Uzumaki Kana

These days, Orochimaru and Kato Osamu are engrossed in developing new ninjutsu, seemingly oblivious to the affairs of the outside world.

However, these studies, which involve forbidden powers, do not seem to be progressing very smoothly. More than half a month has passed, and there has been very little progress.

"Orochimaru- sensei, it seems we'll have to stop here for now..."

In the underground research lab, both Kato Osamu and Orochimaru had bloodshot eyes, and the dim yellow light shone on their faces, making them appear bloodless.

Even with the support of Chakra, such tireless work could not last long, especially since the current information was insufficient and the mastery of Yin–Yang Release was too shallow, leaving Kato Osamu feeling somewhat powerless.

"That's enough..."

"We have plenty of time to study this; there's no need to rush..."

Orochimaru's face showed a hint of lingering satisfaction. He glanced at the scroll in his hand with a reluctant look, then let out a long sigh, a sinister smile appearing on his pale face.

"My dear teacher has already issued three urgent orders; it seems the battlefield Stone Shinobi and Cloud Shinobi is even more brutal than I imagined..."

"I really should go..."

After backing up the research data, Kato Osamu slowly opened the door to the research lab. A sweet, briny sea breeze suddenly blew in, and his mind felt a refreshing coolness. His somewhat agitated heart gradually calmed down.

"Orochimaru- sensei, remember to let me know before you leave..."

"I don't want to be dragged into this for no reason..."

Orochimaru continued tidying up the experimental materials without turning around, only chuckling lightly with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"It seems you still can't make a decision..."

"Do you need my help, my good disciple...?"

A slight smile appeared on his face as Kato Osamu slowly walked away, his figure receding into the distance, his back to Orochimaru.

"Perhaps, that day will come..."

Having left the Mist Shinobi battlefield, Kato Osamu strolled leisurely along the coast of the Land of Fire towards the Stone Shinobi battlefield.

The battlefields between Konoha and Stone Shinobi were mostly concentrated in the areas of the Land of Grass and the Land of Waterfalls, interspersed with some border areas of the Land of Rain. These smaller countries served as buffer zones for the larger powers in every war.

If it weren't for Hanzo of the Salamander's powerful rise during the Second Shinobi World War, the Land of Rain of Land of Rain would likely have become a battlefield for major powers as well.

However, the Land of Grass and the Land of Waterfalls, which are also small countries, were not so fortunate.

Kato Osamu pondered the situation on the battlefield in Stone Shinobi, his feet never stopping as he headed towards the Land of Grass — Konoha's frontline forces were almost entirely concentrated on the border of the Land of Grass.

Although ninja battles don't involve a large number of people, their destructive power is unmatched by ordinary people. The stronger the ninja, the more devastating the battle will be within a radius of several miles.

Ordinary people have absolutely no chance to get involved.

Therefore, the closer one gets to the Land of Grass, the sparser the population becomes, and the more ninjas with wary and gloomy eyes appear.

Kato Osamu silently evaded the patrolling ninjas' sight; with his current perception and stealth abilities, no one could detect his presence.

The stars were deserted, and the entire Land of Grass was filled with unease. Kato Osamu, draped in a black cloak, stood motionless on a branch in the jungle, the night concealing his figure and face.

His gaze remained fixed on the distant Konoha camp, his hand moving slightly.

Countless tiny, flickering lights, like Fire Fly, flashed by and disappeared into the air, gradually stretching into the distance. No one knew where they were hiding...

Intelligence is always one of the most important weapons for ninjas.

"Thump..."

In the Kusagakure of the Land of Grass, the originally dark room was quiet until the sudden sound of the door being broken open seemed to wake the people sleeping inside.

The woman, startled awake from her sleep, showed a hint of fear in her eyes, which vanished in an instant. As if she already knew the identity of the person who had come, she suddenly revealed a complex expression.

"Youcaowan... what brings you here...?"

The bright moonlight shone on the woman's face, making her appear even paler.

The person who came before him was about twenty years old. A bandage was draped diagonally across his forehead, covering one of his eyes.

A flicker of hesitation crossed his remaining eyes, but he walked toward the woman at a measured pace.

"I need you..."

He grabbed the woman, his eyes filled with a complex emotion, and slowly lowered his head. The woman seemed a little startled by this action, but she only struggled slightly before stopping.

Her hands slowly fell to her sides, allowing the man to do as he pleased, but her hands involuntarily covered her lower abdomen, and a tear flashed in her eyes.

Her small family, which was already struggling to survive due to the war, collapsed immediately after her husband's sudden death in battle, and she herself inevitably found herself in dire straits.

Thinking about her identity, she initially wanted to end her life, but then discovered that she was already pregnant with her deceased husband's unborn child.

She glanced back at the man in front of her, a flash of resentment crossing her eyes...

"Shana, don't look at me like that..."

"You know, a woman like you, just surviving is a luxury. If it weren't for me, you would have died long ago..."

Upon hearing this, a flash of anger crossed Uzumaki Kana's face, but it was fleeting and the busy man didn't notice it at all.

"I shouldn't have saved you when you were critically injured and on the verge of death..."

Kana's gaze swept over the man's one eye, her heart filled with unspeakable regret. She was probably the only person in the entire Kusagakure who knew the secret of his other eye, which was covered by a mask.

While her husband was still alive, she couldn't bear it and replaced his eye with that one...

However, this was like letting a wolf into the house...

She had no doubt that her husband's death was related to him...

But now she...

Tears slowly streamed down her face. The regret of letting the wolf into the house, the self-reproach for failing her husband—all these transformed into the strength of a mother. She felt the pulse of the blood connecting her to her own, and all the humiliation seemed utterly insignificant now...

"I want to leave here, I must leave here..."

"I can't let my child be born here..."

All her grief and anger transformed into a final resolve. She slowly closed her eyes, quietly awaiting the man's end.

In the darkness, it was as if there were a pair of imperceptible eyes, silently watching the movements of all living things, yet showing no sign of life. Images and sounds were constantly transmitted back from all directions.

The whispers of the lower-ranking ninjas, the budding plots, the angry roars and cries—all of this was observed by Kato Osamu...

"Cough cough..."

However, it was unclear what exactly he had learned. An awkward expression inexplicably appeared on Kato Osamu's face. His hands, which had been constantly Hand Seals to manipulate the Soulfire Insect, paused, and he couldn't help but scratch his head slightly.