vstars Chapter 565 Hidden Cloud Village
Chapter 565 Hidden Cloud Village
The environment here is completely different from the lush greenery of Konoha and the rugged, rocky terrain of Iwagakure. It's perpetually shrouded in mist, with thunder rumbling, and the air thick with moisture and restless lightning chakra. Surrounding it are numerous smaller mountains of varying shapes, like stars surrounding the moon, guarding the central, towering peak that reaches into the clouds—the summit of which lies the village of Kumogakure. The entire environment is magnificent and grand, imbued with the unique, majestic aura of the Land of Lightning.
“Cloud Hidden Village…” Zhang Hai looked up at the mountain peak shrouded in clouds and mist, his eyes gleaming.
"This is where the lightning chakra is most concentrated." Kakuzu's hoarse voice suddenly rang out, his green eyes also fixed on the mountain peak, gleaming with an almost fanatical light. "Here, I should be able to find what I'm looking for..."
Zhang Hai understood. He knew what Kakuzu meant by "wanting".
"You came here to find a heart with lightning attributes, right?" Zhang Hai asked directly.
Kakuzu's masked face was slightly turned towards Zhang Hai. Although Zhang Hai couldn't see his expression, he knew that Kakuzu was responding.
“That’s right,” Kakuzu admitted. “One of the masks I lost was of the lightning attribute.”
Zhang Hai frowned slightly. He knew that Kakuzu's four hearts corresponded to four different chakra nature masks. Losing a lightning-attribute mask meant he couldn't fully unleash the power of lightning release.
“But Kakuzu,” Zhang Hai warned, his tone grave, “this generation’s Raikage, A, is notoriously volatile. Moreover, his strength is probably the strongest among all the Raikages. The risk of finding a lightning-attribute heart here is extremely high.”
Upon hearing this, Kakuzu merely snorted dismissively, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.
"The strongest generation? Hmph! He's just a junior." Kakuzu's voice carried a disdain for all things. "His speed might pique my interest slightly, but he's far from being able to get my heart!"
Zhang Hai felt helpless. Kakuzu had lived for over a hundred years, experienced numerous ninja wars, and witnessed far too many so-called "geniuses" and "strongmen." In his eyes, apart from monsters like the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha, everyone else was nothing more than dispensable "collectibles."
“In that case, we’ll have to find another way to enter Kumogakure.” Zhang Hai didn’t argue with Kakuzu about his strength; he knew it was pointless. He directly revealed his plan: “I will disguise myself as an ordinary resident of the Land of Lightning, and enter Kumogakure under the pretext of wanting to learn ninjutsu. And you, as my elder, will escort me.”
Kakuzu's green eyes looked at Zhang Hai again, with a hint of doubt.
Seeing Kakuzu's reaction, Zhang Hai's lips curled into a mischievous smile. He deliberately used an extremely intimate tone, saying, "Uncle Kakuzu, you'll have to cooperate with me properly then."
"Uncle... Uncle?" A slight look of surprise appeared on Kakuzu's perpetually unchanging masked face. In all his years, this was the first time someone had addressed him in such a tone. And it was from an "employer" who had designs on him.
“That’s right!” Zhang Hai said with a smile. “In order not to arouse the suspicion of the Cloud Ninja, it’s best if you don’t speak after you enter the village. I will tell others that you are my elder, and that you have become a… mute due to old age or health reasons.”
Kakuzu: "..."
Kakuzu's body stiffened. His cold green eyes stared intently at Zhang Hai, as if he wanted to devour him alive. A mute? He had lived for over a hundred years, a renowned bounty hunter, and now he was being asked to pretend to be a mute? And an "elderly" one at that?
However, Kakuzu ultimately did not react. He knew that although Zhang Hai's plan was absurd, it was indeed the safest way to infiltrate. His identity was indeed not suitable for direct exposure.
Kakuzu merely snorted coldly and remained silent, which was taken as tacit approval of Zhang Hai's plan.
Seeing Kakuzu's reaction, Zhang Hai chuckled inwardly. It seemed that although the old man didn't say it, he had accepted it.
The two quickly arrived at the main gate of Kumogakure. Several Kumogakure ninja were guarding the gate warily. They were all dressed in the distinctive chakra armor of Kumogakure, gripping kunai tightly in their hands, their sharp eyes scanning everyone who approached.
"Halt!" One of the Cloud Ninjas stepped out from the shadows as Zhang Hai and Kakuzu approached, blocking their way with his kunai. His tone was full of vigilance as he asked, "Who are you? What is your purpose in coming to Kumogakure?!"
Blocked by the kunai in the hands of the Yun ninja, Zhang Hai feigned fright, his body trembling slightly before quickly changing his expression to a weak yet expectant smile. He was a master of disguise, knowing how to dispel the other party's wariness in the first instance.
"B-Big brother!" Zhang Hai's voice carried a youthful crispness and naivety, tinged with nervousness. "Please don't misunderstand! I'm a resident of the Land of Lightning, and I've always longed for the life of a ninja. My uncle brought me here to Kumogakure to learn ninjutsu!"
As he spoke, Zhang Hai carefully pulled a crumpled document from his pocket. The paper was yellowed, and the handwriting was blurred, as if it had endured a long period of time and hardship. This was a "school application" that he had forged beforehand to prove his identity.
Yunren took the document and examined it carefully. Although the handwriting was blurry, it did indeed bear the seal of a remote town in the Land of Lightning. A hint of doubt flashed in his eyes, but he did not immediately react.
"What's your name? Where's your uncle? Why isn't he saying anything?" Yunren asked warily, glancing at Kakuzu, who stood silently beside Zhang Hai.
Zhang Hai immediately forced a sorrowful expression, his voice lowering slightly. "My name is... Lei Ming." He fabricated an alias, then pointed to Kakuzu beside him. "This is my uncle. Our... our hometown was attacked by Iwagakure, and the entire village was burned down. My uncle risked his life to protect me and escape with me. He was severely injured, his throat was damaged, and his face was disfigured, which is why it's covered with a cloth. We came to Kumogakure hoping I can become a powerful ninja and avenge our fallen loved ones!"
His vivid and moving performance, coupled with the sadness on his youthful face, instantly touched the Yunren present.
"What?! Those bastards from Iwagakure!!" Upon hearing the words "Iwagakure attack," a Cloud Ninja was immediately enraged, his eyes filled with hatred. Cloud Village and Iwagakure have always been mortal enemies, constantly clashing with each other, so hearing of this tragedy naturally resonated with him.