Chapter 244: Xiao's Action
"It seems that the matter has been resolved."
In the quiet and dark park, Ayane listened to the report of the Hyuga branch ninja and nodded her chin lightly.
"Yeah, I didn't expect that things would be resolved so easily."
The branch ninja also sighed.
The matter that originally gave the entire Hyuga clan a headache was solved in a few moves. From this point of view, he also saw that Ayane was not just as simple as having military power.
The Kumogakure has already given the news that as long as Konoha does not pursue the murder of their Mizuno jonin, then Kumogakure will not pursue the matter of the Hyuga clan leader killing their Kumogakure delegation leader, which can be regarded as offsetting the faults of both parties.
This is also reasonable. In terms of the public opinion of Mizuno jonin, Konoha occupies the commanding heights, and the situation is not favorable to Kumogakure.
In addition, the daimyo of the two countries also do not want to continue the war.
After years of war, the economies of the two countries have suffered varying degrees of trauma.
Kumogakure only took advantage of the internal discord of Konoha to put pressure on the Hyuga clan.
Now that the Root has completely muddied the situation, the Kumogakure will naturally not be able to benefit from it.
But on the contrary, it is inevitable that the Root will be liquidated by the Third Hokage in the future.
As the dark side of Konoha, it is reasonable for the Root to have such means, but no matter what, it indirectly helps the Hyuga clan.
There may be a game between the top leaders.
"As long as you know how to take advantage of the general situation, the Kumogakure's means are not honorable, and you can fight back with equally dishonorable means."
Ayane never took
this matter to heart. He has seen too many such things in the Land of Demons.
It just so happens that this is also the area that the Root is most proficient in. It is not suitable for the Hyuga clan and the conservatives of Konoha to do things. It is most appropriate for the Root to come forward.
As long as the Root can be asked to take action and the price can be paid, and the Root can withstand the pressure in front, the face of the Hyuga clan can be preserved.
"But in this way, the branch family has also been suspected by the Hokage and the main family. It seems that the days to come will not be easy..."
The branch family ninja frowned in distress.
"What does it matter? As long as you behave yourself, they won't have to hold the evidence."
Ayane sneered.
After she left, the branch family had been suspected by the main family and the Hokage, and now this impression has only been reinforced.
As the saying goes, a person with too many lice is less likely to itch, no matter how much suspicion there is about the branch family, it is a painless act for the current Hyuga branch family.
"Having said that...Ayane-sama, have you really teamed up with Danzo?"
The branch family ninjas are very concerned about this.
On the surface, this matter was easily resolved by the Root.
However, the Root will also be suppressed and checked by the Third Hokage in the future.
It is definitely not the style of the Root leader Danzo to let the Root, which has finally developed and has made some progress, suffer a blow at this time.
If there were no people from the Hyuga clan who had contact with Danzo, Danzo would never be so righteous.
Intervening in the game between the top leaders has always been expressly prohibited by the Hyuga clan.
Neither the main family nor the branch family can participate in the game between the top leaders.
As long as the Hyuga clan still possesses the bloodline limit of the Byakugan, Konoha will not be able to leave the Hyuga clan, and the status of the Hyuga clan will not be reduced.
In the midst of the turbulent currents, maintaining that delicate stability is the strategy that the Hyuga clan has always used.
But this "always" seems to be broken at this moment.
"Who knows. You just need to continue to wait for the opportunity in Konoha, and you don't need to do anything extra. When the time comes, you will naturally understand everything."
Ayane maintained a mysterious style.
"Is that so."
I always feel that there are still many things that cannot be explained here, but as a liaison, the branch family ninja naturally dare not expect to know everything.
The more you know, the risk of being exposed.
But one thing is certain, there must be someone in the Hyuga clan who secretly contacted Danzo and promised Danzo something that was difficult to refuse, so that Danzo's roots started to operate at this time and blocked the sanctions against the Hyuga clan by Kumogakure.
As for whether it was someone from the branch family or someone from the main family, it is unknown.
"Then I'll take my leave first."
The branch family ninja planned to leave.
