246-250

Chapter 246: The Tide Turns, Capturing the Prey in the Trap!

At this moment,

In Hell Valley, on the northern side, atop the tallest stone pillar,

an old man with ash-white hair, clad in a deep blue robe, sat alone.

Supporting his face with one hand, he surveyed the battlefield below.

The land lay in ruins, the result of a fierce confrontation between two massive, ferocious beasts. Yet, to the old man, the sight elicited no astonishment. He barely spared a glance at the titanic, tail-beast forms, seemingly uninterested in their power, which defied human limits.

His gaze lingered, however, on the young man riding atop the Two-Tails' head.

The old man smirked faintly, his expression flickering with nostalgia, as if the scene before him had stirred old memories.

"Decisive action," he murmured. "But still... too soft."

He shook his head, offering a detached critique.

"At the moment of unsealing, he should have directly formed a summoning contract. Then, using ocular powers, he could have controlled it—extracting its strength, commanding its body, enslaving its spirit, and forcing it into relentless combat."

"That," he concluded coldly, "is the proper way to handle a beast."

"Although," he added with a slight shrug, "considering it’s the Two-Tails, his hesitation is somewhat understandable."

With evident disinterest, the old man prepared to stand and leave, finding the ensuing battle dull and predictable.

But then,

He paused, lifting his head toward the northern night sky.

Under the star-filled heavens, where the crescent moon should have been visible but was absent, he detected an unusual disturbance.

Soon enough,

A streak of light, like a falling star, illuminated the horizon. Its tail blazed with thunder, a phenomenon caused by electrons leaping at the speed of light through the atmosphere.

The streak reflected vividly in the old man’s crimson Sharingan, its three tomoe spinning subtly.

"Oh?"

"Chakra... even stronger than that of the First Raikage," he mused, his eyes narrowing and his brow arching slightly. A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"Things," he said, "just got interesting."

"Uchiha Shinji," he murmured,

"After exhausting your options against the Two-Tails, how will you handle an opponent of this caliber?"

Propping his cheek once more, the old man’s eyes sparkled with intrigue, his lips curving further upward.

"Then, show me your dance."

---

Hell Valley straddles the border between the Land of Hot Springs and the Land of Frost.

To take the shortcut through Hell Valley from the Land of Frost to the Land of Hot Springs, one must traverse a treacherous path. It begins with descending into the valley—a plunge over a thousand meters past stone peaks and cliffs. Within the valley lies a perpetual white mist, laced with toxic fumes and boiling pools laden with harmful elements. The disorienting magnetic field further scrambles navigation. Finally, one must scale the mirror-like cliffs encircling the valley to reach the fortifications of the Uchiha clan stationed there.

However, the harsh terrain isn’t the primary deterrent for ninjas capable of scaling walls and leaping across rooftops.

The deadliest challenge lies in the valley's disorienting nature.

Without guidance from the Chinoike clan, the forces of the Hidden Cloud Village would never cross Hell Valley. Their only alternative was a longer, more cumbersome route—extending their supply lines and passing several Leaf Village outposts—to travel from the northern Land of Hot Springs to the Land of Fields, and from there to the Land of Fire.

Killer B and Yugito Nii had taken this arduous route, sneaking through the Land of Fields and the Land of Fire before arriving at Hell Valley.

Despite being only five kilometers away from the Hidden Cloud forces, the two were effectively cut off from reinforcements without the Chinoike clan's help.

This highlighted the critical role of the Chinoike clan in the Hidden Cloud's plans.

Without their collaboration, Killer B and Yugito Nii became isolated soldiers, cut off from support.

From the start,

Uchiha Shinji had recognized this and used it to his advantage, crafting a battle strategy based on secret intelligence known only to him.

With the Chinoike clan destroyed by internal strife at Oyashiro Castle,

the circumstances—while grim—played in Uchiha Shinji's favor.

Moreover, he had already signaled for reinforcements. Minato Namikaze was likely rushing to the scene.

Though Uchiha Shinji wasn’t sure how reliable this aid would be,

crossing a thousand kilometers in half an hour was no small feat. Whether Minato would be too fatigued to stand upon arrival was an open question.

Thus, Uchiha Shinji had no choice but to take the calculated risk.

Because if the strategy succeeded,

The longer this war dragged on, the greater his odds of victory—the greater the chances of triumph for the Uchiha clan and the Leaf Village!

---

“B, don’t you think it’s gotten a little too quiet?”

In the spiritual realm, the Eight-Tails' voice prompted Killer B to stiffen.

Though eager to take down the Uchiha boy atop the Two-Tails, B's instincts sharpened at the Eight-Tails’ warning.

Too quiet.

Something wasn’t right.

In the originally planned operation, the Blood Pond Clan seemed active only for a brief moment when the signal was first sent.

Then, there was nothing but silence.

“Could it be that because I failed to destroy the Uchiha Clan’s defensive forces as promised, and they saw no benefit, they decided not to act?”

Killer Bee frowned as he glanced in the direction of Hell Valley’s surrounding cliffs.

If that were the case, then this mission for the Hidden Cloud Village would have been a complete waste of effort.

They had even lost Matatabi, the Two-Tails, for nothing!

