The survivors of the Uzumaki Clan are in the Land of Waves, so why haven't they made a move?
Black Zetsu was certain that the higher-ups of the Four Great Shinobi Villages knew about the intelligence he deliberately sold to the black market intelligence agency, but they acted as if they had conspired, showing no signs of taking action.
Are they wary of White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company?
That's just a small company established in the Land of Waves; wouldn't it be easier for the Four Great Shinobi Villages to jointly force them to hand over the Uzushiogakure survivors?
Black Zetsu genuinely couldn't understand why they weren't acting. It was just a company, after all; it shouldn't be enough to make the Four Great Shinobi Villages so cautious, should it?
Don't they want the Sealing Technique of the Uzumaki Clan?
Don't they want to use members of the Uzumaki Clan as Jinchuriki?
Why don't you make a move!
The Four Great Shinobi Villages weren't anxious, but Black Zetsu was extremely anxious.
---
Crossing the border of the Land of Rivers into the Land of Wind, the temperature immediately became scorching, and the harsh sunlight baked the yellow sand.
Orochimaru wore a brown robe and a mask, narrowing his eyes as he looked up.
I remember there's a small country nearby called Rouran. Rather than a country, Rouran is more like a town.
Its existence far predates the Hidden Sand Village and the Land of Wind. It's a small country within the Land of Wind's borders but not belonging to it.
Orochimaru was also surprised when she learned of Rouran's existence. She wasn't surprised why Rouran hadn't been annexed by the Land of Wind, but rather that she remembered Rouran was a country in the ancient West of another world that had perished countless years ago.
In this world, the reason the Land of Wind tolerates Rouran's existence is likely related to the Dragon Veins, the lifelines of the earth beneath Rouran, which contain Natural Energy far exceeding other places on Earth.
The royal family of Rouran possesses the power to control the Dragon Veins. This is probably why the Land of Wind tolerates Rouran's existence. If the Rouran royal family were to unleash the power of the Dragon Veins, the entire Land of Wind would suffer.
Orochimaru speculated that in ancient times, the Ten-Tails in its Divine Tree form, when it rooted and grew on this planet, its roots would surely delve deep into the earth's lifelines to absorb that massive Natural Energy.
Unfortunately, the Natural Energy contained in the Dragon Veins is only useful where the Dragon Veins are located. Extracting it with such effort is less convenient than absorbing the omnipresent Natural Energy.
This is why Orochimaru wasn't interested in Rouran's Dragon Veins.
Her objective in coming to the Land of Wind this time was very clear: Bunbuku, who was imprisoned in the Hidden Sand Village's jail.
All research was proceeding in an orderly fashion, and she also needed to conduct research on Jinchuriki, to figure out if the relationship between Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts was as she imagined.
The power of the Dragon Veins made Rouran an oasis rich in lush vegetation and resources. Clear spring water continuously flowed from the spring, which was the source of life for the people of Rouran, also called the Eye of Life.
Orochimaru did not stay in Rouran for too long, quickening her pace towards the Hidden Sand Village.
On the desert outside the Hidden Sand Village, Orochimaru gazed at the distant Hidden Sand Village. She did not approach rashly, but instead used the Flying Thunder God Technique to bring a large number of Kikaichu with Flying Thunder God Technique formulas on them from the insect nest beneath the Laboratory.
The Kikaichu dispersed, silently infiltrating the Hidden Sand Village, gathering intelligence and searching for the direction of the prison.
Hidden Sand Village Prison
"Hey! Eat quickly! I'm waiting to clean up!"
The prison guard treated the middle-aged monk in the prison very poorly.
The middle-aged monk clasped his hands together, bowed slightly, and picked up the food in the lunchbox to eat.
"Seriously, why do I have to guard this guy!"
The prison guard couldn't help but complain to his companion.
"No choice, he's the Jinchuriki of that Shukaku. If he loses control and goes berserk, it won't be good."
"I hope I can be transferred after I get promoted. I don't want to guard him anymore."
The middle-aged monk listened to the conversation between the two prison guards, finished his food, picked up the lunchbox, walked to the door, and handed it over.
Bang--!
A prison guard's stick hit his wrist.
