216-220

*Chapter 216: The Art of Elephants Turning*

"Alright, enough chit-chat. Let’s begin the sealing! For the next three days, none of you can move freely," said Pain, abruptly interrupting the conversation between the two.

The sealing of the One-Tail officially began!

"Phantom Dragon Nine Consuming Seals!"

A powerful chakra surged from Pain's body and poured into the Gedo Statue.

The previously motionless Gedo Statue finally moved and let out a roar.

Kimimaro could feel his chakra slowly being drawn from his feet into the statue.

"So this is the technique that extracts a tailed beast's chakra? How unique. It requires such an immense amount of chakra to activate. No wonder they need to gather all ten core members of the Akatsuki. If there were fewer people, the burden on each would be too great," Kimimaro thought to himself, staring at the statue, unsure of what to make of it.

The sealing had officially begun! The process, which would take three days, was undoubtedly a complicated and troublesome one.

Kimimaro closed his eyes and entered a meditative state.

Every second of his training, the chakra he gathered was absorbed into the Gedo Statue, making his training more difficult.

At any moment, Kimimaro could sever this connection.

However, since it was during the sealing process, he couldn’t disconnect at will.

Instead, he used this as an opportunity to temper his chakra.

Though the benefits weren’t significant, it was better than nothing.

Two and a half days passed in this boring fashion before Zetsu spoke up.

"Pain, two teams are approaching us."

"Who are they?"

"One is led by the Blue Beast, Might Guy, and the other by the Copy Ninja, Kakashi Hatake. Guy's team consists of three Chunin, nothing to worry about.

However, Kakashi’s team not only has the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki but also the puppet master Chiyo from the Sand Village."

Zetsu relayed all the details of the approaching individuals.

At the mention of Chiyo, Sasori's eyes flickered with a hint of emotion.

"Use the Art of Elephants Turning. Who’s the closest to them?" Pain asked.

The Art of Elephants Turning was a technique used through the power of the Rinnegan.

Through the Rinnegan, an Akatsuki member’s chakra could be transferred into a living sacrifice.

The sacrifice would transform completely into the Akatsuki member, both in appearance and ability, controlled by their consciousness, capable of using the same techniques.

Depending on the distance of the target, the amount of chakra transferred could range from 10% to 50%.

Once the chakra was depleted, the technique would end, and the sacrifice would die instantly.

It was essentially a jutsu where the sacrifice’s life was used to impersonate a stronger individual.

For the sacrifice, there was no enjoyment to be had, just the fate of a puppet.

"The closest are Itachi, Kisame, and Kimimaro."

"Kimimaro? Didn’t I send you to the Land of Lightning? How are you nearby?"

Pain asked in confusion.

"Just passing by, just passing by," Kimimaro responded with a laugh.

Pain glanced at him but didn’t bother to pursue the matter further.

"Since that’s the case, who among you three wants to intercept them?"

"Count me in. I’ve got a score to settle with that beast, so this is the perfect chance to even things up," Kisame grinned.

"I’ll take on Kakashi’s team. I’m quite interested in them," Kimimaro volunteered.

"Alright, the two of you, get ready," Pain said as he began to perform the Art of Elephants Turning.

Kimimaro felt a strange sensation as part of his chakra and consciousness were transferred.

Through the power of the Rinnegan, they were sent to a distant location, injected into an unfamiliar body.

"The Rinnegan’s abilities are truly vast," Kimimaro couldn’t help but marvel.

Pain's Rinnegan displayed so many useful and diverse powers.

Compared to later versions of the Rinnegan, which had more raw power, Pain’s had a much wider range of abilities.

Those later versions didn’t showcase their full potential.

With his Byakugan activated, Kimimaro spotted Kakashi’s group not far away.

"I have about 30% of my chakra. That should be enough to toy with them for a while," Kimimaro thought as he moved swiftly, landing in an open area.

Soon enough, he encountered Kakashi and the others.

"Kimimaro!"

Seeing him, the group was startled and immediately halted.

Although Granny Chiyo didn’t recognize him, the black cloak with red clouds was a dead giveaway.

"Yo, long time no see, Naruto," Kimimaro said indifferently.

"Why are you wearing the Akatsuki's cloak? Did you join them?" Naruto asked, shocked.

"That's right. I think this outfit looks pretty good. What do you think?" Kimimaro replied with a smile.

"You jerk! Do you know what the Akatsuki is doing? They’ve captured Gaara!" Naruto yelled in rage.

"Of course I know. The person who caught Gaara is quite familiar with me. But what does that matter? Gaara can’t be captured?"

"You..." Naruto was left speechless.

Kakashi took the chance to speak up, "Weren’t you a ninja of the Sound Village? Why did you join the Akatsuki? Did Orochimaru join forces with them?"

"See this mark?" Kimimaro pointed to the Sound Village headband on his forehead. "I defected. So now, I’m free."

"What about Sasuke? Wasn’t he taken to the Sound Village by you? If you defected, what about him?" Sakura quickly asked.

"Oh, he's probably still training under Orochimaru. His strength was too weak before, even if he wanted to defect, he wasn’t strong enough.

Oh, and by defect, I mean from the Sound Village, not the Leaf Village. After all, people seem to defect from the Leaf quite easily."

Kimimaro’s tone turned mocking.

"You!" Naruto’s rage flared, his blue eyes turning into the crimson eyes of the Nine-Tails.

"Calm down, Naruto. He’s trying to provoke us. If he’s here, it’s to stop us from saving Gaara, which means we’re close. We can’t waste time here," Kakashi quickly analyzed the situation.

"As expected of Kakashi. Your sharpness is rare in the ninja world. Yes, I’m here to stop you. So, come on, let’s see if you can defeat me."

Kimimaro declared like a true villain.

Kakashi and Naruto’s faces grew tense.

Unlike Granny Chiyo and Sakura, the two of them had fought Kimimaro before.

Back then, they were utterly crushed by him.

Especially Kakashi.

One Black Coffin jutsu had given the future Sixth Hokage one of his darkest moments.

Though both of them had grown much stronger over the past two years, they couldn’t help but feel apprehensive in front of Kimimaro.

If they could grow stronger, so could he.

"What do we do now, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked, looking toward Kakashi.

(End of the Chapter)

*Chapter 217: Suppression*

“Stay calm, we can win.”

Kakashi placed his left hand on the forehead protector covering his left eye, revealing the three-tomoe Sharingan hidden underneath.

“Oh? You're already using your Sharingan, Kakashi?” Kimimaro said with a half-smile.