His mission with Yugito was to destroy the Uchiha Clan’s camp from a distance, buying time for the Blood Pond Clan. Afterward, the Blood Pond Clan was supposed to lead a large Hidden Cloud force through dangerous terrain to capture Hell Valley.

But now, there wasn’t even a sign of the Hidden Cloud army—let alone a single member of the Blood Pond Clan!

What exactly had happened?

“No matter the reason!”

The Hachibi (Eight-Tails) spoke gravely in his mind.

“Bee, you must let go of your hatred and focus on finding a way to leave this place!”

“The Amber Purifying Pot, which was planned to deal with that Uchiha brat, was transported to that white-haired girl to prevent its loss. Now that they can’t come over, it’s extremely dangerous for you to stay here.”

“Don’t forget, there’s still a very troublesome old Uchiha in this area.”

Killer Bee froze momentarily, involuntarily recalling the one-eyed elder he encountered last time.

Though the man hadn’t shown any particularly special abilities, his deadly swordsmanship and relentless pursuit gave off an undeniably dangerous aura.

But when Killer Bee thought of Yugito dying at the hands of that brat, his heart felt as if it were stabbed by needles. Gritting his teeth, he suppressed his anger.

Killer Bee’s expression darkened and brightened repeatedly as he clenched his fists.

Finally, as if all the strength had been drained from his body, he exhaled deeply.

“You’re right, Hachi. It’s time to retreat!”

With that thought, as his mind returned to the outside world—

The Eight-Tails, who had been facing off against the Two-Tails, suddenly leapt toward the southern exit of Hell Valley without looking back. During this process, its massive body began to shrink.

A fully transformed tailed beast was nothing more than a giant target in front of the Uchiha Clan. If it were intercepted, one genjutsu after another would rain down, making escape nearly impossible.

Meanwhile—

Uchiha Setsuna, who had already gathered a group of elite Jonin and was rushing out of the camp, instantly caught sight of this scene. Narrowing his eyes, he gave the order without hesitation:

“Demolition unit, blow up the southern exit for me!”

“Everyone else, follow me!”

On the other side—

“Trying to run!?”

Seeing this, Matatabi, the Two-Tails, bared its teeth slightly and narrowed its eyes fiercely.

If it hadn’t been forcibly captured by Hashirama Senju and sealed within the Hidden Cloud Village, how could those brutes have kept it? With the intelligence network of the ninja cats under its command, it could have evaded capture easily.

Today, it had to cooperate with the Uchiha Clan to kill Killer Bee and the Eight-Tails. That way, it could fake its death and escape the Hidden Cloud’s control.

Though the truth would inevitably come out once the Eight-Tails reemerged years later, that would give Matatabi plenty of time to find a safe hiding place in the current ninja world.

For a moment—

The once-imposing and bombastic Killer Bee, who had been rampaging like a terrorist, became a trapped beast!

He was constantly pursued and blocked by the forces stationed in Hell Valley.

However, just as Matatabi was about to take a step forward to chase him down—

Sitting atop its head, extracting chakra with great effort, Uchiha Shinji suddenly opened his scarlet Sharingan.

After a moment of thought, his gaze turned deep and contemplative as he stared at the severed tentacle of the Eight-Tails, which Matatabi had sliced off with its claw during the earlier fight.

“Wait, Matatabi!”

“Fire a Tailed Beast Ball at that severed tentacle first!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 247: The Real and Fake Eight-Tails, Raijū’s Crash

“Tentacle?”

Yūtabi slightly raised his head, tilting it in confusion as he turned to look at the octopus tentacle lying lifelessly on the ground not far away. It resembled a dead object, unmoving and inert.

While it was enormous compared to a human, it still didn’t seem like something that could hide an entire Eight-Tails inside.

However, at this moment, only Uchiha Shinji knew the truth.

As the perfect jinchūriki, Killer Bee, in close cooperation with the Eight-Tails, could perform a highly overpowered camouflage technique—*Octopus Tentacle Clone Technique*.

This technique allowed Killer Bee to use a severed octopus tentacle to hide his true body while creating an advanced clone that even the Mangekyō Sharingan couldn’t distinguish from the real one. This clone could command the full form of the Tailed Beast.

The clone and the original shared nearly identical traits—chakra, flesh, and even their aura.

In the original story, Sasuke managed to defeat and capture the Eight-Tails at the last moment using the Mangekyō technique Amaterasu. However, this was merely a decoy created by this clone technique. Meanwhile, Killer Bee’s true body hid within a tentacle, biding his time until no one was paying attention before slipping away from the Valley of Clouds and Lightning to learn singing from Master Sugi.

Right now, Uchiha Shinji wasn’t entirely certain whether Killer Bee’s real body was hiding inside the severed tentacle in front of him.

But situations like this?

Well, it wouldn’t hurt to try, right?

With this thought, Uchiha Shinji nodded, his gaze locking onto the tentacle.

“That’s right, Second Squad and Matatabi. Listen to me—blow it up!”

“It won’t take much time!”

“Hmph.” Matatabi let out a dissatisfied snort. It wasn’t entirely pleased about Uchiha Shinji standing on its head and issuing orders. However, it didn’t reject the suggestion either. After all, as the kid said, it wouldn’t take too much time.

