In the Land of Rain.
The sky gradually darkened, and the dark clouds above the clouds began to churn, as if a storm was brewing.
In the Wood Leaf stronghold.
There was a tent in the center, and ninjas passing by would consciously slow down for fear of disturbing the people inside.
There was a candle burning in the tent, which seemed to illuminate a trace of warmth in this gloomy and depressing weather.
"Crack!"
Some sounds suddenly burst out from the wick, breaking the silence in the tent.
Hearing this movement, Tsunade, who was leaning on the side of the tent, slowly turned her head and looked at the candle with blank eyes, but her pretty face looked very haggard at this time.
She didn't know how long she cried, even now her eyes looked a little red and swollen.
At this time, a pale hand gently pulled open the tent curtain and walked in.
Hearing the voice, Tsunade gently turned her head and glanced at him with empty eyes, and her throat was a little hoarse.
"It's you, Orochi Maru."
Seeing her like this, Orochi Maru didn't look surprised, as if he had expected this result.
"I already know the matter."
After standing in a daze for a while, Orochimaru suddenly hissed.
Hearing his words, Tsunade moved her body, slowly leaned forward and hugged her knees. Her eyes were unfocused as she looked forward, as if talking to herself.
"Do you think … Nawaki … is he … still alive …"
"It's just … just … missing … isn't it …"
She said in a daze, as if she had lost her soul.
In this regard, Orochi Maru didn't comfort her with gentle words, but looked at her and said in a deep voice.
"Tsunade, don't deceive yourself with this!"
"You should know that in that case, there is almost no possibility that Nawaki can survive!"
Hearing Orochi Maru's hoarse voice, Tsunade's face froze, slowly turned her head to look at him, the luster in her eyes was very dim.
"He … won't … won't … come back … my brother … won't he … come back!"
Speaking of this, she seemed to be unable to hide the depression in her heart, suddenly covered her face and sobbed sadly again.
"It's all my fault!!"
"It's all my fault!"
"Why did I ask him to do such a mission?!"
"If it wasn't for me, he would still be alive and kicking in front of everyone!"
She cried out in pain. Then, like a child who had lost her precious existence, she leaned weakly against the tent and sobbed sadly.
Orochi Maru did not continue to look at Tsunade's fragile state. Instead, his snake eyes stared blankly at the candle that was about to burn out.
After a long while, he seemed to have figured something out and said in an incomparably hoarse voice.
"It's not your fault … Tsunade …"
"It's only because life is too fragile … this fragility … and the inability to grasp one's own fate …"
When he said this, his pale face tensed up slightly, as if he was embarrassed by the fact that he couldn't control his own fate.
"Let's stop here. We're still in the middle of a war. Rope … Rope Tree … Even though he sacrificed himself, that's not an excuse for you to slack off. As his older sister, you should make his death count."
After Orochi Maru said this, he slowly turned around and walked out of the tent.
After he left, Tsunade gently turned her head as if she had lost her soul. Her lifeless eyes looked at the gloomy sky outside.
"Sister, I want to be a great ninja like grandpa!"
"I want to protect this village!"
"If only I could be a hero like grandpa who can protect everyone!"
Outside the tent, the cold wind howled angrily, but inside the tent, Tsunade seemed to hear Rope Tree's childish voice in her ears.
Suddenly, she smiled.
Tsunade's eyes kept crying, but her face was smiling, as if she was talking to Rope Tree who didn't exist.
"Rope Tree … Sister will help you fulfill your wish …"
"This village … Sister will protect it for you …"
Outside the tent.
Orochi Maru walked in the stronghold, ignoring the gradually worsening weather, but his heart was surging.
"Pata!"
He stopped, raised his head, looked at the gloomy sky with complicated eyes, and said in a hoarse voice.
"After all, human beings are too small compared to nature … This short life … What can we learn …"
"Only … Forbidden Technique … Forbidden Technique … Forbidden Technique that can make life eternal …"
He murmured in a low voice.
His figure slowly disappeared.
.....
At this time.
In a canyon within the Country of Rain.
Boom!
Dark clouds rolled in the sky, and violent thunder slowly sounded. It seemed that it wouldn't be long before a rainstorm poured down.
Under the gloomy dark clouds, two figures walked on the edge of the canyon.
The top of the huge canyon was flat, and the hanging wall like a knife was vertical into the bottomless ground, as if it was a ravine of the abyss.
Whoosh!
A gust of cold wind blew past, causing the short figure at the back of the two to involuntarily shiver.
Originally, walking here was enough to make one's heart palpitate, and with such a big and cold wind blowing, Rope Tree's legs were weak every time he took a step.
"Big Brother Jie … Jie Ren, where … where are we going …?"
Rope Tree's little face was a little pale from the cold, and after a breath, he asked the tall figure in front of him in a trembling voice.
Hearing his words, Amato didn't turn his head and said in a flat voice.
"To Endure The Rain Village …"
As soon as he heard his answer, Rope Tree's eyes suddenly widened, and he hurriedly said.
"Rain … To Endure The Rain Village!?
Isn't this walking into a trap!? "
In this regard, Amato said in a flat voice.
"Don't you know that the war between Wood Leaf Village and To Endure The Rain Village has been settled? The two sides are now in a temporary state of peace, and the war may be declared over after a while."
Hearing Amato's words, Rope Tree was naturally shocked and said in surprise.
"Settle … with!?
How … how … is it possible … To Endure The Rain Village killed so many … "
Before he finished his words, he was interrupted by Amato.
"Nothing is set in stone, especially when it comes to interests …"
Speaking of this, he glanced at Rope Tree and said softly.
"Captain Aizen chose to let you come to this village, not only to let you concentrate on training, but also to let you expand your horizons."
"Your vision is too small, it seems that everything revolves around Wood Leaf. You still can't understand what Captain Aizen's vision is."
Hearing his words, Rope Tree was slightly stunned and said with a puzzled face.
"Vision?
Shouldn't we be thinking of Konoha's interests? "
Amato glanced at him and said in a low voice.
"What did you see in this war? Did you just see the casualties of Konoha's Shinobi?"
"Maybe …"
"This may be the reason why Captain Aizen asked me to bring you here …"
"When you see the situation in this country, maybe, you will understand Captain Aizen's good intentions."
After he finished, he slowly turned around and continued to move forward.
Rope Tree looked at him blankly, thinking of what Yuusuke Fuji said to him before they parted.
"Rope Tree, go and observe everything you see."
"Remember, what determines a ninja's level is the amount of tolerance he can have …"
Vision … Is there still tolerance …?
Rope Tree gently opened his palm and looked at it carefully, thinking in his heart.
He clenched his palm tightly, and his small figure followed Amato.
Under the gloomy sky, two small figures slowly disappeared at the edge of the canyon.