356-360

Chapter 356: Akatsuki on the Other Side of the Battlefield – The Byakugan Fusion!

The raging winds sweeping across the battlefield suddenly ceased, and even the distant rumbling rock river came to a halt.

A deep silence fell over the surroundings.

Clouds rolled across the sky.

The blazing sun slowly peeked through the gaps in the heavy cloud cover, its radiant light inching across the scarred and battered earth.

It shone directly upon the massive, collapsed giant of flames, illuminating it as if it were a god.

However—

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

A continuous barrage of armor-piercing rounds was unleashed!

These were high-density submunition rounds fired from a chakra artillery cannon. Though not as powerful as the previous shot that had blasted through an entire leg of the Susanoo giant, these slightly smaller rounds were designed to penetrate Susanoo's defenses and deliver a saturating strike against the one inside—Shinji!

In an instant—

The earth trembled, and dust storms surged into the sky!

Like a god brought low by the power of technology, the Susanoo giant struggled to rise, momentarily losing the upper hand.

The entirety of Yunming City had now shifted its attention to the battlefield on the northern side of the inner city.

"That giant of light... is that Shinji?"

On the eastern wall of the inner city—where a massive breach had been forcefully torn open—

The Akatsuki members who had broken through the Cloud Village's defensive line and climbed the fifty-meter-high city walls gazed toward the north, visibly shocked.

Terumi Mei's face was filled with concern. She gritted her teeth slightly and turned to the others.

At this moment, in order to breach the Cloud Village army’s defenses:

• Kakuzu had repeatedly unleashed high-powered jutsu, over-consuming his chakra and needing to rest.

• Mangetsu Hozuki had taken a direct hit from the chakra artillery cannon and was too weakened to continue charging.

• Even Terumi Mei herself was exhausted from using Boil Release: Peerless Strength to smash through the city walls and topple a mountain in order to capture the Hyuga clan’s main house member, Hyuga Shota.

Together with Sasori, the four of them had forcibly broken through an army of three thousand, paving the way for Yahiko’s team and Ooyashiro Jouka to reach the inner city core.

Eight people in total—

Two squads of four pressed onward to the castle tower for the assassination mission, while the other two squads remained behind to guard their retreat.

Now, seeing Shinji struggling in battle to the north, Terumi Mei desperately wanted to assist him.

However—

Among those who stayed behind, aside from Sasori, no one was currently in any condition to fight intensely.

She couldn’t help but turn to Sasori.

The red-haired young man, unreadable as ever, was leaning against a battlement, idly swirling a transparent container in his hand. Inside, suspended in an unknown liquid, was a white eye.

Even upon hearing the commotion in the north, his expression remained indifferent.

Of course—

No one ever truly knew what Sasori of the Red Sand was thinking. And she had no right to ask more of him.

That he had come this far, helped clear a path, and eliminated the chakra cannon’s threat was already more than enough.

Terumi Mei hesitated, unsure of what to say.

"Why are you just standing there?"

Unexpectedly, Sasori turned his head toward her, his gaze calm.

"If you want me to help that brat, why not just say it?"

"Is it because he’s not important enough to you?"

"No—that’s not it!" Terumi Mei froze, her face instantly turning bright red.

"I—"

She was so desperate to order Sasori to go save him that she was about ready to punch him in the head. How could she be as coldhearted as he made it sound?

"Hmph. You’re still too naïve," Sasori scoffed, glancing at her with mild disdain.

"What you should be doing right now is forcing me—by any means necessary—to act according to your will."

"Not standing here like a child playing house, hesitating to speak."

"Like that orange-haired brat said—" he continued, eyes narrowing. "The ‘White’ ring on your hand symbolizes the White Tiger: strength, leadership, and the unification of a team."

"This group gathered because of Shinji, but you are the one holding it together."

"So why are you still hesitating?"

Hearing this, Terumi Mei’s face burned like fire.

She had already made up her mind, but at just twelve years old, she still lacked the necessary experience to execute her will decisively.

Just as she opened her mouth to respond—

Sasori had already stood up.

He uncorked the glass container in his hand, reached in, and plucked out the pure white eye.

Then—

With an utterly indifferent expression, he produced a syringe filled with a special reagent used for crafting human puppets, injected it directly into Mangetsu Hozuki’s carotid artery, and forcefully inserted the Byakugan into his empty left eye socket!

His movements were swift, ruthless—completely catching the others off guard!

