Near Kirigakure, in the Land of Water.
Lin Ze stood on high ground, gazing toward an ominous clan territory shrouded in thick mist in the distance.
That was the Kaguya Clan's home.
His target was clear-Kimimaro Kaguya.
The gifted boy who possessed the strongest Shikotsumyaku in the original story, yet died young from a bloodline disease.
Judging by the timeline, Kimimaro should only be four or five now, already imprisoned by his clan as a weapon.
Lin Ze considered this silently.
He needed manpower, subordinates with absolute loyalty and immense potential.
Young, starved of affection, and treated as a tool by his clan, Kimimaro was undoubtedly one of the best candidates.
Handled properly, it would be easy to secure his undying loyalty.
Lin Ze did not rashly approach the Kaguya Clan Territory.
The members of this clan were unstable and hostile to outsiders. Barging straight in could easily alert them.
He retreated to a small town ten li away, settled into an unremarkable restaurant, and ordered some food. He appeared to be resting, but had quietly extended his unique Sensory Ability.
Strong, violent, weak, deathly still...
Yet after scanning again and again, he still failed to find the presence he wanted.
So he really is being held somewhere that blocks sensory detection?
Lin Ze was not surprised.
Recalling the original story, Kimimaro had been caged by his clan since childhood. Only after the Kaguya Clan's failed coup and extermination had he been able to leave.
Since he could not sense him, he would use the most basic method.
Tail them!
With a thought, Lin Ze issued orders to the snakes from Ryūchi Cave lurking nearby.
Soon, numerous small snakes of assorted colors silently slithered into the Kaguya Clan Territory.
Whenever a reasonably strong Kaguya clansman left the territory, a small