A Journey Through the Shinobi World

Why do most men who have experienced a low point in their lives become silent?

"It was probably during that darkest time that they finally realized that no one could truly help him except themselves..."

Kato Osamu left Ryūchi Cave with Shiro, still clueless about how to obtain Natural Energy.

Heeding Ichikishimahime's advice, he disguised himself as an ordinary small merchant and began traveling throughout the Shinobi World.

Having mastered Sealing Jutsu to his current level, he can completely conceal his Chakra aura, revealing not a trace of it. Few in the Shinobi World can discern his identity as a ninja.

Heading east from the Land of Scorched Earth, the first stop is the Sunagakure closest to the Land of Scorched Earth in the Shinobi World.

Sunagakure, far from Konoha, and the air, filled with yellow sand, almost permeates the entire country.

This was Kato Osamu's first time visiting Sunagakure.

Here, he saw the exotic architecture of the Sand Shinobi and the attire, which had a Central Asian flair—almost everyone wore a headscarf to protect against the sand.

The Sunagakure has no particular industries. Apart from some poisonous substances that can be used as medicinal materials to supplement their income, the vast desert is mostly barren and impoverished.

Food, drinking water, and cloth are the three major expenses that are already the biggest burden on the finances of the entire Land of Wind, just to maintain the relatively small 'oasis' of Sunagakure.

Green plants are comparable to luxury goods, but transporting these delicate species alive here is a huge challenge for ordinary businessmen.

He didn't stay long. Kato Osamu didn't like the environment of the Sand Shinobi; in his mind, it was probably even worse than the Land of Scorched Earth.

A month later, he left with some 'medicinal herbs' that were a specialty of the Sand Shinobi, and followed a merchant caravan that had hired Sand Shinobi into the Land of Earth.

The environment of Iwagakure seems to be better than that of Sand Shinobi, but the mountains here have very little vegetation, and the rugged mountains filled with rocks look like they are just piles of huge stones.

The towering mountains are not lush and green, and there is little environment suitable for crops to grow.

Although Ōnoki's leadership reclaimed a lot of wasteland at the foot of the mountain, it was still far from enough.

The rocks limited Ōnoki's ambitions.

Moreover, the roads through Iwagakure are the most difficult to traverse.

The entire village is situated high in the mountains, and almost no caravans bring large quantities of goods to Iwagakure.

Kato Osamu's caravan completed the transaction at the foot of the mountain. Only a few young people who were visiting Stone Shinobi for the first time, filled with anticipation, set off on the mountain path to visit Stone Shinobi, and he was one of them.

The Stone Shinobi do not prohibit this behavior; in fact, they greatly encourage it.

Perhaps because they deal with rocks so much, most of the people of Stone Shinobi have a cold and hard temper, just like rocks, and they speak very directly. Although the 'medicinal herbs' that Kato Osamu bought from Sunagakure were all sold out in Iwagakure, he still had to act as a mediator to mediate the constant quarrels and even physical fights between the customers.

After spending some time, Kato Osamu, carrying the money he had earned from the Stone Shinobi, boarded a ship and left Iwagakure.

The large ship set sail, carrying people from all over the world and from all countries. Apart from the Five Great Shinobi Villages constantly at war and the ninjas harboring hatred towards each other, the ordinary people at the bottom of society did not seem to have much hostility.

Perhaps because of the constant warfare, they felt no involvement in it, or perhaps because the constant conflicts between nations had robbed them of any particular emotion; they were merely struggling at the bottom of society, like cattle and horses just trying to survive.

As the large ship approached the Land of Snow, the ice layer grew thicker and thicker until the massive glaciers on both sides slowly approached the people on deck, standing like giant mountains on the sea.

The icebergs stretch endlessly, but within them, a narrow passage, as if carved by a divine hand, has been carved out, leaving a breathtaking sight.

Everyone on deck who was seeing the ninja for the first time fell silent. At that moment, probably no one was without both longing for and fear of the ninja's power...

