271. A "Friendly" Visit

With a sly grin and playful tone, Izumi stepped forward, his eyes locked onto Orochimaru. "Well, well, what a pleasant surprise," he quipped. "It seems you're still not forgetting your obsession with obtaining the Sharingan, aren't you?"

Orochimaru's eyes darted between Izumi and Karin, who remained hidden behind Izumi.

Orochimaru's voice was hoarse, and his eyes bore into Izumi. "You seem different, kid," he rasped, his curiosity overriding his usual malice.

Orochimaru, despite his typically sinister and cunning demeanor, couldn't help but sense a palpable change in the room, primarily emanating from Izumi. The aura of power and the formidable presence that surrounded the young man hinted at an impending transformation. Orochimaru couldn't help but feel intrigued by this change and the latent strength that Izumi now possessed.

Izumi, still maintaining his playful demeanor, offered a casual explanation, "Well, Orochimaru, I've undergone some changes since our last meeting. You could say I've leveled up, and you know what they say – 'with great power comes great... curiosity.'" Izumi's grin widened, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes.

In a calm yet firm tone, Izumi spoke to Orochimaru, making his intentions and warnings clear, "But let's put that matter aside. Give me the scrolls. My adoptive little sister needs those. Don't eye the Sharingan she possesses, or the consequences will be unimaginable."

Orochimaru's frustration was evident, but his physical condition left him no room to resist. He was cornered by a group of formidable individuals, and the prospect of fighting back seemed impossible, especially considering the presence of Kakashi, Kisame, and the little girl, Rory. Frustration and helplessness welled up within him, leaving him gritting his teeth in silent anger.

Recognizing that he had no alternative, Orochimaru reluctantly ordered Kabuto to hand over the scrolls to Izumi and his group. Izumi acquired the scrolls he sought, achieving his objective.

With their purpose accomplished, they turned to leave Orochimaru's hideout.

Seeing them disappear from their sight, Kabuto asked Orochimaru.

"Orochimaru-sama, they're going too far! Why didn't we fight back?"

Orochimaru, still in pain and visibly vexed, replied to Kabuto with a hoarse voice, "They are not to be trifled with, Kabuto. There was something different about that boy. It's best for us to avoid conflict with such formidable opponents for now. We'll find another way."

Orochimaru's cunning grin revealed his devious plans as he continued, "You see, Kabuto, I have planted a little something in those scrolls. We can use it to track their movements or even spy on them from afar. Let's be patient and bide our time." Kabuto nodded, understanding that Orochimaru always had an ace up his sleeve, even in the face of difficulty.

——————

Izumi chuckled as he relayed Orochimaru's intentions to the group. "Seems like Orochimaru wants to play a waiting game and find the right moment to strike back. Well, we'll be ready for anything." The others couldn't help but be amused by the idea of Orochimaru plotting in the background while they continued their own journey.

Tabane joined in the conversation, laughing lightly. "By the time he decides to make a move, he'll probably regret ever crossing paths with us. After all, we've got quite the formidable group here."

Izumi's suggestion to take some time to relax and prepare mentally was met with agreement from the group. They all recognized the importance of being mentally prepared before facing their formidable enemy, D.

"I'll go to a certain place first."

Kakashi's words were heard, and it might be that he had a mission to fulfill as well. But, actually, he was going to find Jiraiya and have a conversation with him. Kakashi's intention to report to the Fifth Hokage and find Jiraiya was noted by Izumi. He nodded in acknowledgment and replied, "Sure, Kakashi-san. Do what you need to do. We'll be in touch." Kakashi then turned to leave.

Tabane leaned in, curiosity shining in her eyes as she asked, "Do you think the Akatsuki will move earlier than we expected?"

Izumi contemplated for a moment and replied, "I don't think so. Nagato probably can't control the Demonic Statue yet. So, they'll need some time. Two years at most."

Kuroneko chimed in, while playing a certain game on her phone. "In sooth, thou ought to ponder Obito, Miyamura."

