Chapter 28: Orochimaru's Trail
Upon hearing Inuzuka Kaze's words, Uchiha Douhuan immediately took the matter seriously—after all, this was the first time a ninja clan had actively extended an olive branch to the Uchiha.
It seemed that after witnessing the decline of their former patron, the Senju Clan, the Inuzuka Clan—long relegated to the role of Konoha's veterinarians and kept from true political power—was beginning to reconsider its alliances. While they hadn't made an official stand yet, Inuzuka Kaze's direct approach to Douhuan with such an offer was a clear sign of goodwill.
Unlike the Uchiha, who had dozens of jōnin and enough high-ranking members to fill an entire clan meeting hall, the Inuzuka Clan was much smaller. Kaze's standing within the clan was likely second only to their leader.
"Kaze-dono, this is a timely offer. The Police Force has recruited a new wave of shinobi, but their skills are still developing. If we had the assistance of Inuzuka Clan's ninja hounds, it would be a great asset," Douhuan replied.
He readily accepted the Inuzuka Clan's overture. The Uchiha were not yet in a position to openly claim dominance, but this was a positive first step.
The Inuzuka Clan's show of goodwill meant new possibilities for the future.
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"You know, the Police Force's benefits are really enviable," Uzuki Yūgao suddenly remarked. "When I heard about their salary and perks, I seriously considered leaving ANBU to join."
"Yūgao-san, such thoughts are inappropriate!" Douhuan responded in mock seriousness. "Regardless of where you work, you're still serving Konoha. If the Third Hokage heard this, he might think I was forming a faction."
"Aww, I was just joking," Yūgao giggled, sticking out her tongue playfully. "I've already worked hard to reach the rank of Tokubetsu Jōnin in ANBU—why would I throw that away?"
"Enough of that—let's toast!" Douhuan declared, raising his cup.
Everyone clinked their drinks together and downed them in unison.
Throughout the meal, the only one who remained unusually quiet was Kakashi. He sat beside Douhuan, his lone Sharingan eye scanning the table, deep in thought.
After a fulfilling meal, the group returned to their inn for the night.
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The next morning, they resumed their journey.
By now, the rift between them and Taku Homura and Hayato Koharu had grown so vast that not even basic conversation remained.
By midday, they had reached the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rice Fields.
With the team now nearing the area where Orochimaru had last been sighted, Kakashi stepped up to his role as mission commander.
"Kaze, you and Mokumaru follow the scent trails. Ken'ya, Kito, keep your Byakugan active at all times and monitor the area. The rest of you—stay alert and prepare for battle."
"Understood," the group answered in unison. Even Homura and Koharu had no objections this time.
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Inside his experimental base, deep within the Land of Rice Fields, Orochimaru suddenly paused mid-experiment, lowering the test tube in his hands.
For now, he was still officially working within Akatsuki, but he had already begun setting up personal laboratories like this one, taking advantage of the lack of a major hidden village in the Land of Rice Fields.
To powerful rogue ninja like him, such lawless zones were perfect hiding spots.
Despite defecting from Konoha, Orochimaru still had spies embedded within the village.
He had been keeping close tabs on recent developments—especially Uchiha Douhuan's movements and the demise of his former "business partner," Danzo.
It was no surprise to him when word reached him that Konoha had sent a team to hunt him down. Initially, his plan had been simple: retreat before they arrived.
But when he learned that Uchiha Douhuan—a confirmed wielder of the Mangekyō Sharingan—was among them, his curiosity was piqued.
Orochimaru had yet to develop his later obsession with the Uchiha bloodline, but the Mangekyō Sharingan was the legendary dojutsu once wielded by Madara Uchiha himself. The scientist in Orochimaru couldn't resist the urge to observe it firsthand.
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As the team advanced through the forest, Mokumaru suddenly tensed up, letting out a low growl.
At the same moment, Hyūga Kito shouted, "Underground! Chakra signatures detected! Something massive is approaching from the west—it's a snake!"
"Prepare for battle!" Kakashi commanded, his posture shifting into combat readiness.
"Watch out for the ground!" Kito warned as he and Ken'ya leapt away.
The earth trembled. The next instant, multiple enormous white snakes erupted from beneath them, fanged jaws snapping wide.
The shinobi reacted instantly—each executing their own evasive maneuvers:
Inuzuka Kaze immediately fused with Mokumaru, transforming into a massive twin-headed wolf before launching himself out of harm's way.
Uchiha Inari and Uchiha Saito fired kunai attached to wires, anchoring themselves to distant trees before altering their trajectory in midair. They then wove hand signs, unleashing twin Great Fire Dragon Jutsu to scorch the serpents.
Nagai Seiji, though visibly struggling, managed to substitute himself with a water clone at the last second, narrowly avoiding death.
The team's Tokubetsu Jōnin, however, were slower to react—and that left them in grave danger.
Just as they were about to be swallowed whole, a streak of blue lightning flashed through the air.
Douhuan, his body crackling with Lightning Chakra Mode, blurred into action—grabbing the endangered shinobi and whisking them to safety before landing effortlessly.
His Sharingan spun, calculating every move with eerie precision.
Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the two who had deliberately distanced themselves from the group.
Homura and Koharu had been avoiding everyone else, thinking their own safety was secured by staying separate.
But that distance made them the easiest targets.
The unseen attacker had anticipated this and directed the strongest part of the ambush toward them.
Four snakes burst from the ground in unison, giving the duo only seconds to react.
Koharu, though powerful, had no time to fully evade the attack. One serpent clamped its jaws down on his right arm, ripping it clean off.
Homura, being the weaker of the two, wasn't so lucky. He let out a single, bloodcurdling scream before vanishing inside the maw of a snake.
He was devoured alive.
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Before the group had time to process what had just happened, the forest ahead erupted in chaos.
A towering silhouette emerged from the dust—its outline stretching high above the trees.
The serpentine beast slithered forward, scales glistening as it loomed over them, its slit-pupiled eyes locking onto its prey.
A deep, guttural hiss echoed through the forest, signaling the arrival of something far worse than the ambush itself.
Orochimaru's summons had arrived.
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