Clang--!
The metal lunchbox fell to the ground, and Bunbuku's wrist visibly swelled red.
"How many times have I told you not to stick your hand out! And you still stick your hand out!"
The prison guard sternly scolded him.
"..."
The middle-aged monk silently walked back, sat cross-legged on the ground, and slowly clasped his hands. On the palms of his hands, one side had "Heart" written on it, and the other had "Receive" written on it. Together, they formed "Love."
"Kill them! Why don't you use my power to kill them! Monk! Why don't you kill them!"
Shukaku clearly saw everything happening outside from Bunbuku's mental world and was about to explode with rage.
"It's not their fault, I stuck my hand out."
Bunbuku said calmly, without resentment or anger in his heart.
"Utterly hypocritical! That's why I hate humans!"
Shukaku was even more furious at Bunbuku's attitude.
"Seriously, don't do things that make it difficult for us!"
The prison guard grumbled, picked up the lunchbox from the ground, and turned to leave.
Not long after he left, he returned.
"Cleaned up so quickly?"
The prison guard looked at his companion who returned so quickly, surprised.
"Yes, it's cleaned up."
The prison guard looked up, ripples appearing in his eyes, emitting an eerie light.
This kind of prison... only locks up gentlemen, not villains?
Orochimaru looked at this doorless prison. The person locked inside could easily slip out if they wanted to.
"Who are you?"
Bunbuku looked up at the person who had the appearance of the prison guard. He could feel that this person was definitely not the prison guard from just now.
"One-Tail Jinchuriki Bunbuku, I naturally came here for you."
Orochimaru passed through the bars, approaching Bunbuku step by step.
"Are you here for Shukaku?"
Bunbuku slowly stood up, surprised that the other person knew his name. The name "Bunbuku" hadn't been called in a long time.
"Don't be nervous."
Orochimaru stopped. She still needed Bunbuku to cooperate with her research and didn't want to fight him.
"Bunbuku, I need you to cooperate with my research, for the future of Jinchuriki, and also for the future of Tailed Beasts."
"The future of Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts?"
Bunbuku, who was about to make a move, paused. His slowly opened hand revealed the characters in his palm.
"The major Shinobi Villages are conducting Jinchuriki experiments. Not long ago, Uzushiogakure in Land of Whirlpools was destroyed under the joint invasion of Hidden Mist, Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure."
"Sunagakure... why?"
Bunbuku's eyes widened a bit, not expecting Sunagakure to be involved in such a matter.
"Because the Sealing Technique of the Uzumaki Clan can perfectly seal Tailed Beasts and create Jinchuriki. This is why the Four Great Shinobi Villages jointly destroyed Uzushiogakure."
"Stealing Sealing Techniques... creating Jinchuriki, huh..."
Bunbuku felt sad for the Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts when he thought of the major Shinobi Villages creating such pathetic existences like himself.
"So, that's why you want me to cooperate with your research?"
Bunbuku looked at the person in front of him, believing his words somewhat.
"Exactly. I want to research why Jinchuriki die when Tailed Beasts leave their bodies. Is it because the Tailed Beast's and Jinchuriki's Chakra are intertwined, causing the Tailed Beast to take away the Jinchuriki's Chakra when it leaves, leading to the Jinchuriki's death from Chakra depletion, or does the Tailed Beast take away both the Jinchuriki's Chakra and life force?"
When Orochimaru was researching Zero-Tails Cells, she considered why Shinno was drained after the Zero-Tails left his body. In a sense, he was a Zero-Tails Jinchuriki.
"Monk, are you going to agree to this guy? He says it's for Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts, but who knows what he's really thinking? What if he wants to harm you!"
In Bunbuku's mental world, Ichibi Shukaku saw everything outside. It didn't believe humans could be so kind as to consider Tailed Beasts. Perhaps they were also trying to exploit the Tailed Beast's power.
"Monk! Use my power to kill him! Then break out of this prison and cause some chaos! Let those fools who locked you up here witness my power! Hahahahaha!"
Shukaku let out a sharp laugh, clamoring for Bunbuku to kill this person who spoke of being for Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts. It hated humans, and even more, those hypocritical humans.
"Hmph!"
