356-360

Chapter 356: The Five Kage Summit Called Out of Fear  

"Tch. Surrendering so soon? How disappointing. I thought you’d last a little longer."  

Chiyo’s bored expression made Genji want to vomit blood.  

What more do you want?! If I hadn’t given up, I’d be dead!  

"Edo Tensei… RELEASE!"  

With Genji’s forced cancellation of the reanimation jutsu, the war in Sunagakure came to an end.  

All major conflicts across the shinobi world had finally settled.  

"Lock this one up tight."  

Chiyo handed Genji over to the ANBU who had just arrived, her tone stern.  

"Yes, ma’am!"  

As the ANBU dragged Genji away, Chiyo and Gaara began issuing orders for the cleanup.  

Meanwhile, not far from the village, two figures lurked in the shadows, observing everything.  

"Just as you predicted, Orochimaru-sama. Kaijirō and his men failed completely."  

Kabuto adjusted his glasses, a hint of admiration in his voice.  

"An inevitable outcome. Still, were our agents successfully placed? I’m eager to begin experiments with those corpses."  

Orochimaru licked his lips, eyes gleaming with anticipation.  

"Rest assured, everything is in place. We only need to wait for the right moment."  

Kabuto’s confidence was unwavering.  

"Kukuku… Excellent. Then let us await their good news."  

With that, Orochimaru turned and vanished into the darkness.  

The grand spectacle he had orchestrated—executed through Kaijirō’s hands—had reached its conclusion.  

Konohagakure 

"WHAT?! Yoru swallowed up all the minor nations around the Land of Water?!"  

By the time Tsunade received the news, two days had already passed.  

Her face paled.  

The Land of Water alone had been enough to keep the other four great nations on edge. But now, with Yoru expanding its territory so drastically, its power had skyrocketed.  

What’s next? The conquest of the four great nations?!  

The thought sent a chill down her spine.  

Who could guarantee Yoru wouldn’t turn his ambitions toward them? After all, he’d once claimed he had no interest in absorbing the surrounding minor nations—yet here they were, swallowed up in one swift strike.  

"This man… Does he intend to unify the entire shinobi world?"  

The idea was absurd—yet terrifyingly plausible.  

And if anyone could do it, it was Yoru.  

"The other Kage must be losing sleep over this too."  

The Land of Water’s expansion posed the greatest immediate threat to the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning. With its new borders, it could now launch invasions by sea to the west (toward Fire) or strike north toward Lightning at any moment.  

And given Yoru’s overwhelming power—a power Tsunade had personally witnessed—the thought was nothing short of horrifying.  

That feeling of helplessness… It was paralyzing.  

"We have no choice. We must convene the Five Kage Summit. We need to confront Yoru directly and demand answers. And if necessary… the four villages must unite against the Land of Water."  

After consulting with Jiraiya and the Third Hokage, Tsunade immediately dispatched envoys to the other four great villages, summoning their leaders to Konoha for an emergency meeting.  

Iwagakure  

"Yoru, you bastard…"  

Ōnoki wiped the cold sweat from his brow as the news reached him.  

With the Land of Water’s newfound strength, conquering the Land of Earth wouldn’t even be difficult.  

The mere thought made his blood run cold.  

And if his sources were correct, Yoru now held the power of the Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and Seven-Tails—on top of the Two-Tails, Three-Tails, and Six-Tails already under Kirigakure’s control.  

Six tailed beasts in one village.  

The sheer destructive potential was incalculable.  

Ōnoki knew one thing for certain: It was enough to flatten the Land of Earth without breaking a sweat.  

So when Tsunade’s invitation arrived, he didn’t hesitate.  

"We must ally with Konoha, Suna, and Kumo. Only together can we stand against this monster Kirigakure has become."  

Gaara and the Fourth Raikage, A, reacted similarly—cold sweat, grim faces, and immediate acceptance of Tsunade’s summons.  

The threat was too great to ignore.  

Kirigakure  

"You’ve really scared them, Yō-kun. Look—the Hokage has called for a Five Kage Summit."  

Mei Terumī sighed, tapping the invitation on her desk.  

"Fear was inevitable. After all, even I don’t know if I’ll one day turn my sights on nations like the Land of Fire."  

Yoru’s voice was eerily calm, as if discussing the weather.  

"But this is fine. If they’re terrified enough to unite, they’ll be less likely to fight among themselves. And peace… is a good thing."  

