Oddly intrigued, Suguru waited until Zetsu was nearby. When he felt Zetsu stop using Mayfly, that was when Suguru flickered a massive distance away with his Sharingan already activated.
He did this repeatedly, masking his chakra with Chakra Field Hacking and his Shinrakugan to create a compounding effect.
"What..?" Zetsu emerged from the ground with a sad expression plastered only on the left side of his face. "Where did he go?"
The result was reminiscent of invisibility. Yet Suguru was still not satisfied.
'I can still make more improvements to the synergy of my techniques,' He thought, before activating his Kaisugan to observe Zetsu's reaction.
Shortly after, Orochimaru and Sasori appeared, similarly baffled when they noticed the expression on White Zetsu's face.
"So..?" Orochimaru smirked, "Where is this ghost you're talking about?"
"He disappeared," Black Zetsu's answer was concise.
"Ho, so there are people who can escape even you?" Sasori mocked.
Nonetheless, the trio was surprised. Even with Black Zetsu's sensory abilities, Suguru had disappeared. It was a testament to his title.
"This Ghost is quite the cowardly type. Did he sense our arrival from afar?"
Zetsu shook his head.
"I did not feel any chakra field engulf the area. It's likely a coincidence that he left so hurriedly."
Orochimaru nodded and took a few steps. When he arrived, he sensed a familiar scent and found Raiga's headless corpse. He recognized the nearby face and noticed the absence of the special swords he wielded.
"Oho, so he killed one of Kirigakure's little swordsmen and took his fangs." Orochimaru licked his lips. Upon scrutinizing the corpse a little further... He also found a note.
[I can sense you all from several kilometers away. Relax on your bloodlust.]
"Hm?" Orochimaru tilted his head upon recognizing the familiar handwriting.
His reaction did not escape Zetsu and Sasori's perception.
"What is it, Orochimaru?" Sasori's gruff voice scratched against the puppet he resided in.
Hearing Sasori's words, Orochimaru laughed. "It seems like I'll be able to meet a student of mine quite soon."
"A student of yours is the Ghost of the Land of Rivers?" Sasori clicked his tongue, "And you had no idea?"
"You're losing your touch, Orochimaru." Zetsu cackled, "Since the Ghost is your student, you can give him the Akatsuki's invite yourself."
Orochimaru shook his head.
"This little guy is called a ghost for a reason. Even I have yet to meet him. I'm pretty sure that I've set up enough temptations in the legacy I left behind. Unfortunately, he's a little cheeky, that one."
A grating laugh escaped Orochimaru's lips, "He hasn't paid his sensei any visits after all these years."
"Che," Sasori rolled his eyes, "Let's go tell the leader what we've learned so far. He'd be disappointed to learn that the Ghost isn't what we thought."
"Umu, I'll go ahead." Zetsu disappeared into the earth using Mayfly, leaving Orochimaru and Sasori to travel on their own.
Orochimaru chuckled upon seeing this. His eyes flashed with intrigue.
'So, you've advanced your research enough to go rogue? I think I have an idea who you might be, my cheeky little student.'
***
Suguru watched the trio disappear into the distance, similarly amused.
'It seems like Orochimaru-sensei is connecting the dots. Sigh, I won't be able to hide that often anymore.'
Smiling, Suguru decided it was time that he disappeared from the Land of Rivers.
He had spent enough time here. He even left behind a fun little note, reminding himself of the one he left for Danzo.
[To thee, whose arm can see... I dare you to try and find me. If you make an attempt and fail in any way, know that Konohagakure's formations will fall apart, no matter how hard you try and keep them alive.]
Now, if only he had seen Danzo's reaction like he did for Orochimaru... His delight would be apparent for days.
'Haha,' Suguru reminisced on those good times.
Then, after a few breaths, he returned to the world of the hungry and starving. He had too many meals in the Land of Rivers. It was time to consume a different set of flavors.
'I need to have a conversation with Shukaku,' Suguru laughed as excitement leaked out of his expression.
As for what remained of his actions? Suguru didn't care about them. The weapons of those four unfortunate souls were nothing more than little pieces of junk.
More importantly... Suguru didn't want to look weird when he combined all four weapons like Seimei did in the original.
'These artisans have an aesthetic sense worth studying...' He thought as he rid himself of several chills.
***
When the Land of Rivers finally enlisted outside help, Suguru was long gone. There would be no ghost for them to discover.
Only lifeless settlements and obliterated bandit camps.
Thus, the title, [Ghost of the Land of Rivers], would further spread.
While Tani and Konoha searched day and night for the so-called Ghost, Suguru arrived within Sunagakure's walls once more. The familiar surveillance of the Real Mirage Formation enveloped him.
To which, Suguru responded with Chakra Field Hacking. He disappeared from the senses of those who tried to find him and created false chakra pathways using his Shinrakugan.
Unbeknownst to those of the Land of Wind, a ghost had infiltrated their ranks.
Suguru snuck into Sunagakure using the guise of a scorpion with a faint chakra pathway. The combination of Chakra Field Hacking and the Shinrakugan inspired a very artistic infiltration. The two abilities were the perfect pair.
When Suguru found a comfortable spot to walk out wearing Suna-nin clothing, he took out a scroll that had barely seen the light of day.
'It's quite poetic that I've brought it back here.' He thought.
In his hand was the compendium that he had requested from the Wind Daimyo. With it, Suguru held a large amount of information concerning the flow of the world's resources.
'It's going to be the perfect way to mask my underground business.'
The smile on Suguru's face was manic. His excitement was almost overflowing.
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