After leaving the forest where they met Orochimaru, Shinji, Karin, and Yakumo sped toward the Hidden Leaf Village.
With Shinji's Byakugan, Karin's Kagura Mind's Eye, and Yakumo's spiritual form, the trio could evade any surveillance or tracking, ensuring their movements remained undetected.
On the way, Yakumo kept her eyes fixed on Karin, her gaze brimming with defiance. But intimidated by Shinji's presence, she didn't dare act on it.
At that moment, Karin glanced back at Yakumo before looking away.
Yakumo's spirit jolted.
In the brief moment their eyes met, she had attempted to invade Karin's mental world with her spiritual form. But the instant she moved to act, a chilling sense of dread gripped her.
She immediately understood—this was her spiritual form warning her.
When chakra, or a spiritual body, reached a certain level of strength, it could manifest all sorts of inexplicable, wondrous abilities.
For instance, the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku could foresee the future, and Shion, the priestess of the Land of Demons, possessed the ability to predict death.
Yakumo thought to herself, "Last time, she wasn't this strong. How has she grown so much in just a few days? Damn it, who is this 'B'?"
Karin, meanwhile, was discreetly observing Yakumo, thinking, "Is she one of Leader's subordinates too? Strange, why does she feel so familiar? Have we met somewhere before?"
Yakumo's presence sparked a sense of crisis in Karin.
Especially after witnessing Yakumo's terrifying destructive power against the Root shinobi earlier, Karin was secretly alarmed.
This made her realize that Leader had no shortage of capable subordinates, prompting a firm resolve: "I can't fall behind. I can't let Leader think I'm useless!"
Yakumo glanced at Shinji leading the way, thinking, "With such a powerful subordinate by Leader's side, Yakumo and I are in a precarious position! If Leader abandons us…"
She quickly shook her head, not daring to dwell on the thought.
More than anyone, she knew that Yakumo's current strength and status were entirely thanks to Leader. She couldn't afford to disappoint him.
With this in mind, she became even more obedient, shedding all traces of her initial rebelliousness!
Back at his secret base, Orochimaru awaited Kabuto's arrival with Kimimaro while reflecting on his recent meeting with the Akatsuki's 'A.'
The encounter had left him with too many questions.
"Who exactly is 'A'?"
"Why is 'A' fixated on Kimimaro?"
"Why are powerhouses like 'B' and 'D' so reverent toward 'A'?"
"And are 'A' and his group truly part of the Akatsuki?"
Indeed, after this meeting, Orochimaru began to suspect that 'A' might not be part of the Akatsuki he knew.
'A's group was simply too powerful.
Moreover, given the Akatsuki's harsh stance on traitors, no member would dare collaborate with him.
At that moment, footsteps echoed through the base—Kabuto had arrived with Kimimaro.
Seeing Orochimaru, Kimimaro immediately bowed. "Orochimaru-sama!"
Orochimaru nodded.
Kabuto smiled and said, "Orochimaru-sama, Danzo has asked me to explain the reason for this failure."
Orochimaru waved dismissively. "Go."
"Yes!"
Kabuto retreated.
Once Kabuto was gone, Orochimaru began examining Kimimaro.
This secret base near the Hidden Leaf was Orochimaru's private laboratory, stocked with a dazzling array of instruments and equipment. Within moments, Kimimaro's comprehensive medical data was compiled and handed to Orochimaru.
As he studied Kimimaro's medical report, his brow furrowed deeper, recognizing the severity of the issue.
Still lying on the operating table, Kimimaro noticed Orochimaru's frown and asked, "Orochimaru-sama, is there really something wrong with my body?"
"Yes," Orochimaru nodded lightly.
Kimimaro pressed, "Is it serious?"
Orochimaru set down the report, his expression grave. "The unique calcium in your bones is eroding your body's organs."
Kimimaro stared at Orochimaru, confused.
Orochimaru shook his head. "In other words, your body is starting to buckle under the strain of your Shikotsumyaku."
Kimimaro's face was full of bewilderment. "Why is this happening?"
Orochimaru continued shaking his head. "Shinobi with Bloodline Limits occasionally develop illnesses caused by those very limits, collectively known as Bloodline illnesses. Because they stem from the Bloodline Limit, these illnesses are generally incurable."
Kimimaro shot up from the table, agitated. "Orochimaru-sama, my… my body is breaking down? But I'm one of your backup bodies!"
Orochimaru's expression darkened.
As Kimimaro said, his body was a candidate for Orochimaru's Living Corpse Reincarnation. Now, with a Bloodline illness, Kimimaro was no longer viable.
After a moment, Orochimaru asked, "Did 'A' examine your body?"
Kimimaro shook his head.
Orochimaru found this odd, thinking, "How was he so certain Kimimaro has a Bloodline illness? Is there truly some secret hidden in Kimimaro?"
After repeatedly studying Kimimaro's report and finding no clues, Orochimaru realized that to uncover Kimimaro's secrets, he'd likely have to cooperate earnestly with 'A.'
A few days later.
At Orochimaru's invitation, Shinji arrived at the secret base.
Seeing the array of instruments and books on human anatomy, organ transplantation, and cellular fusion, his heart leaped with excitement.
Of course, he didn't show it, instead calmly approaching the operating table and glancing at Kimimaro.
Due to the diagnosis of his Bloodline illness, Kimimaro's real body had been at the base for days, while a shadow clone attended the village's Ninja Academy.
Orochimaru handed Kimimaro's medical report to Shinji, saying, "You were right. He does have a Bloodline illness."
After reviewing the report, Shinji's expression grew somber.
Clearly, Kimimaro's condition was worse than he'd anticipated. "It seems Orochimaru in the original timeline went to great lengths to keep Kimimaro alive…"
According to the report, Kimimaro's body wouldn't last four years, yet in the original timeline, he survived until four years later.