Where did this equipmente from? It was a valid question.


    But Tsunade didn''t seem too interested in the answer. "Why should I even ask? Isn''t it natural for you to have these things?"


    Natural?


    "Heh, I suppose you''re right."


    Hearing Tsunade''s response, a small smirk appeared on Orochimaru''s face. The surveince screens he was using weren''t state-of-the-artputers but rather small television monitors stacked together. To Tsunade, it wouldn''t have appeared too different from Konoha''s own monitoring setup.


    Tsunade, like others who knew Orochimaru, was already familiar with his reputation for innovation. He had been behind several of Konoha''s scientific advancements, including the development of advanced ninja tools. So, seeing any form of high-tech device in his possession was hardly surprising.


    It was part of why she trusted him. Orochimaru was an enigma—brilliant, unconventional, yet undeniably loyal to Konoha''s cause, or at least to his own ambitions that aligned with it.


    Smiling softly, Orochimaru sat back and gestured for Tsunade toe closer. Without hesitation, she moved to sit on hisp. The familiarity between them spoke volumes; they were more than just teammates or childhood friends, they were lovers who shared a deep, albeit unconventional, bond.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Tsunade''s eyes shifted to the screens again, her curiosity piqued. She still wondered why he would go through the trouble of monitoring Kushina. But before she could ask, she noticed the figures in the ck uniforms and their distinctive headbands moving stealthily in the shadows."Orochimaru, what are they nning to do?" she asked, her tone serious.


    "You''ll find out soon enough," Orochimaru said, his golden eyes gleaming with anticipation.


    ---


    On the far side of Konoha, in a modest house near the vige''s edge, Kushina had been woken by faint noises outside. She wrapped her robe around her and cautiously opened the door. But before she could call out for help, her vision was suddenly blocked by several unfamiliar figures.


    Before she could even scream, a rough hand mped over her mouth, and everything went dark.


    The Kumo ninjas acted swiftly. In less than a minute, they had subdued Kushina, tied her hands, and carried her off into the night.


    "We''re clear!" one of the ninjas whispered as they made their way through the vige streets, weaving into the shadows and heading toward the perimeter wall.


    Everything was going ording to n. As expected, the barrier fluctuated during the brief changeover at the security post, allowing them a window of opportunity. Within moments, the team had scaled the wall and disappeared into the forest beyond Konoha.


    After a couple of kilometers, the Kumo ninjas slowed their pace, confident that they''d avoided detection.


    "Alright, we''re in the clear," said the leader, catching his breath. He nced over at the young girl in their grasp. "Tie her up properly."


    Kushina, who had begun to regain consciousness, felt her heart drop as reality hit her, she''d been kidnapped. The memories of her vige being attacked, of losing her parents and home, rushed back like a cold wave. ?????ě?


    Was she to lose everything again?


    "Please... someone, help me," she thought desperately as she struggled against the ropes binding her wrists. But the more she twisted, the more hopeless her situation seemed. She could feel the rough hands of her captors and the chill of the night pressing in around her.


    Despite the overwhelming fear, she resolved to leave a trail. When the Kumo ninjas weren''t looking, Kushina discreetly pulled at strands of her vivid red hair, letting them fall to the ground as subtle markers, hoping someone, anyone—would follow.


    But doubt crept in. Who would notice her absence? She had no real friends in Konoha, and the vige was already shrouded in sleep.


    "Am I really going to be taken away? Is this... the end?" Despair started to consume her.


    Just then, a shout broke through the silence.


    "Who''s there?"


    Kushina''s eyes snapped open as she felt a sudden tug at the rope around her wrists, yanking her backward. The jolt sent her sprawling to the ground. The rough impact made her wince, but it was enough to clear her vision.


    Ahead, in the faint moonlight, a lone figure stepped out from the shadows of the trees. His hands were casually tucked into his pockets, his eyes glowing with an eerie intensity.


    "Orochimaru-sama?" Kushina gasped, stunned.


    The three Kumo ninjas were visibly tense, drawing their weapons as they recognized the emblem on Orochimaru''s k jacket. He was no ordinary shinobi—he was a legend.


    "Stay back!" the leader shouted, pressing a kunai to Kushina''s neck. "Even if you''re a Konoha elite, don''te any closer, or she—"


    But before the Kumo ninja could finish, Orochimaru vanished from sight, reappearing in an instant directly in front of them. His cold, golden eyes locked onto the leader''s as a sinister smirk crossed his lips.


    "Is that really your n? Surrender now and spare yourself the humiliation."