Orochimaru's figure appeared in Bunbuku's mental world. Hearing Shukaku's words, she snorted and said, "Then, I'll slightly modify what I just said. My research is for Jinchuriki. I don't care what happens to Tailed Beasts. Rather, in my opinion, you Tailed Beasts are unstable factors. Instead of utilizing the Tailed Beasts' power, I'd rather Tailed Beasts never appear before my eyes."
"How did you get here!"
Bunbuku looked at the person who appeared here, shocked and disbelieving.
"Get out!"
Shukaku raged, and endless sand appeared in the mental world, sweeping towards Orochimaru.
"Tch."
Orochimaru's figure disappeared from Bunbuku's mental world.
"How did you get into my mental world just now?"
Bunbuku looked at the person in front of him, incredulous.
"Genjutsu uses Yin Release Chakra to interfere with the recipient's five senses, immersing them in the Genjutsu world. Infiltrating your mental world is an application of Genjutsu."
Orochimaru explained.
"If I assist you, can you guarantee that Shukaku won't be harmed?"
Bunbuku thought of what the person in front of him had said earlier, and he didn't feel any malice from him.
"Hey! Monk! Baldy! Are you listening to me! Don't pretend you didn't hear!"
Shukaku was almost driven mad. Why would this damned monk agree to the request of that ill-intentioned person?
"I will conduct some experiments in the evenings over the next few days, without harming you or Shukaku."
Orochimaru turned and walked to the bars, placing her hand on them, leaving Flying Thunder God Technique formulas in the gaps between the bars.
Leaving Flying Thunder God Technique formulas on Bunbuku's body might be discovered, but leaving Flying Thunder God Technique formulas in this position has an extremely low probability of being discovered, unless someone comes to destroy the prison where Bunbuku is held.
"Bunbuku, aren't you curious about my identity?"
Orochimaru looked at Bunbuku, who maintained his hands-clasped-together posture, out of the corner of her eye.
"Not knowing your identity is good for both you and me."
Bunbuku thought of the Village's higher-ups' attitude towards him. It would be better if he didn't know the identity of the person in front of him.
"I really don't understand what Sunagakure's higher-ups are thinking."
A hint of surprise flashed in Orochimaru's eyes, and she used the Flying Thunder God Technique to leave.
Bunbuku was slightly startled by the words, then clasped his hands together, bowed his head slightly, and recited Buddhist scriptures.
Are Sunagakure's higher-ups a bunch of good-for-nothing fools?
He was a perfect Jinchuriki with a good relationship with Shukaku, yet they imprisoned him until he died.
Orochimaru couldn't understand how the Third Kazekage and Sunagakure's higher-ups made such a decision. They worried about Shukaku going berserk, but Shukaku would have to go berserk first!
She had already investigated; Shukaku was implanted inside Bunbuku when he was young, and he had rarely lost control since childhood.
Bunbuku had never lost control or gone berserk after growing up, so worrying about him losing control and going berserk was just nonsense, wasn't it?
If there hadn't been any conflict of interest between the Hidden Sand Village's high-ranking officials and Bunbuku, Orochimaru would have suspected them of abusing their power for personal gain.
However, Bunbuku not being able to go to the battlefield was good news for other Ninja villages. While they were still researching Jinchuriki, the Hidden Sand Village had locked up a perfect Jinchuriki.
You don't have a Jinchuriki? Then I'll lock up my Jinchuriki and fight you!
For several days, Orochimaru came to the prison every night to conduct experiments, mainly to determine if the Jinchuriki's Chakra and the Tailed Beast's Chakra were intertwined due to the seal.
The result was mostly as she had expected, but with one difference: the Tailed Beast's life was also connected to the Jinchuriki.
When a Tailed Beast was extracted from a Jinchuriki's body, not only the Chakra but also the life force would be drawn out along with the Tailed Beast.
In other words, a Jinchuriki needed to meet two conditions to survive the extraction of a Tailed Beast: Chakra and life force.
If Chakra and life force were replenished immediately at the moment the Tailed Beast was extracted, the Jinchuriki's death could be avoided.
"Bunbuku, tonight's experiment is the last one. I won't be coming back."
