The lake water was crystal clear, rippling gently in the mountain breeze.
Camellias bloomed across the mountains, and the bamboo grove rang with hollow notes in the wind. Living here made one feel as though their soul had been cleansed.
A figure sat by the lake, the fishing rod in his hand moving with the mountain breeze in a distinctive rhythm, utterly natural. The float bobbed on the surface from time to time.
The figure lifted his rod, pulling out a shimmering carp that kept flicking its tail beneath the sunlight. He gently removed the fish, then released it back into the lake. Only then did it become apparent that the hook he used was perfectly straight.
With a casual motion, he cast the hook into the lake again without any bait. Everything was peaceful and harmonious.
Beside him stood a woman in black robes patterned with red clouds, quietly reporting something to him.
Deidara had died, killed by Second Pillar.
Uchiha Itachi had also died at Second Pillar's hands not long ago. Obito had taken his body away, though his purpose was unknown.
Kabuto Yakushi, whom you instructed us to monitor, has been very active lately. He seems to have inherited Orochimaru's legacy and is stealing the corpses of powerful people throughout the shinobi world. He has already succeeded quite a few times.
In addition, he seems to have acquired some intelligence regarding Ryūchi Cave and is preparing to go there to study Sage Art.
Jiraiya died at Nagato's hands. Obito has already made contact with him, and they seem to have prepared a plan to capture the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails. The Tailed Beast weapon Nagato developed himself is also nearly complete. It is a weapon created using the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and the Rinnegan. According