266-270

*Chapter 266: The Complete Submission of the Land of Flowers*

Raijin had been searching for the true ruler of this country for a long time, but no one stepped forward!

After a long search, no one appeared. He initially thought they would come after he killed Chinjao.

Removing the ruler of this country was Raijin's primary goal.

"Lord Ramen!"

A wave of exclamations echoed across the island! No one expected Uchiha Raijin to be so ruthless!

He directly used a deadly move, killing their king on the spot.

This was something they had never anticipated.

"Eight Treasures Navy! Kneel now, and your leader might live!"

"I’ll give you ten seconds to think about it."

Raijin’s gaze swept over the remaining members of the Eight Treasures Navy.

As for their leader, Chinjao, and the two deputy leaders—they were all lying on the ground, unable to move. They were completely crippled.

Before Raijin could finish speaking, the rest of the Eight Treasures Navy knelt.

They had no choice; after all, their leaders had already been defeated.

"Very good! It seems you're not as clueless as the others!"

Raijin nodded in satisfaction, gradually dismissing his Susano'o.

His ethereal figure descended slowly from the sky.

Immediately afterward, the Dressrosa fleet landed on the island.

Kakashi casually waved his hand, and the important figures of the Land of Flowers were immediately tied up.

Not a single person dared to resist—after all, they had seen firsthand the fate of those who did.

Even their king, Ramen, was now nothing but a pile of flesh.

"Kakashi, call Nara Shikaku! Have him plan how to unite the Four Seas."

"By the way, don't spare the South Sea. We need to fully connect the Four Seas!"

Since the West Sea had already been conquered, only the South Sea remained.

Raijin saw no reason to spare it.

By uniting the Four Seas, Dressrosa’s power would become unparalleled.

With the New World as their battleground and the Four Seas as their foundation, even if something unexpected happened in Dressrosa, their roots would remain strong.

The Four Seas would be the foundation of Dressrosa.

"I understand!" Kakashi nodded.

Nara Shikaku was more meticulous in handling matters than he was.

Also…

Kakashi planned to hand over all these tasks to Nara Shikaku so he could go on a honeymoon with his wife.

Raijin and his men headed straight for the treasury of the Land of Flowers.

He wanted to see just how much wealth was stored there.

Although Dressrosa already had the gold from Skypiea, and they weren't short on money at the moment, who would ever complain about having too much?

Raijin was no exception. He certainly wouldn’t mind having more money.

It would only help Dressrosa develop even faster.

At the very least, money could open doors!

"Kakashi, it’s been a year. How come there’s still no news from your wife's belly?"

At this moment, Raijin seemed to have heard Kakashi’s thoughts and asked out loud.

A year had passed, and with Shizune’s medical assistance in Dressrosa, every Uchiha was already holding a child.

Kakashi had met a good woman, but after so long, there was still no news!

Even though Kakashi wasn’t an Uchiha, he was still Raijin’s good friend. Of course, Raijin was concerned!

"Huh?"

Kakashi was stunned for a moment. What was this about?

"Do you have a problem in that department?" Raijin whispered.

But the people around them had sharp ears.

Uchiha Izumi glanced up at the sky, a slight blush on her face. Though she hadn’t yet had that kind of relationship with Raijin, she was preparing for that day.

Nico Robin, having roamed the seas for many years, wasn’t fazed by such matters.

Senju Tobirama raised an eyebrow and gave Kakashi a once-over.

He had a favorable impression of Kakashi—after all, Kakashi was one of the few talents in Konoha.

If properly nurtured, Kakashi could potentially return to become Hokage.

“I’m fine! No way! Don’t talk nonsense!” Kakashi noticed the gazes around him, his face flushing as he waved his hands in denial.

Why was he suddenly being asked such an embarrassing question?

Kakashi was flustered, struggling to react.

If he admitted to it, rumors would spread like wildfire throughout Dressrosa!

And besides…

What about the people who knew him?

"If you're fine, then why is there still no news? You know the policies of Dressrosa, right?"

"I can't let you break the rules!"

Raijin laughed, teasing Kakashi with a playful look.

Raijin wasn’t sure if Kakashi had any problems, but his awkward response was amusing.

"Cough, cough! Actually, we've been trying! Shizune has already checked my wife."

"We're expecting! It's just a bit late, so stop worrying."

Kakashi waved his hands hurriedly.

"That's not good enough!"

Raijin thought for a moment, then called for the palace servants.

He ordered them to gather all the women from the palace.

Kakashi immediately sensed trouble. Uchiha Raijin was up to something again.

This guy always managed to stir up something new.

Kakashi knew him too well, but he couldn’t stop the rascal.

His heart sank as he watched the women being brought out.

Some wore crowns, looking pure and cute. Others had muscular physiques.

Kakashi nearly fainted.

"My lord! These are all the women in the palace! Some are the granddaughters of the late Lord Ramen!"

"And some are his sons' daughters."

The servant nervously reported to Raijin.

As for Ramen’s older wives, they were spared from the embarrassment.

Though the servant didn’t know what these invaders wanted, he assumed it was something men typically desired.

Raijin nodded, inspecting the group of women, then stopped in front of a young girl.

"Lord Raijin, this is the 23rd granddaughter of the late Lord Ramen," the servant introduced.

"Perfect! She’s a gift for you, Kakashi!"

"You’ve followed me across the seas, and I haven’t given you much in return."

"Today, I’m giving you a wife. The next time you meet Hatake-sensei, you can brag about your accomplishments!"

Without another word, Raijin gestured, offering the girl to Kakashi.

"..."

Kakashi had a dumbfounded look on his face as he stared blankly at the girl.

Talk about his great achievements?

His great achievement was following Raijin his whole life.

Then spending his life building a harem, expanding the Hatake family lineage?

Kakashi honestly had no idea how to start this conversation.

"Thanks!"

In the end, Kakashi didn’t refuse and simply expressed his gratitude.

Raijin meant well, so there was no need to turn him down.

As for this princess...

He’d think about how to explain it later.

"What a shame! Tobirama, your body can't reproduce. Otherwise, I would've liked you to have a few children with the bloodline of the Senju clan."

"With the technological power we have in Dressrosa, we could definitely enhance the Senju bloodline to Hashirama’s level."

"You never even got married when you were in Konoha! Not a single wife to your name, even at the time of your death!"

Raijin said with a hint of regret as he looked at Tobirama Senju.

Had Tobirama gotten married, perhaps even Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn’t have dared to treat him too harshly.

But Tobirama seemed uninterested in such matters, devoting his entire life to building Konoha.

