At the same time.
In a dark cave somewhere, the air was humid and cold, and only the sound of water drops dripping from the tips of a few stalactites overhead echoed repeatedly in the empty space.
Nine blurry figures stand on the fingers of their respective stone statues, flickering in and out, and only their outlines can be clearly seen.
"Hey, what's the matter, leader?"
A dark figure with a big knife on his back and only two small eyes exposed was the first to speak, with a hint of casualness and helplessness in his tone.
"We have just arrived at Land of Earth. Four-Tails is a little hard to find."
Pain stood on the fingers on the other side, and the pair of Rinnegan glowed with a faint purple light in the shadow.
He looked around and waited until everyone's attention was focused before speaking slowly.
"Calling everyone together, we do have important information."
Everyone's expressions became a little more serious, and the air in the cave seemed to be solemn for a moment.
"Orochimaru is dead."
The sound of Pain is not loud, but it is like throwing a huge stone on the calm lake.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
The first one to react was Scorpion.
He stood on the fingers of his stone statue. The puppet's body remained motionless, but its eyes narrowed slightly, flashing a complicated light.
There was joy in that light because the defector finally got the ending he deserved, but more importantly, there was regret that he couldn't kill him personally.
Then everyone who reacted began to whisper among themselves.
"Huh? Orochimaru? That Orochimaru?"
Hidan carried his bloody scythe, his tone full of disbelief and unabashed gloating.
"Didn't he claim to be immortal? Why did he die now? What a pity that we couldn't sacrifice him to Lord Jashin."
"Immortal?"
Kakuzu stood beside him, his voice hoarse and cold.
"It's just a reptile that lives a little longer. If it dies, it will die."
"But it's a pity. I don't know where his body is now, otherwise it could be sold at Land of Fire for a good price."
"Oops..."
Tobi tilted his head, with a hint of exaggerated regret in his tone.
"It's really unimaginable that senior Orochimaru died like this. It's such a pity."
"I originally wanted to see if his big mouth could hold all the clay of Deidara-senpai."
"Hey, Tobi!"
Deidara's voice suddenly rose in pitch, and the veins on his forehead faintly popped out.
For no other reason than it was too disgusting. If he really stuffed it in, he felt like he couldn't keep the clay anymore.
"What do you mean? Do you want to be blown away by me?"
"Eh? I'm praising senior Orochimaru. What does it have to do with senior Deidara?"
Tobi pretended to be innocent.
Deidara's fists clenched loudly, and the clay was about to move in his pocket.
While everyone was bickering, Itachi slowly spoke.
His voice was not loud, but it could be heard clearly in everyone's ears in this noisy environment.
"Who did it?"
Pain's Rinnegan turned slightly, and their eyes fell on Deidara.
"Deidara The Ice Release ninja we met last time, and--"
Then he slowly turned his gaze to Itachi.
"Uchiha Sasuke."
Hearing this, Itachi nodded calmly and said nothing more.
"I didn't expect that guy to be quite capable."
Deidara curled his lips, with a hint of unwillingness in his tone.
"The people who can survive my art are indeed not simple."
Tobi answered immediately, folding his arms across his chest, with an expression of "Sure enough" on his face.
"Hmm, you do have some strength. After all, you can resist the art of senior Deidara."
Deidara The veins on his forehead popped out again.
He was too lazy to argue with Tobi anymore and turned to look at Scorpion not far away, with an obvious need for help in his tone.
"Hey, Uncle Xie, when will you come back? I can't stand this guy anymore."
Scorpion didn't answer.
He just stood there, with no expression on his doll-like face.
"You're really capable."
Kisame in the distance spoke, his voice low and hoarse, with a hint of joking.
"As expected of Itachi's younger brother."
Upon hearing this, Jue slowly emerged from the ground, his black and white body standing out in the dim cave.
"And those two guys have teamed up and started looking for some troublesome guys."
Everyone is used to seeing this elusive guy.
"What about?" Kisame asked.
"A Hozuki Clan person from the same village as you."
Kisame squinted his eyes when he heard this, and an imperceptible light flashed in his small eyes.
"Suigetsu... that kid is still alive."
Pain spoke again, his tone returning to that emotionless and cold tone.
"I guess they are targeting Itachi and you guys, so be careful. Others should also be careful for the time being. These two are quite powerful and may come to you to get information about Itachi."
Having said this, he paused and looked around.