Mei frowned.  

"I understand less and less about you these days. If you want peace, why not just negotiate openly? Why resort to intimidation?"  

"Perhaps because I haven’t found a way to make them cooperate willingly yet."  

Yoru smiled faintly, though his thoughts were darker.  

(Unless I start a new shinobi war—force them to unite against me, forge bonds through shared fear…)  

But no.  

That wasn’t necessary.  

"Enough daydreaming. Come, let’s go to Konoha."  

Mei stood, adjusting her Mizukage hat before heading out.  

"Safe travels, Mizukage-sama!" an advisor called after her.  

"Of course we’ll be safe. With Yoru as my guard, who would dare cause trouble?"  

She didn’t even glance back as they departed.  

The Shinobi World’s Reaction  

"Another Five Kage Summit? Please, let them find a peaceful solution. No more war…"  

"We beg you—give us peace!"  

"Damn that Yoru! Why can’t he just stay in the Land of Water? Wasn’t it enough to terrorize us before? Now he’s swallowed a dozen nations?!"  

Chapter 357: You're Making This Difficult  

Every Five Kage Summit sent ripples across the shinobi world.  

After all, it was the meeting that decided whether the era would be one of peace… or war.  

If the discussions went smoothly, the world would remain stable.  

If not? Blood would spill.  

And so, the people prayed—please, let there be no conflict.  

While the Kage debated, the Five Daimyō would also convene, shaping the political landscape behind the scenes.  

Elsewhere in the Shadows  

"Peace? Heh. How convenient. More time for my experiments."  

Orochimaru’s voice slithered through the dim halls of a Land of Rice hideout.  

"Yoru…"  

In the Land of Demons, a disheveled man with sunken eyes clenched his fists. "This era… isn’t ready for me yet."  

He exhaled, resigned. "Fine. I’ll keep refining my immortality jutsu. I can wait—until that man is dead."  

His name? Hakushi.  

"To think a single man could make an entire era feel suffocating…"  

Perched atop a storm-lashed peak, a youthful figure with piercing eyes glared at the horizon. Behind him loomed a castle shrouded in mystery.  

"I’ll return to slumber. Maybe next time I wake, you’ll be gone."  

A bitter laugh. "Trying to rise in your shadow? Impossible."  

His name? Hiruko.  

Across the hidden corners of the world, whispers echoed:  

"This age of ‘peace’… it’s all because of him. "  

Yoru.  

His mere existence was a deterrent. No one dared stir chaos—not when the consequences meant facing his blade.  

"Let’s hope no fool is reckless enough to test him."  

Because if they did? The entire world would pay.  

Konoha: Summit Grounds  

"Yo, Hokage-sama! Long time no see~"  

Yoru’s grin was met with Tsunade’s scowl.  

"If I never saw you again, it’d be too soon." Her voice dripped venom. "Every time you show up, disaster follows."  

"Tch. Harsh."  

"Yoru."  

Ōnoki landed beside them, eyes sharp. "If I find out you had any involvement in the recent attacks—"  

"—Your village would already be dust." Yoru leaned against the window, arms crossed. "Relax, old man. I’ve got better things to do."  

Ōnoki’s jaw tightened, but he swallowed his retort. Arguing was pointless.  

Soon, the Raikage and Kazekage arrived.  

"Enough chatter. Let’s begin."  

Hiruzen, acting as mediator, opened the summit.  

Ōnoki struck first. "Yoru. Explain why Kirigakure’s swallowing nations whole. Planning to conquer the world next?"  

"Who, me?" Yoru blinked innocently. "I’m just a bodyguard. Ask Mizukage-sama~"  

Mei’s eye twitched. The audacity.  

As if anyone in Kirigakure could oppose him.  

But she played along. "Kirigakure values peace. Our ‘expansion’? Self-defense. Those nations attacked us first."  

She smiled sweetly. "Rest assured, we’ll never start a war."  

Ōnoki scoffed. "You expect us to believe that?"  

"Then let’s make a pact." Tsunade cut in. **"Any village that breaks the peace? The other four crush them. Together."**  

Her gaze locked onto Mei. "Do you agree?"  

"Absolutely."  

Mei’s instant approval made Tsunade’s instincts flare. Too easy.  

"You’re… suspiciously compliant."  

Mei sighed. "Hokage-sama, you’re really making this difficult."  

