Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 185 Heading Overseas and Taking the Name Itachi

A few days later, the new Three Kingdoms Alliance issued another statement: "No force may set foot on our territory. War is acceptable, and detours are also acceptable. But whoever dares to step into our land, the Three Kingdoms Alliance will unite to meet them."

The statement was simple, but its meaning was clear: We are neutral, but not weak. If you want to fight, go somewhere else, don't mess with us.

In the autumn of August, 1942, Konoha, there was a light rain.

The drizzling rain fell from morning until evening, shrouding Konoha Village in a gray mist.

Ninja cemetery, black umbrellas, black clothes, white flowers.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stood at the front, with Konoha's high-ranking officials and Jonin behind him.

Minato Namikaze sat in a wheelchair, his face pale, his right hand bandaged, the color of the skin on it noticeably different from his own.

Kushina Uzumaki stood behind him, one hand supporting the wheelchair and the other holding an umbrella, her eyes slightly red.

Tsunade stood on the other side, her expression colder than ever. Beside her, Kato Dan gently held her hand, saying nothing.

After that, Orochimaru, Akimichi Choza, Nara Shikaku... one familiar face after another, all wore solemn expressions, even if they weren't, they had to pretend to be solemn at this moment.

The tombstone is new, with the inscription: "Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, rests here in peace."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked even older. He stepped forward, placed a white flower before the tombstone, remained silent for a long time, and then said softly, "Jiraiya, you always said that a ninja's life is about endurance. But in your life, you endured too much and enjoyed too little."

He paused, his voice slightly hoarse: "Rest in peace."

The rain was still falling, pattering on the white flowers, on the black umbrellas, and on everyone's silent faces.

Minato Namikaze tried to stand up, but Kushina held him back. He could only remain seated in his wheelchair, looking at his teacher's name on the tombstone, his eyes gradually reddening.

He recalled the first time he met Jiraiya, when that frivolous man patted him on the head and said, "Kid, you have a lot of talent. Come learn ninjutsu from me."

He recalled Jiraiya teaching him ninjutsu, demonstrating it again and again, then laughing and saying, "You're smarter than me; you learned it quickly."

He remembered that Jiraiya would always bring him small gifts after returning from missions, saying they were "rewards for his apprentice."

I remember my teacher confidently saying, "Don't worry, you guys go ahead first, I'll break the seal and catch up with you right away."

But he could never come back. Raindrops fell on Shuimen's face, indistinguishable between rain and tears.

Tsunade stepped forward, placed the flowers in front of the grave, and stood there for a long, long time without saying a word.

Kato Dan walked over and gently put his arm around her shoulder. Tsunade didn't move, she just stared at the name on the tombstone, at that name that was always unserious, always playful, and always a headache.

"Jiraiya," she finally spoke, her voice very soft, "you idiot!"

Then she turned around and walked back into the crowd.

After the funeral, the crowd gradually dispersed.

The rain was still falling, washing the tombstone clean.

Before the tombstone, a pure white figure emerged from the earth. "Oh dear, even though it's just a cenotaph, it seems Jiraiya really is dead!"

Then, the white figure once again disappeared underground. This white Zetsu was indeed sent by the Black and White Zetsu to gather information.

Because of that battle, all four White Zetsu hidden within a ten-kilometer radius of Yugakure disappeared.

The disappearance of White Zetsu had actually been happening for a long time, and by the time Zetsu really noticed, more than a dozen of them had already disappeared.

Zetsu still doesn't know who took the White Zetsu, and he hasn't dared to tell Madara about it. He's very troubled, but he has no choice but to investigate.

"Lord Zetsu, Jiraiya is really dead!"

"Really? Fearless." Zetsu continued, "Have you found out which direction those four White Zetsu that went missing went?"

The white Zetsu said, "It's around the village of Tangnen, but we went to check and found nothing unusual. Lord Zetsu, I suspect that perhaps one of us has betrayed us and spontaneously formed a new organization?"

"Nonsense! Go sit in your surveillance camera."

"That's obviously it." The white Zetsu said as it burrowed underground. "I suspect they've discovered the secret of how they poop and don't want to tell us."

Black Zetsu: "..."

Three days later, on the black market, a new bounty poster was posted in the most conspicuous place:

"Military strategist of the Land of White Grass, currently an advisor to the Village of Hot Springs, bounty: 100 million ryo."

Below is a smaller line of text: "Kill or capture alive. Note: This person is extremely dangerous; it is recommended to go in a team."

After the news spread, countless bounty hunters were eager to try their luck. But most people just watched the spectacle and then quietly walked away; one hundred million taels of silver wasn't something everyone was lucky enough to claim.

However, at this very moment, spies from various villages also began to play a game of espionage, with both major and minor ninja villages infiltrating each other's territory.

However, the instigator of this riot had already left Tangren Village and flown into the vast sea.

Aburame Shisei sat on the back of the gigantic Xiao Qing. The whirlwind of the sky and sea blew his hair. He looked down and the coastline behind him grew farther and farther away. As far as the eye could see, there was a blue ocean that seemed to have no end.

He raised his hand and brought out the petri dish. This time, in Tangren Village, he devoured the dead civilians and the blood pool of the evil god cult, reaping a total of 3700 years of primordial energy. However, this can only be considered a one-shot deal.

"Three thousand seven hundred energy seems like a lot, but it takes hundreds or even thousands to cultivate a good insect."

He frowned slightly as he thought of the Soul-Eating Insects that had died in the battle.

Only fifty remain after a great battle. To reproduce, they need special energy souls, resentment, and negative emotions.

"There are plenty of these things in the ninja world. But if you want to acquire them in large quantities, you have to actively seek them out. However, right now, energy is the most important thing."

Aburame Shisei put away the petri dish and looked into the distance again. The vast sea held unknown islands and legendary lost civilizations.

"Hopefully, this trip will go smoothly, and we'll find it as soon as possible."

Konoha Village, the home of the Uchiha clan.

Mikoto Uchiha sat in the courtyard, the warm sunlight shining on her. Her hand rested gently on her lower abdomen, a tender smile on her face.

Fugaku came out of the house and placed a cup of hot tea beside her.

"Thanks."

Fugaku Uchiha sat down beside her and said, "I want to name the child Itachi."

"Itachi?"

"Hmm." Fugaku nodded. "Uchiha Itachi. What do you think?"

"Uchiha Itachi, what a beautiful name."