Danzo smiled. "Thank you for your hard work. Notify the entire army. Depart immediately. The target is the Yugakure village in the Land of Rivers, located between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire. Make the enemy pay the price for their arrogance."
Ao curled the corner of his mouth upward. "Yes." He turned and directed the army forward. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist looked at each other. Originally, they thought these ninja would listen to Fuguki Suikazan's words. After all, among the people present, he had the most seniority and the strongest abilities.
Fuguki Suikazan sighed. If it were someone else, he might be unconvinced. He might even mock them, fight them, seize military authority, and persuade the Kiri-nin not to kill indiscriminately.
But this person was Ao. It was Ao, whom even he felt guilty towards in his heart. The original Ao was devoted only to Kirigakure. But in exchange, to preserve the village, Yagura swallowed his pride and allowed Ryun to take his Byakugan.
Later, after his Kekkei Genkai was taken, the attention and training he received dropped drastically. His resources were even less than an ordinary jonin's, on par with a chunin's.
During that time, Fuguki Suikazan wanted to compensate him. He tried to send him some money and resources. As a result, Ao only said a few words. "Chunin Ao of Kirigakure does not deserve the favor of the esteemed Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Please take the resources and money back."
At that time, Fuguki Suikazan stood stunned at his door for a full two hours. In the end, he left, his heart filled with unbearable guilt. In the matter of the Byakugan, Kirigakure had no ability to protect him. Ao did not blame them.
But back then, they had promised that the Kekkei Genkai didn't matter. They promised to heavily cultivate his talent. He thought he had met an enlightened lord. How could he dare not serve with all his loyalty? The result was they went back on their word, neglected him, imprisoned him, and monitored him.
Was this the magnanimity of the Mizukage, Yagura? This was not an enlightened lord. Ao was not worth dedicating himself to Kirigakure for.
At the same time, he received some news. The Fourth Hokage of Konohagakure in the Land of Fire, because of XXX being killed, immediately set out to find the Kage of that village and make him pay the price.
With this comparison, Ao's hatred for Ryun turned into respect. Later, he began to fantasize. How great it would be if he were a ninja of Konohagakure. Look at how their Kage acted. Look at how you, Yagura, acted.
Now, with Konoha's great unification, Ao's eyes lit up. He suddenly became a Kiri-bu member of Konoha. This made him decide to strive again. To burn his youth for Konoha. To one day write a book. The book title would be "Ao's Struggle."
He now understood Tobirama Senju's planning. Coincidentally, he had no feelings for the former ninja of Kirigakure. So this time, he would be absolutely ruthless. He would pin a big label on Kirigakure. Killing innocents, burning, killing, and looting.
In the ninja world, there is no saying that both thunderous favor and gentle rain are the grace of the lord. If you are wronged, then you don't work for them anymore. I quit. I'll go work for your enemy and offer them strategies.
Because of Ao, this army was firmly held in Danzo's hands. Ao also acted as Danzo's deputy, offering him strategies and advice.
Konoha Village
Uchiha Ju was still lying on the bed without any movement. Her beautiful eyes were tightly closed, her face expressionless. But in her heart, it was completely the opposite.
Currently, Uchiha Ju was in a water prison. She looked around. As a result, she saw the old man who sells cheats sitting there cross legged. She went forward to greet him. "Old man, who are you? Why am I here?"
The old cheat seller slowly opened his eyes. He placed the black staff on his lap. He looked at Uchiha Ju. "Young maiden, my name, you may not have heard of it, but."
The old cheat seller curled the corner of his mouth upward. Although he had seen Ryun once before, he quickly went into hiding to observe this youth's growth trajectory.
He discovered this youth was truly extraordinary. Not only did he make the reincarnations of Indra and Asura coexist peacefully, he even ended the chaotic situation of the ninja world. Now, his daughter had even awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan at around eight years old.
She was not the slightest bit weaker than his son Indra's talent. Moreover, the Susanoo that Uchiha Ju awakened contained a power that did not belong to this world. It was a power far surpassing this world.
Even when she summoned the Susanoo, his own soul trembled. The bloodline of the Otsutsuki clan felt fear. This girl's potential simply exceeded the Otsutsuki clan's by a large margin.
Therefore, after seeing Uchiha Ju suppress Hidan, he sensed Uchiha Ju was burning her own potential. To prevent her from overdrafting her future.
He injected his last trace of power into Uchiha Ju's body. And he rested and recuperated within Uchiha Ju's body.
Whenever Uchiha Ju fell into difficulty in the future, he would be able to guide her to escape the predicament. In the future, when she grew up, she would be able to face those lofty Otsutsuki clan members.
As a result, through a strange coincidence, this trace of power received treatment from Ryun.