Even in death, his thoughts were on how to make Konoha stronger, preserving young warriors, and dealing with difficult enemies.

"I'm truly sorry! I’ve never been too interested in matters between men and women!"

Tobirama responded expressionlessly.

Fortunately, he was now using White Zetsu’s body.

Otherwise!

That Uchiha vampire would surely drain him dry.

This Uchiha kid was much better at manipulating people than him.

It wouldn’t be long before Kakashi became utterly loyal to him.

"Shiranui Genma has arrived with his men!"

At that moment, Kakashi spoke up.

His Haki had already sensed Shiranui Genma opening the gate.

He and Nara Shikaku led their people to the Land of Flowers.

Raijin stayed in the Land of Flowers to unlock the treasure of the Happo Navy.

Meanwhile, Nara Shikaku took over the resources of the Land of Flowers.

They also took control of the Happo Navy.

Under Shikaku’s command, control over the West Sea began.

The South Sea didn’t rest either!

All of Dressrosa wasn’t reliant on Shikaku alone.

Other people had the ability to travel too.

Like Namikaze Minato, who led his team in battles in the South Sea.

In just a month, they had control over the underground world of all four seas.

With control over the underground,

Dressrosa now had an unstoppable grip on both the underworld and the light.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for taking control of the four seas. The Uchiha clan’s influence has grown even more.]

[Detected that the host possesses the Mangekyou Sharingan, Kamui, and Sanzu River!]

[Please choose an upgrade!]

Raijin sat in the palace of the Land of Flowers, with Nico Robin beside him, offering him fruit.

Suddenly, the system’s voice echoed in his ear, startling Raijin.

The system’s main function was to notify him of new Uchiha births.

Raijin had mostly treated it as a tool to check on the newborn Uchiha.

But unexpectedly, something new appeared.

"Will upgrading bring bigger benefits?"

Raijin asked himself.

This system reward didn’t seem that useful.

[Host, if you upgrade Kamui, its space will expand into a real world suitable for human habitation, where you can bring people to live within the Sanzu River.]

[Upgrading Sanzu River will increase its influence over the entire world, allowing you to actively absorb souls into this realm.]

[You can also enter the world of Sanzu River at will, though no living beings besides you can enter.]

Raijin’s eyes lit up. He had long wanted to expand the influence of the Sanzu River.

He had originally planned to wait for the Rinnegan to see if there was an opportunity to fight for control over the Pure Land with the Sage of Six Paths.

But even without the Rinnegan, his Sharingan had already proven powerful enough.

"What if I want to connect the Pure Lands of the Naruto world and this sea? Can I merge the Pure Lands of both worlds?"

Raijin asked.

[If the host enhances the power of the Rinnegan, it will increase the influence of the Sanzu River!]

The system responded.

"Hahaha!"

Raijin suddenly burst into maniacal laughter from his throne.

Nico Robin jumped in fright, the fruit tray flying from her hands.

This guy was terrifyingly crazy!

"Whoosh!"

At that moment,

the world shifted slightly.

People with Conqueror’s Haki felt a change.

Something new had emerged in the world!

At the same time, new Devil Fruits began to form.

Everyone stared at the sky, wondering if it was an illusion.

But those with Conqueror's Haki, individuals with sharp intuition, knew something had happened.

They trusted their instincts in battle, yet they couldn’t figure out what had changed.

Only in Pangaea Castle, there was a loud rumble.

"The Uchiha clan is destined to be eternal! With me protecting them, the Uchiha will establish a dynasty surpassing the World Government."

Raijin laughed heartily, his voice echoing.

Nico Robin stood there, still confused, not understanding what had happened.

But Tobirama Senju sensed something unusual.

His soul had trembled, just like when Raijin had forcibly taken it from the ninja world.

"He’s gotten stronger! He might have surpassed Madara Uchiha by now!"

Tobirama's expression remained unchanged, but he muttered internally.

Tobirama knew Uchiha Raijin had no siblings.

Yet, even with just the Mangekyou, his power rivaled that of the Eternal Mangekyou, which was shocking enough.

But now, this man had grown even stronger.

At this rate, even his brother in his prime might not stand a chance.

What a terrifying monster.

It’s a good thing he didn’t exist during Madara’s time.

If he had,

the Senju might never have had a chance to make peace with the Uchiha.

"When I awaken the Rinnegan, I’ll connect the Pure Lands of both worlds!"

"No! I still haven’t used the previous system reward to create a new world."

"If I create another world, my power will grow even further."

Raijin’s eyes glinted with ambition.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 267: Opening Another World*

Raijin’s idea wasn’t off track. He could now feel that his Sanzu River had merged with this world.

Although he was now nearly identical to the Sage of Six Paths, essentially controlling the Pure Land of a world, he still felt it wasn’t enough. If he wanted to dethrone the Sage of Six Paths, he needed to return with even more powerful strength.

The Sage of Six Paths had accumulated power for about seven hundred years, while Raijin had only just begun.

If time really were synchronized, Raijin would have returned to battle with Joy Boy from long ago.

By that time, even if the Shinobi World’s power was formidable, with his men backing him up, victory would be guaranteed.

But there was still a gap between them, and bridging that gap would certainly take time.

However, Raijin didn’t have that much time, so he could only use sheer numbers to compensate.

Unfortunately, the rebellious ancestor of the Uchiha clan couldn’t be brought back with the Edo Tensei.

If he could, knowing he’d get a shot at fighting his own father, he would’ve definitely agreed to help.

However... with their chakra, it might not be impossible.

Raijin pondered for a moment about when he could return to the Shinobi World to see if he could find the remains of that ancestor’s bones.

For now, returning to the Shinobi World was out of the question. He needed to gather the strongest power before making his return.

“Where’s Izumi? I haven’t seen her around for the past few days,” Raijin asked.

“Lady Uchiha Izumi is still traveling in the West Sea,” Nico Robin replied softly.

The West Sea had already fallen under Uchiha control.

Although, on the surface, it looked like Uchiha’s business empire spanned various regions, behind the scenes, they essentially controlled everything.

The World Government remained arrogant, only believing that the lost history from a hundred years ago posed any real threat to them, along with those studying the Poneglyphs. As for everyone else, they couldn’t care less.

Even though the Uchiha clan had demonstrated immense power, the World Government merely had Vegapunk study them a little.

As for containing the Uchiha, the World Government hadn’t even considered it.

Until the Uchiha revealed their true intentions, the World Government wasn’t planning to make a move against them.