"If he dies, his body belongs to me."

"If he survives—then you all better keep up!"

"I hate waiting!"

The moment Sasori finished speaking—

Whoosh!

Before their eyes, Sasori’s body crumbled into sand, scattering across the city walls.

A Sand Clone Technique—one of a puppeteer’s essential skills.

The real Sasori was already long gone.

From the moment the chakra artillery fired, he had sensed another force attacking from the opposite side.

Now, on the battlefield—

He was far more eager than Terumi Mei to meet Shinji!

"That guy—"

Terumi Mei stared at the scene in stunned silence, before clenching her teeth in frustration. A strange sense of defeat washed over her.

She turned toward Mangetsu Hozuki, who was still slumped on the ground after using Water Release: Shield Cloak.

"How do you feel?"

Mangetsu looked a little dazed.

The overwhelming vision granted by the Byakugan was interfering with his normal eyesight. He had to close his right eye just to see properly.

Soon, he adapted to the pain of the forced transplant.

The syringe Sasori injected him with must have contained some kind of adrenaline-like stimulant, because his body suddenly felt reinvigorated.

Veins bulged around his left eye. He looked up in shock and gasped:

"Sasori... he’s already halfway down the city wall!"

"Looks like he’s heading straight for Shinji!"

"He’s been on the move this whole time!"

"And in the north—"

"Shinji—"

Mangetsu's expression turned odd, his face full of confusion.

"What is he doing?"

"Those artillery rounds... they aren’t harming him at all."

"But why isn’t he moving?"

"Wait—"

Suddenly, Mangetsu’s eyes widened in shock.

His gaze locked onto Shinji’s hand—

Where a storm of lightning was crackling violently!

"You can see with the Byakugan? What’s happening over there!?"

Terumi Mei grabbed Mangetsu by the collar, dragging him as she ran eastward, urgently questioning:

"Is Shinji okay?!"

"Uh—" Mangetsu stammered before his face twisted in sheer disbelief.

"T-This is insane!"

"Water Release, Fire Release, Wind Release, Earth Release, Lightning Release... all five elements fused together, expanding in reverse—"

"What kind of jutsu is this?!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 357: Impossible to Break Through! The Absurd Five-Layer Defense!

On the other side,

To the north, atop the second wall of the Hidden Cloud's fortifications.

Looking at Rasa, who looked like he wanted to drop everything and run, bucket in hand, his face filled with unease, Killer Bee could actually understand his feelings quite well.

If not for the overwhelming anger over his brother’s "death" suppressing his fear of Shinji,

he would have wanted to run too.

However...

"Lord Kazekage, this isn’t about making you fight Shinji head-on!"

Killer Bee explained in a low voice,

"The ground here has already been altered by Toroi’s Magnet Release: Magnetic Field Manipulation, changing the soil’s magnetic properties. We also have Hidden Cloud ninja who possess the Magnet Release. As long as we use it to rewrite the terrain and temporarily trap Shinji, we can launch a saturation attack and eliminate him right here."

"However..."

Rasa’s eyes instantly turned cold, and he let out a mocking laugh.

"The problem is that the Magnet Release ninja you’re talking about is already dead!"

"Crushed underfoot by Shinji’s Susanoo, turned into a pulp before he could even let out a scream."

"You no longer have a ninja with this Kekkei Genkai, so you found me at the last minute to continue your plan."

"You failed to anticipate Shinji’s strength, and you didn’t expect that the Magnet Release ninja—who was supposed to stay in the rear—would have to step onto the frontlines just to slow him down."

"Your first artillery cannon was destroyed by Shinji’s long-range attack, throwing all your plans into disarray, leaving you with no choice but to shamelessly beg an outsider for help!"

Rasa directly exposed the flaws in Killer Bee’s seemingly flawless plan.

Killer Bee fell silent for a moment before exhaling heavily.

"So, what is your answer?"

"Lord Kazekage, you should know the price we’re willing to pay for your cooperation."

Rasa chuckled coldly and shook his head decisively.

He had survived this long because he was well aware of his own limits.

Faced with Shinji, he had refused to save Elder Chiyo when she was ambushed. Now, seeing the Hidden Cloud forces on the verge of collapse, he certainly wasn’t going to save them either.

On one side was his own life.

On the other, the potential future of the Hidden Sand Village.

The stakes weren’t even close!

"Pardon me, but I’m leaving!"

