"Why can't we take it?" Yakushi Kabuto asked.
Orochimaru's memory disc was right there. As soon as they got it, they would have the key to truly reviving Orochimaru. They had come so far, and were just one step away, yet White Snake Sage-Number Two was telling them to stop.
It seemed really strange.
"This is the server room."
Number Two stared at the fiber optic cable connected to the memory disc with its pair of scarlet snake eyes. It explained,
"Orochimaru's disc exists as a database. Once we take it, that part of the database will become 'empty,' which will trigger an alarm from the central computer."
Hidan was stunned.
"Weren't you an old woman who'd lived for a thousand years? You understand this stuff?"
Number Two shot Hidan a glare. "The path I follow is 'the present,' so of course I understand the changes of this era."
What should they do?
Fighting was definitely not an option.
The research institute was guarded by nearly a hundred extermination soldiers, plus those two brats, Sasuke and Little Momo. If they could also retrieve Orochimaru's Ninjutsu disc at the same time, there might be a chance.
Yakushi Kabuto and Hidan were both troubled. Not being able to take the target that was right in front of them felt awful.
Just as Hidan was about to say, "How about we just take it and force our way out?" Number Two, coiled around his neck, said coldly, "I've thought of a way."
"What way?" Kabuto asked.
"Let me go there, use my brain to replace Orochimaru's memory disc."
Everyone fell silent.
This was indeed the optimal plan. White Snake Sage-Number Two had inherited all of its本体's memories and had also obtained Orochimaru's research results from Yakushi Kabuto.
With the amount of information in its brain, it was enough to pass as the real thing. Moreover... as a fake, it could provide information and research intelligence even greater than Orochimaru.
And White Snake Sage, who was already skilled at manipulating memories and could store them in golden eggs, would find it no difficult task to use its brain as a hard drive for the cable to read.
But this meant that whether the plan succeeded or not, Number Two would remain in the research institute.
It had chosen to sacrifice itself to give them a sliver of a chance at victory.
Originally, according to their agreement, they would take the disc and Number Two would devour Number One upon their return. Now, it seemed.
It could only break its promise.
Yakushi Kabuto and Number One looked grave.
Hidan's face showed relief.
"Don't make that face, as if we've become righteous figures. Besides, I'm just one of White Snake Sage's copies. As long as there's still one snake alive, I'm not dead."
Number Two extended its snake tail.
"Everything for the 'Great Evil God White Snake'!"
Yakushi Kabuto manipulated Orochimaru to extend a hand, while Hidan, lacking hands, could only extend his tongue.
A hand, a tongue, and a snake tail overlapped.
"Great Evil God White Snake!"
The three said in unison.
Afterward, Number Two hesitated for half a second and asked again, "You really aren't going to consider changing the name?"
Although the name simultaneously encompassed the Evil God, Orochimaru, and White Snake Sage, symbolizing their respective identities, it was just too unpleasant.
This was Number Two's only dying wish.
But no one paid attention.
Number Two shook its head and injected all the Senjutsu Chakra it had cultivated during this time into Orochimaru's body. Without its manipulation, this Senjutsu Chakra would dissipate in at most ten to twenty minutes.
However, it was better than nothing.
Then, it crawled out of Orochimaru's spine, pulled out the fiber optic cable, and plugged it into itself one by one. Countless streams of data lit up in its snake eyes, and electricity coursed through its body, causing Number Two to tremble slightly.
Number Two coiled its tail around Orochimaru's disc and, with its last bit of strength, flung it over. It nodded slightly at everyone and said, "My journey ends here. The rest is up to you."
Yakushi Kabuto took the disc, his expression solemn, and turned to leave.
"Leave it to us!"
...
They had obtained the memory disc, but the price was losing a teammate. Their expressions were much more somber than before.
The next goal was to retrieve Hidan's body. According to Hidan's perception, the Samui trio had already left Hidan's research room, making it the perfect time for them to act.
