After hearing Kabuto's words, Shinju understood immediately.
So... the enemy of my enemy is a friend, huh?
"Apologies, but I'll have to trouble you, Shinju, and the two ninjas from Iwagakure to stay inside the formation for a while longer."
"In just a few more hours, Akatsuki's extraction of the Tailed Beast should be complete."
Kabuto spoke with obvious satisfaction.
When technology reaches a certain level, ninjutsu becomes insignificant.
He seemed to believe he had discovered the path to humanity's next evolution!
...
Inside the formation, Shinju held up an Ice Shield, protecting himself along with Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi.
After exchanging a glance, the two Iwagakure ninja moved simultaneously!
Once their hand seals were completed, they shouted together, "Earth Release: Earth and Stone Bamboo Shoot!!"
Crack!!
The ground split open, and sharp stone spikes shot upward like bamboo shoots bursting through the soil!
But... they only barely poked out of the ground!
Kurotsuchi, Akatsuchi: (꒪⌓꒪) ⊙▽⊙
Their jutsu weren't that weak—definitely not this bad!
Outside the formation, Kabuto grinned with delight.
"I told you already, didn't I? The rain causes your chakra to drain rapidly."
Kurotsuchi frowned. "But we didn't even touch the rain!"
Shinju explained calmly,
"When you used Earth Release, your chakra flowed into the ground. But this whole area has already been soaked through with that potion-laced rain."
Kurotsuchi's eyes widened. (´°Δ°`)
She quickly asked, "Right, Shinju, you know Flying Thunder God, don't you? Can't you teleport us out of here?"
Shinju shook his head.
"I've already tried—it's no use. My mastery of Flying Thunder God isn't exactly a secret. They must have set up a barrier specifically to counter it."
Kurotsuchi's expression darkened.
"So, in this formation, Akatsuchi and I can't use our Earth Release properly, and your Wood Release is heavily restricted too..."
"In other words, we're stuck here, aren't we? (°A°`)"
Akatsuchi suddenly realized something and said,
"And that rain makes our chakra drain even faster. When the formation finally disperses, we'll be completely exhausted. (°ー°〃)"
Hearing their conversation inside the barrier, Kabuto chuckled cheerfully.
"Exactly. (´つヮ⊂︎)"
"If Akatsuki finishes extracting the Tailed Beast before you make it out..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but Shinju understood perfectly.
Once the extraction was complete, Akatsuki's members would come to support Kabuto.
By then, Shinju's group—crippled by the potion rain and drained of chakra—would be helpless.
That would be their perfect chance to wipe him out!
"You've thought this out well," Shinju said lightly.
"But unfortunately for you, Wood Release isn't my only ability. (ﾉ∇︎〃 )"
As he spoke, Shinju's eyes turned blood-red, and the pattern of a Mangekyō Sharingan bloomed in his pupils.
With a thunderous boom!!, a massive green aura erupted from his body—veins, skeletal frame, and energy structure forming in the air.
A towering Susanoo appeared.
The green armored deity held a spiral sword and had great wings unfurled behind its back, its presence awe-inspiring!
Kurotsuchi stared, wide-eyed. (´◊ω◊｀)
That's... that's the legendary Susanoo!!
A deep sense of safety washed over her.
"Whoosh!"
Shinju, within the Susanoo, raised the giant's arm. The green warrior lifted its spiral sword high.
Vmmm—
The sword began spinning rapidly!
But Shinju wasn't satisfied. His eyes narrowed. "Amaterasu!!"
In an instant, black flames burst forth—covering the blade of the spiral sword entirely!
Whoosh—!
The giant deity swung its burning sword downward!
The black fire of Amaterasu wrapped around the spinning spiral blade, forming what looked like a massive black spear that struck the barrier with unstoppable force!
Crack!
With a clear, sharp sound, the barrier shattered!
After that, Shinju guided his green Susanoo to lower its hand, letting Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi jump aboard.
Without even glancing at the stunned Kabuto in his cloak, Shinju made Susanoo flap its colossal wings and soared into the sky.
Kurotsuchi looked anxious. "Shinju, aren't we going to kill that guy in the cloak? He's working with Akatsuki!"
Within Susanoo, Shinju shook his head.
"That's not his real body. I'm not wasting time on that."
"We've already lost too much time. We need to find the Five-Tails before it's too late..."
As he spoke, Susanoo's wings beat even faster.
In the giant god's palm, Kurotsuchi looked down at the rapidly passing landscape, her eyes sparkling.
"Wow, this is so cool! Shinju's totally mastered every possible way to move fast! (´◊ω◊｀)"
Beside her, Akatsuchi nodded in awe.
"Yeah... forget the flying Susanoo and Flying Thunder God—just that iron bird he drew was faster than anything we've got in the village."
"If the village could mass-produce those ninja tools, they'd be a huge help for future emergency missions."
Kurotsuchi nodded eagerly.
"Shinju gave me one Drawing Scroll. Once we get back, I'll ask Grandpa to test it. If it really works, we can buy a few more from him! ❛‿˂̵✧"
Shinju smiled faintly inside Susanoo, quite pleased with their conversation.
If they weren't already close to their destination, he wouldn't have interrupted them.
"We're here," Shinju said.
Then, Susanoo's massive wings folded as it descended slowly to the ground.
This was the second-to-last base—hidden deep within the mountains and, once again, completely unguarded.
Not wanting to waste time, Shinju made the giant raise its spiral sword and thrust it straight at the base's gate!
Boom!!
The entire entrance exploded open, leaving a gaping hole!
Drawing back the sword, Shinju looked through the opening to see what was inside.
Upon the massive Ten Fingers Stone Statue stood projections of the Masked Man, Kisame, and Konan. Only Sasori's true body was physically present.
The moment Sasori saw Shinju burst through the door, one thought flashed through his mind—I'm done for.
The Masked Man, standing atop the statue's thumb, said calmly,
"Just one last step left. Sasori, hold him off."
Sasori: 〒_〒
Are you overestimating me a little...?
That huge monster—how the hell am I supposed to stop it?! (꒪⌓꒪)
As expected, right after the Masked Man finished speaking, the green deity hurled its spiral sword again!
Swoosh!
But instead of piercing Sasori's core as one might expect, the sword only destroyed his puppet body.
When Shinju had visited Sunagakure last time, Gaara had treated him with great respect and gifted him a pile of valuable herbs.
Remembering Gaara's kindness, Shinju decided to spare Sasori's life.
After all, while Sasori's combat ability wasn't impressive, his mastery of puppetry was unmatched.
If Sunagakure got their hands on Sasori again, there'd definitely be benefits waiting for Shinju in return.
When Sasori's puppet body shattered, his real core was exposed.
Shinju took out a large medical jar from his summoning scroll, tossed it to Kurotsuchi, and gestured for her to seal Sasori's core inside it.
After that, Shinju turned toward the depths of the cave.
From inside Han's body, the Tailed Beast chakra was still being continuously extracted...