“Considering my opponent is you, I can't afford to be careless. Otherwise, we might not make it out of here,” Kakashi replied, fully aware of the danger Kimimaro posed.

Chiyo, standing nearby, was puzzled. “Kakashi, is this kid really that strong?”

“Lady Chiyo, don't underestimate him. His strength far exceeds mine.”

“What?” Chiyo was taken aback. She knew Kakashi’s reputation as the son of the White Fang, and if he claimed someone was stronger than him, it had to be serious.

“Lady Chiyo, Sakura, get ready. Kimimaro's taijutsu is powerful, so be careful,” Naruto warned just as Kimimaro vanished in an instant.

“Being careful won't be enough.”

Everyone was startled, as Kimimaro had suddenly appeared right in the middle of their group, as if he were casually strolling through a park. His speed was so incredible that none of them had time to react.

Quickly, the four spread out, attempting to break their disadvantage. Kimimaro didn’t pursue them, instead extending both arms and aiming his fingers at the group.

“Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!”

Ten bones shot from his fingers, wrapped in white lightning.

Whizz!

The bones sliced through the air, with three aimed at Naruto, Kakashi, and Lady Chiyo, while the final one targeted Sakura.

Clang, clang, clang!

The sound of metal clashing echoed. Kakashi had pulled out a kunai at some point, expertly deflecting the three bones, though the sheer force of the impact caused cracks to appear in his kunai before it shattered.

Naruto blocked the bones with his right hand, now covered by the red chakra of the Nine-Tails, which formed a beastly paw. Though the bones were powerful, they couldn't penetrate the dense chakra cloak, stopping an inch in.

Chiyo summoned a puppet just in time, placing it in front of her. Thud, thud, thud—three holes were punched through the puppet, damaging its mechanisms and reducing its effectiveness.

Sakura, in desperation, summoned a chakra scalpel in her right hand, slicing the bone in half as it approached her.

All four had managed to block Kimimaro's casual attack.

“Oh? Not bad,” Kimimaro said with a faint smile, complimenting them.

But Kakashi and the others grew more serious.

“He's definitely stronger than before. His speed… I almost couldn't react,” Kakashi thought, as the tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly, locking onto Kimimaro.

“This guy is a monster. Such speed, and even though it seemed like a simple attack, its power was terrifying. If those bones had come at me, I would've been injured for sure,” Sakura thought with relief but also frustration, knowing that Kimimaro wasn’t taking her seriously.

While Kakashi and Chiyo were famed ninjas, far stronger than her, Naruto, too, had become much stronger with the Nine-Tails’ power, leaving Sakura feeling outmatched. But as a medical ninja, she knew her role wasn’t to outshine them in combat.

Chiyo’s face was tense. She finally understood why Kakashi and the others feared Kimimaro. His strength truly couldn’t be measured by his age.

“This is the most powerful Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse) I've ever seen. And he’s even combined it with lightning release, increasing both speed and power. You’re no ordinary Kaguya clan member. Most of them wouldn't incorporate chakra nature transformation into their bone techniques,” Chiyo observed, summoning two more puppets to guard her.

“Lady Chiyo, the famed puppet master who inherited the White Secret Technique: Chikamatsu’s Ten Puppets… and yet you're only using three puppets against me? I must be underestimated,” Kimimaro said, narrowing his eyes.

“I’m surprised a young man like you still remembers my name. Who told you? Was it my grandson, Sasori of the Red Sand?” Chiyo asked, her voice calm but tinged with hope. She had come not just to save Gaara but also to see her estranged grandson one last time. Sasori was all she had left to care about in her old age.

“Yes, Sasori mentioned you. He said you were the strongest puppet master in his eyes and that your White Secret Technique was the greatest. But now, he thinks those are just relics of the past. He believes he’s surpassed you and even the puppet master Monzaemon,” Kimimaro explained.

“Such arrogance. My grandson isn’t as lovable as I remembered,” Chiyo muttered with a faint smile, secretly relieved to hear that Sasori was alive and part of the Akatsuki. Her journey hadn't been in vain.

“Lady Chiyo, stop wasting time. His goal is to stall us. The longer we stay here, the more danger Gaara is in,” Naruto urged, visibly agitated. His red fox-like eyes reflected his urgency to save Gaara.

“You’re more worried about Gaara than anyone from the Sand Village,” Chiyo mused, puzzled by Naruto's genuine concern for the Kazekage.

“Don’t be rash, Naruto. To defeat Kimimaro, we need to coordinate. Without teamwork, we don’t stand a chance,” Kakashi advised, standing in front of Naruto. Naruto nodded in agreement.

The real fight was just beginning. The four of them readied themselves for battle. During their three-day journey, they had discussed various strategies, and now Kakashi signaled to initiate the first plan.

Sensing the shift in their stance, Kimimaro watched them with interest, waiting for their attack.

“Take this!” Sakura shouted, charging forward. Her punch, though seemingly ordinary, held incredible destructive force. She roared, increasing her power as she struck the ground three meters from Kimimaro.

Boom! The ground cracked, and the force from Sakura’s punch rippled toward Kimimaro.

“Impressive strength, as expected from Tsunade's disciple,” Kimimaro remarked, leaping into the air to avoid the ground-shattering punch.

As he jumped, Chiyo launched her attack. Her two puppets leapt into action, spitting poisoned needles at him. Most people would find it impossible to move midair, but Kimimaro used his unique step technique to push himself higher, dodging the needles with ease.

But Chiyo wasn’t done. Her puppets continued to accelerate, pulling out five razor-sharp wires, which were sent flying toward Kimimaro with terrifying speed.

“Binding Spell #39: Enkosen!”

A golden shield appeared in front of Kimimaro, but the wires sliced through it easily. Kimimaro raised an eyebrow in surprise at the sharpness of the attack. Even with reduced chakra, he hadn’t expected this level of power.

With quick reflexes, Kimimaro twisted his body, narrowly dodging the wires as they grazed past his face. Simultaneously, he pointed his finger toward Chiyo.

“Destructive Spell #63: Raikōhō (Thunder Roar Cannon)!”

Golden lightning erupted from his finger, speeding toward Chiyo. Her eyes widened, not expecting such a fast and powerful lightning release. She quickly summoned her remaining puppet, which extended its hands to form a shield.

“Chakra Shield!”

The shield took the brunt of the attack, shattering on impact, but Chiyo was safe, though visibly shaken by the close call.

