Everyone was putting on an act

The wind rustled through the leaves in the dense mountain forest.

Suddenly, a naive little Rabbit emerged from the woods, glanced in surprise at the two figures in the shadow of the Big Tree, and then turned and darted into a nearby haystack.

Tōka leaned against a tree trunk, his fingers pinching a fallen, withered leaf. "Do you know what Kakashi was doing in the Land of Earth with so many Anbu?"

"What else can we do but gather intelligence?" the black-faced creature under the Pitcher Plant said, opening its mouth.

"Information about the Two-Tails Jinchūriki? We don't need this many people, do we?" Nearly forty Elite Ninja would be enough to assassinate the Tsuchikage!

"The conflict Iwagakure and Kumogakure has lasted for years, and recently it escalated to its peak due to the matter of the Two-Tails Jinchūriki."

Black Zetsu began to analyze in detail, and the sound of the wind in the forest stopped, leaving only his deep voice.

The anticipated outbreak did not occur; instead, the two major powers fell silent.

"The Hokage of Konoha is a cunning Fox; he wasn't at ease, so he sent Kakashi to infiltrate the Land of Earth during the chaos."

"Is that so..." Tōka pondered for a moment. The Third Hokage was worried that Iwagakure and Kumogakure had secretly reached an agreement.

This has happened before; there are no permanent friends or enemies between nations.

Friends are interests, enemies are conflicts of interest.

Finally, Tōka beckoned to Black Zetsu, signaling him to come closer, and said, "If Kakashi wants to find out any information, just send it to him."

"Remember, make it look convincing. Make Kakashi think they found the information themselves."

"What do you want to do?" A look of doubt flashed in Black Zetsu's eyes. Was he going to help Konoha fight against Iwagakure?

"Kakashi and I are old friends, so it's not unreasonable to help him out, is it?" Tōka smiled mysteriously, but didn't offer any further explanation.

Black Zetsu left behind Scroll analyzing the abilities of each member of Ibiki's four-person team, not as information to the Immortal Duo.

Instead, it was discovered "inadvertently" by Tōka and secretly passed on to Kakashi by Ibiki.

Kakashi was the Anbu Captain and a direct descendant of the Hokage. Kakashi obtained the intelligence, and the Third Hokage had already obtained it.

The purpose of doing this was precisely to make that Fox, the Third Hokage, believe in Tōka, and to make Tōka completely integrate into Konoha so that it would be easier to carry out his plans in the future.

"Heh, what a pretentious act." Black Zetsu sneered, secretly thinking to himself, "Being your old friend would probably mean being devoured down to the bone!"

Naturally, Black Zetsu could only think these words in his heart, since Tōka couldn't hear them anyway.

"By the way, how are Kimimaro in the Land of Snow? Have they settled down?" Tōka suddenly remembered another matter from his visit to Black Zetsu earlier that day.

"Here it is." Black Zetsu took out a Scroll and handed it to Tōka.

With a whoosh, the Scroll unfurled, Tōka quickly scanned it...

"Not bad, not bad, worthy of being my eldest disciple!" Tōka nodded in satisfaction, a smile even appearing in his eyes.

Kimimaro two companions were more than capable of dealing with Kazahana Dōtō.

However, Kimimaro chose a safer approach, using Kazahana Koyuki as bait to lure out the three Snow Ninja who were following Kazahana Dōtō.

Disperse the enemy's forces and then annihilate them with all your might.

"Tell Kimimaro that he must gain Kazahana Koyuki's trust; the Land of Snow is merely a safe haven."

Tōka twisted the Scroll, a cluster of Kakkō flickering at his fingertips.

The tiny flame, no bigger than a grain of rice, had the potential to spread like wildfire, and in the blink of an eye, it burst into a raging inferno that completely engulfed the Scroll.

As soon as he finished speaking, a puff of White Smoke exploded, and Tōka's figure disappeared, the lingering scent in the air gradually fading away.

It turns out that Tōka, who met Black Zetsu in the Woods, was just a Shadow Clone!

Upon seeing Tōka dispel the Shadow Clone Technique, Black Zetsu paused for a moment before slowly sinking into the ground.

Tanzaku Town is a prosperous Town in the Land of Fire, not far from Konoha.

Tōka and the others had Genin outfits, and the four-person team, disguised as ordinary tourists, walked along the main street of Tanzaku Town.

Sudden!

Tōka paused, a few pieces of information inexplicably appearing in his mind—the dissolution of the Shadow Clone he had secretly met with Black Zetsu.

All the information obtained by the Shadow Clone was transmitted back to the Original Body.

"Judging from this, it seems we've pretty much passed the Third Hokage's test," Tōka thought to himself. This would make things much easier in Konoha.

