to Orochimaru, the fact that he had stolen her grandfather's corpse for his experiments was unforgivable.
"The Wood Release user may not be connected to you, but you stole my grandfather's corpse. We've got a score to settle."
"Tsunade, you're as hot-tempered as ever."
Orochimaru lightly leapt off the cracked earth, easily evading her strike.
Looking at her, he said,
"While it's true I conducted research on Hashirama's cells, I wasn't the one who stole his body. In fact, I never even had the chance—someone else took it long before I did."
"Who?"
Tsunade's eyes narrowed in fury, veins bulging on her forehead.
"Danzo. Years ago, he coveted the secrets of the Wood Release and secretly stole Senju Hashirama's corpse."
As he spoke, Orochimaru's face twisted with scorn.
"But he was never suited for research. After all these years, he made little progress. That's when he approached me. I happened to be interested—so I took over."
"Danzo…"
Tsunade's expression turned stormy, her eyes burning with barely restrained fury.
She inhaled deeply, her chest heaving. Glaring fiercely at Orochimaru, she said,
"I'll deal with you first—then I'll go back and settle things with Danzo."
"You're sure you want to fight me? Your illness hasn't fully healed, has it? If we fight now, you'll be at a disadvantage."
Orochimaru grinned coldly.
"Besides, this is Kirigakure's territory. I'd say it's better we leave it at that for now."
With that, he used Earth Release and began to sink into the ground.
He wasn't afraid of Tsunade, but fighting her here would interfere with his next plan.
"…"
Tsunade watched silently as Orochimaru sank deeper and deeper into the earth, eventually disappearing from sight.
Orochimaru knew her weakness—battle didn't favor her right now, and this wasn't the place for it anyway.
Kaguya Clan Compound.
A figure glided beneath the earth like a fish through water, sneaking into the compound.
It was Uchiha Fugaku, disguised as a wandering shinobi.
Deeper inside the Kaguya compound, he stopped at a secluded courtyard guarded on all sides.
An elderly man lived alone within.
The old man had dark skin and large, sturdy joints. Though his hair was entirely white, he still looked strong.
He was likely an elder of high status in the Kaguya clan, despite his advanced age.
"You'll do."
Uchiha Fugaku emerged from the ground, his eyes transforming into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Old age implied weakened strength, and high rank meant access to secrets.
"Genjutsu—"
His gaze met the elder's, casting him into hypnosis.
The elder's expression dulled as he fell into a trance.
The guards outside the courtyard remained completely unaware.
Fugaku set up a soundproof barrier and questioned the elder.
"Is the Kaguya clan preparing a coup?"
"Yes."
The elder answered dully.
Hearing this, Fugaku nodded. Uchiha Min's intel had been correct—the Kaguya clan was indeed preparing a rebellion.
But it also confirmed that the secret had already leaked severely.
If they still managed to succeed under such circumstances, that would be suspicious.
"When is the coup planned?"
"Five nights from now."
"Five days, huh? Not too long to wait."
A faint smile tugged at Fugaku's lips.
"Hand over the scroll containing the Kaguya clan's Shikotsumyaku techniques."
The elder's body trembled—he was starting to resist the genjutsu.
This man wasn't ordinary; both his identity and power were clearly exceptional, which explained the rapid signs of resistance.
Swish—
Fugaku's Mangekyō spun rapidly, reinforcing the hypnosis.
The elder stopped struggling, stood up, and walked to a hidden compartment in the wall, retrieving a scroll.
On the scroll were the words: Shikotsumyaku Ninjutsu.
Fugaku took the scroll, then used Mayfly Technique to sink back underground, quickly leaving the compound.
Not long after he left, the hypnosis broke.
"Hm? What happened just now? Did I fall asleep?"
The elder had no memory of what had transpired, thinking he had merely dozed off for a moment.