Orochimaru Camp.
"Damn..."
Orochimaru sat in his camp reading the scroll he just received from Sarutobi and immediately became angry after reading it.
Orochimaru who had the hunch before that Sarutobi didn't want him to be Hokage now believed it truly.
Sarutobi ordered him to transfer Kozuki to Rock battlefield. Isn't this simply weakening his momentum.
"It seems that you have completely given up on me Sarutobi Teacher"
Orochimaru who had taken numerous innocent life's in his experiments and whose heart has been numb for a long time felt a little sour in his heart and his eyes were a bit wet.
After all, Sarutobi was the one who gave him the strength he had today otherwise he would be just a simple orphan without him.
So, losing his support, even for someone as evil as Orochimaru wasn't easy to handle.
After a brief silence, Orochimaru finally got over it and called the Ninja to summon Kozuki.
After a few minutes, Kozuki entered the camp as he saw Orochimaru who always had the gloomy aura around him was even more gloomy.
Kozuki got vigilant as he can't trust this vicious snake, after all he can even kill his own teacher.
"Hehe don't be so alert even if I want to I can't do anything to you, right?"
Orochimaru perhaps sensing him to be vigilant laughed evily easing the atmosphere as he was a bit frank today with Kozuki.
Kozuki was a bit confused by his behaviour but didn't thought much as he came forward.
"Why did you call me Orochimaru"
Kozuki cut straight to the subject and didn't address him as politely as before.
Orochimaru wasn't offended by his words as he handed him the scroll.
Looking at the scroll ordering him to leave for the rock village, Kozuki was a bit confused at first but soon he thought of Orochimaru's gloomy aura he understood the whole story immediately.
But Kozuki didn't care much as the battle for Hokage between Orochimaru and Minato didn't affect him at all.
"I will depart early tomorrow morning"
Kozuki replied after reading the scroll and was about to leave.
"Wait, Kozuki-Kun"
As Kozuki was about to leave, Orochimaru called him from behind as he stopped and looked at Orochimaru.
"Kozuki-Kun aren't you curious why you were transferred suddenly?"
Orochimaru was curious that whether Kozuki had figured out why he was transferred or even he was just a puppet for the village and for Sarutobi.
"Don't you know it, already, me being here will only help you increase your reputation and that is against your teacher's plan"
Kozuki didn't mind being frank with Orochimaru since he knew he was smart enough to know that he wasn't someone he could offend.
"HeHe as expected of someone who even I can't see through you really are different from those puppets"
Orochimaru was excited as Kozuki really didn't disappoint him and was smart enough to see through Sarutobi.
Kozuki didn't care for his compliment he went towards the exit.
"Kozuki-Kun remember if teacher Sarutobi can't control anyone, he would try to get rid of him, so be careful"
Orochimaru shouted from behind reminding Kozuki that he had to be careful from Sarutobi and he was also curious for his future and didn't want him to die prematurely.
Kozuki just smiled after hearing his words and left without looking back.
He knew the true face of Sarutobi so he had already expected that there might be a day when they would be on opposite sides.
He didn't have any malice for Konoha but if there is an opportunity he would clean the two tumors known as Danzo and Sarutobi himself.
_____________
Early in the morning next day,
Kozuki quietly left the Camp of Orochimaru as he marched towards his destination quickly.
Without any trouble on his way, Kozuki arrived at his destination 5 days later.
As soon as he arrived at the entrance of camp, he saw a blonde hair guy stood in front along side him was a person with red marks under his eyes and white hair.
"HaHa The famous Sword Demon is finally here"
Jiraya came forward laughing as he greeted him with a big smile.
"I have long wanted to meet the famous Jiraya-san of the Sannin"
Kozuki also came forward and replied in a friendly way.
Kozuki really liked the character of Jiraya in his previous life and wanted to be on friendly terms with him.
There was also something he wanted from Jiraya but that was for the later and not know.
"It's been a long time Kozuki-Kun"
Minato beside was a bit reserved but he greeted Kozuki politely.
"Yeah, Senior Minato, the last time we met I think it was a year ago"
Kozuki replied as he remembered there last encounter at the Yakiniku Restaurant.
"You must be tired by the long journey your tent is ready so you can freshen up and then we can talk about the war, let's go inside"
After a simple greeting, Kozuki entered the camp alongside Jiraya and Minato.