The next morning, the rain that lasted all night finally took a breather, but the sky was still leaden gray, like a dirty rag soaked in water, weighing heavily over the city.
Amegakure In the maze-like steel jungle, two figures walked silently, one behind the other.
Orochimaru walked in front, the hood of the cloak covering most of his face, revealing only his pale lower jaw and a pair of golden vertical pupils that shone in the dim light. Senju Chen followed behind him, his small body also wrapped in the cloak. He stepped on the slippery ground and curiously looked at this oppressive world made of steel and pipes.
There is no Konoha sunshine and green trees here, only cold metal and rust-colored tears washed away by the never-ending rain. The air is filled with a damp, fishy smell, making people breathless.
'It would be strange if you live in a place like this for a long time and don't have a abnormal mentality.' Senju Chen secretly muttered in his heart.
Hanzo of the Salamander's mansion is not so much a mansion as it is a fortress standing in the center of the city. It is taller and more stern than all the surrounding buildings. It is made of gray-black metal and has sharp edges and corners, exuding a cold atmosphere that is not allowed to approach strangers.
Outside the mansion, there is a post every three steps and a sentry every five steps.
The faces of every Amegakure ninja were full of vigilance and sorrow. Their fingers were tightly clasped on the ninja bag around their waists, and their eyes were like hawks, staring at any approaching creature. When Orochimaru and Senju Chen appeared, several hostile eyes instantly focused on them.
A Amegakure ninja who looked like a team leader took a step forward, his hand already pressed on the handle of the knife, and his tone was cold. "Stop! Who is it?"
Orochimaru stopped and slowly raised his head.
He didn't say anything, he just used his emotionless golden snake eyes to calmly scan the few guards in front of him.
Invisible pressure instantly enveloped this small area. The team leader felt as if he was being targeted by a huge cold-blooded poisonous snake. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. An icy chill shot up from the soles of his feet to the sky. The fingers holding the handle of the knife even began to tremble slightly.
"We are the ninjas of Konoha, here to visit Lord Hanzō." Orochimaru's hoarse voice finally sounded in the depressing air.
The guards did not dare to stop him anymore, but the doubts and hostility in their eyes did not diminish at all. After the notification, they were allowed to enter.
A cold-looking Amegakure Jonin walked out of the depths of the fortress. He had no unnecessary nonsense. He just nodded slightly to the two of them and uttered two words: "Please."
The moment he stepped into the mansion, a stronger smell mixed with high-grade incense and the smell of death and corruption hit his face. The interior of the hall was empty and cold, and the light was dim. Only a few long-bright lamps cast swaying light and shadow on the walls, giving everything an ominous color.
This place doesn't feel like a home, but more like a gorgeous mausoleum.
In the main hall, a tall figure turned his back to them, standing quietly in front of a huge floor-to-ceiling window, staring at the gray world outside the window.
He was wearing the iconic combat uniform of Amegakure, and on his head was the huge breathing mask that covered the mouth and nose that was only heard in legends. Even if it was just a silhouette, the oppressive feeling that came from his bones and was as solid as a mountain was enough to make anyone with weak will collapse on the spot.
Hanzo of the Salamander.
"Demigod" of Shinobi World.
"Orochimaru," Hanzō didn't look back. His voice came out through the respirator mask. It seemed a little dull, but it carried an unquestionable majesty. "My son just died, and you Konoha people appeared at my door. Don't you think this is too much of a coincidence?"
Orochimaru chuckled "haha", his voice sticky and hoarse. "It is precisely because I heard about your son's misfortune that I came here specially. My disciple and I happened to be on a mission at Land of Grass. When we heard the bad news, we immediately came to express our condolences and express our condolences."
As soon as he finished speaking, a close confidant standing next to Hanzō shouted sternly, "That's nonsense! My lord's heir has just been killed, and the news has been tightly blocked, but you heard it 'just by chance' and arrived 'immediately'. How can you not make people think that you have an ulterior motive?"
This accusation is like a sharp sword pointed directly at the heart of Orochimaru.
The atmosphere in the hall instantly dropped to freezing point, and the hand of Amegakure Jonin had touched the weapon again.
However, before Orochimaru had time to speak, a crisp, childish but extremely firm voice took the lead in breaking the deathly silence.
"My lord, what do you mean?"
Senju Chen walked out from behind Orochimaru. He took off his hood, revealing a childish but fearless face. He raised his head and looked directly at the Amegakure confidant who had made the attack with his clear eyes. His voice was not loud, but his words were clear.
"My teacher is Konoha Third Lord Hokage's direct disciple, and one of the 'Sannin's that Lord Hanzō personally recognized on the battlefield! When he heard that his friend's heir had met with misfortune, he felt sad and immediately let go I put down everything at hand, regardless of the long distance, and came to express condolences as soon as possible. This represents our Konoha attitude towards our friends, and it is also proof of the friendship between my teacher and Lord Hanzō!"
His small body stood straight, facing a room full of strong men. Instead of flinching at all, he took a small step forward.
"We are here to mourn and share our sorrow! But you say that we have ulterior motives? Are you trying to take this opportunity to drive a wedge between us, Konoha and Amegakure, after many years of relationship?"
A series of rhetorical questions were fired like a barrage of cannons.
The Amegakure henchman's face instantly turned the color of pig's liver. He was silenced by a six-year-old child. He opened his mouth, but could not utter a single word.
Yes, how can there be a murderer in the world who doesn't immediately run away after killing someone, but instead runs to the owner and hangs out in front of him as soon as possible?
How could there be such a stupid murderer?
Orochimaru's golden snake eyes flashed with a trace of imperceptible surprise. He had already prepared a set of words, but he didn't expect that his disciple would take the lead and speak more directly and powerfully than anything he had prepared.
"Back off."
He shouted to his cronies.
The confidant trembled all over and lowered his head in shame.
Hanzo of the Salamander, who had been facing away from everyone, finally turned around slowly.
His eyes crossed the respirator mask, as sharp as a knife. He first glanced coldly at his blushing cronies, and then fell on the small face of Senju Chen.
"Orochimaru, your disciple is very good."
"It's commendable to have courage and calmness in the face of danger. What's even more rare is this mentality." There was no emotion or anger in Hanzō's voice. "You can talk in front of me without being intimidated by the momentum. Konoha is really a talented person."
You know, let alone a six-year-old child, even a long-established ninja can rarely stay calm under his "Demigod" aura.
"Hehehe..." Orochimaru let out his signature cold laugh, with a morbid satisfaction and complacency on his pale face, "My disciple is indeed very good. He has always admired Lord Hanzō for your demeanor back then."
He stuck out his tongue, licked his lips, and continued, "I brought my disciples here this time for no other reason than to mourn your son. After the ceremony, we will leave. Of course, Lord Hanzō, if there is anything you need my help with, just ask."
Hanzō looked at them deeply, with wariness and grief intertwined in his eyes, and finally nodded slowly.
"I'm determined."