120: Chapter 120 The Aota FamilyIn the special care ward of Konoha Village, the Fourth Raikage, Ai, walked back and forth in the limited space of the ward, his bronze upper body wrapped in thick bandages.
His injuries had only just begun to heal, yet he was already frantic with worry.
"Too slow!" An impatient voice squeezed out from his throat."I'm lying here listening to you guys talk nonsense, while Killer Bee is still suffering at the hands of those bastards!"
By the window, Jiraiya stood with his arms crossed, his brow furrowed.They were the only two people in the ward.
"Too slow?"
"If it weren't for the medical staff taking turns to care for you and using all sorts of special drugs on you, it's hard to say whether you could even stand up now.If you want to go to the Akatsuki organization to die, the door is open."
Ai was speechless, opening her mouth but not knowing what to say.
His mind was filled with images of the destruction of Kumogakure and how Killer Bee was suffering, and his heart felt heavy.
"Raikage," Jiraiya's tone softened, "I know you're anxious, but it's precisely because our opponent is a terrifying villain like the Akatsuki that we can't afford to make do."
"Who will be the leader, how to deploy troops, how to distribute food and weapons, how to share intelligence.all these things need to be made clear, so that our ninjas don't go to their deaths in vain."
"Then let's finalize it quickly!"
"I recommend you, Jiraiya!Or let that kid from the Land of Waves come!Whoever can lead us into the Land of Rain, I'll be the first to lead the charge!"
His undisguised eagerness, like a wildfire, ironically gave Jiraiya an opportunity to push the alliance into shape.
At that moment, a member of the secret service suddenly appeared and handed over a scroll.
"Lord Jiraiya, the latest news from Kumogakure."
Ai immediately turned her head and stared.
Jiraiya opened the scroll and showed it to him directly.
"With the material support from the Land of Waves Merchant Guild and the help of our Konoha construction team, the temporary housing and fortifications in Kumogakure have been built.The surviving villagers are gradually stabilizing, and Darui and Mabui are leading them to clear the ruins.Reconstruction is on track."
The scroll also contained several photos of a makeshift house that Yamato had conjured using his Wood Release technique, as well as piles of supply boxes bearing the logo of the Apocalypse Merchant Guild.Although simple, they at least provided a place for the homeless to stay.
Ai's expression relaxed slightly, and he snorted, "I'll remember this favor and repay it when I have the chance."
Although he has a fiery temper, he is not an ungrateful person.
The help from Konoha and the Merchant Guild was indeed extremely important to Kumogakure.
But he quickly widened his eyes again: "The house can be built slowly, but the blood debt must be repaid in blood!I need to see the other figures now!We need to settle the matter of the Allied Forces immediately!"
Jiraiya rubbed his temples as he watched the Raikage keep yelling.
---
Meanwhile, in Kirigakure Village.
In the underground chamber at the very bottom of the Water Shadow Building, several green lights flickered, and shadowy figures moved about.
The air smelled strongly of medicine mixed with the stench of blood; it was awful.
Orochimaru stood in front of a large glass jar, staring intently at a pale body submerged inside, covered in the vibrant energy unique to the First Hokage's cells.
"Not enough.it's far from enough."
He licked his lips with his long tongue, "The power of the Uchiha.the secret of the Sharingan.With just this, how can we deal with those god-like eyes, how.can we defeat him!"
The image of that threatening crow, and the overwhelming intimidation of the Mangekyou Sharingan, resurfaced in his mind.
The first defeat was an accident, but the second time, being intimidated into inaction by a single glance was a humiliation that Orochimaru could never erase!He couldn't swallow this insult!
"Itachi.and that unassuming Naruto Uzumaki."
He muttered to himself, his eyes growing increasingly crazed, "I must obtain.the strongest power!The Bloodline Limit!"
Sasuke, holding the Kusanagi sword, leaned against the laboratory door and stared coldly at Orochimaru, saying, "I need the power to crush the Konoha Elders and make the entire ninja world bow down, not to watch you play with this rotten flesh."
He has obtained the part of the truth he wanted from the hidden files of the Hidden Mist.
