Chapter 344: Extremely Powerful Enemies
The forest surrounding Orochimaru's main hidden base in the land of Fire stood in eerie stillness when Tobirama and Jiraiya materialized beside Ox. The Anbu commander acknowledged them with a slight nod. "Glad you made it," he whispered.
Tobirama surveyed the area, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. "What have you observed? Any signs of movements?"
Ox turned slightly, his Anbu mask concealing his expression, but his voice was calm and measured. "No visible movement yet, but there are several defenses. Orochimaru has placed barriers and traps for unwanted visitors. And like in the reports, this lair is completely subterranean." Ox reported quietly. "But just moments ago, I sensed that someone inside became aware of my presence."
Tobirama stepped forward and scanned the area. The ground beneath him felt unnatural, the barriers woven into the earth itself. "He is certainly prepared."
Jiraiya crouched down and placed his hand on the ground. He closed his eyes and extended his Sage Mode sensory abilities. The natural energy flowed through him, amplifying his perception. "There's a heavy chakra presence inside," he murmured. "Actually, make that two."
Tobirama's eyes narrowed. He, too, could sense the chakras emanating from within the base. One, in particular, felt eerily familiar—a chakra he hadn't sensed in a long time. His breath caught for a moment.
As he focused his senses, Tobirama's eyes widened, his normally stoic face betraying a hint of shock. "There are two powerful chakras inside... one of them is... familiar. Extremely familiar.."
Jiraiya furrowed his brow. "Yeah, I know what you mean. The one with the smaller chakra... I've felt it before," he said, a hint of confusion in his voice. "But I can't..." The nagging sense of familiarity from that second chakra still tugged at his mind. He had fought many powerful enemies in his lifetime, but this presence… Something about it felt strange to Jiraiya.
The Toad Sage slowly stood and his expression hardened. He could feel what Tobirama felt. One chakra was immense, radiating power in a way that felt ancient and overwhelming. The other... he recognized it, but only faintly, like a memory from a distant battle.