The next moment, Matatabi stopped chasing and turned around, opening its massive maw.

From its mouth, blue-black particles began gathering rapidly, condensing into a glowing ball of blue flame.

Then, its chest heaved, its limbs dug into the ground, and it unleashed the attack!

This wasn’t a Tailed Beast Bomb but a unique ability derived from Matatabi itself:

*Fire Release: Flame Mouse Sphere!*

“Boom!!”

A long, straight beam of blue fire shot out instantly!

The blazing streak illuminated the night sky, roaring toward the motionless octopus tentacle on the ground.

---

While the group of shinobi chased after Killer Bee, who was fleeing toward the southern exit of Hell Valley, the severed tentacle, which had been sliced off by Matatabi’s claws and lay lifeless in Hell Valley, began to stir.

Suddenly, the bloodied surface of the tentacle squirmed slightly. A head, dark-skinned and wearing sunglasses, cautiously emerged from the tentacle. It was Killer Bee, carefully observing the situation outside.

Seeing that no one was paying attention, Killer Bee let out a sigh of relief.

“Bee, the southern exit has been destroyed.”

In his mental space, Gyūki (the Eight-Tails) spoke gravely, informing Killer Bee of its findings.

“Using the Octopus Tentacle Clone Technique took a lot out of me. Most of the chakra is with the full-body clone, and it’ll take some time to replenish.”

“But right now…”

A trace of worry flickered across Gyūki’s face as it stared intently at Killer Bee, waiting for its jinchūriki to come up with a plan.

“What do you intend to do?”

If Matatabi hadn’t been released and turned to the enemy’s side, Killer Bee and Gyūki wouldn’t have been forced into such a dire situation.

Against a brat who had already exhausted his chakra and a group of Konoha shinobi who could be dealt with in a single Tailed Beast Bomb, the only potential problem might have been the elderly Uchiha who originally guarded Hell Valley.

Killer Bee could have rampaged through Hell Valley with ease.

But everything had been rewritten by that reckless Uchiha brat!

Now, having abandoned most of its chakra and left with only a fraction of its body, even Gyūki couldn’t use its Tailed Beast Bomb. It could only release a much weaker Ink Bomb, which was no longer enough to overpower the Konoha enemies.

“We can only wait,” Killer Bee said, exhaling heavily.

At this point, he had no choice but to admit it:

He had lost this battle.

In just a month and a half, that brat had given him a massive shock.

The speed of the kid’s growth was terrifying—sealing techniques, swordsmanship, composite ninjutsu, the legendary Sage Techniques of the three great summoning sanctuaries, and countless other abilities overwhelmed him, disrupting his plans and leading to complete failure.

“Gyūki,” Killer Bee said.

“We’ll wait until we’ve gathered enough chakra. Then we’ll use the decoy created by the clone to create a window of opportunity, avoiding Matatabi’s interception and blasting open the southern exit of Hell Valley. That’s the only way to escape.”

“Otherwise… we’ll have to take that route.”

---

Killer Bee furrowed his brows tightly, glancing toward the high ground of Hell Valley.

At that moment, however, he suddenly felt the unsettling sensation of being watched, causing his brow to twitch involuntarily.

He quickly lifted his head and, through the artificial outer layer formed by the tentacles of the octopus, saw a pair of crimson eyes staring ominously in his direction, radiating an eerie aura under the night sky.

The Uchiha brat sitting on the head of the Two-Tails patted the cat’s head, seemingly saying something to it.

In the next moment, the Two-Tails abandoned its pursuit of Killer Bee’s clone, turned its massive head, and directly aimed at the direction of the tentacle where Killer Bee was hiding.

It opened its blood-red jaws wide!

“!!”

Killer Bee immediately felt a chilling numbness run down his spine. His eyes widened in shock as he stood frozen under the gaze of those crimson eyes, feeling completely exposed, as if every part of him had been laid bare.

“Damn it, how is this even possible?!”

Before he could process his astonishment, a stream of blue flames erupted straight from the Two-Tails’ mouth, rushing toward him!

At this critical moment, Killer Bee shouted decisively,

“Octopops, now!”

“Hiss!” The Eight-Tails was equally stunned.

This was a technique that could only be used in dangerous situations, one that required the coordination of the jinchūriki and their tailed beast. It was a technique they had only used a handful of times, and logically, no one should know about it. But now, what was happening?

There was no time to dwell on it. The Eight-Tails immediately channeled the emergency chakra it had refined to Killer Bee.

Boom!

A crimson tailed beast cloak instantly enveloped Killer Bee, tearing apart the tentacle and bringing him into a half-tailed beast form. His skin began to grow layers of stark white bones.

Before the blue flames could reach him, Killer Bee leaped out of the way,

landing on all fours and transforming into a crimson blur, dashing at full speed toward the southern exit!

“He really is here!”

The Two-Tails tilted its head upward in surprise, glancing at Uchiha Shinji with some amazement, still unable to figure out how this guy had guessed so accurately.

“Don’t just stand there—block him!”

Upon seeing this, Uchiha Shinji immediately gave a grim order, patting the cat’s head as he spoke.