“Let her stay in the West Sea for now! Let her have a good rest during this period!” Raijin said. “The rest of you, follow me back to Dressrosa. Tobirama, gather the high-ranking shinobi of Dressrosa.”

Raijin stood up and gave his orders.

Since world domination was in sight, Raijin had to take more actions and put in greater effort.

After all, it had been a long time since he’d left Dressrosa, and Orochimaru and the others had probably already completed everything they could.

Previously, Kakashi had brought back a ton of professional books, and with the capabilities of Orochimaru and the others, they should have already mastered the knowledge.

Raijin trusted their abilities. While they weren’t on par with Vegapunk, they were still top-tier.

If they couldn’t manage something as simple as this, then Raijin would consider his recruiting them from the Shinobi World a waste.

“Gather the high ranks?” Tobirama narrowed his eyes, wondering what Raijin was up to.

Still, Tobirama quickly contacted Nara Shikaku and relayed Raijin’s instructions.

He also got in touch with Shiranui Genma to arrange for the opening of the transportation gate.

Otherwise, with his limited chakra, sending Raijin back to Dressrosa would be quite challenging.

It was a shame that, in his current Zetsu body, eating a Devil Fruit would be a waste.

Otherwise, Tobirama would’ve liked to try one.

However, being controlled by the Uchiha made Tobirama feel uncomfortable.

But after enough time had passed, Tobirama had more or less gotten used to it. As long as it wasn’t Madara Uchiha giving him orders, it was tolerable.

The movements in Dressrosa were swift, and after Raijin gave the command, the high-ranking members from all over the world began emerging from the air gates.

In no time, Dressrosa was filled with countless powerful individuals.

Even Zephyr had arrived. After all, Zephyr was now essentially part of Dressrosa.

There was also Dracule Mihawk, who was now tied to Dressrosa as well.

Raijin had great trust in both Mihawk and Zephyr.

“It seems like something important is happening inside Dressrosa,” Mihawk observed, scanning the room, seeing a few unfamiliar faces.

However, most of those present were powerful and intelligent.

If it wasn’t something significant, it wouldn’t have drawn such a crowd.

Mihawk glanced at Kakashi with some irritation.

Before he allied with Dressrosa, Kakashi used to always be around him, quietly keeping him company. Kakashi would frequently bring him gifts, even sharing newly crafted wine from Dressrosa.

But ever since Mihawk had grown closer to Uchiha Mikoto and forged an alliance with Dressrosa, Kakashi had hardly appeared, not even showing up to practice swordsmanship.

Now, Mihawk spent his days teaching swordsmanship to his adopted son and occasionally visiting the ninja academy to teach a select few students.

He didn’t want them to be too influenced by the samurai techniques from Wano and lose their identity.

Mihawk actually liked the ninja academy quite a bit. After all, there were some promising students there.

Like Zoro! The determination in his eyes made Mihawk feel quite satisfied.

And recently, a boy named Killer had joined, wielding dual scythes.

Mihawk was finding Dressrosa more interesting by the day.

He wondered how Raijin had managed to gather such remarkable individuals.

In Mihawk’s estimation, at least three of them had the potential to awaken Conqueror’s Haki.

Tsk, tsk!

Mihawk could sense the ambition brewing within Dressrosa.

But...

Since he was part of the Shichibukai allied with Dressrosa, it wasn’t something for him to worry about.

"Yo!"

There wasn’t a trace of awkwardness on Kakashi’s face as he walked over and greeted Mihawk.

"Hm? What’s wrong with you lately? You look so pale, and you seem unsteady on your feet," Mihawk furrowed his brow, puzzled by Kakashi's current state.

Could it be that Kakashi had encountered a troublesome enemy and gotten injured? But Mihawk knew that this guy possessed the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

When it came to fleeing, probably only Borsalino could match his speed across the whole sea. Could he have run into an unbeatable opponent?

"Hmm, it’s nothing serious," Kakashi stammered awkwardly, unable to find the words. How was he supposed to tell Mihawk that he had been "rewarded" with two princesses by Raijin, and now with three wives at home, it was physically draining him?

In the past, reading unhealthy books had already taken a toll on his body, and now, having so many wives was even more exhausting.

"Hmph! Come find me later! I’ve had some new inspirations lately!" Mihawk glanced at Kakashi and snorted, not waiting for an explanation.

He thought Kakashi had been slacking off lately; otherwise, how could he be this weak?

"Next time, for sure!" Kakashi chuckled awkwardly. Even for him, facing the world’s greatest swordsman was an enormous pressure.

"Is it just me coming? Garp’s also here in Dressrosa. If anything comes up, he can help too. If not, Kuzan or Sakazuki would do as well. They’re both my prized students," Zephyr glanced around, noticing his old acquaintances weren't around. It seemed he was the only one from the Navy present.

"Ahem! This is Dressrosa’s internal matter. We’ll discuss it after this," Nara Shikaku said helplessly. "For now, they’re not suited to join, but maybe later."

Though Garp was close to them, Dressrosa knew that he hadn’t fully committed yet. Partly because both of his grandsons were in Dressrosa, and partly because of Zephyr. Otherwise, why would Garp have leaked the plans regarding Kuzan?

If Garp were truly loyal to Dressrosa, he’d be acting like Zephyr by now. Only Zephyr was fully trusted by them in Dressrosa.

"Alright, I get it! But what exactly are we doing here today?" Zephyr sighed. He understood Garp’s situation and was starting to wonder if Garp should have a child in Dressrosa to fully integrate into the fold.

"I’m not sure either, but it’s definitely something big. This is the first meeting of all our top officials since Dressrosa took control," Shikaku replied, scanning the room.

The Nara clan, Akimichi clan, Yamanaka clan, Inuzuka clan, Aburame clan, Hyuga clan, and a few individuals revived through Edo Tensei were all present—essentially, all the key figures of Dressrosa.

From the throne, Raijin surveyed everyone, noting the expressions on their faces.

"The rapid development of Dressrosa wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s hard work!" he began. "Back in Konoha, you were only given leftovers, and some of you weren’t even allowed to taste the soup. But here in Dressrosa, you’ve achieved what you wanted. Your families have expanded, thanks to Uchiha's influence and my policies. In just a few decades, your clans will grow fivefold, something that would have been impossible in Konoha."

Raijin’s words were true—every clan had grown significantly in just a year. Even the smallest clan, the Kurama clan, had increased by five members. Joining Dressrosa had been the best decision they’d ever made.

"Lord Raijin! Thank you for giving our clans this opportunity. We’re willing to do anything for you, even risk our lives," the Kurama clan leader spoke first, excitement evident on his face.

