After taking a roundabout route and bypassing Konoha's barrier, Zou Hyuga returned to the Clan Grounds and received the memories of the Moryo Clone.
Nothing particularly noteworthy had happened in the village over the past month. The only thing worth mentioning was that ANBU operations had grown increasingly frequent. The appearance of the Mysterious Masked Man undoubtedly demanded constant vigilance from the village leadership.
After Zou Hyuga returned to the Clan Grounds, Oto Uchiha was the first to visit. She practically treated the place as her own home.
The Hyuga ninja in the Clan Grounds were already used to this and said little about it.
As soon as she entered his home, Oto Uchiha asked where Zou Hyuga had been lately. He gave her a brief account, skipping a few unnecessary details.
"So you ran into someone from the same organization as Orochimaru this time, and even fought him?"
Zou Hyuga nodded and sighed softly. "Yes. I almost didn't make it back this time. That missing-nin from Takigakure, Kakuzu, had several lives. He was terrifying."
Oto Uchiha gave him a suspicious look. "Just how many times did you kill him to find out he had so many lives...? And even in a situation like that, you still remembered to make some money?"
Zou Hyuga froze, staring at Oto in surprise. She had spotted the hole in his story so quickly.
After a pause, Oto Uchiha's tone grew serious. "Kakuzu with his five hearts, Orochimaru, Sasori of the Red Sands, and the Masked Man who attacked us before... this organization's fighting strength is almost on par with a shinobi village."
Zou Hyuga didn't deny it. The Akatsuki's strength was indeed comparable to that of a shinobi village.
Besides those people, there were also Nagato, whose power was unfathomable, and Konan. Although