"By the way, Kakuzu, Hidan, please bring Two-Tails over quickly."
"Deidara, Tobi, hurry up and arrest Three-Tails."
"Kisame, Itachi, hurry up and find Four-Tails. Try to do three Tailed Beasts at the same time."
His voice echoed in the cave, carrying unquestionable majesty.
"That's it, the meeting is over."
Land of Fire, Konoha.
Hokage The door of the office was gently pushed open.
"Lady Tsunade is good."
Sakura walked in first, bowed slightly and spoke in a clear voice.
"Hey, mother-in-law Tsunade, what's the mission for calling me here?"
Naruto followed her, rubbing her eyes and yawning lazily, looking like she hadn't woken up.
Tsunade stood in front of the window, with his back to the door, and turned around when he heard the sound.
She just opened her mouth, but before the words came out, she was interrupted by Naruto's exclamation.
"Hey? Pervy Sage, you're back!"
Naruto woke up instantly, his eyes widened, and there was obvious joy on his face.
"Hey, Naruto, long time no see."
Jiraiya leaned against the wall, raised his hand, and said hello lazily, with a familiar smile on his lips.
"What's the matter with you coming back this time?" Naruto walked forward quickly, with a hint of doubt in his tone.
Jiraiya looked calm when he heard this.
"Can't I come back to see you guys if I have nothing to do? But I have to say something if I insist..."
He put his arm around Naruto's shoulders and leaned into his ear, his voice was very low and had a hint of vulgarity.
"After all, I miss the women's bathhouse in the village a little, and I want to come back to get some information."
Although Jiraiya's voice was very low, it was still clearly heard by Tsunade, who had sharp ears.
Tsunade's brow jumped suddenly.
Jiraiya was about to continue speaking when an iron fist roared from behind.
"Bang!"
There was a muffled sound, and a huge bump grew on the tops of Jiraiya and Naruto's heads at the same time.
"I'm sorry..."
Jiraiya held the big bag and bowed his head obediently.
Naruto was also carrying a big bag, looking confused and muttering aggrievedly.
"Why should I be beaten too?"
Sakura stood aside. Although he didn't know why Tsunade hit him, he quickly pulled Naruto to bow his head and apologize.
"I'm sorry, Lady Tsunade, please continue."
"Wait, wait, wait, Sakura-chan, it hurts, it hurts--"
Naruto, whose head was pressed, felt the pain on the back of his head and grinned in pain.
After a while.
Tsunade is sitting on the office chair, with his arms crossed on the table and his expression solemn.
Jiraiya and Shizune stood behind her, one on the left and one on the right.
In front of them, Naruto and Sakura stood side by side. The laughter on their faces had long since subsided, replaced by serious expressions.
"Yoshi."
Tsunade spoke, his voice low and serious.
"I received news today - Orochimaru."
She paused and glanced at their faces.
"Dead."
The office was quiet for a moment.
Naruto was stunned, and Sakura was also stunned.
"Orochimaru... dead?"
Naruto murmured again, with a hint of disbelief in his voice.
The man who once invaded Konoha and killed Third Hokage, the man who Sasuke defected to, is just... dead?
"Who did it?" Sakura was the first to come to his senses and asked.
Tsunade glanced at her and slowly said two names.
"Uchiha Sasuke. And--the ninja who knows Ice Release."
Naruto's pupils shrank suddenly.
Sakura was also shocked, his pupils shrank slightly, and he subconsciously covered his mouth.
Sasuke.
And the guy in the mask.
Together they... killed Orochimaru?
Naruto's hands unconsciously clenched the fabric on his knees until his knuckles turned white.
Tsunade looked at his reaction and didn't say anything more, just continued.
"The news has been confirmed.
Orochimaru is indeed dead. As for what will happen next, it's hard to say yet."
She paused and her eyes fell on Naruto.
"Naruto, I know what you are thinking. But now is not the time to be impulsive."
Naruto lowered his head and was silent for a moment, then raised his head, with a firm light shining in his blue eyes.
"I know, Tsunade mother-in-law. I won't be impulsive."
Tsunade looked at him, was silent for a moment, and then sighed softly.
"I hope so."
The screen changes.
Ichiraku Ramen.
The size of the store has expanded a lot compared to a few years ago, the facade has been renovated, and the signboard has become brighter, but the familiar steaming aroma has remained unchanged.
Naruto Pushed open the glass door, and the wind chime hanging on the door made a crisp sound.
