Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 431 Successful Robbery

Before long, the masked man successfully extracted the location of the Rinnegan from Konan. A slight, barely perceptible smug smile appeared on his lips. However, he felt no pity whatsoever for this former partner.

Having obtained what he wanted, the masked man didn't even bother to glance at Xiao Nan's lifeless body again. He tossed her casually onto the river's surface, as if discarding a useless object. With a splash, Xiao Nan's body slowly sank into the water, creating ripples.

Without hesitation, the masked man turned and sped off at an astonishing speed toward where Nagato's corpse was hidden. His figure moved through the forest like a ghost, creating a gust of wind that sent leaves fluttering down wherever he went.

Watching the masked man's retreating figure gradually disappear from sight, Orochimaru pondered to himself. His long, narrow, and sinister eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of cunning. Judging from the masked man's firm yet hurried steps as he departed, Orochimaru was almost certain that this enigmatic figure had successfully obtained crucial information about the location where the Rinnegan was hidden. Moreover, he was undoubtedly heading at full speed towards that unknown and dangerous place. Orochimaru couldn't help but lick his lips lightly, feeling both excited and somewhat uneasy about what was about to happen. After all, the power of rules contained within the Rinnegan was far too powerful and tempting; it could grant him unimaginable improvement and enlightenment, allowing him to go further on his path. He would absolutely not give up this opportunity. However, to obtain this power, he would inevitably have to face numerous hardships and dangers, as well as the challenges of countless powerful enemies. But Orochimaru is never one to back down easily; the more difficult the situation, the more it ignites his fighting spirit and desire.

Orochimaru's ghostly figure flashed with lightning speed, arriving in the blink of an eye on the battlefield filled with smoke and the stench of blood. His cold, deep eyes were fixed on Konan, the angel who floated lifelessly on the river. Her beautiful face was so pale and serene, as if she were simply asleep in an endless dream.

Orochimaru gently shook his head and sighed softly. The sigh seemed to contain regret for the passing of life, perhaps tinged with a hint of helplessness. Then, without hesitation, he turned and strode resolutely towards the masked man's location. Each step was filled with determination and ruthlessness, as if what awaited him was not an enemy, but a mystery that had to be solved or a goal that had to be achieved.

Upon seeing Konan's lifeless body, Orochimaru was overwhelmed with complex emotions. Perhaps, amidst that turbulent sea of ​​thoughts, a trace of regret and pity quietly flowed by. However, one thing was certain: he never regretted his decision to save Konan in the slightest.

In Orochimaru's eyes, Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan were undoubtedly a group of warriors with lofty ideals. They inherited Jiraiya's great ideals and resolutely founded the Akatsuki organization, attempting to explore the path to peace in their own unique way. Although the path they chose was highly controversial and their actions brought much pain to the world, Orochimaru still held them in deep respect.

Because no matter how the outside world judges them, one fact remains undeniable—they forged ahead with such fearlessness and determination. Even when faced with countless hardships and dangers, even at the cost of self-sacrifice, their unwavering will to pursue peace never wavered. Such courage and perseverance could move even the ruthless Orochimaru.

In the turbulent and unpredictable ninja world, cruelty and bloodshed were ever-present companions. Despite the best efforts of Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, three ambitious young men, to change the world, reality remained as unshakeable as a boulder.

However, even so, their sacrifices were not in vain. At least, through their tireless efforts and tenacious resistance, they won decades of precious peace and stability for Amegakure. During this time, the people of Amegakure were able to live a relatively peaceful life, far removed from the turmoil of war. Children could play freely in the streets and alleys without worrying that sudden war would rob them of their joy; the elderly could enjoy their golden years and spend their twilight years in peace; and the young and middle-aged had the opportunity to cultivate the land and develop the economy, gradually making the village prosperous.

This hard-won peace and stability, like a ray of dawn in the darkness, though faint, brought hope and vitality to Amegakure. It witnessed the courage and determination of Yahiko and the others, and became an eternal mark of their existence.

