The news of company traitors appearing within the clan exploded like a thunderclap in the minds of all Chinoike Clan members. They spontaneously gathered, not to seek justice for the three, but to force them to explain clearly!
For what purpose, and under whose instigation, did they use the Ketsuryugan to steal the company's formula?
They had finally left that hellish place, Hell Valley, and settled down in the Land of Waves; they didn't want to be implicated by those three traitors.
At this moment, if you were to ask who in the Land of Waves most wanted those three to die, it would undoubtedly be the Chinoike Clan.
"Mr. Aokawa, have they confessed yet?"
Bafu, the patriarch of the Chinoike Clan, saw Aokawa, whose expression was somewhat gloomy.
"Patriarch Bafu, the appearance of traitors in the Chinoike Clan—I understand that this shouldn't blame the entire Chinoike Clan, but I truly don't have the mood right now, please forgive my rudeness."
Aokawa controlled his emotions, trying not to be so irritable, but it was genuinely difficult for him to give Bafu a pleasant look.
Such an incident occurring in the Company under his management was his dereliction of duty; how was he to explain this to Lord Orochimaru?
He felt unworthy of Lord Orochimaru's trust!
"They have already confessed."
Kakuzu pushed open the door to the President's office, the paper in his hand stained with blood.
"They made contact with a merchant from the Land of Water, and under the merchant's instigation, decided to steal the Company's formula, which was the Healing Pill formula."
Kakuzu said, placing the paper on the table, and took out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his hands; it was clear the blood belonged to those three members of the Chinoike Clan.
"What happened to them?"
Aokawa picked up the paper, looking at the bloodstains, and asked.
"I didn't kill them; it would be very troublesome if they died. I've already sent people to apprehend that merchant from the Land of Water."
Before Kakuzu finished speaking, smoke condensed into two figures.
"Mr. Kakuzu, unfortunately, by the time we arrived, that merchant from the Land of Water was already dead, found in his hotel room, killed by the Hidden Mist's Silent Killing Technique."
"That's the Hidden Mist's style. People specifically responsible for intelligence secrecy killed a merchant who might leak information about the Village. It seems that merchant from the Land of Water was working for the Hidden Mist."
Kakuzu was not surprised by the death of the merchant from the Land of Water, just a little annoyed that he couldn't directly catch the Hidden Mist red-handed, thus unable to question the Hidden Mist on that basis.
Kakuzu looked at Bafu and asked, "Patriarch Bafu, those three people are useless now. How do you want to deal with them?"
"They are no longer members of the Chinoike Clan; how you deal with them is up to you."
Bafu didn't want to admit they were part of the Chinoike Clan. The Company could deal with them however it wished, even if it meant using them for experiments.
Laboratory
As Orochimaru arrived at the Laboratory, she saw Imu approaching with a serious expression.
"Is something wrong?"
"Lord Orochimaru, intelligence from the Company indicates that traitors have appeared in the Chinoike Clan."
Imu handed over the scroll she held.
"Traitors, huh..."
Orochimaru opened the scroll, reading its contents, her expression unchanged.
It seemed that having Chigusa keep an eye on the Chinoike Clan was the correct choice; people from the Chinoike Clan were similar to the Uchiha Clan, prone to problematic individuals.
Isn't this it?
The Company had shown them kindness, yet they acted as if the Company owed them, stealing formulas with such self-righteousness.
Why didn't Kakuzu kill them?
Orochimaru was a little puzzled; with Kakuzu's temper, those three should have died countless times already.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Orochimaru formed hand seals, and with a 'bang,' Shadow Clones responsible for various research projects appeared beside her. She herself had no time for experiments today; she had to go to the Land of Waves.
"I'll leave it to you."
Orochimaru said to her Shadow Clones.
"Just leave the research to us."
"Don't waste time."
"Aren't you supposed to go to the Land of Waves? Hurry up and go!"
The Shadow Clones couldn't wait for Orochimaru to leave; her presence only wasted their time.
"..."
Orochimaru looked at these Shadow Clones speechlessly. Was her personality really that bad?
"Mio, let's go. Pack up and head to the Land of Waves."
Orochimaru walked over to Hyuga Mio's side, and before her hand could reach her shoulder, Mio raised her hand and grasped it.
"Eh?"
Orochimaru was slightly stunned, then used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return home.
"Orochimaru, Mio-neechan, weren't you going to the Laboratory?"
Uchiha Hikari, sitting on the sofa holding a scroll, looked in surprise at Orochimaru and Hyuga Mio who had appeared in the living room.
"Hikari, we need to go to the Land of Waves."
"The Land of Waves... Can I come too?"
Uchiha Hikari put down the scroll. Although she didn't know where the Land of Waves was, she wanted to go with Orochimaru and see.
"Alright."
Orochimaru didn't refuse Uchiha Hikari.
"Then I'll go get ready!"
Uchiha Hikari rushed to her room, quickly took off her casual clothes, changed into white shorts, a loose yellow turtleneck, put on black Ninja shoes, picked up the fluffy toy snake wallet from the table, and sealed it in her sleeve.
This will do!
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