The large ship sailed for over a month before finally arriving at its destination— the Land of Lightning.

Both are mountainous countries, but the environment of the Land of Lightning is far better than that of the Land of Earth. The mountains are lush and green, the forests are vast and deep, and clear springs flow gently through the jungle.

If it weren't for the mountains that dot the Land of Lightning, the Raikage could have made the population and strength of the Kumogakure Konoha to that of the Hidden Leaf Village with just a small plain.

Even so, the Cloud Shinobi are far stronger than the Sand Shinobi, and much stronger than the Stone Shinobi.

However, since the Cloud Shinobi had not yet reached a peace agreement with Konoha, and although there was no longer any fighting, the entire village remained on high alert as the Fourth Raikage had just taken office.

Kato Osamu was unable to venture deep into the Kumogakure; he could only catch a glimpse of it from afar before joining the other merchants to tour the Land of Lightning.

The mountain paths here aren't exactly easy to navigate, but the difficulties of going uphill seem to be swept away by the breathtaking scenery outside the cable car window on the way down.

The tourists on the same cable car Kato Osamu were a young brother and sister, around 20 years old. They stared wide-eyed at the scenery outside the window, even falling silent for a moment, as if they didn't want to miss a single moment and were trying to imprint all the beautiful scenery into their minds.

Clouds surge and flow, mountains appear to float.

The clouds surged like waves. Although there was no roar of the sea or its azure blue, the sea of clouds above created a sense of boundless, ethereal beauty that captivated everyone present.

I had a very pleasant conversation with the two siblings, exchanged names, and even gave Kato Osamu a souvenir before leaving.

Without purchasing any more items from the Land of Lightning, Kato Osamu once again traveled by boat to the Land of Hot Water.

Hot springs are everywhere here, and the entire country relies on the hot spring industry and the service industry, which is famous in the Shinobi World, to attract a constant stream of tourists.

Here, mixed bathing is commonplace, and if you have enough money, you can even lift up the only piece of cloth covering you at any time during the mixed bathing – this is a unique service industry in the Land of Hot Water.

The superior geographical environment created such a grand scene. The Land of Hot Water, far from the mainland, avoided the threat of war and became a natural playground.

Kato Osamu could roughly guess that this large island must be situated on an underwater volcano, which explained the abundance of hot springs that gush forth year-round, regardless of the season.

Despite being a cold-blooded animal, the snake, Shiro, possesses intelligence comparable to humans. It seems that after its long journey, it also enjoys this warm environment, especially since the air is always unusually humid, making it a favorite habitat for snakes.

Kato Osamu lay half-reclined beside the hot spring, her head resting on the rounded edge of the water, her whole body enveloped in the rising steam, seemingly completely relaxed. Shiro swam in the water, swaying with the current, utterly immersed in pure enjoyment.

"Kato- kun has been missing for over two years..."

"This is really a headache to find..."

A strange sound suddenly echoed through the hot spring courtyard. Shiro slightly raised her eyes to look at Kato Osamu, and seeing that he seemed to have no reaction, she slowly closed her eyes again.

"You've come at a really bad time..."

"Obito Uchiha..."

Obito Uchiha wouldn't come knocking without a reason, especially since Rin isn't here right now.

Kato Osamu seemed to be immersed in the warm spring water and didn't want to pay attention to him. But whether he wanted to or not, his gradually peaceful state of mind over the past year was once again broken by Obito Uchiha's arrival, and his brows furrowed slightly.

"Of course, it's not as leisurely as you... having traveled to various countries and now soaking in a hot spring here..."

Space seemed to be distorting, and Obito Uchiha's figure gradually appeared. His gaze was slightly scrutinizing as he looked at Kato Osamu. He didn't believe Kato Osamu's claim that he was just casually strolling around.

"So... what exactly do you want to do?"

The Spiral Mask, revealing only one eye, let out a sharp gaze that pierced through the rising steam, scrutinizing Kato Osamu as she quietly observed him.