Without the slightest hesitation, Orochimaru sped off like lightning, quickly pursuing the masked man he had previously marked. He knew this operation was crucial; if he failed to capture the masked man, all his plans would be in vain. Therefore, he had to give it his all and could not afford any mistakes.

With his keen senses, Orochimaru clearly realized that the masked man hadn't gone far, which undoubtedly gave him immense confidence. As long as he maintained this speed and continued the pursuit, he believed he would catch up soon. Then, he could simply strike a fatal blow when the man was off guard, easily securing victory in this battle.

Time ticked by, and Orochimaru drew ever closer to the masked man. Finally, the masked man arrived at a mysterious barrier. This barrier was permeated with a strange aura, creating an inexplicable sense of oppression. It turned out that this was the final resting place that Konan had meticulously prepared for her deceased best friends Yahiko and Nagato—a solemn, serene, and peaceful cemetery.

In this cemetery, Yahiko and Nagato's remains lie peacefully amidst beautiful flowers woven from countless pieces of paper. The paper flowers, as white as snow, gently surround their bodies, as if telling their story and their affection in life. A gentle breeze stirs, causing the paper flowers to sway softly, making a soft rustling sound, further enhancing the tranquility and peace of the cemetery.

A dark figure appeared with lightning speed beside Nagato's cold corpse. Once it stopped, people could see that the figure was a man wearing a strange mask. His eyes, hidden behind the mask, radiated an undisguised disdain, as if Nagato were nothing more than an insignificant ant.

The masked man felt nothing but deep contempt and disdain for Nagato, a naive and immature person filled with unrealistic fantasies. In his eyes, Nagato's so-called peace plan was nothing but wishful thinking, and he never believed that this cruel and dark ninja world would undergo any substantial change because of Nagato's idealistic ideas.

At this moment, the masked man's gaze fell upon Nagato's uniquely wavy eyes. Finally, a slight, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his lips. Although Nagato ultimately failed to capture the incredibly powerful Nine-Tails, he had at least dealt an unprecedented and devastating blow to Konoha, inflicting unimaginable damage. This gave the masked man a greater sense of security and opportunity to realize his meticulously planned, ambitious scheme that would overturn the entire world order. A surge of confidence and anticipation welled up within him, as if he could already see a new world under his rule slowly unfolding.

The masked man slowly raised his right hand, palm outstretched towards Nagato not far away. His eyes, hidden behind the mask, gleamed with a strange and greedy light, as if Nagato was already his for the taking. At this moment, he was secretly channeling his powerful chakra, preparing to unleash his unique Sharingan space-time ninjutsu to transport Nagato into a secret space of his own. If he succeeded, he was absolutely certain he could obtain the Rinnegan he so desperately desired.

However, just as the masked man was about to activate his space-time ninjutsu and suck Nagato's corpse into it, a dark shadow flashed past him like lightning. It was so fast that no one had time to see its true face. With the passing of this shadow, Nagato's lifeless corpse, which had been lying on the ground, vanished completely!

Upon seeing this, the masked man's expression subtly changed. He inwardly cursed, realizing that someone had unexpectedly intervened at this crucial moment, stealing the victory that was about to be his. He quickly steadied himself, casting a cold gaze at the figure that had suddenly appeared and taken Nagato's corpse. When he recognized Orochimaru, a flicker of surprise and anger flashed in the masked man's eyes.

At this moment, Orochimaru was carefully placing Nagato's body gently beside him. His narrow eyes were also fixed on the masked man opposite him, and the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, revealing a barely perceptible smile, as if he was quite pleased with his actions just now.

Their gazes met, as if sparks flew in mid-air, scattering in all directions with a chilling aura and boundless killing intent. The masked man stared wide-eyed at Orochimaru before him, his heart filled with astonishment and rage.

He never expected that Orochimaru would suddenly appear like a ghost and snatch Nagato from his grasp just as he was about to successfully seize him. This unexpected turn of events caught him off guard, and his once-sure plan was instantly disrupted.