After achieving his goal,
Shimoku quickly left with Riyō.
As for Lady Serpent, whether she was modifying cameras or studying Demonic Statue fragments, both tasks would still require time before any noticeable progress could be made.
There was no need for him to personally monitor things daily.
Quickly enough, using the Flying Thunder God Technique,
the trio vanished from sight like a flash of lightning, returning to the village without needing to trudge through cold winds.
No doubt about it — Ninjutsu sure saved a lot of effort!
Returning to the village, Shimoku didn't waste time resting.
There were still many things awaiting his attention:
The initial organization of the [Tsukuyomi Card Bug Plan], the establishment of the Ninja Academy,
scriptwriting and supporting character selection for the movie "Dark-Cloaked Madara vs. Divine Hashirama,"
handicraft promotion targets under the five-year plan, new clothing designs and mass production plans—
All of this needed his eagle-eye management — from big-picture strategy down to the smallest detail.
No time could be wasted indulging in slacking off.
At the very least, as the great revolutionary of the Ninja World,
in these early entrepreneurial days, it was impossible to become a hands-off boss just yet.
Of course, even if starting up was tough,
as long as one possessed a youthful, optimistic, and beauty-seeking heart,
plenty of fun could still be found within work itself.
For instance:
Designing extra sets of Ninjutsu exams for the children at the Ninja Academy? Helping children make full use of their holidays by practicing Ninjutsu?
When writing the "Dark-Cloaked Madara vs. Divine Hashirama" script, adding in a few more twists of complicated 'love-hate' relationships between Lord Madara and Hashirama?
Or perhaps, while sketching out playful lingerie and silk stockings, having the lovely ladies from the clan help try them on? Just for appreciation purposes, of course.
In short,
joy must always be actively sought out.
To live joyfully within this hellish Ninja World,
you've got to dig it up yourself.
After arranging village affairs appropriately,
on the third morning, Shimoku departed the village with only Konan,
heading toward the Rain Hidden Village.
After all, over there lay a whole village's worth of benefits and technological assets waiting for him to claim.
Besides, Konan herself probably had quite a dowry tucked away — mostly squeezed out from Kakuzu.
Such benefits naturally needed to be collected early.
To avoid any unexpected problems arising during delays.
Frankly speaking, Shimoku wasn't sure
what schemes his beloved ancestor, Lord Madara, might currently be plotting.
If Madara also turned his eyes toward the Rain Hidden Village and reached out his devilish hand,
then things might get complicated.
Most likely another showdown would be unavoidable.
Therefore, acting early was clearly the best choice.
...
In less than half a day, the two arrived at the Rain Hidden Village.
The entire Rain Hidden Village appeared mostly unchanged from before.
Peaceful and calm. Despite both its highest leader and Angel having disappeared for nearly two weeks,
the villagers didn't seem overly worried.
From their perspective, the Great Pein who had defeated the one-time semi-god Hanzo was definitely invincible!
He absolutely couldn't lose!
Rather, during Pein's absence, he could no longer control the weather.
During this time, the Rain Hidden Village remained shrouded in continuous drizzle, with an oppressive atmosphere lingering.
So, most villagers couldn't wait for their leaders—Lord Pain and Angel—to come back and bring hope to the village again!
...
So much so that as soon as Konan stepped into the village,
many villagers immediately lit up when they saw her and rushed over in excitement,
giving the Angel a warm welcome.
Yet seeing these enthusiastic villagers only deepened Konan's bitterness.
That once-beloved title of "Angel," which she herself had cherished,
now rang painfully in her ears.
What kind of Angel was she anyway!
Nothing more than a 'pawn' used and then discarded.
In this hellish world, how could there be a pure, innocent Muku Angel symbolizing beauty and goodness?
Even if there were, it would only be a fallen angel [the cursed kind that turned against Heaven]…
"Everyone, go back!"
"Do what you must. I'm back; everything will be fine..."
Konan spoke up calmly, her tone full of leadership.
The villagers trusted her without hesitation.
Soon enough, they dispersed one by one,
returning to their own affairs.
No matter what, just having the Angel back made them feel safe again…
Without another word, Konan pressed her lips together,
immediately shaping a pair of paper wings, lifting Shimoku into her arms before soaring high into the sky.
Quickly, they arrived atop the western district tower—
the former administrative center located atop the western district tower.
[Tsk tsk tsk]! So this is the real Angel after all—bossy as ever!
Shimoku teased with a smirk.
"Shut up!"
Konan frowned slightly, snapping at him without patience.
Shimoku: "Alright, down to business then."
"A few little bugs have already spotted us. Want to keep any alive?"
"Up to you."
"After all, everything here—including me—is yours now…"
Konan replied coolly, eyes closed.
Hearing her response, Shimoku wasted no time.
He flicked his right hand, instantly forming a chakra blade over ten meters long,
and thrust straight downward.
It easily pierced through the stone floor below, instantly killing a White Zetsu hiding over ten meters underground.
Then, using the residual energy from that White Zetsu's corpse,
he quickly sensed the other White Zetsus hidden within the Rain Hidden Village.
Clearly, all of these White Zetsus were sent by Black Zetsu,
remaining covertly inside the Rain Hidden Village
to track Konan's whereabouts and reclaim the second Rinnegan in her possession.
After all, a single White Zetsu wasn't particularly strong.
But if dozens attacked together, their combined combat power became considerable.
With a surprise attack, defeating an injured Konan was quite likely.
And even if that failed,
dozens of White Zetsus could still spread the news far and wide to inform Black Zetsu.
Once Black Zetsu and Lord Madara arrived,
there would truly be no escape for Konan!
Pity for them, the White Zetsus hadn't even imagined…
that the decisive Konan had directly defected to Homuragakure
and led Shimoku—the so-called 'Great Demon'—straight to them.
For someone like Shimoku, a peerless powerhouse, even if the number of White Zetsu increased a hundredfold, thousandfold, or even ten-thousandfold...
It would still be meaningless.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Shimoku summoned several [Clone Technique], then vanished instantly from his spot, dashing toward the hiding spots of the remaining White Zetsu.
With these clones attacking, not a single White Zetsu would escape.
...
The clones kept cutting down the feeble White Zetsu without breaking a sweat.
Meanwhile, Shimoku himself sat atop the Tall Tower with Konan, overlooking this prosperous yet pitiful city.
"Do you want me to stop this rain?" Shimoku softly asked.
For an expert of his level, slightly influencing the weather in a localized area wasn't difficult at all...
"No need. I kind of like this rain," Konan shook her head with a lonely tone.
After all those years of striving, everything was ruined—by just one Black Zetsu.
Everything changed. Everything was lost.
Only this drizzling cold rain over [Rain Hidden Village] remained unchanged...
How ridiculous!
"This Hidden Village never should have existed in the first place!"
"What a dark world devouring people alive!"
Konan murmured sorrowfully.
Shimoku didn't respond.
He wasn't a psychologist, nor was he good at offering comfort.
It was better to say nothing at all.
...
After a long silence,
Konan finally suppressed all her negative emotions and wiped away her tears.
Once again becoming that icy, elegantly beautiful 'angel,'
She turned to Shimoku and asked:
"How do you plan to take control of the entire [Rain Hidden Village]?"
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