The score for the Tailed Beast Capture Plan had reached 6:1:0.
Naruto's team was naturally in the lead by a large margin.
While Obito's side had only extracted one Tailed Beast so far, Black Zetsu seemed to have found a certain 'cheating' method and was just waiting for Obito to try it out.
As for that big zero-
That, of course, belonged to Orochimaru.
Lately, Orochimaru had been having a very unlucky streak.
Originally, according to his plan, successfully capturing a Tailed Beast would allow him to participate in the game between the Akatsuki and Naruto.
At that time, using the Jinchuriki as a bargaining chip, he could still negotiate with Naruto.
Even if Naruto refused, he believed the Akatsuki would be interested.
In short, as long as he had a Jinchuriki, he wouldn't need to worry about having no one to trade with.
However, ever since he inexplicably implanted the Cursed Seal on Gaara, everything seemed to start changing.
This was also the first time Orochimaru learned that the Cursed Seal could react with Tailed Beast's Chakra.
There was no helping it… after all, he hadn't considered Jinchuriki before.
After Gaara entered an out-of-control Sage State, Orochimaru hastily used the Reverse Summoning Technique to go to Ryuchi Cave.
Unlike Mount Myoboku, where the scenery's 'saturation' was unrealistically high, Ryuchi Cave was perpetually shrouded in thick mist.
Within the fog, who knew how many giant snakes lurked, coiled and waiting.
After setting foot on this cold, damp land, Orochimaru didn't feel too uncomfortable, perhaps because his frequent experiments had caused his own body to take on some 'snake-like' attributes.
This kind of environment was more comfortable for cold-blooded animals.
Hiss-
Hiss-
Countless rustling, friction sounds rose within the mist, the sound of snake scales rubbing against each other.
Orochimaru had been walking here for a long time.
The area of Ryuchi Cave might be even larger than Mount Myoboku.
Even as a contractor, trying to enter Ryuchi Cave directly without a guide wasn't that simple.
Finally, he seemed to have found his target. His vertical pupils scanned back and forth before locking firmly onto a certain direction.
"Come out."
The person hidden in the mist didn't suspect Orochimaru was bluffing.
Without much hesitation, they revealed themselves.
It was a woman wearing pure white formal attire, with a sash trailing down her back.
Her hair was tied up in a bun, looking very solemn.
After she appeared, a magnificent [Ryuchi Cave] palace, resembling the Dragon King's palace, also materialized within the thick mist.
"Tagorihime?"
Orochimaru knew this person.
In fact, she couldn't really be considered human.
Because Tagorihime was actually also a giant snake, just one that had mastered the technique of transforming into a human form.
"It's Orochimaru, isn't it? It's been a long time..."
Upon recognizing the visitor's identity, the dignified demeanor Tagorihime had maintained instantly vanished, and scales and fangs characteristic of a snake appeared on her face.
Many years ago, Orochimaru had tried to learn Sage Mode from Ryuchi Cave.
Unfortunately, at that time, his body, which was already ravaged by various experiments and reincarnation techniques, was full of flaws internally and simply didn't meet the requirements to withstand Ryuchi Cave's Sage Mode.
But even so, he hadn't given up.
This led to the subsequent development of the Cursed Seal's power.
"Take me to see the White Snake Sage."
Orochimaru showed a smile devoid of warmth as he spoke to Tagorihime.
Hearing this, Tagorihime didn't mind. Instead, she cooperatively began leading the way.
If it were anyone else, wanting to enter the cave to see the White Snake Sage would require passing the tests of her, along with Ichikishimahime and Tagitsuhime, the [Three Princesses]. Failure meant being eaten directly.
However, Orochimaru had already passed their tests long ago, so there was no need for that formality now.
"Although I don't know why you're looking for the White Snake Sage, I'd advise you not to waste your effort."
As she spoke, Tagorihime's head turned 180 degrees to face behind her, looking at Orochimaru as if he were food.
"After all, this body of yours isn't suitable either... Why not just stay and be our meal?"
"Hehe... There's no need for you to worry about that."
