Land of Rain
The Iwagakure supply squad was rushing towards the border between the Land of Rain and Konoha, to enter Konoha and transport the supplies sealed in scrolls to the Iwagakure forces fighting on the front lines against Konoha.
"The Land of Rain has changed so much!"
The Iwagakure Ninja looked at the golden wheat fields in the distance. The former Hidden Rain Village was a place even rogue Ninja were unwilling to come to, with constant rain all year round, a harsh environment, and extreme chaos.
"I heard it's the changes brought by their cooperation with White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company."
"Alright, we need to move at full speed and get these supplies to the front lines as quickly as possible!"
The squad leader said sternly, increasing his pace. The Iwagakure Ninja carrying huge scrolls on their backs had no choice but to speed up to keep up.
"You no longer have a chance."
Orochimaru's figure suddenly appeared in the air, forming hand seals.
"Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation!"
Screams rang out one after another. The ground beneath the Iwagakure Ninja was imbued with life, writhing and transforming into sharp spikes that pierced their bodies.
"Orochimaru, when did you leave that?"
Ichikishimahime pointed at the Flying Thunder God Technique formula, which read "Science Above All," floating on the sash behind her.
"When you came to scout."
Orochimaru reached out and wiped away the Flying Thunder God Technique formula from the sash, then casually left a Flying Thunder God Technique formula on Ichikishimahime's clothes.
"What's sealed in the scrolls on their backs?"
Ichikishimahime looked at the large scrolls on the backs of the Hidden Stone Ninja supply squad's corpses, her eyes lighting up as she realized what they were for. "Is it delicious food?" she asked.
Orochimaru looked at the eager Ichikishimahime and suggested, "Opening them rashly might be dangerous. Do you want to try?"
"You're the one who wants to open them, aren't you? I'm not interested!"
Ichikishimahime had wanted to open them and take a look, but upon hearing Orochimaru's ill-intentioned words, she immediately lost interest.
"Coward."
Orochimaru sneered, then collected the large scrolls from the backs of the Hidden Stone Ninja supply squad. These were strategic materials; not lacking money didn't mean she would leave these materials here!
Being short on money and being thrifty were two completely different things.
Someone short on money might be a spendthrift living paycheck to paycheck, while someone not short on money, even with a string of zeros in their bank account, might still check meal delivery apps daily for new options.
"Who are you calling a coward! I'm helping you!"
Ichikishimahime waved her small fists.
"Alright, alright, it's my fault. I shouldn't have called you a coward when you hesitated. You are a powerful Snake Princesses Sage, second only to the White Snake Sage of Ryūchi Cave!"
Orochimaru sealed all the scrolls onto the snake scales in her sleeve. She estimated these items could be worth millions, or even tens of millions of ryo.
It was wartime, and Ninja tools that were already expensive in peacetime saw their prices skyrocket during war.
These items might sell for an exorbitant price!
"At least you're sensible!"
Ichikishimahime snorted, feeling like something was still a bit off.
"Let's go, it's time to head to the rendezvous point."
Orochimaru did not deal with the Hidden Stone Ninja supply squad's corpses. By the time these bodies were discovered and the information reached Iwagakure, the surprise attack squad would have already successfully attacked the Hidden Stone Ninja supply unit's camp.
"This is so boring! Should we look around the Land of Rain? It's still early before your meetup time, right? We used Sage Art to change that mountain, and I didn't expect it would change this country's climate. How did you know that? The golden wheat fields over there are so beautiful, let's go see them? Tagorihime and Tagitsuhime will definitely be jealous of me!"
Ichikishimahime floated behind Orochimaru like a spirit, chattering incessantly.
"You asked me for help but not them, and their faces were quite displeased!"
Ichikishimahime covered her mouth, smiling triumphantly.
Displeased… Orochimaru's steps faltered at the words. She was a bit reluctant to go to Ryūchi Cave afterward.
She thought that if she didn't go to Ryūchi Cave, when she summoned Garaga, Manda, or Blue Snake in the future, the Three Snake Princesses Sages might take over the summoning.
What if she didn't summon the three great snakes, but instead summoned the three thousand-year-old ancestors?
She should have summoned Tagorihime and Tagitsuhime along… Sigh… Orochimaru sighed inwardly.
"Orochimaru, let's go look over there! Just take a look!"
Ichikishimahime flew around Orochimaru, constantly trying to get her to take her to see the fields and towns of the Land of Rain.
"As the captain of the surprise attack squad, I cannot do such a thing. After the mission is over, if you still want to go then, I will take you to see."
Orochimaru, despite Ichikishimahime's persistent coaxing, held her ground.
"You're too rigid! It's still so early. We don't know how long we'll have to wait once we reach the Land of Earth!"
Ichikishimahime reluctantly followed behind Orochimaru.
"This isn't rigidity, but rather, we are currently on a mission, an important mission. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, Ichikishimahime, keep up with me."
Orochimaru condensed a Truth-Seeking Orb into a disc and stood on it, flying towards the Land of Earth.
"Wow! What is this?!"
Ichikishimahime saw the black disc beneath Orochimaru's feet, circled her once, flew beneath the black disc, touched it with her finger, and after confirming it was safe to touch, tapped it with her hand.
"It's the product of the seven Chakra nature transformations and shape transformations pushed to their limits. You can also call it a Truth-Seeking Orb."
Orochimaru was a little excited, flying in the air this way for the first time. The disc formed by the Truth-Seeking Orb beneath her feet was like a flying machine, giving her the feeling of having traveled from the Ninja World to a highly technologically advanced future world.
"Truth-Seeking Orb? Isn't that Otsutsuki Hagoromo's…"
Ichikishimahime realized what she had said, covered her mouth with both hands, and blinked her deep blue eyes, indicating she had said nothing at all.
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"