Chapter 217: Hunting the Otsutsuki? The One Who Returns to the Village

As time passed, Leaf Village gradually became bustling without anyone noticing.

Although outsiders suddenly appeared in the village, for Leaf Village this was nothing unusual.

In recent years, after being bombarded by movies and the introduction of "exchange students," Leaf Village had long become accustomed to having a multitude of outsiders within its borders.

As long as these people cause no trouble, everyone is too lazy to pay them any mind.

After all, everyone is the same, only the villages differ, and sooner or later we will all live together.

Of course, there is another reason not to worry: Leaf Village has a complete defense system!

No matter how fierce or strong you are, Leaf Village is full of powerful ninja.

Even if you are strong, can you surpass Lord Hokage?

Even if Lord Hokage does not act, Leaf Village still has the Hokage's assistant, the previous Hokage, as well as the Police Department chief and the ANBU, among other powerful organizations.

If you dare to cause trouble, you could be summoned to any department for a talk in an instant, and these departments have always dealt with rogue outsiders with a heavy‑handed approach!

"But this Chunin Exam really has me looking forward to it; with such a grand spectacle, it must be spectacular."

Many ninja of Leaf Village couldn't help but wonder, and while the villagers watched the excitement, the ninja in charge of screening at Leaf Village's main gate was a bit flustered.

Because at that moment a group of about thirty‑plus people stood at the village entrance, quietly awaiting the ninja screening.

"Hmph, Leaf Village puts on such a big front; Teacher Ma Ji personally brought us here, yet this lengthy screening shows they clearly don't trust us."

Among the crowd, a ninja in black whispered, his face painted with heavy makeup, carrying a white‑cloth‑wrapped object on his back, looking especially mysterious.

Ma Ji, one of Luo Sha's most trusted ninja, appears outwardly as an ordinary elite Jonin, but his reputation inside the village is very high.

Everyone knows that, barring any mishap, he will probably become the next Wind Shadow's aide.

"Alright, Kan Jiulang, behave yourself during this special period."

Beside him, a girl in white with yellow hair whispered, carrying a large folding fan on her back, radiating youthful energy.

"If outsiders come to our Sand Hidden Village, especially in such numbers, strict screening is applied; there's nothing to complain about."

"Hmph!"

Kan Jiulang let out a cold humph at those words, clearly displeased by the situation.

In fact, his displeasure wasn't just about the queue; he was also irritated by Leaf Village's prosperity.

Since entering the Land of Fire, he has clearly felt a vitality completely different from that of his own village!

Even villages in the Land of Fire that are far from Leaf Village are far more prosperous than Sand Hidden Village can compare to.

Such a huge disparity made Kan Jiulang feel especially uncomfortable.

In fact, it wasn't just him; all the visitors felt similarly irritated, wondering, "How can Leaf Village occupy such fertile land while they can't even set foot in River Country?"

River Country is a small nation between the Land of Fire and Wind Country, serving as a natural buffer for both sides, and wars usually break out there.

River Country enjoys pleasant climate and fertile soil; although mineral resources may be lacking, the land fulfills Wind Country's long‑standing desire—for agriculture.

They can ignore many things, but the inability to be self‑sufficient even in food is intolerable, and Leaf Village is the one who shattered that dream.

"Alright, let's go inside."

Just as Kan Jiulang's irritation flared, Ma Ji returned carrying the documents.

Upon hearing that, everyone stopped chatting, entered Leaf Village in single file, and, though silent, couldn't help scrutinizing everything about Leaf Village.

That curiosity seemed unstoppable, especially for Kan Jiulang and Shouju, as it was their first time leaving Wind Country, and they were fascinated by everything in the Land of Fire.

Ma Ji frowned at the sight, but after a moment's thought he sighed lightly, noting that Leaf Village's prosperity is truly unimaginable to ordinary people.

Regardless of their ninja rank, they all feel curious and can't help exploring; it's pure instinct.

"Kan Jiulang, Shouju, you may go explore freely."

Thinking that, Ma Ji bluntly said.

"Although you must prepare for the exam upon arriving at Leaf Village, there is still time for free activity, so you can also investigate Leaf Village's information thoroughly."