Izumi nodded, somehow understood her chuuni sentence, acknowledging the point. "You're right. Even so, we still have a lot of time, even if Obito executes plan B or plan C."

The group listened intently as Izumi spoke with a determined glint in his eyes. "Anyway, I want revenge on those bastards for destroying our village," he said. "Did they think building a village in a single night doesn't need effort?"

Kisame, Tabane, and Rory grinned enthusiastically at Izumi's words, their excitement evident in their expressions. They were ready for some action. However, Warrod, Hiiro, and Kuroneko didn't seem as interested. 

Warrod chuckled and said, "I'm a bit too old to be running around in battles, my boy. My days of adventure are mostly behind me."

Hiiro, engrossed in his novel, didn't even look up as he commented, "I need to finish this chapter, maybe the whole book."

Kuroneko, with her eyes affixed to her phone, quoth, "I hath just summoned a rare character in mine gacha game. I cannot cease at this moment."

Izumi sighed but understood their reasons. Revenge wasn't everyone's cup of tea.

—————

Amegakure, the Hidden Village in the Land of Rain, stood as a unique and industrially advanced settlement in the Ninja world. As Izumi, Tabane, Rory, and Kisame approached the outskirts of the village, except Kidame, they found themselves immersed in a landscape that was both impressive and somewhat ominous.

The village was situated in a region known for its frequent rainfall, and the sky was often clouded with dark, heavy rain clouds. The air was damp and filled with a sense of mystery, making the environment feel eerie and secretive. A persistent drizzle fell upon them, veiling the village in a constant shroud of mist and adding to its enigmatic ambiance.

Amegakure's architecture was a stark contrast to traditional ninja villages. The buildings were constructed with an industrial and utilitarian design, featuring tall structures made of metal and concrete, and were often adorned with pipes, vents, and various mechanical elements. The blend of slightly modern technology with the architecture created a distinct, imposing look, highlighting the village's dedication to advancement.

The streets of Amegakure bustled with activity as villagers moved hurriedly, weaving between the tall structures.

As they made their way deeper into the village, they couldn't help but notice the constant hum of machinery and the flickering lights from various electronic displays. 

In the highest tower of the village, a man named Pain stood as the leader of the Akatsuki. He had spiky orange hair, and his piercing blue-gray eyes gave off a sense of power and authority. Pain's face was adorned with multiple piercings, including six studs on each ear, three on the side of his upper nose, and one spike stud on each end of his bottom lip. There were also piercings on his wrists and just under his neck.

His Akatsuki robe draped around him, bearing the signature red cloud pattern, and the room was illuminated by dimly lit screens and various communication devices. Pain was known for his imposing presence and commanding aura, and he held the respect and fear of his fellow Akatsuki members.

Addressing the situation at hand, Pain spoke softly to his assembled comrades, "There are intruders."

Pain's voice echoed through the dimly lit chamber as the Akatsuki members gathered. Each member, dressed in the iconic black Akatsuki robe, stood in silent attention.

Beside him stood a woman, her locks of azure short and straight, adorned with a bun. Her eyes, amber and embellished with lavender eyeshadow, caught the gaze. Clad in the Akatsuki cloak, she bore the Akatsuki ring upon her right middle finger, its kanji signifying "white."

That woman was Konan, Pain's childhood friend.

Konan inquired, "Do you have any more information on these intruders, Pain?"

Konan was privy to Pain's true identity, yet she refrained from uttering his real name in the presence of others.

Pain replied, "Not yet. I sense their presence, but their identities and intentions remain unknown."

Kakuzu, the money-loving member of the group, grumbled, "If they're after bounties, we'll make quick work of them."

Tobi, who often played the role of the bumbling fool in the Akatsuki, responded in his characteristic playful yet mysterious manner, "Intruders, you say? Shall I go and greet them?"

Sasori, a master of puppetry and a member of the Akatsuki with a hardened, stoic demeanor, simply closed his eyes silently as if he didn't care about the intruder..

Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, who had a more reserved presence, observed quietly, their roles often being more behind the scenes in the group's operations.