"Besides... now isn't the time."
Lin Ze looked east, as though he could see the distant Land of Rivers through layer upon layer of rock.
Not long ago, word had come from the White Tiger Clone-
The Akatsuki had resurfaced, Orochimaru had returned to life and joined them, and Obito and Nagato had begun operating in secret.
These people were all destabilizing factors, especially Orochimaru. That man had too many ways to stay alive and was too cunning and unpredictable. He had to be dealt with as soon as possible.
Then there was Black Zetsu. That old schemer had disappeared completely for three years. Who knew what corner he was hiding in, plotting?
Leaving at a time like this was too risky.
"Traveling through space and time can wait, but the enemies won't. I'll clear away these problems first, then study the rules of time in peace."
Lin Ze stood up and sealed the Ryūmyaku shell back inside his body.
He took one last look at the empty altar, then turned and left.
Passing through the wreckage of the Spiral Tower, Lin Ze stood atop the Rōran Ruins and looked northeast into the windblown sand.
That was where Mount Sumeru lay.
According to the information the snakes of Ryūchi Cave had gathered over the past three years, during the battle in the Land of Water three years ago, Hiruko had first been casually crushed by Ryota Uchiha, then severely injured again by the badly wounded Nagato. He had all but lost his fighting spirit and had remained hidden deep within Mount Sumeru, afraid to show himself.
But over the past few months, he seemed to have become active again.
Not only had he secretly captured several ninja with special bloodline abilities, but he had recently caught a ninja with the