It will take two days to leave Mt. Myoboku and return to the Kingdom of Demons.
Although he stayed in Mt. Myoboku for less than a week, it was enough for Shiraishi to have a thorough understanding of the place other than the temple where he served the Great Toad Sage.
We have a basic understanding of the number of large toads, medium-sized toads and adult-sized toads that Mount Miaomu has.
Although the size of the toad does not necessarily represent the strength of these toads, in most cases, the strength of Miaomu Mountain's toads can be roughly judged from the size - the more powerful the toad, the larger the size.
Shiraishi also made reference to the size of these toads and the energy contained in their bodies, their incomparable image and the strength of ninjas - that is, to distinguish the strength of these toads according to the standard genin, chunin and jounin.
However, even in a holy land that has been passed down for thousands of years, Shiraishi also noticed that there are only a very small number of toads who can freely control magic.
Most of them are extracted from natural energy and initially fused with the chakra in the body, resulting in relatively inferior senjutsu chakra.
This is related to your own qualifications.
Because the natural energy is too powerful, if you want to form senjutsu chakra with Zhonghe, the practitioner must have unparalleled powerful chakra.
Otherwise, once the magic chakra is refined, there will be uncontrollable risks, ranging from disability to death.
This is pretty much what Shiraishi expected.
Those ninjas who practice natural energy in the Kingdom of Ghosts are almost in the same situation.
Due to the influence of its own chakra amount, it is difficult to fuse natural energy and magical chakra. Even if it is barely fused, the purity of Senjutsu chakra is very low.
The toads of Mt. Myoboku are in a similar situation. The toads who can freely control the senjutsu chakra are only a few elites such as the Great Toad Sage, the two elders, and the great Toad of Iwajuku who guards the gate of Mt. Myoboku.
The rest of the toads either used less pure magic chakra, or used huge natural energy to enhance their bodies. Even so, it was enough to hurt Bai Shitou.
A large toad, placed on the battlefield, is a powerful weapon to strangle the enemy. In the past, the reason why the Sannin were so famous on the battlefield was that the large psychic beasts were their powerful capital to run rampant.
Plus a big toad fairy who doesn’t know the depth of things...
This war is not easy to fight.
…
"Is this the result of the investigation?"
In the conference room, Ruri and Ayane sat on the sofa and read the statistical data prepared by Shiraishi.
After scanning, they both frowned in unison. Apparently, the data obtained by Shiraishi after his investigation surprised them.
It's not because Miaomushan is too weak, but because it's too strong!
There are more than a dozen large and giant toads of various types.
There are countless medium-sized toads and adult-sized toads.
This is only the power revealed on the surface of Miaomu Mountain.
According to Shiraishi, the toad guards guarding the Great Toad Immortal in the temple are the most elite toads in Mt. Myouki. As for whether there is any hidden combat power in the temple besides these guards, it is not yet known.
Even with the strength shown, even if a ninja village from a big country were to forcefully attack, I'm afraid they wouldn't get any benefits.
"According to statistics from previous ninja wars, the destructive power caused by a large psychic beast is equivalent to the sum of several to a dozen regular jounin. If there is no corresponding psychic beast, it will be difficult to block its actions .”
Ayane revealed the information she knew.
Regarding the combat power data of large psychic beasts on the battlefield, each ninja village has actually made detailed statistics.
It can be said that the Ninja Villages of various major countries have experience in contracts between ninjas and large psychic beasts, so they know very well how gorgeous these psychic beasts are on the battlefield.
But there is an absolute gap between large psychic beasts and large psychic beasts.
For example, in the three major holy places, there is a quality difference between the ordinary large psychic beasts that have cultivated chakra and the large psychic beasts in the holy places.
Even though they are the same size, the final result must be that the psychic beast in the Holy Land is stronger!
"If there are only a few of them, we can also use a strong attack to make them lose their combat effectiveness in the first place. But if there are more than a dozen or even more, once they wait for them to react, things will become very troublesome... You must have read that right. ?"
Liuli glanced at Baishi.
