"Land of Rain? Isn't that where Hanzō of the Salamander is?"
"What's the point of going there?"
Yugito stopped attacking and began adjusting her breathing.
This was a necessary skill—whether in battle or at rest, one had to perfectly regulate their breathing to keep the body at its peak and be ready for any unexpected situations.
It was something Tagitsuhime had taught her, essential for a serpent.
A cold-blooded killer must always be in hunting condition.
"To find the right opportunity. The enemy I mentioned before has already appeared."
"We need to start taking action. I'm from Konoha, so there are many things I'll need you to handle."
"It's just... right now, you're still too young..."
Yugito immediately frowned. What was wrong with being young?
She had already mastered many ninjutsu techniques, and with her Taijutsu and combat skills, she was confident she could take down an average Chūnin.
Not to mention, she also had Matatabi to back her up.
"Young? Being young doesn't mean I can't lead! Got it?"
"Alright, keep training!"
"For this entire month, we're not going anywhere. We'll stay here and train."
Kazuyama Gekkō adjusted his breath and attacked again.
He needed to raise Yugito's combat strength in a short time.
Time waited for no one.
...
Meanwhile, Konohagakure, which had lost all trace of him, was enjoying a rare moment of peace.
Many ninjas from the battlefield in the Land of Rivers had returned to the village for rotation.
This was part of Hiruzen Sarutobi's strategy—keeping shinobi on the same battlefield too long could affect their mental state. Regular rotation was necessary.
Besides, even during war, the village still had missions to complete. These were essential to the village's foundation.
In the tavern at the village center...
"Orochimaru, don't worry. I'm sure that brat's fine."
"Don't forget—he's a loach. Slippery as hell."
At a table sat three people—the three Sannin of Konoha: Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya.
Orochimaru looked visibly upset, a rare sight for both Tsunade and Jiraiya.
They had been wondering what could possibly affect Orochimaru like this.
But the moment they heard Kazuyama Gekkō had gone missing for over a month, they immediately understood.
"Exactly. Orochimaru, don't you know how brilliant your student is?"
"It was just a One-Tail transfer, wasn't it?"
"One-Tail... well... just one tail. Nothing compared to the Nine-Tails!"
Jiraiya took a sip of sake, and his words made Tsunade and Orochimaru turn their eyes to him at the same time.
Cold sweat broke out instantly—damn, those looks were terrifying.
"If you can't speak properly, then shut up!"
"Or else I'll personally send you straight up the staircase to heaven!"
Tsunade crushed the sake cup in her hand. Orochimaru said nothing, but the murderous glint in his vertical pupils said it all.
Jiraiya gave an awkward smile.
"My bad. Anyway, that Kazuyama kid will be fine."
...
A similar scene unfolded elsewhere.
On the rooftop of the Ninja Academy, Pakura, Kushina, Mikoto Uchiha, Minato Namikaze, and Kazuyama Gekkō's three young apprentices were gathered.
Minato had just informed Pakura of Kazuyama's disappearance.
Unexpectedly, Pakura had no reaction at all—completely out of everyone's expectations.
"Pakura, are you okay?"
"Hm? I'm fine. Why are you all so worried?"
"Don't you know what that bastard Kazuyama Gekkō is capable of?"
Pakura smiled brightly, her tone full of confidence.
"His Transparent Escape Technique and Flying Thunder God are both top-tier escape techniques. And with his personality, there's no way he'd put himself in danger."
"I trust him completely. He'll come back."
"We made a promise."
Everyone looked at her and grew even more worried.
Little did they know, Pakura truly wasn't worried at all.
To her, someone who could abduct her from Sunagakure wouldn't be scared of a Tailed Beast.
Even if a Tailed Beast wanted to stop him—it couldn't.
She had absolute faith in Kazuyama Gekkō's strength. It was far from what it seemed on the surface.
...
A month passed quickly.
Kazuyama Gekkō now stood atop a snowy mountain, gazing at the sea.
Behind him, Yugito radiated a faint aura of power. It was hard to believe this was just a kid.
"Land of Rain..."
"Let's hope everything goes smoothly..."
Over the past month, Kazuyama had stayed in the Land of Frost to train Yugito.
Now, she had begun to grasp the power of Matatabi.
While she could only enter the Tailed Beast Cloak mode, that alone was enough.
The power of a Tailed Beast was terrifying. An average shinobi trying to fight one was pure fantasy.
"Let's go, Yugito. We're heading to the Land of Rain."
"Okay!"
Master and apprentice set off together, accompanied by a snake, toward the Land of Rain.
...
Meanwhile, a man in a black cloak appeared at the border of the Land of Fire.
He stared at the land ahead, eyes full of murderous intent.
"Ao... Don't worry. I'll make this village that destroyed both you and me pay."
"And that Kazuyama Gekkō, who toyed with us again and again... I'll torture him to death."
"This world is flawed... and I will make it perfect with my own hands."
This man was Muren Uchiha—but his appearance had changed drastically.
His aura, presence, and strength had all grown exponentially.
The red Sharingan in his eyes began to spin, gradually forming a strange new pattern.
Three shapes resembling tridents emerged.
If Kazuyama Gekkō saw this, he'd be stunned.
The pattern looked eerily like the Lance of Longinus—strange and powerful.
"From now on, I am..."
"Madara Uchiha... I will reshape this world completely..."
"Zetsu..."
As his words fell, a black-and-white humanoid figure appeared behind him.
It was Zetsu—specifically, the fused form of Black Zetsu and White Zetsu.
"I'm here. First stop—Land of Rain."
"Madara left a pawn for you there. You're meant to take control of it."
Muren Uchiha nodded, then rushed in the direction Zetsu indicated.
He took one step—then instantly appeared hundreds of meters away.
Zetsu clicked his tongue in awe.
"No matter how many times I see it, his eye power is terrifying."
"Yes... this power is overwhelming."
One crisp voice, one deep voice—both echoed with recognition of Muren Uchiha's strength.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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