They bypassed numerous researchers along the way. As they were about to reach their destination, they rounded a corner and came face-to-face with Samui, Sasuke, and Little Momo.
"Damn it!"
Yakushi Kabuto exclaimed.
White Snake Sage-Number One grabbed Yakushi Kabuto's collar and shouted, "Quick! Quick, find a place to hide!"
Their disguises could fool others in the research institute, but they absolutely couldn't fool Sasuke and Little Momo, who were skilled in Hamon.
These two had followed Linto in practicing Hamon from the beginning and had extremely sensitive perception of life fluctuations. If they encountered them, they would definitely be discovered.
No! Not just encounter!
Sasuke, who was walking over while chatting and laughing, frowned slightly and raised his hand, releasing a wisp of Hamon.
"That kid sensed us," Hidan said.
"Don't rush me! I'm thinking of a way!"
Yakushi Kabuto pulled away Number One, who was grabbing his collar, and manipulated Orochimaru, subtly stepping back. He glanced at the escape map hanging on the wall.
"The warehouse."
Yakushi Kabuto pushed up his glasses and, trying his best to remain calm, said, "Let's hide in the warehouse district."
The research institute received a large amount of materials daily. The warehouse was probably filled with things, enough for them to hide for a while.
They retreated, opened a heavy door, and slipped inside.
The warehouse district was dark, as if the lights were not turned on. They fumbled their way forward and found a large box that could fit two or three people.
White Snake Sage-Number One said, "Hide inside, transform into a snake, and then go into hibernation mode. We should be able to evade that kid's Hamon detection."
"Okay."
Yakushi Kabuto picked up a crowbar from the tool wall, pried open a corner of the box, and was about to step in.
A pair of deep blue, half-person tall eyes slowly opened beside him.
The pupils first dilated, then quickly adjusted to the darkness of the warehouse, shrinking into a vertical slit, gazing at Orochimaru, who was about to crawl into the box.
The moment their eyes met, Yakushi Kabuto's hair stood on end. He instinctively prepared to have Orochimaru attack, but Number One stopped him abruptly.
"Don't attack yet. It's the Blue Snake, my former subordinate."
"What does it matter if it's your subordinate?"
Hidan said, "At this critical juncture, even if it were your father, we'd still have to fight!"
Number One jumped up and slapped Hidan. "Fighting here, win or lose, will inevitably alert people outside.
The Blue Snake is a total coward. Just a little threat, and it'll obediently help."
Yakushi Kabuto nodded, thinking it made sense.
If it weren't a coward, how could a fully formed "Great Snake" willingly watch over a warehouse?
"Little Blue, I'm on a mission with White Snake Sage, and now I need your help—"
Before he could finish, the Blue Snake opened its mouth.
"Haa—"
A smell of rice balls mixed with sake wafted out.
The Blue Snake slowly straightened up, its icy gaze looking down at Orochimaru. "Back then, in Ryuuchi Cave, you called me Little Blue, and I didn't hold it against you."
It released a powerful aura and said coldly,
"Here, what do you call me?"
Yakushi Kabuto: "..."
He looked back at White Snake Sage-Number One.
Is this the coward you were talking about?
The Blue Snake slammed the ground with its tail and performed an Inverse Summoning Technique. With a bang, Sasuke appeared.
It shielded Sasuke in front of it, its entire body shrinking behind Sasuke, and pointed its tail at Yakushi Kabuto.
"Young Master Sasuke, Orochimaru has come to steal things!"
Yakushi Kabuto was so angry he wanted to die. In the end, they had still been discovered. If he had known this, he should have retreated immediately after getting Orochimaru's disc, and not been greedy.
Beep—Beep—
An alarm sounded overhead. Soon, a large number of extermination soldiers would arrive.
Yakushi Kabuto took a deep breath, his eyes gradually becoming resolute.
He controlled Orochimaru to clench its fist tightly and adopted a stance:
"For Number Two, for Orochimaru-sama."
"Within one minute, deal with Sasuke and leave the research institute."