Orochimaru had already reached a conclusion through the experiments of the past few days. The research would end here.
"That's great, I was able to help."
Bunbuku was happy about this. During their interactions, he could feel that this person's concern for Jinchuriki was genuine.
Something's not right... Is this a Genjutsu?!
Chiyo noticed that the prison guard responsible for watching Bunbuku seemed a bit off. She walked forward and tried to place her finger on his back.
"Release!"
"Lady Chiyo!"
The Genjutsu on the prison guard was released. He greeted Chiyo respectfully and looked around strangely.
"How did I get here?"
"You were under a Genjutsu!"
Chiyo said irritably. Suddenly, she realized something.
"Oh no, that person's target is Bunbuku!"
Chiyo rushed to Bunbuku's location at top speed. That prison was built for Bunbuku and only held him.
"The experiment is over. Thank you for your cooperation, Bunbuku. This is our last meeting."
Orochimaru performed the last experiment. A Kikaichu flew over and landed on her fingertip.
Was I discovered...? Is it too late to be discovered after all this time?
Orochimaru sneered inwardly, and her gaze towards Bunbuku turned malicious.
"Bunbuku! Come with me willingly! The Hidden Sand Village imprisoned you because they fear your power! Do you want to grow old and die alone here? I can take you away from the Hidden Sand Village and let them witness your power! Let them regret imprisoning you!"
Bunbuku looked at the person in front of him with confusion, who suddenly started speaking incomprehensible words. He realized something.
Was I discovered?
Bunbuku cooperated with the person in front of him and said, "I will not betray the Hidden Sand Village. Don't dream about it. This is not a prison for me; it's a place for training."
What are you two talking about?!
Shukaku listened to their conversation with a head full of question marks, completely unaware of what was happening.
"It seems polite invitations won't work to get you to leave. In that case, I'll have to use force!"
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with malice. Just as she was about to lay hands on Bunbuku, a loud shout came from outside.
"Stop!"
So this is what Lady Chiyo looked like when she was young... Orochimaru turned to see Chiyo standing outside the bars.
"Get out here!"
Chiyo waved her hand, controlling Kunai with Chakra threads to attack.
A Chakra Blade appeared in Orochimaru's hand, with Lightning Release Chakra attached to the blade, flickering with dazzling lightning.
Lightning Release?!
Using a katana... Could it be a Cloud Ninja?
Chiyo's pupils slightly contracted, and she began to guess the identity of the Ninja who wanted to take Bunbuku.
Orochimaru brandished the Chakra Blade. The blade light and lightning flashed, cutting through all the Kunai and Chakra threads. She reached out to grab Bunbuku, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground with his hands clasped.
"Don't even think about it!"
Chiyo threw a spherical object, which quickly expanded into a lion-shaped puppet head with a wide-open mouth revealing sharp fangs.
Half of Orochimaru's body was bitten off by the lion puppet head. However, what fell to the ground were chunks of earth.
Earth Clone?
Chiyo looked around, searching for the person who wanted to abduct Bunbuku.
Bang—!
A whooshing sound came from behind. Chiyo turned around, crossed her arms to block a kick, and dodged a swinging Chakra Blade while looking for an opportunity to counterattack. She kicked away the Chakra Blade from the enemy's hand, and the Chakra threads she swung from her hands wrapped around his neck.
Orochimaru noticed the wrapping Chakra threads and quickly retreated. A Kunai attacked from behind, forcing her to release her Transformation Jutsu, revealing her "true appearance."
"It really is a Cloud Ninja!"
Chiyo looked at the distinctive brown skin, emitting a strong killing intent.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Strike!"
Orochimaru formed hand signs, condensing Lightning Release Chakra in her palms, aimed at Chiyo, and fired lightning.
Boom—!
The ground was blasted into a crater by the lightning. Chiyo leaped up, running along the wall. Two scrolls appeared in her hands, summoning two ordinary humanoid puppets. She controlled the two puppets to launch an attack.
To be able to infiltrate here, she must have obtained a lot of information about the Hidden Sand Village. How could she let the opponent leave alive?
