Leaving the Village

No one outside knew exactly what Orochimaru and Kagetsu Qi had discussed.

In the current ninja world, even with the ninja clans having returned to prominence, there could not possibly be a spy capable of eavesdropping on those two.

As the third person present, Anko Mitarashi knew, but unfortunately, no one dared ask her either. Everyone knew she belonged to Qi's faction and was even crazier than most. If you annoyed her, she would genuinely stab you...

In short, all anyone knew was that the next day, Kagetsu Qi led a group of ninjas out of the village in full view of everyone, radiating killing intent.

This left everyone dying of curiosity. Unfortunately, Qi was now considered one of the infamous lunatics of the ninja world. Those who wanted to follow him lacked the ability, while those who had the ability had no intention of doing so.

Qi, however, paid no attention to Konoha's internal affairs. His destination was very clear. Orochimaru had told him shocking news, and he had no choice but to respond.

He and more than a hundred Root members headed north, making straight for Konoha's northern neighbor—the Land of Rice Fields.

That country had no ninjas of its own, but it did have a ninja organization. Such a situation had become rare among the nations today.

After the six clans returned to the forefront, rogue ninjas had basically lost their place in the current ninja world. Every ninja village was absorbing and consolidating these ninjas. Rogue ninjas without backing or strength either submitted or were killed.

Even some ninja villages faced similar situations. Shimogakure had formally merged into Kumogakure, marking the Land of Frost as effectively becoming a "protectorate" of the Land of Lightning. Now, all the Feudal Lord of Lightning needed was a written order,