"This time you've been a big help, thank you," Mokgetsu smiled and nodded in gratitude.
If not for Kakuzu's help, this battle wouldn't have gone so smoothly.
"No need for thanks, if you're really grateful, pay me," Kakuzu said bluntly.
"That's not possible, the money I have is meant for treating everyone to a meal after the meeting ends, but I can invite you to join us," Mokgetsu refused to pay.
"Do you want to eat?"
"Eat!" Kakuzu agreed without hesitation, he planned to eat a good meal at Mokgetsu's expense.
Mokgetsu being broke was something Kakuzu believed because although Mokgetsu was very strong, he didn't take on missions or steal, so of course, he was broke.
Before leaving, Mokgetsu found the kunai that Hanzo initially threw out to make Mokgetsu commit suicide. Due to the explosion, the kunai had become worn out.
Mokgetsu gave the worn kunai to Yahiko. "If you're really grappling with this, then you need to learn from this experience."
Yahiko solemnly nodded and put away the worn kunai; he probably would never forget what happened today.
Although Mokgetsu said he would treat them to a meal, such an important matter had occurred, so they obviously needed to first return to the Ninja Sect base and announce Hanzo's actions.
Also, some worried that Hanzo might send ninjas to attack the Ninja Sect ninjas who did not attend the meeting.
Back at the Ninja Sect base, seeing the tranquil village, Yahiko and Ike Masaya were relieved.
Kakuzu wasn't too worried because he thought Mokgetsu definitely had some backup measure.
Mokgetsu gathered the Ninja Sect ninjas and revealed Hanzo's plot.
The Ninja Sect ninjas were all incredulous; if it wasn't Mokgetsu speaking, they wouldn't believe Hanzo would do such a thing.
Some among them were indifferent to Hanzo, but no one thought Hanzo was a deceitful scoundrel. In the impression of the ninjas in the Land of Rain, Hanzo was always a broad-minded warrior.
"I didn't expect Hanzo to be like this. Boss, are you guys okay?" Hatosuke immediately believed Mokgetsu's words and looked worriedly at Yahiko.
Though Hatosuke liked to joke with Yahiko usually, he knew that Yahiko's mood was definitely not good at this moment.
"It's nothing, Uncle Sosuke is very strong, Hanzo brought this on himself this time," Yahiko shook his head and said.
Along the way, with Kakuzu and Mokgetsu mediating, Yahiko had already come to terms with many things.
What kind of person Hanzo was didn't matter anymore; what mattered was what he would do next.
After hearing the entire process of Mokgetsu attending the meeting, many Ninja Sect ninjas again showed expressions of shock.
It wasn't that they were easily surprised; it was because the content was too impactful to the ninjas in the Land of Rain.
All the Ninja Sect ninjas respected Mokgetsu, but in their hearts, Hanzo was still the strongest in the Land of Rain because that was the impression for decades and hard to change overnight.
For Mokgetsu to repel Hanzo was essentially like shattering their worldview, making it hard not to be shocked.
Mokgetsu also knew how this would impact the ninjas of the Land of Rain, so he gave them plenty of time to buffer before assigning any tasks.
Nagato couldn't resist consulting Mokgetsu about Fire Release after a simple rest.
After this battle, Nagato realized that while he was proficient in various ninjutsu, there was still much room for improvement, be it simple or high-power jutsu.
While resolving Nagato's doubts, Mokgetsu took the opportunity to teach him a Fire Release Ninjutsu.
[You have imparted your disciple with Fire Dragon Flame Bomb. Due to the disciple's immense gratitude, you receive a critical reward and gain—Lightning Attribute Chakra Nature Changes (Master Level)]
Mokgetsu nodded to himself, thinking this reward was quite good.
Though he had reached master-level Lightning Attribute Chakra Nature Changes through repeated lessons, his proficiency wasn't high, and obtaining rewards repeatedly could increase his proficiency.
However, for Mokgetsu, the best rewards from Nagato were the daily cultivation and returning master practice that continuously increased Mokgetsu's chakra.
[Disciple Nagato diligently cultivates Chakra, increasing it, returning master practice Chakra +240]
This 240 points of Chakra would require twelve small lessons to earn by teaching, but it's a reward gained from a day of Nagato's cultivation at trust level two.
