The darkness descending on Konoha: a portent

Tōka had no interest in watching the battle between Deidara and Sasori, as Deidara didn't stand much of a chance against Sasori's strength.

Both the Third Kazekage and the Third Tsuchikage possessed the ability to fly.

There's only one outcome: Deidara is destined to lose!

The seemingly peaceful Land of Rain is changed by Tōka's arrival; a mysterious power seems to have appeared in the misty rain.

It exists invisibly, undetectable to ordinary people, yet it truly is real.

In the Rain Pine Forest where Tōka lived, a figure as white as snow walked slowly, approaching the bamboo house deep within the Rain Pine Forest.

Simple yet unique, the drizzling rain adds a touch of hazy beauty.

Is it white?

Just as the girl raised her hand to knock on the door, a leisurely voice rang out. The girl paused, then responded softly.

"Um."

"Come in."

Squeak!

The door of the bamboo house slowly opened, but there was no one in sight. Bai Wei was taken aback for a moment, then stepped inside.

"What's the matter?" Tōka strolled out from the inner room, his voice preceding his arrival.

To put Nagato and Konan at ease, Tōka once told Bai not to come see him unless it was something important.

Although Tōka is not afraid of Nagato, this pawn still has some use for now.

Therefore, Tōka did not want any unpleasantness to occur with Nagato before achieving her goal.

As long as we follow the plan, we can rely on Nagato for most minor matters.

"Information sent by Black Zetsu." Bai took out an intelligence Scroll sealed with a special technique and handed it to Tōka with both hands.

Evil Flame Seal?

Unless it's something extremely important, Black Zetsu use such methods to seal an intelligence Scroll.

Evil Flame Seal: A Seal Secret Technique used to preserve secrets.

It is often used on intelligence Scroll; if the method of unsealing is incorrect, the Evil Fire will burn the sealed item.

Tōka took the intelligence Scroll, flicked his finger, and channeled a wisp of chakra into Scroll.

With a snap, the thin rope binding the Scroll broke.

As Tōka skimmed through the text, a cold smile gradually appeared on her lips.

"Peace talks? The idea is good, but unfortunately..." Tōka clenched his fist, crumpled the Scroll into a ball, and threw it into the trash can.

Bai's gaze followed the crumpled piece of Waste Paper as it fell into the trash can.

Tōka's voice, which rang out again, drew her attention.

What has Orochimaru been up to lately?

"Orochimaru has been hiding in his Laboratory lately, and apart from occasionally meeting with Sasori, he hasn't made any other moves."

Bai pondered for a moment. If she hadn't happened to run into the two of them, she would have almost forgotten that Orochimaru was still in the Land of Rain.

Tōka's eyes narrowed. Orochimaru, who rarely leaves his home?

It must have been after witnessing Nagato's power that he realized he could never surpass him on his own, and thus sought to improve himself by relying on external forces.

Orochimaru's most powerful Forbidden Jutsu?

Impure World Reincarnation.

"Find a way to leak this information to Orochimaru."

As soon as he finished speaking, Tōka suddenly stopped, his cunning eyes flashing with a sharp light.

Just as Bai was about to ask if there was anything else, she immediately closed her slightly open mouth upon seeing Dong Ge's expression. She knew that Tōka must have more to say.

After a moment's hesitation, Tōka looked up at Bai.

"Let Black Zetsu handle this. You just need to tell him, and he'll know what to do."

"Hmm." Bai Wei nodded slightly, and seeing that Tōka didn't say anything more, she quietly turned around and prepared to leave.

Black Zetsu wasn't in the Land of Rain. Haku wanted to take advantage of the fact that the guy who had just delivered the information hadn't gone far yet, and have him relay Tōka's message to Black Zetsu.

The footsteps were silent, like snowflakes falling to the ground.

Loneliness, as light as a feather.

Snow, though weightless, can still coat the earth with a layer of white frost.

Catching a glimpse of Bai leaving, Tōka's lips twitched, and she called out to Bai, asking with an inscrutable expression, "Are you settling in well in the Land of Rain?"

Unlike the Land of Water, the Land of Rain experiences rain all year round, resulting in humid air and dampness everywhere. Houses are prone to mold if dry fires are not lit frequently.

Having grown accustomed to the whiteness of snow and ice, I'm naturally not afraid of the cold, but I wonder if I've adapted to this damp environment.

"It's alright..." Bai paused, looking at Tōka with a puzzled expression.

I was surprised to hear someone ask this question, and it came a little late. How could I not be used to a place I've lived in for several years?

Tōka realized her question was somewhat redundant, so she changed the subject, asking, "How are the three little ones?"

