"Unknown young lady, if you are willing to slay Orochimaru, our Konoha Village is willing to become your eternal ally!"
Bah, I'm from Konoha myself. Why would I need that? The old man just loves making empty promises.
"Empty talk, trashy and useless. Your turn, Orochimaru. I hope you can give me something useful."
"I can give you the Ninjutsu for immortality, plus the Edo Tensei, the ultimate Ninjutsu that can revive the dead!"
Orochimaru was relatively pragmatic. The two Ninjutsu he offered were indeed the best things he could provide. Unfortunately, Kano didn't care for Orochimaru's snake-skin reincarnation, and she already knew Edo Tensei herself—it had just been used as fusion material and was currently unusable.
"Your offer is decent, but I'm not interested in either of those techniques. In my opinion, they're not even as good as that kusanagi sword."
"But that's a Ninjutsu for immortality!"
Orochimaru was a bit angry. The Ninjutsu he researched couldn't even compare to the kusanagi sword? This little girl really didn't know her stuff!
"Living Corpse Reincarnation damages the soul. Additionally, it requires a highly compatible living vessel, who can't be too strong or too weak, and there's rejection. With so many flaws, I naturally don't care for it.
Furthermore, I also know Edo Tensei. I disdain to use such a technique."
In reality, she just couldn't use it anymore.
Orochimaru was shocked to hear this. How did his own Ninjutsu leak? And there were flaws even he didn't know about.
"I master many more Ninjutsu. If you kill Orochimaru, I am willing to hand over all my Ninjutsu to you!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi could also tell that this young lady was here to take advantage of the situation, but he had no choice. He didn't have the strength to take down another person, so he could only comply with her demands.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, you still won't give up your habit of making empty promises. Have you been in a high position for so long that you think everyone else is a fool?
Orochimaru giving me Ninjutsu means he can survive if he wins. What use is trading Ninjutsu with you? Even if you win, you'll die from the side effects of the Reaper Death Seal.
If you continue like this, I will help Orochimaru kill you."
"Then what do you need? Anything I can give! My crystal ball, weapons, money..."
Hiruzen shook out everything he had on him.
She didn't expect there to be something as good as a crystal ball. Kano silently accepted the specialized peeping crystal ball, while continuing to act dissatisfied.
"This crystal ball is decent. Throw in your Telescope Technique as well. Also, a reminder: if you don't have physical items, give me intelligence. Tell me some information I don't know, and I'll evaluate its value."
Hiruzen gave her the Telescope Technique and the crystal ball, thinking about what important information he could provide that wouldn't endanger Konoha.
"What kind of intelligence do you want?"
"For example, the locations, passwords, and secret codes of various hidden places in Konoha Village..."
"I know those!"
Before Kano could finish, Orochimaru started blurting out answers, revealing the locations of various laboratories from his past cooperation with Danzo, as well as the locations of Root and Anbu, their secrets, and their contact codes.
"Hmm, very good. I've decided to help Orochimaru!"
"Wait! I also know the locations of many secret documents. These are things only the Hokage knows!"
"Oh? Are you referring to documents like the 'Sengoku Sealing Scroll'?"
"What?! You even know about that!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt like crying. Why was everything Orochimaru said useful, while the other party didn't care about anything he said?
"Let's hear it. I'm actually quite interested in that."
Seeing Kano's interest, he finally spoke. Although leaking this intelligence might endanger Konoha in the future, if Orochimaru were allowed to survive, Konoha would be finished today!
Kano was actually quite interested in this scroll. As for Uchiha Hikari, she didn't feel much; such sacrifices were too common in the Ninja world. Though she did like the stories of Boruto and Hikari.
She didn't care about the other sealed individuals. She'd drag them out one by one to kill them and extract their shadows. She might even get several Sharingan.
Others only cared about Uchiha Hikari, but Kano was different; Kano was just that universal in her love.
"This is good, worth quite a bit. I've decided not to intervene."
"Wait, I have more! As long as I live, I'll work for you! I have many laboratories and many experimental subjects! I can give you whatever you want!"
Orochimaru continued to struggle. He didn't understand why this person was so blind to the value of his offers; clearly, what he offered was worth far more than the Third Hokage's intelligence!
"I don't really need that right now. I'll contact you if I do. However, I do need one of your subordinates."
"Who? Anyone can be given to you!"
"That Tayuya over there. I need to use her for a while. I'll return her when I'm done."
"Fine, use her as you wish. You don't even have to return her!"
Tayuya also heard Orochimaru's words, but she wouldn't resist him. Even if Orochimaru told her to die, she wouldn't hesitate.
"Then it's settled. I'll help Orochimaru after all."
The Third Hokage saw he had nothing left to offer and couldn't outbid Orochimaru. He decided to act decisively and take as much as he could!
"Orochimaru, I may not be able to kill you, but I will take your hands! I will take all your Ninjutsu! This is your punishment!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi lost his vitality and closed his eyes. Orochimaru, meanwhile, felt the pain of his hands gradually losing sensation, and his resentment and anger erupted.
"You bastard! Even in death, you won't rest! Give me back my hands!"
Kano finished extracting the Third's shadow; her goal was achieved. As for Orochimaru, she never intended to help him; she was just there to take advantage.
Besides gathering intelligence, getting Tayuya's music-based Genjutsu was also part of Kano's plan. Originally, Kano planned to fight in place of her brother when retrieving Sasuke, so she could face Tayuya and copy her melodies.
Now it was even better; she could just trick her into giving the melodies to copy and learn the usage of her Chakra as well.
That way, when Naruto and the others went after Sasuke, she could rest easy, just like Sakura waiting at home.
"My hands feel like they're burning... The operation is over. The barrier is no longer needed. We're heading back."
"Yes! Release!"
The Sound Four released the barrier and came to Orochimaru's side.
"Tayuya, follow her."
"Yes."
Kano also retreated with Orochimaru. Kidōmaru spat spider silk to cover the rear and block the pursuing Anbu. It wasn't until they left Konoha Village that Kano separated from Orochimaru and went to a hidden corner alone.
"What on earth do you need me to do! Speak up, so I can finish and return to Lord Orochimaru's side."
Tayuya was very impatient. Kano also wanted to finish the questioning quickly, but seeing Tayuya, she suddenly thought of something.
"Are you from the Uzumaki Clan?"
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