"One more thing." Ayane's words came from behind him: "Pay attention to Hyuga Hizashi. He has received orders from the main family and is secretly investigating the branch family personnel. Let the people over there stay as they are and don't do anything unnecessary."
"Yes."
The branch family ninja was startled.
Their branch family had no idea that Hyuga Hizashi had made such a deal with the main family. They thought that after this incident, they could win over Hyuga Hizashi and make him a fighting force on their side.
Now it seems that everything is just their own wishful thinking.
Watching the branch family ninja leave, Ayane turned her head slightly and looked at a tree not far away. It was dark all around.
"Come out."
Ayane's voice fell, and a figure walked out from behind the tree.
Wearing a white medical coat, with a pair of glasses on his chest, his eyes looked very smart and intelligent.
Asami Masumi.
"Long time no see, Ayane-sama."
She bowed slightly to Ayane.
"What's the matter with coming to see me at this time?"
Ayane asked.
I went to Konoha by myself without saying hello to Asami Masumi.
The other party deduced something through a series of recent changes in the Hyuga clan.
I have to say that this is a woman with a very sharp eye.
She can deduce a lot of important information by herself through small changes in details, and even directly follow the clues to find her here.
It is enough to prove her intelligence.
"This is something that someone wants to pass on to Lord Shiraishi. I originally planned to let someone else pass it to Lord Shiraishi, but it is a serious matter and I am worried about accidents. If I let Lady Ayane pass it on personally, it will be safe."
Asami Masumi took out a black scroll from the pocket of her white coat.
Ayane observed with her Byakugan that a very powerful sealing technique was cast on the black scroll.
The complexity of this sealing technique made even Ayane frown slightly.
"Who is it?"
"Akatsuki."
Asami Masumi said a word.
This is the name of an organization.
It originated in the Rain Country region in the early years. It is a national salvation organization formed by a group of aspiring young people who sacrificed their blood and ideals to save the Rain Country.
But with the outbreak of the Third Ninja World War, Akatsuki also became the sacrifice that laid the foundation for Konoha's great victory in the confrontation between Yugakure and Sunagakure.
Most of the original members of Akatsuki died at the hands of Konoha's roots, including their first generation leader Yahiko.
However, although most of the Akatsuki people became victims of Konoha's victory in the war, they were not completely wiped out.
There were also two people who escaped that day.
Taking advantage of the critical time when Konoha and Kumogakure went to war, the remnants of Akatsuki eliminated Kanzo who betrayed the interests of Yugakure, and completely controlled the Yugakure Village, making it impossible for Konoha to take care of it.
According to the investigation of intelligence personnel from the Demon Country, Akatsuki has gradually shown signs of revival in the past two or three years.
"Akatsuki?"
Ayane seemed to be considering something.
It's no wonder. Others may not know much about Akatsuki, but for her, it's not a big secret.
The leader of Akatsuki is Nagato, who possesses the legendary Samsara Eye that only the Six Paths Sage has.
A few years ago, when she joined forces with Shiraishi and Ruri to kill Madara, Nagato's strength was already not weak.
After a few years, it is unknown what level the opponent's strength has grown to.
In general, this is a potential threat that is not weaker than the five major countries.
And in terms of hiding, it is not weaker than the Demon Country.
"Yes."
Asami Masumi was not surprised at all that Akatsuki's Nagato was looking for her and contacting Shiraishi.
Three years ago, they had a brief cooperation, which led to the sacrifice of the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze and his wife, which greatly reduced Konoha's strength.
With such a good foundation for cooperation, Nagato came to seek cooperation again, and naturally he had to go through her as an intermediary.
"This organization has been acting a bit dishonest recently. It is said that Jiraiya seems to be tracking down Akatsuki as well."
Ayane took the black scroll handed over by Asami Masumi and planned to take it back to Shiraishi for disposal.
"Jiraiya?"
Asami Masumi was somewhat stunned.
"Yes, ever since Orochimaru left Konoha, Jiraiya seems to have been looking for Orochimaru's footprints in the Ninja World. Orochimaru seemed to have had contact with Akatsuki after that, so Akatsuki was targeted by Jiraiya."
"Akatsuki actually had contact with Orochimaru? This is really new."
