Konoha Drunkard

Seeing the bewildered expressions on their faces, Shanks couldn't help but ask.

"...So you're saying...he's a human puppet now?"

The guy with the big cannon was the first to react, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. He was genuinely terrified. Sasori, the super genius of Sunagakure, was a well-known figure, but he never expected this genius to be so insane, and so ruthless, even turning himself into a human puppet. It was too damn crazy! The line between genius and madness is often very thin; the ancients were right...

and many more!

Shikamaru seems to be a genius too!

just in case......

Big Firecracker decided to give Little Firecracker a good "ideological education" when he got home. The topic was: "The world is so beautiful, yet I'm so bored..."

You absolutely mustn't let your little rocket launcher get interested in anything; smart people often tend to go to extremes when they're interested in something...

"That's right, that's why you had Zhishui keep an eye on him 24 hours a day. That little bastard has no humanity. He bought something and didn't pay, and when people said a few words to him, he destroyed a country."

Minato and Sakumo were too busy to keep an eye on this guy, and he himself was also very busy. Talking to Tsunade would be pointless. The only person in the village who could suppress the little scorpion was Shisui.

..........

"This is where you'll be living from now on. By the way, do you need any food, showers, or anything like that...?"

After Shanks greeted Minato, the Hokage, he carried Sasori back to the Senju clan's territory. He found Sasori a room next to Minato's house. He didn't dare to place the little guy too far away, in case the little guy went crazy and secretly used his clansmen for modification, which would be a disaster. So it was safer to place him next door. Before he was away, there was Garp, the "good family man," to keep an eye on things.

However, regarding daily life, Shanks observed the little scorpion with its wooden body, seemingly exempt from eating, sleeping, and bathing—a wooden creature, after all, that was quite nice...

"Hmph! Go prepare these materials for me; I need to repair my body."

The little scorpion snorted, and a small hole appeared in its chest, from which a small piece of paper flew toward Shanks.

"Hey, you little bastard, you've forgotten how painful it was, haven't you? Don't talk to people like that, or you'll get beaten up. Also, you're free in Konoha from now on, but don't cause me any trouble, or you'll know what I have. That handsome face of yours, if I sold a photo of it, it could probably fetch an astronomical price..."

Shanks glanced at the densely packed names, which seemed to be for small parts or something, put the note away, and turned to go home. This was the safest place in all of Konoha, and Shanks wasn't worried about Sasori causing trouble here. It was right next door; he didn't even need to use his Observation Haki to sense what he was doing...

..........

When Shanks brought Scorpion back to Konoha, Kakashi and the others also brought Chiyo's body back to Sunagakure. Chiyo's status in Sunagakure was extremely high. Although she had been living in seclusion for many years, her influence had not diminished at all. When Ebizo's group of underlings saw that Chiyo had passed away, they cried their hearts out. The next day, Sunagakure held a state funeral for their meritorious elder.

The news of Chiyo's passing and the Akatsuki's display of true strength shocked the entire ninja world. In particular, the discovery that Sasori, who had been missing for many years, was actually a core member of the Akatsuki and had teamed up with Onoki's beloved disciple Deidara, and that the one who rode a giant bird and brazenly stormed into Sunagakure to abduct the Kazekage was none other than Onoki's beloved disciple Deidara, made Deidara famous.

Sunagakure is one of the five great villages of the ninja world. Although it has declined somewhat in recent years, it is not a place where just anyone dares to cause trouble.

Deidara became famous, and of course, Onoki, the good teacher, also became famous. Whether Deidara was good or bad, he was considered a success. Onoki's reputation in the education field also rose rapidly, and he even had the title of a famous teacher.

Even with the title of master teacher, Onoki couldn't be happy. He would be happy if it were because of his son or his beloved granddaughter, but he couldn't be happy because of Deidara. Not only did Deidara have the title of master teacher, but he also had the title of teacher of rogue ninjas, just like Shanks.

He used to laugh at Konoha for not being able to retain talent, saying that many strong and talented people had defected from Konoha. But now the tables have turned, and this year it's his turn.

"boom!"

"That little bastard Deidara is always causing trouble for me. Send someone to the Land of Rain to find out where that little bastard is and bring him back to me!"

Although Onoki was furious, he couldn't bear to kill him, as he was the only genius his village could boast of and also his disciple. He wanted to capture him and give him a lesson in moral education, since the village would need him to lead the way in the future...

