"Patriarch Bafu, do you... not mind?"
Ashu looked at Bafu, whose face showed no anger at all.
"Ashu, for us, exiled here, to live on tenaciously, we need a driving force, a thought to keep us going. Hating the Uchiha Clan is that thought that allows us to live on tenaciously."
Bafu sighed at this point, then continued, "Our true enemies are long dead, and the Lightning Country Daimyo's family is no longer the Daimyo's family it once was. Back then, shortly after we were exiled, the Daimyo's family was replaced by the current Daimyo's family."
"So that's how it is..."
Ashu's expression was complex. The truth was too absurd, and what surprised him even more was that the patriarch had known all along but had never told them.
---
"Toads are amazing!"
"It's clearly Slugs that are more amazing!"
Orochimaru looked at Jiraiya and Tsunade, who hadn't seen each other for over half a year and were arguing about whose summoned beast was stronger the moment they met. In fact, she felt that the original setting of the three terrifying creatures was very unreasonable.
Snakes defeat Toads, Toads defeat Slugs, Slugs defeat Snakes—the three mutually restrain each other, which is why they are called the three terrifying creatures.
Considering that these three exist in the Three Great Sage Locations, they cannot be viewed with normal eyes.
"If we can't convince each other, then let them fight!"
Jiraiya bit his finger, ready to summon a Mount Myōboku Toad.
"Alright! Let's fight, who's afraid of whom!"
Tsunade was also in a fit of pique. She immediately bit her finger, preparing to summon Katsuyu to teach Jiraiya and his toad friends a lesson.
Tsunade, Katsuyu would really cry if you did that... Orochimaru formed a single hand seal, her figure appearing between the two. White snakes extended from her sleeves, wrapping around their wrists and stopping their hand seals.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was secretly observing with the Telescope Ninjutsu, breathed a sigh of relief. If they were to summon their summoned beasts and fight in the Village, it would be disastrous. What if they fought from the edge of the Village into a crowded area?
Thankfully... thankfully, Orochimaru is reliable... Hiruzen Sarutobi took a large gulp of medicinal tea and let out a long breath.
If Jiraiya and Tsunade really summoned their summoned beasts to fight, he could already imagine how tonight's "Konoha Daily" program would comment on his disciples.
Where would he put his old face?
Land of Waves Port, a passenger ship docked at the pier.
"So this is the Land of Waves!"
The young girl standing next to Ashu looked at her surroundings with sparkling eyes, took a deep breath, and began to take off the autumn clothes she had just bought not long ago.
The people around noticed the girl's actions and widened their eyes to look. However, to their great disappointment, what the girl revealed after taking off her clothes were light clothing and bandages covering her entire body!
Under the bandages, the girl's figure was, to say the least, completely flat, failing to arouse any interest.
Not knowing that the Land of Waves was so warm, the group, who had traveled from Hell Valley in the Land of Hot Springs to the Land of Fire's port before boarding the ship, had thought the Land of Waves would be very cold. Each person had bought two sets of autumn clothes for warmth.
"Ran Do, be careful."
Ashu noticed the gazes of the surrounding people change from excitement to disappointment as they looked at Ran Do, and he sighed inwardly.
"What does it matter? What's so good about a body like mine?"
Ran Do said carelessly, shaking her slightly messy blonde hair, a hint of sadness in her expression.
"Ashu, leave her alone. Don't forget why we came to the Land of Waves this time."
A serious voice rang out as a man with a stern face stood beside Ran Do.
"Riku, did I say I needed you to manage me?"
Ran Do stomped hard on Riku's foot, making his poker face twist slightly in pain.
Is it really okay for you to treat your brother like that...? Ashu looked at Riku, then at Ran Do, regretting a little his choice of this problematic brother and sister.
Purple eyes, are they people from the Chinoike Clan?
A wisp of smoke drifted by, quietly following behind the three, observing their every move. At some point, the smoke disappeared.
The three walked along the streets of the Land of Waves. The closer they got to the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company building, the more prosperous the surrounding buildings became, and the streets were livelier.
Ran Do was curious about everything, and Riku was the same. Though he tried hard not to show it, he couldn't help but look at everything around him. For them, who had lived for years in the barren Hell Valley, everything in the prosperous Land of Waves was so novel.
"W-what is that?"
Ran Do watched in shock as a golden box flew through the air.
"I... I... I don't know either..."
Ashu rubbed his eyes. This was also his first time seeing a box that could fly in the air. It looked very much like a cargo truck used by the White Snake Company to transport goods.
"Why don't we ask the people around us?"
Riku noticed that the people around seemed to be used to the golden box.
"Excuse me, may I ask what just flew by in the sky?"
Ashu thought Riku had a good point and found a passerby to ask.
"You don't even know that? Is this your first time in the Land of Waves? That's Mr. Kakuzu's beloved car, a sedan produced by White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company that isn't sold to the public. Only people connected to the company can drive it. Mr. Kakuzu often drives this car to patrol the Land of Waves and its surroundings."
Ashu had clearly asked the right person.
"Patrol?"