Meanwhile, Sakura had leapt into the air, ready to strike with her iron fist. Kimimaro barely had time to react as she came crashing down.

“Take this!”

The familiar pre-battle words, followed by an even more terrifying force behind the punch.

Kimimaro could even feel the gust of the fist sweeping across his face.

Just as the punch was about to land, he suddenly twisted his body, directly facing Sakura's strike.

With his left hand clenched into a fist, he met her punch without hesitation.

Fist against fist!

One punch had been building power for a while, bursting forth with 120% of its potential.

The other was from someone mid-air, barely able to stabilize themselves before throwing the punch, with likely less than half the power.

At first glance, Sakura seemed to have the advantage.

Especially since Sakura's punch technique was passed down from Tsunade, known for its unmatched strength.

She was confident in her punch.

If it landed, at the very least, she could break Kimimaro’s left arm.

Boom!

The two fists collided!

A shockwave suddenly exploded!

Sakura flew back at a speed even faster than when she had charged forward.

"Sakura!"

Naruto, who had been preparing to attack, was shocked.

Boom!

Sakura crashed into the ground but managed to steady herself, unharmed.

However, her right hand was trembling.

She lost!

She actually lost in a head-on punch clash!

Sakura was stunned.

Since mastering the monstrous strength punch, the only person she had ever lost to in a punch clash was Tsunade.

No one else dared face her punch directly.

But just now, in a situation where she had the clear advantage, she was sent flying with one punch?

Could Kimimaro's punch really be that strong?

Sakura had the illusion that she had just been fighting Tsunade.

As Kimimaro landed, before he could even catch his breath, Kakashi was already attacking.

Lightning flickered from Kakashi’s body, his speed far exceeding what it had been before.

Using lightning to stimulate his body, Kakashi unleashed even greater speed to counter Kimimaro’s terrifying speed.

With his remarkable taijutsu skills, Kakashi managed to fight Kimimaro to a standstill for a moment.

Kimimaro could tell that Kakashi was far stronger than he had been two years ago.

It seemed his previous failure had pushed him to improve.

"Your taijutsu is impressive, but it's not enough to beat me," Kimimaro said quietly.

"You're right, but if I can hold you for just a moment, it's enough!"

Kakashi shifted his attack into a hold!

He grabbed Kimimaro’s hands with his own, his body twisting like a snake, locking Kimimaro in place.

"What is this..."

Kimimaro was momentarily surprised, not expecting Kakashi to have such a trick.

Imitating Orochimaru?

Before he could think further, Naruto's overwhelming chakra surged from a distance.

"Massive Rasengan!"

Naruto had summoned a shadow clone without anyone noticing, and together they formed a Rasengan several times its usual size.

Its terrifying power was enough to split mountains.

Kimimaro tried to break free from Kakashi’s hold, but found himself tightly restrained, with no sign of being let go.

"Is he planning to sacrifice himself?"

Just as this thought crossed Kimimaro’s mind, he realized that the Kakashi behind him had transformed into a bolt of lightning.

"A Lightning Clone?"

Then, a surge of lightning power coursed through Kimimaro’s body.

An electric shock!

And following that was Naruto’s terrifying Massive Rasengan!

Boom!

A double impact!

With an explosion, a cloud of dust rose from Kimimaro’s location.

From Naruto's side, Kakashi emerged from the ground.

No one knew when he had hidden himself there.

The one fighting all along had only been the Lightning Clone.

"It worked!"

Sakura was overjoyed.

"Did we win?"

Naruto asked uncertainly.

Kakashi furrowed his brow, also unsure.

The sequence of moves had been perfect.

Sakura and Chiyo’s support had been spot-on, Kakashi’s hold and the heavy hit from the Lightning Clone were executed flawlessly.

And Naruto’s Massive Rasengan had definitely made solid contact.

But Kakashi couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling.

As the dust settled, Kimimaro’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

"He's gone? Did we miss?"

Naruto was shocked.

"So close, just a little more," a voice said.

Everyone looked up toward the sky.

Kimimaro was standing in mid-air, his black cloak with red clouds completely unharmed.

Even after that attack, he was entirely unscathed!

(End of chapter)

Chapter 218: Naruto's Fury

"No, the sensation from the Lightning Shadow Clone just now was definitely solid. How could it have missed?" Kakashi was puzzled, unsure of what Kimimaro had done. How had he managed to do that under those circumstances?

"His clothes aren't even stained with a speck of dust. This is impossible..." Seeing Kimimaro's pristine clothes, Kakashi grew even more confused. His gaze fell on the spot where the explosion had just occurred. The smoke had already dissipated, leaving only a deep crater.

"That's..." A tattered Akatsuki robe caught Kakashi's eye.

"Could it be a special substitution technique? Did he replace his original position with an Akatsuki robe?" Kakashi couldn't help but make this guess.

And the truth was very close to his guess. What Kimimaro had just used was the high-level technique of Shunpo - Empty Cicada! It was activated by discarding the outermost layer of clothing, allowing him to instantly escape his original location.

After activating Empty Cicada, Kimimaro narrowly avoided Kakashi's Lightning Shadow Clone and Naruto's Big Ball Rasengan at the critical moment.

After dodging, he immediately took out a new black robe with red clouds from his space scroll. After all, the Akatsuki had a rule of death upon removing clothing, and he didn't want to fight against such a strange curse. So he always carried a space scroll containing a black robe with red clouds.

Better safe than sorry.

Moreover, putting on new clothes would allow him to activate Empty Cicada once more. Otherwise, if he had to do it again later, he would have to be naked.

"You've indeed become stronger, almost injuring me. However, that's it. It's my turn to play now." Kimimaro looked down from above, like a god.

Kakashi and the other three looked up, all feeling a sense of oppression. The failure of their previous attack had dealt a heavy blow to them. Their seemingly perfect strike had been dodged. How were they supposed to fight now?

Before they could come up with a plan, Kimimaro had already launched his attack. He extended his left hand, and a bone bow quickly condensed in his palm. Four bone arrows emerged from his fingertips on his right hand and were placed on the bowstring.

"Not good! Get out of the way!" Kakashi immediately sensed something was wrong and shouted.

But Kimimaro's arrows had already been released!

Whoosh!

Four bone arrows shot out, surpassing the Ten Finger Lightning Bullet in both speed and power.

In the blink of an eye, the bone arrows reached the four of them.

Kimimaro's lips curled slightly, seemingly quite satisfied with this attack. The four arrows flew towards the four of them, one for each person, no more, no less.

