The rain in Land of Rain does not have a clear seasonality like Land of Fire. The rain here is a normal state and an element that constitutes the background of this country. The cold raindrops are continuous, falling from the lead-gray sky, washing the whole world into a gray tone. Towering steel buildings, like silent giants, shed rust-colored tears in the rain curtain.
In the air, the moisture of rain mixed with the fishy smell of metal and the rotten smell of earth penetrated into the nasal cavity, making people's chest feel tight.
An inconspicuous pipe exit, two figures slipped into it silently. Orochimaru was walking in front. He seemed to be happy with this dark and humid environment, and his golden snake eyes flickered in the dim passage. Senju Chen followed behind him, his small body wrapped in a cloak, stepping on the waterlogged ground, making a slight "snap" sound.
He looked around curiously, his clear eyes reflecting the mottled water stains and rust on the pipe wall, like a child exploring a strange cave for the first time.
'This ghost place, even the air is depressing.' Senju Chen complained in his heart. 'No wonder it breeds the kind of paranoia Pain wants the world to feel pain.'
At the end of the passage was a heavy iron door. Orochimaru stretched out his pale fingers and knocked on the door three times, two long and one short, according to a specific rhythm.
After a moment of dead silence, there was a soft sound of a machine turning inside the iron door, and a gap slowly opened.
Behind the door was a face shrouded in the shadow of a hood. When he saw clearly Orochimaru outside the door and the small figure behind Orochimaru, his deep eyes swayed visibly.
"Come in."
The voice was low and hoarse, with a coldness that had been shadowed for a long time.
This is an extremely simple safe house. Apart from a bed, a table and a few boxes, there is nothing else. The air is filled with the lingering smell of moisture and gun smoke.
The man took off his hood, revealing his iconic short silver-white hair and a resolute and slightly tired face. It was Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo.
His eyes immediately fell on Senju Chen, with surprise and confusion intertwined. "Chen-kun? Why are you here?"
"Uncle Sakumo!" Senju Chen's face immediately burst into a bright smile. He trotted over and looked up at the man, his eyes filled with the joy of reunion. "Teacher Orochimaru said, you are performing a very important task here. Please take me to see you on the way!"
Hatake Sakumo's eyes swept back and forth between Senju Chen and Orochimaru, fatigue and confusion between his eyebrows intertwined.
He couldn't understand why Orochimaru would bring a child to see him. He was now a "dead person" and the fewer people knew about it, the better.
"Sakumo-kun, don't be so surprised."
Oroshitsukaimaru's unique, hoarse voice sounded in the humid air, breaking the brief stalemate.
He stuck out his tongue and licked his lips gently, an elusive light flashing in his golden snake eyes.
"As for your fake death to escape, it was Little Chen who brought it up from the very beginning."
Boom!
One sentence was like a thunder exploding in Hatake Sakumo's mind.
He turned his head abruptly and turned his gaze to Senju Chen in disbelief, and his heart was shaken like an ocean.
A... child?
Come up with a plan to fake his death and escape?
How is this possible!
Hatake Sakumo's breathing suddenly became heavy, and his chest heaved violently.
The dark days when he was spurned by the entire village, bitten back by the companions he desperately saved, and finally forced to use death to wash away his "shame", came to mind again.
That kind of despair, that suffocating feeling of being abandoned by the whole world, is still a lingering nightmare when I wake up at midnight.
He originally thought that his life was destined to end in shame as a coward and sinner.
But now, Orochimaru told him that the one who pulled him out of the boundless hell was actually the kid in front of him who was no taller than his waist?
"Uncle Sakumo, don't listen to the teacher's nonsense."
Senju Chen scratched his head, looked embarrassed, and muttered in a low voice, "I just think that the hero Konoha shouldn't die just because he saved his companions."
"And..." He paused, raised his face, and looked directly at Hatake Sakumo with his clear eyes, "Kakashi will be sad. I don't want him to have no father."
These two simple sentences were like two heavy hammers, hitting the softest place in Hatake Sakumo's heart.