"The powerful and strong soul aura will not deceive me. Apart from the two immortals, the big toad of Yansu gives me the feeling that it is not a simple thing. It may be more troublesome than the two immortals. "
Shiraishi nodded.
He is different from ordinary sensory ninjas. He judges the number of enemies from the soul level.
Unless it is a corpse without a soul, there is no way to bypass his perception.
"So, if we start a war, we will have to deal with a dozen or more large psychic beasts at the same time. But the most important thing is to deal with the leader of Miaomu Mountain. Can we figure out its strength?"
Liuli asked again.
"In terms of soul alone, he is stronger than the Uchiha Madara the three of us dealt with..."
Shiraishi had to tell Liuli this regrettable and troublesome news.
"But it's entering old age, right?"
Ayane asked back at this time.
"What we dealt with at the beginning was only Madara in his aging stage, and his power was not in its prime. Even then, it was quite difficult."
Liuli answered on behalf of Shiraishi.
"In other words, is he stronger than Madara?"
"..."
Regarding this question, Shiraishi chose silence, closed his eyes and sighed.
Although we don't want to attack our own side, facing up to the enemy's power is also a way to protect ourselves.
If Shiraishi devotes all the efforts of the whole country, he is confident that he can take over Mt. Myoboku in one fell swoop.
But the reality is... It is impossible for the Kingdom of Demons to concentrate all its power on Mt. Myoboku.
The movements of Konoha and Sunagakure are also under consideration.
In the same way, the same is true for the neutral Iwagakure and Kumogakure. If these two villages see the internal weakness of the Demon Country, they may turn from neutrality to hostility at any time.
"Do you have any idea?"
Liuli asked.
Shiraishi opened his eyes and said: "It's not really a solution, as long as we can recruit a strong supporter. If one person can't eat, find another person to help."
Although the results after victory will be distributed and it is impossible for one person to take it all, this is a necessary approach in order to eliminate the threat of Miaomushan as soon as possible and prevent him from causing trouble at the critical moment.
"Mist Hidden Village?"
Ayane tilted her head.
"No, the relationship between Yagura and us cannot be made public yet. After all, I cannot guarantee that all the toads will be wiped out. Once the news is revealed, then the final stage of the plan... So, I want to find Nagato to cooperate. "
Shiraishi expressed his inner thoughts.
Liuli and Ayane looked at each other, then turned their heads, lowered their heads, and seriously considered the pros and cons.
"What are you going to do to induce him to take action?"
Liuli asked.
As in previous situations, in previous transactions with Nagato, the Demon Country held a dominant position and could benefit from Nagato.
But this time the situation changed because they were asking for help from Nagato. Therefore, Nagato would not be kind enough to solve this problem for the Kingdom of Ghosts without paying a certain price.
"This will only be known after we talk to him specifically, and it won't count even if I say it. So we will hold a high-level meeting tomorrow to inform all departments to prepare."
Starting a war with Miaomu Mountain is no small matter.
Although it will not affect the survival of Yuguan Oni Country, if this war is lost, Oni Country will definitely fall into a passive situation, and it will quickly promote the formation of a united front between Myoboku Mountain and Konoha.
Once the two are completely integrated and quickly enter a state of war, things will become extremely difficult.
You only get one chance, so you must seize it.
Before that, what Shiraishi has to do is to strengthen the defense of the Kingdom of Ghosts. Once the battle fails, the Kingdom of Ghosts will not be completely passive.
Seek defeat before fighting, and prepare for the worst in everything.
"Before the New Year, we must finalize this matter and plan the entire war process!"
◎
Snowflakes are falling in the ruins-like city.
There is no one on the deserted street, but there are footprints.
The footprints were not left by humans, but by cats.
On this snowy street, there are cat footprints everywhere, and you can see cats of all kinds chasing and playing on the street, like a country of cats.
At the bottom of the city is a huge space created by humans.
Roads crisscrossed the area, and cables circulated. You could see TVs showing programs at any time, and in front of the TVs, a group of cats of various sizes sat squatting.
In the room with the Lucky Cat in front of the door, Liuli was standing in front of an old woman with a cat face and black cat ears.
