Nono was a highly skilled and seasoned spy.
Her infiltration missions weren't simply about entering enemy territory. Instead, they required her to infiltrate enemy ninja villages themselves, extracting critical intelligence while avoiding detection.
Considering the strict confidentiality maintained by the great nations over their ninja village operations, missions like these were unimaginably difficult. It wasn't just about sneaking in, it was about gaining the trust of enemy shinobi, uncovering vital information, and then sending that intelligence back to her homeland without getting caught.
This level of infiltration was impossible for anyone without rigorous and specialized training.
Even Orochimaru, for all his genius and capabilities, couldn't manage it at this level, not yet.
This was why he needed Nono. Her experience and knowledge of Suna and Iwa made her an invaluable resource, saving him a great deal of trouble.
"Graves… a cemetery?" Nono blinked in surprise at Orochimaru's request.
Orochimaru nodded. "Yes, just the approximate locations will do."
"I see…" Nono nodded in understanding, her tone calm.
As a spy, one of Nono's strengths was her ability to suppress curiosity. A skilled ninja never asked unnecessary questions, especially when speaking to a superior. Orochimaru's request, unusual as it was, didn't warrant further thought from her.
"Cemeteries aren't important locations, so I never marked them on the maps," Nono explained, closing her eyes to recall the information. After a brief moment, she opened them and pointed to specific spots on the map in Orochimaru's hand. "The cemetery for Suna should be roughly here… and the one for Iwa is probably here."
"Understood," Orochimaru said with a nod.
With Nono's help, he not only gained the locations of the cemeteries but also valuable details about infiltrating both villages. Nono's knowledge included key areas to avoid and individuals to be wary of.
"You really are an excellent spy, Nono," Orochimaru remarked, his admiration genuine.
"I'm hardly worthy of such praise," Nono replied, a bit flustered by the compliment.
"Everyone has their strengths," Orochimaru said with a faint smile. "But I'll have to leave things here to you from now on."
"Understood, my lord. Safe travels," Nono said respectfully.
---
As Orochimaru walked away, he was approached by Tsunade.
"What were you and Nono talking about?" she asked.
"Nothing much. I was just asking her for some information," Orochimaru replied casually.
"Oh…" Tsunade's tone was neutral, but her expression betrayed a flicker of unease.
"Tsunade, let's part ways here," Orochimaru said as they approached a fork in the road.
Tsunade hesitated for a moment, reluctant. But then she nodded. "Alright. Just… come back soon."
"I'll do my best," Orochimaru replied before turning away and disappearing with a flash of the body flicker technique.
Tsunade stood still for a moment, watching the empty space where he had been. Then, with a determined expression, she turned and began her journey back to Konoha.
---
Although the ninja war had ended prematurely due to Orochimaru's defeat of the Kazekage, the peace was far from absolute. Small skirmishes and conflicts still erupted here and there.
Avoiding the friction points between the larger nations, Orochimaru moved through the smaller countries where he had conducted trades in the past.
The purpose of obtaining the maps from Nono was now clear, to find the remains of powerful individuals from different nations and gather their genetic material for his research. His ultimate goal was to perfect the Edo Tensei, the Reanimation Jutsu.
However, before targeting the great ninja villages for their strongest, Orochimaru needed to refine his technique. This required living test subjects, and he intended to find them in these smaller nations.
The strength of the resurrected individuals depended heavily on the quality of the sacrifices used. At the moment, Orochimaru had two prime options: White Zetsu and clones infused with the First Hokage's cells.
But White Zetsu was too elusive to capture, and the clones didn't yet have a sufficient concentration of Hashirama's cells. The experiments were still far from complete, making the use of clones inefficient.
As a result, Orochimaru needed suitable test subjects, living individuals whose sacrifice would bring his experiments closer to perfection.
---
Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, half a year had gone by.
---
Half a year later, in Iwa Ninja Village.
The village, surrounded by towering rocky mountains, was a natural fortress. Its location made it one of the most secure and defensible ninja villages in the world, almost impenetrable to enemy forces. However, its isolation also made external communication more challenging.
On one moonlit night, an uninvited guest approached Iwa Ninja Village.
He was clad in a tan uniform and wore the forehead protector of Sunagakure, his hair tied up and covered by a turban styled in the fashion of Iwa Ninja.
Standing at a distance, Orochimaru gazed at the fortress ahead, deep in thought.
After a brief pause, he pulled out a special kunai and planted it firmly into the ground. Then, raising his arms, a stream of dark matter flowed out from his sleeves and gathered on his back, forming massive black wings.
Magnet Release: Iron Sand Sky Wing.
This was the flight technique of the Third Kazekage.
With a gentle flap of the wings, Orochimaru ascended into the air, his figure cutting through the night sky.
As he climbed higher, the sprawling buildings of Iwa Ninja Village became smaller and smaller in his view.
"Using this ability for flight is far from efficient," Orochimaru muttered to himself. The technique relied on altering the surrounding magnetic field to achieve flight, but the higher he flew, the more chakra it consumed.
If it weren't for his near-limitless chakra reserves granted by his current body, he wouldn't even consider using this method to fly so high.
But now…
As Orochimaru hovered in the sky, the entirety of Iwa Ninja Village lay spread out before him. The darkness of night concealed his presence, and his black wings blended seamlessly into the shadows. At this height, no one in the village would notice him.
Orochimaru glanced down and pulled out a small container holding four specially crafted flies.
These flies, equipped with infrared night-vision capabilities, were perfect for reconnaissance. In terms of utility, they rivaled even Deidara's creations.
Releasing the flies, Orochimaru watched their perspective unfold as they scouted the village below. It wasn't long before they located the cemetery marked by Nono.
"As expected… a sensory barrier," Orochimaru murmured, his lips curling slightly.
Pulling out another kunai, Orochimaru observed the area through the scout flies' perspective and identified a shadowy, uninhabited spot just beyond the barrier.
With a flick of his wrist, the Flying Thunder God kunai sailed through the air and embedded itself in the soft earth below, bypassing the sensory barrier.
Moments later, Orochimaru's figure with his massive black wings appeared in the kunai's position.
"So far, infiltration missions don't seem to be much of a challenge for me,"