"...Lord Tsuchikage, it's probably very difficult now. All the people the village can mobilize have gone to find Rōshi and Han, there's simply no manpower left, not to mention the strength of that Akatsuki organization..."

Aoki stopped there, believing that Onoki already knew what he was trying to say. The Akatsuki's lineup was terrifying; if they were all mobilized, even Konoha might not be able to withstand them. It was a superstar-studded lineup. They should be grateful if they didn't cause trouble in Iwagakure, and now they wanted to try and subvert them at their headquarters... Were they just looking for trouble?

"...After searching for so long, have you found it?"

Onoki calmed down and now believed that the letter Konoha had given him was genuine. As for the Akatsuki organization, since everyone's goal was the Tailed Beasts, he began to take it seriously again. Aoki Nozomi was right; the Akatsuki organization's lineup was indeed too strong.

759. Snake's Infernal Affairs Ends

"No news at all..."

Aoki Nozomi shook his head. He already had a guess in his mind that they might have been captured by the Akatsuki organization. Otherwise, they would have sent so many people and searched the area around the Land of Earth. It was impossible that they couldn't find a trace of them. However, Onoki was angry right now, so he didn't say what he guessed, lest he be the first to be scolded.

..............

"Hokage-sama! An S-rank rogue ninja, Orochimaru... Orochimaru has appeared on the outskirts of the village with the unconscious Jiraiya-sama, and is heading towards the village!"

Just a few days after the incident in the Land of Wind, an ANBU member rushed into the Hokage Building, panting, and broke open the office door to report to Minato.

"What?! Inform Lady Tsunade, Lady Shanks, and the three advisors!"

Minato jumped up, gave instructions to the Anbu, and then disappeared from the office.

Shanks has been going to Scorpion's room quite often these past few days, partly to check on him after he's just lost a loved one, and partly to let him know that the world is still full of love and hope. Secondly, he wants to see how Scorpion is repairing himself. He's not interested in puppetry, and being clumsy, he can't learn those skills anyway; he's just curious.

"Karin, aren't we going to seal Madara today?"

As soon as he entered the house today, he saw a red-haired figure inside. Needless to say, it must be Karin, who was infatuated with him again.

Since arriving in Konoha, Scorpion has continued to indulge his reclusive nature, rarely venturing outside. Aside from the clansmen who saw Shanks carrying him back that day, no one else knew anything. However, the Uzumaki clan is naturally fond of gossip, and the news of their leader carrying a strange, handsome young man spread throughout the Senju territory that very night. Most clansmen, however, only talked about it casually. Karin, the infatuated girl, was most sensitive to the word "handsome man," and that very night she dared to knock on Scorpion's door. If Garp hadn't stopped her, Scorpion would probably have been devoured by Karin that night...

However, Karin would occasionally come to Sasori's place, drooling and swooning over him...

"My stomach hurts, so I asked Brother Buta for leave."

Karin wiped her drool, her eyes never leaving the little scorpion.

"........."

Shanks couldn't be bothered with this idiot. Didn't he see the guy was a block of wood? What use was he anyway...?

Scorpion seemed to ignore the two of them, continuing with his own business. To be honest, Shanks had been visiting for several days, and aside from the first day when he was repairing his body, which gave him a rough idea of ​​what was going on, Scorpion had been constantly fiddling with the small parts ever since. He hadn't assembled Optimus Prime or Iron Man into anything; he just kept hammering and twisting those little pieces. If it weren't for wanting to show more concern for this "child" who had just lost his family, he wouldn't have bothered coming at all…

"Lord Shanks! Big news! The Hokage is looking for you."

Just as Shanks was getting bored, an ANBU member appeared behind him and said something.

"Okay, I'll be there in a bit."

Shanks stood up and walked out the door. It was a sensitive time. If Minato was looking for him, it meant something big had happened. Either one of the tailed beasts had been captured, or another had been defeated. He had no choice but to go.

...........

"Holy crap! Great scientist, what are you doing back here, and in such a sorry state! Huh, Old Toad looks just as miserable! Where's Jiraiya?"

Shanks was always the last to arrive. When he entered the office, the three giants of Konoha were already there, except for Danzo. There was also a pitiful figure. If it weren't for his prominent scientist-like aura, Shanks would almost not have recognized him as Orochimaru. He was in such a terrible state. His body was fine, after all, Orochimaru's ability to escape was unparalleled. It was just that his white lab coat was torn in pieces, making him look miserable. There were also two pitiful old toads on the table, but they were nowhere to be seen.

