Konan hasn't changed much.
No, there have been some changes.
The maturity of womanhood on Konan has become more pronounced.
It's just that her mood remains the same as before, even when she's smiling at Uehara Naraku, she inadvertently furrows her brows, hiding a trace of sadness.
"Give me some advice!"
Uehara Naraku slowly approached Konan, reached out to take the teacup from her hand, and handed her a cup of goji water: "Teacher, as you're getting older, you should start drinking more of this. It's good for your health."
"..."
Konan's forehead twitched.
Watching Uehara Naraku casually sit down, Konan almost crushed the cup in her hand. This disciple she raised with her own hands is becoming increasingly unlovable...
Holding the cup of goji water, Konan spoke softly about business: "Let Ajisai and the others go, and have them collect some intel on the Jinchuriki as well."
Uehara Naraku's expression suddenly turned hesitant: "Uh, with Ajisai's level of skill, if something goes wrong while gathering intel on the Jinchuriki..."
It's not that Uehara Naraku looks down on Ajisai.
But that little girl's skills are indeed a bit weak.
Uehara Naraku had once luckily guided Ajisai's training, engaging in a sparring match without using any ninjutsu, defeating her using taijutsu alone…
Clearly, Ajisai has a strong talent for Space-Time Ninjutsu, yet she only summoned a broken door and some white paper to block Uehara's vision!
What kind of messy skills is that little girl even learning!
"Finally learned to feel sorry for a little girl?"
Konan raised an eyebrow, giving Uehara Naraku a meaningful look: "Don't assume all Genin are as strong as you used to be..."
The Hidden Rain Village really lacks suitable candidates; besides Ajisai's squad, there were no others fit to join.
If Uehara Naraku shamelessly participated, it was uncertain whether The Hidden Sand Village would dare to let him join...
"Let's go with the teacher's opinion then!"
Uehara Naraku sighed, turning to look at Konan: "Oh, by the way, I'm leaving the village tomorrow for a bit."
"For what?"
Konan immediately frowned, as if Uehara Naraku was up to something bad.
But this time Uehara Naraku was going to do a good deed, so he felt quite justified: "A while back, Karin mentioned the Uzumaki Clan, and Lord Nagato hopes that I accompany Karin to see if there are any other Uzumaki descendants."
This statement was half true and half false.
After all, the reason Karin brought up the Uzumaki Clan was entirely due to Uehara Naraku's suggestion, and that little girl was considered one of his subordinates.
Kabuto finally quietly relayed a message to Karin. Over the past year, Orochimaru finally found a way to break the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, which required the Death Mask from the Uzumaki Clan's shrine.
Thus, Orochimaru planned to head to Konoha's Uzumaki Clan's shrine to break the Dead Demon Consuming Seal Jutsu to use Reanimation to revive the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, from the Shinigami's belly.
Uehara Naraku intended to join the excitement.
This reason wasn't easy to fabricate.
Konan looked at Uehara Naraku for a moment, then lowered her head: "Nagato has never made any requests, so you should accompany Karin then!"
"Alright!"
Uehara Naraku quickly nodded.
The journey from The Hidden Rain Village to the Uzumaki Shrine near Konoha Village was not short.
It took Uehara Naraku and Karin two to three days to quietly sneak near Konoha Village.
Since the ninja world once had ninjas from the Uzumaki Clan, reportedly, the village head of Vortex Village, Uzumaki Ashina, was the founder of the Konoha Sealing Jutsu, but later Vortex Village was destroyed in the war. Only Konoha still held traces of the Uzumaki Clan's existence, left by the princess Uzumaki Mito.
Karin wasn't too concerned with what lay before her because she grew up in the sinful Hidden Grass Village, only feeling redeemed when rescued by Kabuto.
Besides, Kabuto was a bit handsome...
Karin leisurely tidied her hair, slightly messy from the journey: "Master Naraku, when will Master Kabuto arrive?"
"According to their schedule, probably in about a day!"
Uehara Naraku rubbed his chin, speaking softly: "With your Chakra Perception, you should easily detect their presence when they arrive, right?"
"Yes."
Karin nodded, with a serious expression: "I'm very sensitive to Master Kabuto's chakra; I'll immediately detect their location when they get near us."
Uehara Naraku nodded, speaking softly: "Don't rush; let's move after Orochimaru breaks the Dead Demon Consuming Seal Jutsu!"
"...Alright."
Karin gave Uehara Naraku a strange look.
Karin was not a naive girl; she was much smarter than most female ninjas in the ninja world, especially adept at analyzing information.
When it came to the matters between Uehara Naraku and Orochimaru, although Karin couldn't say she understood everything, she could still piece it together quite well.
