In the Land of Rice, Yahiko led Black Zetsu through the dense forests, the air thick with the scent of war. The Akatsuki had now split into several factions, each moving towards different battlefronts, hunting for the tailed beasts roaming the world. Their targets, for now, were only the wild ones—those not yet bound to the shinobi villages.
So far, they had already captured the reborn One-Tail and the Three-Tails that wandered freely. In his pursuit of power, Yahiko had taken the risk of sealing the Three-Tails within himself. The idealistic young man who once sought peace had been replaced by someone more ruthless, someone who had realized that true change required force.
If gathering all nine tailed beasts could forge a power strong enough to unify the world, then Yahiko would be the one to wield it.
Now, he stood in what was once the Valley of the End, staring at the vast forest that stretched beyond. His gaze held a flicker of confusion.
"The Valley of the End... I've been here before," Yahiko murmured.
Jiraiya had once brought him here. He remembered it clearly. But something felt different now.
Hidden beneath the ground, Black Zetsu's expression darkened. It dared not reveal that the valley had been altered by Uchiha Shin. If Yahiko learned the truth, it could shake his newly found confidence. For now, Black Zetsu still needed him to fulfill its own ambitions.
As Yahiko continued forward, Black Zetsu followed silently, cautious not to interrupt his thoughts. Their current mission was not just about seeking power—they were here to establish contact with the Kara organization.
Akatsuki's influence had spread across the world, but the emergence of Kara as a new faction wielding scientific ninja tools was an unforeseen complication. Yahiko knew that forming an alliance, or at least understanding their technology, was necessary.
Soon, a shadow covered the sky. A fleet of massive airborne warships descended, the insignia of Kara and the Sky Ninja Clan emblazoned on them.
From above, a man dropped to the ground with calculated precision. He wore a deep hood, concealing sharp features beneath. Yahiko observed him with cold curiosity.
"Are you the leader of Kara?" Yahiko asked.
The man shook his head, a smirk playing at his lips. "No. I am Shen, one of the high-ranking officers. I am here to speak on their behalf."
Yahiko's expression soured instantly. Akatsuki was a force to be reckoned with, and yet Kara had only sent a subordinate to meet him. It was a blatant sign of disrespect.
On the other side, Shen sized up Yahiko, his eyes gleaming with condescension. So this was the leader of the infamous Akatsuki? Just a boy.
Once, Shen had been nothing more than a bitter remnant of the fallen Sky Ninja Clan, but now he stood as a senior executive of Kara. His goal remained unchanged: vengeance against the shinobi world, particularly the Land of Fire, for crushing his people.
The tense exchange was soon interrupted.
"You shouldn't have come here."
A voice, calm yet filled with overwhelming dominance, echoed across the battlefield.
Yahiko and Shen turned in unison, their muscles tensing as they spotted the figure hovering above them.
Uchiha Shin.
Their blood ran cold.
The intelligence had been wrong—completely, utterly wrong. They had been told that Shin had disappeared. It had been a lie. A carefully crafted deception meant to lull them into complacency. And now, here he was, standing above them with those piercing blue Rinnegan eyes, as if looking down on insects.
"Damn those informants," Shen thought bitterly. His fists clenched.
Yahiko's mind raced. This wasn't the time to retreat, but engaging Uchiha Shin without preparation was a death sentence.
And then, Shin's gaze lowered to the ground.
"My dear son, Black Zetsu… you can stop hiding now."
Black Zetsu, who had been lurking beneath the earth, froze. Every instinct screamed at it to flee, but something—something in Shin's voice—paralyzed it.
It was the scent. The unmistakable presence of its 'mother.'
Otsutsuki Kaguya.
Uchiha Shin chuckled, watching Black Zetsu hesitate. "Confused? Don't worry. I have plenty of time to educate you."
Shennong, seizing the moment, barked orders into his radio.
"Open fire!"
The air ninja warships responded immediately, unleashing a storm of cannon fire and chakra-based artillery toward Shin. The firepower was immense, capable of leveling an entire battlefield.
But Shin barely reacted. His expression remained one of disinterest.
"Shinra Tensei."
With a flick of his wrist, a colossal repulsive force erupted from his palm. The very air trembled, and in an instant, the entire sky ninja fleet was obliterated. The ships cracked, crumbled, and exploded into flaming debris. Soldiers screamed as they were torn apart mid-air.
Blood rained down like a crimson storm.
Yahiko and Shen barely managed to stabilize themselves, struggling against the sheer force of Shin's casual attack.
The earth itself had been upturned, revealing Black Zetsu trembling amidst the wreckage.
Shin reached out his hand.
"Banshō Ten'in."
A powerful gravitational force pulled Black Zetsu toward him, leaving it helpless. It writhed but could not resist, like a mere piece of clay in Shin's grip.
Invisible to the others, Otsutsuki Kaguya watched silently, her face devoid of emotion. This creature had once been her tool, her creation. But now, it was nothing more than an afterthought.
"Damn you!!!"
The voice came from above.
As the dust settled, Yahiko and Shen emerged from the remains of a massive earth sphere. Yahiko's body was cloaked in a crimson aura, three tails lashing violently behind him. His skin was cracked with dark seals—his incomplete mastery over the Three-Tails' chakra evident.
Beside him, Shen's muscles swelled unnaturally, his body engulfed in a sickly black mist. His eyes gleamed with manic arrogance.
"Hahaha! My Body Revival Technique makes me immortal! You can't kill me!"
Shin barely raised an eyebrow. He had seen many who thought themselves invincible.
The fool was drawing power from Zero-Tails.
Pathetic.
"Let's test that theory."
Shin's fingers twitched, and the battlefield was once again consumed by chaos
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