"Long time no see, Grandma Cat, your body still looks as healthy as ever."
Grandma Cat took a puff from her pipe and blew out smoke rings from her mouth. A pair of extremely bright eyes adorned her wrinkled face.
"It's so rude. Are you wishing for me to die, Liuli?"
Grandma Cat coughed lightly.
"Without this, don't you look very healthy? You still have at least ten years to live."
"...No, I think I still have at least a few decades to live, old lady... However, you are a busy man now, why do you think of coming here at this time? Are you here to see Yu Huo?"
Grandma Cat asked.
"There is something in this regard, but next, the Kingdom of Ghosts has to deal with a problem, and I need the power of the Ninja Clan."
"In other words, you dropped by to visit me?"
"Um."
"..." Granny Cat didn't know what to say, so she continued to take a puff of cigarette depressedly and said: "With your strength, do you also need the help of the Ninja Cat Clan?"
Although the power of the ninja clan has indeed grown a lot over the years, she feels that with Liuli's strength, she can solve most of the troubles on her own.
"The opponent this time is a bit tricky."
"Who is the opponent?"
"Mt. Miaomu."
The sound of a pipe falling to the ground.
The air in the room immediately solidified.
Grandma Cat kept her smoking gesture, her expression and movements were frozen, and she stared at Liuli blankly.
It took a long time for her to react and pick up the fallen pipe from the ground.
"It turns out to be Miaomu Mountain...wait, you mean Miaomu Mountain? Are you going to deal with Miaomu Mountain?"
"yes."
Unlike Granny Cat, who was so shocked that her words were confused, Liuli nodded directly.
Grandma Cat fell into silence and seemed to have thought of something. She looked seriously into Liuli's eyes and asked, "Is it because of the Sannin Jiraiya?"
You know, her family has been on good terms with the Uchiha clan since ancient times, and also has an inseparable connection with the Ninja clan.
It can be said that her family and the Ninja Clan are the support staff of the Uchiha Clan.
Weapons, food, medicine, including intelligence... they have been providing it all these years. There is only one thing the Uchiha clan needs to do - fight!
Although the Uchiha clan has begun to grow over the years, they still serve as the eyes of the Uchiha clan, paying attention to the changes in the situation in the ninja world.
Whether it's a casino, a hotel, a romantic place, or a darker place in the ninja world, there are always 'eyes'.
Under such circumstances, it was naturally impossible to hide the negative comments promoted by the Sannin Jiraiya from the Demon Country from the Ninja Cat Clan.
The fundamental reason lies in Miaomushan's prophecy.
"There is that part of the reason, but prophecies are prophecies. As long as no actual action is taken, then there will be no war with Mount Myoboku. But now Mount Myoboku has abandoned its neutral position and secretly moved closer to Konoha... with the Ninja Clan. It’s like taking refuge in the Uchiha clan.”
"I didn't expect that the Holy Land, which has always been neutral, would actually..."
Grandma Cat was shocked by this kind of thing.
Although the Psychic Beast family collectively defected to a certain human force, this kind of thing is not unheard of. For example, this is the case with the Ninja Clan. They will continue to fight for the Uchiha Clan until the blood of the Uchiha Clan is exhausted.
But this is not the case in the Holy Land.
Their status in the world of psychic beasts is equivalent to that of the great powers in the human world. Its foundation and strength are comparable to those of major countries.
Once these holy places begin to tend to support a certain force, the balance between human forces will be broken.
"Nothing is impossible. Miaomu Mountain has made its choice, and we need to take corresponding actions. Isn't that what war is like?"
"But, rashly starting a war with a holy land..."
Grandma Cat looked serious.
"That's why we need the power of the Ninja Clan to contain part of Miaomu Mountain's troops."
"It seems that you have made up your mind. I know, I will help with these things."
Although Neko Granny was nervous about starting a war with Mt. Myoboku, since this was the will of the current leader of the Uchiha clan, as allies, they only needed to do their best to assist. I dare not say that it played a key role in this war, but at least it must not be a hindrance.
"Then, I'll leave this to you, Granny Cat. I'm going to find Yuhuo."