"It's probably not just a casual stroll; perhaps it's preparation for overthrowing the Shinobi World?" Kato Osamu glanced at Obito Uchiha, seemingly sensing his thoughts, and casually remarked.

"Is that so...?"

Although Kato Osamu didn't take Kato Obito Uchiha too seriously, he still pondered the possibility, his brow furrowing slightly.

"If you don't have anything particularly important to do today, I really will beat you up..." Looking at Obito Uchiha's slightly thoughtful gaze, Kato Osamu couldn't help but glare at him fiercely.

"The Three Great Mist Families are preparing a military coup..."

"You should still remember when Mist Shinobi obtained a Byakugan..."

"That ninja who successfully transplanted the Byakugan and gained Byakugan, Ao, saw through the fact that I controlled the Genji..."

"However, they have kept quiet for the time being, gathering strength and preparing for a military coup..."

Obito Uchiha's voice seemed devoid of emotion, merely stating a fact; he appeared indifferent to the Kirigakure. However, being opposed by some who had always been considered mere kittens and puppies stirred a degree of displeasure within him.

"So, Kirigakure is almost out of your control?"

"No one wants to do something against their will; even the most oppressive policies will eventually backfire..."

"I told you about this a few years ago: this method of controlling the leader and then trying to take control of the entire ninja village can't last. It's already quite good if it can be maintained for a few years..."

So, you still won't give up?

Some moments can only be experienced once in a lifetime. Once a person understands certain truths and changes, even if time were to turn back, they could never become the person they once were.

Rin has come back to life, but Obito Uchiha has changed. He can never go back to what he was before, and his heart is still filled with a deep hatred for the world. Perhaps, Mist Shinobi is just the beginning...

"I will eliminate the three major clans and bring Mist Shinobi under my complete control..."

"Impossible. The people of Mist Shinobi would never allow someone from another village to hold the position of Kage. If you do this, you will only face resistance from the entire Mist Shinobi community..."

"The most admirable quality about the Mist Shinobi is probably their fierce spirit..."

"Whoever resists shall die! Mist Shinobi should pay the price for their actions!"

Obito Uchiha snorted coldly. The Kirigakure Ninja, whom he had toyed with for several years, seemed to have become a bunch of fools in his eyes, and he didn't take them seriously at all.

"Obito Uchiha, perhaps we need to change our approach..."

"I have a suitable candidate..."

"Let him become the Mizukage..."

Kato Osamu slowly stood up from the hot spring, putting on his bathrobe as he chuckled and pondered something. Shiro also swam out of the hot spring and slipped into Kato Osamu's robe, slowly peeking out from his chest.

"Zabuza? To make him your spokesperson?"

"He doesn't seem like the type to listen to others..."

"You're wrong. He doesn't need to obey, nor is he my representative..."

Zabuza, he's a man of ideals; he'll fight for the construction and revival of Mist Shinobi..."

"But he's a very respectable guy..."

Obito Uchiha beside Kato Osamu and casually picked up a teacup. After a relaxing hot spring bath, enjoying a cup of fragrant tea was perhaps a great pleasure. Kato Osamu's wet hair gradually dried, and seeing Obito Uchiha's questioning gaze, she still didn't speak.

"So, what do you get in return?"

"So, Obito Uchiha, what have you gained from controlling Mist Shinobi these past few years?"

"You only got what you wanted by venting your anger..."

"So, are you done venting now?"

Kato Osamu chuckled softly, his gaze fixed on Obito Uchiha: "Do you want Rin to know what you've done?"

"She probably never imagined that Obito Uchiha would become such a notorious villain in the Shinobi World..."

"Enough!"

"This can't be told to Rin. Kato Osamu... You know, this is my bottom line..."

Obito Uchiha's gaze turned cold as he stared intently at Kato Osamu. Rin was always his Achilles' heel, and he would not allow her to cause him any harm again...

"Hahaha, who do you think you are?"

"Has spending too much time with those idiots in Mist Shinobi made your brain turn like a caveman's? Obito Uchiha, you are Rin, whom I resurrected. And who are you?"