The mouths of the two puppets opened, firing a large number of poisoned needles. Sharp blades sprang from their arms, and the mechanisms throughout their bodies made eerie clicking sounds as they attacked Orochimaru.
In Chiyo's opinion, it was easier to kill this Cloud Ninja than to capture him alive. If he escaped while trying to keep him alive, it would be bad.
Orochimaru held Kunai in both hands, brandishing them to deflect all the poisoned needles. While dodging the attacks of the two puppets, she slowly approached the Chakra Blade.
Does he want to retrieve his weapon?
Chiyo quickly waved her hands. The attack angles of the two puppets became increasingly tricky. The puppets' limbs separated, pulling out steel wires.
Is this the battle of a Puppet Master...? What a dazzling array of attack methods!
Orochimaru attached Lightning Release Chakra to a Kunai and threw the lightning-flashing Kunai, aiming for the Chakra threads Chiyo used to control the puppets.
Is his target the Chakra threads?
Don't even think about it!
Chiyo was startled. She controlled the Chakra threads with both hands, dodging the Kunai.
Orochimaru seized the opportunity to retrieve her Chakra Blade. The Yin Seal on her wrist released Yang Release Chakra, strengthening her arm. With one slash, she cut one puppet in half. She quickly swung the Chakra Blade, severing the wrapping steel wires, marveling inwardly at how well the standard Chakra Blade worked.
"I don't have time to waste with an old woman like you here!"
The Chakra Blade in Orochimaru's hand pointed at Chiyo.
"Old... old woman?!"
Chiyo heard the person's address for her and immediately flew into a rage. She took out the scroll sealing the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets and angrily said, "You rude person! I am still in the prime of my youth and beauty!"
(Chiyo is in her thirties now, a mature and beautiful young woman.)
"The battle ends here, old woman."
Orochimaru looked at the unique scroll in Chiyo's hand and formed a single hand sign. She didn't want to fight Chiyo, who controlled the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets. A brief exchange was enough for her to understand Chiyo's strength.
"Don't think about escaping!"
Chiyo didn't have time to unseal and retrieve the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets sealed in the scroll. She could only control the other puppet to charge towards Orochimaru.
The Chakra Blade in Orochimaru's hand was plunged into the ground. A dazzling flash of lightning passed, and the puppet lunged at empty air.
"Damn it! That rude bastard actually escaped!"
Chiyo clenched her fists, looking at the battle marks around her, growing angrier the more she thought about it.
"Shameless Cloud Ninja! Setting their sights on the Ichibi!"
Chiyo's anger flared even more when she remembered how that Cloud Ninja had addressed her, wishing she could grind him to dust.
After Chiyo left, an inconspicuous little bug shook off the dirt from its body and flew away.
"Was that guy really a Cloud Ninja?"
Shukaku, who had witnessed the entire battle between Orochimaru and Chiyo, didn't quite believe that person was a Cloud Ninja.
"Who knows."
Bunbuku didn't care about the other party's identity at all.
Chiyo reported the incident. The enraged Third Kazekage replaced the prison holding Bunbuku with a more secluded one and simultaneously sent a letter to the Hidden Cloud Village.
The Third Kazekage didn't even suspect that the Cloud Ninja might have been someone else in disguise. In his opinion, who else but the Hidden Cloud Village would do such a despicable thing?
Land of Lightning, Hidden Cloud Village.
Boom—!
A loud bang mixed with roaring thunder emanated from the Raikage's office.
The sturdy desk was shattered by Ay's lightning-infused fist. He looked at the letter in his hand, trembling with extreme anger. The Chakra emanating from his body tore the letter to shreds, and his facial expression was distorted by his immense fury.
"Slander! This is slander against the Hidden Cloud Village! The Hidden Cloud Village already has the Eight-Tails and the Two-Tails, so why would they want to snatch the Hidden Sand Village's Ichibi!"
Ay never imagined that Cloud Ninja hadn't gone anywhere recently, so how could they have gone to the Hidden Sand Village and set their sights on the Ichibi?
The Hidden Cloud Village didn't even know who the Ichibi's Jinchuriki was!
So how could they be targeting the Ichibi?
This was simply a bucket of dung falling from the sky onto the Hidden Cloud Village's head.
-------------------------------
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