However, at that moment, Killer Bee glared at him viciously, his face twisted with rage.

"You’re not getting out of here."

"If you refuse to fight, then none of us are making it out alive!"

"If you step beyond this wall, I will immediately enter full Tailed Beast Mode. Before Shinji kills me, I will use a Tailed Beast Bomb to kill you!"

"At this distance, my hit rate is 100%!"

The sheer menace in his voice echoed in Rasa’s ears, causing him to halt his steps.

"..."

"Well, since you put it that way, I guess I have no choice."

Rasa’s expression stiffened. He turned back around, forcing a dry smile.

Under Killer Bee’s near-maniacal gaze,

he stepped into the position where Toroi, the original Magnet Release user, had stood.

Then, he formed hand seals!

At the same time, Killer Bee forcefully activated the chakra cannon at his side. A massive amount of chakra surged through the barrel, causing it to glow brightly.

A line of Hidden Cloud ninja marched in the back, loading and preparing the artillery rounds.

Ears covered. Pull the cord!

"—BOOM!"

On the Battlefield

The dust slowly settled.

As the sunlight touched the ground,

something strange happened—the earth itself began to bubble like boiling water.

Then—

A massive surge of magnetic energy rose from the ground, mixed with sand, iron, gold, and rock—all materials rewritten into the same magnetic frequency.

Like an enraged tidal wave, it roared into the air,

transforming into thick steel chains that wrapped tightly around the fallen Susanoo giant!

Magnet Release: Magnetic Field Manipulation!

This technique, developed by Toroi of the Hidden Cloud, allowed him to magnetize anything he touched and transfer that magnetism to other objects, using it as a weapon. A special Kekkei Genkai.

When used correctly, it could even mimic the effects of the "Universal Pull" (Banshō Ten'in).

In the six-day-long battle plan against Shinji,

this technique was a critical piece—preparing the battlefield in advance by altering the ground beneath the fortress walls, imbuing it with magnetism.

Even the strongest Lightning Release Armor would be rendered useless in this terrain, like wading through a swamp.

And now, with the Fourth Kazekage Rasa taking control,

this strategy became an even stronger seal!

With Susanoo successfully restrained by Magnet Release,

the chakra cannon on the fortress wall glowed intensely, unleashing a barrage of fire!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Armor-piercing rounds rained down, shaking the earth,

piercing Susanoo until it looked like a sieve!

Dust clouds billowed into the air!

On the Fortress Wall

"Keep firing!"

Killer Bee trembled as he continued pouring chakra into the cannon, roaring furiously.

"Don’t stop! Keep blasting that damn Uchiha into dust!"

After their earlier encounter with the Akatsuki and Orochimaru,

Bee and his brother A had lost their Byakugan-wielding scout, leaving them unable to locate Shinji through the thick dust clouds.

So they had only one choice—

Keep firing until all the ammunition was gone!

However...

Amidst the relentless bombardment,

within the Susanoo giant,

Shinji simply raised an eyebrow.

A flicker of lightning coursed over his body—the first layer of defense.

Then, a cloak of black and red chakra materialized—the second layer of defense.

And that wasn’t all.

He activated Earth Release: Earth Spear, hardening his skin to the strength of diamond—the third layer.

But he wasn’t done.

With Sage Mode: Cursed Seal Level 2, a chitinous exoskeleton formed—the fourth layer.

Five layers of defense, stacked one after another.

It was like a fully-built tank, loaded with every possible armor enhancement,

while his enemies were mere snipers with low-caliber rounds.

The result?

Despite the relentless barrage of specialized armor-piercing rounds,

they couldn’t even break through his defense!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Within the swirling dust,

Shinji listened to the bullets bouncing off his skin like harmless pebbles.

Feeling the overwhelming sense of security from his layers of "turtle shell" armor,

"Damn... this is insane. I feel invincible!"

He chuckled, his Sharingan eyes peering through the dissipating Susanoo,

locking onto the fortress wall, where Killer Bee stood in pure frustration.

"Shocked, huh? You really thought you could take me down with artillery?"

"Well then..."

Now that his safety was guaranteed,

it was time to test something new.

With a deep breath, Shinji’s eyes narrowed as he raised one hand and formed the Snake Seal.

In the next instant—

Five different colors of light burst from his palm!

A fusion of every technique he had mastered, woven into a single devastating attack—

"Five Elements: Reversed Great Sword!"

