Ghost lantern Many Moons lowered his head and walked through the alleys in silence.
Fear, panic, curses, malice...
Countless negative emotions, born from the hearts of every civilian in Hidden Mist Village, and these emotions were directed at Ghost lantern Many Moons, who was passing by them.
No...
It seemed it was not solely directed at Ghost lantern Many Moons, but at all the ninjas of Hidden Mist under the policies of the Bloody Mist Village.
He realized for the first time that these seemingly fearful ordinary civilians harbored a burning hatred, like a volcano beneath the sea, for all Hidden Mist ninjas.
He dared not imagine what the Hidden Mist Village would become when this hatred accumulated to a certain extent and suddenly erupted...
The child who loved to talk and play pranks no longer had the innocent smile he used to have.
"Many Moons, do you understand why your teacher deliberately made you walk through the village alone?"
Orochimaru stood at the edge of Hidden Mist Village, looking at his disciple, who seemed to have lost his smile, and asked gently.
Ghost lantern Many Moons, who was immersed in the torment of various negative emotions, was suddenly awakened by a warm and caring thought. He looked up abruptly and met Orochimaru's gentle gaze.
This child, who had never experienced hardship under the protection of the Ghost lantern clan, had his eyes reddened in an instant.
"Teacher..."
"I... still don't understand!"
"Why?"
"Why do these people harbor such deep hatred for the ninjas of Mist? That feeling..."
"So oppressive..."
Many Moons shook his head vigorously, his voice trembling.
Orochimaru gently stroked his head, his voice tinged with a sigh.
"Yes!"
"This world doesn't actually revolve around any one person."
"The profession of ninja has never been as beloved as you imagine, especially in a village like Mist, which is ruled by bloody means."
"This is a process that must be experienced to master dark power!"
"If you don't have the ability to change this situation, then endure it..."
"Strive to make your heart and strength grow stronger, and then..."
"Change it!"
Ghost lantern Many Moons looked up at his teacher, who seemed to be shining.
"Teacher, how did you solve this problem back then?"
Orochimaru chuckled, put his arm around his shoulder, and walked towards the south of Hidden Mist Village.
"As for your teacher..."
"I sent all those who harbored malice to where they belonged!"
"So now, I can't experience the feeling you're having right now!"
Ghost lantern Many Moons was stunned for a moment, and after understanding, his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Can I become as strong as teacher then?"
Orochimaru feigned contemplation for a moment and shook his head gently.
"You?"
"Your teacher's growth experience is probably inimitable. There might never be another ninja as powerful as your teacher in the ninja world!"
Many Moons immediately looked unconvinced.
"Huh? Huh?"
"Teacher, don't look down on people, I will definitely be able to!"
Orochimaru looked down at him and said dismissively:
"Oh really?"
"You haven't even gotten your hands on the Twin Swords Hiramekarei, and you're bragging to me?"
Ghost lantern Many Moons' little face turned red with anxiety, and he jumped up and down, arguing:
"I felt pity for that kid, and besides, hasn't he already become one of teacher's subordinates?"
"Teacher's subordinates are my subordinates. I wouldn't do something as shameless as snatching things from people under my command!"
...
Land of Water, Southern Sea Area.
The southern part of the Land of Water is dotted with islands of various sizes. These islands, perpetually shrouded in thick fog, bear a striking resemblance to the stars in the sky, which are often obscured by clouds.
Over time, the people living in the Land of Water gave this sea area, filled with small islands, a grand name - the Southern Sea Area.
Orochimaru, dragging a disoriented Ghost lantern Many Moons, slowly appeared in the sky above the Southern Sea Area.
"Ugh!"
"Teacher, too fast!"
"Ugh!"
This was the first time he had been flown by someone, and at a speed comparable to teleportation, Ghost lantern Many Moons actually experienced some physiological reactions.
After recovering for a while, Ghost lantern Many Moons finally had the mood to observe the environment below. What met his eyes were four medium-sized islands arranged in a circle. The waves outside the islands were rough, but inside, it was calm.
Although somewhat magical, to Ghost lantern Many Moons, who had lived in the Land of Water since childhood, it was merely a normal phenomenon.
Therefore, after identifying their location, the usually talkative boy, under Orochimaru's unique form of persuasion, regained his usual loquaciousness and immediately started complaining.
"Teacher said he would take me to see the world, why did you bring me here?"
"Below this, it's just water and more water, how is that seeing the world?"
Orochimaru chuckled and shook his head, pulling him down towards a small island.
"Don't rush."
"You'll see a grand spectacle soon!"
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A puff of smoke exploded, and a large fox with nine fiery orange tails appeared before Ghost lantern Many Moons.
"Wow!"
"Teacher, is this the summoning beast I will inherit in the future? It's so powerful!"
The Nine-Tails, which was about to greet Orochimaru, was startled. As soon as it turned its head, it saw a little guy with a mouth full of sharp teeth pouncing at it.
"What is this?"
"A shark that can talk?"
Seeing Orochimaru just smiling without speaking, the Nine-Tails grumbled impatiently and gently flicked its tail, hitting the pouncing Ghost lantern Many Moons.
"Splash!"
"Huh?"
"This little thing is quite interesting!"
"Orochimaru, did you abduct someone from the Ghost lantern clan of Hidden Mist Village?"
The Nine-Tails asked Orochimaru with surprise as it looked at Ghost lantern Many Moons, who suddenly shattered into a stream of water under its tail attack and then reformed into human shape.
Orochimaru's face darkened, and he rubbed the Nine-Tails' head vigorously with his palm.
"Saying 'abduct' is too unpleasant!"
"Kurama, your studies seem to have regressed recently!"
As for studies, the Nine-Tails pretended not to hear. It twitched its ears and, with great excitement, once again turned the charging Ghost lantern Many Moons into a stream of water.
Ever since that kid Shiroki learned Wood Style, the Nine-Tails had been finding it difficult to get its hands on anyone.
Now...
Lord Kurama finally had a new toy!
"To be honest, this old man is seeing the Ghost lantern clan's Water Transformation Secret Technique for the first time, and it's quite interesting!"
Ghost lantern Many Moons, who had once again restored his form, looked at the Nine-Tails with amazement, as if he had seen a monster.
"Teacher, your summoning beast can actually talk?"
The Nine-Tails immediately grinned sinisterly, extended its claws, and scratched Many Moons on the head, causing another spray of water.
"Little brat, no manners!"
"Let this old man discipline you properly on behalf of Orochimaru!"
"Orochimaru, you won't mind if I play with this kid for a few days, will you?"
Orochimaru waved his hand indifferently.
"No problem!"
"This child wants to see the world, and how can I, as a teacher, not fulfill my disciple's request?"