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The air was thick with fog, obscuring the vision of most people. Even those accustomed to such weather would find today's conditions unnerving.
The mist was exceptionally dense—so much so that one could only make out the faint outline of another person from about a meter away.
Yet, Midorima found this fog extremely satisfying.
Truth be told, achieving this effect required the combined efforts of three factors.
First, the morning fog was already present naturally. Then, Midorima had amplified it further using the Hiding in Mist Technique. Lastly, a nearby river provided an ample water source, intensifying the mist even more.
Midorima had chosen to use the Hiding in Mist Technique for one simple reason: to escape Kakuzu's pursuit.
After parting ways with Tsunade, Midorima was acutely aware of his precarious situation. Without wasting time, he quickly packed his belongings and left the village.
Despite his haste, Kakuzu had still managed to track him down. Forced into a corner, Midorima had resorted to Lightning Rush to flee, then capitalized on the weather by casting the Hiding in Mist Technique.
Being hunted by a ruthless figure like Kakuzu demanded Midorima's full vigilance. Even during brief rests, he dared not sleep deeply, leaving his chakra reserves severely depleted. After using the Hiding in Mist Technique, exhaustion weighed heavily on him.
Once the technique ended, if he hadn't found a suitable hiding spot, it would only be a matter of time before Kakuzu caught up.
But in the world of shinobi, where could one truly be safe?
If I'd known this would happen, I should've just followed Tsunade to Konoha…
Sometimes, Midorima even entertained such thoughts. But he hadn't lost his senses—placing faith in Konoha's willingness to harbor a rogue ninja from Kirigakure was no better than expecting a warm welcome from the ANBU.
After much deliberation, he finally settled on a destination: Amegakure, the hidden village that served as the Akatsuki's base.
Of course, he wasn't foolish enough to waltz right in.
Thanks to Pain's Rain Technique, anyone touched by the village's rain would be detected. In the manga, Jiraiya had been discovered precisely because of this ability.
Midorima's plan was simply to lay low somewhere near Amegakure.
Surely no one would expect me to hide near Kirigakure, right?
Once he fully recovered, even if Kakuzu detected him, he'd still have a chance to escape.
Midorima followed the riverbank until he spotted a row of small boats. He approached the first one, glanced around, and, finding no one aboard, moved to the next.
After checking three boats, he finally found one with a boatman.
A figure in a straw hat was hunched over, cooking something on the vessel. Midorima's stomach growled—he was starving. Swallowing his saliva, he called out, "Boatman, I need to get to the other side. Are you going?"
"The other side? Sure. But in this damned weather, it'll cost extra." The boatman straightened up and turned around.
"As long as I can cross, that's fine." Midorima hopped onto the boat.
"Kid, let's go. Untie the rope."
Midorima assumed the boatman was speaking to him and started to rise, but then a child on the shore swiftly loosened the mooring rope, gave the boat a push, and leaped aboard.
The boatman picked up a long pole and pushed the boat away from the bank.
Midorima nervously glanced back, only relaxing once the boat was fully adrift.
No matter how skilled Kakuzu is, he wouldn't chase me in a boat, right?
"Want something to eat?" the boatman asked.
"Yes." Midorima rubbed his stomach, and the child handed him a chicken leg.
Midorima stared at the chicken leg, momentarily stunned.
Shouldn't people living by the river mainly eat fish?
Before he could dwell on it, a flash of white streaked toward him—a bone sword aimed straight at his throat.
Reacting purely on instinct, Midorima barely dodged the strike and, before the child could launch another attack, seized his wrist.
Green eyes, pale skin, two red dots on the forehead—though young, the boy's face was filled with murderous intent, as if he longed to drive his blade through Midorima's neck.
Kimimaro!? But his hair isn't white…
Ah, a disguise!?
Midorima quickly realized the black-haired child was indeed Kimimaro.
If he's here, then this boatman must be… Orochimaru?
Seriously? My luck couldn't be worse.
"Boatman…" Midorima tightened his grip on Kimimaro's wrist, his smile stiffening.
"Hmm?"
"Can I… go back to shore?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Kimimaro swung his leg in a sweeping kick toward Midorima's waist, only to be blocked by Midorima's raised knee.
"Enough. Keep fighting, and the boat will sink." The boatman set down the pole and removed his straw hat, revealing the face of an elderly man.
No matter what guise Orochimaru took, Midorima wouldn't be surprised.
"What's the meaning of this? Stopping the boat in the middle of the river isn't exactly ideal."
"On the contrary, this is the perfect place to talk—no eavesdroppers. I know you were once a Kirigakure ninja, skilled in water. But I advise against trying anything. You won't escape here."
Midorima stole a glance at the river. A massive shadow lurked beneath the boat—perhaps one of Orochimaru's giant snakes.
Clearly, Orochimaru had come prepared.
"We've never met before, have we?" Midorima said.
"No, but there's a first time for everything. Once we get acquainted, we'll know each other." Orochimaru chuckled.
Yeah, right.
In his mind, Midorima flipped Orochimaru off.
"You won't even show your real face or name. Where's the sincerity?" Midorima pressed.
"Just being cautious. Kimimaro, no more testing. If you fight seriously, this boat won't last." Orochimaru waved his hand, signaling Kimimaro to lower his weapon.
Midorima wholeheartedly agreed.
With Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku, this rickety boat wouldn't stand a chance.
Orochimaru peeled off the disguise, revealing his true appearance—long black hair, golden eyes, and pale skin, exuding an eerie aura that matched his infamous moniker, Snake Sannin.
"You just separated from Tsunade, didn't you? She and I were once teammates. I am Orochimaru."
"One of the Legendary Sannin?" Midorima sighed inwardly.
In just a few days, he'd encountered two of the three—but the one he truly wanted to meet was Jiraiya.
He could've exchanged ideas with Jiraiya about creative works—having read countless manga, anime, and novels in his past life, he knew Icha Icha Paradise was somewhat lacking in comparison.
In that regard, Jiraiya still had room for improvement.
Moreover, Jiraiya was a true all-rounder among shinobi—proficient in ninjutsu, senjutsu, sealing techniques, and taijutsu. His only weakness was genjutsu.
They could've traded knowledge, each gaining something valuable.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, was a different story. From his first appearance in the manga, he'd been obsessed with finding a vessel for reincarnation—only to be later killed by his chosen vessel, Sasuke.
His ambitions were… rather narrow.
Orochimaru studied the young man before him, puzzled.
This kid… Why do I feel like he's looking down on me?