Chakra Thirst

Takara already had stored blood in the puppet, a classic trick to more realistically fake a wound when deceiving others with a puppet posing as a person. So, after Orochimaru regurgitated a thick scroll covered in slime with scale marks, the puppet was able to write the name without the real Takara needing to come out.

Orochimaru didn't have a scroll with the information he requested, but it only took him twenty minutes to explain everything he knew before leaving more than satisfied with the exchange.

After all, from his point of view, he regained his arms for just some trivial information. As for the contract with the snakes, Takara should handle it on his own as to how his relationship would be.

Once Orochimaru had moved far enough away and there was no one else, Takara detonated the puppet directly before sneaking away.

A little later, a shadow emerged from behind a tree and looked at the burnt remains around.

"Tch, Orochimaru-sama was right, it wasn't going to be so easy to follow him," a gray-haired ninja with round glasses used his index finger to readjust his lenses. "But did he notice something or was it just caution?"

Originally, Takara didn't suspect, but seeing Orochimaru examining the surroundings, he decided it was better to lose a puppet that he could replace than to let someone follow him.

"No matter, I should prepare to receive Sasuke Uchiha soon."

...

Meanwhile, Takara was reflecting on the information Orochimaru had given him. Combining it with what he knew from the series, he could tell that at least most of it seemed to be true.

What he didn't expect was that the Shikkotsu Forest, Katsuyu's residence, was actually an additional day away from the other two Sage Lands.

He always thought they would be close to each other, but apparently, Katsuyu prefers a more serene environment and has secretly been annoyed with the other two groups for a long time over things that happened in the past.

Annoyed, not angry. She would still cooperate when Tsunade summoned her, and upon careful consideration, Takara realized that Katsuyu actually seemed to maintain courtesy with the other summons of the Sannin, but she wasn't friendly on her own initiative.

Not even when Sakura became her other contractor later on.

Apparently, years ago, the most troublesome snakes always sought her out to compare their venom with her acid, while young toads sometimes sneaked into her territory to eat their reduced versions as if they were fancy snacks.

Fed up with the situation, Katsuyu simply distanced herself from them and disengaged from their fights between each other.

Without wasting too much time, Takara headed to the place mentioned by Orochimaru and sent his noxines to search for Katsuyu's clones.

He could burst into the place, but since he intended to get the slug on his side, he needed to show the right attitude.

Two hours were enough to successfully locate the entrance to the slug's Sage Land, which curiously seems to be at the bottom of a lake in a cave illuminated by fluorescent mushrooms.

Several thumb-sized clones of Katsuyu were stationed around and sensed his arrival.

"Oh, visitors aren't very frequent around here."

Takara raised an eyebrow behind his mask; the voice was gentle and soft, no one would expect that it was actually a massive slug capable of melting bones, stones, or steel with its acid.

"I hope I'm not arriving at a bad time; I can try to come back another time," Takara replied, noticing that the small versions of Katsuyu were somewhat subdued in spirit.

Did she feel Tsunade's death or something similar?

"It's nothing, in fact, you arrived at a good time," one of the Katsuyu approached closer and lifted her gaze. "Do you know of any news possibly related to Sannin Tsunade?"

"Well, I know that the Third Hokage recently died at the hands of Orochimaru," Takara recounted a conveniently trimmed version of some events in Konoha. "But no, there hasn't been anything recent about Tsunade Senju. Why do you ask?"

He didn't know if Katsuyu could discern lies, so he made sure to speak with half-truths without telling them in full.

Katsuyu seemed distracted, but shook her head, downplaying her own question and asking why he had come to this place.

"I want to become a contractor, learn about natural energy, and Sage Mode."

Takara knew it wasn't going to be ask and receive, but he was willing to persevere in order to secure his hands on that knowledge without which he couldn't break through the barriers protecting the tailed beasts' rebirth eggs.

At least, he believed it would be safer to learn it with Katsuyu than in the Ryuichi Cave.

"Sure, come with me."

Takara: ????