After recruiting Hozuki Suigetsu, Zou Hyuga did not linger in Kirigakure for long.
Before leaving, he tested Shinnō, then instructed Kisame to keep monitoring him. He could not be certain of Shinnō's loyalty, but having defected from the Akatsuki, Shinnō had few options left.
The Akatsuki would hunt Shinnō down, and the Five Great Nations considered him a dangerous missing-nin. His only other option seemed to be Orochimaru, but Orochimaru was still being hunted by Obito and had no time to spare for him.
After leaving Kirigakure, Zou Hyuga arrived at a port in the Land of Water.
His next stop was Kumogakure, across the sea. Since he had accepted the Eight-Tails Hunt Mission, he would have to spend some time operating in the Land of Lightning.
Taking a large ship across the sea was the best choice.
Dressed in fine clothes and disguised as a wealthy merchant, Zou Hyuga boarded a cruise ship. Gazing out at the deep sea in the distance, he felt like declaring that money did not interest him.
Soon, night fell, and the cruise ship came alive with song and dance.
Those who could board this ship were at least minor nobles or merchants, or, at worst, members of the middle class.
Zou Hyuga wandered through the banquet, surveying the "ordinary people" around him. They held worldly power and wealth, yet pitifully few had chakra levels comparable to a ninja's.
Just what had allowed these people to attain their current standing?
Zou Hyuga found it difficult to understand, but that was undeniably the reality. Even the confrontation between the Five Great Shinobi Villages and the Akatsuki had not affected their lives in the slightest.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Zou Hyuga turned his attention to the songstress's performance.
The songstress was a ninja. Although she was