Land of Rice Fields.
A hidden laboratory.
"Ahhh…"
"Aghhh…"
"Kill me! Kill me!"
"Stop torturing me!"
Hair-raising screams came from deep within the laboratory.
Hearing these sounds, the Sound Four couldn't help but shudder.
"What are they doing in there?"
Kidomaru spoke, not even realizing his voice trembled slightly. "These screams are even more miserable than those who failed the Cursed Seal implantation."
"Don't ask about things you shouldn't know."
Kimimaro glanced at him. "This is Orochimaru-sama's secret. If you don't want to die, shut up."
Kidomaru immediately closed his mouth.
Though he usually didn't submit to others, he had to submit to Kimimaro.
The differences among the four of them were not huge.
But the gap between Kimimaro and them was immense.
Otherwise, Orochimaru wouldn't have taken Kimimaro to assassinate the Yondaime Kazekage.
This showed how much Orochimaru trusted and valued Kimimaro.
If not for Kimimaro's illness caused by his Kekkei Genkai, Orochimaru would have already taken Kimimaro's body for himself.
The screams continued.
Those waiting outside listened to the eerie screams with varying expressions.
But Kimimaro remained expressionless.
Such screams meant nothing to him.
However, the others showed varying degrees of fear on their faces.
Perhaps remembering the feeling of being worse than death when they first received the Cursed Seal.
After a long time, the screams ceased.
Orochimaru and Kabuto walked out, wearing white lab coats.
Their coats were stained with bright red blood, the smell of blood assaulting their nostrils.
Fortunately, such a bloody smell meant nothing to the Sound Four.
At least it was better than the eerie screams.
"Orochimaru-sama."
Seeing Orochimaru, who looked as if he'd just butchered a pig, the five knelt on one knee.
Then, Kimimaro looked up and asked, "Orochimaru-sama, why wasn't I included in this mission?"
When he was homeless and had nowhere to go, Orochimaru took him in.
Then Orochimaru gave him a Talk no Jutsu-style brainwashing.
From then on, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to Orochimaru.
Even after countless human experiments performed on him by Orochimaru, he was willing to do anything for Orochimaru.
And this time, Orochimaru didn't take him along, which puzzled him greatly.
"Kimimaro, I appreciate your willingness to do anything for me. But now is not the time."
Orochimaru licked his lips. "At least not now. But don't worry, there will be a time for you to play your part."
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama."
Kimimaro lowered his head and fell silent.
"Um, Orochimaru-sama, those screams just now..."
Jirobo looked up curiously. "Is someone else joining us?"
"It's not about the Cursed Seal."
Kabuto stepped forward to explain. "Orochimaru-sama was improving the Impure World Reincarnation."
"Improving the Impure World Reincarnation?"
The Sound Five looked up in confusion.
They had already witnessed this forbidden technique.
Its power was extremely great.
Orochimaru could even summon the Shodaime and Nidaime Hokage with it.
Unfortunately, Takumi stopped it, otherwise, Orochimaru's plan would have succeeded.
Their simple minds couldn't imagine why such a powerful forbidden technique needed improvement.
"That's right, improvement."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. "Takumi is strong, but at that age, how could he possibly defeat the Shodaime Hokage, known as the God of Shinobi?"
"So the truth can only be one."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, letting the reflection obscure his gaze.
"That is, the reincarnated Shodaime and Nidaime couldn't unleash their full strength."
"They exhibited less than half of their original power."
"Otherwise, how could the Shodaime Hokage, who left behind an invincible legend, lose to Takumi."
"So that's how it was."
The Sound Five understood. Kimimaro looked up and asked, "Was this improvement successful?"
"Of course, the improvement was very successful."
Orochimaru excitedly extended his tongue, licking his lips. "The reincarnated bodies this time have at least around 80% of their strength. They will definitely be able to capture Takumi."
"Gentlemen, I leave this matter to you."
He turned and spoke to the dark void behind him.
The five looked up and saw three figures step out from the darkness.
A blond man with a small mustache.
A middle-aged man with closed eyes.
And a little boy.
These three were the Nidaime, Sandaime, and Yondaime Mizukage of Kirigakure!
"Hey hey hey, you actually want me, the great Nidaime Mizukage, to go kidnap a child? You're looking down on me too much, aren't you?"
Hozuki Gengetsu looked very displeased, swaggering at the front.
Behind him were the Sandaime Mizukage with closed eyes, and the Yondaime Mizukage, Yagura, with a boyish face.
"Orochimaru, I never imagined your hatred for Konoha was so deep, to the point of using outsiders like us."
Yagura looked at Orochimaru, his expression indifferent.
Orochimaru, completely unfazed, introduced them to his other subordinates:
"These are the Nidaime Mizukage, Sandaime Mizukage, and Yondaime Mizukage."
"That's right. The screams you heard just now were to summon them."
Kabuto pushed up his glasses, then said to Orochimaru, "Orochimaru-sama, should we conduct a test? We can see if their strength is sufficient to bring Takumi back."
"Very well."
Orochimaru turned to the three Mizukage. "How about each of you demonstrate your signature techniques?"
"Me?"
Yagura frowned slightly. "Why should I listen to you?"
Kabuto's expression remained calm. "If you don't follow our commands, then we'll control the three of you to slaughter the people of Kirigakure."
It must be said that Kabuto looks very refined, but in action, he's a refined scoundrel.
With just one sentence, he immediately subdued the three.
"Damn it, to be used like this..."
Yagura complained very discontentedly.
His hands quickly formed seals:
"Water Release: Water Mirror Technique!"
A huge water mirror appeared before him, reflecting the images of the Sound Five.
Then, the five from the mirror stepped out, charging towards the real Sound Five.
After a brief skirmish, Yagura dispelled the technique and looked at Orochimaru. "Is this enough?"
"Sufficient."
Orochimaru nodded, looking at the other two Mizukage.
"I don't need to, do I? I'm afraid you'd all die here."
Gengetsu chuckled.
Orochimaru, who had heard of him, nodded. If Gengetsu really used his ultimate technique here, probably everyone present except him and Kabuto wouldn't make it out alive.
Even Kimimaro included.
Gengetsu's Steaming Danger Tyranny was indeed very powerful.
And its range was extremely wide.
Then, the Sandaime Mizukage, who lacked presence, also demonstrated a powerful Water Release Ninjutsu.
The Sound Five got another soaking.
Orochimaru looked at the three Mizukage with satisfaction, full of confidence for this mission.
"Then go. For me, capture Takumi and bring him to me."
"Tch! Such boring work. You finally call me out, and you can't even do something meaningful?"
Gengetsu looked disdainful, but his body moved uncontrollably towards the exit.
He showed an expression of helplessness.
The Sandaime Mizukage and Yagura were the same.
To be controlled by others like this, despite being Mizukage, was a great disgrace for them.
But there was no other way.
They couldn't control their bodies now, and only their thoughts belonged to themselves.
And if they didn't follow the instructions, they would be controlled to kill their own people.
"I never thought I'd end up like this."
"Really, no peace while alive, no peace in death either."
After leaving Orochimaru's experimental base, Yagura looked despondent.
Thinking back.
He launched a coup to become Mizukage to reform Kirigakure, but was later controlled by Obito, becoming a puppet.
Thus began the infamous Bloody Mist, causing many of Kirigakure's top talents to leave.
Only one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen remained in the village.
As a Kage, he was too much of a failure.