Intelligence members are always easily trusted.
After all, Terumi Mei's means of obtaining intelligence are quite limited, and with Hozuki Suigetsu, the brother of Hozuki Mangetsu, under her protection, she trusts Hozuki Mangetsu a lot.
Hozuki Mangetsu is a descendant of the Second Mizukage, how could he betray The Hidden Mist Village by passing false information to her?
After hastily delivering a bunch of intelligence to Terumi Mei, Hozuki Mangetsu returned with the seriously ill Ringo Ameyuri to report back to Uehara Naraku.
On the way back, Ringo Ameyuri, being the last of the Seven-swords Ninja of the Hidden Mist not to join Akatsuki, became gradually curious about Hozuki Mangetsu.
The two brothers look so alike.
From his friend Hozuki Suigetsu's words, his brother Hozuki Mangetsu was always a bastard and a traitor he couldn't wait to kill.
Now it seems Hozuki Suigetsu's attitude was inevitably biased.
Hozuki Mangetsu wasn't as bad as his brother described.
Compared to the childish Hozuki Suigetsu, Ringo Ameyuri was more interested in learning about the genius predecessor Hozuki Mangetsu, who could summon seven Ninja Blades.
Hozuki Mangetsu didn't seem like a simple rogue ninja.
This man is like an enigma, making one irresistibly curious to know more.
Unfortunately, Hozuki Mangetsu was tight-lipped, hardly revealing any information throughout the journey, only telling Ringo Ameyuri he could cure her.
"Why get someone to heal me?"
Ringo Ameyuri raised an eyebrow, her lips revealing a sharp tooth: "Is it because I'm the first female of the Seven-swords Ninja of the Hidden Mist, your junior, or because I'm a friend of Suigetsu?"
"...Because someone needs your strength."
Hozuki Mangetsu's answer was very straightforward, not unlike his superior, and he added: "But I'd rather kill you directly, as your strength isn't significant—you can't even withstand an attack from the master—I don't see the need to have you join us."
"The master?"
Ringo Ameyuri's curiosity was piqued, she stared intently at Hozuki Mangetsu's expression, trying to discern something: "What master? Your current master, senior? It's really intriguing, someone who can conquer Mangetsu, senior..."
"..."
Hozuki Mangetsu couldn't be bothered with her.
Because Ringo Ameyuri soon met the master Hozuki Mangetsu spoke of.
Morning.
Nameless Lake in the Land of Rain.
This is near the Akatsuki Hideout.
When Hozuki Mangetsu and Ringo Ameyuri arrived, they saw a young ninja practicing by the lakeside, merely training simple hand seals.
Yet that hand seal speed...
In the Ninja World, other ninjas fear their hand seal speed isn't fast enough, trying to make it impossible to see their gestures or even their movements.
However, this young ninja practiced hand seals so slowly that it seemed like he was doing yoga, making people irritated just watching.
"Don't disturb the master's training."
Hozuki Mangetsu stopped Ringo Ameyuri, focusing intently on the young ninja practicing by the lake.
"Senior, the person we are to meet can't be him, right?"
Ringo Ameyuri looked at the young ninja practicing hand seals by the lake, her expression turning odd and unpleasant: "If I'm not mistaken, he's learning the hand seal gestures for Water Release: Water Dragon Bomb, right?"
"That's right."
Hozuki Mangetsu nodded.
Ringo Ameyuri glanced at Hozuki Mangetsu again, hesitantly speaking: "Didn't he just mess up one of the hand seals? Senior, are you sure this is training?"
"Yes, I saw it."
Hozuki Mangetsu nodded again.
Ringo Ameyuri's gaze became even more peculiar. Her face showed some incomprehension, perhaps Hozuki Mangetsu, the senior, didn't care about this so-called master?
Based on Ringo Ameyuri's observation, this young ninja bore no aura of strength, seeming even like a clumsy Genin.
Why would Hozuki Mangetsu pledge allegiance to him?
The next moment.
The young ninja by the lake finished his error-riddled hand seals, shouting at the lake water: "Water Release: Water Dragon Bomb Jutsu!"
In an instant, the winds surged and clouds gathered!
A water dragon, hundreds or even thousands of meters long, condensed beside the young ninja. Not only was the water dragon colossal, but it was also incredibly lifelike, with every scale distinctly visible!
Ringo Ameyuri's eyes narrowed!
The power of the young ninja's Water Dragon Bomb Jutsu exceeded other ninjas' Jutsus by at least tenfold! Even taking advantage of the lake by the lakeside, it was enough to astound!
Merely in terms of Water Release ninja power, Ringo Ameyuri had never seen anyone who could match the young ninja's Water Dragon Bomb Jutsu.
Clap clap clap...
While Ringo Ameyuri was still marveling, Hozuki Mangetsu had already begun clapping his hands, softly exclaiming: "Terrifying... truly worthy of Lord Uehara!"
"Oh, you're too kind, too kind."
The young ninja modestly waved at Hozuki Mangetsu, turning to look at Ringo Ameyuri: "I heard everything just now, I did mess up one of the hand seals..."
After saying this, the young ninja patted Ringo Ameyuri's shoulder, a light enveloping her.
Just as Ringo Ameyuri was perplexed by the light surrounding her, the young ninja suddenly reached out and grabbed her by the throat!
"Uh ah?"
Ringo Ameyuri was utterly shocked.
The young ninja muttered: "You talk too much! I didn't know the hand seals were wrong? Do I have to redo them? It's forty-four seals!"
Having said this, the young ninja effortlessly twisted Ringo Ameyuri's neck.
Until all consciousness was lost, Ringo Ameyuri could hardly believe that merely pointing out a mistake would get her killed immediately?
Who exactly is this young ninja!