Before launching the purge operation in Kirigakure, Tōka arranged for Kimimaro, Karin, and Yakumo to leave the Land of Water.

Kisame escorted them to the Akatsuki base in the Land of Rain, where they were placed under Haku's care.

"I heard they are all disciples of Tōka?" Bai asked instead of answering. The three of them had very special abilities; the team possessed Taijutsu, Genjutsu, and reconnaissance capabilities.

Bai was very curious about where Tōka had found so many highly talented little ones.

"I guess so." Tōka turned his face away somewhat embarrassedly. Apart from teaching Karin a little basic stuff, he had basically left Kimimaro and Yakumo to their own devices.

Tōka would only give the two pointers when he suddenly remembered them or when they happened to meet.

The number of times was extremely limited; as the teacher of the three, Tōka was truly incompetent.

"Three very talented little ones." Bai noticed Tōka's unnatural expression, smiled slightly, and quickly left the hut.

The girl left, leaving behind a delicate, fresh scent of snow in the room.

Tōka was stunned and somewhat lost in thought, because in his memory, Bai was still the little girl in the snow.

Simple and clean.

Black Zetsu is very capable, especially in accurately guessing Tōka's thoughts.

Outside Orochimaru's Laboratory, a dark shadow suddenly emerged from the ground, hidden in a crevice in the rocks.

Is it Black Zetsu?

No, it's a White Zetsu!

White Zetsu looked around, but his senses detected no one else nearby.

Buzz!

An unusual chakra overflowed, covering White Zetsu's body. Instantly, White Zetsu's appearance gradually transformed into that of a Rain Ninja.

To be precise, he was a middle-aged man wearing Rain Ninja Forehead Protector.

Tick-tock...

As they descended into the dark, damp passage, gusts of cold wind rushed towards them. Rain Ninja squinted and took steady, methodical steps.

Hiss hiss hiss~~

Sudden!

A group of Poisonous Snake appeared at the crossroads, their scarlet bodies flickering, revealing sharp fangs that glistened with venom.

Rain Ninja's expression turned serious, and a glint of shrewdness One Flash in his eyes.

Poisonous Snake form Snake Formation, serving as an early warning and defense mechanism.

Since a swarm of snakes has appeared, it means Orochimaru has already discovered him. In that case, he might as well just admit it openly.

"Lord Orochimaru, I've come to deliver a message."

Rain Ninja shouted loudly, her voice sounding unusually bright in the narrow passage, even creating a slight echo.

Really!

Upon hearing this, the swarm of Poisonous Snake, which were about to attack, immediately stopped in their tracks.

Rain Ninja looked inside with a strange expression, but there was no movement in the depths of the cold, dark cave.

Sudden!!

Hiss hiss hiss~~

A voice, seemingly swallowing its own words, suddenly rang in Rain Ninja's ear, and a chilling breath crept wildly into his neck.

A chill ran from the soles of my feet straight up to my back, and the hairs on my arms stood on end.

"Oh? Who sent you to deliver this message?" Orochimaru licked his lips, the tip of his tongue almost touching the face of Rain Ninja.

"It's Danzo..." Rain Ninja a chill run down her spine and stiffened.

"Danzo?" Orochimaru's murderous intent gradually subsided. Others might have some doubts, but the fact that Danzo was secretly contacting him was a very secretive matter.

"Yes, this is a token." Rain Ninja took out a Scroll from her bosom.

The scroll, which appears to be an ordinary Scroll, actually contains Secret Technique.

Orochimaru's pupils Danzo. The token in the Rain Ninja's mouth was the seal set on the Scroll, a trick that old man Danzo often used.

Such Seal Secret Technique were far too simple for Orochimaru, but it was precisely because of this that Orochimaru believed the newcomer's identity.

Danzo's true nature lies in having no identity whatsoever.

Orochimaru took the Scroll, and with a flick of his finger, the seal was broken before anyone could even see his movement.

"Did Danzo say anything else?" Orochimaru quickly scanned the contents of the intelligence Scroll, a glint of light One Flash in his cold, Snake Eyes.

Upon hearing Orochimaru's question, the Rain Ninja became even more respectful.

If the feeling of being stared at by a highly venomous Poisonous Snake was merely terrifying, then...

At that moment, Rain Ninja felt as if she were being strangled by a giant python, and that she would be strangled to death if she showed the slightest weakness.

Danger permeated the entire dark passageway...

"Danzo didn't tell me anything else, only that the Scroll just needed to be delivered to Orochimaru," the Rain Ninja replied without hesitation.

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and stared at the Rain Ninja for a long time.

The air grew even more oppressive.

Sudden.