She flicked her hair. "If I refuse, you’re wary. If I agree, you’re paranoid. What do you want?"  

Tsunade faltered.  

"Well?" Mei turned to the others. "Raikage? Kazekage? Tsuchikage?"  

Silence.  

Their minds raced. Was this a trap?  

But Mei just waited, chin resting on her hands—utterly unshaken.  

Meanwhile, Yoru lazily scanned the Kage’s guards.  

Future Kage, all in one room.  

Darui (Kumo). 

Kurotsuchi (Iwa). 

Unknown (Suna). 

Kakashi (Konoha).  

…And himself—the man who refused to be Mizukage.  

The next generation was already here.  

Chapter 358: Orochimaru's Sage Mode  

Time moves slowly when you’re lost in thought.  

Darui and the other bodyguards felt it keenly—every second stretched like an eternity.  

As the Kage remained deep in contemplation, the air grew thick with tension. The guards held their breaths, watching silently.  

Tsunade’s gaze flickered between Yoru and Mei Terumī, searching for any hint of their intentions. But their expressions were unreadable—calm, composed, betraying nothing.  

Finally, after what felt like ages, Tsunade broke the silence.  

"Then let’s draft the treaty. Any objections?"  

One by one, the Kage responded.  

Mei Terumī: "None." 

Ōnoki: "As long as the Mizukage isn’t scheming, I’m fine with it." 

Gaara: "No objections." 

A (Fourth Raikage): "You’d better not be playing games, Mizukage."  

And so, the "Shinobi World Peace Accord" was born.  

Over the next two days, the Kage discussed trade, cooperation, and mutual defense pacts. The hostility from earlier had vanished—replaced by a facade of camaraderie.  

To an outsider, they might’ve looked like old friends.  

But it was just that—a facade.  

News of the peace treaty spread like wildfire.  

Across the nations, people rejoiced.  

"Long live the Five Kage!" 

"Peace at last!"  

For the citizens of smaller nations—those who had suffered most in past wars—this was a dream come true. No more battlefields. No more collateral damage.  

They prayed this peace would last forever.  

"Kukuku… So they’ve all chosen peace?"  

In the Land of Rice, Orochimaru licked his lips, amused.  

The treaty forbade the great villages from instigating war—but it also banned any faction from disrupting the peace. Violators would face the combined might of all five nations.  

"Not even I could withstand that."  

Not alone, at least.  

But forming alliances in this new era? Difficult. Yoru’s surveillance network was too thorough.  

For now, the world would remain quiet.  

The Year 68 of Konoha  

Time flowed like a river, carrying the world into a new era.  

• Ōnoki, after decades as Tsuchikage, finally passed the title to Kurotsuchi—the Fourth Tsuchikage.  

• A groomed Darui as his successor in Kumogakure.  

• Gaara married, and in Konoha, Naruto Uzumaki wed Hinata Hyūga. 

Joy spread across the nations.  

The scars of war had faded.  

But not everyone was content.  

"So this is where you’ve been hiding, Orochimaru. I see you’ve mastered that technique… Impressive."  

Yoru’s voice cut through the shadows of a Rice Country hideout.  

Orochimaru turned, golden eyes gleaming.  

"Even with all my precautions, you found me. How… delightful."  

"Precautions?" Yoru smirked. "Your experiments haven’t been subtle. Rumors reach even the Land of Water."  

"Then why are you here?" Orochimaru’s tongue flicked out. "To arrest me?"  

His tone was casual—almost bored.  

Because for the first time in years…  

He wasn’t afraid.  

Yoru vanished—only to reappear in front of Orochimaru, his blade flashing.  

But Orochimaru was ready.  

His arm twisted, transforming into a gigantic white serpent, its scales unnaturally tough. The blade clanged harmlessly against it.  

Black, jagged markings spread across Orochimaru’s skin—Sage Mode.  

"Interesting." Yoru dodged the serpent’s fangs, eyes narrowing.  

Orochimaru didn’t give him time to think.  

"Senpō: Muki Tensei!"  

The earth itself came alive, surging upward in a tidal wave of stone serpents. They lunged, fangs bared, threatening to swallow Yoru whole.  

Chapter 359: Capturing Orochimaru 

"Go on, Yoru, really feel this new power I've acquired! I'm not the same as I used to be!" Orochimaru declared, a hint of triumph on his face as he watched Yoru, momentarily unable to escape the snakes that surrounded him. 