"This"

Shouju and Kan Jiulang were stunned by Ma Ji's words, but soon their faces lit up with surprise, and Shouju couldn't help asking.

"Teacher Ma Ji, is this appropriate?"

"There's nothing inappropriate; now you're my subordinates, just follow my orders."

Ma Ji waved his hand nonchalantly and spoke plainly.

"Getting to know your opponent is worthwhile; let's have everyone gather intelligence."

Hearing Ma Ji, Shouju and Kan Jiulang instantly became excited, bowed slightly to Ma Ji, and then turned toward other places.

They were genuinely curious about Leaf Village, and truly wanted that medicine to understand Leaf Village.

"Lord Ma Ji, is this really okay? They are the Wind Shadow's children."

A ninja beside Ma Ji couldn't help asking upon seeing this, but Ma Ji gently shook his head.

"There's nothing inappropriate; letting them move around is fine, especially since we have other tasks, and we won't be able to control them then.

Rather than keeping them confined in the hotel, it's better to let them be active, right?"

As envoys, Ma Ji and his group truly have many duties, not only meeting with people from Leaf Village but also with those from other villages.

With such a busy schedule, it's impossible to attend to these two youngsters in every detail.

Given that, it's better to let the two youngsters relax a bit.

He never imagined that Kan Jiulang and Shouju had only just left not long ago.

Bang!

At a corner of the road, a brat slammed head‑first into Kan Jiulang, nearly knocking him off balance.

The brat staggered, leaning backward, and finally fell heavily onto the ground, unable to keep his balance.

"Damn it"

Kan Jiulang rubbed his abdomen and glared unfavorably at the one who collided with him.

"Hey, kid, you looking for death!"

——

"Their squad has already arrived?"

"Yes, but their shadow will probably only come over at the final match, though their troops already show signs of movement."

In the Hokage's office, Yuzhi sat at the Hokage's desk listening to Minato's report, and he couldn't help but lightly nod.

Although they weren't worried these guys would cause any trouble, the matters that required seriousness still needed to be taken seriously.

After all, this whole bunch had run into the village; if even one wasn't handled properly, it would be a problem.

As for their troop movements, they thought their forces were well hidden; in reality it was similar, but the personnel arrangement on Leaf Village's side was beyond what they could imagine!

After the First Hokage was revived, Yuzhi promptly gave him a mission: to seek out and monitor the large forces of other villages.

Regarding this, the First Hokage internally wanted to stay in Leaf Village, because he knew Ban was also here.

But upon hearing Yuzhi's task, after some weighing, he finally agreed.

His issue with Ban would be resolved sooner or later, and it wasn't urgent at this moment; moreover, in his perception he sensed that Ban might not even be in Leaf Village.

That discovery left him a bit regretful, yet not surprised, since Ban's situation was extremely unusual.

Thus, temporarily leaving Leaf Village to gather intel outside wasn't a bad thing for ZhuZhang either.

Now he had obtained enough information, giving Leaf Village better preparation space.

"Then let the Police Department mobilize at any time; tell ZhiShui that during this period he might be busy."

Yuzhi thought for a moment, then smiled and spoke.

"As for the Police Department members who work hard, Leaf Village can cover part of the subsidies; I think they'll be pleased."

"Actually, Leaf Village can take on the whole cost without issue."

Minato smiled and shook his head, then glanced at the time before speaking.

"If there's nothing else, I'll head over to the examination hall; this time the assessment has the Third Hokage involved, and everyone is striving for stability."

This Chunin Exam differs from the original in one way: the chief examiner for this assessment will be Minato Namikaze throughout.

Given his status, he didn't need to do this, but considering the seriousness, he decided to step in personally to handle the issues.

Thus he had many preparations, while the Third Hokage and his team handled reception duties; you could say everyone became busy.

"Alright, thank you for your hard work."

Yuzhi smiled and nodded, and Minato's chakra flickered slightly; the next instant he vanished from the office.

Watching Minato disappear, Yuzhi stretched lazily.

But after he felt the immense life force within his body, the smile on his face couldn't help but bloom again.

"Such life force is truly beyond imagination in its strength."