And for the finishing touch—

Shinji grinned,

summoning a new Susanoo to hurl it like an unstoppable missile.

"Hell Piercer: Five Elements Reverse Great Sword!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 358: Sword Shakes Tenshū Peak, The Final Battlefield!

The bombardment had been going on for an unknown length of time.

The gun barrels had turned red-hot, glowing as if they had just been pulled from the forge. Below the city walls, thick smoke billowed high into the sky, obscuring everything in sight. Through the occasional gaps in the smoke, one could see the devastation below—scorched earth, riddled with craters from countless explosions.

The golden sky, the crimson ground, burning branches, and the shredded remains of countless corpses stretched across the battlefield.

"Is he dead?"

"There's no movement... If you ask me, he was probably reduced to dust with the first blast!"

"That brat... is finally dead?"

Atop the city walls, countless Hidden Cloud shinobi stood in tense silence, staring intently at the battlefield below.

Killer Bee, his face flushed red with urgency, forced his chakra-depleted body forward, shoving aside several Hidden Cloud shinobi to peer over the battlements.

"Over two thousand Cloud shinobi gave their lives for a saturation attack against Shinji."

"Even my brother, in his strongest Lightning Release Armor state, wouldn’t have survived such an assault!"

With that thought, Killer Bee clenched his fists tightly, pounding the stone wall. His eyes burned with emotion as he declared with certainty:

"That brat is absolutely dead!"

But then—

Amidst the dense smoke, a tremor.

"Wait... Look over there!"

"What is that?!"

A Hidden Cloud shinobi in the crowd pointed forward in horror.

All eyes snapped toward the battlefield, about five hundred meters from the city walls.

From the thick smoke, a beam of light suddenly emerged—brilliant, burning, ethereal, like a lotus of fire blooming toward the heavens. It instantly tore through the surrounding smoke, revealing a lone figure at its center.

A powerful gust of wind swept through, clearing the battlefield.

And there, standing amidst the blazing light, was a young man—holding a dazzling, multicolored sphere of energy in his hand!

The earth trembled beneath his feet.

In the next moment,

A colossal, flaming hand burst from the ground behind him, gripping both the boy and the radiant energy in his grasp!

The skeletal fingers clenched into a fist—

And thrust skyward!

Then—

A seventy-meter-tall Susanoo erupted from the earth!

It shattered the shifting sands, split the ground, and broke free from all constraints.

Towering before the fifty-meter-high city walls, its hollow eyes burned with cold, ghostly flames as it gazed down upon the battlefield!

"This... This...!"

The reappearance of the majestic giant of light struck the Hidden Cloud shinobi with an overwhelming sense of dread. Their voices caught in their throats as they stood frozen, their minds blank from sheer shock.

"Impossible!"

"How is he completely unharmed?"

"We specifically designed this weapon to kill him!"

Killer Bee stared blankly at the scene before him, his heart sinking like lead.

"Lord Bee! Lord Bee!"

A nearby Hidden Cloud shinobi frantically shook Killer Bee’s shoulder, his face filled with panic.

"Look at the giant! Look at its right hand!"

Killer Bee snapped back to reality and followed his gaze.

At that moment—

The Susanoo, the giant that shook the land and mountains, raised its right fist.

A crackling surge of lightning danced across its knuckles.

From that lightning, a hundred-meter-long multicolored sword extended, forming and solidifying in an instant.

And then—

The Susanoo bent its knees and leaped skyward, an earth-shattering bound.

In mid-air, it executed a seemingly impossible 720-degree spin—something no Susanoo should be capable of.

Gripping its massive sword, it accelerated beyond the speed of sound, cutting through the air with a thunderous sonic boom.

And then—

It hurled the sword straight toward the section of the city wall where Killer Bee stood!

"——Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!!!"

The deafening sonic explosion ruptured eardrums as the five-colored sword shot forward like a divine lance.

Under the brilliance of the incoming attack, Killer Bee’s face twisted in despair. His complexion turned deathly pale as his heart clenched violently.

"Too strong… Too strong… It's too strong!"

"Why?! Why is this brat so powerful?!"

"Why?!"

Within his mind, the Eight-Tails, Gyūki, roared in panic, its voice trembling with fear.

"Bee, RUN!"

"That attack is something you cannot block!"

"Run! Run as far as you can!"

"Run?"

Killer Bee clenched his teeth so hard that his lips turned white. His body trembled uncontrollably as tears suddenly streamed down his face.

