Farewell, Orochimaru

On the other hand, perhaps because he has lived for too long, Black Zetsu's sense of time is probably different from that of ordinary people.

More than two years have passed since he said "next time," yet he has never once taken action against anything related to Feng.

Even Obito was effectively restrained and prevented from ever setting foot in the Land of Water again.

This allowed Feng to enjoy a rather peaceful period of time.

This gave him time to completely annex and assimilate the Land of Water and the Sea Country, as well as time for transformation, development, and cultivation.

However, this peaceful time soon came to an end.

On this day, in the Backyard of the Daimyo Palace in the Tea Country, Feng was cultivating.

"Your Highness, Kabuto has sent a message that Naruto Uzumaki you asked him to keep a close eye on, graduated from the Konoha Ninja Academy yesterday."

Currently, he is part of Team 8, a three-person team consisting of Hinata Hyūga and Kiba Inuzuka, led by Konoha Jonin Kurenai Yūhi.

Furthermore, Orochimaru sends his greetings and wishes to meet with you to discuss a very interesting plan.

Uchiha Izumi hurried into the Backyard and reported to Feng, who was cultivating.

His address to Feng was: Imperial Palace.

This is the respectful title given to Feng by all his subordinates after discussing it together over the past two years.

After all, his master was the behind-the-scenes master who controlled the six kingdoms, and his status was higher than that of the daimyo. The usual titles of "master" or "lord" could not represent Feng's supreme status.

Then, the idea of the Imperial Palace, the one who Lord Daimyo, was thus conceived by his subordinates.

Feng currently considers himself to be in the "build high walls, store up grain, and delay declaring himself king" stage. Before he can take the title of First Emperor, he doesn't care what his subordinates call him, as long as it's a good title. He'll just let them call him whatever they want.

"Oh, you've graduated."

"Then we should get moving too."

Upon hearing this, Feng spoke slowly and deliberately.

He seemed to be muttering to himself, because his words didn't sound like a response to Quan.

"Your Highness, you mean...?!"

Quan didn't care at all that Feng didn't respond; his mind was completely focused on Feng's words, "It's time to get moving."

"Your Highness, are we finally going to make our move!?"

Hearing this, Mei Terumi, who was handling the documents for Feng, also looked up, her eyes shining.

Meanwhile, several guards around who had also heard the same thing craned their necks and strained their ears to hear Feng's next words clearly.

In the past two years, anyone who has figured out Feng's expansion strategy knows that as long as the fact that the Uchiha uses Genjutsu to control the Daimyo is not exposed too early, Feng has a high probability of unifying the Ninja World.

At that time, those who surrendered early will also attain enlightenment, and their future status and position will far surpass those who came later, including the remaining four great ninja villages.

Therefore, apart from a few who genuinely loved peace, most of Feng's men were delighted by the prospect of war and looked forward to it even more than Feng himself.

However, everyone also knew that while they were willing to take action, the decision of when to do so rested entirely with Feng.

After all, the strategic vision that Feng displayed when he controlled the six kingdoms was something that everyone else thought they couldn't even come close to.

"Hehe, no rush."

Quan, first send orders to Inabi Uchiha and Tekka to compile information on the three countries of the Land of Crafts, the Land of Waves, and the Land of Whirlpools.

I then ordered Asai and Gonbei of the Intelligence Department to conduct full-scale reconnaissance in these two countries, as well as the Land of Wind, one of the Five Great Nations.

I need all the intelligence on these six countries within a month.

Feng smiled; he did indeed have a plan.

"Yes! Royal Palace!"

Upon hearing this, Quan immediately responded loudly, and then turned around to relay the order without wasting a second.

Haha! We've done it!

Meanwhile, the guards who had been eavesdropping silently clenched their fists, Chunin.

"Ming, summarize the progress of our manpower expansion over the past two years."

"I'll have the Cabinet study this further: if we were to conquer the six kingdoms I just mentioned, would we have enough manpower to govern them?"