Yuzhi himself wasn't quite sure how strong the life force inside him truly was, as a being who had just crossed from the 'Human' tier to the 'Ōtsutsuki' tier.

His many perceptions of life and things at this moment, even though he now had an entirely new concept, were still influenced by his human consciousness.

Especially, his situation was even more unique, because he was a 'wall‑bound'!

After being forcibly 'enhanced' by Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, Yuzhi's condition completed the final 'fusion', and it was a 'flawless' fusion!

This fusion, besides granting him the benefits of being an Ōtsutsuki, also finally activated his cheat.

His 'Divine Ascension Long Stage' was still one level short, and this forced enhancement unsurprisingly activated the final segment of his 'Divine Ascension Long Stage'!

"Indeed, the final segment of the 'Divine Ascension Long Stage' is the breakthrough of the Bloodline Net."

Yuzhi murmured, noting that the breakthrough of the Bloodline Net brought a qualitative leap, and the Divine Ascension Long Stage truly propelled him to an unimaginable level.

Perhaps to compensate for the loss incurred by Yuzhi's life transcendence, the final boost of the Divine Ascension Long Stage focused not on 'power' but on the 'quality of life'!

This enhancement also made Yuzhi understand more about the meaning of 'life'.

In Yuzhi's previous life, there were actually two legendary ways to achieve a life‑span crossing.

One was the cyberpunk style of 'flesh cries weak, mechanical ascension', and the other was the cultivation‑esque 'genetic ascension'.

The reason cultivation is called 'genetic ascension' is that its traditional mindset uses natural forces to achieve a complete metamorphosis of the self.

During this metamorphosis, one's cells and genes also change, so calling it 'genetic ascension' is accurate.

"For a transmigrator like me, the only truly acceptable path is cultivation, not some 'cyberpunk'."

As the saying goes, one must enjoy both spicy delicacies and essential‑oil spa, both feasting and frolic, and also snow, moon, wind, and flowers.

If the whole body turns to iron skin and even desire disappears, what's the point of such mechanical ascension?

Thus, in Yuzhi's inherent thinking, ascension doesn't replace the flesh; it makes the flesh never die.

"But an undying flesh is fundamentally impossible for ordinary people."

Yuzhi gave a wry smile; the disparity in life tiers was indeed vast, and nature's great power also played a huge role.

Nature already has abundant resources; it certainly can't let a bunch of beings run amok.

Since his elevation to this tier, Yuzhi could perceive that many natural crises are actually a form of nature's 'self‑cleansing'.

Whether common natural disasters or extreme climates, they all serve to balance the number of lives.

In such circumstances, human life genes also undergo minor changes, such as encoding a 'main quest' within the gene.

This task makes individuals who have completed reproduction gradually die, to avoid crowding the offspring's resources.

Because individual death benefits the group's propagation.

If the older generation never dies, the next cannot dominate, and evolution becomes locked in the previous generation.

"It's kind of like when I was a wage‑slave in my past life: to get a promotion you first have to wait for your boss to be promoted; if he can't be promoted, you just wait for him to pass away."

Yuzhi couldn't help shaking his head at this thought; under nature's suppression, genes naturally don't care about an individual's life or death.

Its starting point has always been the group; the underlying logic of evolution has never been about the individual, but about ensuring the group's continuation.

Dual suppression makes achieving eternal life almost impossible, and under such constraints, completing a life's metamorphosis is even more unimaginable!

Yuzhi doesn't even know how much chakra this upgrade consumed, nor can he tally how many lives were emptied by his advancement.

Normally, for his body to fully recover from such an upgrade might take a very long time.

Even if it doesn't affect his combat power, it certainly lowers his ceiling, since he's no Celestial Dragon.

He's not born an Ōtsutsuki; he got here step by step!

"And even for an Ōtsutsuki, they'd probably still need to use lives to boost themselves while replenishing their own."

Only after becoming an Ōtsutsuki does one truly grasp the Ōtsutsuki methods, and the more he understands, the more a chill rises in his heart.

Before his transmigration, he knew of a so‑called Ōtsutsuki God who could elevate life to that level.

"How much life has that guy actually absorbed?"

