Led by Ao, Orochimaru passed through the gates of Kirigakure without obstruction and entered the Mizukage's office.
It was quite a novel experience, walking so easily into the heart of another village's power.
Ao knocked on the door.
"Enter."
Having already received intelligence from the border guards, Yagura had returned early and dismissed his attendants, waiting alone in his office for Orochimaru.
Ao pushed the door open and stepped aside.
Orochimaru pulled back his hood, revealing his distinctive features, and slowly entered the office. His gaze met the person he had come to negotiate with.
Fascinated, he boldly and openly studied Yagura.
Just as the rumors described—this newly appointed Mizukage was merely a child.
Becoming a Kage at such a young age was practically unheard of in the shinobi world.
Behind him, Ao quietly shut the door.
The sound of the latch clicking into place made Orochimaru take extra notice—aside from himself and the Mizukage, there was no third person in the room.
(That is, if he didn't count the Anbu lurking on the roof.)
Yagura, too, was scrutinizing this "charming and delightful villain" from Konoha's past.
He wasn't much different from what he had imagined.
Orochimaru, eternally youthful.
"Please, have a seat, Orochimaru-san."
Yagura gestured toward the guest seating area as he moved forward himself.
They sat across from each other.
Clumsily, Yagura attempted to prepare tea using Elder Genshi's set. It was immediately obvious to any observer that he wasn't accustomed to it.
Pouring a cup, he offered it forward. "Here. It must have been a tiring journey."
Something felt off.
Orochimaru accepted the cup with a polite nod of thanks.
His instincts were rarely wrong.
From start to finish, the Mizukage's gaze wasn't that of someone seeing a stranger for the first time.
Rather, it was as if he was comparing him to something—or someone—else.
Unaware that he was already being dissected under Orochimaru's gaze, Yagura chuckled awkwardly,
"I don't do this often, haha."
Orochimaru didn't care about hospitality. If the tea had been poisoned, it would have only piqued his interest.
Yagura poured himself a cup as well and took a sip. "Now, let's get straight to the point, Orochimaru-san."
Orochimaru nodded approvingly. Not wasting time was always preferable.
"No need for honorifics, Mizukage-dono. Just call me by my name."
"Alright, Orochimaru."
Yagura found the formalities cumbersome as well.
Swirling his cup slightly, he asked, "How much do you know about the current situation between Kirigakure and Kumogakure? Do you need me to explain?"
"No need," Orochimaru replied, indicating he was already well-informed.
"Great, that makes things easier."
Yagura leaned forward, cutting straight to the chase.
"My strategy for Kirigakure—I intend to personally face the Third Raikage in battle."
He played his hand without hesitation, throwing down an immediate trump card.
Even someone as composed as Orochimaru couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the sheer boldness of the statement, glancing down at the young Mizukage in surprise.
A battle between two Kage? That was almost unheard of in modern times.
The last recorded duel between Kage was during the First Shinobi War when the Second Mizukage and the Second Tsuchikage perished together.
…Was this some sort of Kirigakure tradition?
"Heh." Orochimaru tapped a slender, pale finger against the side of his teacup. "Do you have a chance of winning?"
"No."
Yagura lifted his shirt, revealing the seal on his abdomen, and pressed a hand against it.
"But I have a trump card."
[Isobu: Don't drag me into this.]
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly. A Jinchūriki, then.
But being a Jinchūriki alone was not enough to challenge a Kage.
At best, a tailed beast could be considered a qualification for entering the battlefield at that level.
To become a village's Kage, one needed to possess the strength to suppress a rampaging tailed beast if their Jinchūriki lost control.
Seeing the flicker of understanding in Orochimaru's gaze, Yagura continued, "I'm not just a Jinchūriki—I can fully control my tailed beast. Don't lump me in with Konoha's Jinchūriki, Orochimaru."
"Even so, I don't stand a chance against the Third Raikage."
He placed his cup firmly on the table and locked eyes with Orochimaru.
"That's why I requested your presence, Orochimaru."
The sheer weight of that statement sank in.
Orochimaru took a moment to process the information, his fascination with Yagura growing.
A Jinchūriki with perfect control over their tailed beast—such a thing truly existed.
How had he achieved it?
How he longed to study it.
At the same time, he was intrigued by Yagura's forthrightness. Before this conversation, he hadn't even known the Mizukage was a Jinchūriki.
His teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and even Danzo Shimura likely didn't know either.
Otherwise, Orochimaru would have heard whispers of it.
"Since we are allies, I believe it's only natural to lay my cards on the table. This is my way of earning your trust so that we can work together without reservations."
Yagura explained his unusually direct approach.
He had said everything he needed to say. Now, it was time for Orochimaru to respond.
Seeing no reason to play games with his new collaborator, Orochimaru asked, "My objective—is it also the Third Raikage?"
Yagura hesitated briefly.
That actually wasn't the task he had in mind for Orochimaru.
But since Orochimaru had brought it up, Yagura decided to probe. "Hmm. Let me ask you—do you think you can defeat the Third Raikage?"
Even before Orochimaru could answer, Yagura already had an assessment in mind.
Orochimaru had a vast arsenal of abilities, but survival was his strongest trait.
Against the Third Raikage, he wouldn't win—but he wouldn't die, either.
If he could somehow maneuver Orochimaru into fighting the Raikage, Yagura wouldn't mind at all.
"The Legendary Sannin of Konoha are said to be on par with Kage-level shinobi."
Yagura smiled. "That's why I invited you, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru furrowed his brows in thought before asking,
"Do you have intelligence on the Third Raikage?"
Knowing one's opponent was crucial.
"I do."
Since it wasn't his own village's secrets, Yagura freely shared everything he knew—details on the Raikage's abilities, his indestructible shield, and his legendary duels with the Eight-Tails.
The more Yagura spoke, the more intrigued Orochimaru became.
"A formidable opponent indeed."
Raising his hand, Orochimaru mimicked the Raikage's infamous Hell Stab technique, extending four fingers.
"Forgive my honesty, but I don't believe I can defeat him."
Yagura sighed internally. As expected.
"That's fine. The task I had in mind for you wasn't him. The Third Raikage is my opponent."
Orochimaru chuckled. "Then allow me to ask a question that has been bothering me, Mizukage-dono."
Yagura nodded for him to continue.
Smiling slyly, Orochimaru tapped his temple. "How did you acquire such detailed intelligence on both me and the Third Raikage?"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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