“I can see it—his chakra reserves have already been reduced by more than half!”

“This is our chance to finish him off!”

On the battlefield, another "Killer Bee" suddenly appeared, throwing the ninjas chasing after the clones into momentary confusion.

Leading the Konoha shinobi, Uchiha Setsuna narrowed his eyes sharply at the sight and, without hesitation, shouted,

“Follow me—this Eight-Tails is the real one!”

Abandoning the clone they were pursuing, he took the lead and charged toward the "Killer Bee" that Uchiha Shinji was tracking.

The Konoha shinobi emerged from the southern side of Hell Valley, while Uchiha Shinji rode the Two-Tails, chasing Killer Bee from behind.

The paths ahead and behind were both blocked, and the exit had been destroyed. There was no time to prepare another Tailed Beast Bomb.

For a moment,

Killer Bee gritted his teeth in frustration, clenching his fists tightly.

He took a deep breath, turned around, and, using the speed boost from his half-tailed beast form, changed direction and charged deeper into Hell Valley—toward the edge of the ring-shaped cliff at the higher ground.

In this desperate situation, his only escape route was to run back toward Hell Valley!

His plan was to jump off the ring-shaped cliff into Hell Valley and rely on the body of the Eight-Tails to absorb the impact of the fall.

After that, he would leave his fate to luck.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 248: Black Lightning Cuts Through the Sun!*

Under the veil of night,

a dark red shadow surged fiercely toward the high ground!

Close behind it were its relentless pursuers—the Two-Tails and Uchiha Shinji, whose singular objective was to eliminate Killer Bee and the Eight-Tails.

In their wake followed a team of elite Konoha shinobi, converging urgently.

From south to north, from the outer edges inward,

the chaotic bursts of chakra roaring through Hell Valley sent shockwaves with each step, scattering debris and water droplets from the ruined ground into the air.

Figures darted like racers speeding along a treacherous winding track.

The air grew dense, the atmosphere stifling.

The sound of a restless yet silent night wind echoed under a moonless sky—

like the calm before a storm over the ocean,

or the fleeting darkness before the climax of a nightclub.

Everything was oppressed in a heavy silence,

even the heavens, now shrouded in ominous clouds.

*Crack!*

A streak of blue lightning tore through the clouds, roaring triumphantly—

Accompanied by the thunderclap was a fierce shout filled with murderous intent,

tinged with the joy and arrogance of defeating a powerful foe:

*"Killer Bee!!"*

*"Where do you think you’re running?!"*

With his voice raised and chin tilted, his eyes flared with anger.

Standing atop the Two-Tails’ massive head,

Uchiha Shinji fixed his gaze on Killer Bee, who was darting erratically ahead like a cornered rat.

This perspective—one of a victor, a cat playing with its prey—was a thrill Uchiha Shinji had never experienced before.

For someone who had been beaten down time and time again, this was intoxicating.

A smirk involuntarily curled at his lips, his eyes gleaming with exhilaration.

Then,

standing atop the 50-meter-tall feline beast,

he slowly rose to his feet, looking down with contempt.

With his left hand on the hilt and his right hand drawing the blazing Kusanagi sword from his waist,

he was ready.

Harnessing the power of the Zero-Tails,

which fed on extreme emotions,

he swiftly absorbed a surge of dark chakra from the Two-Tails’ true form.

Through a complex transformation within his body, his energy was fully replenished!

The sheer amount of chakra coursing through him made him feel as though he might burst.

And yet, this was only a fraction of the chakra reserves held by the cat-like beast beneath him.

He could tap into even greater power at any time, effortlessly unleashing techniques far surpassing his previous limits!

This newfound strength left Uchiha Shinji enthralled.

He took a deep breath, savoring the sensation.

Then,

his expression twisted into a grin,

fueled by blazing hatred.

At that moment,

*Thud!*

A foot clad in Kumogakure’s red-and-white shinobi armor skidded to a halt at the edge of Hell Valley’s cliffs.

*Swish—*

Pebbles tumbled off the precipice, falling into the dark, swirling mist below,

never echoing back.

It was only then that Killer Bee realized—

he had nowhere left to run.

He now stood at the very edge of the cliff where, once before, young A had brought him to gaze down into the depths of Hell Valley.

Just one step forward would plunge him into an endless abyss!

But this time, the elder brother he trusted implicitly wasn’t by his side.

And he was left with only two choices—

to die here,

at the hands of the Uchiha brat,

or to leap into the void and gamble on the slimmest chance of survival.

“Is this really the end of the great Killer Bee?”

Standing at the cliff’s edge,

staring into the churning, blood-colored mist below,

Killer Bee felt utterly drained.

It was as if his blood had frozen and his heart had turned to stone.

In that moment,

*"Run! Why aren’t you running anymore?"*

With a trace of mockery,

Uchiha Shinji sneered as he looked down at him.

He raised his arm, gripping the sword hilt tightly.

Flames flared in his palm as he pointed his blade toward the sky.

The next moment,

with a thunderous boom under the dark, oppressive night sky,

a blazing sun suddenly rose!

It illuminated everything in its path with a searing, blinding white.

