A moment later,
On a distant mountain peak in the Land of Rice Fields.
Kyo's figure suddenly appeared on it, a faint smile instantly spreading across his face.
It had to be said,
The smarter a person is, the easier they are to fool at certain times.
Take the scientist Orochimaru, for example.
Right now, he's probably trying to investigate the existence of Las Noches by various means, and working hard to collect forbidden techniques in order to join.
Thinking of this, Kyo couldn't help but curl his lips.
Next,
All he basically needed to do was wait and reap the harvest.
And Orochimaru, completely unaware, had become a worker helping Kyo collect forbidden techniques...
"Well then,"
"It's about time to return to Amegakure."
Kyo smiled as he raised his hand, preparing to open a Garganta.
But just then,
Unexpectedly, something happened.
In his mind, the system's notification sound suddenly rang out, very abruptly at this moment.
[Ding! Congratulations, host!]
[You have successfully triggered the system hidden main quest - 'Building Las Noches'!!!]
[New system function, currently unlocking!]
"?!"
Thump!
As the words fell,
Kyo's heart suddenly leaped, and he couldn't help but flicker his gaze.
'Huh?'
'What's going on?'
'Wait, I triggered a hidden main quest...?'
Kyo was momentarily stunned, then began to find it both funny and strange.
'Could it be...'
'Just because I said the words "Las Noches" while fooling Orochimaru, it triggered?'
'Isn't that too ridiculous?'
Just then,
A virtual system interface popped up in front of Kyo's eyes.
A brand new interface instantly appeared, and on it, lines of black text immediately emerged, coming into view.
[Hidden Main Quest - 'Building Las Noches'―]
[Quest Description: The host must, in the identity of the King of Las Noches, build an organization named 'Las Noches' in this world, and expand its influence until it is known throughout the world.]
[Current Influence Level: LV.0 (No Influence).]
[Quest Reward: The higher the influence level of Las Noches, the more various rewards the host can obtain.]
The explanatory text on the interface ended here, very concise.
However, after reading it,
Kyo's eyes instantly lit up, and he revealed a very surprised smile.
'Nice!'
'Just by increasing Las Noches' fame in the Shinobi World, I can directly obtain rewards other than side quests?'
'That's kind of interesting...'
The corners of Kyo's mouth slightly curled, his smile gradually intensifying.
'It seems,'
'I'll have to properly thank Snake Sage later.'
If not for his unwarranted association this time, Kyo might never have triggered this hidden main quest.
"Well, let me think..."
"Where should I start to gradually make Las Noches known..."
Kyo's gaze flickered as he thought carefully.
In fact,
At present, in the entire Shinobi World, only Orochimaru and Kabuto knew the name Las Noches.
Counting on them to build its fame?
That's completely talking in dreams.
These two are masters at lying low; and together, they'd be even more covert.
He knew that even if he waited for them until the Fourth Shinobi World War, they might not manage to make a name for Las Noches.'
That is to say,
Kyo himself had to put on a different identity and step up.
As for who to change into,
That was obvious-
The Hollowfied Kyo.
Or rather... the White Blade, Kitsune Ogre. (T/N: The fox-like ogre mask was changed to Kitsune Ogre.)
This mysterious identity, plastered on the 90 million ryo wanted poster, was a ready-made, perfect disguise!
A hint of a smile immediately appeared on Kyo's face.
He didn't expect that this time, even the scapegoat king Danzo had cleverly helped him out.
Having him take the blame all this time, Kyo actually felt a little embarrassed...
It must be known,
A 90 million ryo bounty comes with its own built-in publicity.
And, coincidentally,
In Kyo's system, there was also a series of side quests for increasing the bounty amount-
"Bounty exceeds 30 million ryo (1/1), completed!"
"Bounty exceeds 100 million ryo (0/1), not yet completed, reward unknown."
"Bounty exceeds 300 million ryo (0/1), not yet completed, reward includes an S-Rank gift pack!"
That is to say,
Next, all Kyo needed to do was cause some major disturbances in the identity of Kitsune Ghost.
Then he could kill two birds with one stone - both increase his bounty and expand Las Noches' fame and influence.
The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed to Kyo, his gaze gradually brightening.