Glancing at the three people walking ahead, Tōka quickened his pace to catch up.

The Land of Rain, where a gentle drizzle veils countless Tower like a misty veil.

Among the many Tower, the one that pierces the Rain Clouds has paper scraps fluttering in from afar, flying in through its window and converging to form a human figure.

The woman, dressed in a black Coat embroidered with red clouds, with light blue-purple hair and light orange-yellow eyes, exuded a cool and elegant temperament.

A pale purple paper flower adorned the right side of her head, adding to her elegant beauty.

"Have Pakura and Shiro left the Land of Rain?" Konan looked at Deva Path and asked.

"It's been a while since I left," Deva Path replied expressionlessly, then stopped there, seemingly having no intention of continuing.

"You sent them on a mission?" Konan pressed.

"No." Deva Path shook his head. He only knew that Pakura and Bai had left, but he didn't know what they were going to do.

The Akatsuki Organization manages its members very loosely, basically leaving them to their own devices except for a few necessary tasks.

The only rule is that we will absolutely not reveal any information about Akatsuki.

Most of the time, Akatsuki Organization members were free to do as they pleased, so Nagato didn't interfere when Pakura and Haku left the Land of Rain.

"Aren't you worried at all?" Konan frowned slightly, seemingly dissatisfied that Nagato was so trusting of Pakura and Shiro.

Both of them were brought by Tōka and have now become official members of the Akatsuki Organization. They are very strong and possess the Kekkei Genkai of Scorch Release and Ice Release.

Betraying Xiao would bring a lot of unnecessary trouble.

"The capture of the Tailed Beast has begun. They only need to capture their own share," Deva Path said calmly.

"But..." Konan clearly didn't believe Pakura and Bai. She opened her mouth to continue speaking, but then she saw Deva Path raise his hand.

"Let's not talk about that now, Black Zetsu is back."

"Black Zetsu?" Upon hearing these two words, a cold glint flashed in Konan's eyes. She had even less affection for Black Zetsu.

However, Nagato needs Black Zetsu's information to capture the Tailed Beast.

Despite her dislike, Konan kept her hatred to herself and remained constantly on guard against Black Zetsu.

The conversation between the two inside the Tower gradually faded away, and then fell into a silent stillness.

Before long, a Pitcher Plant emerged from the floor, and a half-black, half-white figure appeared before the two.

"I have bad news for you."

"What bad news?" Deva Path remained cold and aloof, his face seemingly devoid of any other expression besides coldness.

"Kakuzu and Hidan are both dead," Black Zetsu said.

A hint of irony flashed in Deva Path's eyes. The Immortal Duo was dead too. He uttered three words in a flat tone, "Understood."

"How indifferent. What will you do with the vacancies?" Black Zetsu raised an eyebrow and glanced at Deva Path, asking.

"We can't find a suitable person for now, so let's leave it vacant. Have we heard anything about the other Tailed Beast?" Deva Path changed the subject and asked in return.

"The One-Tail Jinchuriki is in Sunagakure, the Three-Tails Jinchuriki doesn't seem to have been revived yet, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki was recently seen in the Land of Grass, and the Five-Tails Jinchuriki is still in Iwagakure."

"The exact location of the Six-Tails Jinchuriki has not yet been found; the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki is in Takigakure; the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki is in Kumogakure; and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is in Konoha."

Black Zetsu explained in detail that the Nine Tailed Beasts were distributed to various countries by the First Hokage.

Apart from the time several years ago when Tōka killed the Three-Tails in the Land of Water, the other Tailed Beast are still sealed within their Jinchūriki by the Great Nations.

"Tell Pakura and Haku that the One-Tail Jinchuriki." Deva Path said without warning, his face as hard as a coffin, revealing nothing of his true thoughts.

"Wasn't one of the Jinchūriki assigned to the Art Group? Besides, with Sasori around, infiltrating Sunagakure will be much easier." Black Zetsu asked Deva Path, puzzled.

"Isn't Pakura also from Sunagakure? Just pass on my message to them." Deva Path seemed unwilling to elaborate further, speaking in a way that brooked no refusal.

Black Zetsu glanced at Deva Path and Konan for no apparent reason, his gaze extremely subtle, before quickly looking away.

He nodded slightly, and seeing that Deva Path had nothing else to say, he quickly left.

"Can those two little girls really handle the One-Tail Jinchuriki?" Konan finally spoke up after sensing that Black Zetsu's aura had completely disappeared.

"Didn't you not trust either of them? If we manage to catch One-Tail, that would be great; if not, it's not a big deal."