He walked to the front desk, sat down on the chair, put his arms on the table, and shouted weakly.
"Uncle, let's have a bowl of tonkotsu ramen."
Uncle Teuchi poked his head out of the back kitchen and saw Naruto, with a warm smile on his face.
"Hey, Naruto, long time no see! Wait a minute!"
Just as he was about to turn around and cook some noodles, the wind chime on the door rang again.
"Hey, Neji, do you want to eat something today?"
Uncle Teuchi turned to look at the door and greeted with a smile.
"Good afternoon, Uncle Teuchi."
Neji opened the door and came in, nodding politely.
"Please bring me a bowl of tonkotsu ramen."
"Okay!"
Uncle Teuchi responded, turned around and walked into the kitchen.
Naruto turned around, saw Neji, raised Teuchi and said hello.
"Hey, Neji, are you coming here to eat too?"
"Hmm."
Neji walked to the seat next to Naruto and sat down with a calm tone.
"I happened to be passing by and came in."
The two chatted for a few words, nothing more than the recent mission, cultivation and other topics.
The noodles were served quickly, steaming hot, with a rich soup base, and slices of barbecued pork were spread on the noodles, sprinkled with chopped green onions and seaweed.
Naruto picked up the chopsticks and started eating with big mouthfuls, talking vaguely while eating.
"I really didn't expect that the guy with white hair and the mask and Sasuke could actually kill Orochimaru."
Neji was picking up a pair of noodles with chopsticks. When he heard this, he paused slightly.
"The one with white hair and mask... and Sasuke?"
He put down his chopsticks and looked sideways at Naruto.
"Yeah."
Naruto took a mouthful of noodles and said without raising his head.
"Last time, I met Sasuke at that guy Shinnō's place."
"But I didn't expect that he is already so powerful."
He swallowed a mouthful of noodles and continued.
"And the one with white hair and mask is also very powerful, he knows Ice Release.
He should also be a subordinate of Orochimaru, right? Otherwise, how could he be so familiar with Sasuke?"
Naruto was talking to himself, took another mouthful of noodles, and added firmly.
"Since Orochimaru is dead, I must recover Sasuke next time."
He didn't notice at all that the expression of Neji beside him had changed subtly.
Ice Release.
White hair.
Meet Sasuke.
And the faceless reward order in front of Hyuga Estate.
The information quickly rotated, intertwined, and collided in Neji's mind, and his expression gradually began to lose control and become distorted.
His chopsticks stopped in mid-air, and the noodles slipped from the tips of the chopsticks and fell back into the bowl, splashing a few drops of soup.
After a long time, he turned his head and looked at Naruto's expression, as if he had seen a ghost, and squeezed out a sentence.
"What did you say?"
Land of Fields, the sea surface near Southern Hideout.
Ning Xue, who was walking behind, suddenly had his eyelids twitching.
He raised his hand to lift his mask and rubbed it, feeling like someone was talking about him.
Suigetsu, who was holding his head in front of him and walking briskly, noticed that the pace behind him was a beat slower, turned around and said with some doubts.
"What's the matter, little brother?"
"It's okay."
Ning Xue put on the mask, looked over Suigetsu's shoulders, and looked at the gradually clear outline of the mountain on the sea level in the distance.
There is Southern Hideout of Orochimaru, an island hanging alone offshore.
Suigetsu slowed down and stood side by side with Ning Xue, tilting his head and approaching with gossipy excitement in his tone.
"Hey, little brother, let me tell you, this island is basically full of experimental subjects imprisoned by Orochimaru.
But his combat effectiveness is really poor, and I really don't know what the use of being imprisoned is."
"Experimental subject?" Ning Xue frowned slightly.
"Yes."
Suigetsu spread his hands, the shark teeth shining white in the sun.
"That's the kind of person who gets injected with all this shit.
"Some will become extremely powerful, and some will become very resistant to beatings, but they are not very smart and will only act recklessly when fighting.
"Orochimaru, that pervert, probably wants to learn some technique from them to strengthen the human body."
Ning Xue didn't speak, but quickened his pace and walked to Sasuke's side.
Sasuke looked straight and spoke calmly.
"Suigetsu is right. Basically, the people detained in this base are failures. The truly valuable experimental subjects are no longer here."
"Then why do you still come here to find someone with no fighting ability?" Ning Xue asked with some confusion.
"Because her ability is very special."