Their clan had nearly dwindled to nothing in Konoha, and they had been holding on by their business ventures. Without a ninja awakening the Five Senses Technique, they would have been absorbed within a decade. But now, settled in the East Blue, their clan was thriving. Their newborns were no longer weak, and some even had immense mental power. Even without awakening the technique, these children would grow into the clan’s elite.

"That’s right! You’ve given us a future!" echoed the Aburame clan leader. His clan had benefitted the most, with their members acquiring Bug-Bug Fruits—specifically, the Hornet Fruit and Hercules Beetle Fruit, perfect for their clan.

Other clan leaders chimed in, praising Uchiha Raijin, turning what was supposed to be a meeting into a contest of who could flatter Raijin the most. Even the acting leader of the Hyuga clan joined in.

Standing among the crowd, Uchiha Kaishi smirked, reminded of how, when Konoha was first established, clans had fawned over the Uchiha in much the same way.

"Alright! I brought you here for something important. Since you still trust me, Uchiha Raijin, let me be clear. The Uchiha won’t hog all the benefits—you’ll get your share too! My eyes have become even more powerful, fused with the power of the sea. They can now open a door to another, unknown world. I don’t know what’s in that world, but the Uchiha need more power. So, I plan to lead the Uchiha there. What will you do?"

Raijin’s directness stunned Nico Robin, who stood behind him. She was beginning to suspect that this group might be invaders from another world. Another world? Did they come from somewhere other than the ninja world?

Zephyr was also taken aback. "Another world? Not your ninja world?" he asked, shocked. The idea of another world was unheard of, but having already accepted the existence of the ninja world, Zephyr felt like he could handle anything now.

Last month, I didn’t take a single day off! But at the start of this month, I took a few more days off.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 268: Attacking Another World

Hearing Zephyr's question, Raijin nodded lightly.

No one expected that after obtaining the abundant resources of the sea, there would still be hope of acquiring resources from another world.

The group exchanged glances, their eyes showing surprise and delight.

If the other world also had special powers like Devil Fruits, their families could become even more powerful.

In the past, they could hardly dream of obtaining something like the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, but now in Dressrosa, it’s everywhere.

If they got their hands on something good, the Uchiha clan definitely wouldn’t keep it to themselves.

"Hehehe! Lord Raijin, I assume you haven’t told them about the dangers involved?" Orochimaru said.

"I imagine if it were that simple, you wouldn’t have gathered us all together."

If it were without danger, Uchiha Raijin would have already gone in to check. The fact that he assembled so many people now meant there were likely unknown dangers within. Orochimaru understood Raijin’s thinking—he himself wouldn’t risk such dangers lightly.

However, Orochimaru was highly interested in this other world and especially wanted to see its wonders.

"There are dangers, yes! But compared to this world, they are slightly lesser."

"Still, they possess special abilities. I think your strengths should be sufficient to handle them," Raijin mused, revealing the intel the system had provided about the other world.

The world of Demon Slayer!

Raijin was aware of this world's details but wasn't sure of the exact timeline. However, with their current strength, they should have no problem dominating. What Raijin valued most was the potion that could turn humans into demons.

Though it would make people neither fully human nor fully demon, they had Orochimaru on their side.

Orochimaru’s abilities were no joke. If they got the formula, the demons from that world could likely be recreated here.

"Such evil must be purged!" Zephyr said coldly, with no good feelings toward this other world. An ancient monster, alive for over a thousand years, had likely taken countless lives.

Although Zephyr had retired from the navy, his sense of justice remained. He now wished he could tear that monster apart with his bare hands to vent his fury.

"Immortality! A demon that can regenerate indefinitely!!"

Orochimaru’s eyes almost popped out. Why did it seem like every random person in another world was more advanced in research than him?

Back in the Ninja World, there were two people—Tobirama Senju and Sasori of the Red Sand—whose research abilities rivaled his. But now, in the vast sea, Vegapunk, five centuries ahead of everyone else, overshadowed him.

Orochimaru was still studying Vegapunk’s outdated textbooks, and his current research lagged behind Vegapunk’s by two generations.

But Orochimaru believed it was only the Ninja World’s knowledge holding him back; soon, he would catch up with Vegapunk.

When that happened, he too could develop artificial Devil Fruits, not just the Zoan types but also Paramecia and Logia types.

However, Orochimaru never expected an ordinary doctor from another world to create an immortality potion during such a primitive era.

It was something Orochimaru had long dreamed of, something he had been tirelessly pursuing.

Now, he realized the benefits of interacting with other worlds—he could always learn from them, revealing his own shortcomings and making his research even more fascinating.

"Do they specialize in swordsmanship? Looks like I’ll need to pay a visit as well. I’m not particularly interested in demons, but if there are sword masters, then it’s worth the challenge to see how different our worlds are."

"I’m sure they can offer some hints to help me improve," Mihawk said, clearly intrigued, especially by the members of the Demon Slayer Corps. With a thousand-year-old swordsmanship tradition, they must have much to offer.

Although their overall power might be weak, Mihawk could suppress his own strength to focus purely on the art of the sword.

In an instant, the entire palace became noisy as everyone saw an opportunity for wealth and power.

The demonic abilities were insignificant in their eyes. What they saw was a treasure trove of benefits, and they didn't care much about the rest.

"Enough! Prepare to depart tonight. Each family will send three people—make sure not to send anyone too weak."

"Others can decide for themselves whether they want to go, but we won’t have time to babysit once we’re there."

Raijin frowned at the noisy palace and waved his hand dismissively. What he wanted was to conquer the entire world, to merge it with his Pure Land. Anything else was secondary to that goal.

"Understood!"

The palace quickly cleared out as people rushed home to gather their best fighters.

Once the shinobi had left, only a few remained in the palace.

"Kakashi! Go ask Jack and the Charlotte family members stationed in Dressrosa if they’re interested in joining this expedition. If they are, bring them along."

Raijin instructed Kakashi, knowing that the sea needed an injection of energy.

After the Shinobi World War, the sea had become lifeless. Charlotte Linlin had retreated, Kaido was focused on his territory, Whitebeard was busy with his sons, and Shanks... well, he was just messing around as usual.

For pirates, they were far too peaceful.

There was no chaos, no internal strife, and if things continued this way, who would buy the weapons and potions Dressrosa was producing?

"I understand!" Kakashi replied, with a somewhat puzzled look on his face. Still, he nodded in agreement.

Of course, he couldn’t use the excuse of a new world; he would use the cover of a newly discovered island.

After all, most people in the sea didn’t think too deeply.

