While crossing a small bridge, 'Ace' raised his left eyebrow upon seeing the villagers' expressions when they noticed someone wearing a forehead protector.
As he had imagined, the villagers were already starting to show aversion towards the ninjas. If this continued for much longer, it wouldn't be surprising if they began to hate them.
As he walked through the village, Ace had the map open, trying to find the location of the clandestine organization led by Danzo in an underground area, as well as its laboratories.
Even though Danzo only succeeded in implanting Hashirama's cells after joining forces with Orochimaru, 'Ace' believed that Danzo must have started conducting experiments long before that. Not to mention, it must be there where he managed to transplant the Sharingan into his right eye.
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In Iwagakure, Oonoki wore a grim expression. In front of him stood Jirou, an Elite Jonin of Iwagakure, who had led a group to eliminate the organization known as the Revolutionary Army.
What irritated Oonoki was that not only did they return empty-handed, but they also lost many ninjas in the process.
Even worse, all of this was done by a single individual.
"You're telling me that just one of them, who claims to be the Third Commander of the Revolutionary Army, was able to wipe out your troop?" Oonoki was skeptical about this.
However, deep down, he knew that Jirou had no reason to lie.
"Unfortunately, this is the truth," Jirou said sadly. "I barely managed to escape along with some ninjas; otherwise, we all would have had a coffinless burial. The last attack of this so-called 'Killua, Third Commander of the Revolutionary Army' was devastating. I'd even say his destructive power rivals that of a Bijuu Bomb."
"Rival a Bijuu Bomb?"
"Is that possible?"
"My God, who exactly is this organization and what is their purpose?"
"Why the hell are they getting in our way?"
"Silence!" Oonoki couldn't bear to hear so many murmurs, especially hating to see them appear fearful because of an unknown group, and he began to reflect.
'Damn it. As if it wasn't enough that those Konoha bastards started attacking more boldly, killing many of ours, and now this happens,' Oonoki thought. 'And this little group, they think they can challenge the five great nations—my Hidden Stone Village? Who the hell do they think they are? Just wait...'
His eyes grew cold as he spoke in a controlled but firm tone: "It's alright, I'll find a way to send Han or Roshi without the other villages of the five nations interfering."
"But..."
"Silence!" Oonoki interrupted him before he could say anything, seeing that he was about to contradict him: "If I've spoken up to this point, it means I have a plan."
The room fell silent until they began whispering in agreement.
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At the same time, in Konoha, Danzo received the news that the ninjas he had sent were all wiped out by the Revolutionary Army organization.
Of course, not a single word was said about the ambush by the Hidden Stone Village. They planned it well, leaving no survivors, to make it appear as if it was the work of this new organization.
Before him stood a member of the Root who had come from the Hidden Rain Village to deliver a message and warn about the danger that this organization represented.
"That's not all," the Root ninja said, kneeling on one knee. "The same thing happened with the Hidden Stone Village. Although some of them managed to escape, it was only a few. And..." Even with the monkey mask, his fear was palpable: "It was done by a single person using lightning. In the end, he unleashed an attack that made the entire Hidden Rain Village tremble. It almost seemed like..."
"Don't tell me it seemed like a Bijuu Bomb?" Danzo ridiculed. However, the Root ninja remained silent, neither confirming nor denying it.
"Is this serious?" Danzo murmured to no one in particular. However, he managed to stay calm in front of his subordinate.
"Alright, you may leave. I have a lot to think about." Danzo dismissed him.
"Yes, sir!" The Root ninja vanished in a puff of white smoke; clearly, it was a shadow clone.
"Damn it!!!"
As soon as the Root ninja left, Danzo slammed his fist on the table, creating a crack and nearly splitting it in half.
His eye turned red.
"Just when things were going well, why did this organization have to appear and ruin everything? Why can't they just drop dead?" Danzo grumbled, filled with frustration and hatred.
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In the Hidden Sand Village, a similar conversation was taking place in the meeting room.
Although they hadn't been as unfortunate and hadn't had a direct confrontation with this organization that had appeared in the Hidden Rain Village.
"Lord Kazekage, what do we do about this organization?" one of the elders asked.
With a stoic expression, the Third Kazekage replied, "Of course, we will wait. Let the Leaf Village and the Stone Village deal with them. While they weaken themselves fighting this organization, we will wait and strike when they are vulnerable."
"Ohh, as expected of Kazekage-sama!"
"Yes, this is a good strategy, letting them wear themselves out against this organization while we reap the rewards!"
"But, I must say, for an organization that appeared out of nowhere, they are managing to cause a great stir across the entire world... If only we could bring them to our side..."
No one responded, but it was evident that this was something they also desired. After all, if this organization had such power, it would be advantageous to use them to their benefit.
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The sky darkened.
'Ace,' who was wandering through the Leaf Village, discovered three secret locations while exploring the village.
After renting a room at an inn, he waited until it was very late before taking action.
Although he could act now, it would be ideal for everything to go smoothly, and for that, it was crucial to do it in the early hours.
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The news about what happened in the Hidden Rain Village reached the Hidden Cloud Village and the Hidden Mist Village. Most of the reports mentioned a new organization that had managed to cause significant problems for the Hidden Stone Village and the Hidden Leaf Village.
Upon hearing this news, the Kages of these two villages were pleased. After all, regardless of everything, it was advantageous for them that something like this happened to these two great villages. They even hoped that the Hidden Sand Village would be involved as well and, if possible, that some of the strongest ninjas from these three villages would be eliminated by this organization...
||- Note -||
Chapter 82 is already released on Pa treon!
patre on.com/Tozoku