Orochimaru's Perfect Vessel
At that very moment, the Kumogakure squad, entrusted with the crucial task of scouting ahead, cautiously patrolled the outskirts of Konoha, much like shadowy figures moving in the night.
They were all dressed in jet-black ninja attire, their movements swift and agile. At the head of the group was a seasoned and experienced Jonin, whose sharp eyes occasionally flashed with vigilance.
He lowered his voice and solemnly instructed the team members behind him, "Everyone, remember to be extremely careful! The defenses of Konoha are impregnable; we cannot afford to be negligent in the slightest."
Upon hearing this, all the ninjas nodded in understanding.
Because they all clearly understood the critical importance of this mission—not only did they need to gather classified information about Konoha, but they also had to find out whether the Kazekage's mysterious disappearance was related to Konoha.
Thus, this Kumogakure squad stealthily approached Konoha, skillfully using various Ninjutsu to conceal their aura.
But were the ninjas of Konoha no ordinary people?
They noticed the unusual situation in their surroundings almost instantly, and immediately increased patrols and raised the alert level.
"Captain, it seems the guys from Konoha have already noticed our presence," one of the ninjas whispered to the leading Jonin.
The captain frowned, pondered for a moment, and then gave the order in a deep voice, "Retreat for now, avoid direct confrontation, and we will return when the time is right."
The Kumogakure quickly withdrew from the vicinity of Konoha and hid in the dense forest.
In Iwagakure of the Land of Earth, Ōnoki was preparing for war in a tense but orderly manner.
He knew very well that joining forces with the Land of Lightning to attack Konoha was undoubtedly a high-stakes gamble fraught with danger and uncertainty, but he had no other choice but to proceed.
The formidable strength displayed by Konoha deeply worried Ōnoki, and this unease compelled him to take action.
His gaze was resolute as he said, "This is absolutely a golden opportunity! If we can unite with Kumogakure and Sunagakure and launch an attack from three directions simultaneously, I refuse to believe that Hiruzen Sarutobi will have the ability to resist!"
Then, he turned and asked, "How's the situation in Konoha?"
The answer was, "So far, we still haven't found a suitable opportunity to approach Konoha."
Ōnoki didn't show much surprise. He calmly issued the order, "Then continue to strengthen the reconnaissance forces against Konoha. At the same time, be sure to maintain close contact with Kumogakure!"
At this moment, a subordinate stepped forward and reported, "The Raikage has agreed to join forces with us. We need to develop a detailed battle plan as soon as possible."
If they could successfully defeat Konoha, then the next step would be to turn their attention to Kumogakure! Ōnoki silently made his plans.
Koki tilted her head back slightly, basking in the warm, gentle sunlight, and stretched leisurely.
With this simple yet pleasant movement, all the fatigue in my body seemed to be instantly carried away by a gentle breeze, disappearing without a trace.
At that moment, he was completely unaware that in that dark and secluded corner, a group of mysterious and unpredictable White Zetsu were silently watching him.
From dawn till dusk, for an entire day, this group of White Zetsu kept a close watch on Koki's every move.
They kept chirping and pointing at Koki, making comments and criticisms.
These White Zetsu are extremely skilled at concealment; unless one is deliberately paying attention, it is almost impossible to detect their presence.
Before they knew it, it was already their second day in Kyoto City. The daimyo had generously allowed them to stay for two days, to enjoy themselves to the fullest and savor this rare moment of leisure.
Hiruzen Sarutobi once solemnly instructed Minato: "No matter when or where, you must always act in accordance with the Daimyo's orders."
Minato kept the Lord Hokage's instructions in mind, so when the Daimyo made such a suggestion, Minato agreed without hesitation.
In those two short days, Koki was like a bird soaring freely, filled with boundless joy.
Having finally escaped Kohaku's entanglement and troubles, he could now roam freely to every corner of the city.
Whether it's a bustling main street or a quiet, secluded alley, there's always something new and surprising to enjoy.
He strolled along the old streets, where the buildings on both sides were antique and elegant, with exquisite patterns carved on the wooden windows, and the shops along the road were full of goods.
