Escaping the Mist Ninja starts with backstabbing your teacher.

Chapter 150: The Current Situation in the Land of Returning Snow!

Chapter 150 Return to the Land of Snow, Current Situation!

After Tsunade's outburst, deep within the Root's base, Danzo sat in a chair behind his cold stone platform, the shadow in his single eye still lingering.

Several Root ninjas stood at a distance, not daring to breathe, as if the air had frozen.

Danzo tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, one tap after another, the rhythm getting slower and slower.

"Tsunade—" he murmured the name, his voice like a whisper squeezed from the depths of his throat, "One day, you will regret what you said today."

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his eyes had regained their usual indifference.

"Continue monitoring," he said to the empty room. "Report any news immediately."

In the darkness, a figure appeared silently and then disappeared without a sound.

Danzo leaned back in his chair, staring at the dim ceiling, and remained silent for a long time.

He has made up his mind that he will stay at the root for the time being and not go anywhere else.

Out of sight out of mind.

Moreover, he also needs to oversee the experiments he is conducting.

As for Orochimaru—

Ever since he refused the Third Hokage's request for the position, this guy hasn't paid much attention to village affairs.

He was completely absorbed in his own work, often away from the village, wandering around looking for things to study.

Now, at this point in time, I don't know where I've gone.

With his assistance, these studies should be able to be cracked and put to use much faster.

The land of snow.

In a room in the daimyo's residence, Izumikawa snapped out of his reverie, suddenly patted his forehead, and a look of realization flashed in his eyes.

"I forgot something."

Yekura was tidying up the sealing scrolls when she heard him mutter to himself, and looked up at him.

The two children looked over from their respective positions. Shiro was holding a cup of warm milk in her hands, while Kimimaro sat quietly by the window, the light falling softly on Izumi.

"The Onigumo clan." Izumi leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his tone tinged with self-deprecation.

"I originally planned to take a trip to the Land of Water this time to see what they have passed down."

-

"As a result of Nagato and Obito's meddling, they completely forgot about this matter."

He shook his head; the Sage Chakra inheritance of that clan was something he had long coveted.

Unlike Jugo's uncontrollable outbursts of natural energy, the Onigumo clan's lineage is more stable and systematic.

If we can get our hands on it, and combine it with the cursed seal data we got from Orochimaru, the research progress on Sage Chakra can be pushed forward by at least a lot.

"Should we go back?" Ye Cang stopped what he was doing. "We can still make it if we go now."

Izumi pondered for a moment, then finally shook his head.

"Never mind, I'll go later." He turned to look out the window, where the wind and snow were no longer obstructing his view.

From this pavilion, the spring-like scenery of the Snow Country slowly unfolds before your eyes.

"We've been out for quite a while now, and there's still a lot of stuff to deal with at the base. Let's put the Onigumo clan matter aside for now; they can't escape anyway."

He withdrew his gaze, took out a sealed scroll from his pocket, and gently unfurled it on the table.

The scroll surface is covered with densely packed sealing techniques, with Orochimaru's signature thin, elongated handwriting in the center.

This is research data on the Cursed Seal, as well as detailed data on Jugo's body tissues.

"Next, let's examine these things." Izumi's fingertips lightly traced the scroll.

"The working mechanism of the cursed seal, the secret of the natural energy conversion pathway in Jugo's cells—the secret of Sage Chakra—is hidden here."

Natural energy is very primitive and not so easy to control. It has serious side effects, but it is also very powerful once successful.

"Do you need my help?" Yecang asked.

"Not for now." Izumi rolled up the scroll again and put it back into the sealed container. "Rest for a few days and let your injuries heal."

"Take good care of Momona and the others. These two kids also need your help to integrate them into the community."

He looked at Shiro and Kimimaro. Kimimaro was still sitting quietly by the window, his face pale, but his eyes had a calmness that was beyond his years.

Shiro stood beside him, holding the glass of milk that had gone cold, her gaze shifting back and forth between Izumi and Kimimaro.

"As for you—" Izumi's gaze fell on Kimimaro, his tone becoming more serious, "You are not allowed to train until your body recovers. Your condition is worse than you think."

Kimimaro's brow twitched slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just nodded.

He knew his own body well; the aches that spread from the depths of his bones would sometimes wake him up in the middle of the night, staring at the ceiling until dawn.

Izumikawa didn't say anything more. As for the treatment, Kimimaro needed to replenish and restore his depleted body first.

He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and mentally arranged the next steps of his plan.

Kimimaro's physical conditioning, research on cursed seals, the Sage Mode inheritance of the Onigumo clan, and Haku's basic training—

There are many things to do, but if we do them one by one, we can always get them all done.