Orochimaru grinned, his low, husky voice ringing out again, but with less coldness, "Go back and tell Danzo that I know."

Rain Ninja nodded slightly upon hearing this, then turned and left without the slightest hesitation or pause.

Orochimaru didn't ask how the other party managed to sneak here under Pain's nose, because if Danzo's people didn't have some special abilities, they probably wouldn't have been sent to carry out such a mission.

Moreover, Orochimaru did not fully trust the other party.

Hiss hiss hiss~~

Rain Ninja flew swiftly away from the Laboratory, skimming towards the ground.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of a Poisonous Snake flicking its tongue. He instinctively turned his head and his expression changed drastically.

"A swarm of snakes? A test?"

In just a moment, White Zetsu saw through Orochimaru's thoughts.

After confirming that Orochimaru had not personally pursued them, White Zetsu no longer bothered to hide. His chakra surged, and his body sank into the earth like a fish.

The swarm of snakes rushed forward frantically, but touched nothing.

Orochimaru paused in his actions upon returning to the Laboratory, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

"Oh? Looks like they've already escaped!"

The swarm of snakes in the passage was summoned by Orochimaru to test the man. If he could escape the Myriad Snake Formation, then this Scroll might indeed have been sent by Danzo.

After receiving the accurate answer, Orochimaru's mind began to work.

The information on the Scroll could not be false.

"I've been here too long. It's time to go out for a walk and see those little guys in the Land of Rice while I'm at it." Orochimaru licked his lips and sneered.

His stay at the Akatsuki Organization Base in the Land of Rain was merely a temporary measure.

Having just left Konoha, Orochimaru needed a safe place to hide from Konoha's spies.

Staying with Akatsuki doesn't require much work, but the benefits are far greater. Orochimaru had already secretly prepared a new path forward.

This time, we could even borrow some manpower from Pain...

Akatsuki's fighting strength is truly enviable.

Orochimaru recorded the important data from the Laboratory into Scroll, then opened his mouth and stuck out his long, snake-like tongue.

The tongue curled around the Scroll and swallowed it whole!

The Land of Fire, Konoha.

The First Hokage named the village Konoha in the hope that it would grow as lush and prosperous as Big Tree.

The trees shaded the village, protecting it from wind, frost, rain, and dew.

Roots, hidden from the sun year-round, exist deep in the dark earth, silently absorbing nutrients for the Big Tree, and are an indispensable part of a towering Great Tree.

Even Konoha have their own roots.

Deep underground, in a mysterious plaza, two ferocious-looking Stone Beast sat before it.

Thump...

Knock knock...

A slow, deliberate voice emanated from the dark and empty space, and gradually, a man wrapped in white cloth, who appeared to be seriously injured, slowly Earth Flow, leaning on a cane.

This person was none other than Danzo, the leader of Konoha's Root and one of Konoha's three great Advisor —the Dark Danzo of the Darkness of the Ninja World!

"Itachi, come see me..." Danzo stood in front of a masked boy, staring at him with an inscrutable expression.

"This means you are ready."

"Yes, I'm ready."

A cold, emotionless voice rang out, like that of a soulless puppet.

Danzo gave Itachi a deep look. "There are no outsiders here. Take off your mask."

Upon hearing this, Itachi reached out and removed his mask, revealing a calm face, with a hint of hidden emotion in his slightly lowered eyelids.

His face was breathtakingly handsome; even the darkness could not conceal his charisma.

Danzo's eyes narrowed slightly, and his deep voice rang out, "The Third Hokage's idea is certainly good, but your presence here means..."

The Uchiha Clan has reached a point of no return.

Itachi Uchiha nodded slightly; his silence spoke volumes.

The square was deserted and silent. The dim light could not dispel the darkness. A cold, eerie wind blew from the depths of darkness, ruffling the wisps of hair on the boy's forehead.

Itachi's face remained expressionless, like a still pond.

However, his heart was not as calm as it appeared on the surface.

"You love the village, and Konoha prospers because of ninjas like you." Danzo praised without reservation.

Itachi maintained a slightly bowed, respectful demeanor throughout.

"You should understand that the Uchiha Clan's ambitions only bring war." Danzo stared indifferently at Itachi, Danzo his grip on his cane.

"Yes, I understand," Itachi replied softly, his voice trembling slightly beneath his calm face.

"In that case, go for it. Root will do everything it can to help you." Danzo didn't trust Itachi, but he needed Itachi.

That's enough. That's Danzo.

Whether enemy or friend, he can keep someone alive as long as they have some use, until they lose their usefulness.

"..."

Itachi remained silent, bowed slightly, and then turned away...