Konoha, reported by the Fourth Hokage at the start.

Chapter 172 Three Years Later

One day later.

Guided by Bai Zetsu, Li Yao, who was traveling at full speed, arrived above a long, low mountain in the Land of Rain.

Boom! Thunder and lightning flashed through the dark gray clouds.

Swish, swish... The clouds poured down rain onto the earth like a showerhead.

After entering the Land of Rain, it rained almost every day.

High in the sky, below the clouds, on the back of a clay bird, heavy rain poured down. A faint layer of chakra condensed on Li Yao's body, and the raindrops that fell on him were repelled by this faint chakra.

"Speaking of which, with your abilities, you should be able to save Nagato in time, so why do you need me to protect him?"

The two looked at a river in the distance, and in a metal barrel house by the river lived Jiraiya, Nagato, and the other two children.

Li Yao was a little curious. Given how fast White Zetsu had saved him from Onoki's Dust Release technique, it would be difficult for anyone else to snatch the Rinnegan from him. So why did he call him over to keep an eye on things?

Bai Jue glanced at Li Yao and said, "There are some things you don't need to know. Just carry out the tasks assigned by Lord Ban."

"Okay, I understand." Li Yao shrugged and said nothing more.

White Zetsu... or rather, Black Zetsu, also had their own unspeakable suffering.

He wasn't worried if anyone else approached Nagato.

However, Jiraiya was a contractor of Mount Myōboku. The old toad of Mount Myōboku was a toad that had lived since the time of the Sage of Six Paths. He possessed some special abilities and recognized Jiraiya's and his mother's chakra.

If he appears near Jiraiya, there's a high chance that the old toad will sense him.

Given that old toad's abilities, his plan to resurrect his mother could encounter a major mishap, and Black Zetsu absolutely cannot allow any mishaps to occur.

Having finally waited for the appearance of the Rinnegan, he would never miss the opportunity to reunite with his mother.

Therefore, Black Zetsu could only have Li Yao keep an eye on Nagato to ensure the safety of the Rinnegan.

"I can't stay out too long, so I'm counting on you from now on."

After saying that, Bai Jue jumped down in a hurry without waiting for Li Yao's reply. Even though they were several kilometers apart, he was still afraid of being sensed by the toads of Mount Myōboku. It was safest to blend into the ground.

"What's this guy afraid of?"

A hint of doubt flashed in Li Yao's eyes, then he shook his head. Why think about that? Since he couldn't leave for the time being, he couldn't waste any more time.

Li Yao carefully sensed Nagato's chakra.

Like other members of the Uzumaki clan such as Kimo and Koyo, her body is filled with vitality and has a large amount of chakra.

But what caught Li Yao's attention was the chakra in Nagato's eyes.

This was the first time Li Yao had ever sensed chakra of that intensity and nature.

That must be the ocular power chakra of the Rinnegan.

"This property's strength is just too high!"

Li Yao felt that the difference between Onoki's Dust Release chakra and the Rinnegan's ocular power chakra was like the difference between wood and diamond—terrifying.

"I wonder if I can copy it now?"

A fiery glint flashed in Li Yao's eyes. If he could replicate the Rinnegan's eye power and chakra, would that mean he could also use some Rinnegan ninjutsu?

Unfortunately... Madara is still alive, so Li Yao doesn't dare to touch Nagato's Rinnegan.

Don't be fooled by the fact that he doesn't seem to be under any restrictions right now.

However, if he actually tries to seize the Rinnegan, the Six Paths level forbidden curse that Madara left in his body will immediately activate.

He has no chance.

Even if Madara dies, it might be difficult for him to activate the Rinnegan.

After all, he wasn't the one personally appointed by Ban to carry out the plan.

However, it is possible to find a way to get close to Nagato for an extended period of time.

With his enhanced chakra perception ability, over time he is very likely to perceive all the nature changes of the Rinnegan's ocular power chakra and thus replicate the same Rinnegan ocular power chakra.

"We'll have to wait until later."

Li Yao thought to himself that he didn't have time now; developing the perfect transformation technique was the most important thing.

So, Li Yao focused all his energy on condensing his spiritual chakra and trying to increase its strength, while keeping an eye on Nagato and Jiraiya.

In the blink of an eye.

A year has passed.

Li Yao thought that Jiraiya would only take care of Nagato and his two children for a year at most, teach them ninjutsu, and then leave, since the Fourth Shinobi World War was not over yet.