Yuzhi couldn't believe it nor imagine it, yet a wild thought sprang up inside him.

He is someone who never rests, and he also has to consider Hikari, as well as Shizui and Sasuke and the others.

So how can one absorb and replenish such massive chakra and life force, and where to obtain that power?

Could it be learning the Ōtsutsuki way?

Or, find a suitable planet and say, "I suspect your planet has weapons of mass destruction, seriously endangering cosmic security"?

Then forcibly claim it, plant trees peacefully—if they want dignity, give them dignity; if they don't, make it happen for them?

Maybe, with abundant resources, launch a "capture the big, subdue the small" move, grabbing a wave to mine resources for oneself?

"Isn't this a bit… something?"

This would make Auschwitz weep and Siberia fall silent; if he couldn't fly there, he'd have named his ship "Mayflower".

Although looting resources can't be called robbery—it's assisting aliens in developing a planet—but this way Yuzhi and the Ōtsutsuki are truly indistinguishable.

"Besides, they've been meticulously draining that 'one mu three fen of space' for so long; how much is left for me?"

Yuzhi's gaze grew distant; though tempted, he forced it down.

"The reason humanity can dominate Earth as terrifying upright apes is because humans excel at thinking."

When winter comes, herbivores migrate, small animals burrow, and carnivores rely on thick fat.

Humans, however, strip other animals of their fur and wear it to survive winter, and humans never evolved any messy toxins or such abilities.

Because extracting toxins from poisonous creatures and coating weapons with them—does that make yours mine?

"Yours becomes mine; that's the key!"

Since Ōtsutsuki Kaguya has already offended those Ōtsutsukis, and those Ōtsutsukis keep marching toward the Ninja World.

Since Yuzhi also needs massive life force and chakra here, who could be more worthy of absorption than the Ōtsutsuki?

They can absorb billions of lives to boost themselves; shouldn't we prevent Yuzhi from doing the same?

"Besides, there are only so many cosmic resources; they dominate absolutely—taking action against them might actually be good for the universe, right?"

Subconsciously, Yuzhi overlooks that these Ōtsutsukis might actually be the "cosmic scavengers".

After all, overpopulation of life does need someone to clean up; otherwise there wouldn't be a purple sweet potato in any world eager to snap its fingers.

But Yuzhi doesn't care; although his culture often preaches "following the Dao, natural law".

Yet deep in his spirit lies the thought "fight the heavens, fight the earth, fight mankind; endless joy", so how could he not try?

"Ōtsutsuki…"

Thinking of that, Yuzhi's gaze deepened.

"Now, I actually welcome you!"

——

While Yuzhi's mind was undergoing a spiritual storm, even bordering on madness, about to act against the Ōtsutsuki.

On the Leaf Village side, Kan Kurou's gaze turned hostile as he said.

"Kid, you looking for death!"

"Damn, it hurts!"

Muyu Maru also wore a look of grievance; he had been knocked and felt dazed.

Just hearing someone speak that way, he couldn't hold back!

"Asshole, who are you to talk to me like that? Do you know who my big brothers are?"

"I don't care who your big brothers are!"

Danger flashed in Kan Kurou's eyes as he sneered.

"Provoking me and still spouting nonsense, you're asking for death!"

"Eh?"

Seeing Kan Kurou stride toward him with fists clenched, Muyu Maru wasn't as panicked as expected, but looked at him with a strange gaze.

However, when Muyu Maru saw Kan Kurou's forehead guard, he seemed to have an epiphany.

"No wonder, you're not from Leaf Village, yet even as an outsider you're the first to be so arrogant there."

"Are you sure you want to move against me, and inside Leaf Village?"

Although the Third Hokage couldn't restore because of Yuzhi, a loss may be a blessing.

He now has his eldest son alive, his relationship with his younger son Asuma is good, and even his wife has revived.

Although at first he was forced to compromise by three Mangekyou Sharingan threats, now he truly acknowledges Leaf Village.

He differs from Danzo in that he is more pragmatic, "the wise know the times".

Since Muyu Maru isn't a Hokage, his status may not match the original, but his upbringing was better.