After a pause, the Deva Path continued, "We'll go to the Land of Earth with the Animal Path later."

The Land of Earth? Kakuzu and Hidan's last appearance was on their way back from the Land of Earth.

Konan's eyes One Flash slightly, and she said meaningfully, "You suspect Kakuzu and Hidan..."

"That's right, we must find their bodies." Deva Path turned around and slowly walked towards the inner room.

"Understood." As Konan finished speaking, her body once again transformed into a light, ethereal piece of paper, drifting away on the breeze.

The Land of Snow, an endless white world.

Snowflakes, as white as goose feathers, drifted down from the sky, and Cold Wind howled from the other side of the mountain, blowing across the land covered in silver frost.

At the highest point of the snow-capped mountain stands a castle built amidst ice and snow.

In the vast, quiet hall, a noble queen sat on her throne, her slender hand supporting her chin as she pondered something.

Just then, a series of clattering footsteps suddenly sounded in the main hall. Looking up, one could see a maid walking in unhurriedly.

"Lady Koyuki, Kimimaro and the others have arrived." The maid bowed slightly, her expression solemn and respectful.

"Karin and Yakumo are here too? Quickly, let them in." Upon hearing this, Kazahana Koyuki, who had already inherited the throne, stood up with undisguised joy.

"Yes." The maid bowed and withdrew, walking towards the exit of the hall.

The clattering footsteps echoed through the vast castle, their reverberations remarkably clear and distinct.

Before long, a blast of cold air rushed into the warm room from outside, and Kimimaro and his two companions, wrapped in thick snow coats, strode in.

The brims of their hats and their shoulders were covered in snow.

"Come and warm yourself by the fire," Kazahana Koyuki waved warmly, then turned to the maid beside her and said, "Bring them some hot tea to ward off the cold."

The maid acknowledged the order and withdrew, while Kazahana Koyuki turned back to look at the three of them.

Mirai speak, Kimimaro, said, "No need for that. We've come to say goodbye."

"Saying goodbye? You're leaving? Why?" Kazahana Koyuki was slightly taken aback, her eyes showing surprise, doubt, and finally deep confusion.

The Sandayū had privately told her that these three men were of unknown origin and that she couldn't completely trust them.

However, Kimimaro's recent statement that he is about to leave has made Kazahana Koyuki doubt the words of the Sandayū.

Could they really be mistaken? Kimimaro, Karin, Yakumo not intend to conquer the Land of Snow by installing a puppet king?

"We accepted the mission, you paid us, and now that the mission is complete and all the money has been settled, we have no reason to stay here any longer."

Kimimaro's expression was indifferent; his words were reasonable, but somewhat cold-hearted.

Upon hearing this, Kazahana Koyuki felt completely relieved.

Kimimaro and the other two decided to leave, which would prevent the situation that the Sandayū had worried about from happening.

But... the next moment, Kazahana Koyuki hesitated again, even feeling somewhat anxious and uncertain.

Kimimaro two companions were very strong, at least in her eyes, they were extremely powerful and top-tier in the Land of Snow.

If we keep them, many problems can be easily solved.

The Sandayū was indeed loyal, but he was old, and sometimes loyalty alone couldn't solve the problem.

The thought flashed through her mind, and the desire to keep the three of them in Kazahana Koyuki's heart grew stronger.

Kazahana Koyuki had a feeling deep down; it was a woman's Sixth Sense that she could sense that Kimimaro and the other two did not harbor any hostility towards her.

There was a moment of silence.

Kazahana Koyuki's eyes narrowed slightly, and she said with a faint smile, "I remember when we first met, you said you needed some money to find a place to settle down."

"That's true." Kimimaro nodded affirmatively.

"So what do you think of the Land of Snow?" Kazahana Koyuki has been living as an entertainer for years since escaping the Land of Snow.

As an actress, Kazahana Koyuki has exceptional acting skills; similarly, she can discern whether other people's expressions are genuine or not.

"It's fine." Kimimaro pondered for a moment before answering truthfully.

Karin, who was standing to the side, pouted as if she wanted to speak, seemingly trying to persuade Kimimaro to stay, but Yakumo reached out and pulled her back.

The two's subtle actions, the Kazahana Koyuki, were all observed and enjoyed by them.

"If I said I hoped you would stay, would you still leave?" Kazahana Koyuki withdrew her gaze, staring intently into Kimimaro's eyes.

"It seems the Sandayū don't like us." Kimimaro didn't answer directly, but instead threw the question back at them.

Hearing this reply, Kazahana Koyuki smiled slightly, "There's no need to worry about the Sandayū, you can stay."

To contribute to the stability of the Land of Snow, not to pose a threat that would take Land of Snow away...