He believes that it was those old guys hiding in the shadows who caused the tragedy of the Uchiha clan and twisted his and Itachi's lives.
Only through complete military conquest and the establishment of an absolute order by him can all this be ended.
"Hehehe.Sasuke-kun, don't be in such a hurry."
Orochimaru smiled sinisterly, "I already have an idea: to create a perfect body that combines the Senju, Uchiha, and various bloodlines."
He paused, then quickly added.
"Of course, we can first collect some interest from Konoha.Those elders who made the decision to sacrifice the Uchiha clan back then are still enjoying themselves in Konoha.The power of Kirigakure can now be used by us."
This was a compromise with Sasuke; he was also afraid that this hothead might do something unexpected again.
Sasuke was radiating a killing intent, which was exactly what he wanted.
His goal was very clear: first, to eliminate all the remaining members of Konoha who had harmed the Uchiha clan, and then to use absolute power to trample the rules of the entire ninja world underfoot.
Let everyone taste what it's like to have justice and peace imposed upon them.
What he wanted was not to become someone's recognized "Hokage," but to make the entire ninja world submit to his will.
Beneath the surface of the Hidden Mist Village's calm, in a secret room in the backyard of an ordinary izakaya, the merchant guild's intelligence agent, 'Shokuto,' was meeting with Hidden Mist Village Elder Aota Inu.
Aota Inu was considered an old man in Genshi's faction.After Genshi was killed and Terumi Mei "defected," he was temporarily safe because he hadn't taken sides.
At this moment, he was breathing rapidly, his eyes were red, and he was staring at the several open boxes in front of him—gold bars were gleaming, there were thick stacks of banknotes, and there was also precious chakra metal.
"This is a small token of the president's appreciation."
The Salamander lowered its voice, "The guild leader believes that Kirigakure needs a leader who can guide it onto the right path, not."Snake Nine, that guy with dubious origins.
"Elder Qingtian, you are an elder of the village.Master Yuan died under mysterious circumstances.Can you just stand by and watch the village be controlled by conspirators?"
Aota Inu looked conflicted.The money the Chamber of Commerce had given him was more than he had expected, enough for him to expand his influence, win people's hearts, and even secretly build his own team.
More importantly, the Chamber of Commerce wants to investigate the truth behind the murder of Yuan Shi and the Wuyin Riot.
"My master's kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain."
It didn't take long for the Qingtian dog to mentally prepare itself; the hesitation in its eyes vanished instantly.
"I absolutely cannot let him die with resentment!Please convey to Chairman Naruto that the Aota clan is willing to stand with the Chamber of Commerce!"
With a large influx of resources, the Qingtian family's power expanded rapidly.
The Chamber of Commerce arranged for skilled individuals to disguise themselves as samurai and retainers, gradually infiltrating various corners of the Hidden Mist Village.
They secretly investigated the scene of Yuan Shi's murder, contacted potential witnesses to various incidents, and gathered clues that might be found.An invisible network targeting Orochimaru and Sasuke was slowly unfolding downstream of Kirigakure.
---
On an open terrace of the Chamber of Commerce.
Naruto flipped through the scroll that Mei Terumi had just sent.
Behind him, Samui stood guard, still wearing his gleaming armor, sweat beading on his forehead.
"A new batch of people has been assigned to the Qingtian family."
Terumi Mei said happily.
"With so many people secretly searching now, they should be able to find some crucial clues soon."
Naruto nodded and gave another word of advice.
"Tell Lark that safety comes first, and we shouldn't alert them."
"Okay."
Mei Terumi smiled sweetly, "From Konoha, Jiraiya-sama wrote that the Raikage is about to demolish the hospital rooms and is urging us to quickly form an allied army."
"Gaara is giving his full support, so it seems that the alliance is about to be finalized."
"It's only a matter of time."
"The reconstruction of Cloud Village is going well, you can rest assured."
Naruto said to Samui.
"Thank you, Chairman," Sam said, bowing his head.
"Remember what you promised.Once Killer Bee is rescued, everything you have and everything you can use will be mine."
Samui keeps his word!
She tried to straighten her back, her armor clanging.
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