Although it no longer has much to do with the Land of Rain, the three kingdoms of Wind, Fire, and Earth are still fighting fiercely within the Land of Rain.

You, Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin, a Kage-level powerhouse, have been wasting your time here.

Li Yao was so angry his mouth twisted into a crook!

Improving the strength of a spirit's chakra by condensing it yourself is very slow. You need to control a ninja to sense their soul at close range for comparison and practical research in order to improve it faster.

Jiraiya never left, and he had no way to leave, so the rate at which his spiritual chakra strength increased was severely hampered.

Unfortunately, Li Yao couldn't do anything to Jiraiya because Madara wouldn't let him attack him. Otherwise, he could have just killed Jiraiya, and there wouldn't have been so much trouble.

"Wait and see how long you can stay."

Li Yaoli said bitterly.

As a result, they waited for another two years. The Fourth Shinobi World War ended, and Konan's breasts grew bigger before Jiraiya finally left.

"Damn it, that bastard's finally gone."

Sensing that Jiraiya and the three children, Nagato, had parted ways, Li Yao finally breathed a sigh of relief. Now he could finally move around freely.

He quickly landed from the air, stood on the ground, and stomped his feet three times, which was his secret signal to communicate with Bai Jue.

Just a few seconds after he stomped his foot, White Zetsu emerged from the ground in front of Li Yao.

"Can I move around freely now?" Li Yao asked quickly.

"That's fine," White Zetsu nodded.

"Then bye-bye."

Li Yao leaped onto the back of the clay bird and flew quickly away from the Land of Rain.

He didn't want to stay in the Land of Rain for even a moment longer.

……

Country of Fields.

In a small town, Li Yaoying's clone transformed into the appearance of a middle-aged man and was eating noodles with Xiao Yezi in a ramen shop. It was mainly Xiao Yezi who was eating, as his clone neither needed to nor could eat.

Li Yao tried it out; what would happen if a shadow clone ate?

Eating is equivalent to being attacked inside the body, and the shadow clone will explode.

That's... really annoying.

However, if it's just an external activity, the shadow clones won't explode.

For example, during anaerobic exercise with a woman, the shadow clone provides the woman with the same experience as the original body, with both warmth and strength.

"Uncle, when are you arriving?"

Xiao Yezi lowered her head, still had noodles in her mouth, but her eyes glanced sideways at Li Yaoying's clone, asking when Li Yaoying's real body would return.

"It'll be soon," Li Yaoying said from his clone.

"You said you'd be back soon last time too," Xiao Yezi pouted and complained, "but three years have passed. Who knows how long you'll take this time?"

If it weren't for his shadow clones staying with him for the past three years, Xiao Yezi would have thought that the uncle had abandoned him.

But this guy is really amazing; he can keep creating shadow clones and continue to exist as long as he absorbs chakra from wandering ninjas.

"Eat quickly, another fool who's not afraid of death has come looking for us," Li Yaoying's clone suddenly said.

"That's perfect!" Little Yezi's big eyes lit up immediately, and she quickly finished the rest of the noodles in one bite.

After paying, the two went outside the shop, and Xiao Yezi immediately said, "Uncle, let me do it this time. My paper explosive talisman can be cast instantly now."

Li Yaoying's clone smiled and said, "Okay."

The two ran out of the town and were soon surrounded by a group of wandering ninjas in a grove of trees.

"That's the Whirlpool Leaf with a bounty of thirty million taels of silver. It's really big... no, it's really valuable!"

The wandering ninja leader stared at Xiao Yezi's surging and imposing weapon, unconsciously drooling. She was valuable and tempting.

Three years have passed, and Xiao Yezi's face has fully blossomed.

Her figure is incredibly sexy, and the baby fat on her face creates a delicate and stunning appearance. If beauty were rated, she would be considered a goddess.

At this moment, a group of wandering ninjas were all staring at Xiao Yezi, who was drooling, with expressions of barely suppressed excitement.

I don't know if these people came for the bounty or for the person.

But it doesn't matter anymore.

"Is it all here, Uncle?" Little Leaf asked Li Yaoying's clone, her eyes shining as she stared at the wandering ninja in front of her, seemingly eager to get involved.

"They're all here," Li Yaoying said, his clone appearing in the background.

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Yezi clapped her hands together.

(End of this chapter)