Chapter 75

                                    

                                          
"Listen up. Our opponents will be on the alert so I want us to split up. We'll have to work as a team. Especially you Naruto," Yamato stated, making the said boy flinch a little. "No one makes a move before I give the signal. Let's go!"
They all jumped away. Yamato started walking toward the bridge while the other four hid behind wide rocks from where they could have a clear view of what was happening on the bridge. First Naruto, then Sakura, Ugetsu and finally Sai, in a sequence, peeking from above the rocks.
It was almost noon now.
"Ugh that lousy spy. Why isn't he showing up?" Naruto hissed in annoyance.
"He's close, very close," Ugetsu informed, and they all fixed their intent eyes to the bridge.
Soon, they could see a hooded figure, in a dark grey robe, emerging from the trees. The spy looked right and left before proceeding forward. He stopped in the middle of the red wooden bridge and looked down at the flowing water, leaves floating around in the wind.
"The spy.. I know this chakra.."Ugetsu furrowed his eyebrows "He seems familiar." 
With the jingling of the bells attached to his hat, Yamato aka Sasori approached the bridge. Slowly, he crawled over to the spy and stopped just a few feet away from him.
"It's been a long time, Lord Sasori.." The spy grabbed his hood and pulled it a little aside. ".. about five years."
"Right?" He looked over at Sasori, revealing his face and taking everyone by surprise. He was none other than Kabuto.
"No way. He's back," Naruto whispered.
"It's crazy. So, the Akatsuki's spy was actually Kabuto?" Sakura added with same surprise.
"I was right.." Ugetsu knitted his brows. "If he's the spy, considering how loyal he was to that snake three years ago, is he really loyal to Sasori?"  
"I don't have much time so please, keep it brief. I risked my life sneaking out to meet you without Orochimaru finding out," Kabuto said.
"I want information about Sasuke as well as the location of your boss's hideout," Sasori stated.
"Orochimaru has several hideouts," Kabuto responded. "We keep moving to a different one every week to avoid being discovered by the enemy. Of course, many are in the hidden sound village, but some hideouts are in other lands too."
"The current hideout," Sasori inquired.
"Right now, Orochimaru has hold up on a small island in the lake just to the north of here. We'll be leaving again in three days. Sasuke Uchiha is there as well."
"The wind is so loud. I can't hear a word they're saying," Naruto complained, his hands placed behind his ears.
"You're such an idiot," Sakura scolded lowly. "That's why we were able to sneak this close in the first place. Wind blows away our scents and hides our sound. Why do you think he hasn't noticed us?"
Ugetsu's eyes harden before whispering, "He is here." 
"Who?" Sakura asked, as they followed her somewhat panicked gaze.
Suddenly, Kabuto turned toward some hustling in the bushes behind. It turned out to be a brown rabbit.
"It's just a rabbit, Ugetsu," the pink haired girl said.
"No.. He's here." Ugetsu looked at them. "Orochimaru is here."
"What?" Naruto gasped.
"How can you be so sure?" Sai asked with a hint of surprise. "I don't sense anyone."