Konoha Village.
To conceal the Black Organization from the public and prevent panic and turmoil if such a mysterious organization were exposed,
Sarutobi Hiruzen prepared to keep his recovery a secret.
At the same time, he would hold his own funeral and then move behind the scenes.
"Bringing people back to life, extending their lifespan.
Each of these is terrifying and desirable…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked out the window and sighed softly.
"We are both angels and devils, because we are reversing the tide of fate, bringing the dead back to life, and overturning destiny…
This organization.
What exactly does it want to do?
A Hokage holding his own funeral, I'm probably the first, right?"
Thinking of this, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but give a self-deprecating smile.
…
Before noon.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's death was announced.
The villagers of Konoha Village were not surprised by this news.
Uchiha Itachi, who had not left Konoha Village too far, was also not surprised.
"Itachi.
You said the Third Hokage didn't die!?"
Kisame stared blankly at Itachi.
They had just received intelligence.
It said that the Third Hokage's life had been extended by the Black Organization.
Then, the next moment, an obituary came from Konoha.
This made Kisame somewhat doubt the authenticity of the intelligence.
However, Itachi did not doubt this intelligence.
Nor was he surprised.
"But they've already started preparing for the funeral!"
"They want to hide the existence of the Black Organization."
Itachi slowly stood up.
He felt that no one understood the Hokage better than him.
Everything the Hokage did was for the stability of the Village.
No matter who was sacrificed, the peace of the Village must be guaranteed!
The stability of the Village must be ensured!
"Let's go, let's leave."
"Not chasing Naruto Uzumaki anymore?"
"He has Jiraiya and Kushina protecting him.
We have no chance."
Itachi shook his head.
"If it were just Jiraiya, it would be fine.
We could use his perversion to lure him away.
But.
He also has Kushina by his side.
In that case.
A woman under genjutsu wouldn't be able to lure Jiraiya away.
The Vortex Clan's sensory abilities are very troublesome.
Jiraiya and Kushina.
One specializes in offense, the other in sealing.
We might not come back if we go.
Moreover.
The matter of Naruto being the Nine-Tails is basically confirmed.
With Kushina accompanying him.
He must be the Fourth Hokage's son, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!"
Itachi looked into the distance.
At this moment.
He was pondering something.
"How can I make Sasuke kill me without him getting my blood on his hands?
What a headache…"
Chapter 48: Strawberry and Apple! Orochimaru's Depression [Second Update, Seeking Flowers and Collections]
"Strawberry~
Why do I feel like you're very quiet?"
Somewhere in the Land of Rice Fields.
Ringo Yurui, who had been sent on a mission by Bai Hao, was looking at Nohara Rin with some frustration.
She felt that Nohara Rin was too quiet.
She barely spoke the entire way.
However.
There was one thing she was very satisfied with regarding Nohara Rin.
That was how meticulous Rin was.
Throughout their journey, she didn't have to worry much about anything, big or small.
It gave a very comfortable feeling.
It was just a bit too quiet.
It would be better if she talked more.
"Apple, you talk too much."
Rin shook her head, "Let's hurry up and do the mission.
This mission isn't simple."
"That's true~"
Ringo Yurui nodded.
"I hate these information-gathering missions the most."
This time, Bai Hao gave them two missions.
The first was to find a heinous person on the road.
This mission had no time limit.
But, the condition of being heinous had to be met.
The second mission.
Was to find Guren and have her join the organization.
Compared to each other, these two missions.
Were not difficult.
The only difficulty.
Was gathering intelligence and finding the targets.
"Actually, these people are easy to find.
Intelligence is also easy to gather."
Rin shook her head.
"For example, a heinous person.
We just need to inquire among ordinary people.
Then confirm it.
As for Guren.
The Holy Lord said.
Guren is Orochimaru's subordinate.
We just need to go to the Land of Rice Fields and find the Hidden Sound Village.
Then inquire there, and we should get the information.
The Holy Lord said the clue is Yakushi Kabuto.
We can use the animosity between Yakushi Kabuto and Guren to find her."
"It does sound simple."
Ringo Yurui shook her head helplessly, "But I still find it boring.
I want to find someone to fight now~
Otherwise, wouldn't my strength have improved for nothing?"
"There will be opportunities to fight."
The two chatted idly.
While inquiring about the whereabouts of the Hidden Sound Village in the Land of Rice Fields.
Fortunately.
It wasn't long before they.
Obtained some intelligence about Orochimaru's secret hideout from a Sound Ninja defector.
…
Due to Orochimaru's "death".
Therefore, the Hidden Sound Village he founded also saw many defectors.
After all.
Orochimaru was not a proper Ninja.
He was a scientist.
He liked to conduct very dangerous human experiments for no reason.
