The moment Yakushi Kabuto met Yakumo's gaze, a shiver ran down his spine.
It didn't feel like being stared at by an eight- or nine-year-old girl—it was more like being targeted by a ferocious beast, no, a natural predator!
"Those eyes…"
Almost instinctively, Kabuto took half a step back.
Yakumo's expression remained unchanged.
All signs pointed to her parents' predicament being a trap, and the target wasn't anything else—it was her.
Moreover, before setting out, Tsunade had included Kabuto in the squad due to his resume, which only solidified her certainty. The boss had warned her that Kabuto in the medical team was trouble.
And she never doubted the boss!
That's why she'd obediently followed orders to retreat—only by isolating herself could she draw out the mastermind and save her parents.
Ding-a-ling.
Just as Yakumo hesitated over whether to strike Kabuto directly, a clear bell chime rang out from the mist nearby.
She followed the sound and saw two figures—one tall, one short—slowly approaching through the fog.
In her Koryugan's vision, the chakra levels of both figures were staggering, far exceeding that of a typical jonin. What shocked her even more was that they were clad in the Akatsuki's red-cloud robes and bamboo hats—the unmistakable garb of Akatsuki members.
The crisp bell sound echoing through the mist came from the copper bells dangling from their hats.
"The masterminds are Akatsuki members!?" Yakumo's face first registered disbelief, but as she noted the style of their red-cloud robes and hats, she quickly calmed down.
Undoubtedly.
Thanks to Uchiha Shinji's teachings, she'd accepted that the Akatsuki had split into two factions: the righteous one she'd joined, and the corrupt one wreaking havoc across the shinobi world—traitors who'd betrayed the Akatsuki's founding principles and their leader!
At that moment, the tall and short figures emerged from the mist, stepping into view before Yakumo and Kabuto.
A grotesque, hunchbacked Akatsuki member with a raspy voice spoke, "So this kid's the one who awakened the mysterious dojutsu?"
Beside him, a yellow-haired youth with a single ponytail scrutinized Yakumo's Koryugan. "It's definitely a dojutsu Bloodline Limit I've never seen before, hm!"
No doubt about it—the two before Yakumo and Kabuto were the Akatsuki's "art duo," Sasori and Deidara.
"Damn it, how'd we run into the Akatsuki!?"
Kabuto exclaimed, stumbling back two steps in feigned panic, widening the gap between him and Yakumo.
Yakumo didn't let her guard down around Kabuto. She knew his panic was an act—since spotting the Akatsuki members, his heartbeat had remained steady as ever, a fact her Koryugan had clearly observed.
"I'm pretty curious what the legendary 'Wood Release' looks like!" Deidara grinned. "Sasori-kun, leave this one to me, hm!"
As he spoke, Deidara's hands dipped into the clay pouches at his waist.
Sasori's muffled voice rumbled, "Her body and those eyes hold considerable research value. This time, I'll handle it myself!"
Yakumo suppressed her fury. "Where are my parents? What did you do to them?"
Sasori advanced slowly. "You'd better worry about yourself!"
Realizing she'd get no answers without defeating them, Yakumo steeled herself. "You despicable traitors—since we've crossed paths, I'll be the one to execute you!"
"Traitors!?"
Sasori paused, taken aback, though he didn't dwell on it.
After all, he was indeed a renegade from the Sand Village. He just didn't realize Yakumo meant traitors to the Akatsuki!
Swiftly, Yakumo unleashed "Wood Release."
In an instant, massive vines and branches erupted from the ground, growing and surging like a sea of trees, rushing toward Sasori and Deidara.
"This—"
Despite being mentally prepared, both Sasori and Deidara were stunned by the sheer scale of the tree sea.
Hidden within Hiruko, Sasori retreated rapidly, swinging his blade-laden tail back and forth to fend off the encroaching forest.
Deidara leapt onto a clay bird, taking refuge in the sky.
As for Kabuto, he'd already fled far before Sasori even spoke.
By the lakeside.
Boom!
Tsunade's Strange Strength Fist slammed into a tree, toppling it with a single blow!
Orochimaru, dodging the strike, chuckled. "After all these years, your temper hasn't changed a bit!"
Tsunade retorted coldly, "What are you after this time?"
Orochimaru replied, "I'm very interested in that surgery of yours."
Tsunade's anger flared. "You bastard, don't you dare target my disciple!"
Boom!
At that moment, a tremendous roar echoed from the distance, accompanied by a violent, earth-shaking tremor.
"Yakumo!"
Tsunade whipped around, looking toward the direction Yakumo's group had fled.
A typical explosion wouldn't cause such a commotion or shake the ground like this—it was clearly Yakumo unleashing "Wood Release"!
Realizing Yakumo might be in danger, Tsunade abandoned her tangle with Orochimaru and dashed toward the source of the noise.
Orochimaru didn't rush to stop her. Instead, his lips curled into a sinister smile.
Whoosh.
Just then, a figure landed beside Orochimaru and said, "Orochimaru-sama, as you instructed, I've lured the Akatsuki here."
Orochimaru nodded. "Kabuto, you've done well!"
No question about it—whether it was the incident with Yakumo's parents or the sudden appearance of Akatsuki members, it was all part of Orochimaru's scheme.
With Danzo's help, he'd orchestrated a minor mishap for Yakumo's parents, ensuring the news reached the Kurama clan immediately and, through them, Yakumo's ears.
He knew Tsunade's protective nature well, so he'd used Kabuto's double-agent status to draw Sasori—who was intrigued by Yakumo—into the fray. Sasori's Akatsuki affiliation would distract Tsunade, while Tsunade, in turn, could deal with Sasori, who'd been a thorn in Orochimaru's side.
So far, Sasori still believed his ambush on Yakumo in the wild was thanks to Kabuto, his mole by Orochimaru's side.
Feeling the occasional tremors still rippling through the ground, Orochimaru said, "It's about time we made our move too!"
Kabuto hesitated, then spoke. "Orochimaru-sama, I feel like Kurama Yakumo might not be as simple as we think."
Orochimaru glanced at him. "Why do you say that?"
"I can't quite explain it!" Kabuto shook his head. "If I had to say, it's just a hunch."