He—Killer Bee—had been brought to tears by Shinji!

"Where the hell am I supposed to run?!"

He suddenly pointed behind him—to the towering rock pillar that housed the Tenshūkaku, just five kilometers away.

And that sword—

That sword wasn't even aimed at the city walls. It was targeted directly at Tenshūkaku, five kilometers away!

Killer Bee could roughly estimate that this sword’s power far exceeded the Yasaka Magatama from before. If it reached its target, the entire structure would collapse in an instant, sending everyone inside plummeting from six hundred meters high—

And straight into the explosion’s epicenter. They would be vaporized instantly!

If the goal had merely been to breach the second ring of fifty-meter-high walls, this newly emerged Susanoo could have simply walked through.

"…"

Hearing Killer Bee’s agonized cry, Gyūki let out a heavy sigh.

The swirling chaos of Killer Bee’s mind compressed into a single second of understanding—

And then, silence.

After a long pause—

Man and beast lifted their heads simultaneously, as if sensing that their time together had reached its end.

Gyūki extended a fist, his round, white eyes welling up with tears.

"Bee… go."

Killer Bee let out a bitter smile and raised his own fist, pressing it against Gyūki’s.

*Reality—*

"Ack… Gyūki!!!"

Killer Bee’s face contorted in fury, his eyes flashing with cold light as his skin twisted with rage.

Then—

He clapped his hands together and roared with all his might!

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

In the next instant—

A seventy-meter-tall beast burst forth from the city walls!

The Eight-Tails, in its fully transformed state, slammed its massive foot against the wall, bent its legs—

And leaped straight toward the oncoming multicolored sword!

Its eight colossal tentacles coiled before it in layers of defense.

The multicolored blade crashed into the Eight-Tails, instantly pulverizing all eight of its tentacles!

Then—

It struck the beast’s body, driving it back with unstoppable force.

The city wall collapsed in an instant!

The second line of defense was shattered!

The force of the impact carved a two-thousand-meter trench into the earth!

Finally—

The devastating energy within the sword’s hilt erupted, triggering a spiraling explosion.

"——BOOM!!!"

The land was consumed.

Mountains and forests were reduced to nothingness in an instant!

A massive mushroom cloud engulfed the battlefield, while a circular shockwave surged outward, leveling everything within three thousand meters.

The entire Tenshūkaku trembled as if struck by an earthquake!

The world fell silent.

Amidst the fiery blast—

*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*

The Susanoo charged forward, slamming its shoulders against the gap in the broken wall.

"——CRASH!"

The titan surged ahead.

Shinji had finally set foot on the ultimate battlefield!

*(End of Chapter)*

Chapter 359: Zero Ring! Intelligence from the Tenshukaku!

"Whoosh!"

Standing within the protective shell of Susanoo, Shinji took in the unobstructed view before him.

This was a wasteland—once a battlefield where his power had swept through, reducing everything to ruins. The remnants had since been cleared by the forces of the Hidden Cloud, leaving behind a vast, barren plain.

And at the farthest point in his line of sight, standing atop a massive 600-meter-tall rock pillar, was the Tenshukaku!

Shinji exhaled softly.

On his way here, he had unleashed a series of devastating attacks—nine volleys of Yasaka Magatama, the Sage Art: Blaze Release - Great Fire Dragon Dance, and the Hell Piercer: Five Elements Reversal Greatsword.

Three colossal composite jutsu.

Even with half of the Eight-Tails' chakra reserves at his disposal, he had already burned through nearly half of his chakra. The most energy-consuming among them was the Hell Piercer: Five Elements Reversal Greatsword—of the chakra he had spent, nearly three-quarters had gone into testing its full potential.

By Shinji’s calculations, this jutsu had far surpassed the standard Tailed Beast Bomb in both destructive power and scale. In fact, at its point of impact, the explosion was strong enough to tear through even his most fortified defenses.

Beyond this level of power, the only thing left was the Truth-Seeking Orbs, which were formed by fusing seven chakra natures together.

In other words, Shinji could still unleash this technique one more time.

"With two more uses of Sage Mode, totaling ten minutes in this form, taking down the Raikage head-on shouldn't be too much of an issue."

After assessing his remaining trump cards, Shinji prepared to move forward—

But at that moment—

"Shinji!"

A cold voice rang out from behind him.

Startled, Shinji turned his head and saw a red-haired young man walking toward him from the ruins of a collapsed wall. His expression was complex as he gazed at Shinji.