"Why gather pirates?" Zephyr said, displeased at the thought of sharing the spoils with them.

"You shouldn’t think that way! They’re our guinea pigs! With their reckless nature, they’ll rush to find the Demon King first, allowing us to observe its power."

Raijin shook his head.

"Then I’ll notify Kuzan and have him join us too!"

Zephyr thought about his excellent student and wanted to recruit him for the job. However, Raijin immediately shot down the idea, saying, "Kuzan is in a relationship right now. Why would you bother him?"

"He's in the middle of a passionate romance! At his age, is it easy to find love?" Raijin continued.

"Minato Namikaze! You take the Raikage and the Mizukage with you!" Raijin ordered.

"Once you're there, take control of the country's leader and gather the minerals that Sasori needs," he added, looking at Minato Namikaze.

Gathering strategic materials for Dressrosa was crucial. There were a lot of things Sasori needed, and with Dressrosa's financial power, most of it could be bought at sea. However, the gold from Skypiea wasn't unlimited, so they needed to save a portion of it.

"I understand!" Minato Namikaze nodded.

Right now, the Raikage and the Mizukage were the most obedient and had completely submitted to Dressrosa.

The Third Raikage and the Second Mizukage! The Second Mizukage was especially powerful.

Particularly in sea battles, where he was nearly unbeatable. However, they rarely had the opportunity to leave Dressrosa, serving as bodyguards.

"Nara Shikaku, I'm leaving Dressrosa in your hands," Raijin said to Nara Shikaku.

"Mom! Dressrosa told me they've discovered a new island with a special power," someone from the Big Mom Pirates stationed in Dressrosa reported, dialing a Den Den Mushi to contact Charlotte Linlin in Totto Land.

"They want to invite us to explore it, but Kakashi said this new island is very dangerous. Should we go along with them to check it out, Mom?"

He never expected the people of Dressrosa to be so kind, inviting them to share in the benefits. If it were Totto Land, they'd definitely keep it all for themselves.

"Splitting the rewards? Normally, we'd just kill anyone who tried to take it from us."

"A new island?" Charlotte Linlin's eyes lit up with excitement. She had missed capturing two rare beasts last time, even losing an arm in the process, something that had frustrated her for a long time.

"This time, I'm definitely catching one," she declared, her laughter abruptly stopping.

Suddenly, she remembered the days when she was starving in the Ninja World, eating awful food and not even having basic afternoon tea. For Charlotte Linlin, that was practically hell. No! Hell might have been better than the Ninja World.

In that moment, she lost interest in going. It wasn’t fear, but the thought of starving along the way. Who knew if the new island would be as impoverished as the Ninja World, where you could walk for days without finding a single dessert?

"Mom?" the voice on the other end asked, puzzled by her sudden silence.

"Send Perospero and Smoothie. They'll head there right away!" Linlin hung up the Den Den Mushi and glanced at Perospero.

"Perospero, don't disappoint me. I expect a nice gift this time!" she said.

"Yes, Mom!" Perospero had been listening all along.

"Dressrosa? Looks like that guy is up to something again," Katakuri muttered, holding a biscuit dragon while sitting on the walls of Cake Island, his eyes fixed on two children playing nearby. Watching them softened his heart. He just hoped they wouldn’t turn on each other in the future.

"Should I go with Fuzhou?" Jack, who had been listening to the call, saw an opportunity. He knew he had fallen out of favor with the Beasts Pirates, and only Kaido had been in contact with him recently. The rest of the crew hadn’t reached out.

He knew his Devil Fruit had made him significantly stronger, but his only other advantage was his race. If he wanted to be one of Kaido's trusted inner circle, he’d have to train for several years and challenge Kaido’s subordinates one by one to earn his place. However, this was an opportunity. If he followed Kakashi and gained something that made him stronger, he could rise to the core of the Beasts Pirates, alongside King.

Jack immediately contacted Kakashi, planning to team up and uncover any insider information.

In the backyard of Dressrosa’s palace, the area was filled with people. It wasn’t just the Dressrosa crew, but also two other pirate crews. Raijin intended to empower these crews so they could stir up chaos in the New World.

Otherwise, they were too weak right now.

"Kakashi, do you know any inside information? Can you share it with me?" Jack asked, draping an arm over Kakashi’s shoulder with a smile.

Fuzhou glanced to the side, noticing the gazes of the Big Mom Pirates, and hugged his sword tightly. Even though he wasn’t as strong as Smoothie, this wasn’t a place where they could fight.

"Actually, I do know a bit," Kakashi replied, nodding and leading Jack to a corner to whisper secrets. They acted mysteriously, but everyone in Dressrosa already knew the situation, so no one paid attention.

However, the Big Mom Pirates couldn’t help but care. They didn’t even know what the mission was, while the shameless Beasts Pirates had already started gathering intel.

"Did you make contact?" Smoothie asked Perospero, feeling a bit impatient.

"I asked, but she doesn’t know either. Only the core members of Dressrosa are aware of the full details. It seems she hasn’t gained their full trust yet," Perospero replied helplessly. He had contacted their sister, who had married into Dressrosa, but even she was clueless.

Clearly, Dressrosa didn’t fully trust their sister.

"Forget it! We’ll figure it out when we get there!" Smoothie held back her anger. After all, her status had changed—her sister was now the queen of Dressrosa.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 269: Minato Namikaze’s Beauty Trap*

"We’re still on Dressrosa’s territory, you know!"

Insulting the queen of the island while standing on her land was nothing short of asking for death.

Not to mention, they were currently seeking help from Dressrosa, so saying something so foolish was a literal death wish.

"Should we ask around and see if someone from Dressrosa can help?"

Perospero mused. He figured it would be dangerous to go in completely blind, and it was better to gather some information.

"Sure!"

Smoothie nodded, scanning the area for someone she knew.

But after glancing around, she realized the few acquaintances she had were unavailable. Kakashi had been called away, and Shikaku Nara wasn’t around, leaving her visibly frustrated.

In hindsight, Smoothie thought, she should have visited Dressrosa more often, at least once or twice a month. She didn’t need to be as familiar with everyone as Jack, but at least knowing a few more people would’ve been helpful.

Now, she had no one to talk to.

"Are you looking for someone?"

A sunny, golden-haired young man approached with a charming smile on his face, exuding warmth and friendliness.

Despite her age, Smoothie had had little experience with men, and the sight of this man made her blush.

"If the person you’re looking for isn’t here, you can tell me their name, and I can help you find them," Minato Namikaze offered kindly.