A flash of anger crossed Obito Uchiha's eyes, and the Mangekyō Sharingan appeared in them as he stared intently at Kato Osamu. The air seemed thick with Yakumi.

"Why haven't you died yet?"

"I'll definitely die later than you..."

Kato Osamu chuckled softly, and the anger in Obito Uchiha's eyes gradually subsided. He was no match for Kato Osamu, and they weren't enemies yet...

"You can have Kirigakure, I won't interfere, but Rin, I'll take her with me..."

"If she's willing..."

"I need to know your purpose..."

"Obito Uchiha, while obtaining the Tailed Beasts is our shared goal, some things may require more than just brute force..."

"Interest is always the core driving force behind everyone's actions..."

Obito Uchiha's eyes were thoughtful, as if he still didn't quite understand. He now really disliked the riddle master.

"Obito Uchiha, during the years you stayed in Mist Shinobi, did you ever go to the beach to catch crabs?" Kato Osamu gently patted Shiro's head, paused for a moment, glanced at Obito Uchiha, and continued speaking.

"On the beach in Kirigakure, all you need to do is bury an empty bucket in the sand at low tide, and the next day countless crabs will fall into it..."

"Each of them wanted to escape, but they would also use their pincers to hold onto every fellow creature that tried to leave, trapping them firmly in the abyss..."

"Perhaps you haven't grasped the true relationship Five Great Nations..."

"The Shinobi World can decay, ninja villages can decay, but they must decay together..."

"All they want is a balanced stability..."

"But what will happen if the Mist Shinobi gradually rises in power?"

"No single village can stand out from the crowd; if such a village did, all the nations would unite to attack it..."

"Wasn't Konoha like this before the Third Shinobi World War...?"

"Look at Konoha now, what a peaceful and comfortable life it is..."

Kato Osamu chuckled softly. Obito Uchiha seemed to want to refute something, but he stopped and fell into deep thought, probably feeling that Kato Osamu's 'twisted logic' had a certain degree of truth to it.

"At that time, the chaos you desire will return..."

For an average teenager, the things they might always be thinking about are: more money and more women.

But Obito Uchiha has probably moved beyond that state now; his mind is more focused on revenge and how to overthrow this damned world.

But he was still just a boy who had suddenly gained power.

"So, are the Kage of the other ninja villages all idiots? Can't they choose the same path as Kirigakure?"

"The stronger the Shinobi World becomes, the harder it will be for us to acquire the Tailed Beasts... I don't want to face five Konoha from Third Shinobi World War..."

Kato Osamu's thoughts seemed to have drifted off somewhere, a hint of nostalgia flashing in her eyes. She quickly snapped back to reality and uttered a word that Obito Uchiha had never heard before, yet he instantly understood its meaning.

"An arms race... it's only going to escalate..."

"Land, population, and resources—once development reaches a certain stage, domestic conflicts drive them to plunder, like a cycle of history... and war can break out at the slightest provocation..."

"The Shinobi World cannot accommodate five Konoha..."

"No country can stand idly by and watch its neighbor grow stronger without taking any action. Similarly, five powerful Konoha will clash in a war that will shake the entire Shinobi World..."

An unprecedented light flashed in Obito Uchiha's eyes, as if a path he had never seen before was unfolding before him. He didn't even need to do anything else; he only needed to wait for this 'fireworks show' to begin.

"I once said that Madara left some contingency plans, right here in the Land of Rain..."

Obito Uchiha casually tossed a ring over, seemingly still immersed in some kind of emotion. His gaze towards Kato Osamu held a peculiar expression—perhaps a complex mix of resentment, displeasure, and defiance, yet also an unavoidable agreement, recognition, and envy.

"The organization called Akatsuki is currently led by Nagato Uzumaki..."

"Is that the power of the Rinnegan...? I really want to see it for myself..."

Kato Osamu took the ring. In the sunlight, a jet-black character for "emptiness" lay quietly within the bluish-yellow amber of the silver-white ring.