Thus, after the Hidden Sound Village's high-level combatants died in Konoha, and the Hidden Sound Village leader Orochimaru also "died."
The Hidden Sound Village was in chaos.
The Sound Four, who had escaped Konoha Village injured, were unable to stop the defections.
Therefore,
they let it be.
Under Yakushi Kabuto's command,
the Sound Four, carrying the gravely ill Kimimaro, directly left the Hidden Sound Village.
They completely abandoned that Village.
Instead, they all went to Orochimaru's secret hideout not far from the Land of Rice Fields.
"When can Lord Orochimaru finally revive?"
Kidomaru asked somewhat impatiently.
"It won't be long now."
Yakushi Kabuto glanced at the secret room.
Then he quickly returned to the meeting room with the Sound Four.
At this moment,
his mood was exceptionally pleasant.
A faint smile hung on his lips.
"I knew it.
Lord Orochimaru is the strongest.
Look,
even that Black Organization Leader, such a secretive existence,
couldn't kill Lord Orochimaru!
Once Lord Orochimaru obtains an even stronger body,
I don't believe there's anyone in this world who can stop Lord Orochimaru!"
Not long ago,
he had watched with his own eyes as Orochimaru was struck down by a single palm.
His heart was utterly broken.
Because in his view,
Orochimaru was the most powerful being in the world.
That palm strike overturned his understanding.
It made him feel shattered.
So much so that he barely fought at all, just ran back with the Sound Four.
However,
just as he was feeling sorrow and despair, preparing to use Orochimaru's cells to modify himself,
he suddenly discovered that Orochimaru had come back to life!
Although Orochimaru was terrifyingly weak at this moment,
he was, indeed, alive.
This instantly gave him infinite room for imagination.
"To survive that kind of attack,
it truly is Lord Orochimaru!"
However,
he didn't know that
the Lord Orochimaru he was praising was feeling extremely depressed at this moment.
"Finally recovered."
Orochimaru slowly emerged from a nutrient tank.
At this moment, his strength had once again returned to its Peak!
"It wasn't easy.
Because of that one palm, I was weak for so long...
If I hadn't been fully prepared,
I would have truly died this time.
And I wouldn't even know when I would revive."
Orochimaru looked at the blue sky outside the window, feeling very tired in his heart.
"However, is this what high-level power feels like?
I feel that, under that palm,
even Itachi couldn't escape!
The mysterious Black Organization...
It truly is something to aspire to~"
Orochimaru extended his tongue and licked his lips.
"It's time to gather some intelligence about that organization."
Thinking this, he prepared to go out and arrange the matter.
However,
just as he stepped out, he sensed a terrifying Chakra pressure!
"Hmm?
Who's here?"
Orochimaru looked up at the sky with great vigilance.
He saw that at this moment, a vast expanse of dark thunderclouds had appeared in the sky!
The thunderclouds constantly flashed with lightning.
It looked terrifying.
"That thundercloud...
Is it a Ninjutsu?"
Orochimaru was somewhat surprised.
He truly couldn't believe there was such a terrifying lightning-style Ninjutsu!
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Crack!"
Just as Orochimaru was about to do something,
he suddenly heard a series of thunderclaps.
Then came a shaking of the ground.
The thunderclouds in the sky actually began to indiscriminately release lightning downwards!
Each terrifying lightning strike destroyed a large area.
Orochimaru watched with a pained heart.
"Who is it!?"
He was somewhat depressed at this moment.
He had just revived, only to suffer such a great blow again.
It truly was adding insult to injury for an already struggling situation.
"Ding~"
Just then, two girls wearing black dresses and straw hats slowly approached.
One walked on the ground,
the other floated in the air,
appearing very strange!
"It's the Black Organization again!"
Orochimaru's pupils contracted.
He felt a severe headache.
Chapter 49: Confident Orochimaru, New Members of the Organization! [First update for flowers and collection]
"Ding~"
"Ding~"
Accompanied by the sound of bells,
the two girls also approached the hideout.
Orochimaru wisely left a contingency plan in place, then walked out of the hideout.
"It's you again~"
He extended his tongue and licked his lips.
He looked at the two girls in front of him with cold eyes.
"What is your purpose!?"
"Orochimaru, you really didn't die~"
Ringo Yurui looked at Orochimaru, baring her sharp fangs.
"We are only here to take Guren."
"Take Guren!?"
Orochimaru was startled.
Then, an idea came to him.
"Why not let Guren go in as a spy, making it convenient for her to gather intelligence about this organization for me?
Perhaps, I will become much stronger because of this..."
The more he thought about this idea, the more reliable it seemed.
The Black Organization was too powerful.
He was both wary of and covetous of this organization.
Therefore,
he smiled and nodded.
"Of course.
Please wait a moment.
I'll call her out for you."
With that, he walked inside, glancing at Yakushi Kabuto.