"Why can't we take it?" Yakushi Kabuto asked.
Orochimaru's memory disk was right in front of them. As long as they took it, it would be the same as obtaining the key to truly reviving Orochimaru.
After everything they had gone through to reach here, just one step away, yet White Snake Sage No. 2 asked them to stop right at the edge.
That was just too strange.
"This is the machine room."
No. 2's pair of crimson snake eyes stared at the data cables connected to the memory disk and explained, "Orochimaru's disk exists in the form of a database. Once we take it, this whole database will become 'empty,' which will trigger the central computer's alarm."
Hidan froze.
"Aren't you a thousand-year-old hag? You even understand this?"
No. 2 glanced at Hidan, "The path I walk is the 'present.' Naturally, I understand the changes of this era."
What to do?
Fight… was definitely impossible.
The research institute had nearly a hundred Jue extermination troops guarding it, plus Sasuke and that brat Sakura. If they could snatch Orochimaru's ninjutsu disk as well, maybe there'd still be a chance.
Kabuto and Hidan both hit a wall. Obviously the goal was right in front of them, yet they couldn't reach out and take it, that feeling was just awful.
Just as Hidan was about to say, "Why don't we just grab it and try to force our way through," the No. 2 coiled around Kabuto's neck said coldly, "I've thought of a way."
"What way?" Kabuto asked.
"Put me in. Use my brain to replace Orochimaru's memory disk."
Everyone fell silent.
That truly was the optimal plan. White Snake Sage · No. 2 had inherited all of the main body's memories, and in Kabuto's hands had obtained Orochimaru's research results.
With the amount of information in its brain, it was enough to pass for the real thing. Even… this counterfeit could provide more information and research intel than Orochimaru himself.
And as a being that specialized in manipulating memories, able to store memories inside golden eggs, the White Snake Sage using its own brain as a hard drive for the data cables to read was not difficult at all.
But this meant, whether the plan succeeded or failed, No. 2 would remain in the institute.
It chose to use its own death to buy them a sliver of victory.
Originally, according to the agreement, once they got the disk and returned, No. 2 would devour No. 1. But now, it seemed,
It could only break its promise.
Kabuto and No. 1 both looked heavy-faced.
Hidan, however, looked gratified.
"Don't make that expression, like we've turned into righteous heroes. Besides, I'm only a clone of the White Snake Sage. As long as one snake still lives, I don't count as dead."
No. 2 extended its snake tail.
"All for the 'Evil God White Snake'!"
Kabuto controlled Orochimaru's hand to reach out. Hidan had no hands, so he could only stretch out his tongue.
One hand, one tongue, one snake tail overlapped together.
"Evil God White Snake!"
The three shouted in unison.
After speaking, No. 2 hesitated for half a second and asked again, "You really don't want to change the name?"
Though this name covered the Evil God, Orochimaru, and White Snake Sage, symbolizing each of their identities, still… it sounded awful.
This was its last little wish before death.
But no one responded.
No. 2 shook its head, poured all the senjutsu chakra it had cultivated during this time into Orochimaru's body. Without its control, this senjutsu chakra would disperse in at most ten minutes.
Still, better than nothing.
Then it crawled out from Orochimaru's spine, pulled out the cables, and one by one plugged them into itself. Countless data instantly danced in its snake eyes, current coursed through its body, making No. 2 tremble slightly.
No. 2's tail wrapped Orochimaru's disk, and with its final strength flung it over, giving the others a faint nod, "My journey ends here. The rest I leave to you."
Kabuto caught the disk, his expression solemn, and turned away.
"Leave it to us!"
———
They had obtained the memory disk, but at the cost of losing a teammate. Their expressions were much graver than before.
Next target was to take Hidan's body. In Hidan's perception, Samui and the other two had already left the Hidan research room. It was the perfect moment to act.
On the way, they avoided many researchers, and just as they were about to reach their destination, turning a corner, Samui, Sasuke, and Sakura walked right toward them.
"Shit!"
Kabuto exclaimed.
White Snake Sage No. 1 grabbed Kabuto's collar and shouted, "Quick! Find somewhere to hide!"
Their disguise could fool the rest of the institute, but absolutely not Sasuke and Sakura, who had mastered Ripple Qigong.
These two had been the earliest to train Ripple under Ryosuke, their perception of life energy fluctuations was extremely sharp. If they met face-to-face, they'd definitely be exposed.
No! Not even a face-to-face!
Sasuke, who was walking along with a laugh, suddenly frowned slightly, raised his hand, and released a strand of Ripple.
"This kid has sensed it," Hidan said.
"Don't rush me! I'm thinking!"
Kabuto yanked down No. 1's hand that was grabbing his collar, and manipulated Orochimaru to inconspicuously retreat backward. He glanced at the escape map hanging on the wall.
"Warehouse."
Kabuto pushed up his glasses, forcing himself to stay calm, and said, "We'll hide in the warehouse area."
The institute had huge amounts of materials delivered daily. The warehouse would surely be full of stuff, enough for them to hide inside for a while.
They retreated all the way back, opened a heavy gate, and slipped in.
The warehouse area was pitch black, seemingly with no lights on. They groped around inside and found a large box big enough to fit two or three people.
White Snake Sage No. 1 said, "Hide inside, transform into snakes, and then enter hibernation mode. That should let us escape that kid's Ripple detection."
"Alright."
Kabuto picked up a crowbar from the tool wall, pried open the edge of the box, and was just about to step in when,
A pair of ghostly blue eyes, half the size of a person, slowly opened right beside him.
The pupils first dilated, then instantly adapted to the darkness of the warehouse, contracting into vertical slits, staring straight at Orochimaru who was about to climb into the box.
The instant their eyes met, Kabuto's hairs all stood on end. Instinctively, he was about to make Orochimaru attack, but No. 1 suddenly stopped him.
"Don't attack yet. It's Aoda, one of my former subordinates."
"So what if it's a subordinate?"
Hidan said, "At this critical moment, even if it was your dad, if it needs hitting then we hit!"
No. 1 leapt up and smacked Hidan in the mouth, "If we fight here, no matter win or lose, we'll definitely draw attention from the outside. Aoda's just a coward. Just threaten him a bit and he'll obediently help us."
Kabuto nodded, thinking that made sense.
Otherwise, if not a coward, how could a mighty 'Great Snake' who had cultivated into form be willing to stay here and guard a warehouse?
"Aoda, I am carrying out a mission with the White Snake Sage. I need your help right now, "
Before he finished speaking, Aoda opened its mouth.
"Ha..."
A wave of rice ball and sake smell wafted out.
Aoda slowly straightened its body, cold gaze looking down at Orochimaru, "Before, in Ryūchi Cave, you called me Aoda, I didn't mind. But here, what do you call me?"
Kabuto, "..."
He looked back at White Snake Sage No. 1.
'The hell, this is the coward you were talking about?'
Aoda slammed its tail on the ground, cast Reverse Summoning Technique, and with a bang, Sasuke appeared.
It shielded Sasuke in front of itself, shrank its whole body behind Sasuke, pointed its tail at Kabuto, "Lord Sasuke, it's Orochimaru who came to steal something!"
Kabuto was so angry he wanted to die. In the end, they were still discovered. If he had known earlier, he should've left immediately after taking Orochimaru's disk, not gotten greedy.
Beep! Beep!
Alarm bells rang overhead. Soon, hordes of Jue extermination troops would rush in.
Kabuto took a deep breath, his gaze gradually firming.
He manipulated Orochimaru to clench his fists tight, taking a stance, "For No. 2. For Lord Orochimaru."
"Within one minute, finish Sasuke and leave the institute."
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