Mokgetsu saw the hope of Chakra freedom in Nagato; perhaps after a few years, when he enters the Breathing Chakra Mode, he wouldn't need to be in a rush to turn it off, and Armament Aura could freely be used with other ninjutsu without worrying about the consumption.
Since the teaching content wasn't particularly special this time, Mokgetsu didn't specifically take Nagato to the Barrier House for the lesson. Hearing about it, other Ninja Sect ninjas instinctively came to listen, so Mokgetsu straightforwardly held a Fire Release class, even Kakuzu listened earnestly.
Having used Fire Release to defeat the strongest Water Release in the current Ninja World, Mokgetsu's Fire Release had an exceptionally high value.
Mokgetsu lectured until the evening; due to time considerations, they just ate simply at the base.
In the evening, Kakuzu lay in his room repeatedly reminiscing about Mokgetsu's lecture content.
"If this guy were to charge for lessons, he might earn more than me." Kakuzu was very impressed with Mokgetsu's ability to explain.
Mastering something oneself and being able to teach others well are two different things; teaching others is a talent too.
Kakuzu closed his eyes and suddenly felt like he'd forgotten something.
"Weren't I planning to leave, yet here I am sleeping here?" Kakuzu then remembered he had settled his score with Mokgetsu intending to run.
"But that Sosuke guy hasn't fed me yet..." Kakuzu sat back on the bed, pondering.
He found that whether he left or stayed didn't matter much since he had no home to return to.
Kakuzu's home used to be the Waterfall Village, but having been betrayed by the upper echelons, he had no home anymore and freely wandered throughout the Ninja World, going wherever there were high-bounty ninjas.
"People like Sosuke and forces like the Ninja Sect will surely have conflicts with many strong ones in the future, which means they'll likely encounter bountied individuals," Kakuzu contemplated a lot, recalling the initial battle with Mokgetsu when he thought Mokgetsu was very strong. But given Mokgetsu's battle with Hanzo, Mokgetsu had actually held back.
Kakuzu also remembered his life being sealed in the Ninja Sect by Mokgetsu. To deny Mokgetsu and deny the Ninja Sect's ideology, Kakuzu kept following their developments during his journey, as he had nothing else to do.
Thinking back to today's battle, Kakuzu finally lay back down on his bed.
Following the Ninja Sect, he could encounter bountied ninjas and also benefit from Mokgetsu's lessons. It didn't seem bad, plus, Mokgetsu promised a meal that he hadn't had yet. He wouldn't leave without eating, or else he'd lose out.
...........
"Sosuke knows about the Rinnegan but doesn't seem interested in it. Sosuke's strength is formidable, being able to suppress Hanzo's Water Release with Fire Release even when it's raining," Black Zetsu reported everything happening in the Land of Rain to Uchiha Madara.
"It shouldn't affect my plans in the short term," Uchiha Madara nodded slightly, not paying much heed to the latter part of Black Zetsu's words.
For the ninjas of the Land of Rain, Hanzo was the strongest etched in their minds, but to Uchiha Madara, Hanzo was just a junior he wasn't familiar with. How strong could he be?
Uchiha Madara looked down on everyone equally aside from Hashirama.
"Keep observing him and gather his intelligence," Uchiha Madara thought for a moment and said.
Nagato held an important position in Uchiha Madara's resurrection plan; his successor would guide Nagato. If Mokgetsu was still by Nagato's side by then, Mokgetsu would be an obstacle that must be removed.
Observing that Uchiha Madara was not particularly concerned about Mokgetsu, Black Zetsu felt a bit disappointed. He had thought Uchiha Madara might come up with a solution to deal with Mokgetsu.
Black Zetsu placed great importance on Mokgetsu. After Mokgetsu's level of Fire Release was shown against Hanzo, the credibility of Mokgetsu's Ninja Sect inheritance seemed more plausible. How could an ordinary person develop Fire Release Ninjutsu to such a level? Having lived for millennia, didn't he already know the limits of ordinary ninjas?
"Madara is only at this level. That's fine too; as long as the Moon Eye Plan is completed, the final step will be easy," Black Zetsu prepared to come up with his own method to deal with the ninja named Sosuke.