Under the education of Shinnosuke and his wife, he performed well, and he met Sasuke and Naruto at a young age.

Thus Sasuke and Naruto each gained a junior.

Although he never feels pride toward his village's people, after all his father suppresses him, and Yuzhi also dislikes big families running amok.

Uchiha Clan also set a good example, so each great family copied it, and Mokuyamamaru naturally couldn't escape it.

He has no problem with people from his own village, is a bit proud toward outsiders, and when dealing with especially arrogant outsiders, he loses his good temper.

"Tch, I don't care who you are, I'm going to beat you today!"

Unfortunately, Mokuyamamaru this time unlucky ran into Kan Kurou, not because Kan Kurou is a fool, but because the other is also a child of the Shadow!

He doesn't really need to be so cautious about some actions; as long as there's no war and both sides maintain an apparent peace, his status can indeed afford him some convenience.

But before he could do anything, the next moment a figure appeared behind him, and the cold sensation made his hair stand on end instantly.

"Oh, is that so?"

A cold voice suddenly rang out; he could even feel a chill on his neck.

Unsurprisingly, a Ninja Sword was already pressed against his throat!

"So fast!"

Shouju saw the person appearing behind Kan Kurou; she immediately wanted to act, but she suddenly realized the fan behind her had already been held down by someone!

"Hey hey hey, you outsiders, behave properly in Leaf Village and don't cause trouble, or Sasuke will take you out."

Behind her, another voice sounded, and from the corner of his eye he saw a blond‑haired youth.

The speed of those two was suffocating; Kan Kurou and Shouju couldn't even see how they moved, only that they were subdued in an instant!

Such speed truly filled them with fear, but when they heard the name 'Sasuke', they seemed to understand something in an instant.

"Are you the Fifth Hokage's adopted son Uchiha Sasuke, and the Fourth Hokage's son Uzumaki Naruto?"

Shouju's complexion darkened as she asked, genuinely not expecting that on her first day in Leaf Village she would already have provoked these two.

Perhaps these two aren't as strong as imagined, but what the people behind them represent is what truly frightens them!

"Huh, you know us?"

Naruto blinked, then smiled at Sasuke.

"See, I told you we're still famous!"

"Shut up, idiot."

Sasuke was too lazy to pay attention to Naruto; as Naruto's close friend he knew the guy was the type to lose his temper over the slightest slight.

He only cast a puzzled glance around, because he didn't see any sign of Gaara.

But he was too lazy to think further, and with a detached tone he said to Kan Kurou and Shouju.

"I don't care who you are; you seem to be here for the exam, so you'd better obey Leaf Village's rules.

This time you were lucky to encounter us; if you were ANBU, merely attacking that guy would give you a high probability of being killed.

Know that, although he looks foolish, his grandfather is the Third Hokage.

Therefore, for the sake of your lives, and for you to smoothly take the Chunin Exam, I hope you behave."

Sasuke spoke grandly, but thought to himself: actually taking the Chunin Exam is no different from being targeted by ANBU now; either way it's death.

But he was too lazy to voice that; there was no need.

Others beg for death; does he have to burst with a savior's heart to rescue such people?

Not even kicking him once would be considered good!

"Hm."

Kan Kurou let out an annoyed snort, but this time his sound was much softer, clearly feeling a bit guilty.

Shouju gave a slight bow, showing gratitude and understanding; she never expected to encounter three 'Prince Party' members at once in Leaf Village.

Such bad luck, really unparalleled!

"We understand; we will obey Leaf Village's rules, so please rest assured."

"Good then, Mokuyamamaru, let's go."

Sasuke gave the two a glance, clearly uninterested in further idle talk, and he grabbed Mokuyamamaru, turned his head and left.

That made Naruto purse his lips in displeasure, but Naruto didn't do anything to 'maintain harmony' in front of outsiders; he simply followed and left.

"Damn, these guys."

After they left, Kan Kurou finally muttered an angry curse, while Shouju sighed.

"Alright, this is someone else's territory; we should be more careful."

"Tch, I got it."

Kan Kurou, though uneasy, nodded to show he understood, but soon furrowed his brow and asked.

"But where are those two guys' teammates? Why haven't we seen them, is the relationship bad?"