"By the way, Yekura, have Momona come over. I want to know how the new base is doing now?"

"Okay, I'll go find her!"

After Yekura responded, he called Shiro and Kimimaro together, so that they could also get familiar with the place.

Not long after, footsteps came from the depths of the corridor, growing louder as they approached.

Izumi turned around and saw Yekura leading a group of people toward them.

Walking at the front was Momona, the red-haired girl who had grown even taller than she had a few months ago.

The childishness on her face had faded somewhat, replaced by a youthful sharpness that lay between girlhood and adulthood.

She was dressed in the attire of the Land of Snow, with several sealing scrolls at her waist, and her steps were light and steady. The moment she saw Izumi, her eyes lit up, and her pace noticeably quickened.

"Lord Izumikawa, you're back!" Momona's voice was filled with undisguised joy.

"Hmm." Izumi nodded, his gaze passing over her and landing on the group of little followers behind her.

Neji followed behind Momona, his steps steady and his back straight.

The child, whom Hizashi personally entrusted to Izumikawa, has shed his initial taciturn and gloomy demeanor over the past few months, and his face now displays more of the lively expressions that belong to a child.

However, his eyes remained sharp, and at such a young age, he already possessed a certain aura unique to the Hyuga clan.

When he saw Izumikawa, he bowed slightly and softly called out, "Lord Izumikawa," his tone carrying a deliberate air of composure.

Koyuki peeked out from the other side of Momona, her golden twin tails swaying gently in the wind.

She wore a thick fur-trimmed coat and a red scarf, looking like a little candy wrapped in a candy wrapper.

Her cheeks were flushed red from the cold wind, but her eyes were bright and sparkling. When she saw Izumi, she paused for a moment, then slowly smiled sweetly.

"Uncle!" she called out in a clear, cheerful voice.

Izumi's lips twitched slightly. He still wasn't quite used to being called "uncle."

However, he did not correct him, but simply nodded in response.

Haku and Kimimaro walked at the very back, and compared to the others, they still had a somewhat distant and unfamiliar feeling.

That's normal, though, since it's only the beginning of a new and unfamiliar place.

Izumi saw all of this but said nothing. These people will gradually change and integrate into this community.

What truly surprised him was the person walking at the very back of the group.

Sarah.

The Queen of Loulan wore plain clothes, her long hair was simply tied back, revealing her fair neck.

Her face was a little thinner than when Izumi first met her, but she looked well and walked steadily.

She didn't deliberately walk at the back, nor did she deliberately get close to anyone; she simply followed quietly in the group, like a silent bystander.

When her gaze met Izumi's, she did not flinch, nor did she show the resistance and wariness she once had.

She simply glanced at him calmly and nodded slightly as a greeting.

Izumi nodded slightly in response.

It seems that the Queen of Loulan has now resigned herself to her fate.

It's not compromise, it's not surrender, but a more proactive acceptance.

She realized that she could not change the status quo, so she chose to find her place within it.

Izumikawa didn't know if this change was due to Momona's efforts or Sara's own realization, but in any case, it was a good thing.

A Loulan queen filled with resentment would do him no good.

"Momona." Izumi turned his gaze back to Momona. "How's the base been doing lately? Tell me about it."

Momona immediately straightened her back, her smile fading slightly, replaced by a serious expression.

She took out a scroll from her sleeve, unfolded it, and found that the handwriting on it was neat and fine, clearly indicating that it had been carefully prepared.

"The main structure of the base has been completed, and the laboratories, living quarters, and training grounds are already in use."

"The port construction is still underway and will take about another month to be fully completed."

Momona's voice was clear and fluent as she reported the information point by point.

"Regarding material reserves, the food and medicine purchased from the Land of Fire have arrived, and the experimental equipment transported from the Land of Rivers is also being stored in batches."

"The cooperation from Kazaka Sayasu has been ongoing, and there has been some new progress in the development of Kazaka Nuta's chakra armor."

She paused and glanced at Izumi's reaction.

Izumi nodded slightly, signaling her to continue.

"In addition, the number of skeletal golems is already sufficient to cover the base's daily maintenance and patrol needs, and there is no need to replenish them."

"Those puppets that Sister Yecang left behind—well, those reserve puppets—have also been activated and put into the port's construction."

Momona said, her tone tinged with barely concealed smugness, "Overall, everything is going according to plan."

"Good job." Izumi took the scroll, quickly glanced at the data on it, then rolled it up and handed it back to her. "Keep an eye on the port; don't fall behind in progress."

"Also, Kimimaro needs a full medical check-up, Momona, please cooperate with me."

>