Linto stayed in Kumogakure for three days.
For three days, all kinds of rumors flew everywhere.
Some said that Linto's talks with Kumogakure broke down, and he massacred the village from top to bottom, causing rivers of blood.
Others said that Linto had already been assassinated on his first night in Kumogakure, and his body was now rotting.
Even more outrageous rumors said that Kumogakure had found thirty-six plump women skilled in Lightning Release and Water Style, who had captivated Linto, making him linger and forget to return, planning to live permanently in Kumogakure.
As Linto and Sasuke walked out of the village under the escort of Killer Bee and others after three days, many rumors died down on their own.
Kumogakure found a ship for Linto, with a cargo hold large enough to hold the White Snake Sage's head, as well as compensation and follow-up documents, asking Linto to take them back together.
Linto stood by the river, waved to Killer Bee and others, and said, "Go back, no need to see me off."
Everyone waved goodbye.
The ship started, and Linto and Sasuke's figures gradually became smaller.
Killer Bee looked at the eldest disciple, Samui, who was standing silently beside him, watching Linto leave.
She looked very tired.
This was inevitable. For three days, Samui had been communicating with various parties in the village about the Kirigakure connection.
The busyness of work was one aspect.
On the other hand, there was the mockery from Kumogakure compatriots.
"I really envy you, Samui, for holding onto a thick thigh."
"How does it feel to betray the village and gain power?"
"If I don't listen to you, will you remember my name and have Linto beat me to death someday?"
Of course, the mockery was in the minority.
Most Kumogakure Ninja are straightforward and frank.
So, the words Samui heard the most were:
Samui, damn it—
"Sigh."
Killer Bee handed over a bottle of juice, interrupting Samui's memories.
"I need tea or coffee."
Samui said this, but still took the juice, twisted it open, and took a big gulp, putting the stone hanging in her heart back down.
"What did Linto say to you to make you take this job?" Killer Bee asked.
Samui looked at Linto's departing figure and said after a long silence:
"He said that this job is not easy to do, and asked me if I wanted to go with him.
He also said that Konoha Village and the future Sunagakure Village both need someone familiar with 'awakening knowledge.' The same work, but in a different environment, would be easier to do...
But I refused."
"Why?" Killer Bee asked.
"Because this job, in Kumogakure, is hard for anyone to do. They would be hated. Since that's the case, it's better for me, a traitor, to take it on."
"As long as the people of the village can smile more because of it, that's enough."
Killer Bee scratched his head.
He knew that Samui was not a traitor.
If her carrier pigeon had flown out back then, this battle might not have happened.
Big brother would still be Raikage, and the elites of the Ninjutsu squad would not be injured. They would still be the strongest village.
Samui truly made the judgment from the village's perspective.
Killer Bee wanted to offer some comfort, but didn't know how to start, so he reached into his pocket, took out a piece of paper, and handed it over.
"I see you've been working hard lately, so this is a new song I wrote for you."
Samui took the paper and looked at it. It was full of impassioned rap lyrics. She shook her head and sighed, saying:
"The world is about to be in turmoil. Does the teacher have no ambition, and just writes lyrics for fun?"
After saying this, she ignored the dumbfounded Killer Bee and turned back to the village to continue working.
…
The Land of Thunder is just north of the Land of Water.
Going south, after crossing the ocean, you arrive at the Land of Water.
Taking advantage of the time on the ship, Linto continued to study the White Snake Sage's big head.
Even after being dead for so long, it was still constantly releasing life force, and unlike the life force of ordinary living things, the life force released by the White Snake Sage's head was more like a... radiation.
"A person's body temperature is hot."
"But certain radioactive materials, when releasing radiation during their half-life, also continuously generate heat."
"Both are heat, but their properties are completely different."
Linto touched it with his palm, and his ripple power penetrated inward, but under the interference of the powerful life force, he could not sense it carefully.
However, after so many days of exploration, Linto gradually figured out a method.
Adjust the frequency of the ripple power, making it sharper and thinner, and stabbing it towards the core.
It was another long attempt, because the ripple power was too sharp and small, and compared to the huge snake head, he could only explore it bit by bit.
Just when Linto was about to end his exploration for the day, his ripple power suddenly touched something.
It was a thumb-sized sphere of unknown material, half pure white and the other half golden in color. All the life force released by the White Snake Sage's head came from this small sphere.
Buzz—
Linto's ripple power was bounced away, and his connection was broken.
He carefully recalled the details of the small ball, his mouth half-open:
"The small ball just now, could it be the White Snake Sage's dragon... dragon ball?"
Linto's heart beat faster.
His ripple power training had entered another bottleneck. If he could absorb the White Snake Sage's life essence accumulated over thousands of years, he might be able to take another step forward, such as...
Gaining the strength to fly out of the planet and take a look at the moon?
Or, like Kars, becoming the ultimate being who is truly immortal?
