Though Kabuto and his group had changed their hideout, they knew the Akatsuki's methods would likely track them down. Following Orochimaru's instructions, they didn't act but patiently awaited contact from the Akatsuki.
Unexpectedly, shortly after Guren's return, two Akatsuki members found them.
Seeing the two figures in red-cloud cloaks and masks, Guren's expression turned grim.
She knew they must have tracked her.
Despite erasing all traces and staying vigilant against being followed, she couldn't fathom how they had managed it!
Kabuto, meanwhile, studied the two Akatsuki members, his gaze lingering on their masks.
One has a dragon pattern, the other a blood pattern—never seen or heard of before. New Akatsuki members?
His suspicion grew, making him even more cautious.
The precision of their timing suggested not only were their movements monitored, but the Akatsuki likely had eyes in Hidden Leaf as well.
Ryuzetsu, disguised with an altered appearance and voice, glanced at Kabuto's group. Following Shinji's instructions through Jikibi, she asked, "What's Orochimaru's response?"
Kabuto pushed up his glasses. "Orochimaru-sama is willing to cooperate, but only he knows how to break the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. Your side must first rescue him before we can complete the deal."
As expected…
Shinji, connected to Ryuzetsu via Jikibi, thought to himself.
He knew that giving Orochimaru such an opportunity without him seizing it wouldn't be true to his nature.
After a moment's thought, Shinji sent another instruction through Jikibi.
Following Shinji's orders, Ryuzetsu looked at Kabuto and said flatly, "Wait."
Without further words, she and Chino turned and left.
Guren was stunned. "They just… left?"
Jūgo, equally surprised, looked to Kabuto.
Kabuto pondered before saying slowly, "The Akatsuki likely agreed to Orochimaru-sama's terms."
Jūgo questioned, "But they didn't agree to anything?"
Kabuto replied, "That 'wait' was their answer. Next, they'll probably start planning Orochimaru-sama's rescue."
Guren, still puzzled, asked, "They didn't set any conditions. Aren't they worried Orochimaru-sama will back out after escaping?"
Kabuto gave a wry smile and shook his head.
If they had set conditions, he might have schemed, but their lack of demands—showing no fear of Orochimaru reneging—made him wary of plotting.
Hidden Leaf Village.
After confirming Ryuzetsu and Chino had safely returned to the village without being followed, Shinji disconnected Jikibi.
He then activated Takamagahara again.
With Sasuke having just interrogated Orochimaru, rescuing him immediately would raise suspicions among the village's higher-ups. Shinji planned to wait a couple of days to lay the groundwork.
Entering Takamagahara, Shinji snapped his fingers, and an opponent materialized before him.
If Sasuke were here, he'd recognize the figure as none other than his brother, Uchiha Itachi.
Huff.
Exhaling, Shinji charged, engaging the virtual Itachi in combat.
This wasn't his first clash with Itachi. In their previous three encounters, Shinji had won each time.
But he wasn't satisfied and fought with even greater intensity.
Most assumed Itachi was a technical shinobi, but only those who faced him knew his taijutsu was as exceptional as his genjutsu and ninjutsu. Itachi often resolved conflicts with his Sharingan, so his taijutsu prowess was rarely showcased.
Shinji, slightly weaker in genjutsu but top-tier in taijutsu and ninjutsu, combined with the Six-Tomoe Rinnegan's resistance to illusions, had few weaknesses. As long as he fought steadily, defeating the virtual Itachi wasn't difficult.
However, he knew the Itachi in Takamagahara was a projection of his dojutsu, and Takamagahara couldn't simulate artifacts like the Totsuka Blade or forbidden techniques like Izanami. Thus, fighting this Itachi was more about familiarizing himself with Itachi's tactical style.
After a long session, Shinji exited Takamagahara.
Instantly, his forehead and back were covered in a fine layer of sweat.
This was a natural reaction after his spirit returned to his body, caused by the accelerated time flow in Takamagahara overtaxing his spirit. Upon reintegrating, his body mirrored the strain.
Standing and stretching, Shinji smiled.
Though exhausting, the gains were substantial.
Each sweat-drenched session brought a refreshing sense of mastery over his power, as both his spirit and body became more responsive and precise.
Compared to real-world combat, training in Takamagahara is practically a cheat code…
Shinji chuckled, then his expression turned serious.
Takamagahara had its flaws, with varying realism in simulated opponents. Over-reliance could lead to a disastrous misstep, so Shinji used it to hone himself, not to target specific enemies.
After a moment, the sweat dissipated, and Shinji returned to normal.
"At this rate, it won't take long to achieve a high level of control over my Six-Tomoe Rinnegan!"
Shinji had grasped the key.
Simply grinding time to improve control was inefficient; a solid foundation was crucial.
Take Nagato—his Rinnegan was transplanted, and his Uzumaki sage body only barely qualified him to wield it. Further mastery was beyond him, which was why, in the original timeline, he never unlocked Limbo: Border Jail until his death.
Shinji's situation was far better. From Mangekyo Sharingan to Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan to awakening the Rinnegan, each step was his own. Only the Six-Tomoe Rinnegan, forcibly enhanced by Mumei's Yachihoko, had caused his control to plummet.