"Now, even you won't find it so easy to get the better of me!" 

Seeing Yoru struggle slightly, Orochimaru was quite pleased with the power of his Sage Mode. 

"Heh, is that so?" 

Just then, Yoru's voice came from behind Orochimaru. Hearing it, Orochimaru's hair stood on end, and his snake-like pupils contracted sharply. Without a second thought, his body instantly liquefied, shifting like mud as he dodged to the side. Yet, his right hand still swept forward, and a dozen white snakes darted out from his sleeve, moving with incredible speed. 

Even Yoru found them astonishingly fast, like flashes of light, reaching him in the blink of an eye. And most importantly! Yoru saw the distinct chakra of a Curse Mark emanating from the white snakes' fangs. Clearly, a bite would undoubtedly leave him under Orochimaru's influence. 

He swung his blade to parry, but the hardness of these white snakes was truly extraordinary. Despite the piercing sharpness of his sword, Hakuzan, they emitted a metallic 'clink-clink-clink' sound, and he couldn't completely sever them. 

"Hiss~" 

Orochimaru was, as expected, adept at seizing opportunity. While Yoru was preoccupied with the white snakes, he closed in from behind, extending his neck to lunge and bite. Naturally, Yoru dared not be bitten. After all, anyone bitten by Orochimaru rarely came out of it well. Who knew what strange things Orochimaru might inject! 

"Whoosh!" 

He quickly retreated, but Orochimaru suddenly grinned at him, raising his right hand sharply. Instantly, an earth snake burst from the ground beneath Yoru's feet, its maw agape, ready to swallow him whole. 

"Yoru, is that all you've got?" Orochimaru pressed again, his face showing a hint of mockery and a touch of triumph. 

"Interesting!" Yoru had to admit, there weren't many who could put him in such a predicament in such a short amount of time! Orochimaru's Sage Mode was indeed impressive! It amplified his Ninjutsu and enhanced his various attributes. 

But— 

It was only impressive! 

"Whoosh!" 

Yoru vanished instantly from in front of Orochimaru, using the Body Flicker Technique (Shunshin no Jutsu) out of thin air. 

"So fast!" Orochimaru was greatly astonished; he couldn't even react before Yoru disappeared. He had a very bad feeling about this! He activated his Sage Sensing, trying to pinpoint Yoru's location to avoid a sneak attack. 

"He's here!" 

Within his Sage Sensing, Orochimaru detected Yoru's presence. But before he could even turn to counter, Yoru suddenly appeared not far behind him, and a chilling, fatal whisper echoed: 

"Assassinate him, Hakuzan!" 

A cold blade, like a flash of light, locked onto Orochimaru, utterly impossible to dodge. It effortlessly and precisely pierced through his body. Dark blue lightning crackled around the blade. This lightning filled Orochimaru with a sense of powerlessness, an inability to resist. Even with his Sage body, he was quickly paralyzed. He quickly struggled to break free, knowing that if Yoru closed in again, he wouldn't be able to react at all. 

But Yoru didn't press his advantage further. 

"Come on, Orochimaru! Show me whatever powerful techniques you have left. I'll take them all on!" He adopted an expression like someone toying with an interesting prey, which made Orochimaru's face twitch involuntarily. "Your Sage Mode chakra feels incredibly strong; it shouldn't be limited to just this much!" 

He, the mighty Orochimaru, being 'trained' like a pet by Yoru? That's truly a bit irritating! 

"Hehehe~" Orochimaru licked his lips, a ruthless glint in his eyes. "Then you'd better pay close attention!" 

"Sage Art: Inorganic Reanimation!" Orochimaru slammed his hand onto the ground, which instantly heaved, and then, a massive snake head erupted from the earth. Then two more! Three! Four! ...A total of eight heads, each like a small mountain, obscured the sky, casting down a heavy, oppressive aura. Their bodies were as massive as city walls, reflecting an eerie glow. Clearly, their hardness was unusually high! 

"The Eight Branches Orochi!" Orochimaru himself appeared atop one of the great snake's heads, gazing down at Yoru. "If you think you can handle it, then come and try!" 

"Whoosh!" 

The moment he finished speaking, all eight heads of the great snake crashed down through the air. The ground itself cracked from the intensely compressed air, and an astonishing oppressive aura descended upon the surroundings, instilling fear. 

"Now that's more like it!" 