And then,

a crimson streak shot upward from the blazing sun,

in an instant connecting the heavens and the earth!

Under the horrified gazes of countless onlookers in and around Hell Valley,

a colossal sword of flowing flames,

towering 60 meters high,

began to take shape!

As they stared at the terrifying spectacle emerging from the highest point of Hell Valley,

the entire Kumogakure army stood in stunned silence.

*"What… What is that?!"*

“This technique isn’t documented anywhere… Is it… forbidden jutsu?”

At the forefront of Kumogakure’s forces,

Otōi’s face turned pale as he relayed his sensory information, trembling.

“Killer Bee’s chakra fluctuations… they’re dropping rapidly.”

“This kind of overwhelming difference in chakra… he can’t possibly withstand such a devastating technique!”

Hearing this, Mabui’s expression turned numb.

She had lost count of how many bad news reports she’d received today.

All she could do was stare blankly,

her pale face tilted toward the heavens.

Clutching the notebook in her arms, she trembled uncontrollably,

uttering a low, mournful whimper:

“Third Raikage-sama… did I… fail?”

---

*In Hell Valley, on the edge of the surrounding cliffs:*

“HAHAHAHA! AH-HAHAHAHAHAHA!”

Holding the colossal, awe-inspiring sword aloft and savoring this unprecedentedly magnificent moment, Uchiha Shinji couldn’t help but throw his head back and laugh maniacally.

“Are you deaf, Killer Bee?!”

His expression turned cold in an instant, his face seeming to freeze over with a layer of frost. Looking down at Killer Bee, who appeared as insignificant as an ant from his vantage point, he roared menacingly:

“I’m asking you!”

“Why did you stop running?!”

Killer Bee stood there, dumbfounded, raising his head to look up. The silence at that moment was deafening.

“…”

Reflected in his sunglasses was the fiery greatsword raised high, towering and earth-shaking, an overwhelming visual spectacle.

His face turned pale. Swallowing hard, he muttered under his breath:

“This move’s destructive power rivals that Tailed Beast Bomb that kid launched earlier! And worse yet, with the power of the Two-Tails, he could unleash it multiple times!”

“But how…? This shouldn’t be possible! Even with the Two-Tails’ support, this level of power is beyond reason!”

“This...this...”

Seeing Killer Bee’s stunned expression, Uchiha Shinji smirked coldly and shouted mockingly:

“Are you speechless?!”

“Or is this your answer?!”

“Well then, if that’s the case—”

A fierce glint appeared in Uchiha Shinji’s eyes.

Without waiting for the full potential of the sword’s power to peak, he decided to act immediately. At its current level, it was already more than enough to obliterate the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki of the Cloud Village—Killer Bee, a formidable warrior who would one day play a pivotal role in the Fourth Shinobi World War.

He had always been wary of altering the original story’s plotline, fearful of an uncontrollable future, apprehensive of the unknown days to come.

Living this way—cautiously, anxiously—had worn him down day by day.

But now, the surging, boundless power in his hands, which seemed to verge on breaking into a new dimension, filled Uchiha Shinji with a confidence magnified tens of times over.

*He could do it.*

*He absolutely could do it!*

This was the ultimate reward for everything he had fought for until now—

Using the Fire Release Chakra Mode as the foundation, supported by an arsenal of forbidden techniques, ninjutsu, and secret arts, he advanced toward the glorious sword he had once glimpsed while suppressing the Nine-Tails.

As long as he had the chakra reserves to sustain the battle, he could unleash power even greater than a Tailed Beast Jinchūriki!

This path was crystal clear—

He needed no one else. He only had to keep fighting, relentlessly, ceaselessly. By mastering every ninjutsu, forbidden technique, and secret art in existence, he would eventually reach the point where he could treat the Nine-Tails as nothing more than a beast to be pummeled.

At that point, even the so-called Six Paths Sage Realm wouldn’t be beyond his reach.

So what if it was the Two-Tails Jinchūriki Yugito Nii?

So what if it was the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki Killer Bee?

A myriad of thoughts flashed through Uchiha Shinji’s mind in an instant, bringing a defiant smile to his face.

Then, his expression turned sharp. Standing with legs braced apart on the Two-Tails’ head, he twisted the hilt of his sword with both hands and roared savagely:

“Die, you beast!”

“Limitless Blade: Eight Million Divine Wraths!!”

The next moment—

It was as if a blazing sun descended from the heavens!

The enormous, radiant sword of fire parted the clouds, pushed away the air currents, and whipped up violent storms, igniting the entire sky in an instant!

*It crashed downward with unstoppable force!*

Killer Bee, standing on the edge of the cliff, stared blankly upward, his face ashen.

Watching the sword descend, he felt a wave of absurdity and emptiness in his heart.

In his mental space, the Eight-Tails seemed to be roaring at him, trying to warn him about something.

But—

He couldn’t hear it.

He couldn’t hear anything anymore!

No matter how he struggled, in his current state, how could he possibly withstand such overwhelming power?

*Snap!*

It was as if a taut string in his heart had suddenly snapped!

Killer Bee lowered his head involuntarily, glancing down at the dark, misty abyss of Hell Valley beneath his feet.