"Who knows."

Shouju shook her head; their handbook indicated those two had a teammate.

But that person is exceptionally low‑key; few can figure out who he really is.

"Forget it, maybe we'll know later."

Shouju replied casually, but at that moment she froze, because far away near Naruto and Sasuke, a red‑haired figure suddenly floated into view.

That person appeared extremely quickly, but vanished just as fast, leaving Shouju no time to react.

Yet for some reason, seeing that silhouette caused Shouju's vague memory to stir.

"Hey, where did you just go, Gaara?"

Just after the corner, Naruto's eyes watched as he separated from those Sunagakure guys; he was about to launch into a good verbal duel with Sasuke.

He hadn't forgotten that the guy called him an idiot earlier; he held back for 'unity' before, but now it's different!

But at that moment Gaara's figure suddenly appeared, abruptly interrupting Naruto, which made Naruto a bit curious.

"Yeah, I didn't see you earlier, what's up?"

Sasuke also asked with some concern, since they were teammates and got along well, he didn't want his teammate to have any issues.

"It's nothing, I just saw a few acquaintances."

Wo Ailuo shook his head, his peripheral vision still scanning behind him; he naturally recognized those two people from earlier.

And according to the information Mi Yan gave him, he also knows that some major events may occur in Leaf Village in the future, even.

"Are you coming too, my lord father!"

A fierce glint appeared in Wo Ailuo's eyes; everything from his past in Sha Yin slowly resurfaced in his mind.

He took a deep breath, shook his head and stopped overthinking; he is no longer the Wo Ailuo of old, and he no longer belongs to Sha Yin.

This time, perhaps a complete resolution can be made!

"Brother, sister, right? I hope you perform well in the exam, at least not to bore me!"

——

"Here is your pass; please keep it. While in Leaf Village, obey all Leaf Village laws. If you need anything, you may contact our Leaf Village ninjas. Thank you!"

At the gate of Leaf Village, the ninjas on duty were still busy.

Standing before a Chunin was a ninja with a slightly pale complexion, wearing a black standard combat uniform and a sound‑ninja headband.

Next to him stood a ninja with red hair, looking especially young.

The two of them were the Akatsuki Organization's "Snake‑Scorpion Pair", Orochimaru and Xie!

In this operation, the Akatsuki Organization will take part, and a Leaf Village traitor like Orochimaru would be hard to justify if he didn't return to see the "home's blooming cherry blossoms".

Whether to make up numbers or to exert his own value, Orochimaru naturally has to come to Leaf Village.

He wouldn't refuse such a matter, especially since he wants to see how far Yuzhi will take things this time!

"It really brings back memories; after all these years, Leaf Village's changes are huge, and it's becoming ever more bustling."

Walking the main street of Leaf Village, Orochimaru gazed around, smiling as he spoke softly.

"Indeed, it's very different from Yuzhi Guo, Yin Ren Cun, and Sha Yin; the ordinary people here seem to get along harmoniously with the ninjas."

Beside him, Xie also observed Leaf Village, and what he said was all factual.

Even in Yuzhi Guo, a ninja's status is slightly higher than that of ordinary ninjas; after all, ninjas are the ones who wield power.

But in Leaf Village, the feeling is one of harmony; everyone seems the same, and even if a ninja errs, civilians can still scold the ninja.

Such matters would be unthinkable elsewhere.

"This can also be credited to Uchiha Haori, the Fifth Hokage, I suppose."

Orochimaru looked toward the Hokage Rock ahead, especially at Yuzhi's portrait, and suddenly laughed.

"According to his propaganda, civilians also create societal wealth; without their digging, farming, and forging, ninjas couldn't enjoy such conveniences.

Everyone complements each other; although ninjas still hold a higher status, in some respects equality is achieved. One must admit this Hokage is truly pioneering."

"Indeed, even a bit of equality is good enough."

Xie nodded, noting that such a place easily leaves a good impression, and he indeed likes it here.

"By the way, aren't you planning to resurrect your parents?"

Orochimaru, watching Xie glance around, suddenly asked with a grin.

"Let your parents see Leaf Village's scenery, let them feel the era's breath—doesn't that sound good?"

