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"I've already ordered Kabuto to report to me using a certain method."
Sasori spoke these words as he led Kagaya and the others to a stone stele. Carved onto the stele was the figure of a small person.
"Since we're heading to the Land of Wind, it should be here."
Kagaya inquired. "This Kabuto you mentioned, can he be trusted?"
Kagaya's memories about the details of Kabuto and Sasori's relationship were fuzzy, but he remembered that Kabuto should have been Orochimaru's man all along. Sasori's belief that he controlled Kabuto was probably just that – his belief.
However, while Kagaya knew all this, Sasori did not. In Sasori's view, Kabuto was undoubtedly under his control and loyal to him. Having his word doubted by Kagaya naturally displeased Sasori.
"If you don't believe me, you can find him yourself."
Kagaya tilted his head slightly but said nothing. He didn't want to start a dispute with Sasori now; the most important thing was still to find Orochimaru. Although Kagaya didn't trust Kabuto, he vaguely recalled that in the original story, Sasori and Deidara did manage to find Orochimaru. So, it was better to follow these two for now.
Sasori extended two fingers and pressed them into the eye sockets of the small figure carved on the stele.
After he pressed down, the entire stele retreated backwards, revealing a small compartment beneath. Inside that space, a scroll lay quietly.
Sasori reached in, retrieved the scroll, and opened it.
"East Great Sand Dune... I see. People from the village generally don't go there."
"Is that your hometown, old man?" Deidara asked.
"Don't say such foolish things. But a place like that is perfect."
Sasori, somehow producing a flame, began burning the scroll in his hand as he answered Deidara.
*****
East Great Sand Dune.
This was a desert. In the distance, visible to Kagaya's group, was a massive, cylindrical rock formation.
"That's his hideout." Sasori informed the others. It seemed the intelligence Kabuto provided to Sasori was quite detailed.
Deidara immediately spoke up. "Let's use my art to blow the whole thing up."
Sasori shot a sidelong glance at Deidara.
"We don't know if he's inside yet."
Kagaya's eyes shifted slightly, then he smiled.
"Let's go. There's no need to hide anymore. We've already been discovered."
As he spoke, Kagaya threw several kunai, which landed on a patch of desert that seemed empty.
Immediately afterward, several sand snakes emerged from beneath the desert surface, writhing in pain.
"Sand snakes!"
Deidara exclaimed in surprise, pulling back his Akatsuki cloak and reaching for the clay at his waist to make bombs.
Kagaya reached out a hand to stop Deidara.
"Don't. We're already discovered. Killing these sand snakes now is pointless. Better to conserve our strength for meeting Orochimaru."
"No way..."
Deidara spoke with disbelief. They were so far away; he couldn't believe they'd still been detected.
Kagaya, however, was not surprised at all. Kabuto was Orochimaru's man, and their information came from Kabuto. Under these circumstances, it would be strange if Orochimaru didn't know they were coming. Probably, a large area around that hideout was littered with sand snakes today, just waiting for their arrival.
A short while later, Kagaya's group arrived at the front of the large rock formation and encountered Orochimaru.
The Orochimaru before them no longer wore the Akatsuki cloak, but was instead dressed in his usual attire: a purple rope tied around his waist, black pants, and a white top.
"My, oh my. I thought it would be Itachi coming for me." Orochimaru looked at the four before him without a trace of panic, speaking leisurely.
"You are the assassins sent by the Akatsuki, correct?"
Sasori spoke with intense disgust. "I will kill you without mercy, you traitor."
"Oh? Can you do it?" Orochimaru shot back provocatively. Then, he turned his gaze to Deidara.
"That boy over there was in the Iwagakure Explosion Corps, wasn't he?"
Deidara bristled instantly. "Don't treat me like a child!"
He then formed hand seals and summoned a large white bird. It was likely a pre-made clay bomb.
Orochimaru remained unmoved by Deidara's anger and looked at Kagaya.
"I didn't expect you to come after me, Kagaya-kun. We should have no grudge between us, right?"
Kagaya nodded. "Indeed, no grudge."
"Do you dislike me?"
"Not particularly."
"Are you here in Itachi's place?"
"No." Orochimaru smiled with interest.
"Then, for what reason have you come?"
Kagaya pointed at the ring on Orochimaru's finger.
"For that. You need to return the Akatsuki's belongings to the organization."
Naturally, Kagaya couldn't mention his desire to cooperate with Orochimaru in front of Sasori. After all, the Akatsuki was currently hunting Orochimaru, and there was no need for Kagaya to openly jump out and propose cooperation right now.
Orochimaru was taken aback. He raised his hand and looked at the ring.
"Eh? For this? Well then..."
Orochimaru took off the ring and tossed it to Kagaya.
"With this, will Kagaya-kun let me off?"
Kagaya caught the ring and spoke.
"I will not intervene in this battle. But, only for this battle."
Kagaya's meaning was clear: This time, I won't pursue you, but only this time. After this is over, I will continue the pursuit.
"That's enough!"
"Perfect!"
Orochimaru and Sasori spoke simultaneously.
The first sentence was Orochimaru's; the second was Sasori's.
Sasori looked at Deidara and the large white bird beside him.
"You go up to the sky and keep an eye on him. Don't let him escape."
Deidara voiced some complaint. "What's this, old man? Are you planning to handle him alone?"
"Yes. You hold no grudge against him, do you?"
"..."
Reluctantly, Deidara jumped onto the back of his bird.
"If you need support, just let me know. Hmm!"
After he spoke, the large white bird spread its wings and flew into the sky.
Sasori then turned his gaze to Kagaya.
"You said you wouldn't intervene."
Kagaya, with Haku, stepped back.
"If you can kill him alone, that would be for the best."
Sasori snorted coldly. "Hmph, of course."
Sasori clearly wanted to deal with Orochimaru alone, just as he had stated earlier – he intended to kill Orochimaru without mercy.
However, Kagaya didn't believe Sasori could accomplish it.
Kagaya was waiting. Waiting for Orochimaru to escape. While Kagaya didn't believe Sasori could kill Orochimaru alone, he also didn't believe Orochimaru could kill Sasori alone, especially with Deidara watching from the sky. Therefore, the inevitable outcome was that Orochimaru would flee.
And as long as Orochimaru fled, Kagaya could use the pretext of pursuit to chase after Orochimaru while simultaneously shaking off Sasori and Deidra.
*****
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