"boom!"

"Jiraiya's injuries are too severe. If it weren't for the Sage Chakra in his body sustaining his life force, he probably wouldn't have lasted until now. He's still unconscious, and when he'll wake up is up to fate. You bastard, you've been lying to me for so long! Why didn't you tell me that Orochimaru never defected?"

Before Orochimaru could even speak, Shanks was slammed into the head by an iron fist. Tsunade's punch was unleashed with unparalleled power; she was furious beyond measure, and if she held back any longer, she was afraid she would suffer internal injuries.

"...Isn't this for the sake of secrecy? If we can't even fool you, how can we fool the Akatsuki? Don't forget, that's the Rinnegan..."

Shanks rolled his eyes at the enraged Tsunade. "You gambler and drunkard, let me tell you, it'll be all over Konoha by tomorrow. Don't you know you can go crazy when you're drunk?"

"...It's all because of that idiot Jiraiya...he ran off to the Land of Rain to investigate for no reason..."

Orochimaru said coldly. Originally, the core members of the Akatsuki had been sent out by Nagato to capture the Tailed Beasts, so as a great scientist and logistics manager, Orochimaru naturally didn't need to go out. He could stay at the base camp and do his own small experiments. How comfortable and enjoyable!

But Jiraiya, that idiot, went looking for trouble and went to the Land of Rain to investigate. Needless to say, he attracted Nagato's Six Paths Puppet Master. After that, well, we can't go into details. The two sides clashed in the Land of Rain. Because Jiraiya didn't know the Six Paths Puppet Master's characteristics, he suffered a great loss, getting thoroughly beaten. Orochimaru, watching from the shadows, saw Jiraiya about to be killed. Driven by his bromance, to save his friend's life, he had no choice but to abandon his super-undercover mission and jump in to fight the Six Paths Puppet Master. However, Orochimaru's skills were unparalleled in releasing snakes and escaping, but he was far less effective in a direct confrontation with the Six Paths Puppet Master. Fighting and retreating, he was beaten several times over by the Six Paths Puppet Master until Orochimaru finally found an opportunity to escape with the weakened Jiraiya.

Orochimaru's cosmos is about to explode! It's all Jiraiya's fault. All his years of research and achievements are in the Akatsuki's research lab. Because he left in such a hurry, he didn't bring any of those records with him. This is a huge loss...

"Do they know you're an undercover agent sent by Konoha?"

Shanks realized the most crucial issue: if Nagato knew that Orochimaru was an undercover agent, then Itachi would likely also be suspected.

"I don't think so. I just said I didn't want to see Jiraiya killed. With Pain's brain, he would at most suspect that I saved Jiraiya because of old feelings."

Orochimaru shook his head. It wasn't that he was bragging. Although Pain had always been the leader of the Akatsuki, Orochimaru could tell that a plan like capturing the tailed beasts was definitely not his idea. Having lived in the Akatsuki for so many years, how could he not know what kind of mind Pain had? There must be someone else behind this! It was very likely that masked man.

760. If you're so good, why don't you do it yourself?

"Haha, you stinky toad, weren't you so smug before? What happened? Did you get fucked?"

Shanks watched as Wen Tai's father, one of the two old toads on the table, laughed gleefully. "Serves you right for being so smug," he thought.

"You brat! If you're so good, why don't you do it yourself! That's the Rinnegan! Jiraiya's Sage Mode is just not up to par, otherwise we wouldn't be in such a miserable state!"

Before Wentai's father could even come up with his lines to retort to Shanks, Wentai's mother started criticizing him.

"Haha, it's not like I haven't been with them before. I've fucked those toys with the Rinnegan until they were shitting. The Rinnegan is just so-so."

I never expected that a toad would use the popular phrase "If you can do it, then you do it." But Shanks isn't intimidated; it's not like he hasn't clashed with Nagato before.

"Damn brat, Minato, we're leaving. Since this kid fought with that Rinnegan, let him tell you his information."

Looking at the smug Shanks, Wen Tai's mother really wanted to slap a handful of bugs on his face. She grabbed Wen Tai's father and slammed him back into the Toad Cave.

"Tch! At such an old age, still so short-tempered, be careful of high blood pressure!"

Shanks yelled at the spot where Ventay's parents had disappeared.

