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Tayuya, Sakon/Ukon, and Kidōmaru all looked tense, immediately putting distance between themselves and Midorima.
"Even if you helped us before, if you treat us as enemies, we will not just wait for death," Sakon said sternly.
Tayuya remained relatively calm and tried to persuade him: "Mr. Yoshida, even if you say that, even if you kill us, you still won't get Jūgo's cells because Jūgo isn't here."
Midorima scratched his head, not particularly surprised.
Jūgo should be at the human experimentation site at this time. Previously, he had held onto a sliver of hope, thinking it would be nice to get Jūgo's cells a day earlier.
But things didn't go as planned.
Clearly, he had thought too much.
Seeing the standoff between the two sides, Kabuto grew anxious too.
He just wanted to know Yakushi Nonō's current location. If a fight broke out, who knew how long it would be delayed?
Among everyone present, his position was the most special; he didn't belong to Midorima's side, nor did he belong to the Sound Four.
"Wait a minute, I really don't understand your thinking, Kimimaro." Kabuto needed something from Midorima, so he certainly couldn't afford to anger him. Moreover, from his perspective, Kimimaro's issue was indeed more problematic. "The one who killed Orochimaru was Uchiha Madara, and the one who killed Jirōbō was also Uchiha Madara. Uchiha Madara is your enemy. Why direct your hostility at Mr. Yoshida? And, just hypothetically, if you all were really killed by Yoshida Midorima, who would avenge Orochimaru and Jirōbō? Do you really want the murderer to remain free and unpunished?"
Kimimaro frowned, remained silent for a while, and then sighed. "You're right. But there's one thing you haven't considered—how can he prove that Uchiha Madara killed Lord Orochimaru?"
"That's simple. If you get the chance to capture any Akatsuki member other than Uchiha Madara, just ask them who killed Orochimaru. If I were really the murderer, do you really think you'd have a chance to speak with me here? I would have eliminated the root of the problem long ago."
Tayuya, Kidōmaru, and Sakon turned their gazes to Kimimaro.
Whether they fought or negotiated depended on what Kimimaro said next.
"I think..." Kimimaro took a deep breath, "...we can trust you for now. But it's still impossible to just hand over Sasuke and Jūgo's cells to you like this."
Midorima curled his lip. "You don't have the capital to make deals with me. Besides, I promised Tayuya I could delay the progression of your illness."
"My illness isn't that important... I know my condition; any medical treatment would find it very difficult to cure... I've seen clansmen contract this disease. Regardless of their status, high or low, none survived. Why should I pin my fate on such a vague and illusory hope?"
"Then tell me, what do you want?"
"Revenge. Kill Madara," Kimimaro said.
Midorima shook his head. "I can't help you with that. Moreover, Jūgo's cells aren't worth that price."
He wasn't running a charity.
Although a confrontation with Obito was inevitable sooner or later, that was his own business. He didn't want to be bound by any framework.
"Don't refuse so quickly... The four of us are willing to pledge our loyalty to you. All of Lord Orochimaru's resources will be at your disposal," Kimimaro said.
"No. You're too weak. You'd hold me back," Midorima shook his head.
Besides, Orochimaru might be resurrected at some point. Would they betray him then?
If he really believed their words, he'd be a fool.
"You can always go back on your word if you find it too difficult, can't you?" Kimimaro retorted.
"But you can also go back on your word," Midorima spread his hands. "I'm not in the mood to play house with you. Killing Madara is impossible. Never mind whether I can do it; even if I could, I wouldn't let you use me as your weapon."
"Then what do you suggest?" Kimimaro asked, puzzled.
"What do I suggest?" Midorima sneered. "You really have no sense of danger at all. Do you think Uchiha Madara is gone?"
"What do you mean?" Kimimaro asked quickly.
"I can kill all of you. Of course, he can do it too. The reason he hasn't made a move is because I'm here. But I can't stay with you forever," Midorima said with a smile.
"What should we do?" Kimimaro countered.
Midorima's gaze quickly swept over the people in the room. "Someone needs to become bait to lure him away."
"Who will be the bait?" Kimimaro asked.
"Sasuke," Midorima glanced at Sasuke, who was standing nervously by the door. "But it doesn't necessarily have to be Sasuke. We need to make Uchiha Madara believe that the person he's tracking is Sasuke. Before that, I need to tell Kabuto the answer to the question he cares about most. Kabuto..."
"Yes," Kabuto said nervously.
"She's in Iwagakure."
"Impossible. You're lying to me!" Kabuto frowned, the hope in his eyes vanishing. "I'm so disappointed. I thought you really knew her location... I've been to that place more than once. How could Yakushi Nonō still be in Iwagakure?"
"Don't ask me. I'm just telling you what Danzō said. Besides, if I wanted to make it harder, wouldn't saying 'Kirigakure' be better?" Midorima retorted.
Kabuto smacked his lips but said nothing.
"Oh, and one more thing... it's been a long time since you've seen Yakushi Nonō, right?" Midorima asked.
Kabuto nodded.
"Do you remember what she looks like?" Midorima asked.
Kabuto nodded.
"Does she remember what you look like?"
Kabuto hesitated slightly but ultimately shook his head.
Yakushi Nonō left him when he was young. He had grown up now.
And a child's appearance changes the most.
"But... I'm still me!?" Kabuto scratched his head.
"Let me teach you a method." Midorima snapped his fingers at Kabuto, who immediately walked over to him.
"Do you have a photo of you and Yakushi Nonō together? Take it with you."
"A photo? But the photo is in Konoha..."
"I know." Midorima gestured for Sasuke to come in. "You, take him back to Konoha. As for the others, we'll create a diversion. Let me state this clearly: if anyone is followed by Uchiha Madara or his clone, they might die. You need to be prepared for death. As for avenging Orochimaru, talk about it after you survive, alright?"
Kimimaro nodded.
"How is your body?" Midorima asked again.
Kimimaro ripped out his IV tube. "Although I have a terminal illness, I won't die just yet."
"Good. Pack your things. We'll set off soon."
...
On a branch of a large tree outside Orochimaru's secret base, Obito looked down at the cave entrance, his mind racing.
The place where mistakes should least occur had actually gone wrong.
"You're saying Uchiha Itachi went to the Naka Shrine and saw the stone tablet?" Obito asked.
"Correct, I saw him enter with my own eyes. But I was afraid of being discovered, so I didn't get too close," Zetsu said, sounding slightly hesitant.