"But you’ll need to hurry. Lord Raijin is arriving soon, and we’re about to depart. You don’t have much time!"

"We’re not looking for anyone specific. We just wanted to learn more about the island we’re heading to. I don’t come to Dressrosa often, so I don’t know many people here,"

Smoothie admitted shyly.

This scene left Perospero utterly shocked. Smoothie had always been strong and imposing, but here she was, speaking so softly. It was completely unlike her.

Perospero couldn't help but entertain a bold thought: Could it be...?

"If you want to know more about the island, I can give you a quick rundown!"

Minato pondered for a moment. "I’m not sure how much time we have, but I can share the basics."

Lord Raijin had instructed him not to reveal too many critical details. They weren’t sending these people to their deaths, just using them as the vanguard.

Minato invited Smoothie to a corner to share some simple information. Meanwhile, Tobirama Senju and the Third Raikage had already noticed what was happening from a distance.

"I never expected to see a beauty trap in play!"

Tobirama remarked in surprise, but in this case, the "beauty" was Minato Namikaze, not Smoothie.

"Lord Raijin didn’t order a beauty trap. Minato approached them on his own."

The Third Raikage crossed his arms, a smile on his face. "Minato likely wants to use Charlotte Linlin’s pirate crew to learn about his son’s current situation. While Raijin allows the occasional photo of Naruto Uzumaki, there aren’t many, and Minato’s impatience is showing."

Unfortunately, his son hadn’t made it to this world. If he had, the unique traits of their village would have allowed them to carve out a space for themselves here, much more effectively than they could in the ninja world.

In the ninja world, the land was too small, with only so much to go around. All the fertile regions belonged to Konoha, whereas this world was full of prosperous islands.

Tobirama hadn’t expected Minato to act on his own like this. After all, Minato had been revived through Edo Tensei and was forced to work for Uchiha Raijin due to a threat. But here he was, willingly forging connections in Dressrosa.

"That pretty boy!"

Jack had also noticed what was happening with Smoothie and Minato, his eyes widening like saucers. He had thought Big Mom’s pirate crew was without allies, but it seemed they knew more people than he realized.

"Uh, that’s my teacher,"

Kakashi said awkwardly. It was a touchy subject, as the "pretty boy" had defeated him.

"Sorry, Kakashi, you know I didn’t mean it like that,"

Jack laughed awkwardly.

"Anyway, tell me more about the island! Aside from the ghosts, what else is there?"

Jack asked eagerly.

"Uh, well, this is the unique part. Lord Raijin personally scouted it out,"

Kakashi explained seriously. "The ghosts have abilities similar to Devil Fruits, each possessing special powers. They’re also immortal. Even if their bodies are broken into pieces, they can regenerate unless their heads are severed with a special blade."

Jack’s eyes lit up with excitement. The idea of immortality, with powers akin to an extra Devil Fruit, was incredible. He could barely contain his joy.

If he could gain such powers, his future as one of the top officers of the Beasts Pirates would be guaranteed.

"Be careful! You should first test your opponent's abilities!"

Kakashi warned, but it was unclear if Jack had heard him.

After half an hour, nearly everyone had gathered. The group was eagerly awaiting Lord Raijin’s arrival, ready to set out on their mission.

"Lord Raijin is waiting for you inside. Please follow me,"

Nico Robin, dressed elegantly in a pencil skirt and black stockings, appeared, looking every bit the professional secretary. Her previous life of wandering the West Blue seemed like a distant memory.

The group followed her into the courtyard, where they saw a black vortex at the center. Standing beside it was Uchiha Raijin, whose powers intrigued the crowd, especially Orochimaru, the scientist among them. He was particularly keen to unravel the mysteries behind Raijin’s abilities.

After all, the power to travel between worlds was god-like.

No—

Raijin could already be considered a god.

But what perplexed Orochimaru most was the source of this power. He had extensively studied the Uchiha clan’s bloodline, even researching the Mangekyo Sharingan, but nothing about it could explain this world-crossing ability. The chakra required to traverse worlds was immense.

"Let’s begin!"

Raijin pointed to the nearby door and addressed the crowd.

There was nothing more to say, as everything had been explained earlier. Each person understood their mission, so there was no need for him to repeat it.

"Yes!"

The people of Dressrosa walked in an orderly fashion into the black vortex. As they entered, it seemed as if they were being swallowed.

Smoothie and the others had a determined look in their eyes. Even if this was a trap, they had decided to jump in. One by one, the group stepped into the vortex!

In the end, only Nico Robin remained in the courtyard.

"You should go in too. Although it wouldn’t really matter if you stayed in Dressrosa," Raijin said. "Even if your identity is discovered, the Navy would turn a blind eye."

"But just in case, it's still best for you to go in with us."

"Yes!" Nico Robin nodded obediently, took a deep breath, and stepped into the unknown black hole.

"I'll leave everything in Dressrosa to you," Raijin said as he stepped in without looking back.

"I'll take care of everything," Shikaku Nara said as he walked out, watching the black hole slowly disappear.

With a slight bitter smile on his face, Shikaku thought about how he never had such a heavy burden on his shoulders back in Konoha. But Uchiha Raijin was notorious for shirking responsibilities, and now Shikaku had to use all his skills to manage the forces of the Four Seas, Dressrosa, and the New World.

Raijin had taken almost all of Dressrosa’s top officials with him—Orochimaru, Kakashi, and Minato Namikaze. What he left behind were either people who didn’t like to think or rebels.

Shikaku thought it was time to start training his son, Shikamaru, and let him share some of the burden early on. Yes! He’d take Shikamaru with him and train him along the way.

In Dressrosa, it was nighttime! But in the world of Demon Slayer, it was a bright, sunny day.

The group found themselves in a dense forest after arriving. They exchanged glances but didn’t act rashly.

"Let’s gather some intelligence first and get a full understanding of the area," Raijin said as he surveyed the surroundings.

"Yes!" Several groups of ninjas quickly scattered in different directions.

"No need for you to wait here. If anything comes up or when it’s time to leave, I’ll notify you," Raijin said to Jack and Smoothie.

"Lord Raijin, just let me know if you need anything. I may not be smart, but I’m strong!" Jack said, thumping his chest with a goofy smile. "If you tell me to go east, I definitely won’t go west!"

Raijin waved him off with a look of annoyance, and Jack, unfazed, left with Fuzefur in a chosen direction.

"We’re leaving too!" Smoothie said stiffly. She couldn’t bring herself to call Raijin “lord” like Jack did.

After all, the Big Mom Pirates were a renowned force on the seas, unlike the shameless Beasts Pirates.

