This is the proof!

  Jiraiya believed he had found the proof!

  Because he had never officially accepted Uchiha Sasuke as his disciple, and Sasuke had never referred to him as "Master Jiraiya" alongside Uzumaki Naruto.

  "Sasuke carries too much darkness and hatred..."

  When Jiraiya said this, his voice was no longer pyful. Instead, it carried a heavy weight. "At least in my opinion, he can't possibly bear any more."

  This was not discrimination.

  It was pity for Uchiha Sasuke.

  Shigen's expression remained unchanged, as if he didn't care about the so-called "proof" Jiraiya had brought up. He merely instilled the idea that the Child of Prophecy could exist in both Naruto and Sasuke.

  Right now, Jiraiya believed that his only disciple was Uzumaki Naruto.

  But the white-haired man didn't know...

  That he still had some disciples who, according to rumors, had long since died.

  And...

  One of those disciples was undertaking a major mission.

  To assassinate Hanzo the Samander, the leader of Amegakure.

  Although to the greater shinobi world, killing Hanzo was a significant event, for the Akatsuki, it was merely a small matter.

  Since his body had fully recovered, Nagato had been looking for an opportunity to eliminate Hanzo. Now, he no longer needed to wait and create more Rinnegan puppets—his own power was already enough.

  However...

  This was both business and personal.

  Nagato believed that they needed to take full control of the Land of Rain to keep Akatsuki's secrets safe. But in the end, this mission was also an act of revenge for the past.

  Land of Rain

  In a valley stood an iron-cage-like building.

  However, the structure had already colpsed into ruins. The wreckage was surrounded by the corpses of Amegakure shinobi, scattered in disarray.

  Only one man remained alive.

  Hanzo the Samander.

  "You... you..."

  Hanzo looked in horror at Pain approaching, followed closely by Nagato and Konan. His body trembled as he tried to back away.

  The once-fearless man, who had once risked his life to protect his country, had long since lost his courage. With age, he had grown attached to power and clung desperately to his dwindling life.

  "Goodbye."

  Pain raised his palm.

  The next moment—

  A powerful repulsive force crushed down on Hanzo!

  The leader of Amegakure, who had once left his mark on the shinobi world, who had once fought against the invasions of the great nations, widened his eyes in shock. In an instant, under the sudden and overwhelming force, he met a tragic and unceremonious death.

  With Hanzo's demise, there was no longer anyone to obstruct Akatsuki's rule over the Land of Rain. Pain immediately led Nagato and Konan to take over Amegakure and establish a new order.

  This event…

  Did not escape Shigen's notice.

  Shigen did not care about Pain's actions. He was only contempting how to get Nagato to meet Jiraiya sooner.

  If possible…

  Shigen hoped to use an old acquaintance.

  Unfortunately…

  That acquaintance could not move freely.

  Ever since hearing that Shigen had arrived in Konoha, this person had been trying to find a way to contact him. However, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had issued a strict order forbidding any opportunity for the two to meet.

  "Danzo is always busy..."

  Once, in casual conversation, Hiruzen deliberately mentioned this acquaintance in front of Shigen, lying without the slightest shame.

  After all…

  Shimura Danzo had once followed Shigen.

  Hiruzen didn't want them to meet. He didn't want Danzo to find a way to use Shigen.

  Konoha's situation had stabilized.

  Danzo, who had once been an uncontrolble force within the vilge, should no longer be stirring up trouble. Konoha had no need for his influence anymore—under the Hokage's command, Danzo was to quietly retire and wait for the day he was buried.

  But of course…

  Danzo would never accept this.

  As a man of ambition, Danzo had no intention of sitting idly by. He once again harbored murderous intent toward the man who had suppressed him for so long—Hiruzen Sarutobi.

  Of course.

  Danzo would never act personally.

  Instead, he relied on his ally, Orochimaru, while also waiting for the day Orochimaru could bring him a Rinnegan.

  However…

  Orochimaru was too busy to entertain Danzo.

  In fact, Orochimaru no longer even considered Danzo worth his attention. Everything naturally fell into the hands of his "steward"—Kabuto Yakushi.

  After all, Orochimaru needed time to perfect the Edo Tensei technique so he could summon even stronger shinobi in the future. He also needed to study the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to resurrect the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and to research Shigen's cloning project to achieve immortality.

  Time Passed Slowly

  As Naruto and Sasuke grew stronger, Orochimaru finally made a breakthrough in one of his research topics. He discovered a way to break open the Shinigami's body.

  "There exists a mask capable of connecting to the underworld…"

  "By wearing this mask…"

  "The Shinigami can be summoned…"

  "At the cost of the user's soul, the Shinigami's body can be cut open, freeing the spirits sealed within, allowing them to ascend to the Pure Land…"

  This mask…

  Had been sealed away in Konoha, inside the Uzumaki cn's Mask Storage Temple.

  The shinobi world knew little about the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, let alone how to undo it.

  "Konoha, huh..."

  Orochimaru read through the scroll detailing the Uzumaki cn's secrets. A complex glint fshed through his serpent-like eyes. "It seems I can never escape my fated homend..."

  "Orochimaru-sama?"

  Kabuto cautiously tested Orochimaru's thoughts.

  But Orochimaru didn't hide anything. He narrowed his eyes. "First, let's find a way to obtain that mask…"

  This mission…

  Naturally fell to Kabuto.

  It was neither particurly difficult nor particurly safe. Orochimaru couldn't trust anyone else with it, so Kabuto was the best choice.

  Konoha was not weak.

  Both Jiraiya and Tsunade were there, making it inconvenient for Orochimaru to act personally. If they detected his presence, it would lead to trouble.

  "Oh, right."

  "Try contacting Danzo as well."

  "I've come up with a pn to deal with Shigen, but I'll need Danzo's help."

  "Understood."

  Kabuto immediately nodded.

  "What pn?"

  Uchiha Obito asked Orochimaru, his tone ced with disdain. "What exactly have you been pnning? All these years, you've cimed to be perfecting Edo Tensei, but I've yet to see any results..."

  According to their initial pn…

  Orochimaru was supposed to create an army of powerful Edo Tensei shinobi to fight Shigen. Yet, so far, he hadn't revived many strong individuals—he hadn't even summoned the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

  Orochimaru's reasoning was simple.

  If Edo Tensei's Hashirama was too weak, he'd be useless against Shigen.

  If Edo Tensei's Hashirama was too strong, he'd break free and possibly kill Orochimaru instead.

  A paradox.

  Orochimaru smirked, ignoring Obito's attitude, and revealed his true thoughts.

  "Fine."

  "If you're that impatient…"

  "I'll just tell you my pn now…"

  Orochimaru's scheme was meant to ignite a storm across the shinobi world.

  But what mattered most to Shigen…

  Was not the pn itself.

  It was how Bck Zetsu reacted to it.

  The fact that Kabuto delivered this intel first meant Bck Zetsu hadn't shared it—perhaps because this pn aligned with its own agenda.

  That creature…

  Really feared Shigen being influenced by Asura's chakra reincarnations.

  Perhaps it was time for Shigen to offer it a "gift."

  Like…

  This very conspiracy?

  Shigen tapped his fingers lightly, his voice calm and measured.

  "Orochimaru wants to be the wind that turns the windmill... but the windmill should always be the one to respond."

  "..."

  Kabuto couldn't quite understand.

  "Even though the pn was devised by Orochimaru..."

  Shigen csped his hands together, his tone thoughtful. "The timing, location, and the people who will inevitably be caught up in this storm should all be decided by me in advance."

  ----------

  Powerstones?

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