Hokage: Immortal, I Open Unlimited Eight Gates

Although the itching was unbearable, there was nothing Nawaki could do if the two of them refused to explain.

Suddenly, Orochimaru, who was advancing rapidly, came to a halt, resting one hand on the trunk of a tree as he focused on the faint outline of a building ahead.

"Nawaki, Chiba-kun, our target is just ahead. You two stay here while I scout the area and gather more information," Orochimaru instructed.

As the saying goes, "Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated." Gathering intelligence is a fundamental ninja skill. Accurate and detailed information can significantly increase the likelihood of mission success.

Orochimaru chose to go alone to avoid the risk of inexperience from Nawaki and Chiba, which might jeopardize the mission if the bandits detected them.

"I understand, Orochimaru-sensei. Don't worry, we'll wait for you here," Nawaki agreed with a nod.

Although Nawaki wanted to accompany Orochimaru, he knew reconnaissance wasn't his strong suit as a student. He didn't want to become a burden.

Chiba, however, wanted to voice his opinion and suggest dealing with the matter directly, but he held back. Orochimaru had been kind to him during their journey, and there was no need to disrupt the plan out of impatience.

"Understood, Orochimaru-sama," Chiba replied.

Satisfied, Orochimaru left, quickly vanishing into the trees.

After a few moments of silence, Nawaki turned to Chiba, curiosity etched across his face. "Chiba, what really happened this morning at the Daimyo's residence? Were we attacked or something?"

Chiba sighed, realizing Nawaki's relentless curiosity was not going to let the matter rest. Orochimaru had explicitly asked him not to explain the full story, but a half-truth might suffice.

"At that time, Orochimaru-sama felt you were being too noisy, so he used a secret technique that targets the spirit and knocked you out," Chiba said, shrugging.

"Huh? Why only me? I'm his disciple! Why didn't it affect you?" Nawaki asked, clearly upset.

Chiba was momentarily taken aback but quickly improvised. "I don't know, maybe I'm immune to that technique? Or maybe it's because I'm just quieter."

Though Nawaki still seemed puzzled, he eventually dropped the subject.

Two hours later, the sound of rapid movement through the air caught their attention.

Both immediately went on high alert.

Chiba instinctively activated his Observation Haki, just in case it wasn't Orochimaru returning but an enemy ninja.

After a moment, Chiba sighed in relief when he confirmed it was Orochimaru.

Later, the three of them found a secluded spot to sit and discuss their plan.

Orochimaru looked at the two of them and began explaining: "Here's how we'll proceed. After dark, Chiba-kun, you'll poison the bandits' water supply. Nawaki, you'll place detonating charms around the village perimeter."

"The water source is located behind the village, outside its main boundaries. It's guarded by three bandits. Chiba-kun, be careful not to make too much noise while carrying out the task."

"To ensure your safety, I'll use a Shadow Clone to monitor the situation. If anything goes wrong, I'll warn you immediately. Once both of you complete your tasks, we'll regroup and launch the final attack on the mountain stronghold."

"Do either of you have any questions?"

Chiba raised his hand. "Orochimaru-sama, I don't have any poison with me. How am I supposed to poison them?"

Orochimaru reached into his bag and pulled out a small porcelain bottle, handing it to Chiba. "This is a poison I prepared myself. It's highly lethal, so be cautious when handling it."

Chiba nodded. "Understood, Orochimaru-sama. I'll be careful."

Orochimaru then retrieved a stack of detonating charms from his bag and handed them to Nawaki. "Nawaki, use these liberally. Don't hold back."

"Yes, teacher. I understand," Nawaki replied as he accepted the charms.

Orochimaru glanced at the darkening sky. "We'll rest for now and start our operation after nightfall."

"Got it." Both students nodded in agreement.

Night fell quickly. The trio consumed soldier pills to sustain their energy before setting out toward the bandits' mountain stronghold.

Upon reaching the outskirts of the village, Orochimaru created a Shadow Clone and addressed his students.

"No need for further instructions—stick to the plan. Chiba-kun, my Shadow Clone will accompany you and alert you in case of any changes. Retreat immediately if something goes wrong. Understood?"

Chiba nodded silently, acknowledging the orders.

"Good. Let's move out," Orochimaru commanded.

Chiba carefully approached the water source at the back of the village, relying on both the cover of night and his Observation Haki to navigate undetected. Orochimaru's Shadow Clone trailed behind him, ensuring he wouldn't be caught off guard.

When Chiba was about 10 meters away from the water source, he stopped to observe the guards.

Three bandits, each armed with machetes, sat around the well, grumbling.

"Brother, second brother, this isn't fair! Why are we stuck guarding this stupid well while everyone else is eating and drinking inside?" complained one of the guards, a bandit with one blind eye.

"Yeah, it's because we offended the boss. Remember how we stole that woman the boss brought back from the village yesterday?" the second bandit replied with a sigh.

"I swear, this isn't worth it. What's the point of being bandits if we can't drink or touch women? Maybe we should complain to the boss," added the third guard.

Chiba crouched silently in the shadows, observing the scene and preparing for his next move.