Shared Interests

"Though I'd heard about your village long ago, seeing it in person is still a little surprising. There are very few places in the Abyss where people can live and work in peace like this."

With Namikaze Minato accompanying her, Ou Ling toured Konoha.

Only the Shadow Guard and a few of Ou Ling's attendants followed behind them.

Her remark came from the heart.

For Konoha to maintain its current stability was proof of its strength.

The Cockroach People outside alone were more than an ordinary world could withstand.

So although Konoha didn't seem to have much in the way of advanced technology, and its village setting looked rather simple,

this kind of peaceful life was quite rare in the Abyss.

"Miss Ou, you're too kind. We still have a long way to go before we can compare with your side."

"It's not the same."

Ou Ling shook her head, but didn't explain what she meant by that.

Now that they'd finished exchanging pleasantries, she began to test the waters.

She knew that any final decision on the ninja world's side would likely require the approval of the ninja world's holy one, the person the Ancestor Saint had mentioned. At the very least, Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama would have to agree on anything that wasn't a matter of broad policy.

But sounding them out first would give her more room to maneuver later.

Otherwise, if negotiations with the holy one fell apart, both sides would lose face...

"Actually, we bear no ill will toward the ninja world. The Witch Church is our common enemy, so I've come to represent our family and pursue deeper cooperation with your village—even an alliance."

Ou Ling spoke with great sincerity.

If not for the brief confrontation between the Sage of Six Paths and