The first time this female contractor encountered Kisame Hoshigaki, her impression on him was that her combat strength was not strong.

If she is a Worker and opened a personal affinity with Kisame, her reason for joining the Akatsuki Organization is simple: to cling to a powerful figure and use her support ability to gain Kisame’s shelter.

This is quite common. Compared to Contractors, powerful plot characters are the most favorable choice for workers. First, they can learn about the character and morality of plot characters through the original work, as well as extremely detailed personal data. Seeking protection from contractors is different, akin to gambling.

"Let’s not discuss these things, that side might not hold out much longer."

Su Xiao suddenly spoke, and by ’that side’, he meant Deidara, since the female Worker was present.

Obito immediately understood Su Xiao’s intention.

"Yes, let’s handle that first."

"What are you...?"

Kisame was still unaware of Deidara’s capture, but he quickly understood Su Xiao’s intention within seconds. Only he knew the trustworthiness of the people he brought; Su Xiao, Obito, and others did not.

"I’ve been chasing this ’octopus’ across the Iron Country and need rest. As for her joining, we’ll discuss it later."

Kisame didn’t ask what Su Xiao and the others were doing because he knew it wasn’t the time to ask.

Su Xiao and the others walked out of the base, and the female Worker looked at Su Xiao incredulously. She hadn’t expected Su Xiao’s high status in the Akatsuki Organization, which was evident from the reactions of Obito and Kisame.

"Greetings, seniors, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Rose."

Rose smiled brightly and waved at Su Xiao and the others.

Rose is the woman who pursued the Contractor in the Iron Country, with eyes like black gems, wearing a backless leather outfit, and a tattoo of an Other Shore Flower on her back. At that time, Rose’s demeanor was vastly different; if she was then like a Slaughter Angel cleansing heretics, now she was like a pure white rose.

Rose’s strongest ability is not her combat strength but her ability to change her own aura. Even if her hands were stained with blood, her black gem-like eyes always seemed so clear when she smiled.

Su Xiao paused and turned his head to look at Rose. For some reason, he felt something was off about this woman.

"A Worker... joining the Akatsuki Organization."

Su Xiao murmured. He was temporarily unsure of how high this woman’s personal affinity was with Kisame, but it was assuredly not low. Otherwise, Kisame wouldn’t have introduced her.

"What’s wrong?"

Obito noticed Su Xiao stopped walking, showing a look of doubt.

"Nothing."

Su Xiao resumed his walk out of the base, not intending to pay attention to the woman named Rose for now. Whatever her motive, as long as she was within the Akatsuki Organization, Su Xiao had many ways to deal with her, even if her personal affinity with Kisame was high.

Su Xiao was an elder-level member of the Akatsuki Organization; if a disagreement arose between him and Kisame, Obito would likely mediate in a neutral capacity. The person who would truly support Su Xiao was imprisoned in the Land of Earth.

As long as Deidara is rescued, the idea of this woman named Rose joining Akatsuki is mere fantasy, regardless of her intentions.

Although she wasn’t overly suspicious, Su Xiao had many enemies, and it was in his nature to be wary, though this time he might have inadvertently guessed correctly.

After Su Xiao and the others left the base, Kisame and Rose entered it. The weary Kisame went to rest in the depths of the base, while Rose sat beside a stone table, resting her chin on her hands.

"I just have this feeling that something’s not right, why does it seem like she’s delivering herself up willingly?"

Rose narrowed her dark, bright eyes. She initially thought Su Xiao was just an ordinary member of the Akatsuki Organization, but now it seemed otherwise.

"Let’s observe for a while first, and find a suitable opportunity. Indeed, like Little Black said, my skill in planning is at an elementary level. The more I do, the stupider it gets, no... it’s downright blindingly stupid, like taking a stupidity pill."

Rose decided to abandon her ’grand’ plans, opting for something simpler and more straightforward, which was her style. Her advantage lay in promptly recognizing whether her actions were correct and quickly correcting them.

"Before the end of the Naruto World, it’s either you die or I perish. Yes, that’s the wisest choice. Tangling too much might lead to an entangled death."

Rose murmured, feeling a sudden sense of relief. She suddenly had newfound respect for a former teammate, who excelled in intrigue and conspiracy, whereas her specialty, from start to finish, had always been cutting people down.

"Indeed, sacrificing allure is outright dumb to the extreme. What was I thinking back then? Thankfully, no one heard it, or it’d be too embarrassing."

Rose laughed softly, the base was eerily silent, interrupted only by the occasional groans, coming from Er Zhuzi who had just undergone surgery.

...

Two days later, within the Land of Rain.

Dark clouds obscured the sun, casting a heavy shadow in the sky with occasional claps of thunder.

Muddy water splashed as a group of people sped by. The Land of Rain experiences rain 70% of the time, resulting in muddy ground.

Su Xiao and company crossed the Country of Fire, reaching the border of the Land of Rain, next to the Country of Fire on the east and bordering the Land of Earth on the west. The destination of their journey was a village in the Land of Earth, with their path almost a straight line.

At the time, the Land of Rain was stationed with many Konoha ninjas, but that wasn’t a concern for Su Xiao and the others. As long as they didn’t approach the Hidden Rain Village, the chances of encountering Konoha ninjas were low.

The journey could be somewhat boring, with Bai Jue occasionally showing up to update Obito on Deidara’s situation or the current state of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, among which three things were particularly important.

1. The Hidden Cloud Village had already picked a new Raikage, reportedly very young.

2. The civil war in the Hidden Mist Village erupted again, but with mediation from the Hidden Sand Village and Konoha, it ceased, electing a new acting Mizukage, an elder from the Hidden Mist Village, whose political IQ is no less than Danzo’s – a cunning old fox.

3. The Fifth Hokage Tsunade’s injuries have healed, and she has resumed her position as Hokage. Tsunade has an Immortal Body, so recovering was expected. In reality, she had long been healed, but during her convalescence, Danzo usurped power. With Danzo dead, she rightfully resumed the Hokage position.

One has to admit, the Five Great Shinobi Villages have deep roots. Though they had just lost three Kages, within days they stabilized. This is the situation Su Xiao hopes to see; if the villages have no Kage, they can’t engage in external war, only internal strife at most.

The new Raikage of the Hidden Cloud Village is nothing to fear, being a Kage pushed by circumstances. The Hidden Mist Village, however, mustn’t be underestimated. After years of internal conflict, ’Blood Mist’ isn’t just a name. If war truly erupts, they’ll be very active.

Konoha can be ignored for now as they’re still dealing with internal restoration and the hidden dangers left by Danzo, sufficient to give Tsunade a headache.

Looking at the current situation, the Great Shinobi Wars might not be far off.

For Su Xiao, it’s good news; for Obito, it’s bad news as the power he accumulated is far from enough to wage war against the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

After three days of travel, the group reached the Land of Earth’s territory.