Chapter 86: Wanted: Pain Tendo
For a ninja who could reach any part of the continent within a week at full-speed Body Flicker Technique, the ninja world was a small place.
Especially this continent, with most of its area divided among the Four Great Nations, seemed even smaller.
Therefore, once something happened in the Four Great Nations and their ninja villages, it would quickly spread to every corner of the ninja world in a short period of time.
The annihilation of the Uchiha clan was like this back then, and so were the current Konoha Crush and the deaths of two 'Five Kage'.
To make the Hidden Sand Village pay a heavy price, to make Konoha appear reasonable and to avoid putting themselves in a passive position, neither Konoha nor the Hidden Sand Village concealed this incident. Instead, they publicly announced the information in detail.
Then, after organizing both sides' statements, the general narrative was as follows:
Orochimaru, an S-rank missing-nin from Konoha, assassinated the Fourth Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village, then disguised himself as the Fourth Kazekage and took the initiative to tear up the alliance treaty between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire. He also collaborated with Akatsuki, a notorious mercenary organization in the ninja world, leading some Sand ninjas and ninjas from his own created Hidden Sound Village, to launch the Konoha Crush during Konoha's Chunin Exams.
In this battle, the Third Hokage of Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi, died in action.
The entire Root organization was wiped out, and its leader, Danzo Shimura, was killed. The perpetrators were Sasori of the Red Sand from Akatsuki and a mysterious member possessing the legendary Rinnegan, the foremost of the Three Great Dojutsu.
The survivor whom Izayoi had spared was Sai, who was skilled in drawing. He drew the appearance of Pain Tendo vividly.
The Konoha higher-ups immediately placed a bounty on Sasori of the Red Sand and Pain Tendo in the black market, offering a super price that even Kakuzu would find incredibly tempting.
At the same time, Konoha also publicly announced the information that Sasori of the Red Sand could control a large number of puppets without chakra threads, that the Rinnegan user could infinitely use the two major abilities of repulsive and attractive forces, that the 'demigod' Hanzo was suspected to have been killed by the opponent, and that Akatsuki's main base was in the Rain Village.
As the saying goes, one stone stirs up a thousand waves!
Regardless of whether Konoha's claims were true or false, the foremost of the legendary Three Great Dojutsu, the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths from mythology, as well as the fall of the demigod and the news of Akatsuki's main base, successfully shifted the attention of various forces, focusing their gaze on the Rain Country in a remote area.
Nagato and Sasori of the Red Sand, who suddenly became the focus of the ninja world, were utterly bewildered.
"Nagato, you're too extreme!"
"Yeah, I know Danzo Shimura was also involved in the incident back then, but Leader, you've endured until now, couldn't you have endured a little longer?"
"Now that the Rinnegan and Akatsuki's main base have been exposed, and the Three-Tails will still take some time to revive, what should we do next?"
Obito Uchiha and Black Zetsu were the first to arrive, confronting Pain Tendo with accusations.
If Pain Tendo had killed Hiruzen Sarutobi or other people in Konoha, Obito Uchiha and Black Zetsu wouldn't have believed it.
But the fact that Danzo Shimura was the one who died made it very likely.
Only by plotting to kill Danzo Shimura could Nagato possibly forgive Orochimaru.
After all, Deidara's ring was still in Orochimaru's possession.
The opponent could contact Nagato.
Even though he was just a corpse, Pain Tendo's current expression was somewhat strained.
However, to maintain his dignity, he still said expressionlessly, "It wasn't me. After the last ambush on that mysterious person failed, I haven't left the Rain Village."
Konan emerged from the shadows, echoing, "I can vouch for it. Nagato and Pain haven't left the Rain Village."
"So, it was that mysterious person who did it?!"
Obito Uchiha's face under his mask was extremely unsightly.
He didn't suspect Pain Tendo was lying. A powerhouse of that level had no need or inclination to do so.
"Transformation Technique also requires a reference," Black Zetsu said in a hoarse voice. "Leader rarely shows himself. Those who have seen him have either become our comrades or have already become corpses. Logically speaking, that mysterious person hasn't seen Leader's appearance, unless..."
"Unless he can see us, but we can't see him," Konan added, her expression also extremely unpleasant, stating her analysis: "That day, that person didn't leave. He was watching us in the dark the whole time, witnessing us leave and return to the Rain Village with his own eyes."
"It might be more than that," Obito Uchiha said in a deep voice. "He could accurately tell us about Hanzo, which means he knew about us a long time ago, but only acted now. He probably really has a second pair of Rinnegan."
Black Zetsu didn't speak, but he was equally certain that the person was from the moon.
