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Several days later, Sasuke finally managed to leave that forest. Immediately, he hastened toward the Hidden Sound Village where Orochimaru was located. However, what he did not know was that a great upheaval had just concluded within that very village.
A few hours later.
Hidden Sound Village.
In the darkness, a massive serpentine form slowly writhed. After a long while, a young man emerged from the shadows. Most of his body was wrapped in white bandages, his face no exception; only his nose and eyes were visible, making his features indiscernible. Yet, judging by his outward appearance, one could estimate he was a young man around twenty years old.
"Too slow!"
An utterly ordinary sentence, yet it seemed to drop the temperature of the entire space.
This young man was Orochimaru, having just performed the Living Corpse Reincarnation. His current anger was truly immense!
Unlike in the original story, where Orochimaru had fought against Tsunade and Jiraiya and thus had a reasonable excuse for not holding out until Sasuke's arrival, this time Orochimaru had not clashed with the two Sannin. He could have absolutely held on until Sasuke arrived. The only problem was... those sent to retrieve Sasuke were really, truly too slow!!!
Damn it all!!
Now, Orochimaru had missed a golden opportunity. If he wanted Sasuke's body, he would have to wait two, perhaps even three years.
'Two, even three years...'
The very thought filled Orochimaru with unease. Among the Uchiha clan members Orochimaru had encountered the most and left the deepest impression upon him were Uchiha Kagaya and Uchiha Itachi. And if those two were given two years...
These two had almost engraved the concept that "the Uchiha clan is full of geniuses" deep into Orochimaru's mind. Orochimaru felt a flicker of fear—fear that allowing Sasuke to grow for two years might result in Sasuke turning the tables and killing him instead.
After all, if Sasuke's talent was on par with those two, then giving him two years really could enable him to strike back.
However...
"There are differences between people."
Orochimaru murmured this softly. The words weren't for anyone else, but for himself. He desired an Uchiha body—or a body possessing some other powerful trait—so intensely. Now, an Uchiha body was practically being delivered to his mouth. Although he had to wait two or three years... could a snake really give up food placed right before its jaws?
It wasn't entirely impossible, but first, the snake would need to see a truly immense cost. Yet clearly, in this snake's view, devouring Sasuke wouldn't incur a cost so great he couldn't bear it. As for Itachi, he didn't seem concerned about Sasuke. Even if he were, and sought revenge for Sasuke in the future, if Orochimaru couldn't win, he could simply hide. When it came to the art of survival, Orochimaru had never felt inferior to anyone.
As for Kagaya, he had already promised not to interfere in Sasuke's affairs.
Looking at it now, the only risk in devouring Sasuke was that in two or three years, this prey might become immensely powerful, even powerful enough to turn and devour Orochimaru.
But it didn't matter. In the end, this was merely a possibly venomous prey. A tiny risk like this wasn't enough to make a snake retreat!
Even if this prey carried lethal venom, the snake had to try swallowing it! Otherwise, how could it be satisfied?
Orochimaru's purple eye markings seemed even more eerie at this moment. He was a snake, after all. How could he fear poison?
After walking a distance, Orochimaru saw Kabuto waiting for him.
"Where is Sasuke now?"
Kabuto lowered his head slightly, speaking respectfully.
"Just now, Sasuke arrived."
Orochimaru paused for a moment, then a slight smile curved beneath his bandages.
"Take me to see him."
The snake was preparing to inspect the prey placed before its jaws.
'He must be a snake too.'
Orochimaru thought this. Since Sasuke had come to seek refuge with him, then surely he must be a snake. Only a snake would seek refuge with another snake.
And Orochimaru was the king snake. He licked his lips, preparing to devour this fellow serpent.
Only, in the future, would this serpent in Orochimaru's eyes suddenly unfurl its wings, soar high, and transform into a hawk?
After all, hawks... they eat snakes.
Several days later.
Kagaya and his companions came to visit Orochimaru.
As for why they waited several days, Kagaya explained it thusly:
"The reason I delayed for several days was to allow Sasuke to find Orochimaru, and also to give Orochimaru time to arrange things for Sasuke. This way, when I come to visit, as long as I mention it, Orochimaru will naturally make arrangements so that Sasuke and I don't meet. I don't want Orochimaru to know about me trapping Sasuke for those days. Although he might have guessed, or Sasuke might have even told him. But as long as this matter isn't brought into the open, Orochimaru will pretend not to know. Because my strength is right here. As long as Orochimaru isn't a fool, he won't possibly turn against me. There's no benefit in that. Of course, we still have to give Orochimaru some face. That's why I waited several days before coming—to avoid meeting Sasuke and to leave Orochimaru some dignity."
The above was Kagaya's explanation to Karin and Haku.
After a short while, Kabuto emerged from the Hidden Sound Village to escort Kagaya and the others inside.
In truth, Kagaya could have silently entered to meet with Orochimaru. But again, to avoid meeting Sasuke and to leave Orochimaru some face, Kagaya decided to notify Orochimaru from outside first. The subtext was: I'm here. Hurry up and get ready, send Sasuke away, let's all save some face.
A little later, Kagaya met Orochimaru. Orochimaru was smiling as usual, seeming very pleased to see Kagaya. But Kagaya understood perfectly well that the only reason Orochimaru could be so pleased was because of Kagaya's strength. If Kagaya were weak and had ruined Orochimaru's plans, Orochimaru would surely have made him experience what it felt like to be a tortured, living experiment.
It was precisely because of Kagaya's strength that even though Kagaya had ruined Orochimaru's plans, even though Orochimaru might be stomping his feet in private, wishing he could kill Kagaya, when he actually saw Kagaya, he still had to smile, pretend to know nothing, and welcome him.
Looking at Orochimaru's smiling face, which was no different from usual, Kagaya couldn't help but feel a strong urge to laugh. In the end, he indeed failed to hold back. He laughed.
"It's been a while, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru opened his mouth, a smile playing on his lips.
"Yes, it has been a long time, Kagaya-kun. I trust you have been well."
Kagaya nodded, putting on an act of knowing nothing.
"Quite well, quite well. I heard earlier that Sasuke came to seek refuge with you. So, did you... not change bodies?"
Upon hearing this, the curve of Orochimaru's smile dipped imperceptibly for a fraction of a second before immediately returning to normal.
"It seems there were some unexpected delays on the road. He arrived a little late. My previous body couldn't hold on any longer, so I had no choice but to perform the Living Corpse Reincarnation ahead of schedule with... a random individual."
Kagaya smiled inwardly. Sure enough, from that tiny change in Orochimaru's smile, Kagaya knew: Orochimaru had definitely learned from Sasuke about Kagaya obstructing him. But so what? As long as the light of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan did not dim for a single day, Orochimaru would not dare cause trouble for Kagaya for a single day.
Thus, Kagaya immediately feigned an expression of righteous indignation on Orochimaru's behalf.
"Ah, what a pity!"
Orochimaru's voice carried a hint of gritted teeth.
"Yes. What a pity indeed!"