How is he more bloodthirsty than our Hidden Mist ninjas!
Ringo Ameyuri's body fell to the ground with a thud.
The next second, Ringo Ameyuri's consciousness returned, and she looked around blankly, as if she had just had a nightmare.
No, it wasn't a nightmare.
Ringo Ameyuri fearfully touched her neck; at that moment, she felt she had truly died, her soul almost leaving her body.
But for some unknown reason, she was resurrected again.
The young ninja leaned down, looking at the female ninja lying on the ground: "How is your body? Do you feel better from your illness?"
"..."
Ringo Ameyuri instinctively recalled the torment of her illness, but she no longer felt any pain, just a slight ache in her neck.
What exactly is going on?
Was it healing just now…
Or was she killed by the person in front of her and then resurrected by him?
"It seems the illness is cured."
The young ninja chuckled softly, squatting in front of Ringo Ameyuri: "Since you're cured now, would you be willing to become my subordinate?"
"What if I refuse?"
Ringo Ameyuri looked up and asked.
The young ninja showed a playful smile on his face: "Then I'll keep repeating a process, killing you and reviving you, then killing you again and reviving you again. Anyway, I have plenty of chakra. Let's see who has more patience between us..."
The young ninja continued nonchalantly: "The final result, either you completely give in to me, or I eventually give up and directly kill you."
"..."
Ringo Ameyuri's heart tightened.
However, the next moment, the young ninja continued: "Of course, even if you die, it probably won't be pleasant, as I can still control your soul."
Ringo Ameyuri looked speechlessly at the young ninja, slowly clenching her fist. How was she supposed to choose!
Ringo Ameyuri thought for a while, then suddenly smiled: "Even if I want to pledge allegiance to someone, I should at least know who my new boss is, right?"
"Hmm, my name is Uehara Naraku."
The young ninja extended his hand and pulled Ringo Ameyuri up, complimenting: "Congratulations on making the right choice."
Ringo Ameyuri: "..."
After seeing Ringo Ameyuri join Uehara Naraku's side, Hozuki Mangetsu finally spoke: "My lord, I'll take her to meet Konan and Pain now."
"Hmm."
Uehara Naraku nodded and casually waved his hand: "Her strength isn't strong enough yet; let her act with you for now!"
"Understood."
After Hozuki Mangetsu led Ringo Ameyuri away,
Uehara Naraku quietly opened his system panel to look at the task rewards for defeating Ringo Ameyuri, as she was the last of the Seven-swords Ninja of the Hidden Mist he had defeated.
Side task: Obtain 40 of your own subordinates (4/40), task not completed, reward unknown.
Side task: Defeat the Seven-swords Ninja of the Hidden Mist (7/7), task completed, reward a hidden inheritance task once.
Hidden inheritance task: I will dance on your grave! Say a correct name.
This is a hero who loves to dance!
Uchiha Madara would definitely have a common language.
After a moment of contemplation, Uehara Naraku spoke that eternally chopped name: "Blade Dancer Airelia!"
Task completed, hero inheritance activated.
Razor Blade: Gain chakra weapon Razor Blade, can freely manipulate the blades to attack, each chakra blade consumes 1 chakra per second when present.
Sharp Blade Impact: Charge at an enemy, refreshes this skill every time an enemy is killed, consumes 20 chakra, no skill cooldown.
Distance Breaking Dance: Manipulates all blades to appear around oneself for defense, reducing incoming damage by 50%, consumes 70 chakra, no skill cooldown.
Vanguard Blade: Shoots all chakra blades in a straight line, finally forming an iron curtain surrounded by blades, consumes 100 chakra, no skill cooldown.
Uehara Naraku slowly raised his palm, and odd-shaped chakra blades appeared behind him, resembling the spiral shuriken from the Ninja World.
This inheritance is too weak.
To be honest, it's not very useful.
No, it still has its uses.
Uehara Naraku manipulated the blades to shoot into the trees fiercely, and then the blades flew back under his control, hovering behind him again.
At least this looks cool.
On this day, the Akatsuki discreetly welcomed a new member.
The Hidden Mist Village lost their last ninja blade and their last member of the Seven-swords Ninja on this day.
However, Terumi Mei in the distant Hidden Mist Village remained unaware, as the entire Hidden Mist Village encountered a new trouble, which was the harassment of Uchiha Obito.
The entire Ninja World began to endure the harassment from Uchiha Obito.
And no one knew what Uchiha Obito truly wanted, as he seemed to attack the major ninja villages randomly, just to make his presence felt.
Of course, no one would believe that Uchiha Obito was just trying to make his presence known.
Sadly, in the face of Uchiha Obito's harassment, the major ninja villages could do nothing, unless they preemptively ambushed him, they couldn't catch him.
But who could track down Uchiha Obito's location?
As time slowly passed, Uchiha Obito's reputation grew increasingly notorious.
Black Zetsu couldn't figure out what Uchiha Obito's purpose was, but it was definitely to sabotage the Eye of the Moon Plan, making Black Zetsu increasingly anxious.
Uehara Naraku remained calm because he knew that Uchiha Obito was actually Yakushi Kabuto disguised in a White Zetsu Cloak.
Since Yakushi Kabuto trained in Ryuchi Cave for a period of time, he successfully mastered Sage Mode and began carrying out Uehara's orders.
Uehara Naraku, estimating the time of Three-tailed's rebirth and the start of Akatsuki's collection of Tailed Beasts plan, temporarily stopped Yakushi Kabuto's actions and had him spread the news that Orochimaru died in an experiment.
Besides, Uehara continued to order Yakushi Kabuto to dig up the graves of strong individuals in the Ninja World, slowly drawing Black Zetsu's attention to him.
In this way, Black Zetsu had no other choice.