Sunny and cheerful Konoha Genin

"It was Lord Orochimaru who asked us to come here..."

Karin explained, then couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.

"Brother Ito, that Kumogakure Anbu just now..."

"It won't be a problem, right?"

"Well, let's talk about this later. I'm going to look for the Raikage. Do you want to come with me?"

"what?"

When these words were spoken, not only Karin but even Kimimaro was stunned.

"Why are you reacting like this? Isn't that what you were going to look for?"

"We originally wanted to find the Raikage to find out your whereabouts, but now you've shown up..."

"Ah, that's it."

Ito Toru suddenly realized.

"Then take off your forehead protector first, and just pretend you're with me."

"It's so hard to come to the Hidden Cloud Village. It would be a pity if I don't meet the Raikage."

"After all, I don't know if I'll ever see this Raikage again."

His tone was light.

But both Karin and Kimimaro showed a hint of shock in their hearts.

Naturally, they could hear the hidden meaning in Toru Ito's words.

"Is Ito-nii so powerful now?"

There was a gleam of admiration in Karin's eyes.

"I'm not the one who's awesome. Um... Anyway, just follow me and you'll know when you see it."

"I'm going! Kimimaro, do you want to come with me?"

Karin herself would definitely go with them, but she was not sure whether Kimimaro would be willing to go.

Because Kimimaro's personality is the kind of person who is relatively indifferent to everything, and it seems that he has no interest in anything other than the mission.

But this time he acted out of character.

"Okay."

"Then come with me."

Toru Ito walked in front, and the three of them walked into the Raikage Building together.

As soon as I entered the building, an indescribable cool air hit me in the face.

The previously damaged walls and the bodies that had fallen to the ground had all been cleaned up.

The interior of the building is also clean.

But the number of people coming and going was obviously much smaller.

"..."

Kimimaro narrowed his eyes slightly and glanced around inconspicuously.

There was clearly nothing, but there was a sense of danger in my heart, as if someone was watching me in the dark.

"Ito-san..."

Karin's perception was more acute, so she felt more uncomfortable, and her body unconsciously moved closer to Toru Ito.

"It makes me feel so uncomfortable here... Why is it so eerie? Even more eerie than Orochimaru-sama's laboratory."

“It wasn’t like this originally.”

Ito Toru explained as he walked forward.

"But recently, something happened in the Hidden Cloud Village, which is why I will take you to see the Raikage."

"But you don't have to worry too much, because what happened here has nothing to do with us."

"It is highly unlikely that it will affect us."

"Um……"

Hearing him say this, Karin suddenly became much calmer.

“That’s great.”

Kimimaro just followed behind without saying a word.

In this way, Toru Ito and Karin walked to the Raikage's office while chatting casually.

dong dong.

He knocked on the door twice and then pushed it open and walked in.

The hair of Karin and Kimimaro, who were following behind them, stood up all of a sudden!

Especially when they saw a tall and mighty figure standing inside.

The Fourth Raikage——Ai!

"This is the Raikage!"

A drop of sweat appeared on Kimimaro's forehead and slowly flowed down.

Although the other party did nothing, just stood there.

But a terrible feeling still kept rushing over me like a tide.

It was as if the lion's mere presence of its feet and the sound of its breathing alone was enough to make the small animal's heart beat faster.

"..."

Ai, who was standing there, slowly turned his head.

"This……"

Karin was also very scared at first, but when she sensed the chakra on Ai, she couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

Hollowness, and irritability, mixed with a hint of hatred.

It was like thunder echoing in a distant wilderness.

Although it was terrifying, because the distance was very far, people could only feel the huge momentum.

How could this be?

Just when Karin was confused, Ai spoke slowly.

"What are you here for?"

The person he was looking at was Toru Ito.

"Kirabi has been rescued, you can rest assured."

Toru Ito looked at Ai's exposed pale arm with a subtle expression.

"Now you're not even trying to hide it?"

"There's no need for that. I'll kill anyone who dares to say that."

"...It fits your style."

"Who are these two people?"

"My friend, and also Orochimaru's subordinate."

"Orochimaru's subordinates?"

Ai's eyes swept across Karin and Kimimaro, making them feel as if their bodies were electrocuted.

But this feeling soon disappeared.

"The Uzumaki clan and the bloodline of the Kaguya clan... It seems that Orochimaru is doing a lot of things behind the scenes. What are they doing here?"

"Who knows."

Ito Toru turned around and asked, "Karin, you came to see me, Kimimaro, why did you come?"

"To become stronger."

"Become stronger?"

Ai looked at Kimimaro with empty eyes, making him feel as if there was another existence behind the other's eyes, looking at him with indifferent and ruthless eyes.

Who is that? !

Kimimaro was startled and couldn't help but take a step back.

What made him even more uncomfortable was that he had an indescribable feeling of familiarity in that look.

It's like... an inexplicable blood connection.

"Just you?"

Black Zetsu, who was controlling the Raikage, sneered.

"Rather than thinking about becoming stronger, you should cherish your life. With your weak body, it's a miracle that you can survive until now. Why are you still thinking about becoming stronger?"

!!!

Karin was shocked.

This weird Raikage actually saw through Kimimaro’s problem at a glance!

She just vaguely felt that something was wrong with Kimimaro's condition.

But I can't figure out what's going on just by my own ability.

And this Raikage, whose brain seems to be all about muscles, can actually see Kimimaro's problem at once!

Something is wrong!

"..."

"That doesn't matter. My life means nothing as long as I can give my all to Orochimaru-sama."

Kimimaro was silent, then spoke.

"is it?"

His words aroused some interest in Black Zetsu, and he began to carefully examine the bloodline of the Hyuga clan.

Although his strength is weak and his body is basically broken.

But this will...

Maybe it could be useful?

A bold idea suddenly emerged in Hei Zetsu's mind.

"Interesting, I'll think about it."

He controlled the Raikage to speak.

"But... Ito Toru, you brought them here, so I guess you already have an idea?"

"Just try your luck."

Ito Toru shrugged.

"After all, I don't have the convenient ability like you."

"My ability?"

Black Zetsu's tone suddenly turned cold: "Do you know my ability?"

"Although it's rare, it's not unrecorded. I guess it's not a strange thing, right?"

"..."

Black Zetsu was silent.

At this moment, Karin and Kimimaro were like awkward passers-by, and no one understood what they were talking about.

However, both of them had a feeling that they seemed to have heard a big secret that they could not understand for the time being.

Kimimaro was fine, but Karin's eyes were kind of brightening up and her ears were pricked up.

But the next second, Ito Toru waved his hand: "You guys go out first, just wait outside, the following content is not suitable for you to listen to."

"Yes."

"Ok."

Kimimaro, whose expression remained calm, and Karin, whose face was filled with pity, walked out of the door together and waited at the door.

The door to the Raikage's office is thick enough to block out all sound.

in the room.

"What do you mean?!"

Next to the Raikage, Black Zetsu appeared and glared at Ito Toru.

"You want me to help that sick kid? Why?"

"Because he deserves it."

Unlike Black Zetsu who was screaming in anxiety, Ito Toru was extremely calm.

"And... you should be the one who knows best about his potential power."

"..."

Hei Jue's eyes narrowed: "Who are you?"

What Ito Toru said was completely like what he said as someone who knows the inside story.

"This is not important. What is important is that we now have a basis for cooperation, right?"

"Ha ha……"

Black Zetsu sneered: "Okay, but I'll tell you in advance that his power requires a transplant of the Byakugan."