Aoki Tsuki took out a storage scroll from his person and put Danzo's corpse away.
We need to leave quickly.
The Root base contained a vast amount of information and techniques, but it was too late; a powerful Chakra was rapidly approaching.
He now represents the Otogakure, and all of this was Orochimaru's doing; it has nothing to do with him.
I rushed to the exit and was immediately met with a huge dumpling falling down on my head.
" Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan "
Without hesitation, Aoki Tsuki extended his right hand and released the Natural Energy he had stored up in advance.
" Angel's Kiss "
Rumble...
The materialized energy transformed into a beam of light, spreading its arms to embrace the giant dumpling, then exploded on the spot, unleashing a violent shockwave that swept outwards.
The buildings that had been hidden from the ground by the Root were instantly turned into a wasteland.
After the storm, only a passage leading underground remained, and Aoki Tsuki's figure disappeared.
Jiraiya strode over from a distance. When he launched a sneak attack, the enemy's sudden counterattack was stronger than he had expected, and he almost suffered a great loss.
Compared to his disheveled appearance, the shock he felt inside made him abandon his usual jovial demeanor and become very serious.
"That feeling just now... there's no mistake, it was Senjutsu!!"
Having traveled the Shinobi World for so many years, I have never encountered anyone who has mastered Senjutsu. I never expected to meet someone like this in my hometown today.
Looking at the pitch-black underground entrance, it was obvious that Danzo was probably done for, given the strength the opponent had displayed.
No one liked Danzo, whether in the Shinobi World or in Konoha; they all wished that old man would Danzo to pieces.
However, a sense of unease rose in Jiraiya's heart. Today, Konoha had suddenly lost two important figures. What would become of the village from now on?
Just as Orochimaru said, the decaying village...
"Whether it will be destruction or rebirth, only heaven knows."
The events in Konoha quickly caused a huge shock throughout the Shinobi World, especially to the Third Hokage, the pillar of Konoha, who had fallen.
The Land of Fire not only occupies the most fertile land on the continent, but the Konoha Ninja also control the most mission requests in the Shinobi World.
Now that the Third Hokage has died, these resources need to be redistributed, and people will definitely try to seize market share behind the scenes.
The death of Shimura Danzō was deliberately concealed by Konoha and did not spread immediately, but it was only a matter of time.
That day, Itachi and Kisame had just finished a mission and were resting when their rings vibrated, and Pain's voice rang out.
Orochimaru attacked Konoha. Who among you is closest to Konoha? Go investigate the situation.
Itachi's heart tightened, and he quickly said, "I'll go!"
'Those two guys finally attacked Konoha. Sasuke, are you alright?'
"Okay, you and Kisame go take a look."
After Konoha Aoki Tsuki, Aoki returned to the Land of Rain without meeting Orochimaru again.
Now that the snake has lost the strength of its hands and is unusually wary, there's no need for it to bother anyone.
Orochimaru is quite tragic. First, his right hand was cut off by Itachi. After finally finding a new vessel, only a few years later, both of his hands were sealed by the Third Hokage.
Their strength has probably dropped a level.
Amegakure, North District.
Konan is organizing the intelligence gathered from various sources; the death of the Third Hokage has caused a new wave of turmoil in the Shinobi World.
Furthermore, Sunagakure lost its Fourth Kazekage in this attack and had to pay a considerable sum in reparations to Konoha, leaving it even more weakened.
These are all opportunities, and Xiao must seize them to take a bite out of this pie.
Come to Tower 1, I have a surprise for you.
Konan was slightly startled. She had clearly set up multiple defenses in her mind, yet she could still Telepathy.
What the hell is going on?
As far as I can remember, Aoki Tsuki had never asked to meet her privately like this before, let alone given any surprise.
Especially since it's so late, and they're alone together, it's easy for her to overthink things. Although the possibility is slim, Yue isn't exactly a decent person.
'Oh my god, what am I thinking? Maybe he has some important information to tell me privately.'
He shook his head, banishing the jumbled thoughts from his mind, got up, straightened his clothes, and set off for the appointment.
Tower 1 is a rather special place.
This is also the place where Hanzō lived and worked; it was here that Pain ambushed and killed him.
After the coup, it was converted into an office space, but was later attacked and damaged by Hanzō of Hanzo's forces. After being repaired, it was converted into a secret vault, specifically for storing intelligence and materials that Akatsuki had collected from various places.
It looks like a library, with rows of bookshelves filled with scrolls, and tables and chairs in the middle of the hall for people to rest.
When Konan came in, she saw Aoki Tsuki sitting in a chair with his legs crossed, his chin resting on one hand. When he saw her, he gave her a strange look.
There was a hint of relief mixed with guilt.
'What's wrong with this guy today? He's acting weird.'
Suppressing his suspicions, he asked in a deep voice, "Is there something you need from me?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to chat with you. It's inevitable to feel lonely sometimes."
What a scoundrel! He just brazenly flirted with her like that. He should at least have exchanged pleasantries and talked about their shared past experiences first.
Why are you suddenly saying these things...?
Konan crossed her hands over her stomach to hide her nervousness; her feelings towards Aoki Tsuki were complex.
She knew that this lecherous man had been coveting her for a long time, but she carried too much on her heart, unable to let go of Nagato, and buried Yahiko deep within her soul.
Friendship and love are intertwined, inexplicable, and tangled together.
Sometimes she envied people like Aoki Tsuki, who would go to the bubble room to relieve themselves when they needed to, and never held back.