Sakura's eyes widened in terror. She couldn't block such fast arrows. The fear of death instantly washed over her. Sakura subconsciously closed her eyes, awaiting the judgment of fate.

But the expected pain didn't come. She couldn't help but open her eyes and saw a not-so-tall but reassuring crimson figure standing in front of her.

"Naruto!" Sakura exclaimed.

Naruto had somehow appeared in front of her and blocked the arrow with his own flesh and blood.

The bone arrow pierced his right shoulder, passing through most of it and emerging from his back. The wound was horrifying.

Naruto only frowned slightly, his crimson eyes fixed on Kimimaro. He extended his right hand, grabbed the tail of the bone arrow, and pulled it out!

Blood splattered. An arrow hole appeared in his right shoulder.

"Naruto, I'll heal you right away..." Before Sakura could finish her words, she saw Nine-Tails chakra surging into the wound.

A miraculous scene unfolded. The originally bloody wound healed instantly.

"This..." As a medical ninja, Sakura found this scene unscientific.

Naruto said to Kimimaro, "Do you really want to kill us? Kimimaro!"

The white-haired boy in front of him was once his friend. But now, he wanted to kill him. This was unacceptable for Naruto, who had few friends since childhood.

"Naruto, you're still as naive as ever." Kimimaro shook his head slightly, but his hand on the bowstring didn't stop.

Chiyo and Kakashi narrowly avoided the two arrows just now, and Kimimaro didn't target them again. It was unlikely to defeat those two with bone arrows.

But if he focused on Naruto and Sakura, it was still quite useful.

With each pull of the bow, a bone arrow flew from his fingertips. Arrow after arrow!

In an instant, Kimimaro fired nine arrows in succession!

Nine stars in a row!

Naruto's pupils shrank; this kind of attack was no joke.

Boom!

The Nine-Tails chakra went berserk again.

Three tails instantly emerged and swept towards the incoming nine arrows!

Thump, thump, thump!

The bone arrows were all swatted away, kicking up dust.

"This level of power is somewhat decent." Kimimaro chuckled.

Naruto's expression was grave; with three tails, he was on the verge of losing control. And this level of power was clearly not enough to deal with Kimimaro.

"Naruto, calm down. Master Jiraiya said that if you go beyond three tails, you'll lose your mind." Kakashi came to Naruto's side and whispered.

"But Kakashi-sensei, if we don't use the Nine-Tails' power at this time, we're no match for him." Naruto said anxiously.

"Don't give up so quickly. Our lineup isn't bad. Even against Kimimaro, we might not be without a chance of victory." Kakashi said, looking at Chiyo.

"Now is not the time to hold back. If we don't defeat him, we can't continue forward, let alone rescue the Kazekage."

"Hehe, you're right. I'm just a bit surprised that the Akatsuki has such a powerful member of the Kaguya clan. Facing such an opponent, we indeed can't hold back. Otherwise, not only will we fail to rescue anyone, but we might even lose our own lives here." Chiyo became serious.

Having witnessed the strength Kimimaro had just displayed, if she continued to watch from the sidelines, she might end up losing her own life.

She reached into her backpack with her right hand and took out a scroll.

The scroll unfurled, and ten puppets quickly flew out from it!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

White puppets landed in front of Chiyo, displaying an extraordinary aura.

The Jinchuriki Collection!

Chiyo's ten strongest puppets.

Legend has it that these ten puppets were created by the puppet master Bunraku.

Each puppet possesses remarkable power.

To fully control these puppets, one needs to master the highest art of puppetry, the Ten-Finger Manipulation Technique.

With just one finger, a puppet can be perfectly controlled.

This is the pinnacle of normal puppetry.

Sasori's Hundred Puppet Performance, however, transcends the capabilities of ordinary puppeteers.

Moreover, the Hundred Puppet Performance is merely a spectacle, as Sasori cannot truly control all hundred puppets flawlessly.

In the original story, the Jinchuriki Collection and the Hundred Puppet Performance were nearly evenly matched, if not exactly equal.

This shows that in terms of individual puppet strength, the Jinchuriki Collection reigns supreme.

"Oh? The Jinchuriki Collection? Interesting."

Kimimaro raised an eyebrow, eager to try his hand against them.

He had witnessed the Red Secret Technique, and now he wondered about the power of this White Secret Technique.

The bone bow in his hand transformed according to his will, ultimately becoming his most commonly used bone sword.

He preferred close combat to ranged attacks.

"Controlling ten puppets simultaneously, that's amazing!"

Naruto exclaimed.

Kakashi, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief.

Lady Chiyo was finally taking this battle seriously.

This would significantly improve their situation.

"Kakashi of the Leaf, find an opportunity to attack. I know it's not difficult for you,"

Chiyo's ten fingers danced, controlling the Jinchuriki Collection as they charged towards Kimimaro, while simultaneously speaking to Kakashi.

"Understood."

Kakashi replied, glancing at Naruto and Sakura.

Their eyes met, and a silent understanding passed between them.

Chiyo took the lead in the assault, the ten puppets surrounding Kimimaro, unleashing a relentless barrage of attacks with a variety of weapons.

The Jinchuriki Collection's coordination was flawless, putting immense pressure on Kimimaro.

He brandished his bone sword, parrying the onslaught of attacks.

Hidden mechanisms and projectiles rained down like a storm, colliding with his bone sword and creating sparks.

The seemingly impenetrable offensive was completely neutralized by Kimimaro.

That bone sword proved to be even more effective than a shield.

Rotating Shield!

The sword's light swept across the battlefield.

"Such quick reflexes."

Chiyo marveled inwardly, then pulled back three puppets with both hands.

One puppet stood on the shoulders of the other two, and all three puppets mimicked Chiyo's hand seals.

"Puppet Technique: Three Treasures Crushing Vacuum!"

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The three puppets opened their mouths simultaneously, unleashing a powerful tornado-like force from their center.

Kimimaro, who was engaged in combat with the other seven puppets, suddenly felt a terrifying suction force, comparable to the strength of the Universal Pull.

"This is..."

Kimimaro was slightly surprised and had to exert force with his feet to maintain his balance.

The seven puppets that had been besieging him scattered in advance, avoiding the Three Treasures Crushing Vacuum.

Chiyo frowned slightly, her chakra surging forth!

The suction force increased!

Kimimaro, who had just regained his footing, began to move.

His feet carved a long trench in the ground, and he was being dragged faster and faster.

"Fire Style: Grand Fireball Technique!"

At that moment, Kakashi made his move.

