Not long after Zou Hyuga and the others left, new visitors arrived near Kusagakure.
Standing on a nearby rise, Pain looked down at Kusagakure, which had nearly been reduced to ruins. His eyes held no emotion, while the sinister Orochimaru stood beside him.
After retreating in defeat, Orochimaru had not contacted Pain immediately, yet Pain had come here anyway.
Pain paid particular attention to Kusagakure, which bordered Amegakure and had recently sent someone to the Black Market to discuss an alliance.
After observing Kusagakure for a long time and confirming that its leaders did not know the exact location of the Akatsuki, Pain appeared at the crater. He gazed thoughtfully at the spot where the Box of Ultimate Bliss had stood.
With his Rinnegan, he instantly detected the traces of chakra lingering there, and his brows slowly furrowed.
After hearing the legend of the Box of Ultimate Bliss, he frowned and asked Orochimaru, "Where did the Box of Ultimate Bliss go?"
It was true that Pain intended to collect the Tailed Beasts and challenge the order imposed by the Five Great Nations.
But he would never allow an evil object containing so much chakra to endanger the Shinobi World.
What he sought was a deterrent powerful enough to destroy an entire nation, one that would bring lasting peace between countries.
After a moment of thought, Orochimaru recounted the day's events while withholding a few details, saying only that Jonin from Konoha had dealt with the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
After listening, Pain fell into thought. Dealing with the Box of Ultimate Bliss was not much of an issue.
But Konoha's presence in Kusagakure posed a serious problem. If Konoha Ninja extended their investigation into the Land of Rain, he himself had nothing to fear from Konoha or Sunagakure, but the