Liuli nodded slightly, turned and left.
After Liuli left, Granny Cat put down the pipe in her hand and took a deep breath.
"Now is not the time to be leisurely. Go and call all the cadres in charge. It seems that things will change again soon..."
After hearing Grandma Cat's words, the tricolor cat nestled beside meowed, taking elegant steps and quietly blending into the shadows.
At this point, the machine of the Ninja Cat Clan began to operate at high speed.
◎
Wearing a black raincoat.
Two figures, one tall and one short, stood in the wind and rain.
Yuyin Village is surrounded by the inland sea on all sides, and the water is turbulent. Under the heavy rain, continuous waves are rolled up, rushing forward layer by layer.
The only road leading to Amegakure Village is a bridge across the inland sea.
Most of the buildings in Yuyin Village are tall and sharp, like sharp thorns, breaking through the blockade of the sky and standing firm in the wind and rain.
Seen from a distance, the lights used to illuminate the village looked particularly cold in this weather.
"Is this the Rain Hidden Village?"
Yiji stretched her palms out of the sleeves of her raincoat, and cold rainwater gathered on her fingertips.
Because it's winter now, the rain in the Land of Rain is extremely cold, piercing the bone marrow.
The bridge leading to Yuyin Village is also wet, and no part of it is not eroded by the rain.
This kind of abnormal weather is comparable to that of countries such as the Land of Snow and the Land of Iron.
"Let's go."
Passing the review of the Amegakure ninja at the intersection is equivalent to going through a process. After Shiraishi stuffed the pass document into his pocket, he said something to Kazuhime.
"knew."
Ichiji put down her arms, quickly followed Shiraishi's footsteps, and walked towards the interior of Amegakure Village.
Several days have passed since the high-level meeting in the Kingdom of Ghosts. Not only that, while the high-level meeting was going on, Shiraishi also sent a secret letter to Amegakure Village through the diplomatic department of the Kingdom of Ghosts, requesting cooperation.
Taking into account the positions of other countries, the Kingdom of Demons cannot swallow the entire Miaomu Mountain with one person.
Therefore, this trip to Yuyin Village was made to seek military cooperation.
Entering Yuyin Village, Yiji curiously looked at the environment of Yuyin Village.
It's better than expected, not as dilapidated as the rumors said.
Although many buildings do have aging problems, obvious signs of repairs can also be seen, and many of the buildings are newly built.
In addition, electronic products from the Kingdom of Ghosts seem to have been introduced here, and advertising screens have begun to be hung up in many places, showing advertisements to promote products.
Occasionally when passing by a store, you can see the owner sitting in front of the TV, watching TV programs with relish.
The villagers and ninjas on the street were wearing raincoats, but they were not in a hurry. Judging from their plump faces, they had a pretty good life.
But there is one thing that makes Yi Ji very concerned, that is, under the eaves of many houses, there is a kind of sunny day doll made of paper hanging... Even though it is constantly being beaten by wind and rain, there is no trace of moisture at all. The pieces of paper are also mixed with chakra that ordinary people cannot detect.
"It's really rare to use pieces of paper as ninjutsu..."
Although surprised, Yi Ji will not be too surprised.
After processing with chakra, even hair can be reduced to a type of ninjutsu. Compared to this, controlling paper to fight does not seem too surprising.
"It's a monitor, just like the rain."
Shiraishi said calmly.
Not only are these paper sunny dolls, the rain falling over the Hidden Rain Village is different from the rain in the rest of the Land of Rain.
It was caused by ninjutsu and mixed with Nagato's chakra.
As long as this kind of rainwater touches your skin, Nagato will immediately sense it. Then Nagato will determine whether he is from the Hidden Rain Village based on the chakra aura fed back.
Moreover, Shiraishi heard that there are only a few sunny days in Amegakure Village a month, and the rest of the days are covered by rain 24 hours a day, and it still covers such a large area... In terms of chakra, it is not something that ordinary ninjas can do.
If this cooperation can be successful, it should not be difficult to capture Miaomu Mountain.
