Under the cover of night, Kabuto and Baki huddled in the shadows of Kikyo Castle, discussing the intricacies of their impending invasion. The air was thick with tension, and the only sounds were their hushed voices and the occasional rustle of the wind.
Suddenly, a new presence made itself known, disrupting their clandestine meeting. Baki's eyes narrowed as he wondered how long this interloper had been listening.
"Naruto-kun," Kabuto greeted with his trademark smile, eyes glinting with intrigue. "What brings you here?"
"Oh, I just followed the stench of a snake," Toji replied coolly, his voice dripping with disdain.
Kabuto chuckled, the sound both amused and menacing. "Lord Orochimaru is quite furious with you," he said, referring to the encounter where Toji had killed Orochimaru during the second phase of the exams.
"So that bastard is still alive. The guy is a cockroach," Toji thought
"Naruto, what do you say?" Kabuto continued, his tone taking on a conspiratorial edge. "Why don't we team up?"
Toji's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why would you want to team up with me? I am your master's enemy, after all."
Kabuto's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with cunning. "Whether you are Lord Orochimaru's enemy is of no consequence. You and I both know that you have no loyalty toward this village. Why would you? They despise your existence. Plus, I know what you value most, money."
Toji couldn't help but smirk at Kabuto's astuteness. "How much are you willing to offer for my services?"
"Ten million Ryo. Five upfront, five after you assist us," Kabuto replied without hesitation.
With a quick motion, Toji drew Hitei Suru from its sheath, the blade glinting menacingly in the moonlight. Baki and Kabuto tensed, ready for a possible confrontation.
"You've got yourselves a deal," Toji said, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "But first, it seems someone wants to fight."
He glanced towards a figure in the distance, Gaara, his face twisted in fury. Gaara's was livid, stemming from the humiliating defeat he had suffered at Toji's hands during the second phase of the exams.
Gaara, seething with rage, stepped forward, his eyes locked onto Toji.
Toji's eyes gleamed with excitement. He relished the thrill of battle. Kabuto and Baki wisely stepped back, sensing the imminent clash.
Gaara's sand began to swirl around him, forming a protective barrier. His eyes burned with a fierce intensity, remembering his humiliating defeat at Toji's hands during the second phase of the exams.
"You," Gaara growled, his voice low and menacing. "I will make you suffer."
Toji smirked, unfazed by the threat. "Bring it on, kid."
With a flicker of movement almost too fast to follow, Toji dashed forward, his speed leaving a blur in the night air. Gaara's sand reacted instantly, forming a shield to block Toji's advance. But Toji was already gone, appearing behind Gaara with Hitei Suru poised to strike.
Gaara's sand followed, forming a thick wall between him and Toji. The blade clashed against the sand, and for a moment, it seemed the shield would hold. But Hitei Suru's power activated, disrupting the chakra flow within the sand. The shield wavered, and Toji's blade sliced through, forcing Gaara to leap back.
As Kabuto watched the battle unfold, a thin smile played on his lips. He had anticipated Toji's capabilities, but seeing them in action was an entirely different experience.