"I'm worried they won't accept it; after all, they're also limited by their era."

Xie paused upon hearing Orochimaru's words, then after a moment shook his head and said,

"But this matter is nearing; this time I should be able to meet my grandmother. She may not return, but sooner or later I'll meet her.

There are things I need to discuss with her face‑to‑face; only then will I be at ease."

"You want her to help persuade your parents, right?"

Orochimaru gave a mute smile; he could guess Xie's thoughts.

"And if she doesn't cooperate, you could eliminate her in advance, then later release her from the Pure Land?"

"Who knows."

Xie gave a slight smile, looked up at the sky, then turned his gaze to the Hokage Rock; after a moment he laughed and asked,

"I'll solve my problem; if I can't, I'll ask you to help me—I don't think you'll refuse.

But before that I have a question: that place once should have had your portrait; do you regret it?"

Regret it?

Orochimaru tilted his head, looking at the Hokage Rock bathed in distant sunlight; after a moment he smiled briskly.

Perhaps he felt a momentary regret, but in pursuit of the "meaning of life" he doesn't think he can regret, especially since he has already obtained it.

——

Just after Orochimaru and Xie entered Leaf Village, a faint bell rang at the village gate.

Accompanying the bell, two vague human silhouettes appeared in the distance.

As the figures approached, black robes came into view, towering hats and two hanging white cloths covering their faces.

"Hey, take off your hats; this is Leaf Village, you need verification to enter."

Although there were many people, the Leaf Village ninjas remained diligent one by one.

But as the two silhouettes drew nearer, the crisp bell gave the ninja an unusual pressure, and in that instant he fell into a daze.

And the two people didn't look at the ninja at all, causing no stir; they proceeded into the village without hesitation.

"Hey, you..."

Another Leaf Village ninja frowned slightly, stood up and shouted,

But as his shout rang, the two figures halted; one ninja looked at him, and just as he was about to speak, a blood‑red scene suddenly appeared before his eyes.

A ghostly, eerie Three Tomoe materialized and rotated slightly; the ninja froze, then smiled and said,

"So it's a lord of the Uchiha, my apologies, my apologies, please go in."

Let's go!

He readjusted his straw hat; Itachi Uchiha's plain voice came over, though his voice was also somewhat cold.

You could just go in directly with your space technique, but you insist on doing this; you really aren't afraid of being discovered.

You're wrong; if you use your space technique to go in, that's actually the easiest way to be discovered.

Obito gave a light, indifferent snort; his voice also sounded somewhat cold.

Besides, I also need to test your ability; if you're too weak, you don't deserve to team up with me on a mission.

Itachi Uchiha merely glanced lightly at Obito upon hearing those words, then withdrew his gaze and ignored him.

Obito had ended up like this; Itachi Uchiha still knew the extent of it, and for this guy to brazenly say such things truly left him astonished.

Although he himself had also lost badly, Uchiha Haori's start was far ahead of his; and what about Obito?

He lost at school, lost at graduation, lost even after becoming a rogue ninja, even lost the Water Country, and lost all his self-confidence; Itachi Uchiha couldn't be bothered to waste words on such a person.

If it weren't that I still need this guy's power, and if it weren't that I still need the Akatsuki Organization to help the Leaf Village 'clear the court,' I would truly want to shout, 'Ashamed to be with you!'

Forget it; this time is the best opportunity.

Itachi Uchiha lifted his head to look ahead, seeing the Hokage Rock shining brilliantly in the sunlight, seeing the exquisitely crafted, lifelike portrait belonging to Haori.

His fist had unconsciously clenched; this was absolutely a scene he most did not want to see.

However, this time, his opportunity has arrived!

I will definitely eradicate this villain for the Leaf Village!

As Itachi Uchiha roared angrily in his heart, Obito also looked at the statue belonging to Haori; coincidentally, his fist also tightened.

Shameless thief, all of this should rightfully belong to me!

Obito let out a hysterical roar in his heart, but soon he forcibly suppressed his emotions and took a deep breath.

Soon, everything will be soon; as long as I can obtain the Rinnegan.

Then, I will put an end to everything of yours!