During the war, apart from some supply ships, there were no more ships heading to the Land of Water.
At this time, the Land of Water only allows entry and not exit, making it not so easy for outsiders to Land of Water.
The Bloody Mist Politics practiced in the Land of Water has a long history, and Yagura's rise to power has not changed this situation. Only outsiders who are desperate would go to such a place.
Orochimaru does not intend to directly enter the Land of Water this time. There are still many small islands around the Land of Water, and the influence of Kirigakure in these places is limited, and the management is not as strict as that of Amegakure.
The main purpose this time is similar to the previous ones, but it's also a little different.
Previously, the purpose of visiting various small countries was to conduct research and, incidentally, to win over the high-ranking officials of those countries. This time, the purpose is also to recruit people, but the target is the new generation of ninjas.
The Land of Water is a land of outstanding people and abundant resources. Not only are there two powerful ninjas, Kisame and Kisame, Zabuza also promising new generation members like Haku, Kimimaro, and Suigetsu.
However, they all have one thing in common: they all came from the Land of Water, and several of them were even Rogue Ninja from the Land of Water.
"If you don't cherish talent, you'll have to blame me. Talented people are common, but discerning judges are rare."
The country with the most Rogue Ninja among the Five Great Nations is not the Land of Fire, nor the Land of Earth, but the Land of Water.
The Bloody Mist Graduation is far too cruel. Regardless of whether you are brothers or not, if you lose in the competition, you will die. It is completely inhumane.
At this moment, Orochimaru saw a familiar face in front of him, a ninja from Amegakure. He was familiar because Orochimaru had only seen him in the manga in his previous life: Hozuki Suigetsu's older brother, Hozuki Mangetsu.
He had white hair with a vertical braid, a loose bandage wrapped around his neck, sharp teeth, and a small water bottle hanging from his waist.
Anyone with eyes could see that the two were related if they were put together. If Orochimaru hadn't known that Suigetsu hadn't been born yet, he might have mistaken him for someone else.
Based on the timeline, Suigetsu became a demon at the age of 5. Zabuza II was born in Konoha Year 53, which is two years later.
Unexpectedly, I ended up on the same ship as Hozuki Mangetsu, but this guy had a very unapproachable look.
"When a person is thinking about something, 99% of the time they can't figure it out at all. It's best to talk to someone else!"
The sudden sound from behind made Hozuki Mangetsu's pensive expression change. He turned around and saw a young man with long hair and dressed as a samurai walking slowly towards him.
"Nice to meet you, Hozuki Mangetsu!"
Hozuki Mangetsu was initially only somewhat puzzled by what he had just heard, but the fact that someone could call him by name made him wary.
Who are you?
Before Orochimaru could even get close to him, Hozuki Mangetsu became wary, raising one hand as if to launch a counterattack at any moment.
Seeing that he looked like he might draw his sword at the slightest provocation, Orochimaru stopped in his tracks, spread his hands in front of him, and indicated that he had no ill intentions.
"The Land of Gold, the Golden Snake Gentleman."
Orochimaru said with an innocent expression, a friendly smile appearing on his face at the opportune moment.
"The Land of Gold? There's a country like that in the Ninja World?"
Hozuki Mangetsu is no country bumpkin who has never left his village. On the contrary, he has been to many countries, large and small, over the years on missions.
Even if some places are too remote, it's impossible for them to be completely without any news. The Ninja World is only so big; it's either a small, unknown country or something else entirely.
"There is indeed no country in the Ninja World yet, but I will establish it soon."
As Orochimaru spoke, his tone was full of confidence, as if establishing a nation was as simple as eating and drinking for him.
Orochimaru wasn't just making things up to fool Hozuki Mangetsu; that was exactly what he planned. The merger of the seven small countries would definitely require a name change.
He wasn't born and raised in any of those countries, so it's not impossible for him to occupy one country and then annex the surrounding ones.
Orochimaru intended to unify the seven countries with overwhelming force, and it would be inappropriate to use the name of any of them. You should know that it is not scarcity that is a problem, but inequality. Why should the defeated countries use your country's name?
As for Golden Snake Golden Snake Gentleman, Orochimaru just came up with that name on the spot. When you're in the martial arts world, you need multiple aliases and names.
"Tch... talking nonsense!"
Hozuki Mangetsu, unsurprisingly, retorted sarcastically, looking at Orochimaru as if he were a madman, "You think you're an expert? Everyone has at least 500,000 yen."
Orochimaru was mentally prepared, but there's no need to judge people like that. Even Obito's fantastical Eye of the Moon Plan left him completely bewildered.
Why do I get so much Byakugan when I try to build a country here? Am I only fit to fool children?
"Since we've met, it must be fate. I've come to the Land of Water to recruit some people. I see you're quite capable. Are you interested in joining my team?"
Ignoring his strange look, Orochimaru extended an olive branch directly, saying that Hozuki Mangetsu, as a famous genius from the Land of Water, was worth recruiting.
Anyway, this guy will die in two years if we don't win him over, so why not give him more options!
"I'm not interested in your team. Besides, if you want to recruit me, I'm afraid you're not qualified enough!"
The two Gyozu, on completely different wavelengths. Hozuki Mangetsu, a genius ninja who had shown astonishing talent in recent years, was one of the second batch of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist of the Kirigakure.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, the second wielder of the Hiramekarei swords, a genius who could skillfully wield all seven Ninja Blades, whose true strength was unknown to anyone.
As a genius, he is naturally very arrogant. How could an unknown ninja come out and try to recruit him? Are you kidding me?
"I think we should change our way of communicating. In this world, you have to let your abilities speak for themselves."
As soon as he finished speaking, Orochimaru continued walking towards Hozuki Mangetsu in turn pulled out a Kunai.
"What bad luck! I always run into clueless people whenever I go out!"
He was also ordered to come out to find Jūzō Biwa and Raiga Kurosuki, two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist of the Mist.
After the Seven Ninja Swordsmen attacked Konoha and were defeated by Might Duy Guy, only Suikazan Fuguki returned to the village.
The other two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen have disappeared without a trace. Moreover, as the backbone of Kirigakure, even if the Seven Ninja Swordsmen are dead, they still have to retrieve the Ninja Blade.
If they haven't been seen for a long time, they've either defected or been delayed by something.
However, judging from the fact that the Suikazan Fuguki returned to the village early, the former is probably the most likely.
His journey was far from peaceful. There were plenty of blind people during the war, and he never expected to encounter a lunatic just before returning to the village.
"Young man, it's not that I'm blind, it's that you don't know what's good for you!"
The battle between the two was about to break out, and the next moment, they both disappeared from the spot.