Feng spoke again, instructing Mei Terumi.

Although he has the opportunity to annex six countries, he still needs to figure out whether he really has such a big appetite.

"Smack!"

"No problem, Your Highness. You will have a concrete plan within ten days."

Mei Terumi was even more impatient than Feng, and immediately slammed her hand on the table, setting a time for a reply.

"No rush. There are some things I haven't confirmed yet. We need to confirm them before we can take action."

"Wait for my notification. Report back to me at the next meeting along with intelligence from the six countries."

Feng shook his head slightly.

Taking action requires careful timing, and now is not the time to do so.

Three days later.

When Izumi and Mei Terumi relayed the orders, everyone under Feng's command was eager to get started.

Feng, however, had already arrived at the Tanzaku Street in the Land of Fire with only a few personal guards.

"Feng Jun, it's been a long time!"

Inside a private booth called "Izakaya Hyakuyaku," Orochimaru greeted Feng with a sinister smile that he thought was kind but was actually terrifying enough to scare children to death.

He had changed bodies again, but it wasn't a clone of himself, and he was no longer wearing the red cloud robe that symbolized his identity as an Akatsuki member.

"Hehe, yes, it's almost been five years already."

"Orochimaru, where are the research results I asked for?"

Feng, on the other hand, was clearly more concerned with the research on the fusion of White Zetsu Cells and Uchiha.

"Feng Jun, you're as straightforward as ever, Gate of Opening."

Orochimaru was visibly taken aback by the question, and then gave an ambiguous answer.

After all, he wasn't the type to be easily manipulated; Feng had already used his immortality to control him last time.

But this time, he believed he had what Feng wanted and intended to take the initiative himself.

However, Orochimaru seemed to have forgotten something important.

"Kabuto, you've almost completed five years with Orochimaru."

When are you planning to come back? Director Nonō has been talking about you a lot.

"Yes. Her medical research is very demanding, and she really needs help. I also need you to come back soon to assist her."

Feng glanced at Orochimaru, then turned to chat with Yakushi Kabuto.

"Lord Feng, Lord Orochimaru has already made progress in the research on White Zetsu Cells, and it is currently in the human trial phase."

The final results should be available in about one or two months. If there are no major problems, you can arrange for a few members of your tribe to come and test the effects.

As for me, I will return after I have completed the test on your clan, and at the same time finished the important task that Lord Orochimaru has assigned me.

"At that time, I hope Lord Feng will arrange for me to go directly to the Director's side to assist her."

Dou raised his hand to adjust his glasses as usual before speaking to Feng in detail.

"Yes, as long as you know it."

Feng nodded in satisfaction, then turned back to Orochimaru and said:

"As expected of you, Orochimaru, you're really reliable when it comes to research."

As Dou said, if my people complete the test without any problems, I will give you what you want immediately.

"And you're not allowed to keep it from me."

"Dou! Such a useful assistant, it made me forget that you don't belong to me."

Now, I really can't bear to pay it back, hehehe."

Orochimaru did not directly answer Feng's question, but instead glanced at his eyelids and then smiled and remarked a few words.

Upon seeing this, Feng instantly activated his Mangekyō, but none of his techniques worked.

"Orochimaru, there are some things you'd better not try."

I can tell you, this is one of Shisui's eyes, and I believe you should now know its power."

He pointed to one of his Mangekyō eyes while pretending to be angry.

"Yes, Kotoamatsukami can change a person's thoughts and will without them even realizing it."

Orochimaru's expression remained unchanged, and he replied noncommittally.

Clearly, five years later, having learned of his own weaknesses, he has found a way to overcome Genjutsu.

"It seems you were prepared."

Seeing that he could no longer intimidate Orochimaru with Genjutsu, Feng immediately deactivated his Mangekyō and turned his anger into laughter.

"I think I'm not as bad as you think."

Orochimaru then smiled as well.

"Hehehe!" "Hahaha!"

At this moment, the two looked at each other for a while, and finally burst into laughter.