It was Sasori of the Red Sand.

"Sasori?"

Sasori hesitated briefly, contemplating something before reaching into his Akatsuki robe—identical to Shinji’s—and pulling out a scroll.

He tossed the scroll toward Susanoo and turned his head slightly, speaking reluctantly.

"This is from Kakuzu. He asked me to give it to you."

Shinji was momentarily stunned. He dispersed Susanoo, landed on the ground, and caught the scroll.

"Kakuzu sent this to me?"

Feeling a bit surprised, Shinji unrolled the storage scroll. His keen eyes immediately noticed the Uchiha clan emblem on the side of the scroll.

That emblem told him something.

Kakuzu... had been in contact with the Uchiha clan?

Inside the scroll were two items:

First—his Kusanagi sword, which he had lost during the battle at Hell Valley.

Second—a set of his usual battle attire, complete with the Uchiha clan insignia: a black high-collared shirt, shinobi lantern pants with multiple pockets, leg bindings, black shinobi boots, sealing bracers engraved with the kanji for "sword," and over a thousand high-quality ninja tools.

"Perfect timing!"

Retrieving his gear, Shinji swung the Kusanagi sword, performing a few practiced flourishes before sheathing it.

His eyes lit up.

He had been troubled by how to cut through the Third Raikage’s ridiculously tough defenses, but now the Uchiha clan had sent him his weapon through Kakuzu.

Only after mastering the Lightning Release: Chakra Mode himself did Shinji truly understand how lucky he had been to defeat the Third Raikage last time.

If the Third Raikage had simply adjusted his tactics—prioritizing speed over direct confrontation, dodging all of Shinji’s attacks, and picking off his allies instead—there would have been no way for Shinji to stop him.

His victory had only been possible because the Uchiha clan elder, Uchiha Setsuna, had seized a fleeting opportunity, allowing the two of them to work together to force the Third Raikage into piercing his own chest with Hell Stab. That weakened him enough for Shinji to land a near-fatal blow.

But now, judging by the Third Raikage’s mastery of the Lightning Release: Chakra Mode, his proficiency had reached an even higher level—beyond mere expertise, into a realm of absolute mastery.

He was a monster built purely on overwhelming stats!

Most of the new techniques Shinji had created were large-scale, high-destruction jutsu. However, against an opponent like the Third Raikage, known for his speed and defense, many of his techniques—including Susanoo—would be nothing more than giant targets.

This battle would inevitably shift toward precision and efficiency.

Victory would be determined in an instant, within the smallest of margins.

At such a time, having a weapon sharp enough to cut through the Raikage’s lightning armor—and sturdy enough to withstand his attacks—was absolutely crucial.

Moreover, the Uchiha clan sending him his familiar attire and weapon was a message.

No matter that he was now labeled a rogue ninja, no matter if he was seen as a criminal trying to overturn the shinobi world—

The Uchiha clan wanted him to know:

*"Uchiha is your home, always."*

Realizing this, Shinji felt a warmth spread through his heart.

At that moment—

Sasori hesitated briefly after delivering the scroll, seeming to have questions but unsure how to voice them. Eventually, with an awkward expression, he called out again:

"Shinji, wait here for a bit!"

"Hmm?"

Shinji frowned in confusion.

He looked at Sasori’s conflicted face and had no idea what was going on.

*What was this guy even thinking? And why the hell was he blushing like a damn teapot?*

Before Shinji could figure out what was happening—

Two figures leaped down from the wall.

One of them, upon seeing Shinji, immediately lit up and waved.

"Hey, Shinji—!"

"Terumi Mei?"

Shinji was surprised once again when he saw the other figure—Hozuki Mangetsu, struggling to keep one Byakugan eye open.

Both of them were wearing Akatsuki’s red cloud robes.

Even more shockingly, Terumi Mei had a ring on her right middle finger—engraved with the kanji for “White.”

Completely unaware that Akatsuki’s members were engaged in a full-scale battle elsewhere, Shinji was utterly dumbfounded by the sight.

"You—you joined Akatsuki?!"

"I thought you wanted to become the Mizukage?!"

"That’s… something we can talk about later."

Terumi Mei was briefly stunned by the question but quickly brushed it aside.

"This isn’t the time for that. Put this on—Nagato and the others have already headed to the Tenshukaku. There’s urgent intel!"

She threw something toward Shinji.