Mihawk and Zephyr also left, both intending to check out the Demon Slayer Corps.

Zephyr was intrigued by their sense of justice and self-sacrifice, while Mihawk wanted to measure the skill of their swordsmen.

"Did you teach Jack to say that stuff?" Raijin asked Kakashi.

"No, I didn’t!" Kakashi said, twitching his mouth in denial. "But Raijin, when a simple-minded person spends too much time around schemers and manipulators, they start picking up those traits."

"Maybe it’s Dressrosa that’s been influencing Jack, making him less dumb than he used to be," Kakashi mused, stroking his chin as he watched Jack leave. He remembered how cute Jack used to be, trusting everything he said. But after a year, Jack had become so... complicated.

Kakashi was almost convinced Jack had been replaced by some sneaky, conniving person. The old Jack would never lower himself to flatter someone else.

"Stop talking nonsense! Dressrosa is on the side of justice!" Raijin glared at Kakashi. "If anything, it’s the internal conflicts of the Beasts Pirates that taught Jack to scheme."

"Yes, yes," Kakashi nodded weakly.

Raijin was still Raijin, unchanged.

"Lord Raijin, where are we headed next?" Nico Robin interrupted, unable to listen any longer.

"When Sasori came, he gave me a floating island, just like the one in the Land of Sky," Raijin said. "But it’s smaller, and it’ll serve as a temporary base."

Raijin leaped up to the treetops, his eyes narrowing as he activated his ability. A floating island appeared in the sky, seemingly out of nowhere.

"This is..." Nico Robin's eyes widened in disbelief. It defied all logic!

"So Sasori really recreated the floating islands of the Sky Ninja Village," Kakashi said, amazed.

"I'll take you both up there!" Tobirama Senju placed a hand on each of their shoulders.

In an instant, the three appeared beside Raijin.

Raijin remained calm, having already seen this before. Sasori’s scientific abilities were indeed not far behind Vegapunk’s.

Geniuses don’t need any special powers, Raijin thought. With just their hands, they can bring their dreams to life.

"This huge target floating in the sky will be easily spotted," Kakashi noted, glancing at the floating island. "How can we keep it hidden?"

"Kushina and Mito set up a sealing technique here. As long as there’s enough chakra, the island can stay invisible," Raijin explained, pressing his hand on the ground. Instantly, a massive sealing array covered the entire island.

(Chapter End)

*Chapter 270: The Stronghold of the Sky Ninja Village is Quite Impressive*

A massive sealing technique enveloped the entire floating fortress island!

From the ground, people looking up couldn’t see even the slightest trace of it.

Only those with special ocular techniques could notice something unusual.

However, in this world, people with such special abilities basically don’t exist.

So, Raijin had no reason to worry about such things!

"I never expected this, to think they could even create something like this!"

"It seems your trip to the Sky Ninja Village wasn’t wasted. If this thing were on the sea, even the navy would have a hard time discovering it," Kakashi exclaimed in admiration. This floating fortress might as well be parked above the navy’s heads, and they still wouldn’t detect it.

Just the protection provided by this sealing technique made it impossible to discern anything with the naked eye!

It’s likely that only through direct contact could one find any clues.

But this thing is airborne, how many people can even reach the sky?

Currently, on the entire sea, only those with flying Devil Fruit powers can make it into the sky.

Other than that, there's no way to detect it.

"It seems the sealing techniques of the Uzumaki clan are still as powerful as ever. There are still traces left behind by our sister-in-law here," Tobirama Senju nodded in agreement.

Back when Konoha was first established, Tobirama wanted to bring the Uzumaki clan into Konoha because of their sealing techniques.

However, the Uzumaki clan was stubborn and insisted on establishing their own nation!

In the end, due to Hashirama's influence, they couldn’t bring them over.

This was Tobirama's greatest regret.

If the Uzumaki clan had been part of Konoha, the village would have been much stronger back then.

Hmm...

Tobirama suddenly remembered his several good disciples.

His face immediately darkened!

If they had really been part of Konoha, the Senju clan might have gone extinct in the village.

Given the way his disciples acted, no matter how valuable a clan was to Konoha, they had to be eliminated.

Only clans that were truly under control could benefit Konoha.

Tobirama felt like he might have made a big mistake!

After all, it was he who taught those disciples.

The Uzumaki clan fell into crisis, and Konoha didn’t provide assistance.

The Senju clan fell from power, leaving only Tsunade with the Senju bloodline, yet his disciples turned a blind eye.

Even when the Uchiha clan ran away, who knows what role Konoha played?

The disciples I chose were truly something.

After all, the Uzumaki clan, Senju clan, and Uchiha clan were all thousand-year clans with extraordinary strength and deep roots!

To think that these disciples could suppress all of these clans.

Even the Hyuga clan now seems to be behaving themselves.

A person without a bloodline limit managed to suppress the four great clans.

Too bad they didn’t appear during the Warring States period!

Otherwise...

Tobirama would’ve used Flying Thunder God to cut off their heads long ago.

"How are you replenishing chakra for this? Are the ninjas who came this time providing it?" Kakashi suddenly asked a rather critical question.

Feeling a chill in his heart, he widened his eyes and looked at Raijin.

If that were the case, these people would have to extract chakra every day to keep this thing running.

Soon, they'd be too exhausted to even move.

"Before we came, Orochimaru and the others had already stored chakra from the Nine-Tails and other tailed beasts inside."

"With the current amount of chakra, as long as we don’t use the chakra cannon, this fortress can run at minimum power for at least a hundred years!"

"The power of the tailed beasts far surpasses the Zero-Tails that the Sky Ninja Village could ever dream up. Their chakra density is very high, so the operating cost is low."

Raijin stroked his chin as he spoke.

Half of the tailed beasts' chakra had been extracted and stored in this fortress.

The basic operations of the fortress were sustained by the tailed beasts' chakra.

As long as they didn’t use powerful weapons, the chakra wouldn’t run out.

A chakra cannon, for instance, could destroy an entire mountain in one blast.

It would cause devastating damage!

However, using it consumes a massive amount of chakra.

They still needed to wait!

Orochimaru and Sasori were working on solving the problem of harnessing natural energy.

Once they cracked the mystery of natural energy...

Their aerial fortress could run indefinitely, even without chakra from the tailed beasts.

By absorbing natural energy from the world, they could replenish it, albeit more slowly.

"I never thought that the tailed beasts, terrifying creatures in the ninja world, could be as obedient as pets in your hands!" Kakashi exclaimed.

