At the mention of neighboring Takigakure, a nostalgic look crossed Kakuzu's face.
But it was nothing more than nostalgia. There was no one he cared about left there.
Only the scenery of his homeland still lingered in his eyes, shimmering with golden light.
The three of them traveled through the snowy fields of the Land of Iron.
Xuanhui emitted a faint glow, keeping them warm.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru and Kakuzu told Xuanhui about what they encountered along the way.
Kakuzu explained the history, while Orochimaru laid out the underlying principles.
Once the three entered a town, an entirely different scene greeted them.
The people on the streets walked with a powerful stride. They looked like samurai who had tempered themselves through hardship.
There were ordinary civilians too, of course, but under the samurai's influence, even they looked rather spirited.
"What an interesting place."
Xuanhui voiced his admiration.
"Let's stay here a little longer. I know of a rumor about this place."
Orochimaru took the initiative to suggest staying a few more days.
"I've heard that the Kusanagi Sword, a legendary treasure that never breaks, is somewhere within the Land of Iron."
This was one of the few things Orochimaru was interested in outside of research.
After all, he had started out practicing swordsmanship.
Most weapon-wielding ninja in the Shinobi World used single-edged blades, and samurai were fond of their katana as well.
Someone like Orochimaru, who practiced swordsmanship with a straight sword, was quite rare.
"Then let's look around."
Their stay ended up lasting half a month.
The people of the Land of Iron were warm and hospitable.
But when asked about rumors of the Kusanagi Sword, few could offer any concrete information.
With no other choice, Orochimaru and the others searched out in the wilderness. Thanks to Xuanhui's Mangekyo Sharingan,