Catching it, Shinji looked down.

It was an Akatsuki ring—engraved with the kanji for “Zero.”

The symbol of nothingness.

The symbol of a world without war and suffering.

The ring of Akatsuki’s leader.

Terumi Mei’s expression was grave.

"With this ring, you can convert your chakra into 'thought waves.' The ring will amplify them and project them as illusions, allowing for the transmission of vital information."

"Intelligence?"

Shinji narrowed his eyes and turned to gaze at the Tenshukaku in the distance.

Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan had already gone there.

If they were already at the scene—

What kind of intelligence was so urgent that they had to use this method to relay it to him?

Without hesitation, Shinji slipped the ring onto his thumb.

The next moment—

The ring autonomously absorbed a portion of his chakra.

Then, before him, a hazy apparition materialized—a long-haired figure with Rinnegan, caught in mid-air while retreating in battle.

Nagato’s phantom.

Upon seeing Shinji, Nagato’s eyes widened briefly before he spoke rapidly and urgently:

"Shinji, I used the Human Path’s abilities to search—!"

"The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning is NOT here!"

"And… the Rock Village’s plan—it's too complicated to explain now, but listen—"

"Take everyone and evacuate immediately!"

"Wait—"

"Dammit!"

"He’s seen you!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 360: A Sudden Intelligence Interception*

At the same time that Shinji was engaged in battle at the second defensive line—

Elsewhere, at the Tenshukaku, four figures shot upward in a vertical dive from the collapsed mountain beside it, ascending six hundred meters before landing atop the flat peak of a massive rock pillar.

Leading the charge was Yahiko, striding forward with a massive sword on his shoulder. Right behind him were Konan, Nagato, and Yuyashiro En, who trailed at the rear of the group.

At that moment—

As they approached the fortress-like Tenshukaku, Yahiko furrowed his brows.

"Strange... why isn’t there anyone guarding this place?"

The eerie silence surrounding them made him uneasy.

"According to Sasori’s intelligence, the envoys from the Five Nations have already gathered here for the summit. Among those present is Jiraiya-sensei, a formidable warrior. We still don’t know their stance toward us, nor whether they’ll take action to protect the feudal lord," Konan reminded the group with a frown.

"Furthermore, we just encountered Orochimaru, the son of the Raikage, and his partner. Who knows how many more powerful individuals are lurking here?"

"So, everyone—stay alert."

While breaching the second line of Kumogakure’s defenses and launching an assault on the mountain where the Chakra Cannon was stationed, Akatsuki’s eight-man squad unexpectedly captured Hyūga Shōta, a member of the Hyūga clan’s main family.

At that time, Orochimaru had suddenly appeared and bargained for one of Shōta’s Byakugan eyes. The remaining Byakugan was temporarily entrusted to Sasori, who had exceptional surgical skills and could transplant it in the midst of battle. It was up to him to decide who would receive the eye in an emergency.

"Understood!" Nagato nodded.

Just then, his eyes narrowed as he spotted something through the shared vision of his summoned creatures.

"I found the intelligence division of Kumogakure, provided by Sasori’s informant. It’s in the third room on the right inside the tower."

At those words, the others immediately sharpened their focus.

Yahiko took a deep breath and spoke:

"Alright, let’s confirm the plan one last time."

"Using the Human Path and the Blood Dragon Eyes, our priority is to extract intelligence and locate the feudal lord."

"Once we find him, we can be certain of one thing—"

"The Third Raikage will be guarding him!"

"So, as planned, the three of us will hold off the Third Raikage and create an opportunity. Yuyashiro En, you will take advantage of the opening to assassinate the Land of Lightning’s feudal lord. Once the mission is complete, we’ll retreat immediately and regroup with the other four members of the organization."

"Additionally, Nagato—stay alert for signals from Zero Ring’s Illusionary Body Projection Jutsu."

"Shinji has been confirmed to be on the northern front. That means he’s bound to get involved in this battle. Your job is to relay our gathered intelligence to him!"

"Understood!" Nagato responded without hesitation.

They didn’t need to discuss tactics on how to counter the Third Raikage—Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato were already perfectly in sync.

Their entire strategy was built around the unique abilities of two powerful dojutsu bloodlines: the Human Path, Animal Path, the Illusionary Body Projection Jutsu, the Blood Dragon Eyes’ hypnotic genjutsu, and finally, the Deva Path and Asura Path for the decisive battle.