Koki not only experienced the bustling and vibrant atmosphere of Kyoto, but also made a special trip to a renowned local temple.
The temple is magnificent, with red pillars soaring into the clouds and golden roofs shining brightly. Under the brilliant sunlight, it is like a dazzling pearl embedded in the earth, shining brilliantly.
Stepping into the temple, wisps of smoke rise and spread like a light veil, filling the air with a rich sandalwood scent that soothes the soul.
Many devout believers clasped their hands together, closed their eyes, nodded, and murmured prayers, sincerely asking the gods for their protection.
Of course, Koki didn't forget to inspect her own "business".
In just a few short years, his influence has grown and expanded, becoming like a fine spider web, widely distributed in every important corner of the Land of Fire.
As Kyoto City is a premier commercial hub in the country, it naturally has many of his shops.
Koki moved briskly between shops, her eyes keenly observing every detail.
The store was packed with people, business was booming. Seeing this, Koki couldn't help but nod in approval. "Not bad at all!"
He saw Minato enjoying his milk Minato and asked with a smile, "Teacher, how does it taste?"
A hint of surprise flashed in Minato's eyes as he exclaimed, "This is really great! So it's a shop owned by Koki?"
Minato had always believed that these shops belonged to the Uchiha Clan.
Whenever he passed by the door, a strong desire would well up inside him to go in and taste that tempting milk tea.
However, he always managed to restrain his inner impulses with his strong willpower.
"Shall we go shopping a bit more? I want to buy Kakashi and Obito-nii some gifts."
Minato and Shisui immediately agreed, and the four of them headed towards the shopping street together.
The bustling sounds of the shopping street were incessant. As she walked along, Koki suddenly let out a soft exclamation. "Wow!"
Upon hearing Shisui, Shisui frowned slightly and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong? What happened?"
Koki's lips curled into a mysterious smile as she replied, "It's nothing serious, I just discovered something interesting and fun."
Having said that, he continued walking without stopping and headed towards a handicraft stall ahead.
There are all kinds of exquisite handicrafts on display: small wood carvings are ingenious, colorful pottery is dazzling, and woven products are delicate and meticulous.
The stall owner was a kind-faced old lady. Although the years had left their mark on her face, Koki's gaze lingered on her for a few more moments.
It's like having a path to heaven but choosing to forge your own way into hell!
Now that White Zetsu has appeared here, Black Zetsu probably can't be too far away, right?
Orochimaru has been dedicated to researching the Living Corpse Reincarnation, but this technique has a fatal flaw—he must change his body every three years in order to maintain his so-called eternal life.
That's why he would go to such lengths to find test subjects in the future, hoping to find a perfect vessel for his next reincarnation.
Unfortunately, to this day, he still hasn't found that ideal body.
Alright, since that's the case, let him send Orochimaru a super-sized gift! Consider it a generous reward for his hard work in developing the drug!
You should know that White Zetsu powerful; it can create countless Clone Technique!
Moreover, each Clone Technique is a completely independent entity. Not only do they not die or disappear, but they also do not need to eat, drink, excrete, or sleep. They can even change shape at will, making them practically invincible!
If a suitable body container or experimental subject could be found to replace them, Orochimaru wouldn't need to travel the world to abduct children, and he wouldn't have designs on Sasuke and Itachi anymore.
If you could fuse White Zetsu with just a little bit of Hashirama Cells, Orochimaru would surely be satisfied.
Koki pondered this in her heart, a satisfied smile involuntarily appeared on her face, and she nodded repeatedly.
The poor White Zetsu had nowhere to hide under Koki's sharp gaze. He felt a chill run down his spine and got goosebumps all over.
That's right, the seemingly kind and amiable old lady in front of you is actually the incredibly unlucky White Zetsu in disguise.
It's just that it lost terribly at rock-paper-scissors, so it had no choice but to come and leak the so-called "secret information" between Kumogakure and Iwagakure to Koki.
Seeing that Koki remained silent for a long time, Hayate couldn't help but lower his voice and quietly ask, "Is something wrong?"
"No, it's nothing."
Koki flashed a bright smile and casually picked up an item from the stall.
How much does this cost?