From a trace of energy, it recovered to a complete Sage of Six Paths soul state.
This was truly a pleasant surprise. The current power, no, it should be called the Sage of Six Paths soul entity.
"The Sage of Six Paths? The founder of Ninshu? The great filial son who, together with his brother, sealed his mother on the moon." Uchiha Ju blinked, her voice revealing innocence.
The Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Otsutsuki, twitched the corner of his mouth. He remembered these things were not recorded in the history books. How did this little girl know about them? Back then, the people who knew about these things were. That was Yura, the sages of the three great sage regions, and no one else knew.
Even his two good sons, Asura and Indra, did not know. Now, this little girl actually knew.
"Ahem, where did you learn this news." Hagoromo Otsutsuki asked curiously. He really wanted to know. Was it the old toad, or that snake.
"It was dad who told me." Uchiha Ju laughed.
"Your dad. Ryun. Could it be that old snake told him." Hagoromo Otsutsuki muttered to himself. But finally, he shook his head. That old snake's mouth was not that loose. If it were the old toad, he could understand.
Mount Myoboku, the Sage Region
The Toad Sage now opened his eyes. "Damn Yura, cursing me again." The next moment, he fell asleep. This scared the other two Toad Sages.
They originally thought this great one was about to give a prophecy. As a result, he cursed the Sage of Six Paths and fell asleep. This made the two sages twitch their mouths.
"It seems Ryun has quite a secret on him. To know about things from my era." Hagoromo Otsutsuki thought. Then he looked kindly at Uchiha Ju. "Young maiden, want to buy a cheat. Ah, no, want to become my disciple."
Uchiha Ju scratched her head, somewhat puzzled. "Sage of Six Paths, who is more powerful, you or my father."
The Sage of Six Paths was silent. If it were when Ryun's Rinnegan was not fully developed, he was confident that at his peak, he could crush Ryun.
But before, when he was hiding in the ninja world, he discovered Ryun had already killed members of the Otsutsuki clan more than once. And those Otsutsuki clan members, even he could not guarantee he could steadily defeat them.
But Ryun made it seem as easy as eating and drinking. This made him start to suspect. Was Ryun an Otsutsuki clan member wearing human skin.
"I am not as powerful as your father." Hagoromo Otsutsuki sighed. As the Sage of Six Paths, the founder of Ninshu, he naturally would not lie to show off for a moment.
He still had that much integrity.
"You are quite straightforward, senior." Uchiha Ju laughed. She naturally knew the Sage of Six Paths before her was not as powerful as her father. Because he was only a soul entity. And her father was at his peak.
If this Sage of Six Paths were at his peak state, she would not have asked such a question.
"Are you currently learning from your father." Hagoromo Otsutsuki seemed unwilling to give up on this good seedling. So he spoke again.
"No. But I am learning from my Itachi brother. Ah. Right, old man, is this space your doing. Quickly let me out. Don't make my Itachi brother wait anxiously." She glared at the Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Otsutsuki.
Hagoromo Otsutsuki felt so failed. This was the first time someone could refuse him becoming their teacher. You should know, if it were anyone else, they would definitely bow without hesitation, begging him to accept them as a disciple.
But if it were really someone else, Hagoromo Otsutsuki might not have the thought of taking a disciple. No other reason. Too weak.
Hagoromo Otsutsuki looked at Uchiha Ju and sighed. "After all, it's a child's temperament. Fine, I will let you out now."
After speaking, Hagoromo Otsutsuki waved his sleeve. Uchiha Ju disappeared from this space. The next moment, Uchiha Ju opened her eyes. What met her eyes was Itachi lying on top of her.
Uchiha Ju looked at Itachi. Her eyes were somewhat red. She remembered Ryun promised her he would revive Itachi. She also saw that scene. She just didn't see it completely before she fell unconscious from exhaustion.
Now seeing Itachi lying on her, because he was breathing, his body moved up and down slightly. This made Uchiha Ju relieved.
It seemed Itachi brother was really revived. She opened her big eyes wide, looking at Itachi's handsome face. She couldn't help but feel happy.
Itachi brother is really good looking. She slowly spoke in her heart.
At this time, whether intentionally or unintentionally, Itachi slowly spoke a sentence. "Rou Rou, I like you."
Uchiha Ju instantly felt her blood pressure soar. Her face became flushed. She took three or four deep breaths before calming down. Only now she felt her heartbeat was so loud.
She even worried whether the sound of her heartbeat would wake Itachi. However, the fact was it did not.
After three minutes, Itachi still showed no signs of waking up. This also made Uchiha Ju relieved.
She patted her chest, wanting to slow her heartbeat. But she couldn't do it.
Finally, she looked at Itachi with puffed up cheeks. She whispered softly. "I really don't know if Itachi brother did it on purpose."