"Well then,"
"I'll start with this method."
With a faint smile on his face, Kyo moved his mind and instantly vanished from the spot.
He decided,
He would use the Sharingan in his possession to create a major news story.
...
Time passed quickly,
And night fell.
In the distant Land of Rain, inside Amegakure.
In a modest residence, Itachi, returned from his mission, pushed open the door and entered.
This place was the residence Juzo had chosen for him back then.
On days without missions, Itachi usually chose to stay here.
But this time, it was different.
The moment he pushed open the door, someone was already sitting inside.
Clad in a black robe, the person sat on a wooden chair, leaning back slightly, legs crossed, wearing an orange spiral mask on his face.
The moment he saw Itachi enter,
From beneath the mask, a low voice immediately sounded.
"Yo..."
"You're back, Itachi."
Uchiha Itachi's gaze momentarily stalled, but he quickly concealed it and said calmly:
"Madara, were you waiting for me?"
The black-robed figure before him was naturally the mysterious masked man who called himself "Uchiha Madara".
"Well... not exactly waiting."
"But, I heard that Pain dispatched you and Biwa Juzo to assist Kyo in intimidating Sunagakure, is that right?"
"...That's correct."
Itachi nodded and said calmly:
"The mission is complete."
"I just returned from reporting to Pain."
The masked man nodded, thought for a moment, then spoke again in a low voice:
"Then, for now, tell me..."
"About everything you saw in that battle."
Itachi's gaze flickered slightly.
'Huh?'
'What's going on?'
'Could it be... that Uchiha Madara is also investigating that Kyo?'
Itachi couldn't help but wonder in his heart.
But,
Even so,
He calmly and carefully recounted everything that had happened in Sunagakure to the masked man.
From Kyo's first attack, up until the end when he instantly defeated Rasa with Black Coffin.
However,
The masked man, who had been very calm and composed at first,
As he listened on, his expression gradually became more serious, and finally, could be described as horrified!
Especially when he heard about the giant armored samurai Kyo summoned cutting a Bijudama in half with one slash,
His breath even caught for a moment.
At that moment, the Kyo he thought he understood quite well suddenly became even more confusing and elusive!
Defeating the One-Tail jinchuriki's sandstorm with Taijutsu...?
Instantly killing the Fourth Kazekage with a Ninjutsu called Black Coffin...?
These things,
Were things the masked man had never even heard of before!
'That Golden Eye brat,'
'Doesn't he have way too damn many skills...?'
'How does he come up with something new every time he fights?'
The room suddenly fell silent.
After a long time,
Itachi finally spoke, breaking the silence, and said:
"About that night,"
"The person in the white fox mask who attacked us in Konoha, have you found any leads?"
The reason he asked this,
Was because Itachi had learned from the masked man a few days ago that this Kitsune Ogre's actions were not directed by Danzo at all.
And his identity was completely not Danzo's subordinate.
Afterwards, the masked man disappeared for a while, saying he was going to find Kitsune Ogre's whereabouts and take back the Sharingan.
As a result, many days had passed, and still no results.
That's why Itachi asked.
Upon hearing this, the masked man snapped out of his previous shock,
Then, he silently shook his head and said flatly:
"No."
"After that night, it was as if he vanished from the face of the earth, completely disappeared."
"Even though his distinctive features have been published on the wanted poster issued by Danzo, we've never obtained any useful leads."
As he said this, the masked man's Sharingan flickered slightly, emitting an eerie light in the darkness.
Although his tone was calm, he was very angry inside.
He had meticulously planned the night of the massacre, yet in the end, he alone got nothing out of it.
And now, that guy in the Kitsune Ghost mask who took all the Sharingan had suddenly vanished...
Of course he felt frustrated.
But just then, suddenly,
A slight disturbance appeared on the ground.
Immediately after, a dark green pitcher plant-like creature suddenly emerged from within.
It was Akatsuki's special intelligence officer, Zetsu.
At that moment, he turned his head, looked at the masked man, expressionless, and said in a low, hoarse voice:
"Madara,"
"There's a lead on the person in the Kitsune Ogre you've been watching."
"?!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Itachi and the masked man's gazes both trembled instantly.
'What?!'
'This... speak of the devil and he appears?'