Chapter 48

"If it weren't for your Hozuki clan and the Third Mizukage plotting to kidnap Rin, she wouldn't have died!"

"So I will not only kill you, but wipe out the entire Hozuki clan and destroy the entire Mist Village!"

Soon, the Mist Village ANBU departed with the corpses.

Obito stood motionless, his mood gradually calming.

Zetsu's figure appeared behind him, speaking in a low voice:

"Orochimaru has rejected Nagato's recruitment."

Obito was somewhat surprised.

"That's unlikely. Given Orochimaru's personality, how could he not be tempted upon seeing the Rinnegan?"

This did not match the intelligence they had gathered.

Black Zetsu continued:

"It's not just that. Kakashi's attack on Orochimaru's base also failed; only he and Uchiha Itachi survived."

"There were strong ones in the base, perhaps the disciples Orochimaru mentioned."

Ishihara's state gave him a strange feeling.

It was like Sage Mode, yet different, making him somewhat uneasy.

Obito did not care much.

Knowing the full scope of the Eye of the Moon Plan, he understood that the strength of the so-called powerful ones in the ninja world now could not compare to his own after the plan succeeded.

Zetsu glanced at him and continued:

"Additionally, Orochimaru is leading people on the way to the Land of Water!"

Upon hearing this, Obito's brows immediately furrowed.

His plan in the Mist Village was not yet complete.

Especially the key figures and families involved in the kidnapping of Rin back then had not yet begun to be purged.

Orochimaru's arrival might disrupt his plan.

But his plan absolutely would not allow anyone to destroy it!

Obito spoke coldly: "Keep a close watch on Orochimaru; report to me immediately if anything happens!"

"Understood!"

On the other side.

After leaving the base, Ishihara and Orochimaru immediately transferred to another of Orochimaru's bases.

Still within the borders of the Land of Earth.

Orochimaru arranged for those who had survived earlier to stay in the base.

It seemed he already had a plan to establish the Sound Village.

Afterwards, Orochimaru, Ishihara, Jugo, and several other subordinates with decent strength set out together.

They took a boat from the border of the Land of Fire across the sea to the Land of Water, which lay across the water.

Not long after, the group finally landed on the soil of the Land of Water by the shore.

After going ashore, Orochimaru sneered:

"I wonder what's wrong with the Mizukage of the Mist Village recently; they actually started implementing the so-called Bloody Mist policy, purging the Mist Village's Kekkei Genkai ninja on a large scale."

"Now the Mist Village is divided into two major factions: one supporting the Bloody Mist policy, and the other resisting it."

"Currently, both factions are still restraining themselves and have not engaged in combat within the Mist Village."

"But in the Land of Water, they have gone mad with killing; countless people die every day."

"If this continues, the Mist Village will likely be ruined before long!"

One of those who followed along could not help but say: "What's wrong with the Mizukage? He actually wants to ruin his own ninja village! Could he have fallen under a genjutsu!"

Ishihara looked at the other person in surprise; you actually guessed correctly.

Orochimaru let out a sinister laugh.

"What happens to the Mist Village has nothing to do with us; on the contrary, the more chaotic it is, the more beneficial it is for us."

"Let's go; I found the base's location long ago. Let's head there first."

Under Orochimaru's lead, the group entered the borders of the Land of Water.

Along the way, they encountered four or five battles.

Chaos, bloodshed, cruelty!

This was the current state of the Mist Village and the Land of Water.

The group did not act rashly; they bypassed all battlefields and arrived at their destination.

In a remote, dense forest with towering ancient trees.

As usual, Orochimaru placed the base in such a gloomy location.

However, this base had never been activated, so it was entirely vacant.

They spent some time finally reorganizing all the data and experimental equipment, and only then did the base begin to look presentable.

Looking at the arranged laboratory, Ishihara said:

"Next, I need some time to study medical ninjutsu."

After the previous research on the Sharingan, Ishihara understood what his research lacked.

A powerful insight, and medical ninjutsu.

Orochimaru nodded, then narrowed his eyes and said:

"Speaking of medical ninjutsu, I have a candidate who might be able to help you; when the opportunity is right, I will bring him over."

"Good."

Ishihara raised an eyebrow.

If his guess was correct, that person should be Kabuto Yakushi.

Serving as his assistant would indeed be quite good.

"Then I'll trouble you, Teacher, with the intelligence matters for now!"

Although Orochimaru held some intelligence on the Mist Hidden Village, that intelligence was too broad.

To take action, they needed intelligence that was more accurate and more timely!

This required Orochimaru to personally build the intelligence network.

"Good."

Orochimaru understood that in this operation, his role was more of an assistant to Ishihara.

He had already attempted to cultivate the Sage Body!

The effect was far more shocking than he had imagined!

Precisely because of this, Orochimaru did not feel humiliated by being merely an assistant; instead, he felt an intense burning passion.

He was even more anxious than Ishihara to advance the research progress.

Deep within the base.

Ishihara was holding a scroll of medical ninjutsu and reading it rapidly.

Although the medical ninjutsu in Orochimaru's possession was not as numerous or as rich as Tsunade's.

Yet, as Tsunade's former friend and someone who had conducted extensive experiments in Konoha, the medical ninjutsu data in Orochimaru's possession was still considerable.

Medicinal herbs, medicines, poisons, antidotes, wound treatment, surgery, human anatomy, human systems, organs...

Ishihara absorbed this medical knowledge like a sponge, his foundation increasing rapidly.

【You have read a vast amount of medicinal herb data and comprehended the principles of herb compounding.】

【You have read a vast amount of human anatomy knowledge and comprehended human structure!】

【You have read a vast amount of poison and antidote theories and formulas, creating a new poison formula.】

【You have read the medical ninjutsu Palm Immortal Art, combined it with the Sage Body and natural energy, and created the true Palm Immortal Art!】

【You have read the medical ninjutsu Chakra Scalpel, combined it with Lightning Release, and created Lightning Release · Scalpel.】

【You have read a vast amount of medical ninjutsu and knowledge, creating the Secret Technique · Life Chains!】