Chapter 312 The haze under the calm

Even though it was only for a short while, the fishy smell from the giant snake's mouth almost made him suffocate.

"Welcome to my base, you are the first visitor to this base."

Orochimaru's hoarse and magnetic voice sounded, making people feel good when listening to it.

"You, you are Lord Orochimaru!"

Kabuto finally got up from the ground, looked at Orochimaru in front of him, and shouted in surprise.

"It's me. After all these years, I didn't expect you to still remember me." Orochimaru smiled slightly and said, "I told you that you would become an excellent ninja, right? I remember it all, Kabuto."

"You seem to be unable to see your true self. Do you want to hear my advice?"

Orochimaru smiled evilly at Kabuto.

Kabuto swallowed involuntarily and nodded slightly hesitantly.

"Very good." Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth with satisfaction: "Let me answer your questions..."

------

As Orochimaru took the first step on his path of being a "human trafficker", everything in Konoha far away in the Land of Fire was gradually getting on the right track.

It's just that Konoha is still not completely at peace. At the border of the Country of Fire and the Country of Yu, Kumogakure frequently creates friction with Konoha.

Finally, just when the entire ninja world was becoming calm, the war broke out again.

After a long truce, Kumogakure finally couldn't restrain his inner restlessness and took action against Konoha.

It is said that Kumogakure also lobbied Sunagakure, hoping that Sunagakure would send troops together to attack Konoha from the north and the south.

However, this proposal was rejected by the Fourth Kazekage Rasa.

Now Sunagakure, Chiyo's reputation has plummeted due to being captured, and Hayakura fully supports Rasa. At this time, Rasa's power has surpassed that of his master, the Third Kazekage.

The reason Luo Sha gave was that the village was in urgent need of recuperation after years of war.

No matter what the Kumogakure messenger said, and how Chiyo and Ebizo tried to persuade the Suna ninjas who were unwilling to fail, Rasa did not relent.

Luo Sha knew that this attack would only be a test by Yunyin.

When the dust of the entire ninja world has settled, Kumogakure will not be able to launch a massive attack as soon as they come up, and will only test Konoha's strength first.

As for Konoha's true and false situation, Rasa, as Konoha's opponent, knows it all too well.

Once he joins forces with Kumogakure to attack Konoha, Sunagakure simply cannot afford another failure.

Losing 30% of the task share has already hurt Sunagakure, and Luosha has to use the placer gold technique to pan for gold in the desert from time to time.

If he suffers another defeat, Luo Sha may not have to work as a gold miner every day.

Even though Sunagakure clearly did not want to get involved, Kumogakure, who had been accumulating strength for many years and had too much energy, still attacked Konoha.

The Fourth Raikage Ai personally took command and formed an AB combination with Kirabi, leading a thousand Cloud Ninjas to attack the Land of Fire.

The target is Mount Kikyo at the junction of the Country of Fire and the Country of Tang.

Konoha has a castle on Mount Kikyo, which is the base camp of more than a thousand guarding ninjas on the long border between Konoha and Yuno Country.

About two hundred ninjas are stationed in the Platycodon Mountain Castle all year round to operate and defend it.

With only a thousand ninja troops, it shows that the fourth generation Raikage Ai's mind is not completely warmed up yet.

If Sunagakure really joins forces with Kumogakure, he will be tricked to death.

In this regard, the third generation was also unhurried. After all, Yunyin's move was just for testing.

Therefore, Konoha naturally has to show enough magnanimity.

Under the orders of the Third Generation, Namikaze Minato also led a thousand ninja troops to Kikyo Mountain Castle.

Since it was only a small-scale war, Sandai did not carry out any mobilization.

The entire Konoha Village is still quiet and peaceful.

Kakugi, who was familiar with the plot, continued to work as a receptionist in the mission hall happily and spent his 13th birthday.

Kakugi doesn't need any chance to earn merit now. His merits are enough, and his strength has been recognized by the village.

Let Minato show off this opportunity to his fullest.

It is estimated that when Minato returns victorious this time, he will take over as the Fourth Hokage.

More than a month later, news of a complete victory in the Battle of Platycodon Mountain came.

Minato alone blocked Kumogakure's AB combination, and Kumogakure ended in a disastrous defeat in this battle.

The whole of Konoha once again fell into the joy of victory.

Jiraiya went to show off to Orochimaru quite proudly, and Orochimaru almost let a snake bite him on the spot.

The third generation's smile was also like a blooming chrysanthemum, and he was very satisfied with Minato's performance.

But behind this joy, there are always people who are unwilling and unwilling.

What Kadomu didn't know was that the village was not as quiet and peaceful as he imagined.

Not long after Minato left, missing persons cases frequently occurred in the village.

From homeless people, people from other villages, to civilians in the village, and even a few middle genin who are relatively withdrawn in the village.

These reports were all kept by the third generation without exception, but when they saw that even Konoha civilians and middle genin were missing, the third generation could no longer tolerate it.

------

In a secret underground base in the jungle outside Konoha.

Hongdou was in one of the rooms, lying on the table and reading hard, taking a pen to record something from time to time.

The corners of the table and the open space in the room were piled with books and scrolls of various sizes.

"Anko. Stop." Orochimaru walked in and said with a complicated expression.

"Yes, teacher!" Anko stopped decisively and looked up at Orochimaru, her eyes full of respect.

"Anko, destroy all the information here." Orochimaru said in a low voice.

"Eh?"

Hongdou exclaimed: "Why? These are all the teacher's hard work!"

"It doesn't matter. The research on the Heaven's Curse Seal has taken shape. All that's left is to continue to improve it."

"It's up to you. How is the study of the immortal reincarnation entrusted to you?"

Orochimaru looked at his beloved disciple with a smile and asked in the same doting tone as usual.

"That...hehehe." Hongdou smiled sheepishly and said, "Well, I have been trying to study other uses of the Heavenly Curse Seal..."

Knew it.

Even though Orochimaru had expected this, his heart still sank.

But his face remained calm as he asked, "Oh? Hongdou, do you have any interesting directions?"

Hongdou said with some shame: "I haven't researched it yet... I just thought, if the curse seal can lock our vitality, wouldn't we also be able to live forever?"

"Haha." Orochimaru smiled noncommittally, and suddenly asked loudly: "Anko, you still haven't learned the art of erasing faces?"

"Eh? Ah!" Anko was startled by Orochimaru's sudden burst of volume, and said awkwardly, "Sorry, teacher..."

"No need to be sorry, Anko." Orochimaru shook his head and said, "With your qualifications, this kind of technical ninjutsu is not difficult."

Hearing this, Hongdou lowered his head silently.

Orochimaru just looked at her quietly without saying anything else, and the master and disciple fell into an eerie silence.