The Hidden Sound Village is located within the Land of Rice Fields. To its north is the ocean, and to its south is the Land of Fire, the most powerful nation in the world.
Orochimaro built a Ninja Village right on Konoha's doorstep, and later even became an ally of Konoha. No one noticed anything unusual, which can only mean that the Yamanaka Clan, under Danzo's instruction, concealed this information.
The Land of Rice Fields, as its name suggests, is a country for farming. While not entirely flat, its terrain certainly isn't full of ravines and gullies.
News of Orochimaro's death and Danzo leading elites to attack the Hidden Sound Village spread quickly, with rumors flying everywhere.
Kidōmaru and Tayuya, despite appearing formidable, were actually only fourteen years old. They might be good at fighting fiercely, but they were incapable of stabilizing morale.
The two of them already had conflicts. When they were part of the Four Sound Ninja, they could restrain each other, but now that only two remained, neither would concede to the other.
By the time Yakushi Kabuto broke through Konoha's layers of blockade and returned to the Hidden Sound Village, their side was already in chaos.
A Ninja named Gen'yūmaru stepped forward to lead the Ninja Village. He had many clansmen, a sufficiently strong personality, and some ability. He quickly recruited enough people. If Yakushi Kabuto hadn't arrived in time, Gen'yūmaru, who had suddenly gained power, might have already desecrated Orochimaro's corpse.
Only Kidōmaru and Tayuya remained of the Sound Four. Including the critically ill Kimimaro and his friend Jugo, there were barely four people.
Gen'yūmaru used his clansmen as the backbone, occupying the Hidden Sound Village, preparing to contend with Danzo.
Yakushi Kabuto quietly entered the village, retrieved Orochimaro's corpse. Unwilling to stay and wait for death, he immediately took a few people and fled. He was the oldest and became the backbone, Kidōmaru and Tayuya continued as enforcers, Jugo carried the gravely ill Kimimaro, and also carried Orochimaro's corpse. The five quietly left the Hidden Sound Village.
With too few people and a hurried departure, many important documents and test subjects were lost. Including Yakushi Kabuto, everyone seemed a bit flustered. Orochimaro's death had too great an impact on them.
They couldn't worry about that now; they just had to run!
The five, like stray dogs, fled to Orochimaro's southern stronghold for temporary shelter.
All along the way, they held onto a certain hope.
Jugo's feelings for Orochimaro were lukewarm; it was due to Kimimaro's persuasion that he allowed Orochimaro to research his body. He had already decided that as soon as Kimimaro passed away, he would go to Orochimaro's northern prison, find the deepest cell, lock the door, and live out his remaining days.
He didn't care about Orochimaro's life or death.
The other four believed that Orochimaro was not dead, and that perhaps at some point, his corpse's mouth would open, and a brand new Orochimaro would shed his skin and be reborn.
But hope often fails to become reality. They waited for over ten days, Orochimaro's corpse was almost rotting, yet there was no sign of him awakening.
Yakushi Kabuto tried every method, but he didn't know how to save Orochimaro. He was too far from the battlefield, and the Dead Demon Consuming Seal happened too quickly. He didn't even know what had happened to Orochimaro.
"Wake up Lord Orochimaro, or I'll kill you!" Kimimaro, ignoring his severe illness, had a bone spike emerge from his wrist, pressing against Yakushi Kabuto's throat. If he uttered a single 'no', Kimimaro would surely stab him.
Yakushi Kabuto was five or six years older than him, but Kimimaro wasn't afraid of this somewhat gloomy doctor at all. Within ten steps, no one could stop him! At least, that's what he thought.
Yakushi Kabuto extended two fingers and calmly pushed away his bone spike.
In reality, he was also very confused at the moment.
He had found the meaning of his existence through Orochimaro, but now that his spiritual mentor was gone, what should he do? What was the meaning of his existence now?
The reason Yakushi Kabuto hadn't gone mad yet was because Kimimaro was even crazier than him. Many times, Yakushi Kabuto could derive a certain satisfaction from him, thinking, "I'm unlucky, but this guy is even unluckier."
But looking at Orochimaro's lifeless corpse at this moment, he still couldn't quite bear it and could only force himself to think.
The Dead Demon Consuming Seal was a top-secret Ninjutsu in Konoha Village. The Shinigami came and went without a trace. He simply didn't know the complications that arose during the process. No matter how high his intelligence, he couldn't figure out the reason behind it.
He gestured for Kimimaro to step aside: "Let me look at your Curse Mark of Earth. Use the second state of the Curse Mark."
Kimimaro, who was nearly at his last breath and suffering from his bloodline illness, immediately activated the Chakra in his body and entered the second state of the Curse Mark without a word.
Ten minutes later, Kabuto shook his head. Both the Heavenly Cursed Seal and the Curse Mark of Earth contained Orochimaro's Chakra, or rather, Orochimaro's will. This was also a major reason why Kimimaro often said, "Lord Orochimaro and I are one."
The foundation of the Curse Mark was Sage Art, there was no doubt about that, but the technique that allowed Orochimaro to imprint his personal mark onto the Curse Mark was a high-level Clone Technique.
The Shadow Clone Technique had the ability to replicate one's consciousness. Shadow Clones could think and make judgments based on the original body's situation. Orochimaro had gone even further and more bizarrely down the path of Shadow Clones.
Theoretically, with enough life energy, the consciousness of the clone within the Curse Mark could be drawn out, allowing Orochimaro to be reborn in the form of a replica.
But how to do it? Kabuto truly had no clue at the moment.
"Perhaps we could try Lord Orochimaro's Edo Tensei?" The Female Ninja, Tayuya, who specialized in Genjutsu, whispered.
Before she even finished speaking, Kimimaro, like a madman, thrust his bone blade straight at her: "Lord Orochimaro is not dead!"
Seeing his strong killing intent, Jugo, who was nearby, punched, deflecting his bone blade.
"Calm down!" Jugo pulled him back, speaking in a low voice.
Yakushi Kabuto did not participate in their quarrel. Instead, he focused his thoughts, saying nothing, sitting still in his original spot, thinking for an entire night.
He felt that Edo Tensei might be a solution, but he didn't know that Ninjutsu. Orochimaro was already dead, so it was even more impossible for him to jump out and teach him.
Even if Orochimaro was brought back with Edo Tensei, what then? Revive him with the Sages Eye? Or use some other forbidden Ninjutsu?
Yakushi Kabuto couldn't help but think of his "Vice President" Miss, secretly rejoicing that this connection hadn't been severed. He could still go back and try to persuade her, ideally to get his hands on the Edo Tensei learning scroll.
At that time, he would revive Orochimaro, and then revive his adoptive mother... Not yet the insane Kabuto of the future, he still primarily used a spy's way of thinking.
Yakushi Kabuto's conviction instantly solidified. He was only afraid of having no direction, but with a general direction, things would be much easier.
He looked at Kimimaro: "Whether you admit it or not, Lord Orochimaro is indeed dead. I need to return to Konoha Village to search for Edo Tensei information, and while I'm at it, check on the bearer of the Heavenly Cursed Seal. You all should temporarily stay here."
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