Chapter 83:
"This should be the place..."
Staring at the cave in front of him, Sasuke carefully surveyed the surroundings.
At first, Team Taka hadn't uncovered even a shred of intel on the Umbrella Organization. Just when Sasuke was about to give up and turn his focus to the Ōtsutsuki, the Umbrella Organization unexpectedly slipped up and exposed itself.
Even if it might be a trap, Sasuke was determined to investigate. Beyond his confidence in his own strength, it was also due to the seriousness with which he viewed the Umbrella Organization.
"Sasuke, look over here!"
Karin called out while pressing a button, causing an elevator to slowly rise.
"This really feels like a trap waiting for us inside. Are we really going in?" Suigetsu asked, pointing to the now-open elevator door.
But Sasuke was already walking in without saying a word, with Jūgo following closely behind.
"Idiot Suigetsu, stay out here if you're scared," Karin said as she followed them inside.
"Hey! Wait for me!"
Inside the elevator, a dim blue light illuminated the space. Once all four of them were inside, the elevator began descending slowly. At the same time, a hanging screen started playing clips related to the Umbrella Organization.
Commitment, integrity, and honesty—these were the founding tenets of the Umbrella Organization. The organization aspired to create a world where everyone could become a dragon...
As the promotional video concluded, the elevator came to a gradual stop. With a soft chime, the door slid open. No reminders were needed—Sasuke and his team instinctively raised their guard thanks to their honed battle instincts.
"Is this... a room?"
The elevator had brought them to what appeared to be a room.
Jūgo, in the front, was the first to step out cautiously, with Karin following right behind him.
A TV with no signal was on, flickering with static.
Outside the windows, the sky was dark and heavy with rain.
"Aren't we supposed to be underground?" Suigetsu asked curiously as he looked around.
This doesn't seem like a genjutsu… Is it some kind of space-time ninjutsu? Sasuke frowned, realizing that things were far from simple.
"Sasuke, look over here."
Karin's voice caught Sasuke's attention. Inside a cabinet were four strange ninja tools and forty small scrolls.
"These are... scientific ninja tools!"
In Sasuke's mind, only Konoha's Katasuke was currently working on scientific ninja tools. So why were they appearing here?
"Sasuke, there's a map over here too."
Jūgo, with his usual simple honesty, called out as he made a new discovery.
Sasuke examined the map on the wall. After confirming their current location through Karin's sensory abilities, his gaze was drawn to a marked spot on the map.
The Umbrella Corporation—right in the center of the map.
Sasuke was convinced there was an inseparable connection between the Umbrella Organization and the Umbrella Corporation.
Just then, the wall with the map suddenly shattered from an impact. Sasuke quickly leapt back, avoiding harm, but the map was buried under the rubble.
"What the hell is that..."
In front of them stood a nearly three-meter-tall humanoid creature, pitch-black and slick-skinned. Karin instinctively stepped back at the sight.
This was a defective creation Orochimaru had developed using research on the Hulk. Though it didn't inherit the Hulk's powerful offense or defense, it retained its incredible regenerative ability. Shunhi had named it the "Pursuer."
As long as it wasn't dead, it would relentlessly chase its target.
"Who are you?!"
Instead of attacking immediately, Sasuke tried questioning the creature. But all he got in return was a beast-like roar.
"Completely feral... No intelligence. Looks like there's no useful information to be had from you. Amaterasu!"
Black flames ignited on the Pursuer's body, but rather than injuring it, the flames only made it roar louder. As it charged at them, still burning, Sasuke's team scattered.
"Not even Amaterasu can kill this thing? What the hell is it?" Suigetsu exclaimed, instinctively transforming into a puddle of water and hiding behind Jūgo.
"The enemy's only advantage is its tenacity..." After dodging the creature's charge, Sasuke instantly analyzed the situation.
He body-flickered behind the Pursuer, drew his longsword, and channeled lightning chakra through the blade before slashing at the creature's neck. The Pursuer's head was severed before it could react. It wobbled for a moment before collapsing to the ground.
No matter how tough it was, losing its head meant death.
"Sasuke, what should we do next?"
Karin stepped forward, still watching the headless Pursuer warily, worried that it might spring back to life.
Even though Sasuke had taken it down easily, the sight had left Karin rattled.
"We're heading to the Umbrella Corporation. We need to figure out exactly what this place is and what's going on here."
Sasuke had no intention of backing down now.
As he spoke, he walked to the door and reached out to open it.
Just as he pushed the door open, a thin figure suddenly lunged at him, tackling him to the ground. Its bald head leaned down, drool dripping onto Sasuke's face. The stench of its breath made him gag as it extended its long tongue, aiming for his face.
This was another of Orochimaru's experimental creations—a speed-enhanced clone. Shunhi had altered its appearance and repurposed it as cannon fodder, calling it the "Licker."
Because of the rain muffling all sound, Sasuke hadn't detected its presence just outside the door.
"Sasuke!"
Karin cried out in alarm as Suigetsu darted over. He formed his hand into the shape of a gun and pointed it at the Licker's head. "Water Style: Water Gun Technique!"
A high-pressure stream shot from Suigetsu's fingertip like a bullet, piercing straight through the Licker's skull. It collapsed limply onto Sasuke's chest.
"Sasuke, are you alright?" Karin rushed over to help him up, then turned and snapped at Suigetsu. "Hey, Suigetsu! What are you standing there for? Hurry up and clean Sasuke's clothes! Can't you see how dirty he is?!"
"What?! You crazy hag! My Water Style isn't meant for laundry!"
Sasuke ignored the bickering between Suigetsu and Karin. Instead, he stared pensively at the Licker's corpse lying at his feet.
What exactly had happened in this place? And how many more monsters was the Umbrella Organization hiding?
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