"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."
"Maybe you're over thinking after seeing Kabuto?" Sakura suggested.
"There's no way l'd mistake his presence. I know his sensation down to the core," Ugetsu stated and turned his attention toward the bridge, narrowing his blue eyess. "On your guards, everyone. Things are going to get ugly."
"What are we gonna do now?" Naruto muttered, staring at Ugetsu's harden form.
"We still have to stand by untill we see Captain give the signal," Sakura responded.
"What's he waiting for?" Naruto whined. "He should just grab the guy while his guards are down."
"Have you forgotten? That's Kabuto. Playing it safe is the right way to handle it," Sakura replied.
"But, if he takes too much time then the spy might get suspicious and then our whole plan would be put into jeopardy," Sai said.
"May be.. But.. We have no choice but to trust the Captain's judgment," Sakura responded while Hana resumed reading Kabuto's words.
"Now, I trust you brought the item you promised me. If you please hurry and give it to me. I spent too much time here." Kabuto held out his hand toward Sasori. "If I were to be discovered speaking with you like this, Orochimaru will certainly kill me."
"What item? Captain Yamato can't hold on any longer. It's time." Ugetsu said before he noticed Yamato aka Sasori took out a kunai from inside his sleeve and lunged toward Kabuto, but before he could fully attack, Orochimaru appeared right behind Kabuto.
"Orochimaru," Naruto whispered in shock.
"Looks like you were right, Ugetsu-kun," Sai added, stealing a glance at the white haired boy glaring at the new presence.
Snakes surrounded Kabuto, but he jumped out of his cloak in the right time and appeared beside Sasori.
Apparently, he was thinking that Sasori had took out the kunai in an attempt to save him from Orochimaru.
"I remember that garb. It sure brings back memories, Sasori," Orochimaru trailed off, smirking his evil smirk.
"So you followed Kabuto, did you?" Sasori asked.
"Oh I just wanted to thank you in person. After all you're the one who sent this kid to me and he's gotten in very handy," Orochimaru replied.
Kabuto held up his hand surrounded by blue chakra, but instead of charging at Orochimaru, he attacked Sasori and broke the wooden puppet body. Holding a bleeding cut on his arm, Yamato jumped back.
"Multiple striking shadow snake!" Several snakes emerged from Orochimaru's arm and wrapped around Yamato's body who used a substitution and landed on the bridge while his humanoid wooden replacement fell before Orochimaru's feet.
"That was a wood style substitution." The snakes retraced into Orochimaru's arm. "Interesting.. You must be.." he trailed off, smirking at Yamato.
"Lord Orochimaru, is that form Sasori's real body?" Kabuto asked.
"Sasori? Definitely not," the sanin answered. "Oh, Kabuto. You mean all this time as his faithful servant, and you've yet to see the man's real face. Hn."
"Well he always hides it behind those wierd puppets of his. The man is such a freaky fellow," Kabuto commented.
"What is the meaning of all this?" Yamato finally asked. "Kabuto, you were supposed to be an Akatsuki spy. Shouldn't you've been controlled by Sasori's jutsu this whole time?"
"Not any longer." Kabuto smirked. "Lord Orochimaru broke that jutsu long ago."
"So you pretended to be under Sasori's jutsu all the while having turned traitor? What did Orochimaru use his power to turn you?" Yamato inquired.
"Hnhn oh no. You've got it wrong." Kabuto chuckled shortly. "The fact of the matter is, I empathize with Lord Orochimaru's ideals. Who are you anyway? The plan was to come take care of Sasori, but your presence changes things."
"Kabuto, I can fill you in about this child later on," Orochimaru said.
"So, he knows Captain Yamato." Hana glared at the snake sanin.
"For now, why don't you signal to the four baby rats behind you to come on out." Orochimaru smirked, taking Yamato aback. "I'm dying to see how much my dear student has grown."
Ugetsu clenched his fists, digging his nails into palms. Yamato raised his hand and signaled. In a flash, the four appeared in front of him. First Sakura, then Naruto, Ugetsu and finally Sai, kneeling on the bridge between Yamato and the other two.
"Well. it's you again," Kabuto trailed off, staring at Naruto and Ugetsu.
"Hmm. I know that face all too well." Orochimaru looked at Sakura before shifting his gaze to Naruto whose eyes were red now. "And it looks like the nine tails tagged along."
His snake like cunning eyes traveled again and stopped at a certain face, his smirk instantly growing wider. "And here's is the ripper... How have you been doing after Sarutobi died? "
Ugetsu's gaze remained cold, memories of the Third Hokage flooding back as he took a step forward, the tension in the air thickening. "You don't get to speak his name," he declared, his voice low and steady. "Not after everything you've done."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, the playful smirk on his lips fading. "Ah, the little Hozuki boy. I see you've grown up quite a bit. Your mother must be so proud."
"Shut up!" Ugetsu shouted, his fists trembling with barely contained rage. "You don't know anything about my mother!"
Sakura reached out to him, her hand hovering just above his arm, but Ugetsu shook her off, his gaze locked onto Orochimaru. The memories of his mother, her gentle voice and soothing presence, collided violently with the reality of the man before him—a man who took Hiruzen Sarutobi from him.
"Your mother?" Orochimaru continued, a mocking lilt in his voice. "I remember her well. Such a beautiful woman, and so naive. It's amusing how you cling to her memory like a child to a blanket."
With each word, Ugetsu felt a searing pain in his chest, the memories of warm summer days spent with Ayame flickering in his mind like a candle's flame. He could almost hear her laughter, the way she used to encourage him to follow his dreams. But those memories twisted into agony as he faced the monster.
"Get away from him!" Sakura shouted, stepping forward, her eyes fierce. "You have no right to talk about Ugetsu's family!"
Naruto clenched his fists, his knuckles white, his chakra swirling dangerously around him. "Yeah! You're a monster, Orochimaru! We won't let you hurt anyone else!"
"Now, you've made me curious, little Hozuki. Let's see if you're as strong as you think," Orochimaru taunted, his eyes glinting with malice.