Seeing Sasuke's focus shift to the four Sound ninja, Izumi quickly shouted, "It doesn't matter how many of them there are! Finish Orochimaru! Don't let him get away!"

Sasuke flashed a confident smile. "Don't worry, Izumi. My kunai pierced his heart. There's no way he could have survived."

Before the words had even fully left his mouth, the Orochimaru lying on the ground suddenly opened his mouth wide, impossibly wide, and a brand new, slime-covered Orochimaru slithered out, making his brilliant and disgusting reappearance.

"Hehe, little brat," he hissed, his voice dripping with amusement. "It's not so easy to kill me. I am immortal, after all. You should know that by now."

Sasuke and Izumi were completely frozen, utterly revolted by the grotesque display. Is there anyone more disgusting than this man? The sight alone was enough to make them nauseous.

"Hehe, that woman's genjutsu is very powerful!" Kidomaru's voice cackled. "If it weren't for Lord Orochimaru, I'm afraid we would have been caught."

Tayuya shot Izumi a venomous glare, her grip on her flute tightening. As fellow genjutsu users, a bitter jealousy and rage began to boil within her. "Hmph! Don't stop me," she snarled. "I'm going to kill her!"

Dense, black curse mark patterns instantly spread across Tayuya's body. Seeing this, Sakon taunted, "Going to your second state already? Hahaha, you really can't keep your cool against a few little brats, Tayuya."

"Shut your damn mouth!" Tayuya snapped back at Sakon, her eyes locking onto Izumi once more. Just as she was about to bring the flute to her lips, a cold wind blew past her, and a large, pale hand came down on her head.

"That's enough, Tayuya," Orochimaru's voice was a low, chilling command. "I am not here to have you fight them."

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru," she stammered, the killing intent in her eyes instantly replaced by fear. She broke out in a cold sweat as the curse seal receded from her body.

"Oh, no more fighting, no more fighting," Orochimaru said with a sickeningly sweet smile. "I didn't come here for a battle. I was just reminiscing about old times. I was only joking when I said I wanted your eyes. Don't take it so seriously. I'm a man of principle. I'm only interested in Itachi's eyes. I have no taste for anyone else's."

With another smile, Orochimaru put on his straw hat and passed a hand over his face, his features melting back into those of the female Grass ninja.

Sasuke was livid. "You say you don't want to fight, and we're just supposed to let you go? After you admit, to my face, that you covet my brother? How could I ever let you walk away?!"

"Hehehe…" Orochimaru sneered, casting a cold glance at Sasuke. "Remember to watch your mouth from now on, Uchiha. Not everyone is as reasonable as I am. Until you have the strength to back up your words, I advise you to keep a low profile. Otherwise, you will die a miserable death."

Kidomaru added with a cackle, "Hahaha! Sasuke, forget Lord Orochimaru, I bet you couldn't even beat me!"

"What did you say?!" Sasuke roared, about to lunge forward when Izumi quickly stopped him, whispering urgently, "Calm down, Sasuke! We are not as strong as him. Besides, Shiro hasn't given any instructions, nor has he made a move. We have to hold back! Don't forget why we're really here!"

"Oh? You have other purposes?" Orochimaru's tongue flicked out, his interest piqued. "It seems I'm not the only one who came to Konoha to cause trouble. How very interesting."

Izumi was shocked. Damn it! How is his hearing so sharp? He heard that?

"Tsk tsk tsk, Itachi's little fledglings," Orochimaru hissed, a final, taunting smile on his lips. "I don't care what you're planning to do in Konoha. In the end, we'll see who is the first to turn the gears of this historic moment."