Hero...
How long has it been since anyone called him that?
Kakashi...
When he thought of his son who usually tried hard to pretend to be mature but would cry secretly in a corner where no one was around, Hatake Sakumo's heart felt like it was being clenched tightly by an invisible big hand, which was so painful that he could hardly breathe.
He almost caused his son to lose his father forever.
And the one who saved it all turned out to be...
"Kakashi...Kakashi He..."
"Uncle Sakumo, it's too humid here!" Senju Chen seemed not to notice the heavy atmosphere. He wrinkled his nose and stamped his feet, splashing a few drops of sewage. "My shoes are soaked. Can you find a place to warm yourself by the fire?"
This childish complaint instantly dispersed the depressing atmosphere in the room.
Hatake Sakumo was startled, then shook his head with a wry smile, and instantly put away the heavy guilt and gratitude.
He stood up, the fatigue in his eyes swept away, replaced by a renewed determination.
"Sorry, the conditions here are poor." He rubbed Senju Chen's hair with great care, "When the mission is over, uncle will take you back to Konoha to eat the most delicious barbecue!"
Orochimaru watched quietly from the side, with a meaningful smile at the corner of his mouth.
"Okay, let's talk about old things later." He said.
Hatake Sakumo looked stern and immediately returned to Elite Jonin's posture. He stood up and returned to the cold ninja codenamed "Tooth". He looked at Orochimaru with a serious expression. "The information is here."
He took out a scroll tightly wrapped in oilcloth from his arms and handed it over.
"Tell me about it." Orochimaru took the scroll and motioned for him to explain directly.
"Yes." Hatake Sakumo said in a deep voice, "First, the leader of Amegakure, the heir of 'Demigod' Hanzo of the Salamander, died suddenly in his home a week ago. The possibility of assassination cannot be ruled out. Hanzō has blocked the news, but the city is under martial law, and no clues about the murderer have been found so far."
"According to my investigation during this period, it is very likely that he was poisoned."
"Second, the people from Iwagakure have been in frequent contact with Hanzō recently. The leader is Jonin, named Kitsuchi, who is the son of Third Tsuchikage. However, Hanzo of the Salamander is exhausted because of the pain of losing his son. He has been thanking guests behind closed doors and has not given them any response."
There was a brief silence inside the safe house, with only the sound of rain pattering outside the window.
This is S-class intelligence.
It is enough to affect the changes in the Shinobi World pattern. What kind of person is Hanzo of the Salamander? The top strong man who can fight against Konoha Sannin on his own without falling behind is Land of Rain is an absolute dictator. His heir died suddenly, and the possibility of assassination cannot be ruled out. This is no less than a stab in his heart, and it also challenges his authority as "Demigod".
The intervention of Iwagakure made this muddy water even more unfathomable.
Orochimaru stuck out his long tongue and licked his lips, seeming to be very satisfied with the information. He did not comment immediately, but turned his golden vertical pupils to Senju Chen, who had been listening quietly since just now.
"Little Chen, what do you think?"
His voice was sticky and hoarse, with an undisguised tone of examination.
Hatake Sakumo was startled when he heard this, and subconsciously looked at Senju Chen. This kind of S-class intelligence related to the strategy of the Ninja Village should be analyzed by a six-year-old child? Lord Orochimaru Are you kidding?
However, he saw that there was no trace of panic on Senju Chen's face.
'Here it comes, Lao Yinpiao's in-class test.' Senju Chen resisted the urge to turn Byakugan over to Orochimaru, and then really thought about it seriously.
Hanzō's son died? This was not mentioned in the original work. The original work did not even mention that Hanzo of the Salamander had an heir.
However, Iwagakure wants to win over Hanzō, which is in line with the tense situation on the eve of Third Shinobi World War.
The key point is the murderer.
Who has the ability and motive to assassinate the son of Hanzō in the heart of Amegakure?
In Senju Chen's mind, several figures flashed instantly - Yahiko, Nagato, Konan.
It shouldn't be them...