Chapter 42: The Girl Selling Paper Flowers in the Rain
Several more days passed.
Orochimaru continued taking Yoru to various locations. Yoru hadn't visited anywhere inhabited in quite some time.
However, this hardship was nothing compared to obtaining the Ryuchi Cave scroll.
This day, Orochimaru brought Yoru to a cave within a certain snowy mountain.
"Release—"
Finding a rock wall carved with mysterious symbols, Orochimaru formed hand seals and pressed his palm against it.
As tadpole-shaped script spread outward, the rock wall beneath Orochimaru's palm actually receded inward, like opening a hidden compartment.
Reaching inside, Orochimaru retrieved a palm-sized scroll and began reading.
Yoru had grown accustomed to this scene.
Though not knowing what those scrolls contained, Yoru could deduce they came from Konoha spies stationed in various nations.
Orochimaru's mission was waiting for those spies to deliver intelligence to designated locations, then retrieving it.
However, this time, Orochimaru's manner seemed somewhat off—standing in place repeatedly reading the scroll in his hands.
Unfortunately, Yoru didn't possess Observation Haki from that neighboring pirate world and couldn't sense Orochimaru's emotional fluctuations.
Nearly ten minutes passed before Orochimaru finally put away his scroll, then retrieved another scroll from his person and placed it back into the hidden compartment, restoring the rock wall to its original state.
"Let's go."
Orochimaru led Yoru out of the cave, leaving the snowy mountain region that same day.
Even more unusual: Orochimaru didn't travel on foot this time but used Body Flicker the entire journey with Yoru.
Leaving the snowy mountains—presumably Iron Country territory—he continued using Body Flicker.
Finally, they arrived at a small town.
After nearly a month, Yoru finally saw human habitation and felt momentarily disoriented.
Orochimaru took Yoru to a shop and told the owner: "Two sets of raincoats and conical hats."
"One thousand ryo. Thank you for your patronage."
After purchasing the rain gear and conical hats, Orochimaru led Yoru away from the town.
On the road, Yoru accepted his rain equipment and couldn't help asking: "Orochimaru-sensei, is our next destination Rain Country?"
"We're already in Rain Country." Orochimaru's gaze grew profound. "Our next destination is... Amegakure."
Yoru couldn't help mentally clicking his tongue.
Amegakure—this small place left impressions second only to Konoha as the protagonist's birthplace.
Aside from the First Shinobi World War, this location never lacked screen time.
One of the Second Shinobi World War's main battlefields. Though not participating in the Third War, it still suffered Danzo Shimura's manipulation, leading to attacks on Yahiko's Akatsuki organization and Nagato's corruption.
Afterward, it became Akatsuki's headquarters—Pain's divine domain.
Even during the Fourth Shinobi World War, Amegakure appeared—Ame ninja participated in battle.
Amegakure's current leader was Hanzo of the Salamander at his peak—regarded by shinobi as the pinnacle of the shinobi world. Though not among the Five Kage, he was undeniably Kage-level.
What was Orochimaru bringing him to this person's territory for?
However, the Second Shinobi World War hadn't yet erupted, and Amegakure hadn't declared war on Konoha. Yoru didn't worry much.
...
Amegakure was a village filled with steel structures.
Due to constant rain, the most common sight was enormous drainage pipes.
Pedestrians—both locals and outsiders—almost universally wore raincoats and conical hats.
Only patrolling Ame ninja wore respirator masks on their faces.
As the intersection of three great nations—Wind, Fire, and Earth—Amegakure had no barrier. Hanzo of the Salamander, who aimed to let small nations resist great powers, hadn't closed borders either.
Because the village's assassination techniques were highly developed, they were beloved by criminals and gangs.
So current Amegakure was the shinobi world's most chaotic mixing ground, freely accessible.
Orochimaru—using Transformation Technique for disguise—brought Yoru, who merely concealed his genin headband without other disguise, into Amegakure and instructed: "Free time from now on. Stay safe."
"Uh... understood."
Yoru couldn't quite understand why he'd been brought into Amegakure if not participating.
Wouldn't having him wait outside be better?
But as a good child, Yoru obediently nodded.
Thus, Yoru and Orochimaru separated.
Walking alone through the rain curtain, Yoru witnessed customs different from Konoha.
The villagers were equally simple and honest, but conditions here compared to prosperous Konoha were drastically inferior.
Most shops were merely crude rain shelters.
Restaurants and stores were scarce—almost no one invested here.
Many outsiders on the streets looked fierce and menacing. Without patrolling Ame ninja and Hanzo of the Salamander's intimidating reputation, order here would be utterly chaotic.
Passing an alley entrance, Yoru suddenly stopped, his gaze drawn to the scene there.
A crude rain shelter stood at the entrance, but the vendor was a girl several years younger than Yoru.
Blue-purple short straight hair, amber eyes—though much more innocent than the remembered figure, Yoru recognized her immediately.
One of Amegakure's three orphans, future Akatsuki's White Tiger—Konan.
At this moment, Konan sat on a small stool, face cupped in both hands.
Seeming to notice Yoru's gaze, Konan looked over, her eyes showing a glimmer of hopeful light.
Yoru walked over, examining what Konan sold. His lips twitched involuntarily.
Due to sitting, Konan—looking upward—clearly saw Yoru's appearance and froze slightly.
Such beautiful eyes. And so handsome too, plus such pale skin... a foreigner?
Coming to her senses, Konan held up a bouquet and spoke softly to Yoru: "Big brother, want to buy flowers? Only ten ryo."
"Selling paper flowers in heavy rain—what were you thinking?" Yoru finally couldn't resist commenting.
"I see! That's why no one bought my flowers." Konan looked enlightened—an image approaching character collapse in Yoru's eyes.
However, seeing the girl's innocent and pure appearance, she clearly hadn't experienced war's devastation yet, suggesting her parents still lived.
As for selling flowers at this age—entirely normal.
After all, some people dared wander empty snowy streets at age three.
Yoru likewise lived independently from age three. The village hadn't interfered.
"I'll take everything on your stand. Head home early."
Out of goodwill from the original series, Yoru retrieved one hundred ryo, placed it before Konan, yet only took one colored blue-purple paper flower.
Then Yoru vanished into the rain curtain.
When the girl came to her senses, she could no longer find that figure.
But she remembered those ice-blue eyes and that pale, handsome face.
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