"You're saying Orochimaru is coming?"
Jinghang frowned as he read the letter in his hand.
"Yes. Nawaki was his student, so it's reasonable for him to visit. But the secrets of the research institute…"
Tsunade hesitated. After all, this was Sunagakure's territory, and there were things that should remain confidential.
"Hm, letting him take a look… isn't entirely out of the question. Haha." Jinghang chuckled. "When exactly will he arrive?"
"Judging by the date on the letter, it should be in the next couple of days."
Tsunade was surprised at how readily Jinghang agreed.
"Oh, so soon?" Jinghang glanced at the date on the letter. It wasn't far off.
"He's a man of action, much like you. When he decides on something, he does it without delay."
"Men of action are great. I admire people like that. When he arrives, I'll treat him to a meal. After all, he's your old classmate, isn't he?" Jinghang wrapped an arm around Tsunade's shoulders with a sly grin.
"But what about the experimental subjects, the specimens, and…"
"Everything except Shirofei can be shown to him," Jinghang declared with a sweeping gesture, exuding confidence.
"As for Madara's matter, I might not be able to handle it alone. Having an ally might not be a bad idea."
"Hmm, that's true," Tsunade nodded after some thought. It seemed reasonable.
"By the way, clean up Experiment No. 17 before he arrives."
"For what purpose?"
"Well, he's coming all this way. We can't let him leave empty-handed, can we? Otherwise, people might say Sunagakure isn't hospitable." Jinghang chuckled.
"Oh, and before giving it to him, cut out its tongue. We wouldn't want it saying too much!"
Jinghang's apparent generosity wasn't born of goodwill. His decision to share information about the research institute wasn't about forming an alliance with Orochimaru. An alliance with Orochimaru? That would be courting death. Just ask Rasa—he didn't even know how he died.
No, Jinghang's true intention was to plant a trap for Konoha.
Orochimaru was undoubtedly one of the most compelling villains in the early arcs of Naruto. Setting aside his gruesome human experiments and other atrocities, the loyalty of his followers—like Kimimaro, Guren (already poached), Karin Uzumaki, and the Sound Four—spoke volumes about his charisma.
In terms of capability, he founded Otogakure and managed numerous large-scale bases across various regions. Clearly, he had the leadership skills to handle such an operation.
As for his strength, there was no doubt he was Kage-level. Even amidst the chaos of later arcs with overpowered characters running rampant, Orochimaru survived until the end. If not for his sudden change of heart and the Edo Tensei summoning of past Hokage, the story might have ended very differently.
But the current Orochimaru was still young. While his heart harbored some darkness, he was still swayed by Hiruzen Sarutobi's "Will of Fire" and hadn't fully embraced the shadows.
That wouldn't do.
He needed a push.
Between the Second and Third Shinobi Wars, Konoha was at its peak. The older generation, like Hiruzen and Danzo, was in their prime. The middle generation, including Sakumo Hatake, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru, had matured through the trials of the Second War. Meanwhile, the new generation, with prodigies like Minato Namikaze and Shisui Uchiha, shone brilliantly.
Konoha's strength was unparalleled, capable of taking on two or even three nations simultaneously. No wonder they emerged victorious in the Third Shinobi War.
If nothing was done to hinder Konoha, they would dominate the shinobi world. And where would that leave Sunagakure? Jinghang had no intention of letting Sunagakure remain a subordinate, groveling like Gaara licking Konoha's boots.
While Jinghang was willing to temporarily concede for the sake of strategy, perpetual submission was out of the question.
Direct confrontation with Konoha wasn't an option either. Their sheer power and size made that clear. Jinghang had worked tirelessly with Rasa and Baki to build Sunagakure's strength over the past two years. The progress they'd made couldn't be squandered.
Instead, Jinghang opted for a subtler approach: internal sabotage.
He had already set Danzo on his path. Now, it was time to nudge Orochimaru. These two were masters of chaos, perfect for destabilizing Konoha from within.
By awakening Orochimaru's desire for eternal life and absolute power, Jinghang could push him toward darkness earlier. This would only benefit Sunagakure.
Of course, Jinghang wasn't naive. Orochimaru needed to be kept in check to prevent him from turning his ambitions toward Sunagakure. Any hostility directed at Sunagakure would be met with swift and decisive action.
A Chance Encounter
"Young man, do you know the way to Sunagakure?"
Orochimaru asked politely, flashing a warm smile at a red-haired boy playing in the sand.
The boy looked up, scrutinizing the pale-faced man with flowing hair. His gaze lingered on the Konoha forehead protector.
"Yes, I know the way. Are you heading to the village? Follow me," the boy said with an innocent smile, brushing the sand off his clothes before leading the way.
The desert was notoriously easy to get lost in. With no landmarks or people to ask for directions, Orochimaru felt fortunate to have encountered the boy. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he allowed himself a relaxed smile.
But his relief was short-lived.
"This doesn't look like Sunagakure. Why does it keep getting darker?" Orochimaru asked, his guard rising as he glanced around.
"Oh, this is Sunagakure's territory, but it's… a special place," the boy replied with a mischievous grin, pulling out a scroll.
"What kind of special place?"
Orochimaru instinctively took a step back, his hand moving toward his ninja pouch.
"This used to be an important facility of the village. Now it's abandoned. Welcome to… Abyss Prison!"
The boy's innocent smile twisted into something sinister.
"Kid, this has to be a misunderstanding!" Orochimaru protested, realizing the ominous implications of the name.
"Speak! What is a Konoha ninja doing in our Sunagakure territory?"
"I'm here… to find someone."
"Hmph! Still not being honest? No problem. A good beating will fix that. Come out, Black Ant! Salamander!"
The boy unfurled his scroll, summoning two puppets with a burst of smoke.
Orochimaru's eyes widened in surprise. He had faced Chiyo in Amegakure and was familiar with puppet masters. However, he hadn't expected this six- or seven-year-old boy to not only be a puppet user but also control two puppets simultaneously. Was every Sunagakure kid this talented?
"Wait, listen to me—"
Before Orochimaru could finish, the two puppets lunged at him.
Black Ant attacked with six serrated arms, spinning like a whirlwind and forcing Orochimaru to defend himself. Meanwhile, Salamander burrowed underground, occasionally surfacing to snap at Orochimaru or block his counterattacks.
The puppets coordinated seamlessly, one attacking and the other defending. If not for Orochimaru's exceptional taijutsu, he might have been caught off guard.
Realizing the boy was no ordinary opponent, Orochimaru decided to end the fight quickly.
"Striking Shadow Snake!"
Leaping into the air, Orochimaru extended his right arm, unleashing a swarm of venomous snakes that surged toward the boy controlling the puppets.