His toes trembled as they moved forward, with one foot already dangling over the edge.

All it would take was for his body to lean forward, and this nightmare would finally end.

But just as the moment of life and death arrived—

From the swirling clouds and raging blue lightning above, a blinding white lightning bolt suddenly appeared!

The lightning streaked downward faster and faster, gaining unimaginable speed,

Until it reached the speed of light itself!

And then—

In an instant, the white lightning turned black!

A fierce, ancient-looking old man wrapped in black lightning emerged from the heavens!

Descending with an invigorating posture—

He raised one arm high with four fingers clenched together, while his other hand rested against the beating heart in his chest.

Concentrating all the black lightning at his fingertips,

He formed the *strongest spear in existence*!

The next moment, with a hoarse and powerful roar, the lightning spear slashed straight toward the blazing sun-like sword!

“*Hell Stab: Four-Finger Thrust!!*”

(Chapter End)

*Chapter 249: Kakuzu in the Sharingan*

The earth-shattering commotion kept echoing from afar.

The sky alternated between being painted white, blue, and then a dazzling yellow.

It resembled a fireworks display.

However, the joys and sorrows of people are not interconnected. Some only found it noisy.

In a corner of the Uchiha clan’s camp, in front of a wooden shack used for storing miscellaneous items,

a man sat, shackled by iron chains on both hands and feet, leaning alone against a wooden post.

He wore the rogue ninja forehead protector of Takigakure and a black mask. His tall frame was cloaked in a black robe.

The man gazed silently at the distant sky, his ghostly green eyes dazed as though lost in thought or reminiscing about something.

At that moment,

a calm-faced man walked over from the other side of the camp.

The newcomer had a broad, composed face, wore the formal long robes of the Uchiha clan, and carried a long sword at his waist. Notably, his right arm was in a cast, suspended by bandages around his neck.

This was Uchiha Hikaru, the former swordsmanship instructor of the Uchiha clan.

(Illustration depicts Uchiha Hika, the father of Hikaru. The two are designed to look alike.)  

Kakuzu cast a brief glance at the approaching man, snorted coldly, and said in an indifferent tone,

“Well, isn’t this rare? Instead of helping that kid, you’re here to guard me?”

Uchiha Hikaru shook his head, his expression calm.

“With my abilities, I don’t think I can guard you.”

“A skilled swordsman develops a sense of perception. I can tell that in terms of both strength and skill, you surpass me by far.”

Kakuzu furrowed his brows and said coldly, “Then why are you here? To mock me?”

“No.”

Hikaru’s Sharingan activated, three tomoe spinning steadily as his gaze locked onto Kakuzu’s.

“I simply have some questions, and I hope you can help me find the answers.”

He stepped forward, stopping in front of the infamous S-rank rogue ninja. Glancing at the chains binding Kakuzu, he said,

“These restraints shouldn’t be able to hold someone like you.”

“While recovering from my injuries, I spent my free time investigating past events.”

“Through my research, I discovered that you possess a jutsu called Earth Release: Earth Spear. It can harden your body to a diamond-like state, capable of withstanding nearly anything. Breaking free from these bindings should be an easy feat for you.”

Kakuzu’s brow twitched slightly, and he snorted.

“In the face of the Sharingan, which sees through all jutsu, what use is such a technique?”

“In the end, it’s just a futile struggle.”

Hikaru chuckled softly.

“Over this time, I’ve been observing you. And you… you’ve been observing us as well.”

“More precisely, you’ve been watching that child—”

“Uchiha Tsu.”

“Ridiculous!” Kakuzu scoffed without lifting his head, his tone dripping with disdain.

“Ridiculous?” Hikaru smiled faintly and replied,

“Both you and I know that Hell Valley’s conditions are incapable of truly restraining you. We never intended to restrict your movements. Capturing you was more about using your defeat as leverage against the bounty exchange office. To us, mercenaries like you—tools and masterless weapons—may become useful one day.”

“At first, I thought your reluctance to leave stemmed from fear of Tsu and the Great Elder.”

“Until… I uncovered some intriguing things. And then, I found something even more interesting.”

Hikaru smiled again and reached into his robe with his uninjured left hand, retrieving an object.

It was a strand of thread.

But unlike ordinary ninja wire, this thread had a deep, black luster. As twilight faded into night, it seemed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding darkness, exuding an air of mystery.

Kakuzu’s gaze shifted upon seeing the thread, his expression subtly changing.

“In the reports my clansmen provided about the incident in the Land of Hot Water,” Hikaru began,

“I discovered that Tsu used a jutsu identical to yours—Earth Release: Earth Spear.”

“This technique, according to our clan’s records, was only passed down briefly in Takigakure during the early days of the Hidden Villages. After you killed your superiors, you were the only one left who knew it. You became the infamous S-rank rogue ninja, Kakuzu, the so-called strongest bounty hunter.”

Kakuzu narrowed his eyes slightly, casting a wary glance at Hikaru before replying nonchalantly,

“And what does that prove?”

“This ninjutsu, due to its hardening properties and its unique hand sign-free execution, is difficult to replicate with the Sharingan. Even the three-tomoe Sharingan can’t copy it. And yet, Uchiha Shinji managed to learn it.”