That unknown dojutsu evolved from the Byakugan possessed enhanced versions of farsightedness and X-ray vision.
Perhaps, he was watching them in the dark right now.
This incident was his return gift to them!
Thinking of this, Black Zetsu's mood became even heavier.
An enemy who could discover him while he couldn't discover them was truly terrifying.
Because... he was such a player himself!
Fortunately, he had been hiding in the dark for decades, in the state of the Mayfly Technique.
His reappearance was also through the will of Madara Uchiha, a product of Yin-Yang Release.
He was his mother's son, a Yin-Yang Release product of the chakra progenitor. Apart from his mother, even his two brothers didn't possess his characteristics of longevity.
So, Hamura must have already died, and this descendant of his should also be a junior born in the past few decades.
He definitely didn't know his true identity.
Thinking of this, Black Zetsu finally breathed a sigh of relief, his mood much lighter.
As long as his true identity wasn't exposed, he still held the initiative and advantage.
However, this threat still needed to be found out as soon as possible, otherwise, it would definitely become the biggest obstacle to the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan.
Perhaps he would have to use those White Zetsu.
Black Zetsu thought to himself.
Unless that person immediately returned to the moon after acting, as long as the White Zetsu clones laid down a net, then as soon as he acted again, he would definitely be discovered by the White Zetsu clones that were integrated with the earth and vegetation.
Black Zetsu's thoughts were unknown to others.
Before long, Sasori of the Red Sand also arrived.
"Leader, have you found any trace of that guy?" Sasori of the Red Sand's tone was unusually agitated. "That guy is simply a genius! How did he manage to control so many puppets without chakra threads? This is different from my puppet technique and Leader's puppet technique! This guy is simply a born artist!"
Sasori of the Red Sand didn't care at all about being framed, being placed on a high-priced bounty by Konoha, or even his organization and location being revealed.
He was now just like Deidara, expressing high recognition for Izayoi.
This guy was one of their kind, an artist who understood the beauty of a moment and the beauty of eternity!
"Don't know," Pain Tendo said indifferently.
Obito Uchiha and the others were speechless.
Seeing outsiders involved, they stopped discussing the Rinnegan and the mysterious person. Black Zetsu asked, "Now we've become the focus of the ninja world. Regardless of whether various forces believe it or not, they will definitely send people to infiltrate here for investigation and probing. Whether we capture or kill them, it's equivalent to exposure. Should we relocate the base?"
Pain Tendo said indifferently, "There's no need for that. No matter how many come, all who come... will die."
Black Zetsu nodded, and Obito Uchiha didn't try to persuade him.
Because... the Six Paths of Pain had that strength.
As long as it wasn't an all-out siege by the Five Great Ninja Villages, exhausting Nagato's chakra, then no matter how elite the small team, or even a team composed of the Five Kage, dared to infiltrate the Rain Village, they would undoubtedly die.
Apart from that mysterious person with the Rinnegan/unknown dojutsu, no one in the ninja world was Nagato's opponent. If not for his invincible Kamui, Obito Uchiha wouldn't even dare to appear before Pain Tendo.
...
Knock knock knock...
One morning, at a certain inn in Konoha.
The sound of knocking woke Izayoi up.
"Who is it? What's with the early morning knocking!" Izayoi said with displeasure.
Because he knew that neither Hinata nor Hanabi would knock. They would either gently or mischievously wake him up.
So without even releasing his senses, he knew that the person outside was definitely not one of the Hyuga sisters.
Click!
The person outside tried to open the door and actually turned the doorknob.
When the door opened, a black-haired boy wearing a dark blue short-sleeved shirt and white shorts stood at the doorway, looking at Izayoi with a slight frown and saying, "It's already nine thirty, why are you still sleeping? Izayoi, you're too lax."
The visitor was Sasuke Uchiha.
"Huh... unfamiliar bed, fell asleep very late," Izayoi yawned and slowly got up to put on his shoes.
"Hmph..."
Sasuke Uchiha snorted lightly, then leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, saying arrogantly, "I heard you're homeless. Do you want to move in with me? My house has many rooms."
Hearing this, Izayoi's eyes immediately lit up. "Oh right, I almost forgot about you, the 'clan head' of the Uchiha clan."
A few years ago, Sasuke Uchiha would have already been furious.
But now, he just had black lines all over his forehead, then stated his condition, "You have to pay rent to live here."
"Money is just a small matter," Izayoi waved his hand, acting generously.
"I don't want money."
Sasuke Uchiha looked at Izayoi with fervent eyes and said, "I want your ultimate techniques!"
"So that's your real purpose."