"This probably rivals even a regular Susanoo; it would take a Perfect Susanoo to even stand a chance, wouldn't it? And from the looks of it, even if I chop off the snake's heads, as long as Orochimaru is unharmed, they'll just grow back! In that case..." A sharp glint flashed in Yoru's eyes, and an overwhelming aura of sharpness erupted from his body. "Then let's end this with a single strike!" 

"Whoosh!" 

He moved like lightning, flickering past the great snake and appearing behind Orochimaru, sheathing his blade as he stood. "Flash Annihilation!" he stated calmly. 

Then... 

"Boom!" 

A colossal wave of piercing force erupted, transforming into a terrifying gale, utterly sharp and mercilessly destroying everything in its path. 

"Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!" 

The Eight Branches Orochi was bisected at its waist, the air violently trembled again, and the surrounding scenery blurred. Mountain-sized boulders plummeted from the sky, creating a truly magnificent spectacle. 

"Splurt!" 

A long gash suddenly tore open across Orochimaru's chest, blood spurting outwards. He stared with wide, disbelieving eyes! He could only feel the strength rapidly draining from his body. His attempt to reassemble the Eight Branches Orochi was declared a failure! 

"Rumble!" 

Above, the sky rumbled with thunder from all directions. Orochimaru looked up, and his pupils immediately constricted. The sky... had been torn open! Rolling leaden clouds churned restlessly, colliding and sparking terrifying flashes of lightning! 

"Whoosh!" 

Orochimaru's vision blurred again, and Yoru's face rapidly grew larger in his sight. 

"Sealing Jutsu: Binding Karmic Curse Technique!" Yoru extended his hand, grabbing Orochimaru by the neck, and imprinted a Sealing Jutsu upon him! 

"Thud!" 

Orochimaru hit the ground hard, spitting out another mouthful of blood. Beside him, Yoru landed as gracefully as a banished immortal. 

"Your Sage Mode was indeed impressive, but it seems I'm still a bit stronger!" Yoru looked down at Orochimaru. "Well then, it would be rude not to take possession of such a dangerous viper as yourself!" 

Orochimaru. He was probably the only one Yoru believed had the ability to disrupt peace in the current Shinobi world. This Orochimaru's experiences were different from those in the original series, and thus, his mindset was also different. 

Chapter 360: You Should Indeed Feel Honored 

Right now, his desire to shift the currents of the Shinobi world, or to whip up a storm that turns the world's great windmill, is incredibly strong. He's not the Orochimaru from the original story who, after having a change of heart, dedicated himself to scientific research! His very existence is a breeding ground for chaos. Keeping him around is simply too dangerous! Even for Yoru, it took nearly two years to finally track down this cunning individual. And now, naturally, he wouldn't let Orochimaru slip away again! 

"It seems I still underestimated your power!" Orochimaru looked at Yoru, a resigned expression on his face. "What do you plan to do with me? Will you kill me? Or will you imprison me?" 

"Well, what do you think I'll do?" Yoru watched Orochimaru with an amused look. He had indeed considered eliminating Orochimaru, but that thought was fleeting. He believed that a living Orochimaru was far more valuable than a dead one. Plus, it wouldn't be that easy to get rid of the Sannin anyway. 

"I think you'll imprison me, not kill me. I'm more valuable alive than dead!" Orochimaru said with great confidence. 

"Heh heh, well, congratulations, you guessed right!" Yoru grabbed Orochimaru. "I really can't bear to get rid of such an outstanding scientist like you, at least not yet!" 

Orochimaru: "So, it looks like I narrowly escaped death!" 

As for the Hidden Sound shinobi guarding the area, who dared not rush forward, Yoru completely disregarded them, simply walking away while carrying Orochimaru. 

"Stop right there!" "Let go of Lord Orochimaru!" "Don't even think about just leaving like that!" 

Seeing this, the surrounding Hidden Sound shinobi quickly shouted out, and under the leadership of Yakushi Kabuto, they surrounded Yoru. 

"Oh, you think you can stop me?" Yoru glanced sideways at them, a playful smile playing on his lips. "I'll give you three counts to back off. Don't make me get my hands dirty; I really can't be bothered with you all!" Yoru didn't take these Hidden Sound shinobi seriously at all, as they were simply no match for him. If he wanted to, they wouldn't last a minute against him. 

"Never!" "Release Lord Orochimaru at once!" "You let go of Lord Orochimaru, and we'll leave immediately!" the Hidden Sound shinobi shouted sternly. 