Moving swiftly, the four advanced toward the Tenshukaku.

From a distance, they could already see the grand entrance of the fortress.

However—

"Wait!"

A voice suddenly called out.

Out of nowhere, a frog leaped from a crack between the rocks beside them!

As its mouth opened wider and wider, it spat out a blood-covered, white-haired figure, who tumbled onto the ground before them.

The sudden development startled Yuyashiro En, who instinctively activated his Blood Dragon Eyes and raised his hand to attack.

However, upon recognizing the fallen figure, Nagato immediately grabbed his wrist, halting him.

At the same time, Yahiko’s voice rang out in shock—

"Jiraiya-sensei?!"

"Cough, cough... Is that... Yahiko?"

Lying on the ground, Jiraiya gasped for breath, coughing up blood. His vision blurred for a moment before he finally made out the three figures before him—his former disciples from the Land of Rain.

Without hesitation, he reached out a hand to block their path and said in a grave tone:

"Yahiko, Nagato, Konan... don’t go any further."

"The feudal lord of the Land of Lightning is not inside!"

"What?!"

"Trust me—I came here to save Shinji. Just now, while the Ay-Bee duo of Kumogakure was away, I infiltrated their intelligence division and interrogated them. In the end, I confirmed—"

"The feudal lord is still in Kumogakure."

"Furthermore—"

Jiraiya struggled to his feet, formed a hand seal, and summoned another unconscious man from the stomach of a Myoboku toad.

The man was none other than a high-ranking Iwagakure jonin, named Higashi Shibito, who had been sent as an envoy for the Five Kage Summit.

"Cough, cough... This guy also tried to infiltrate the intelligence division, but I found him and knocked him out. Using some persuasive techniques, I managed to extract some intel from him as well."

"Iwagakure is trying to confirm the whereabouts of the Third Raikage."

"After piecing everything together, I reached a conclusion—"

"This entire fortress and the Five Kage Summit are nothing but a trap set by the Raikage to lure out Shinji and kill him."

"A cage!"

"But now, outside this trap, an even bigger cage is forming—one that’s meant for the Third Raikage himself!"

Jiraiya’s words left Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato exchanging bewildered glances.

"The feudal lord isn’t here? Iwagakure? The Third Raikage’s whereabouts? And... an even bigger cage?"

While they had been fighting through Kumogakure’s defenses, Jiraiya had already taken advantage of the chaos, using his status as a Konoha emissary to infiltrate the enemy’s core territory. He had interrogated their intelligence division and uncovered shocking information.

As expected of Jiraiya-sensei...

Yahiko quickly regained his composure and crouched down with Konan to support Jiraiya.

At this point, the three of them still held deep respect for their former teacher, having yet to experience Hanzo and Danzo’s betrayal. They had no reason to distrust him now.

Although they were still somewhat skeptical of his claims, there was no time for debate. Yahiko signaled Nagato with his eyes.

Nagato stepped forward and placed his palm on the Iwagakure jonin’s forehead.

A glowing blue chakra emerged from his hand, and as he pulled back, a ghostly, soul-like entity was extracted.

This was the power of the Human Path of the Rinnegan—capable of extracting souls and reading memories.

Yahiko’s gaze landed on Jiraiya’s wounds. A deep, lightning-shaped gash nearly pierced his heart.

"Jiraiya-sensei, your wounds—"

Jiraiya shook his head, breathing heavily. Having gained their trust, he reached into his ninja pouch and pulled out a uniquely shaped kunai, pressing it into Yahiko’s hand.

"Huff, huff... I’ll be fine... Yahiko, take this and deliver it to Shinji!"

Yahiko looked down at the kunai in surprise.

Before he could react—

Jiraiya forced himself up, his expression firm as he turned toward the direction behind them.

His eyes flashed with determination as he raised his hand.

"Now, leave this place immediately!"

"I’ll buy you time to escape."

"Escape?" Konan looked at him in shock.

"Jiraiya-sensei, what’s going on? Who did this to you—"

Before she could finish her sentence—

Nagato, who had just finished reading the Iwagakure ninja’s memories, suddenly went pale.

And at that exact moment—

A terrifying white bolt of lightning streaked across the sky!

Then—

Faster than the sound of thunder rolling across the land—

A towering figure, exuding raw, savage power, stepped out of the Tenshukaku’s entrance.

*BOOM!*

The sky darkened.

(End of Chapter)