Ye Zi had no idea that his mission records from Root were being meticulously studied by a young boy, not glanced at briefly but scrutinized word by word with intense focus. Nor could he imagine that the power he displayed during his assault on Konoha would be fully observed by this boy. Which didn't evoke fear, but instead to ignite a desire to surpass him and protect Konoha.
At this moment, Ye Zi was leading his followers to the Land of Waterfalls. His plan was to occupy Takigakure (the Hidden Waterfall Village) and use it as the site for their new base.
Though Ye Zi had never been to this place, he was familiar with it. When Nagato had captured the Seven-Tails, he had devastated Takigakure. Through that incident, and with White Zetsu's assistance, Ye Zi had also learned much about Nagato's Rinnegan abilities.
Standing on a rock protruding from a cliff, Ye Zi silently surveyed the village below.
The once-destroyed Takigakure had started to recover, with a few new buildings erected. Due to the significant loss of population, the houses were clustered at the center of the village. Although there was plenty of open space, the homes were not scattered, it was a clear indication of planning for future expansion.
But now that Ye Zi had arrived, Takigakure, which once held the Seven-Tails, was destined to vanish from the annals of ninja history.
Ye Zi leapt forward, descending from above to land in the center of the village.
"Enemy attack!"
The first Takigakure ninja to spot Ye Zi shouted the alarm, his voice echoing across the village before he could even identify the intruder.
Hearing the commotion, all the village's ninja mobilized swiftly, surrounding Ye Zi in no time.
"Impressive response speed," Ye Zi commented as he glanced at the encircling Takigakure ninja.
At this moment, he activated Sage Mode. In this state, his strength was multiplied several times over, fundamentally altering his combat style.
Ye Zi rarely used Sage Mode in battle, so he cherished each opportunity to gain more experience with it.
The recent assault on Konoha had served as a perfect proving ground. Figures like Minato had provided invaluable insights into mastering Sage Mode in combat.
A crackling sound filled the air as pitch-black lightning began to envelop Ye Zi's body. Unlike during the Konoha assault, when the intensity of his chakra shrouded his body, revealing only his golden eyes. This time, the density of the black lightning could be adjusted to save chakra.
With his body cloaked in "Dark Lightning Mode," Ye Zi's right eye transformed into his eerie "Sage Mangekyō Sharingan," a fusion of the Mangekyō Sharingan and serpent-like Sage eyes.
Although Ye Zi viewed this battle as an opportunity to gain experience, he did not let his guard down. Activating the Mangekyō Sharingan provided him with an added layer of security.
Ignoring the Takigakure ninjas' questions, Ye Zi said nothing. Like a black flash of lightning, he dove into the group, initiating a massacre.
Screams echoed throughout the village as Takigakure met its doom.
With each toll of the death knell Ye Zi had brought:
First, countless lives fell. Second, buildings collapsed into rubble. Third, all traces of the village were erased.
Thus, Takigakure was officially erased from the pages of ninja history.
After annihilating the village, Ye Zi meticulously cleared the debris and corpses. He then led his followers to the site and used a combination of Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation and Wood Release to create a new base. In a short time, he had constructed a base even more perfect than the previous two.
Thanks to Inorganic Reincarnation, this base was no longer built solely of wood. Its design leaned toward the aesthetic of a traditional fortress.
When the group entered the new base, most of the teenagers and young adults expressed astonishment. Having grown accustomed to wooden walls, floors, and furniture, the stone-built base presented a striking visual contrast.
After finishing the base, even Ye Zi felt fatigued. He delegated the remaining tasks to Orochimaru and others, then found a random room in the residential area. Lying on the wooden bed, he closed his eyes and rested.
When Ye Zi chose his room, Nanako, acting quickly, immediately claimed the room next to his, while Kimimaro just as cleverly took the other room adjacent to Ye Zi's.
The two moved so swiftly that by the time Kotoe realized what had happened, both Nanako and Kimimaro had already taken the best positions, leaving her momentarily stunned.
Nanako's room was non-negotiable, so a frustrated Kotoe went straight to Kimimaro. Using her seniority and superior strength, she forced him to give up his room.
Under Kotoe's pressure, Kimimaro reluctantly accepted the situation and surrendered the room. With no other choice, he moved to a nearby room, which he ended up sharing with Jugo.
This newly created base had a residential area where all the rooms were clustered together.
Seeing Nanako and the others set the precedent, the kids soon started their own "room-grabbing battle."
Shin silently smiled at the scene. He didn't intervene, viewing the skirmishes over room assignments as impromptu training.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, merely shook his head in mild exasperation and headed directly for the laboratory area. Although the lab section was smaller than the training area, it had plenty of rooms. Orochimaru easily claimed one for himself, conveniently close to the lab.
While Ye Zi slept, the room assignments were quickly sorted out. Soon after, the new laboratory was also set up, allowing Nanako and Orochimaru to dive back into their respective research.
The two worked separately due to their different areas of focus:
Orochimaru was researching cursed seals and Sage Techniques and Nanako was focused on reducing the risks associated with implanting Hashirama's cells.
When Ye Zi woke from his rest, he found a plate of steaming hot food on the table and someone sitting by his bed.
Perhaps due to familiarity, Ye Zi wasn't surprised at all.
"You're awake," Kotoe said with a soft smile, propping her chin on her hand as she gazed at him.
"Mm," Ye Zi nodded, getting out of bed and heading straight to wash up. When he returned, he sat at the table, ready to eat.
The piping hot food was undoubtedly the result of Kotoe reheating it multiple times or perhaps replacing it entirely so that it would still be warm the moment Ye Zi woke up.
Sitting across from him with a gentle smile, Kotoe watched him, as always, hoping to see him enjoy the food and hear his thoughts on it.
Ye Zi picked up his chopsticks but didn't start eating immediately. The moment was familiar, yet he could no longer say the words he once would: "Join me for a meal..."
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Currently on Chapter 502 - Five Seconds