"Alright, stop fooling around! Now that the two immortals are gone, you're the only one who has fought the Rinnegan. Tell me about it."

When Koharu changed dorm rooms, she saw Shanks acting all serious. Even after he left, she still wanted to argue with him. Didn't she know how to respect her elders?

"Orochimaru and Jiraiya were facing one of the Rinnegan's abilities, the Six Paths Puppets. Actually, it wasn't six people with the Rinnegan, but six puppets made from human corpses, similar to Sasori's puppets, but not as complex as Sasori's puppet control, which could even be remotely controlled. Each puppet could have a single ability; for example, one could only use summoning jutsu, summoning those unkillable monsters. Another could absorb chakra, nullifying ninjutsu, and so on. Once you understand their abilities, dealing with them isn't actually that difficult. Moreover, Orochimaru's previous guess was correct; that Rinnegan didn't belong to the Akatsuki leader at all. I sensed his true form when I fought him last time. Every time he used the Rinnegan, it greatly depleted his life force. Only members of the Uzumaki and Senju clans dare to do this; if it were an ordinary person, they would have been dead long ago."

With the grand finale approaching, Shanks felt there was no need to hide anything, and revealing a tiny bit wouldn't hurt.

"So you're saying you suspect someone might have transplanted the Rinnegan into him?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression also turned serious. This question was outrageous! That was the Rinnegan! Madara, with just the Sharingan, ruled an era alongside the First Hokage. And someone was just giving away the Rinnegan, which was even more powerful than the Sharingan? Who was so generous? Give him a dozen...

"I'm just guessing. After all, I've never seen a bloodline limit that requires overdrawing one's life force to use. Or maybe the Rinnegan's power is too strong, and he can't handle it."

Shanks shrugged.

"Actually, the captain's guess is very likely. I've been there for so many years and I've never seen Nagato's true form. If Konan hadn't been one of the little girls Jiraiya took away in the Land of Rain, I would have found it hard to believe that it was just a puppet. If he couldn't show himself because he was using the Rinnegan and had overdrawn his life force, then it would make sense. Moreover, if the bloodline limit is oneself, no matter how powerful one's abilities are, it's impossible to overdraw one's life force so severely. Bloodline limit awakening is proportional to one's abilities, so the situation the captain described is impossible."

When it comes to bloodline limits, Orochimaru is the undisputed number one. Even that fellow biologist, Hideaki, couldn't argue with him. Orochimaru has probably studied all sorts of bloodline limits in the ninja world for many years.

"Orochimaru, are you implying that this Rinnegan was transplanted to him by someone else? After all these years there, have you noticed anyone who seems most suspicious?"

If they didn't quite believe what Shanks said, they would believe Orochimaru about 80%. Orochimaru had been in that organization for over a decade, and with his unparalleled intelligence, what he said was definitely more reliable than what Shanks said.

"My initial suspicion is that so-called Shimura Hanzo, but... if he possesses the Rinnegan, why doesn't he use it himself and instead transplants it to Nagato? Or perhaps he obtained the Rinnegan from someone else, and if so, who is that person...?"

As he spoke, Snake looked at Shanks again, sensing that Shanks was up to something and causing trouble for them.

"Don't look at me. I'm not very familiar with that Shimura Hanzo. We've only fought a few times. He really does use the Mangekyou Sharingan, no doubt about it. How could I be mistaken for that super-sized blue giant? There's no one else like him in the ninja world."

Shanks felt uneasy under Orochimaru's gaze. This smart guy was truly amazing; he'd almost completely analyzed Madara's plan. But even if he told them the eyes belonged to Madara, probably no one would believe him. Even the Sage of Six Paths couldn't revive someone; Madara was at most more powerful, but not quite at the level of the Sage of Six Paths. How could he possibly revive...?

"By the way, have Naruto and the others returned? Minato, if they have, quickly send Naruto to Mount Myōboku to lay low for a while, and see if he can learn Sage Mode. It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark. He's not necessarily safe in the village... My precious disciple sent word that the Six-Tails of Kirigakure and the Seven-Tails of Takigakure have been captured. Only the Eight-Tails, Nine-Tails, Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and the Three-Tails, which hasn't been resurrected yet, remain. If nothing unexpected happens, the Four-Tails and Five-Tails will basically be dead soon. That idiot Ōnoki's methods for finding the Tailed Beasts are too low-level; it would be a miracle if he could find the Four-Tails and Five-Tails."