Coming to a core area where there are no villagers or idle rain ninja wandering around, there is the tallest tower in the rain hidden village.
From the entrance of the tower, Shiraishi saw a woman with short blue hair standing in the rain.
Wearing a coat with red clouds on a black background, there is a blue flower in her blue hair. Like those Sunny Day dolls, they are all made of paper.
Even if it gets wet with rain, it won't get wet.
Konan glanced at Shiraishi and Kazuki's faces, and her voice was as cold as frost: "Nagato is waiting for you, come with me."
After saying that, without waiting for any reaction from the two of them, they turned around and entered the tower.
Shiraishi and Kazuki didn't pay attention to each other's cold attitude. They followed in and took off their raincoats and put them on the shelf aside. They would come and get them when they were ready to leave.
Because there are no lifting tools inside the tower, you can only walk up the stairs step by step.
But neither Xiaonan, who was leading the way, nor Shiraishi and Kazuki, who were following behind, were impatient at all and kept their normal expressions. The only sound of three people walking in the stairwell made the space very quiet.
Arriving at the top of the tower, Xiao Nan stopped in front of a door, turned the door handle, and opened the door.
After Shiraishi and Yiji entered the door, Xiaonan followed and closed the door tightly.
There is a round table and several seats in the room.
Opposite the round table, Nagato with long red hair sat there.
The pair of samsara eyes, which had no emotion and exuded cold metallic luster, were clearly reflected in the eyes of Shiraishi and Kazuki.
Unlike Shiraishi who had a calm expression, Kazuhime stared curiously at Nagato's Rinnegan.
"Please take a seat, Mr. Shiraishi. Please forgive me for the humble apartment."
"Nowhere. I'm the one who's being rude when you take the liberty to visit me."
Shiraishi smiled and sat down opposite.
Yi Ji stood behind Shiraishi, scanning the surrounding environment with vague eyes.
Konan walked to and stood behind Nagato, his expressionless face giving people a cold feeling.
"Then, let's get straight to the point. In the letter he sent to me a few days ago, Mr. Shiraishi said that he wanted to cooperate with me on something important. I'm curious about what it is. Now that there are no outsiders here, I can explain it clearly."
After sitting down at Shiraishi, Nagato got straight to the point.
Shiraishi glanced at Nagato, nodded and said, "Then I'm welcome. I want to seek assistance from the Hidden Rain Village to attack... Mt. Miaomu!"
Nagato narrowed his eyes. According to Shiraishi's proposal, thousands of thoughts flashed through his mind, and then he fell into wordless silence.
"I want to ask, Miaomu Mountain...is it the Miaomu Mountain that inherits immortal arts?"
After a long time, Nagato asked again as if confirming something.
"I don't think there should be a second Miaomu Mountain in this world."
After hearing Shiraishi's words, Nagato frowned tightly.
Shiraishi continued: "Because we are here to seek cooperation, the conditions for this matter are that we will support Yuyin Village with a large amount of food, and the arms purchased by Yuyin will also be sold at a certain discount. According to As far as I know, food and arms are still important gaps in Yuyin Village."
And this part of the gap comes from the entire Kingdom of Rain.
Not to mention arms, Yuyin has no relevant industrial foundation, and most of the weapons it can produce are cold weapons. The food problem has always been the biggest gap in the Country of Rain. Even though Yuyin has received funding from some domestic businessmen, it is still extremely difficult to make up for a country's food gap.
Because the land in the Country of Rain is not suitable for growing grains, self-produced food is very scarce, and a lot of food needs to be purchased from outside. The food produced in the country is simply not enough to meet the needs of the people. This part consumes a lot of money and manpower, but there are still a considerable number of areas that are difficult to benefit.
"Similarly, we will capture Miaomu Mountain, and both parties will dispose of all the spoils there, including magical arts... What do you think, Nagato-dono?"
Shiraishi made these tempting offers.
Nagato put his hands on the table and lowered his head slightly to prevent others from seeing his changing expression.
Food, arms... Miaomu Mountain's resources, magic... every condition is extremely attractive.
At this moment, Nagato admitted that his heart was moved.