The girls inside said this customer was good in bed and generous.
"Don't be nervous, I really just wanted to chat with you to relieve my boredom. After all, you're my female boss, what could I possibly do to you?"
That jerk must have noticed her predicament and was just laughing at her.
"Hmph, you keep calling me 'Sir,' but when have you ever truly treated me like a superior? Don't think I don't know the filthy thoughts in your heart."
"I knew you'd think that way; prejudice in people's hearts is like a mountain."
Aoki Tsuki deliberately feigned a hint of disappointment on her face as she said, "I originally thought you were special."
"Let me hear your twisted and fallacious arguments..."
Konan didn't take it seriously. In terms of experience and practice, she was still a novice and no match for Aoki Tsuki.
"I only have admiration for you, and there is absolutely no disrespect involved. Do you understand admiration? It's a feeling that arises when either a man or a woman encounters someone who matches their ideal image."
Oh? You must have quite a few admirers!
"Uh... this... it's a normal physiological need. As a single man working in a high-risk job where I could die at any moment, the pressure is immense, you know..."
Konan shook her head. "I don't really understand, and I don't want to understand. It's your own business."
"I've digressed. Let's get back to the point. I just mentioned the word 'admiration,' and you must understand what that means, because you've admired a man before, haven't you?"
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Konan's voice suddenly turned heavy.
"Sigh, I know it won't make you happy to bring up this old story, but it's important."
Aoki Tsuki stood up and said, "It was in this very room that Hanzō and Danzo plotted and set up that assassination plot against you."
I personally sent you there that day. At the critical moment, the leader used the Rinnegan's power, and only three people survived.
Hanzō, Danzo, and me.
Listening to Aoki Tsuki's account, Konan's thoughts drifted back to that morning.
I feel inexplicably heartbroken whenever I think about it, and even after many years, I still often have nightmares.
"Later, the leader killed Hanzō in this room, hahaha... I was spared because I surrendered quickly, otherwise I would have been dead long ago."
"You know that much!" Konan harbored some resentment.
"So when you stabbed me in the back later, I didn't take it to heart. People who remain silent in the face of injustice are tantamount to criminals."
"I am guilty of what happened to Chief Yahiko, and I never deny that."
"So you're apologizing to me today? There's no need. The world is guilty; that's the very reason for Akatsuki's existence."
Aoki Tsuki shook his head. "That morning, Amegakure personally destroyed the hope of a peaceful rise. Those involved will not have a good ending; they will be punished by fate."
He pointed behind the bookshelf, indicating that Konan should go and see for herself.
"Could it be...?"
Konan seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly opened her eyes wide, her pupils trembling.
Remembering that Aoki Tsuki had said he invited her to give her a surprise, she suddenly felt a little scared, afraid that she had guessed wrong.
'One of the culprits who killed Yahiko '
"Call..."
I took a deep breath, listening to my heart pounding, and walked step by step behind the bookshelf until I saw the face of the corpse lying on the ground.
This is the person, there's no mistake.
Buzz!
After a brief ringing in my ears, my body completely relaxed, and the world went quiet.
It seemed as if something in my heart had been let go at that moment—perhaps hatred, perhaps obsession; in any case, a piece of my shattered heart had been mended.
Konan stared at Danzo for a full ten minutes before regaining her composure and looking seriously at Aoki Tsuki, saying:
"If this is the surprise you've given me, then... thank you!"
"Thank you isn't enough, you should give me a hug, haha... um... really..."
Looking at the icy beauty nestled in his arms, he was the most shocked. It really was just a joke; he hadn't expected the Lady Angel to be so perceptive.
However, he has never been able to resist benefits that are offered to him, and he always wants to take more than his share.
It's foolish not to take advantage of a good deal.
But then Konan warned, "Don't touch me!"
Aoki Tsuki stopped with regret, having guessed it wouldn't go so smoothly; that's how fickle a woman with a wounded heart can be.
"I didn't mean to take advantage of you, your hair is messy..."
"If only you were Yahiko," Konan said, resting her head on Aoki Tsuki's shoulder.
Unexpectedly, Aoki Tsuki had a sudden inspiration. "Actually, you can call me Yazuki, or Tsukihiko, I don't mind."
How can someone be so shameless!
Konan left Aoki Tsuki's embrace speechlessly, quickly reverting to her indifferent demeanor; she had merely let out an outburst of emotions she had suppressed for many years.
"Did you attack Konoha with Orochimaru?"
"Of course not, it was all Orochimaru's doing. He started it all. This guy hates Konoha and wants to sever all ties with the past and become a completely inhuman person."
You know I've received small favors from him before, and I'm a grateful person, so I can only help out as a gofer."
"I see."
"Oh, by the way, I also discovered detailed information about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of the One-Tail and Nine-Tailed beasts this time..."
Taking the opportunity, Aoki Tsuki quickly recounted what she knew.
"These two Jinchūriki are exceptionally talented and growing rapidly. Once they master the power of the Tailed Beast, they'll be a real problem."
"I'll talk to Pain and suggest we go back and get some rest."
Konan turned and left.
'Tch! Foolish woman, you think this is my trump card?'
This was just a small test; he still had his real trump card to use, but that would require the right opportunity.
His next task was to study Danzo's corpse and then pry open the mouth of ' Yamanaka Fū ', whom he had locked in his mental Xiaohei.
Having obtained the spell's principles of the ' Mind Body Switch Technique,' he had been eyeing this mental attack technique for a long time.