RNP Chapter 42 The Girl Selling Paper Flowers in the Rain
Chapter 42 The Girl Selling Paper Flowers in the Rain
Several more days passed.
Orochimaru continued to travel to various places with Gojou Yoru, who hadn't been to any inhabited places for a long time.
However, this hardship is nothing compared to the scrolls of Ryuchi-dong.
On this day, Orochimaru brought Gojo Yoru to a cave in a snowy mountain.
"untie--"
Finding a rock wall engraved with mysterious symbols, Orochimaru formed hand seals and pressed his palms against it.
As the tadpole-shaped incantation spread, the rock wall where Orochimaru's hand was located actually caved in, as if a hidden compartment had been opened.
Reaching inside, Orochimaru retrieved a scroll that could be held in one hand, then opened it and began to read.
This scene was nothing new to Gojo Yoru.
Although he didn't know what was written on those scrolls, Gojo Yoru could deduce that they were stored here by spies that Konoha had planted in various countries.
Orochimaru's mission was to wait for the spies to deliver the intelligence to the designated location, and then retrieve it.
However, this time, Orochimaru seemed a little off, standing still and repeatedly reading the scroll in his hand.
Unfortunately, Gojo Yoru doesn't possess the Observation Haki from the One Piece world, so he can't sense Orochimaru's current emotional fluctuations.
Nearly ten minutes later, Orochimaru put away the scroll in his hand, then took out another scroll from his body, put it back in the hidden compartment, and restored the rock wall to its original state.
"Let's go."
Orochimaru led Gojo Yoru out of the cave and left the snowy mountain area that same day.
Even more unusually, Orochimaru did not walk this time, but instead used the Teleportation Technique to travel the entire way with Gojo Yoru.
Leaving the snowy mountain area, which should be the territory of the Land of Iron, they continued to travel using the Body Flicker Technique.
Finally, the two arrived in a small town.
After nearly a month, Gojo finally saw a place inhabited by humans, and for a moment he was in a daze.
Orochimaru led Gojo Yoru to a shop and said to the shopkeeper, "Two raincoats and straw hats, please."
"One thousand taels, thank you for your patronage."
After buying raincoats and straw hats, Orochimaru left the town with Gojo Yoru.
On the way, Gojo Yoru took his rain gear and couldn't help but ask, "Orochimaru-sensei, are we going to the Land of Rain next?"
"We're already in the Land of Rain," Orochimaru said with a deep gaze. "Our next stop is... Amegakure (Hidden Rain Village)."
Gojo Yoru couldn't help but click his tongue slightly.
Amegakure, this small place, left a deep impression on Gojo Yoru second only to Konoha, the birthplace of the protagonist.
Aside from the First Shinobi World War, this place has never lacked visuals.
One of the main battlefields of the Second Shinobi World War. Although it did not participate in the Third Shinobi World War, it was also instigated by Danzo Shimura to take action against the Akatsuki organization of Yahiko's three children, which led to Nagato's corruption.
Next is the headquarters of the Akatsuki organization, the place where Pain descended.
Even during the Fourth Shinobi World War, Amegakure was featured, with the Amegakure ninja participating in the war.
The current leader of Amegakure is Hanzo of the Salamander at his peak, regarded by ninjas as the pinnacle of the ninja world. Although not among the Five Kage, he is undoubtedly a Five Kage-level powerhouse.
Why is Orochimaru taking him to this guy's territory?
However, since the Second Shinobi World War has not yet broken out and Amegakure has not yet declared war on Konoha, Gojo Yoru has not paid any attention to it.
……
Amegakure is a village filled with steel buildings.
Because of the frequent rain, the most common sight here is a series of giant drainage pipes.
The pedestrians on the street, whether locals or from out of town, were almost all wearing raincoats and straw hats.
Only the patrolling Rain Ninja wear breathing masks on their faces.
As the border of the three great nations of wind, fire, and earth, Amegakure has no barrier, and Hanzo of the Salamander, who aims to enable small countries to contend with the great nations, has not closed himself off from the world.
Because the village's assassination techniques were highly advanced, it was favored by villains and gangsters.
Therefore, Amegakure is now a mixed bag of people in the ninja world, and people can come and go as they please.
Orochimaru, disguised using the Transformation Technique, led Gojo Yoru, who had only put away his genin headband and was not disguised at all, into Amegakure. He then instructed the latter, "You are free to do as you please from now on. Be careful."
"Uh...yes."
Gojo Yoru was a little confused. Why bring him into Amegakure instead of playing with him this time?
Wouldn't it be better to let him wait outside?
But being a good child, Gojou Yoru obediently nodded.
So, Gojo Yoru and Orochimaru separated.
Walking alone in the rain, Gojo Yoru witnessed a local culture and customs different from those in Konoha.
The villagers are just as simple and honest as the locals, but the conditions here are worlds apart from those in the bustling city of Konoha.
Most of the shops were just simple awnings.
Restaurants and shops are scarce, and almost no one comes to invest.
Many of the outsiders on the street are fierce-looking guys. If it weren't for the patrolling Rain Ninja and the intimidating presence of Hanzo the Salamander, the order here would probably be in complete chaos.
As she passed through a narrow alley, Gojo Yoru suddenly stopped, her eyes drawn to the scene at the alley's entrance.
There was a simple little shed there, and the owner was a girl a few years younger than Gojo Yoru.
With short, straight, bluish-purple hair and amber eyes, Gojo Yoru recognized her at a glance, even though she looked much younger than the girl she remembered.
Konan, one of the three little girls of Amegakure and the future White Tiger of Akatsuki.
At this moment, Xiao Nan was sitting on a small stool, her hands supporting her cheeks.
Seemingly sensing Gojo Yoru's gaze, Konan looked over, a glimmer of anticipation appearing in her eyes.
Gojo walked over, examining the things Konan was selling, and his lips twitched slightly.
Because she was sitting up, Konan, who was looking up, was able to see Gojo Yoru's face clearly and was slightly taken aback.
Such beautiful eyes, and he's very handsome, with such fair skin... Is he a foreigner?
Coming to her senses, Konan picked up a bouquet of flowers and said softly to Gojo Yoru, "Big brother, would you like to buy some flowers? It only costs ten taels."
"Selling paper flowers in the pouring rain, what were you thinking?" Gojo Yoru finally couldn't help but complain.
"I see, no wonder no one buys my flowers." Konan looked enlightened, which was nothing short of a character collapse in Gojo Yoru's eyes.
However, judging from the girl's innocent and adorable appearance, she has clearly not yet experienced the ravages of war, which suggests that her parents should still be alive.
As for selling flowers at this age, it's perfectly normal.
After all, some people dare to stroll in the snow on a deserted night when they are only three years old.
Gojo also started living independently at the age of three, and the village did not interfere.
"I'll buy everything from your stall. Go home early."
Out of fondness for the original work, Gojo Yoru took out 100 ryo and placed it in front of Konan, but only took a colored blue-purple paper flower.
Immediately, Gojo Yoru disappeared into the rain.
By the time the girl came to her senses, the figure had already vanished.
However, I remembered those icy blue eyes and that fair-skinned, handsome face.