As a senior contractor of Ryuchi Cave, although Orochimaru hadn't mastered Sage Mode, he held a certain status here.
This was a reputation built up over the years.
Among all the summoners of Ryuchi Cave, only Orochimaru was the most generous when paying the price.
He delivered exactly the number of human sacrifices promised.
With Tagorihime leading the way, the group of small snakes nearby naturally didn't dare act recklessly.
They could only occasionally cast equally cold glances at Orochimaru before reluctantly crawling back into the shadows.
The true appearance of Ryuchi Cave was neither as magnificent as the illusion suggested, nor was it just a cold, damp burrow as outsiders might imagine.
As a Sage, its dwelling also needed to have sufficient grandeur.
Just like the temple where the Great Toad Sage usually resided, the place where the White Snake Sage stayed also appeared quite impressive.
Countless candles and oil lamps were placed on the walls. In the stark, flickering light, the White Snake Sage, transformed into an old woman, was lying on her side on her stone bed, squinting towards Orochimaru and the other at the entrance.
"Orochimaru, what brings you here this time?"
The White Snake Sage's tone was gentle and slow, sounding quite easy-going.
But in reality, only the snakes who dared to defy it knew just how cruel this Sage truly was.
The White Snake Sage, who believed in the law of 'natural selection', showed little mercy even to its own kind under its command.
In its view, those who were unqualified could only become its food.
Orochimaru also understood the White Snake Sage's temperament very well. Without a word, he first presented his 'offering'.
It was a prisoner from the Northern Hideout's experiments who had successfully received transplants of Kimimaro's cells. He was tied up and thrown directly before the White Snake Sage.
"Oh? This kind of... crude imitation is quite interesting."
Ignoring the terrified look in the person on the ground's eyes, Orochimaru directly stated his request after presenting the offering.
He briefly explained Gaara's condition.
"Spontaneous Sage Transformation... So, you want to change him back?"
"Yes, he is crucial to my next plan."
Hearing this, the White Snake Sage actually smiled and didn't refuse Orochimaru outright.
"Is that so? Very well, just bring him here."
Surprisingly, the White Snake Sage didn't set any conditions, seemingly just wanting to see the remarkable existence Orochimaru described.
This instead made Orochimaru somewhat uneasy.
But the plan was more important now, so he couldn't afford to worry too much.
He had already wasted a lot of time in the outskirts of Ryuchi Cave.
"In that case, I shall take my leave for now."
With that, Orochimaru, under the White Snake Sage's smiling gaze, used the Reverse Summoning Technique to send himself back.
"White Snake Sage-sama?"
Beside the White Snake Sage, Tagorihime, who had just led Orochimaru in, looked at it somewhat puzzled.
"Heh..."
The White Snake Sage didn't answer its subordinate's question, merely chuckling lightly.
...
Upon returning to the Northern Hideout, Orochimaru immediately learned from Kabuto Yakushi that the Jinchuriki had escaped.
"Useless, you can't even keep a prisoner locked up."
Orochimaru was uncharacteristically agitated.
He even suspected that the White Snake Sage might have already known about this, which was why it didn't set any conditions.
It might even have been its deliberate doing that he had wandered in the outskirts for so long.
Learning that Kimimaro and the others had already gone in pursuit, Orochimaru temporarily relaxed.
But not long after, the Cursed Seal of Heaven he had implanted in the Jinchuriki vanished from his perception.
Along with it, his resurrection and reincarnation methods also became ineffective.
If all that wasn't enough bad luck, then the next moment, the intrusion alarm sounding in the Northern Hideout was the final straw that broke Orochimaru's back.
"Orochimaru… I've finally found you."
Obito's figure appeared abruptly in mid-air, staring directly at the traitor before him.
Unexpectedly, Orochimaru didn't show the slightest hint of guilt. Instead, he looked at him with a fierce glare.
'Huh?'
'Why is this guy so angry?'
'Shouldn't I be the one who's angry here?'
Being stared at like that, Obito even began to doubt himself.
"It was you who did it!"
"Hand over the Jinchuriki."
Their voices sounded simultaneously. Then, after hearing what the other said, both of them froze in unison.