He formed hand seals, and a fireball erupted from his mouth.

Naruto and Sakura simultaneously launched kunai.

With the aid of the Three Treasures Crushing Vacuum's tornado, all three attacks hurtled towards Kimimaro.

A pincer attack!

"Your teamwork is getting better and better."

Kimimaro sneered, tossing his bone sword into the air, then spinning his body.

"Hakkesho Kaiten!"

Boom!

A massive blue chakra shield instantly formed around Kimimaro.

Whether it was the Grand Fireball Technique, the kunai, or the Three Treasures Crushing Vacuum, all were blocked by the Hakkesho Kaiten.

"What!"

Everyone was once again astonished.

The absolute defense technique, Hakkesho Kaiten!

They were all familiar with this technique.

It was the signature technique of the Hyuga clan.

But how did Kimimaro possess it?

Did he also have the Byakugan?

This question lingered in everyone's minds.

The Hakkesho Kaiten's range expanded, engulfing the three white puppets that had initiated the Three Treasures Crushing Vacuum.

"Oh no!"

Chiyo realized the danger and tried to retrieve the three puppets, but it was too late.

Crack!

The sound of shattering echoed as the three puppets were instantly pulverized by the Hakkesho Kaiten.

Both offensive and defensive, this was the true nature of the Hakkesho Kaiten.

Puppet fragments scattered, and Chiyo's expression turned grim.

Such damage would be difficult to repair.

Kimimaro stopped spinning, and the Hakkesho Kaiten dissipated.

He extended his right hand, and the bone sword he had thrown into the air landed steadily in his grasp.

"Not bad moves, got any more?"

His playful demeanor remained unchanged from the start.

Suddenly, a whistling sound pierced the air. Naruto, with three tails, leaped up, his hands covered in Tailed Beast Chakra, transforming into demonic fox claws. He swiped at Kimimaro.

"Kimimaro!"

Naruto roared, grabbing Kimimaro's shoulders.

A burning sensation surged through Kimimaro from the intense heat.

Their eyes met.

Kimimaro could clearly see the fury in Naruto's eyes.

"Did you gouge out Neji's eyes?"

Naruto questioned, staring into Kimimaro's pure white eyes.

To use the Hakkesho Kaiten, one needed the Byakugan.

In Naruto's mind, the only way Kimimaro could have obtained the Byakugan was from Neji.

Although he wasn't close to Neji, they were comrades from the same village.

The thought that Kimimaro might have killed Neji filled him with rage.

This anger stemmed from both the sorrow of a friend's fall and the fury over a comrade's tragic death.

"What do you think?"

Faced with Naruto's anger, Kimimaro's response was nonchalant.

"You bastard! I won't let you get away with this!"

Hearing Kimimaro's words, Naruto assumed he was admitting to it.

His rage intensified.

A fourth tail emerged!

Naruto's skin was gradually burned by the Nine-Tails' scorching chakra. In the next moment, he transformed into a miniature Nine-Tails with four tails.

"Oh no! Naruto's lost control!"

Kakashi was alarmed.

His worst fear had come to pass.

At close range, Kimimaro watched as Naruto's crimson eyes turned vacant, then white.

But at the same time, Naruto's power multiplied several times over.

"The Nine-Tails is truly the Nine-Tails. Just unleashing four tails yields such power."

Kimimaro couldn't help but admire, then dislocated his shoulder bones, breaking free from Naruto's claws. He swiftly retreated, and his shoulders returned to normal.

Naruto didn't pursue. He simply opened his mouth, forming a chakra sphere, then swallowed it again, allowing it to expand within his mouth.

"This is..."

Kimimaro immediately understood Naruto's intention.

Tailed Beast Bomb!

This was the second time he faced a Tailed Beast Bomb, and the pressure emanating from it far surpassed the previous one!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 219: The End of the Seal

The Nine-Tails, being the most powerful of the Tailed Beasts, its Jinchuriki is naturally different from ordinary Jinchuriki.

Although this Tailed Beast Ball was only released by Naruto in his four-tailed state, the pressure it brought has already surpassed the previous complete Tailed Beast transformation of Yugito Nii.

Kimimaro's expression finally became serious.

"Today's trip was really worth it. First, the Konoha's Anbu, and now the Nine-Tails' Tailed Beast Ball. It's truly eye-opening. But this move is not easy to handle."

Calculating the remaining chakra in his body, Kimimaro felt that he couldn't play for too long.

"The delay is almost enough, so I won't hold back on chakra for this move."

Kimimaro gripped his bone sword tightly, facing the sweeping Tailed Beast Ball, and suddenly exerted force!

"Azure Dragon Breakthrough!"

Blue chakra entwined, rotated, and turned into a whirlwind on the bone sword.

Then, the whirlwind condensed into an Azure Dragon, appearing behind Kimimaro.

Roar!

A dragon's roar faintly echoed.

The next moment, the Azure Dragon flew out, colliding with the incoming Tailed Beast Ball!

Boom!

The Azure Dragon crashed into the Tailed Beast Ball, and for a moment, a bright white light filled the sky, covering everything, making it impossible to see anything.

Kakashi, Sakura, and Chiyo covered their eyes, unable to open them.

"To have this level of destructive power, it's truly astonishing."

Faced with this scene, Kakashi was shocked.

He finally had a concept of the terror of a Jinchuriki.

When Kushina went to the battlefield before, he didn't have the chance to witness it.

Now he finally knew how terrifying his former teacher's wife was.

And compared to the current Naruto, Kushina was several levels stronger.

But what shocked Kakashi even more was Kimimaro's terrifying strength.

The power unleashed by the Azure Dragon from the sword just now seemed to be no less than the Tailed Beast Ball.

"I wonder if this attack can suppress Kimimaro. If not, it'll be troublesome. Naruto's state must be undone as soon as possible; we absolutely can't let him continue to rampage."

Thinking this in his heart, Kakashi's right hand had already reached into his ninja pouch, taking out a sealing talisman.

This was given to him by Jiraiya, containing extremely strong sealing power, capable of instantly bringing Naruto back to his senses.

But it could only be used once.

Jiraiya gave this to Kakashi just in case, after all, if Naruto completely went berserk, Kakashi, who wasn't proficient in sealing techniques, wouldn't be able to stop him at all.

Just didn't expect to use it so soon.

The white light gradually dissipated, and everyone's vision recovered.

"Naruto!"

Sakura called out worriedly, only to see Naruto lying on the ground, his four tails still intact, seemingly unharmed.

