Gekko Chizan left the daimyo's residence in the Land of Waterfall with the daimyo personally seeing him off.
"Chizan-kun, I'll be waiting for good news from you and your teacher. Takigakure will be your best partner."
Looking at Daimyo Shigawa Masa's cheerful face, Gekko Chizan found it a bit ridiculous.
A bit of medicine had been enough to win over a daimyo. This kind of deal was nothing but profit. After all, he wasn't the one making the drugs—that was Orochimaru. He had no burden at all.
Orochimaru: Good disciple, I'll remember this!
Gekko Chizan: Sensei, hurry up and make the medicine. We can't afford to run short, hahaha.
After taking care of the daimyo, Gekko Chizan went straight toward Takigakure.
After all, a country's village was its foundation.
But before heading there, Gekko Chizan used the Summoning Technique to summon Black Mamba.
"Hmm? Long time no see, Blackhearted Chizan."
"????"
Gekko Chizan froze. Blackhearted Chizan? What kind of nonsense title was that?
This damned Black Mamba actually gave him a nickname?!
"What? You're not blackhearted? You never think of me when you get good stuff, but you use me like it's nothing."
"If that's not blackhearted, what is it?"
"I know—whether it's that shiny golden guy or those green fellows, they've all gotten your goodies."
"Only this poor Black Mamba didn't. Ah… such a heartless, blackhearted man."
Listening to Black Mamba's grumbling, Gekko Chizan's mouth twitched violently. Several times he raised his hand only to put it back down.
He really wanted to just draw his blade and cut this black snake into pieces to shut him up.
But remembering that he still needed this snake to deliver messages, he endured it!
Fine, he just wanted some reward. He'd give it to him!
He casually took out a scroll and tossed a handful of snakeberries in front of Black Mamba, gritting his teeth.
"This is your reward, you bastard. Once you're done eating, go deliver a message to my teacher, Orochimaru."
"Tell him to pull out immediately and head to the Land of Waterfall. I've already handled everything here."
"He just needs to come."
He paused, his gaze turning cold and murderous, voice dropping an octave.
"You'd better not mess this up. If you do, I swear even if you hide in Ryūchi Cave, I'll hunt you down and make snake soup out of you!"
"Of course, if you do it well, snakeberries like these—I've got plenty."
"Understand?"
Black Mamba, happily munching, didn't even think before answering. After all, other than his speed, he really didn't have many skills.
Even though he was a venomous Black Mamba, his toxin ability hadn't been cultivated. All his focus had gone into speed—that's why he held the title of the fastest snake in Ryūchi Cave.
"I'm done. I'll head out."
"Don't worry, I'll deliver your message to Orochimaru word for word."
He also knew Orochimaru. After all, there were only two people currently contracted with Ryūchi Cave—Orochimaru and Gekko Chizan.
As Black Mamba disappeared with a swish, Gekko Chizan continued on his way.
Reaching the outskirts of Takigakure, he didn't hesitate at all and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport directly into the village—into the same room he'd stayed in before.
But at this moment, there was someone inside.
Yugito, who had been relaxing and eating dango, suddenly felt someone drop from the sky.
Crunch!
A pair of big feet landed right on her dango, smashing them to bits.
Yugito's eyes widened at the sight of the crushed dango and broken plate.
"What the hell?! You scared me!"
"Huh? Who's so rude to leave food lying..."
Gekko Chizan had just started cursing when he felt a murderous glare lock onto him.
Only then did he realize—he had crushed a plate of dango the moment he landed. Hm, no big deal, it was just some food.
"You bastard, sensei!"
"You did that on purpose!"
"Shine!"
In the next second, sharp glowing cat claws lunged at Gekko Chizan.
"Ow!!"
Caught off guard, Gekko Chizan let out a strange yelp, twisting aside with an almost freakish movement.
Chōmei, watching from the side, muttered in amazement,
"Chizan, I didn't realize… when you move like that, you're like a centipede… no, a snake…"
Gekko Chizan had no strength left to argue.
Yugito had completely transformed into a cat brimming with killing intent, both claws swiping at him fiercely.
"Hey hey hey, Yugito, don't go too far! It's just some dango!"
"I'll buy you more, alright?!"
"Hmph! These are special dango made by Konan-san. You can't buy them outside."
Yugito turned her head away arrogantly, but at least retracted her claws.
Gekko Chizan let out a long breath and quickly said,
"It's just dango. I'll treat you to something even better later, alright?"
"By the way, where are Konan and the others?"
Yugito snorted, venting her frustration, but still answered her teacher's question.
"A few days ago, the village was attacked. It was that person we ran into back in the Land of Rain."
"He took Akashige. Now Konan-san and Yahiko are working nonstop, and the house has been really quiet."
"Yahiko has already become the leader of Takigakure. They're both really busy."
"The village's been reorganizing these days, and no one's allowed to take missions outside. Otherwise, I'd have already gone out."
Hearing that, Gekko Chizan frowned deeply.
Uchiha Madara came to Takigakure and captured Akashige?
What the hell?
If he were going to capture someone, shouldn't it have been Yahiko or Konan?
Why Akashige?
Gekko Chizan's mind raced, and he quickly pieced things together.
Based on his understanding of the original story, the best way to control one's pawn was to provoke them.
Madara used Rin's death to provoke Obito. Now, since Nagato had been taken, knowing his personality, he would never cooperate with Uchiha.
So the best way… was to use the death of a comrade to push him.
His eyes narrowed slightly. He really hadn't expected it—different targets, but the same method.
In that case… Akashige… was in grave danger.
But judging by Yahiko becoming the village leader, his plan was going well. The Land of Waterfall and Takigakure were both basically in his hands now.
"Go find the two of them. Tell them to come here."
Yugito, clearly unwilling, still headed outside, leaving Gekko Chizan alone in the room.
Before long, Yugito returned with Yahiko and Konan.
The moment they saw Gekko Chizan, a wave of sorrow welled up in their hearts.
"Chizan, Akashige's been taken..."