Uehara Naraku clearly had the power to easily defeat Orochimaru, yet he strategically placed Yakushi Kabuto as a spy beside him, using Kabuto to secretly manipulate and control Orochimaru's every move.
This boss is truly insidious.
Everyone spoke of Orochimaru as a cunning and deceitful character, yet Orochimaru was played right into Uehara Naraku's hands…
The waters of the Ninja World run deep.
Because she was involved, Karin dared not think any further about it.
The Uzumaki Clan's abandoned shrine didn't see many visitors, making it a quiet place for them to spend the night before awaiting the arrival of Orochimaru and Yakushi Kabuto.
Over the past year, Orochimaru had grown much more confident, perhaps due to unraveling the Dead Demon Consuming Seal Jutsu.
"Hehehe…"
Orochimaru was the first to spot the Uzumaki Clan's shrine, licking his lips: "As long as it's proven that the Substitution Jutsu and Immortal Reanimation can break the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, it will mean I can use the Shinigami's power whenever I wish. The next time I meet that little brat Uehara… hmph hmph…"
As soon as Orochimaru confirms the feasibility of breaking the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, with a living White Zetsu as his substitute body, he could use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal Jutsu indefinitely in battle.
It's akin to cracking the Shinigami's glitch.
As long as the Shinigami cannot claim his soul, Orochimaru can indefinitely summon the Shinigami using his own soul to battle.
The Shinigami is said to be a deity untouchable by mortals!
Orochimaru believed that if he could control the Shinigami, he could kill all his enemies across the Ninja World, whether it be Uehara Naraku, Sasori of the Red Sand, or Pain!
Those whom he once couldn't afford to offend, from today onward, he would settle the score with their lives!
Orochimaru extended his tongue to search for the Death Mask within the Uzumaki Clan's shrine, soon wrapping his tongue around a grim and terrifying mask.
"Are you ready, Kabuto?"
Orochimaru turned his head towards his trusted subordinate.
Yakushi Kabuto nodded and pulled two White Zetsus from his pocket, one to serve as Orochimaru's body after summoning the Shinigami, and the other as a sacrifice for the Reanimation of the Fourth Hokage.
Both White Zetsus had undergone experiments with Hashirama Cells, and both had awakened the Wood Release Bloodline.
"Very good."
Orochimaru's tongue gradually lengthened, placing the mask on his face, a sinister and eerie laugh emanating from his throat: "Hehehe... From today onwards, let everyone's most terrifying deity be at my disposal!"
In the next moment, Orochimaru aggressively invoked the great god!
A towering spectral figure emerged behind Orochimaru, biting down on a large short sword, with a pair of sharp horns on its head, appearing incredibly horrifying!
This is the Shinigami of the Ninja World!
Even its mere apparition could instill a sense of fear because its presence signifies inevitable death.
But today is different.
No one will die; instead, someone will be resurrected.
Orochimaru violently sliced open his abdomen, his wound gushing with blood!
The spectral Shinigami behind Orochimaru also sliced open its abdomen, and from its wound, a soul suddenly emerged!
That was the soul of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato!
Having once sealed the Nine-Tail, Namikaze Minato used the Shinigami's power of the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to divide the Nine-Tails into halves, sealing one half inside himself and the other half within Uzumaki Naruto.
Ultimately, Namikaze Minato and half of the Nine-Tail were consumed by the Shinigami as sacrifices for the Dead Demon Consuming Seal!
Seeing the Shinigami's spectral image slice open its abdomen to release the soul, it was about to vanish, but its claw reached for Orochimaru's soul, ready to engulf it as the sacrifice for its summon!
"Kabuto, hurry!"
Orochimaru's body suddenly weakened!
Orochimaru then suddenly opened his great mouth; as the Shinigami's claw approached, a small white snake burst forth from his mouth, darting towards the White Zetsu by Yakushi Kabuto's side, intending to take over its body directly.
This is the marvel of the Orochi Style Substitute Jutsu.
As long as he jumped out in time, even the Shinigami couldn't grasp him.
From then on, not only could he acquire Namikaze Minato's Reanimation Body, but he could also control the Shinigami's comings and goings.
This is Orochimaru, the person who dared to exploit even the Shinigami.
This is truly risking it all!
Indeed, in the next instant, the unexpected happened!
The little white snake, yet to enter the White Zetsu's mouth, was pinned to the ground by a shuriken!
Clap clap clap…
A round of applause echoed in the shrine.
A young ninja walked in, clapping gently, and praised softly: "As expected of Orochimaru, to even utilize the Shinigami…"