Mist rolled like a blanket across the marshy terrain as Mei, Kakashi, and Chojuro traveled through the outer borders of the Land of Water.
The morning sun was hidden behind a veil of gray clouds, and each footstep squelched faintly on the moist earth. Birds chirped distantly, but a certain stillness had crept into the air, an unnatural quiet.
Kakashi kept his expression calm, walking steadily ahead. But his mind was elsewhere.
'He'll show up soon,' Kakashi thought.
The fake Orochimaru clone, the one he'd created and planted with the help of the real Orochimaru's broken soul.
Kakashi had shared this with Mei the night before they left the hot spring inn. She'd listened quietly, eyes sharp, and agreed to play along.
Now, Kakashi could feel the presence in the shadows. Not just any chakra, that chakra. Twisted, old, and sly.
Black Zetsu and… White too. They're watching. And that's what he wanted.
He didn't let it show on his face. Instead, he glanced at Mei from the corner of his eye. She gave the slightest nod, her expression cool as ever.
Chojuro, however, was oblivious, his eyes scanning for any normal threats, unaware they were being tailed by the most dangerous parasite in shinobi history.
Kakashi's thoughts wandered back to his plan, how it all started during one of their raids on Orochimaru's old labs.
He'd sensed something strange back then, a flicker of something too cautious to be one of Orochimaru's failed works. He had later realized it was Black Zetsu, watching, lurking, measuring his options.
With Kabuto gone and Obito being unpredictable, Zetsu needed a new pawn, someone who could resurrect Madara if the Eye of the Moon plan went off course. Orochimaru's knowledge, especially regarding Edo Tensei, was the key.
And Kakashi had given him the perfect vessel: the clone with Orochimaru's memories and voice, but lacking his full power, and implanted with subtle loyalty seals to prevent true rebellion.
The trap was ready. All they needed now was the actor.
Sure enough, not long after they crossed a small stone bridge over a narrow stream, a familiar figure stepped from behind a crooked tree.
Tall. Pale. Black robes embroidered with serpent patterns. Spectacles shining.
"Orochimaru…" Chojuro tensed beside them.
The clone's noble features smiled faintly as he looked at them. His eyes, however, glinted with amusement, and recognition.
Kakashi narrowed his gaze, stepping forward. Time to start the show.
"You betrayed me," Kakashi said in a cold and sharp tone.
Mei raised her brows slightly, glancing between them, playing her part without hesitation.
The clone gave a slight bow, his expression twisting into a subtle smirk. "Ah, Kakashi-san. You should take pride, you created me. But you're still too soft. Rules, morals… even when you held the First Hokage's body, you refused to let me experiment."
The venom in his tone was perfectly artificial.
Black Zetsu, hiding within a tree's roots nearby, practically purred with excitement.
'Yes… he has the memories. He knows of Edo Tensei. But his chakra… It's weak. This clone doesn't have Orochimaru's full power. Perfect. I can control him.'
Kakashi's eyes narrowed further. He stepped closer, raising his hand slowly.
"You should've stayed in your lab."
With that, Kakashi struck. Lightning flickered across his hand and slammed into the clone's side, sending him crashing through the mud and into a broken stump. The clone groaned, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
'Too violent!' the clone whined internally. 'Kakashi-sama didn't we say no full force!'
Another kick followed, then a short but intense barrage of punches, each one staged to look lethal but landing with just the right amount of restraint. Kakashi's face twisted with fury, perfectly controlled acting, down to the vein bulge on his temple.
"Do you think I let you live to betray me like this?" Kakashi growled, hurling the clone across the field.
"You… fool… I'm beyond your leash now…" The clone coughed, smearing blood across his lips.
In the shadows, Black Zetsu was convinced. Good. This Orochimaru is separate from Kakashi's control. And weak. But with his knowledge… he'll be enough. If Obito fails, I still have a path to Madara.
Then, right on cue, it happened.
Roots burst from the earth in a writhing surge, snaking around the battered clone protectively.
"That's!" Chojuro gasped.
Kakashi pretended to jump back, wide-eyed and "shocked." "Wood Release?!"
The clone looked up, pretending to be surprised himself, but quickly realized the cue.
The roots surged high, forming a protective dome, and within seconds, the battered clone was pulled into the earth and vanished with a blur of dark motion.
Black Zetsu was gone, along with his prize.
Kakashi stood still, letting the silence settle again. His breathing steadied, and he let the stiffness in his shoulders relax.
"Did it work?" Mei asked as she stepped beside him, brushing a speck of mud off her robe.
"He took the bait. Now he thinks he has Orochimaru's legacy in his grasp." Kakashi nodded faintly.
"Is… is that the legendary Wood Release?" Chojuro, who was still pale and a little shocked, finally spoke.
Kakashi shook his head slowly. "No. It's likely just a method to manipulate plants. Not real Wood Release."
"Ah… I see. That makes sense. It looked too weak to be a real legendary wood release." Chojuro blinked, then gave a small nod.
"Exactly." Kakashi gave him a small smile.
"You really are a natural liar, Kakashi." Mei chuckled softly, covering her lips with the back of her hand.
"I prefer the term 'planner.'"
The three of them resumed walking, moving steadily deeper into the Land of Water. Kakashi kept his senses alert, but he knew Black Zetsu wouldn't be back so soon.
Now that he had what he wanted, he'd scurry into the depths like the parasite he was, finding a place to hide and prepare for the next stage.
And that's exactly what Kakashi wanted.
The further they walked, the lighter the air felt. The threat had passed, for now. And even though Kakashi knew it was only the beginning of a much larger deception, a small smirk still tugged at the corner of his lips.
Next to him, Mei's gaze lingered on his face for a long moment. "So… you gave him the keys to a fake vault."
"He thinks it's real."
"And if he revives Madara?"
"Of course, we are not doing that." Kakashi's eyes darkened, but his voice stayed calm.
"Wait… so are we fighting Orochimaru now or not?" Chojuro looked between them, still lost.
Both Kakashi and Mei laughed.
"No," Kakashi said. "We're fighting someone else."
They continued on, the mist curling around their legs as they followed the winding road toward Kirigakure.