Asami Masumi showed an interesting smile.
If I remember correctly, the reason why the first generation of Akatsuki ended miserably was that Orochimaru was the driving force behind the scenes.
At that time, Orochimaru was still a general in Konoha.
It is better to say that Hanzo died in the hands of Sunagakure than in the conspiracy of Orochimaru.
Orochimaru betrayed the alliance with Amegakure and did not arrive at the battlefield as promised on the day of the decisive battle, causing Hanzo to be besieged and killed by Sunagakure ninjas.
After that, in order to conceal this fact, Danzo of the Root immediately launched a thundering force, stabbed Akatsuki in the back, brutally killed most of the members including the leader of Akatsuki, and supported Kanzo as a puppet to achieve the goal of controlling the Hidden Rain Village.
With such a deep blood feud, Akatsuki actually cooperated with Orochimaru.
This was incredible to Asami Masumi.
"This leader of Akatsuki is not an optimist. Be careful when you come into contact with him."
Ayane warned Asami Masumi.
"Ah, of course I understand."
Asami Masumi's face was extremely solemn.
With a deep blood feud with Orochimaru, Akatsuki's Nagato could still contact Orochimaru so calmly and form an alliance with him.
Because of this, Akatsuki's Nagato is even more dangerous.
People who devote everything for their ideals and can tolerate even deep blood feuds are the most terrifying.
Such people will sooner or later become the top enemy.
An opponent more terrifying than the five major countries.
◎
In the desolate little village, green smoke was everywhere.
Not long ago, this was a relatively peaceful village, but now it has become a ruin.
"Really, I still can't find satisfactory materials..."
Looking at the ninja corpses on the ground, a hoarse and impatient voice came from the hunched man's mouth.
With rough eyebrows, thick voice, and five hairs on his head, he looks like a very vulgar adult male.
What's more, he is hunched over, which makes him look even more ugly and vulgar.
He is wearing a coat with a black background and red clouds, and his hands are hidden in his sleeves.
Behind him is a metal weapon that looks like a scorpion's tail. The tip and both sides are stained with a lot of blood, mixed with the purple venom on the metal tail, which looks extremely weird.
He hunched over, dragged his huge body, and carefully examined every ninja corpse on the ground.
But no matter how he checked, he couldn't see a "material" that satisfied him.
These corpses can only make puppets of miscellaneous soldiers, but cannot become precious collections in his eternal art.
"If you keep looking like this, I don't know how many people will die. You are too impatient, Scorpion."
Another man came over, his laughter was bewildering.
He had purple cold eye shadow, his eyes were like snake pupils, and his long black hair was flying in the wind.
It was Orochimaru, one of the three ninjas who had long left Konoha.
He is now a well-known S-class defector ninja in the ninja world.
He was also wearing a black coat with red clouds on it, and walked over and said jokingly.
"I have no interest in failures. But you, on the other hand, can be a good collection."
The man called 'Scorpion' sneered at Orochimaru unceremoniously, without any friendly interaction between companions.
"You can't kill me."
Orochimaru was not angry because of this, and a smile still hung on his waxy face. I don't know what he was thinking in his heart.
Scorpion snorted in dissatisfaction.
It was indeed as Orochimaru said, he couldn't kill this invincible rotten snake.
Judging from the power of ninjutsu, he was obviously stronger.
But in terms of immortality, this rotten snake was probably no longer human.
Just like him.
"Next, I will look for suitable materials. If you are unhappy, you can go and do it on your own."
Scorpion knew that he hated getting along with people like Orochimaru.
This rotten snake had no idea of the beauty of art and could only spit out snakes from his mouth. This kind of ninjutsu that made people feel physically uncomfortable was a complete blasphemy against art in Scorpion's eyes.
Even though he was no longer a human being and did not need to eat or drink water, Scorpion still felt nauseous about it.
"But we are members of a group. We should get along well. This is what the leader told us to do."
Orochimaru said.
"Get along well? If you don't have the same interests, there is nothing we can do. I don't want to talk about art with a rotten snake all day long."
"That's unfortunate. I am quite interested in your puppet body."
Unlike Scorpion's indifference, Orochimaru was happy to talk to Scorpion.
