Chapter 244:
Umbrella Underground Base, Orochimaru's Private Laboratory
"Orochimaru-sama, what are we researching next?"
Kabuto asked respectfully, his demeanor unchanged despite being from the Hidden Leaf Village while Orochimaru was now affiliated with S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Before we begin, Kabuto, do you know about zombies?"
Orochimaru asked with a smile as he looked at Kabuto.
"Zombies? You mean S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Bio-Ghoul Project?"
Of course Kabuto was familiar with zombies—after all, he and Tsunade had been researching them back in the village.
"More precisely, it's Umbrella's Bio-Ghoul Project."
Orochimaru shook his head and spoke while pressing a button. A screen hanging on the wall lit up and began playing a video.
"...Apologies, Orochimaru-sama, but I don't really see the point of researching this stuff."
"Because it's fascinating, Kabuto. The more you research, the more you realize how small you really are..." Orochimaru said with an evil grin. "Anyway, our research target is this."
---
Outskirts of the Hidden Leaf Village
"Shikamaru?! What are you doing?!"
Kankuro arrived with Kitsuchi and Killer Bee, staring in disbelief at the scene before him.
"Uncle Kankuro! Help me! My dad's been taken over by S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
Inojin struggled to speak, restrained by Shikamaru's Shadow Possession Jutsu.
"What?!" Kankuro turned to Shikamaru with a sharp gaze and immediately unfurled a scroll to summon a puppet. "Sorry, Shikamaru."
"So these are his allies..."
Shikamaru glanced at Kankuro, Kitsuchi, and Killer Bee, muttering to himself as he pulled a shuriken from his ninja tool pouch.
"Shadow Possession Shuriken!"
He infused chakra into the shuriken and hurled it at Killer Bee.
"Yo, an attack like that'll never land on the great me..."
Killer Bee knocked the shuriken away with his longsword and broke into an impromptu rap.
"Shadow Gathering Technique!"
The shadow morphed into fine puppet-like strings that redirected the shuriken, circling around to strike the shadow beneath Killer Bee.
"My body... won't move..."
Killer Bee said stiffly.
"Bee, you idiot. That was careless. Looks like you'll have to rely on me again."
Gyuki, the Eight-Tails inside Killer Bee, spoke up as red bubbles began to rise from Bee's body.
"Eight-Tails! Wait—aren't you guys liquid-state androids?!"
While restraining Inojin, Shikamaru used his shadow tentacles to interfere with Kurotsuchi and Kankuro, suddenly blurting out the question.
"Liquid-state androids?"
Seeing that Shikamaru was gradually losing the will to fight, Kankuro stayed on alert with his puppets as he questioned him.
"They're scientific ninja tools that can perfectly mimic any person..."
"Uncle Kankuro, be careful! My dad might ambush you!"
Inojin cried out anxiously.
Kankuro, a seasoned ninja, was naturally wary of such diversion tactics.
"Kankuro, I haven't been taken over. It's Inojin who's the liquid-state android in disguise. Kill him, and the truth will be clear."
"So what do we do now?"
Kitsuchi scratched the back of his head, looking back and forth between Shikamaru and Inojin, who each claimed the other was a fake.
"Honestly, I've got a headache just thinking about it."
Kankuro glanced at both of them and sighed.
"Let's wait. I think Naruto should be on his way soon, since he must've sensed the Eight-Tails."
Shikamaru said calmly.
"Naruto?!" Killer Bee perked up. "Is Naruto okay?"
"Yeah."
Shikamaru nodded, and just as he finished speaking, a yellow blur appeared in front of him.
"Shikamaru, I just sensed the presence of the Eight-Tails—"
"Naruto!"
Seeing Naruto arrive, Killer Bee was visibly moved.
"Killer Bee! It really is you!"
Naruto looked at Bee, his expression full of relief.
"So that means... Inojin must be the fake."
Kankuro said, turning to look at Inojin.
"Yeah." Naruto also looked at the Inojin caught in Shikamaru's shadow jutsu. "The real Inojin is still with the others."
---
"Lord Hokage is back!"
Mirai Sarutobi called out as soon as she spotted Naruto returning.
"It looks like he's not alone—Shikamaru, Kankuro, Kitsuchi, and Killer Bee are with him."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "I see. They confirmed Killer Bee's identity because Tailed Beasts can sense each other."
"Uncle Kankuro!"
Inojin called out happily as soon as he saw Kankuro.
In truth, he and Kankuro had always had a good relationship. When Inojin was little, Kankuro often made harmless puppet toys for him to play with.
"Inojin, long time no see."
Elsewhere, Naruto pulled Shikamaru aside.
"Sorry, Shikamaru. I've decided—I'm going to rescue the villagers."
"But Naruto, do you know where they're being held? Even if you do, once you get them out, where will you put them? The upcoming battle will be incredibly dangerous for them."
"I already talked to Master Jiraiya. The villagers were recently moved to an undersea prison on the border of the Land of Water. When the time comes, we'll use Sasuke's Rinnegan to temporarily transport them to a safe alternate dimension."
Naruto's eyes were firm with resolve.
"...Alright. Honestly, I figured as much. If you weren't the type to prioritize saving the villagers, you wouldn't be you."
Shikamaru chuckled.
"Thanks, Shikamaru. Then while Sasuke and I are gone, I'm counting on you to watch over things here."
Naruto said to him.
---
Land of Water, Undersea Prison
A tower-like facility built by S.H.I.E.L.D., with the topmost floor just barely emerging from the sea's surface to serve as the entrance. The lower levels were completely submerged.
Mitsuki served as the warden, overseeing the imprisoned villagers from the Hidden Leaf. The guards were all replaced with scientific ninja tools.
"This thing's really uncomfortable..."
A girl who was in the same class as Boruto and specialized in Cat Ninjutsu rubbed at the collar around her neck.
"Can't believe so many people were replaced. Who knows what's going on in the Hidden Leaf now..."
Yamato, also imprisoned, looked around and said.
"With the Seventh Hokage around, the village should be okay."
Sumire Kakei, the class president back then, responded.
"Yeah, yeah! Lord Hokage will definitely realize something's wrong and come rescue us soon!"
Rock Lee's son chimed in energetically.