Hanzou walked onto the exterior corridor of the high tower, gazing at the village painted with dull colors, under the torrent of rain, his pale yellow eyes revealing a chill.
It seems that after not walking in the Ninja Realm for a long time, some people have forgotten his existence.
Although he internally believed that the Konoha Ninja were responsible for this incident, the Land of Rain couldn't handle turmoil as it was now. Only by personally investigating could he know who was the mastermind behind the scenes.
Once the mastermind is identified, he, the demigod, would unleash a frantic retaliation.
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"Quickly act, don't leave anyone alive!"
The ninja adorned with vibrant colors and eerie mask commanded his three subordinates beside him.
The other three also wore masks.
They were ninjas affiliated with Konoha's Root.
Upon joining this organization, names, past, future, emotions, everything was abandoned.
As nutrients supporting the towering tree of Konoha Village deeply rooted in the earth.
As long as it was for Konoha, no matter how dark, vile, or cruel, these deeds would be executed without hesitation.
The village in the pouring rain echoed with screams, everyone living in the village was granted merciless death by Root.
Killing so many innocents, they felt no guilt in their hearts.
Because if they didn't die, the Land of Fire and Konoha would bear more sacrifices.
When weighing the sacrifice of oneself against others, for Root Ninja, it required no complex thought.
No need to consider justice, nor ponder humanity.
In their subconscious, they would choose whatever was most beneficial for Konoha.
The fire burned amidst the rain, the calamity of flames, which couldn't be washed away by rain, engulfed everything in the village.
Without hesitation, the four Root Ninja swiftly eradicated all one hundred and twenty-one people in the village, leaving misleading traces. Though aware that doing so couldn't convince Hidden Rain decisively, it didn't matter.
As long as the plan carried on, more back-up plans would be implemented, and by March, Hidden Rain would definitely fall out with Hidden Sand.
This was merely luring Hidden Rain Village into the trap.
"The next phase of the plan can commence now."
The leader among the four spoke softly.
After all, to deceive ninja of Hanzou's caliber, these tricks wouldn't suffice.
To convince Hanzou it was Hidden Sand Ninja's doing, the subsequent actions were key.
"Next—"
The words hadn't finished.
The four were suddenly startled and leaped from their position.
A mass of trees burst from the earth, seemingly alive, entwining the bodies of the four.
"What, this is... Wood Style!?"
The four exclaimed in shock, their hearts utterly shaken.
The trees bound them, vine-like tendrils tightened mercilessly.
The four couldn't even utter a scream, pressed into bloody pulp by the tightening branches.
The trees retracted, returning to the earth as if nothing had happened.
Subsequently, four White Zetsu emerged from below.
They emitted eerie giggles.
"The night is long and dreams are many, Root's plan is too tedious, let's help you directly achieve the goal. The more chaotic this country is, the easier Nagato can walk the 'correct' path. Hehe."
The four White Zetsu began to transform, changing into Root's attire and masks.
After a few minutes.
Kanzo led a dozen elite Hidden Rain Ninja hastily to the village on fire.
"Are we still too late?"
Kanzo's face showed exhaustion.
These days, he had been investigating the party responsible for committing such atrocious massacres within the Land of Rain.
The outcome still turned out empty.
"Bury the villagers' corpses."
Kanzo ordered.
"Yes."
With fury in their hearts, the Hidden Rain Ninja entered the village to bury the cold bodies.
A Hidden Rain Ninja entered a house searching for corpses, suddenly felt a chill on the neck, blood splattering out, falling to the ground.
"Who is there?"
The commotion caught the attention of other Hidden Rain Ninja, and they reacted.
But all they saw were four ninjas dressed in Konoha Anbu uniforms, wearing masks on their faces.
They hadn't expected to be discovered by Hidden Rain Ninja so quickly, but then came calm, revealing coldness in their eyes, directly attacking the Hidden Rain Ninja.
"These guys are... Root!"
As Hanzou's right hand, Kanzo also knew many classified secrets.
Konoha Anbu, one is the Hokage's direct Anbu, the other is led by Konoha's high-ranking Shimura Danzo as Root.
Different from Hokage's direct Anbu, Root's masks were more vibrant, and the paint on them exuded an uncomfortable and cold aura.
The masks worn by these four ninjas, with patterns formed by paint, were exactly of such unsettling and cold traits.
Thus, Kanzo immediately identified these four as Konoha's Root Ninja.
"Water Style: Rain Array!"
Kanzo quickly sealed, the surrounding rainwater promptly transformed, turning into slender water needles, frantically stabbing at the four Root ninjas.
"Wind Style: Wind Reversal!"
A fierce gust blew numerous water needles back.
Kanzo wielded a kunai and engaged in battle with Root Ninja.
After a period of fighting, he noticed that these Root Ninja, besides occasionally using a few Wind Style Techniques, mainly relied on Taijutsu for combat.
One among them was clearly not adept at Taijutsu, besieged by other Hidden Rain Ninja, taking hits throughout, never deploying any technique to reverse the situation.