The Azure Dragon Breakthrough and the Tailed Beast Ball perfectly canceled each other out, while Kimimaro was still amidst the lingering smoke and dust.

"Did we win?"

Sakura couldn't help but ask.

And the next moment, the sound from the smoke and dust gave her the answer.

"Binding Spell Thirty! Tri-Headed Mouth Bind!"

Three golden, sharp-beaked beams of light flew out from the smoke and dust, directly locking onto the arms and waist of the Four-Tailed Naruto.

But this wasn't the end.

Another three golden, sharp-beaked beams of light shot out from the smoke and dust!

This time, they bound Naruto's legs and one of his tails!

Immediately after, the final three golden, sharp-beaked beams of light followed, and the remaining three tails were also locked!

In less than a breath's time, the Four-Tailed Naruto was completely sealed to the ground by nine sharp-beaked beams of light, unable to move.

He struggled continuously, and the nine sharp-beaked beams of light loosened slightly.

But to completely break free, it seemed to require a bit more time.

"Naruto!"

Kakashi hurriedly called out.

But at this moment, Naruto had lost consciousness and couldn't respond to him at all.

From the smoke and dust, Kimimaro slowly walked out.

"Not bad techniques, but unfortunately, Naruto hasn't fully mastered his power yet. Such powerful strength is somewhat wasted. If this continues, he'll sooner or later be taken away by the Akatsuki organization."

Sakura and Kakashi stood in front of Naruto.

"As long as we're here, you'll never take Naruto away!"

Kakashi said solemnly, even closing his Sharingan, leaving only his right eye to observe Kimimaro.

He was planning to activate his Mangekyo Sharingan!

Besides this ocular jutsu, Kamui, he didn't know what other techniques he had to deal with Kimimaro.

Kimimaro also saw through Kakashi's thoughts, and he said somewhat regretfully, "It's truly a pity, I currently don't have the ability to take Naruto away. My chakra is exhausted, the game is over. Otherwise, I'd really like to witness your trump card."

"Chakra exhausted?"

Kakashi was taken aback.

He had fought Kimimaro before and knew that the opponent's chakra was extremely vast.

Although the previous exchange was intense, it shouldn't be enough to drain Kimimaro completely.

Who would dare to say their chakra was exhausted before he, Kakashi, was even close to being exhausted?

Simply absurd!

Could it be a feint to lure the enemy?

No, it didn't seem like it.

What reason did Kimimaro have to feign weakness?

While Kakashi was puzzled, the Four-Tailed Naruto roared again.

The golden, sharp-beaked beams of light were almost unable to hold him down.

Seeing Naruto's violent state, Kakashi didn't dare to wait any longer and directly placed the sealing talisman on his forehead.

The next moment, the Nine-Tails chakra on Naruto dispersed, revealing his original appearance.

Although his skin was burned, fortunately, it wasn't for long and wasn't serious.

He panted heavily, looking weakly at Kimimaro not far away.

Having unleashed the power of the Four-Tails, he originally thought that even if he couldn't severely injure the opponent, he should at least be able to inflict some damage.

But unexpectedly, Kimimaro remained calm and composed.

"Naruto, calm down. If you continue like this, we'll not only have to deal with Kimimaro but also with you."

Kakashi hurriedly advised.

"I understand, Kakashi-sensei."

After the outburst, Naruto's anger subsided a bit.

"Naruto, you did well. Unfortunately, your strength is improving too slowly, you can't keep up with Sasuke and Neji at all. Are you really training with your life on the line?"

Kimimaro said coldly.

"You still have the nerve to mention Sasuke and Neji! What did you do to them?!"

"Want to see them? One month later, at Tenchi Bridge. Come and you'll be able to see them. But with your current strength, I'm afraid you'll disappoint them greatly."

Everyone was stunned upon hearing this.

Kimimaro actually revealed Sasuke and Neji's whereabouts so easily?

Was this information true or false?

"Alright, playtime with you guys is over, you can continue forward now. But the opponents ahead are not easy to deal with either. Even if you succeed, all you'll get is the corpse of a Kazekage."

As Kimimaro spoke, his body emitted a burst of white light.

"Bastard! Don't you run!"

Naruto roared and was about to charge forward, but Kakashi stopped him.

"Don't be impulsive, be careful, it might be a trap."

Under the white light, Kimimaro's body didn't disappear.

Soon, the white light started to slowly fade from his feet upwards.

They were all wearing the same clothes, so at first, no one noticed anything unusual.

But it wasn't until the white light on his face dissipated that they were surprised to find that the person in the black and red cloud robe in front of them was no longer the brilliant young man, but an ugly-looking middle-aged man.

At this moment, there was no trace of life on the middle-aged man's face; he was clearly a corpse.

As the white light completely faded, he fell straight to the ground.

"What's going on?"

Everyone was startled again, completely unaware of what had happened.

After confirming that the person was dead, they all went forward to check.

"This person is already dead, and he's not the Kaguya youth from before at all."

After examining the corpse, Granny Chiyo, who had been observing silently, spoke up.

"Could it be that this person was pretending to be Kimimaro and fighting us just now?"

Naruto asked in confusion.

Kakashi shook his head and said, "The Shikotsumyaku power and those strange techniques just now were all Kimimaro's signature moves, definitely not something anyone else could imitate.

This should be some kind of jutsu, projecting his power onto someone else. No wonder Kimimaro said his chakra was running out just now.

He himself should still be far away, using this jutsu can only exert a portion of his strength, and his goal wasn't to defeat us, but just to buy time.

These Akatsuki guys actually use human lives for such things!"

Kakashi frowned slightly, clearly disgusted by this kind of jutsu.

"So, that person just now was indeed Kimimaro. Then what he said about Tenchi Bridge..."

Naruto looked at Sakura.

Sakura's eyes showed a hint of determination.

Whether the news was true or false, they would both definitely go.

"Naruto, we'll go together then."

Sakura said firmly.

"Okay."

Naruto also showed no sign of backing down.

"There's really no stopping you two. In that case, I'll go with you as well. Sasuke is also my student. But for now, let's set off quickly and continue the mission to rescue the Kazekage."

As Kakashi spoke, he pulled down the forehead protector on his left eye, covering the crimson Sharingan.

Kimimaro had already left, so he could save the Kamui he was planning to use.

"Yes! Kakashi-sensei."

The Konoha trio each had their own thoughts, leaving only Chiyo puzzled.

On the other side, in the cave.