"Stand down, Kabuto!" Orochimaru spoke then, his voice incredibly calm. At his words, all the Hidden Sound shinobi were astonished. 

"Lord Orochimaru, you…" They stared at Orochimaru in disbelief. Could such words actually come from Lord Orochimaru's mouth? Wasn't he afraid of being taken back by Yoru and suffering some unknown fate? 

"Don't worry, I'll be fine!" Orochimaru was utterly calm and confident. "The Hidden Sound Village ceases to exist from today. You all should disperse; your future lives are now up to yourselves!" 

At these words, everyone, including Yakushi Kabuto, turned pale with shock. "Lord Orochimaru, how can you say that? How can the Hidden Sound Village just disband like this? That's our…" Yakushi Kabuto vehemently rejected Orochimaru's statement, but before he could finish, Orochimaru stopped him. 

"That's enough. My mind is made up!" Orochimaru glanced at Yakushi Kabuto and the others. "Otherwise, do you really think Yoru would let you all go?" Hearing this, the Hidden Sound shinobi were struck with a sudden realization, and many of their faces showed a hint of retreat. Yakushi Kabuto also showed a thoughtful expression, then his gaze suddenly hardened. "Let's go!" 

"Orochimaru, you'd better make sure your subordinates don't cause any trouble, otherwise, I won't be as lenient with them as I am with you!" Yoru didn't think much of Yakushi Kabuto and his group. Besides, leaving them in the Shinobi world still had some use; they could slightly liven up the atmosphere. 

"Heh heh, I can't promise that!" Orochimaru chuckled, and was then taken away by Yoru. 

After Yoru left, Yakushi Kabuto and the others reappeared. 

"Are we really just going to let White Cold Light take Lord Orochimaru like that?" One of the Hidden Sound shinobi asked Kabuto, a bit unwillingly. 

"It has to be this way. We can only wait for an opportunity to rescue Lord Orochimaru. Therefore, for now, we cannot make any rash moves, otherwise, we will surely invite a great disaster!" 

"Understood!" the Hidden Sound shinobi replied. 

Hidden Mist Village! 

"You actually brought him back? Shouldn't you have dealt with him?" When Terumī Mei saw that Yoru had actually brought Orochimaru back as a captive, she was utterly startled. 

"I think he still has his uses, so I brought him back. Don't worry, with me around, I won't let him cause any trouble!" Yoru gestured for Terumī Mei not to worry, saying with an air of 'I have it under control'. 

"But even so, he must be strictly guarded. That guy is far too dangerous; we can't afford to be complacent with him for even a moment!" Terumī Mei said, looking at Orochimaru with considerable apprehension. 

"Of course, I'm well aware of that!" Yoru smiled and then locked Orochimaru into a specially constructed cell, applying a powerful restraining jutsu! He then summoned Kisame Hoshigaki and Yagura to guard Orochimaru. 

"Heh heh, White Cold Light, you truly think highly of me, sending two such excellent shinobi to guard me. I should feel deeply honored!" Seeing Kisame Hoshigaki and Yagura, Orochimaru let out a low chuckle. 

"You should indeed feel deeply honored, after all, you're the first person to receive such treatment!" Yoru said this, and then departed. 

"Did you hear? Uchiha Sasuke recently defeated a dark organization and saved a nation!" 

"What, something like that happened? Since when did the Uchiha clan become so benevolent? Aren't they synonymous with evil?" 

"That's just prejudice talking. The Uchiha clan were never inherently bad. I've met Uchiha Sasuke myself; while he may seem aloof, he has a good heart. You should show him some respect!" 

People were discussing this in a tavern somewhere. 

"Sasuke, listen, your name is being spread by the people spontaneously!" In a corner, a man with prominent nasolabial folds on his face said to the young man opposite him. 

"Hmph, who needs them to spread my name? How boring!" The young man snorted coldly, an arrogant look on his face, but the slight upturn of his lips betrayed his true feelings. He was actually very happy inside! 

"Speaking of which, Uzumaki Naruto from the Hidden Leaf Village has been quite active lately too! Apparently, not long ago, he took down an evil force called the 'Immortal Army' in the Land of Demons, saving Miko Shion and securing a major achievement by forming an alliance between the Land of Fire and the Land of Demons!" 

"Now that the Land of Fire has allied with the Land of Demons, aren't they afraid of what the one from the Land of Water might think?"