Ashu looked up at the golden sedan; the word "patrol" made him think of something unpleasant.
"Yes, patrol. Although the Land of Waves is very safe, conflicts are inevitable when merchants from various countries meet. Mr. Kakuzu's patrols are meant to warn those restless fellows to behave."
"Thank you very much."
"No problem, I hope you enjoy your time in the Land of Waves."
Ashu bid farewell to the passerby and returned to his companions, telling them the information he had gathered.
"So it's not some special Ninjutsu tool…"
Ran Do looked at the car flying into the distance. She had thought it was a special Ninjutsu tool earlier.
Riku's thoughts were similar to Ran Do's; he also thought it was a special Ninjutsu tool.
The three walked and observed, soon arriving in front of the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company building. Looking at the luxurious building, the three stood at the entrance, hesitating for a long time before finally deciding to walk in.
"Hello, may I help you?"
The receptionist looked at the three who walked into the lobby. From their attire, she could tell at a glance that they were Ninja.
"Ah… Hello…"
Ashu quickly walked over, cautiously taking out the business card from his pocket and handing it to the receptionist, saying nervously, "We, we were introduced by Orochimaru…"
Looking at the receptionist's bright and beautiful clothes, a sense of inferiority arose in his heart. Everyone in the lobby seemed to live in two different worlds from them.
No, it was as if they were the ones who had intruded from another world, and everyone's gaze seemed to be scrutinizing them.
"Ah…"
A hint of surprise flashed across the receptionist's face, and she said with a polite smile, "Please wait a moment, someone will be here to pick you up shortly."
"Hello, I'm Setsuryu, please follow me."
Setsuryu came down from the elevator and motioned for the three to follow her.
They are from the Chinoike Clan… Did the whole clan not come, but rather sent these three to check out the situation?
Setsuryu could understand the Chinoike Clan's cautious approach. After all, they were a clan that had been framed and slandered, reduced to a tragic state. If they weren't careful, they might have been exterminated long ago.
Rooftop lounge, the elevator door opened, and Setsuryu led the three here.
"This is the company's rooftop lounge. You can rest here."
The three walked around the lounge, and the whistling wind came from above.
The golden sedan flew over, landing on a platform not far away. The car door opened, and Kakuzu, wearing sunglasses, with half his face covered, and dressed in a suit, stepped out of the car. His shiny leather shoes gleamed golden in the sunlight.
"Wow! So cool!"
Ran Do looked at the tall, dashing, and handsome Kakuzu.
"Are you the people from the Chinoike Clan?"
Kakuzu looked at the three who were staring, adjusted his tie, took off his sunglasses, and walked over, scrutinizing the three, his gaze lingering on Ran Do for a moment.
"Hello, I am Kakuzu, the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company."
"Ah… I'm Ashu, she's Ran Do, and he's Ran Do's older brother, Riku."
Ashu quickly introduced himself, then introduced the siblings, Riku and Ran Do, to Kakuzu.
"I've heard about your Chinoike Clan from Orochimaru. So, I will lead you on a tour of the company. As for whether you want to join the company, that's up to you."
Kakuzu took the three on a tour of the company, telling them about the company's philosophy of changing lives through science, and clearly stating that even if the Chinoike Clan joined the company, the company would not seek revenge against the Land of Lightning or the Uchiha Clan for them.
Because the company is neutral and will not participate in any grievances between any country or Ninja clan. The Chinoike Clan must also let go of their hatred if they join the company.
This point made the siblings, Riku and Ran Do, feel dissatisfied, but they couldn't say anything, as they hadn't joined the company yet.
Ashu, however, agreed with the company's philosophy. Having let go of his false hatred for the Uchiha Clan, he increasingly believed that joining White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company was the only way out for the Chinoike Clan.
The three did not stay in the Land of Waves for too long before returning to Hell Valley in the Land of Hot Springs.
Soon after, the entire Chinoike Clan migrated to the Land of Waves and joined White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company. This news naturally spread to the Various Ninja Villages of various countries, including Hidden Cloud Village in the Land of Lightning.
"The Chinoike Clan…"
Ai looked at the information about the Chinoike Clan that his secretary had found. The more he read, the angrier he became. His raised fist never came down. The table he had just replaced not long ago made him hesitant to smash it, but he still couldn't help but let out an angry roar.
"Those utterly foolish idiots! The Chinoike Clan should have been Hidden Cloud's Bloodline Limit Ninja clan!"
The more Ai thought about it, the angrier he became. The Ketsuryugan possessed by the Chinoike Clan had power not inferior to Konoha's Uchiha Clan's Sharingan. Look at the good deeds done by those utterly foolish nobles; he really wanted to dig up their graves.
Hidden Cloud even kidnapped people with Bloodline Limits for Bloodline Limit Ninja. Look at what those foolish nobles did? They exiled the Chinoike Clan, and the place of exile was Hell Valley!
If the Chinoike Clan hadn't actively appeared, he wouldn't have known that so many of them were still alive!
Now, White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company got all the benefits, and he had no way to deal with that company.
This feeling, for Kumogakure, was like having something that belonged to them snatched away.
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