Scorpion just snorted coldly, ignored the ninja corpses on the ground, dragged the heavy corpses, and slowly left.
Orochimaru also slowly followed and left this unknown small ninja village.
There are countless small ninja villages like this without a name in the ninja world.
Most of them are a group of people who know some simple ninjutsu, a mob gathered together.
"Next we have to go to the Bear Country."
Scorpion spoke to Orochimaru in an almost commanding tone.
"The Bear Country?"
Orochimaru frowned slightly.
"The Hell Valley in the Bear Country has the highly toxic substances I need, and the treasure of the Star Ninja Village, which seems to be an alien meteorite. I need that to increase the hardness of the puppet."
Scorpion explained the reason why he was going to the Bear Country.
Orochimaru nodded.
"I don't care, but before that, we have to meet someone."
"Who?"
"Have you forgotten the leader's instructions?"
Orochimaru asked back.
"Of course I haven't forgotten. The leader asked us to come out and find some powerful ninjas to join the 'Akatsuki' and serve the 'Akatsuki'."
Scorpion remembered this order.
But the hope of doing so is not great.
The powerful ninjas are basically concentrated in the ninja villages of the five major countries. There are only a handful of S-level defected ninjas wandering outside, and most of them have their own unique skills. It is not so easy to find their traces.
To put it another way, even if the traces of these S-level defected ninjas are found, it is still a question whether they will join or not.
Therefore, up to now, there are only a few official members in their "Akatsuki".
"I already have a suitable candidate. After finding him, we will go to the Bear Country."
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"Who is it?"
Although he didn't like Orochimaru very much, Scorpion had to admit his talent.
The ninja who could be recruited by Orochimaru himself must have extraordinary qualities.
"Come to think of it, he and I are both from Konoha ninjas."
"Oh, from Konoha." Scorpion paused, as if to mock Orochimaru: "Then there are quite a few S-level defectors in your Konoha. As far as I know, there are already four. Including the person you mentioned, there are now a total of five."
Long before Orochimaru, the three ninjas, defected, Konoha already had three S-level defectors.
In addition to Chiba Shiraishi, who is unknown and has very little information, the other two are from the Uchiha and Hyuga clans, the wealthy families in Konoha.
"I originally wanted to find Sakumo's three disciples, but the leader refused and said that they would not join Akatsuki."
Orochimaru remembered something interesting, and his lips split like a snake.
"Oh? In other words, the leader has already contacted those three people?"
To be sure that the three S-level defectors would not join Akatsuki, Scorpion thought, this was not the style of their Akatsuki leader.
That can only mean one thing, that the leader of their Akatsuki organization, in fact, without their knowledge, had contacted those three people and confirmed that they would not join Akatsuki.
"That can only be the case. Samsara Eye... is really a mysterious power. I really misjudged them back then."
Orochimaru stretched out his long tongue and licked the edge of his mouth, and his expression became gloomy.
But that's why things become interesting.
Who would have known that the three little ghosts who were let go back then would grow up to this point now.
Thinking of Nagato's strength, Orochimaru couldn't help but shudder.
That's not the power that humans can have at all.
In front of such power, the three ninjas also seem insignificant and have no power to fight back.
Now it seems that the order of the Root against Akatsuki is completely wrong.
The most troublesome person in Akatsuki is not that Yahiko, but Nagato who has Samsara Eye.
But in this case, where will the new trend of Akatsuki blow to? That's what Orochimaru is interested in.
It's also the reason why he joined Akatsuki.
Staying in Konoha, where the will is decaying, has long lost interest.
Although he and Nagato had made mistakes, the other party did not seem to care, which surprised Orochimaru.
There was one more reason to stay in Akatsuki. It was more interesting to observe Nagato's every move and see how far Nagato, who had these legendary eyes, could grow and what new impact he would have on the ninja world. It was more interesting than staying in Konoha.
On the road to eternal life, there is no better way to kill time than this novel fun.
Scorpion must think so too. When Orochimaru looked at Scorpion, there was some sympathy and admiration in his eyes.
While he was still pursuing eternal life, the other party seemed to have accomplished this feat at