Uchiha Kagami spoke calmly.

“Mr. Kakuzu, the heart that was destroyed in the Hidan Cult's cavern... it was yours, wasn’t it?”

Kakuzu closed his eyes and let out a cold snort, neither admitting nor denying the claim.

Seeing this, Uchiha Kagami’s suspicions were further confirmed. He spoke with confidence:

“Even with your ability to achieve immortality by continuously replacing your heart, that earth-natured heart must be special. If my guess is correct, it’s your original heart.”

Bathed in the pale glow erupting once again from the northern side of Hell Valley,

Uchiha Kagami raised the threads in his hand, staring directly at Kakuzu, and declared:

“That’s exactly why Uchiha Shinji was able to use that heart to learn Earth Release: Earth Spear, as well as—”

“Master a technique no one else could possibly learn!”

“Secret Technique: Earth Grudge Fear!”

At those words, Kakuzu, who had been sitting cross-legged on the ground of the small courtyard with a calm demeanor, trembled imperceptibly. His gaze sharpened instantly, faintly revealing a trace of killing intent.

Having said his piece, Uchiha Kagami observed the subtle tremor in Kakuzu’s body through his Sharingan and chuckled softly. Without hesitation, he continued:

“After wandering through the shinobi world for a lifetime longer than most could ever imagine,”

“Enduring a loneliness beyond comprehension,”

“And now, by sheer coincidence, you’ve indirectly found someone to inherit all your ninjutsu and ideals.”

“This child, orphaned and overlooked in the great Uchiha clan, burdened with a near-certain death mission outside the village—just as you once were—”

“Faced you, an invincible foe, head-on as nothing more than a genin!”

The pale glow in the distance suddenly dimmed,

Half of Uchiha Kagami’s face disappeared into the shadow of the moonless night. His tone was laced with amusement, though his expression was unreadable in the darkness.

Only his crimson eyes, capable of piercing through hearts, slowly opened from the shadows.

Three tomoe silently revolved, fixating on Kakuzu, who remained speechless and immersed in thought.

“Uchiha Shinji,”

“This child is the true reason you stayed with the Uchiha clan, the true reason you lingered in Hell Valley.”

“Am I right, Mr. Kakuzu?”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 250: Kakuzu: "No, This Will Cost Extra!"

Kakuzu was a simple man.

He only loved money.

He wasn’t like Danzo, the scheming old man, nor was he like Orochimaru, the brilliant yet sinister genius.

So, when faced with Uchiha Hikaru’s aggressive interrogation and the insinuation that he was somehow a weak and feeble elder, Kakuzu’s initial reaction was to deny it outright. He even considered exuding a bit of killing intent to intimidate this insolent Uchiha.

But...

That entire train of thought came to an abrupt halt when the impudent Uchiha snapped his fingers. Two men appeared, carrying massive lacquered chests.

Inside the chests was something simple, yet overwhelmingly persuasive—

*One billion ryō!*

"Hiss—!"

Kakuzu sucked in a sharp breath, his green eyes locking onto Uchiha Hikaru. His tone became noticeably cautious, even tinged with a trace of deference. Beneath his black mask, the corners of his mouth visibly twitched upward. Years of experience as a bounty hunter kicked in as he instinctively assessed the situation.

"You want to kill that little brat?"

"Because he’s threatening your status in the Uchiha clan?"

Hearing Kakuzu’s absurd but oddly realistic guess, Uchiha Hikaru’s lips twitched. Then, shaking his head decisively, he calmly responded:

"Mr. Kakuzu, let’s make a deal."

"This billion is for you to protect that boy—just once."

"Protect him?"

Kakuzu was momentarily stunned by Uchiha Hikaru’s words.

He couldn’t help but tilt his head slightly, glancing toward the distance. There, the wreckage resembled a parking lot ravaged by a tornado. His gaze shifted to the cliffs encircling the hellish scene.

At that moment—

A blazing line of fire, linking the heavens and earth, suddenly lit up!

A colossal flaming sword, far more massive and powerful than the forbidden technique Kakuzu had encountered months ago, was slowly taking shape. Seeing this, Kakuzu couldn’t help but twitch an eyebrow.

In contrast—

The Eight-Tails Jinchūriki from Kumogakure, trembling on the cliff edge, looked far more like the one in need of rescue.

Kakuzu’s expression grew increasingly peculiar. Were the Uchiha clan all idiots? Were they so rich that they’d lost their minds? This billion ryō… wasn’t it way too easy to earn?

Uchiha Hikaru, however, glanced at the scene Kakuzu was observing and, without even a flicker of doubt, calmly nodded.

"That’s right."

Of course, Uchiha Hikaru wasn’t an idiot.

As one of the clan’s leaders, he was acutely aware that what the Uchiha clan lacked most at this moment was *strength*.

The emergence of Uchiha Shinji was like a godsend—a golden opportunity for the Uchiha clan to rise again. But with opportunity came immense danger.

Ever since Sunagakure’s Chiyo publicized Uchiha Shinji’s information and placed a bounty on his head, every major power in the ninja world was now aware of his existence. This time, even the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning, knowing full well that Uchiha Shinji wasn’t behind the chaos in the capital, still added his name to the bounty list. Whether this was deliberate or accidental was hard to say.

