Otogakure
'Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei!'
As soon as the name of the Jutsu was called, two Fuin formulas engraved on the ground lit up in a colour of green and blue. As the glow intensified, two coffins marked with 'Sho' and 'Ni' rose from the ground.
Click! Click!
As the lids of Coffins opened, two corpses–wearing red and blue Shinobi Armour from the Warring States Era–were revealed, these two are none other than the Shodaime Hokage Senju Hashirama, and Nidaime Hokage Senju Tobirama who have been dead for decades but have been returning to the world of living again and again because of being summoned through the Edo Tensei Jutsu.
At this time, a figure covered in a black cloak walked out of the darkness and stood in front of the two Coffins.
As he removed the hood of his black cloak, his appearance became clear. This person is none other than Yakushi Kabuto–who disappeared from Konohagakure not long ago, it seems he has returned to Otogakure and has been mastering the 'Edo Tensei Jutsu'.
And from the looks of it, he has reached a considerable level of mastery in this Jutsu as he was able to summon the Shodaime Hokage and Nidaime Hokage of Konoha.
Walking in front of the two Coffins, Kabuto looked at the two Edo Tensei with a smile, "Finally mastered it!"
With a content expression, Kabuto released the Summon and allowed both coffins to sink back into the ground.
Poof! Poof!
With that done, Kabuto turned around and walked towards another chamber, hidden deep inside the underground laboratory.
…
Kabuto had a solemn expression as he walked inside the secret chamber. He glanced at the Kumogakure shinobi–bound by chains and hanging upside down.
"It's time!" he muttered and cut the chains that bound the man, and allowed him to fall on the floor. On the floor, a series of Fuin symbols much similar to the ones outside were engraved. These Fuin symbols seem to be making a ritual circle, and from the looks of it, the Kumo Shinobi is meant to be sacrificed while performing the ritual.
Glancing at the terrified Kumogakure shinobi as the man begged for mercy, "Please… just kill me… I beg you!"
Kabuto ignored the man's plea for death and started to weave the hand signs, 'Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei!'
As the hand signs were completed, the Fuin symbols started to emit an ominous glow.
"Aaahhhhhh!"
Immediately, the Kumo shinobi–wrapped in chains–screamed in pain and agony as the whispers of dead resounded through the hall.
Unperturbed by the whispers of the dead, Kabuto watched as the soul of the Kumo shinobi was sucked out from his body by some unnatural force, and an uncountable number of talisman paper appeared from the ritual circle as they started to wrap his body from head to toe. In less than a second, the man had become a human chrysalis.
By the time everything subsided, only a large pupa-shaped being–wrapped in talisman paper–was left before Kabuto.
'What? This is different.' Thought Kabuto as he stepped forward and started to remove the talisman papers. He was not surprised when he noticed that the person wrapped inside the talisman paper was the same Kumogakure Shinobi, the only difference was that the man is now dead as his soul has been sucked out, however, there is a problem, "Why did it fail this time?"
Yes, the Jutsu had failed! The soul of the shinobi was drained, however, the person Kabuto wanted to summon did not come, 'This wasn't supposed to happen!'
Kabuto frowned, then carefully checked the entire process of summoning the dead. After he had repeatedly confirmed that he did not make any mistake, Kabuto made a wild guess to explain his failure. And thinking of this reason, Kabuto showed an unnatural gleam of joy on his face, "It seems Orochimaru-sama is not dead!"
The person he was trying to bring back to the world of living is none other than Orochimaru.
After losing contact with Orochimaru, Kabuto became anxious, fearful, and desperate, it was as if he had lost his path and the meaning behind his existence.
He had to do something and find Orochimaru, and that's what he did. Kabuto disobeyed Orochimaru's order of monitoring Naruto and Sasuke in the Konoha Ninja Academy and made his way to the Land of Sound. After quietly returning, Kabuto mobilized the entire force of Otogakure to search for any trace of Orochimaru throughout the Shinobi World.
However, their search was for nought as they couldn't find the slightest clues of where Orochimaru is and what happened to him. And this is a big problem. It must be understood that except for a very few people, there is hardly anyone in the Shinobi World who can make Orochimaru disappear so silently and so secretly, 'it's either Akatsuki, Amatsukami or Danzo!'
There has been no news from Orochimaru for so long, he must have had an unlucky encounter with either of those three powerhouses.
"If Orochimaru-sama was either captured or sealed by either of those three powerhouses, rescuing him would be difficult… I must find a way!" thought Kabuto as he made up his mind.
But of course, confronting either of these three powerhouses is not something he can do at the moment considering his mediocre strength.
"I… no… we must get stronger." Muttered Kabuto as left the Underground laboratory and summoned the Sound Four.
…
Looking at Tenzō, Kimimaro, Haku, and Jūgo one by one, Kabuto ordered, "Stop the search for Orochimaru-sama."
Kimimaro questioned with a frowned expression, "Why?"
Kabuto immediately explained the ins and outs of the matter, "I think I have an idea of what happened to Orochimaru-sama. Although he is not dead, he is not in a very good state either. He was either captured… or sealed by a difficult enemy… it must be someone from Akatsuki, Amatsukami, or Danzo."
Tenzō was taken aback, "What?! Kabuto-san… you aren't joking, right?"
These names hold a lot of weight in the Shinobi World, and their small Otogakure doesn't have enough power or resources to fight these people. Let alone Akatsuki and Amatsukami, just fighting Danzo might result in the annihilation of Otogakure!
The other three had similar thoughts.
Knowing the doubts of the Sound Four, Kabuto spoke, "I know… if we want to rescue Orochimaru-sama, we must have sufficient strength so that we can negotiate with these powerhouses. Therefore, I want the four of you to put your efforts into strengthening yourselves."
The Sound Four nodded, "We understand." There is still a problem, "But… how do we do that?"
Kabuto took out four scrolls from his shinobi bag and handed one to each of the Sound Four as he explained, "Orochimaru-sama had multiple secret laboratories… out of those, four laboratories were top secret. I want each of you to go to one of these laboratories and try to find something there… Orochimaru carried out extensive research on the four of you… it is time to use the results of that research. We must inherit the results of Orochimaru-sama's research and strengthen ourselves… only then we will have the qualification to negotiate with those powerful enemies."
Everyone nodded and received the scrolls handed by Kabuto.
Holding the scroll of the North laboratory, Kimimaro looked at Kabuto and asked, "And what about you? What are you going to do?"
"Me?" muttered Kabuto as he adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose, and chuckled, "I must go somewhere."
Although Kabuto was smiling, the sound four noticed Kabuto's determination to die.
Haku was worried for Kabuto and looked at the others. Kimimaro and Jūgo remained silent.
Tenzō–the oldest of four–asked after a while of hesitation, "Where are you going Kabuto-san?"
"You don't have to be concerned about it." Spoke Kabuto as he turned around and disappeared into the forest.
'This time I am ready to face death!'
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