In the ninja world, no one wasn’t afraid of the tailed beasts.

But this guy had released the tailed beasts.

He even harnessed their chakra.

Such a thing was unthinkable in the ninja world. No one would dare attempt it.

Only the fierce Uchiha clan might have been capable of such a feat.

"This world seems much poorer than the ninja world," Orochimaru licked his lips, scanning the town.

The people here were dressed in simple clothes and looked incredibly poor.

They were all thin and weak.

These people probably didn’t even have the strength to walk much.

"Orochimaru-sama, are we gathering intelligence here?" A nearby ninja noticed some unfriendly stares and asked with a frown.

The looks from these people were like a pack of wolves, starving and eyeing the outsiders as prey.

If this were at sea, they would’ve been dead long ago.

But they had just arrived in this world, so caution was necessary.

"Yes! You should know, Raijin-sama said that these ghosts only appear at night."

"They fear sunlight. The moment they touch it, they’ll turn to smoke and die."

"With the sun so bright right now, they won’t appear. We’ll wait until nightfall. In the meantime, explore the area! Get the surrounding map drawn out."

"And these common folk likely know nothing about the Demon Slayer Corps or the demons!"

"So we’ll need bait for tonight! Find out where people have gone missing and who they were."

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with cunning. He needed some bait to catch these demons.

Orochimaru might look frail, but he had awakened Conqueror’s Haki.

With both the potential for Conqueror’s Haki and immense strength, capturing a weak demon would be a breeze.

"Yes!"

The nearby ninja nodded and disappeared into the alleys like a ghost, barely visible.

As for the people with malicious intent...

They were all noticed. How could Orochimaru have missed them?

"The local customs are quite... wholesome! Compared to the ninja world and the sea, these people are incredibly friendly," Orochimaru said with a smile as he entered a teahouse, holding some gold flakes.

He rented a room in the small town, waiting for the bait to take the hook.

At night!

Several men with their faces covered by black cloth quietly opened the door.

"Be careful! This guy casually tossed out a few gold flakes, he’s no ordinary man."

"If we rob him, we’ll have enough money to settle down somewhere safe and even get married."

The leader slapped a subordinate who was acting too rashly, sternly warning him.

Wealthy people rarely came here, and when they did, they were usually surrounded by guards.

There was never a chance to strike, but this time!

Orochimaru had sent his guards away, giving them the perfect opportunity.

"Yes, yes!"

A few people hurriedly and cautiously closed the door.

In the darkness, they exchanged a glance. By the light of the leader's oil lamp, they could see the sinister smiles on each other's faces.

They believed this big score would definitely satisfy them.

The group tiptoed toward a room in the corner.

They had already scoped it out—the outsider was staying in that house.

"Thud!"

Suddenly, one of them fell to the ground with a loud crash.

They quickly looked toward the room, their hearts racing.

After realizing there was no movement, they breathed a sigh of relief.

"You idiot! Be more careful!"

The man in charge turned around and scolded, annoyed that his subordinate was so clumsy.

What if they woke the person inside?

"I stepped on something slippery, that's why I fell," the man muttered, bewildered. He had been walking just fine.

He reached down, feeling around the ground, and grabbed a long, slender object.

His face showed a mix of emotions as a suspicion formed in his mind.

With trembling hands, he picked up the object.

"A snake!"

By the flickering firelight, he could clearly see the scaly creature in his hand.

Its long tongue flickered, and its vertical eyes stared directly at him.

Hiss!

The sound of hissing filled the air!

Long, slithering shapes slowly began crawling onto their bodies.

The group felt it clearly. The greed in their eyes was now entirely replaced by fear.

"Snakes!"

They scattered in all directions, racing toward the door.

But they didn’t get far before the snakes coiled around their bodies, binding them tightly.

Huge eyes stared at them, and a massive mouth opened wide.

Crunch!

Orochimaru watched as the ordinary men were swallowed by the giant snakes. His face remained emotionless.

"Orochimaru-sama! From what we understand, these demons prefer to eat younger people."

"Most of the people who've gone missing recently are between fifteen and eighteen years old!"

"Now, there’s only one young person left in this town..."

Even without hearing more, Orochimaru already understood the situation.

The young people in this town were almost all dead.

Especially the young women—only one remained.

"These men are useless now," Orochimaru said, glancing at the men who had just been swallowed. They were too old to be of interest to the demons.

These demons sure were picky eaters.

The snakes nodded and slithered away, planning to rest and digest their meals.

"We'll lie in wait," Orochimaru said. "No need to make a big fuss searching."

"He's probably getting ready to make his move by now."

A sinister smile appeared on Orochimaru’s face as he walked outside.

Several Anbu agents followed closely behind.

Because of the demon rumors, the town was eerily quiet at night.

Hardly anyone dared to go out, and those who did go missing weren’t reported.

Only that one family had been irrational enough to act.

Everyone else just watched in silence, as long as they weren’t affected.

Orochimaru moved lightly across the rooftops, making no sound.

They stopped above the house of the remaining girl, watching as a dark shadow slowly crept toward the house.

"Here it comes!"

Orochimaru stared intently.

The dark figure melted into the ground, moving too quickly for them to follow.

In an instant, the girl inside the house was dragged into the darkness.

"Interesting ability!"

Orochimaru’s eyes lit up, and in a flash, he disappeared from where he stood.

Just before the shadow could vanish, Orochimaru reached out and yanked the girl back with immense strength.

"Who's there?"

The shadow emerged, its eyes filled with greed as it looked at the girl Orochimaru held.

The demons had been starving for a long time, eager for a feast.

But they hadn't expected someone to interfere.

"So this is a demon? It doesn’t look very impressive, but it has its uses," Orochimaru said, lowering the girl and inspecting the creature.

The girl saw the demon too, and in terror, she collapsed onto the ground.

She knew that her peers had been disappearing one by one.

Now, there wasn’t a single person her age left in the entire town.

Their disappearances hadn’t caused any alarm, as if they’d all been forgotten.

She had heard the stories of demons and lived in constant fear that her time would come.

She hadn’t expected it to be tonight.

But at least someone had saved her.

"You!"

The demon, enraged by Orochimaru’s words, let out a roar.

It lunged at him from the ground.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Orochimaru raised an arm, and in an instant, several snakes shot out, binding the demon.

"Use Seastone to tie it up. Now, let me take a closer look," Orochimaru said with a nod, finding the whole thing quite easy.

These demons were a huge threat to ordinary people.

But to him, they were like mere insects.

Too weak!

Even a mid-level shinobi could catch them without much trouble.

(End of chapter)