As the chakra was exhausted, the Elephant Transformation Technique was released, and the consciousness of Kisame and Kimimaro returned.

"It's truly a pity, that beast's strength surpassed my expectations. Even with just 30% of my chakra, I still couldn't handle him. Those were some heavy punches."

Kisame sighed and touched his cheek, seemingly still able to feel the fierce attacks from earlier.

One Morning Peacock made him re-evaluate Might Guy's strength and not dare to underestimate him anymore.

The opponent had only used the Sixth Gate of the Eight Gates; he didn't know how powerful the remaining two gates were.

But Kisame didn't think he would lose to Guy if he fought with his true body.

Guy was a respectable opponent, but he wasn't a pushover either.

"Next time we fight, I'll definitely drain him dry!"

Kisame believed he could do it.

"The combination of the Copy Ninja, the Puppet Master, and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is not weak either."

Kimimaro, on the other hand, mentioned it casually.

"None of that matters. The purpose of your stalling has been achieved, and in three minutes, the sealing will be complete. Everyone, give it your all!"

"Yes!"

Everyone became serious, and the sealing entered its final stage.

Gaara's screams, which had lasted for about ten episodes, finally ended, and his cold corpse fell limply to the ground.

"It's finally over."

Deidara stretched and showed a hint of fatigue.

Continuously releasing chakra for three days was indeed exhausting.

"Now's not the time to relax, the enemies have already gathered at the cave entrance."

Zetsu said slowly.

"Oh? So the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is here too? Then why not take this opportunity to capture him!"

Deidara became excited.

"Deidara-senpai, I advise you to give up on that idea. I just fought the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, he's very strong. If both your arms were intact and you had enough explosive clay, you might be able to try.

But in your current state, you can't. Not to mention there are other powerful individuals there."

Kimimaro kindly advised, but Deidara didn't appreciate it.

"Brother, that's because you haven't seen me in a while and don't know how strong I am now. I've successfully developed both C4 and C5. I didn't get to use them during the Kazekage capture, so I'll just use these people to practice."

Seeing Deidara's confidence, Kimimaro didn't say anything more.

Some people were just like that, impossible to persuade.

Everyone has to take their own detours in life.

"Alright, this sealing is concluded. Kimimaro, go capture the Two-Tails as soon as possible."

Pain looked at Kimimaro.

"Yes, leader."

"Deidara, Sasori, I'll leave those people outside the cave entrance to you. If you can't win, retreat first, there's no rush to capture the Nine-Tails."

"Leader, don't worry, I guarantee I'll capture the Nine-Tails!"

Deidara remained confident.

Pain didn't respond, just said, "The Five-Seal Barrier at the entrance isn't easy to break, use this time to recover your chakra."

After saying that, Pain's illusion disappeared.

The illusions of the others also vanished one by one, leaving only Kimimaro.

"Deidara-senpai, Sasori-senpai, don't die too carelessly."

After Kimimaro finished speaking, his illusion dispersed.

"Sasori-danna, it seems like Kimimaro underestimated us. This time, we have to prove ourselves to him."

Deidara said, somewhat不服气.

"Prepare for battle."

Sasori, however, had no desire to chat and replied coldly.

"Sasori-danna, you wouldn't happen to be nervous, would you?"

Noticing Sasori's unusual behavior, Deidara asked in surprise.

"Shut up, or I'll poison you into silence!"

Deidara quickly shut his mouth.

"Fine, fine, I won't say anything. I'll go recover my chakra on my own."

Muttering to himself, Deidara sat aside to rest.

Hidden within Hiruko, Sasori looked towards the cave entrance blocked by the boulder.

Outside the entrance was his only living relative in this world.

After a reunion spanning over a decade, his feelings at this moment were indeed somewhat complex.

Hundreds of miles away, Kimimaro's consciousness returned to his body.

"Boss, you're finally back. Was the sealing successful?"

The bored Suigetsu immediately approached and asked as he saw Kimimaro return.

"It went fine."

Kimimaro replied, standing up.

"Let's go, it's time for the real work."

"What real work?"

Suigetsu asked, puzzled.

"Protecting my newly born mecha and the materials for creating artificial humans. If these things are lost, there won't be a second set in the ninja world."

"Huh? What are those things?"

Suigetsu became even more confused

end.

**Chapter 220:The Artificial Human Project

Kimimaro and Suigetsu were rushing toward the battlefield.

Meanwhile, the fight had already begun.

Guy’s team had lost Neji, but for this mission, Hinata had taken his place. Thanks to her abilities, locating the remaining four tags of the Five-Seal Barrier wasn’t difficult.

To break the barrier, the entire Guy team acted together, leaving Kakashi's team to guard the rear.

When the barrier fell, Deidara led Naruto and Kakashi away by using Gaara's lifeless body as bait. Simultaneously, Sasori faced Chiyo and Sakura in a ferocious battle.

 A Clash of Puppeteers

This wasn’t just a fight—it was the last great battle of puppeteers in the ninja world.

Unlike the original timeline, Chiyo and Sakura had already consumed significant energy in an earlier clash with Kimimaro. Sakura had lost only stamina, but Chiyo’s Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu were down to seven, reducing their combat power.

Sasori hadn’t fared much better. Over the last two years, he had been focused on helping Kimimaro research "mechas." While Sasori had made progress, his own skills had stagnated. Both sides were weakened, resulting in an evenly matched struggle.

Even in their diminished states, Chiyo and Sasori demonstrated their mastery of puppetry, far surpassing Kankuro, Sasori’s successor. Kankuro, despite being a jonin, relied heavily on puppets Sasori had created as a teenager—a point of contention among seasoned puppeteers.

As the battle approached its climax, Chiyo addressed her grandson.

“Sasori, my dear grandson, you’ve strayed far from the path.”

Her voice carried a mix of disappointment and longing.

“Heh. Chiyo-baa, it’s your puppetry that’s outdated. I was this close to creating the ultimate puppet that could change our fate forever. Pity you’ll die here and never witness my masterpiece!” Sasori’s manic laughter echoed, making him seem unhinged.

Chiyo felt a pang of curiosity about Sasori's so-called masterpiece. However, this wasn’t the time for speculation.

"Sakura, prepare yourself. The next move will decide everything."

"Understood!" Sakura clenched her fists, her resolve unwavering.

“I must survive. I need to see Sasuke again!” she thought, her determination igniting.

Sakura charged through the sea of puppets surrounding Sasori. Any puppet in her way was obliterated by her iron fists, while Chiyo’s remaining puppets intercepted those she missed.

