Land of Rice Fields.
Underground base.
Hearing Orochimaru's words,
Chiba raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
He was waiting for Orochimaru to continue.
Orochimaru extended his long, slender tongue and licked his pale lips.
"I previously joined an organization called Akatsuki."
"This organization is made up entirely of S-Rank Missing-nin from various ninja villages."
"For certain personal reasons, I betrayed them."
"Now, their people are hunting me all over the world."
Orochimaru paused.
He stared intently into Chiba's eyes.
He wanted to see Chiba's reaction.
A mysterious organization packed with S-Rank Missing-nin.
Any Kage from the Five Great Villages would be extremely wary upon hearing such news.
"That's it?"
But Chiba was not.
He even boredly picked at his ear.
Orochimaru froze.
That was not the right reaction!
"Lord Hokage."
"Akatsuki's leader possesses the legendary Rinnegan!"
Orochimaru lowered his voice, emphasizing his words.
Those were the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths, representing the pinnacle of power in the Ninja World.
Orochimaru did not believe Chiba did not care at all.
"Oh."
"The Rinnegan."
Chiba replied casually.
His tone was flat, as though they were discussing what to eat that night.
Orochimaru was completely at a loss.
That was the Rinnegan!
Not some cabbage by the roadside!
Chiba lowered his hand and brushed the dust from his clothes.
"They're just a few homeless vagrants huddling together for warmth."
"And they scared you this badly?"
"If they dare come to Konoha,"
"I'll plant every last one of them in the back mountain and make them potted plants for life."
Chiba's tone was not heavy.
Yet the killing intent in his words made the temperature throughout the underground chamber plummet.
Orochimaru froze.
Too arrogant!
He simply did not take the Rinnegan seriously.
And yet,
Orochimaru had the strange illusion
that the