"This final form of the Divine Tree is not really suitable for combat, but I can make it switch to a combat form at any time." Nagato proactively explained and asked Ryun what they should do next.
"No need to switch. Let it maintain the Divine Tree form. As for what comes next. You all stay behind in Otogakure and wait quietly." Ryun's instructions were clearly conveyed to every Akatsuki member's ears.
"Wait."
Everyone's faces showed expressions of confusion.
"Wait for what?" Nagato couldn't help but ask.
"Wait until I can fully control this Divine Tree." Ryun said with a serious expression.
"Only the Rinnegan can."
"I know."
Ryun interrupted Nagato before he could finish speaking.
The next moment, Ryun ignored everyone, transformed into a vortex, and left directly.
Everyone left behind looked at each other, unable to understand Ryun's meaning.
"Let's all return to the village. The Dragon Lord has his own plans. We just need to wait." Kakuzu proactively stepped forward and said.
"Nagato, is there still any risk of this Divine Tree going out of control?" Orochimaru asked with a serious expression.
Such a huge Divine Tree was planted right outside Otogakure. If this thing lost control, even a light strike would be enough to completely destroy his 'life's work', Otogakure. So Orochimaru needed to be clear.
"No. It is now, very stable." Nagato replied in a definite tone.
As long as he did not proactively control the Divine Tree to make it change shape, this Divine Tree would stand quietly between heaven and earth, with no risk of losing control.
Of course, this was also thanks to the final command Nagato gave it to not move. Otherwise, this thing might just transform on its own and go fight Ryun to the death. After all, Ryun possessed very powerful Ten-Tails chakra, which was originally its power.
"What the hell. We could sweep across the Ninja World now, yet he tells us to wait."
On the way back to the village, Hidan pouted with a dissatisfied expression.
"Oh? Very unconvinced? If you're unconvinced, why don't you go and defeat the boss then?" Deidara suggested with a grin.
"Screw you, you little brat! You just want me to be suppressed in a latrine pit, right?" Hidan cursed furiously.
Deidara wasn't annoyed that his purpose was exposed. Instead, he put on a condescending attitude.
He would indeed like to take a big dump on Hidan's head, but unfortunately his scheme was seen through.
"Brother Sasori, you go defeat the boss. How dare he make us wait. Doesn't he know Brother Sasori hates waiting the most?" Hidan smiled and passed the buck to Sasori of the Red Sand.
"Shut up! Duel! Now! Immediately! Right now." Sasori of the Red Sand said, pausing between each word.
"Bring it on! I'm not afraid of you!" Hidan responded with a sinister smile.
"You can't even beat Deidara, how dare you provoke Sasori? This time, I definitely won't help you stitch your corpse back together again!" Kakuzu sneered dismissively.
"Bastard! Who says I can't beat Deidara? Tell him to have the guts not to fly! Let's see if I can't chop him to death! And it's stitching my body, not my corpse! I'm not dead yet, how can I have a corpse, you bastard!"
Hidan's angry roars continued incessantly, annoying everyone so much that they all developed grievances against him.
Orochimaru, "Idiot."
Sasori of the Red Sand, "Moron."
Kakuzu, "Fool."
Deidara, "This is the consequence of believing in Jashin."
Nagato, Konan, Kisame Hoshigaki, The three shook their heads, with expressions that said 'this guy is hopeless'.
"What do you bastards mean by that! And you, Deidara, explain yourself clearly."
Hidan shouted angrily, his eyes red. But the next moment, his big mouth immediately got him surrounded by the others.
"This junior is really too cocky. As his seniors, I think it's necessary to teach this newcomer how to behave properly." Sasori of the Red Sand proposed.
"Agree!" Deidara responded loudly with a malicious grin.
"Agree my ass! I joined before you. Ah." Before Hidan could finish his sentence, the group beating had already begun.
Everyone focused on hitting Hidan's mouth. In no time, Hidan was beaten black and blue, and his jaw was even forcibly dislocated by the crowd.
Two days later.
On this day, Otogakure welcomed a group of uninvited guests.
The five great nations of the Ninja World all sent envoys. Under the banner of a friendly visit, they swaggered into Otogakure, but most of their attention was focused on the Divine Tree.
The envoy sent by Konoha this time were almost all old acquaintances of Ryun, Might Dai, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Namikaze Minato, and Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was Orochimaru's teacher.
Inside the Kage's building.
"Orochimaru, you guy, you went behind my back and established Otogakure without a word, and took so many people from Konoha. You really have some skill." Some words had to be said. As soon as Sarutobi Hiruzen saw Orochimaru, he decisively 'opened fire'.
As soon as these words were spoken, before Orochimaru could respond, Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato frowned first.
"Heh, isn't it all thanks to you? I've had enough of the conservatism and incompetence of Konoha's higher-ups. Rather than staying in Konoha and rotting with you, it's better to extricate myself early and work on my own. Facts have proven my decision was correct."
Orochimaru showed no mercy to his former teacher.
Today's Otogakure already had the momentum of being at its peak. Otogakure, led by Orochimaru, indisputably defeated Amegakure and even subjugated the entire Land of Rain as a vassal state. The Ninja World had already tacitly acknowledged that they possessed the status and strength of a 'Sixth Great Ninja Village'.
"You." Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression visibly darkened, but his words were quickly cut off by Jiraiya.
"Old man, what's done is done and doesn't need to be mentioned again. We should be happy for Orochimaru's achievements today."
"Save the catching up for later. Orochimaru, tell us, what is the situation with that Divine Tree now?" The hot-tempered Tsunade wasn't concerned with anything else and directly asked what they most wanted to know.
"What do you want me to say?"
Orochimaru sat upright in the main seat, a clearly mocking smile on his face.
"Don't play dumb. How did that Divine Tree come about? The moon turned red because of its existence, right?" Tsunade asked with a serious expression.
"I don't know. It just grew overnight. As for why the moon is red, I know even less about that."
As soon as Orochimaru said this, Tsunade instantly became furious. Disregarding the others' attempts to stop her, she quickly stepped forward, grabbed Orochimaru by the collar.
"You bastard, you're lying through your teeth! If you don't come clean immediately, I'll skin you like a snake!"
"Outrageous! Is the Konoha envoy being so brutal towards our Sound Shadow a prelude to war?" The Anbu hidden around them all rushed over.
"Tsunade! Let him go!"
Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke in unison.
Tsunade glanced at the Anbu, then reluctantly released Orochimaru's collar.
"Orochimaru, you've really become capable. Not going to give us old friends any face?" Tsunade proactively played the emotional card.
"You're wronging me. I can't give you the answers you want. The answers lie with the Shadow. Ryun-kun is alone at home in seclusion. You can choose to stay or leave as you wish." Orochimaru's tone remained calm and composed.
When they heard that Ryun was at home in seclusion, everyone's expressions clearly froze for a moment. Then, all eyes turned to Might Dai, who was standing dumbfounded to the side.
"Uh."
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