The battle was grueling, but Sakura edged closer to Sasori.

 The Arrival of Kimimaro

Elsewhere, Suigetsu struggled to keep up with Kimimaro.

“Boss, can’t we take a break? I’m about to drop dead here!”

“Your stamina is as poor as ever. We need to work on your endurance training,” Kimimaro replied, unimpressed.

“It’s not me—it’s you! Who even travels at this speed?!” Suigetsu huffed.

Kimimaro shook his head, dismissing Suigetsu’s complaints. Activating his Byakugan, he scanned five kilometers ahead.

“It’s nearing its conclusion,” he murmured.

In the battle, Sasori’s core had been exposed. Kimimaro smirked. “He hasn’t made any real progress.”

He turned to Suigetsu. “You rest here. I’m going ahead.”

“Wait, Boss—!” Before Suigetsu could finish, Kimimaro disappeared.

Back on the battlefield, Sakura and Chiyo had seemingly emerged victorious. Sasori's body was immobilized, his core sealed.

“Have we won?” Sakura panted, utterly exhausted.

But Chiyo’s sharp instincts warned her of danger.

“Sakura! Behind you!”

Sakura turned to see another puppet, with Sasori’s core attached, poised to strike.

“Damn it!” she thought, frozen in panic.

The blade came down, but before it could strike, Chiyo’s discarded puppets, "Father" and "Mother," intervened. Their blades aimed for Sasori's core, simulating a familial embrace—the very love Sasori had yearned for but never received.

For a moment, Sasori hesitated, his emotions betraying him. The blades closed in.

Suddenly, a white substance erupted from Sasori’s core, shielding it from harm. The attack failed, and the puppet fragments fell lifelessly to the ground.

Chiyo and Sakura stared in disbelief.

“Close call, wasn’t it, Sasori?” Kimimaro’s voice broke the silence. Perched atop a boulder, he looked down on the scene.

“Kimimaro? What are you doing here?” Sasori’s small frame turned toward him, confused.

“Just spectating. But really, Sasori, letting that attack hit you? Were you trying to die?”

“Was this your doing?” Sasori gestured to the white material protecting his core.

“Yep. That’s a ‘bone shield’ I installed in your core as a failsafe. Remember when I said your core was too exposed? I fixed that. Looks great, doesn’t it?” Kimimaro smirked.

Sasori glared. “Who told you to tamper with my designs?! It’s hideous!”

Kimimaro laughed. “You’re welcome.”

 An Unlikely Truce

Despite his anger, Sasori acknowledged his loss. "You’ve won. Leave."

Chiyo and Sakura were stunned. They hadn’t expected mercy.

Sasori explained, “I lost. If not for Kimimaro’s interference, I would’ve died. Go.”

Chiyo and Sakura exchanged glances before retreating. As they left, Chiyo whispered, “Sasori, my grandson, choose your own path.”

Kimimaro turned to Sasori, teasing, “Touched, aren’t you?”

“Shut up!” Sasori snapped.

As night fell, Zetsu reported to Tobi.

“Deidara failed to capture the Nine-Tails, but he escaped. Sasori nearly died but was saved by Kimimaro.”

Tobi smirked. “Interesting. Sasori losing to Chiyo—she must still be formidable. As for the Nine-Tails, it doesn’t matter. Everything proceeds according to plan.”

Kimimaro looked at the battlefield littered with hundreds of shattered puppet fragments, feeling a headache coming on.

"At the rate of fixing three to four puppets a day, it would take at least three months," he muttered.

Being a puppeteer was nothing short of a hassle.

Sasori raised an eyebrow as he surveyed the scene.

"It’s not just the time—there’s also the money. This is going to be expensive."

"Senior Sasori," Kimimaro said with a faint smile, "since we have so many parts lying around, why not consider my cyborg plan? I guarantee it’ll make you stronger than you are now."

"Cyborg plan? What’s that?" Sasori asked, intrigued.

"It’s a long story. Let’s gather these pieces first and talk about it later. I also want to see how your mech project is coming along."

"Fine."

Sasori was about to start cleaning up the puppet debris when Kimimaro stopped him.

"Don’t rush, Senior Sasori. Someone very good at cleaning is on their way."

"Who?"

"Boss! I’ve finally caught up to you!"

At that moment, Suigetsu appeared, panting heavily as he reached the battlefield.

"Him," Kimimaro said, flashing a faint smile as he looked at Suigetsu.

Suigetsu shivered instinctively.

"Why do I feel like something bad is about to happen?"

He had a sinking feeling, but it was already too late.

Night had fallen. Zetsu appeared before Obito.

"How did it go?"

Obito sat on the edge of a cliff, not turning to face him. "Deidara failed to capture the Nine-Tails but managed to escape. Sasori almost died at Chiyo’s hands but was saved thanks to Kimimaro's timely intervention. In the end, he let Chiyo and Sakura go."

Zetsu provided a detailed account of the battle.

"Failing to capture the Nine-Tails was expected," Obito said calmly. "But I didn’t expect Sasori to lose to an old woman and a young girl. It seems Chiyo, despite her age, still has considerable skill. She’s someone to watch out for in the future."

"No need for that," Zetsu replied.

"Oh? Why not?"

"She’s dead."

"Dead?"

"Chiyo used Sand Village’s forbidden technique, Reanimation Sacrifice, to revive Gaara at the cost of her own life."

"Interesting," Obito said with a cold chuckle. "I didn’t think someone as selfish as Chiyo would choose to sacrifice herself to save the Kazekage at the end of her life. A pointless act of conscience."

"So, what’s next?" Zetsu asked.

"With no casualties on our side, this is the best outcome. Whether the Kazekage lives or dies doesn’t affect our plans. Push Kimimaro to capture the Two-Tails Jinchūriki as soon as possible. As for the Three-Tails’ location, you must find it within a month."

"Understood!"

Zetsu quickly complied.

The Obito of today was no longer the naive boy he once was. Now, he carried the demeanor of a true mastermind, and Zetsu dared not act as casually as before.

To fool others, one must first fool oneself.

"By the way," Zetsu suddenly added, "Kimimaro seems a bit off. He’s been interacting with Nagato a lot these past two years. Could they be hiding something?"

"As long as the Tailed Beasts aren’t all gathered, they’re just useful tools," Obito said dismissively. "What secrets could they have? Didn’t you say that Madara left a backup plan in Nagato? He’s a puppet through and through. What’s there to worry about?"

"True. I was overthinking it." Zetsu nodded in agreement.