In the future, Uchiha Shinji would undoubtedly face even more dangers.

The problem was, the current Uchiha clan lacked the power to protect this boy.

Gone were the days of the clan’s strength during the Warring States era. There were no titans like Tajima, Madara, Izuna, or Kagami. Against Kage-level enemies, the Uchiha often found themselves helpless.

Worse still, they often had to rely on the boy to protect *them*.

If it hadn’t been for Uchiha Shinji deflecting two Tailed Beast Bombs aimed at the camp, there might not have been many survivors left by now.

This event cemented Uchiha Hikaru’s resolve. He decided to set aside the clan’s pride temporarily and seek allies to protect the boy.

As long as Uchiha Shinji could grow, he could eventually become the towering tree that would shelter the Uchiha clan.

In that light, any investment in him was worthwhile!

And so, Uchiha Hikaru’s eyes turned to Kakuzu. Over the past few months, he had been keeping a close eye on this man. Kakuzu, with his history of animosity toward the Senju clan, his status as a rogue ninja, and his experience as a bounty hunter, was the perfect candidate for their current needs.

As for the steep price of hiring Kakuzu?

Don’t make him laugh.

For the Uchiha clan, if money could solve a problem, it wasn’t really a problem.

They had already poured over ten billion ryō into Uchiha Shinji’s development. How much could Kakuzu possibly cost in comparison?

And for Kakuzu, who had witnessed the Uchiha clan’s outrageous wealth, how could he return to a life of petty bounty hunting, earning a fraction of what he could make here?

Thus—

One side thought the other was stupidly rich and couldn’t resist taking advantage.

The other side, calculating every move like a master strategist, saw the transaction as an obvious win.

The two struck a deal without hesitation!

Uchiha Hikaru smiled as he handed over a cash-filled safe.

And as Kakuzu accepted it, even beneath his mask, a visible “auntie grin” crept across his face.

*Clap!*

He immediately raised his palm and firmly grasped the hand Uchiha Hikaru extended toward him.

“Pleasure working with you, my employer!”

“Rest assured, my reputation is impeccable!”

“I’ll give it my all to save that kid!”

With that, Kakuzu promptly turned around, holding the safe.

However—

Just as Kakuzu, whose smile was evident even through his mask, felt fortunate to receive such a lucrative task requiring no effort,

And just as he was about to take his first step forward—

Crack!  

Thunderclouds churned, and amidst the turbulent sky, a piercing white bolt of lightning suddenly flashed!

Kakuzu froze, startled, and looked up.

What he saw was—

A figure descending like a divine weapon from the heavens,

A wild and domineering presence cloaked in lightning,

One so robust and familiar it struck him deeply.

“That’s…”

Kakuzu’s emerald-green pupils constricted sharply, and the smile on his face froze instantly.

“The one who killed the legendary Kinkaku, ended the First Shinobi World War, and is known as the strongest spear and shield—”

“The strongest Raikage—Third Raikage, A!”

This was a man who had already dominated the shinobi world before Kakuzu even made a name for himself!

A powerhouse that even Kakuzu, once an elite ninja of the Hidden Waterfall Village, could only look up to.

Countless memories from the past surged in his mind, and Kakuzu’s expression turned grim.

Behind him—

Noticing Kakuzu’s sudden halt, Uchiha Hikaru followed his gaze to the figure descending from the heavens.

In an instant, the figure transformed into a flash of pure black lightning,

So fast that even the Sharingan couldn’t track its movements.

Then—

Faster and faster!

Like a black lightning bolt shooting downward!

In a split second,

The figure struck with a finger blade, aiming directly at the massive Flame Sword Uchiha Shinji held, a sword vastly disproportionate in size!

At the point where the blade and the sword connected—

Boom!  

The violent shockwave pressed the ground within a hundred-meter radius downward, creating a massive circular sandstorm that shot upward!

Then—

In less than half a second,

That massive, sky-splitting Flame Sword, awe-inspiring as it was,

Was shattered with sheer force by the black lightning-clad figure,

Using just two fingers!

“That’s the Third Raikage?!”

Witnessing the scene, Uchiha Hikaru’s face was filled with terror, and his lips twisted into a bitter smile.

The overwhelming gap in strength left him in stunned disbelief.

A sword technique he had spent his entire life perfecting was no match for a single finger from this kind of opponent.

Desperate, Uchiha Hikaru turned his head toward the only hope he had left.

But when he saw the S-rank rogue ninja he had hired—now frozen in place,

Looking up at the swirling sandstorm in silence,

Uchiha Hikaru’s heart sank, and he hesitantly asked:

“Sir… Are you planning to abandon the mission?”

For a moment,

Kakuzu was silent.

He glanced at the remaining fifty million ryo still in Uchiha Hikaru’s hand,

Then recalled the young figure who had intercepted two Tailed Beast Bombs not long ago, saving his life in the process.

After a long pause,

Kakuzu turned around, clenched his teeth, and said:

“No.”

“But this… is going to cost extra!”

(End of Chapter)