"So, Zhi Li-nee san agreed?" Nian asked in a low voice.
On the way to the training grounds, Uchiha Kirito drooped his head, inevitably feeling a little dejected.
"Ever since that Naka guy came to find her, she's been preoccupied. It's precisely because I can't figure out what she's thinking that I'm troubled."
Nian stroked his chin. "Mangekyo Sharingan, that's the Uchiha's strongest power. Logically, he should be able to defeat all opponents by himself, there's no reason for him to seek cooperation from Zhi Li-nee san."
Hearing that Naka possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan, he wasn't as shocked as one might expect, because he had already seen eyes even more powerful and beautiful than that.
"That guy's clever, he has a long-term vision." Kirito explained, "Even if he defeats all opponents, his approval rating will still be insufficient. That kind of thing needs time to cultivate, and right now the one with the highest reputation in the clan is undoubtedly nee san. It just so happens that nee san has no intention of vying for the position of Clan Head, which is why he saw an opportunity."
"So, he has the strength, and Zhi Li-nee san has the background. As long as he gets her support, Naka can secure the position of Clan Head." Nian finally understood.
The two walked and talked, inadvertently passing by the bathhouse, and suddenly stopped at the same time, taking two steps back in unison, looking towards the depths of the alley.
That was where the women's Open-Air Hot Spring was located. At a corner outside the high wall, a white-haired boy was sticking his butt up, peeking with great interest.
The two exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads helplessly, and then walked straight over.
"Hey, Jiraiya, have you seen Orochimaru?" Kirito asked casually, with his hands in his pockets, his voice a little deliberately loud.
Jiraiya, like a cat jumping after being startled, turned his head in a panic. Only after realizing they were acquaintances did he put his index finger to his lips, signaling them to speak elsewhere.
After walking out of the alley, Jiraiya looked left and right like a thief, and only after confirming that no one had noticed did he breathe a sigh of relief, feeling guilty.
"You two, you really scared me to death!"
Kirito frowned, "Do you know that doing this is really perverted?"
Jiraiya curled his lips, "If you don't get caught, how can you call it perverted?"
"But we've already caught you, more than once." Nian said expressionlessly.
"Ah, damn it." Jiraiya scratched his hair, his face flushed, and muttered in a low voice, "Looks like I need to train the 'Invisibility Release' in the future..."
"You guy... sigh, forget it, let's talk about serious matters first." Kirito shook his head, feeling troubled, "Have you seen Orochimaru?"
"No, if he was here, Tsunade would definitely be here too, so how would I have time to gather material?" Jiraiya looked puzzled, "What's wrong, do you need him for something?"
"Yes, but definitely not for peeping."
"Ah, you bastard Kirito, I was gathering material, gathering material!"
"Then do you know where he is?" Nian's heart stirred, and he asked softly.
"That guy... should be training, it's very boring." Jiraiya waved his hand dismissively.
Kirito patted him on the shoulder, "Actually, your talent is also good. If you had half his effort, Tsunade would definitely look at you in a different light."
Jiraiya was very unconvinced, and slapped Kirito's hand away, "This great master's Earth Release is also very powerful, okay? I've even mastered A-rank Ninjutsu, you should all know that."
"Ah, yes, yes, yes."
"Eh? Why do you look so perfunctory? A while ago, that Hiruko guy was pestering me to learn Earth Release! You know Hiruko, right?" Jiraiya tried hard to recall that person's good points, "It's that... that... forget it, that guy's too ordinary..."
Nian was slightly startled, and subconsciously exchanged a glance with Kirito. For them, this name was not unfamiliar.
This was the only person besides the three of them who had seen that senior, and was also the one who was favored by the senior for some kind of "aptitude" and given a Trial.
"Why is he asking you to teach him Earth Release?" Nian asked tentatively.
"Does that even need to be said?" Jiraiya turned his head away, arms crossed, "Of course, it's because he sees my great self's strength! Isn't this a kind of recognition! Even Orochimaru was shocked!"
Nian thought for a moment and changed the question, "How is his learning progress?"
"Of course, it's fast. With my great self taking action, I naturally guarantee teaching and learning! Although it's just a C-rank Earth Tremor Technique..."
Speaking of this, Jiraiya proudly smoothed his hair, "Don't you guys say, after teaching him, I found that I have the potential to be a teacher..."
Nian lowered his eyes in thought. Hiruko's unusual behavior naturally foreshadowed something extraordinary.
In his mind, the words of that man involuntarily flashed:
Assist either Orochimaru or Hiruko. As long as they successfully find the treasure, I will consider you to have completed the mission. As a reward, I will tell you everything about your father.
...
Deep in the Hidden Leaf Forest, under a dark thicket of trees.
"Earth Release: Earth Motion Wave!"
Hiruko performed the hand seals stiffly, but fortunately, the movements were standard and precise. He mustered his Chakra and pressed both hands on the ground at the same time.
"Buzz—"
Under the effect of a strange power, the surface of the ground began to ripple slightly, undulating like the surface of water, with soil and rocks shifting horizontally and flowers and plants swaying gently.
It lasted for less than three seconds before he sat down on the ground, exhausted, gasping for air.
The sweat hanging on his forehead, sticking to the hair at his temples, and his slumped posture all indicated his fatigue.
"Three hundred meters..."
He muttered to himself, "From that pit that day, eastward for three hundred meters, the underground is hollow... Just how big is this basement?"
Ever since he accidentally discovered that iron house, he had tried to destroy the metal skin and enter the secret room from above, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't break through it at all.
He didn't know what material the metal was made of. He broke more than a dozen Kunai in a row, but couldn't leave a single mark.
Helpless, he could only bury the pit and secretly remember the location, and began to search for the entrance.
Unfortunately, he didn't know any sensory Ninjutsu, nor did he have any special large-scale detection Ninjutsu, but the clumsy always have clumsy methods.
He had to put down all his dignity and ask Jiraiya to teach him Earth Release Ninjutsu. Fortunately, that guy was easy to talk to. He didn't need to pay too much of a price. A few nice words and a few thank-you meals, and he learned the Earth Tremor Technique from him.
This Ninjutsu can change the hardness of the ground, causing large-scale soil fluctuations, which in turn makes it impossible for the enemy to stand firm and lose their balance. Those with high skills can control the fluctuation frequency, making the ground as boiling water. It is a good auxiliary Ninjutsu.
But Hiruko discovered another wonderful use for it, which is to test whether there are cavities underground, sacrificing the horizontal range to make the vertical depth sufficient to reach the roof of the secret room.
In this way, he could gradually peek at the whole picture of the secret room, like a blind man touching an elephant, slowly finding the location of the entrance.
After resting for a while, he took a deep breath and began to investigate again.
"Earth Release: Earth Motion Wave!"
However, what he didn't know was that in the bushes of a certain big tree, a slender figure was sitting quietly on the tree trunk, black hair hanging down silently, looking at him without any emotion.
A pair of golden vertical pupils emitted a cold light in the darkness.
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