Izayoi immediately showed a playful smile, looking at Sasuke Uchiha and asking, "Want to learn Judgment or Light Fang Cannon?"
"I want them all!" Sasuke Uchiha said greedily, "I also want to learn that Fire Release Gaia Energy Cannon."
"Then that rent is too expensive, I'd rather stay in a hotel," Izayoi shook his head, continuing to tease Sasuke Uchiha.
Sasuke Uchiha, as expected, couldn't stand being teased and quickly said, "As long as you're willing to teach me, you can have anything you want, or I'll do anything you ask!"
"Hmmph, still not sincere enough," Izayoi snorted lightly, picked up his white robe, and walked into the en-suite bathroom to wash up and change.
Sasuke Uchiha stood at the door with a frown, pondering Izayoi's words.
Why wasn't it sincere enough?
He was willing to give everything he had, even the Uchiha clan's compound. As long as Izayoi wanted it, he would immediately apply to the village to get back the land deed.
He was even willing to become Izayoi's subordinate, doing whatever Izayoi asked him to do.
Wasn't that sincere enough?
Could it be that Izayoi wanted him to get back the land deed first and present it to him as a greeting gift?
Suddenly, as if remembering something, the usually cool and handsome Sasuke Uchiha's expression stiffened, and he fell into internal conflict.
But thinking of the powerful Gaia Energy Cannon and Storm Release: Judgment, as well as the terrifying Light Fang Cannon, Sasuke Uchiha took a deep breath and made a decision in his heart.
When Izayoi came out of the en-suite bathroom, Sasuke Uchiha's face was tense, and he stammered, "B... Big brother, no, L... Leader."
Izayoi was slightly taken aback, looking at Sasuke Uchiha, whose whole body was covered in goosebumps and seemed to have static electricity around him, and was also embarrassed to the point of getting goosebumps himself.
However, a feeling of amusement replaced the awkwardness.
"Cough cough..."
Izayoi cleared his throat twice and nodded with satisfaction. "The sincerity is there, but the eloquence is lacking."
"What do you mean?"
Seeing that Izayoi wasn't mocking him, Sasuke Uchiha breathed a sigh of relief and was also distracted, his face full of confusion.
But Izayoi's next words made the proud second son's face instantly turn crimson.
Izayoi made a cupping fist gesture and said in a literary tone, "You should say... 'Sasuke, adrift for many years, has not met a wise elder. If you, brother, do not despise me, I am willing to acknowledge you as my elder brother.' Or you could say... 'If you, sir, do not despise me, I am willing to follow you, or acknowledge you as my adoptive father. Although we are of similar age, I don't mind having an adoptive son.'"
At the end, Izayoi looked with a mischievous smile at Sasuke Uchiha, whose head was steaming, his face flushed red like Tom the Cat.
"Izayoi, I'm going to kill you!"
A roar shook the entire inn.
Just like when he fought Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha directly pounced on Izayoi, and the two quickly wrestled together.
However, Izayoi's words also eased the boy's embarrassment, turning the previous incident into a joke.
In the end, Izayoi agreed to teach him the ultimate techniques, and Sasuke Uchiha, with a face beaten into a pulp, barely forgave Izayoi.
Packing his luggage and storing it in a sealing scroll, Izayoi checked out and left the inn with Sasuke Uchiha.
On the way, Izayoi asked, "Do you still have any ingredients at home?"
"No, too lazy to go so far to buy things," Sasuke Uchiha said. "When I'm hungry, I just catch fish or go hunting."
"Then let's go buy ingredients first," Izayoi said. "And some cooking utensils and seasonings, after all, Hinata will come over at any time."
Thinking of Hinata's appetite, Sasuke Uchiha silently nodded.
After their training ended and they went camping, he basically had to catch fish for an hour just to have a bite to eat.
Unless they hunted a giant beast.
That woman, when she was seven-tenths full, could be on par with Choji Akimichi. When she went all out, even Choji Akimichi wasn't her opponent.
She was simply a monster!
But thinking of the burden on Hinata's chest, Sasuke Uchiha sneered.
So what if she could eat a lot? So what if her chakra reserves were stronger than his? Even if she mastered Lightning Release chakra-enhanced cells faster than him, her speed still wasn't as fast as his.
If not for those Byakugan, as long as he caught an opening, with his Gentle Fist strike that could end a battle with one hit and the Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists that could kill an enemy with the second hit after landing the first, that woman's taijutsu was definitely no match for his.
Once he learned the shape transformation of Lightning Release chakra and Izayoi's ultimate techniques, that woman would no longer be his opponent!
(End of this chapter)
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