No matter which result, it would be good for Linto.
He pulled out the Rupture Blade from the "rift," summoned Star Platinum to use time stop, and chopped and smashed. After a dozen minutes of work, he finally cut out a gap according to the remembered location.
Linto reached into the gap and touched the "dragon ball," and was about to pull it out.
But just moving it a little released a large amount of life force, and a wisp of the golden color on the dragon ball was reduced.
Linto understood.
"The White Snake Sage's head is like a freezer bag. Once it's taken out, the life essence in the dragon ball will dissipate."
But with it in the snake's head, Linto couldn't study the dragon ball at all, let alone absorb it.
He thought for a moment and put the dragon ball back into the freezer bag.
"After I go back, I'll take a trip to Mount Myōboku and visit the Great Toad Sage."
The toad sage who can see the future might be able to give Linto an idea.
Linto wiped the snake blood off his arm, returned to the deck, and saw Sasuke organizing gifts.
These were souvenirs that Sasuke bought in Kumogakure.
These days, Linto discussed follow-up arrangements with Killer Bee, and Sasuke, who had nothing to do, wandered around the village.
"How was your three days in Kumogakure?" Linto asked.
"Very interesting."
Kumogakure has mountainous areas that Konoha and Kirigakure don't have, so it was indeed a very novel experience for Sasuke.
"It's just that there are always a bunch of older sisters in short skirts and low-cut tops wandering around me, chattering away. It's so annoying."
Linto was speechless.
The ship continued to move forward.
Land could be seen at the end of the sea.
Linto sailed towards the harbor and noticed that the harbor was full of people, civilians, Kirigakure ninjas, and mostly samurai and servants.
The samurai wore long swords at their waists, stood upright, and held flags in their hands that fluttered in the sea breeze.
Servants had laid large pieces of silk in advance on the harbor, and held up large parasols.
Saito Ayame and her four-year-old son were kneeling on two cushions, respectfully waiting for the ship to approach.
When the ship stopped, Saito Ayame took her son and bowed in a dogeza posture, and said:
"Welcome back, teacher, for defeating the White Snake, defeating Kumogakure, and returning in glory."
As soon as she finished speaking, the samurai and servants all shouted in unison:
"Defeating the White Snake, defeating Kumogakure, returning in glory!"
Linto stood on the ship, looked at Saito Ayame, and then looked at the samurai, servants, civilians, and ninjas.
Everyone's eyes shone with light.
This was the light of witnessing history, witnessing a legend, and sharing in the glory.
Linto walked down the ship step by step.
Saito Ayame stood up immediately and walked gracefully.
"What are you planning again?" Linto asked.
Saito Ayame said, "Linto-sensei, you're joking. I didn't do anything. Everyone heard that you would be returning soon, and came to welcome you on their own.
I saw that the weather was hot, so I prepared tea and parasols for everyone in advance, and also-"
She took a step forward, almost touching Linto, and a fragrance wafted over as she whispered:
"...Also, Kirigakure has been attacked by foreign enemies, and there are many injured and many people who have lost their homes, houses, and jobs.
People need a little mental comfort to help them get out of their sadness.
I'm not saying this to you as the wife of the Daimyo, but as a member of the Land of Water. Please don't refuse."
As she spoke, she pointed to the rear.
Tall horses.
A carriage specially used to display the White Snake Sage's head.
And magnificent armor and treasured swords hanging on the side.
These were all prepared for Linto.
"So flashy?"
Saito Ayame covered her mouth and chuckled, "With your strength, this is already considered simple."
More than just simple?
Single-handedly defeating the Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, this was absolute power.
After defeating the enemy, making them cooperate sincerely with us, this was absolute skill.
There are many people who have power, and there are not a few people who have skill, but those who possess both at the same time and take it to the extreme...
Saito Ayame prided herself on having seen many strong people.
But these people were not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Linto.
Linto used Hermit Purple to pull out the White Snake Sage's head and the war reparations, and threw them onto the prepared carriage.
"That's it."
Linto pushed away the samurai who were separating the civilians, grabbed the carriage reins, and walked towards the town.
Saito Ayame was stunned, her eyes falling on Linto's simple Mabui clothes.
"But the horse and clothes…"
Sasuke trotted over to help Linto pull the carriage, heard Saito Ayame's words, and said:
"Clothes just need to cover the body, as for the horse..."
Sasuke looked at Linto walking into the crowd.
He smiled, didn't continue to explain, and chased after him.
Saito Ayame looked at Linto merging into the civilians, and then looked at the gorgeous dress on her body, feeling so out of place.
In the past, this sense of incongruity gave her a great sense of superiority.
Saito Ayame turned her sense of superiority into the tolerance, aloofness, and condescension of a superior to a subordinate.
But today, her sense of superiority, for some unknowable reason, had disappeared.
It was as if…
Saito Ayame was the one who had been "left behind."
---
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