"Stop roaring. Do you know what you are? You've scared all the game away…" Shigeo's shout echoed through the forest, and Byakko shut its mouth.
King of beasts—never mind roaring. If it merely sat there, every land creature within thirty li vanished without a trace.
At last, half an hour later, Shigeo returned to the campfire carrying two fish and two wild rabbits.
Byakko closed its eyes and said nothing. As one of the Four Spirit Beasts, it didn't need to eat. When it did, it was just for show.
Shigeo started grilling. Cheng Mei'er helped at his side.
"You asked why I'm not anxious," Shigeo said while tending the fire. "By my timing, that Sand group definitely hasn't found Deidara yet. If they haven't, why should we rush? And finding Deidara and Gaara isn't easy for those few—let alone defeating Sasori. If they succeed, good. If they fail, I lose nothing. I was anxious earlier for Gaara's sake. Thinking it over now, Deidara won't die in this battle. As for Gaara—if Chiyo lives, he lives. If Chiyo dies, I'll lend him a Tailed Beast and keep him alive. So, no rush."
The meat soon filled the air with rich, smoky aroma. Hearing this, Byakko felt quite pleased and opened its eyes. "Exactly. Who in this world can match my tracking speed? Not bragging—this kid stuff was beneath me a few million years ago."
"Right, right, you're the best." Shigeo tossed over a roasted rabbit.
Byakko hadn't planned to eat. Somehow its mouth opened anyway. The rabbit slid in, and a dense, savory flavor flooded its tongue—supreme mortal enjoyment.
After the meal, Shigeo handed Cheng Mei'er a pile of fruit, returned her to the pocket space, then set off with Byakko again.
As time passed, Byakko finally located their target—Sasori—right when the Sand group arrived too.
The moment they reached the spot, they saw the "Land of Birds" shinobi and the massive white tiger already there—and earlier than they were.
Shigeo snorted, patted Byakko. "Thanks, old friend."
Byakko gave a proud grunt and vanished.
Standing atop the ravine, Shigeo pointed below. "The Akatsuki are in there. After you. This is your Sunagakure matter anyway."
His voice dripped with sarcasm. They could doubt him. They could question him. But Baki had raised a killing hand—that Shigeo could not forgive. He had only spared the man because he knew Baki would die here, and die badly.
Without Konoha's help, the worst-case outcome was everyone here becoming Gaara's grave goods. If things went a bit better, Gaara might still have a chance to live. As for the rest, Shigeo could only shake his head.
Inside the cavern, members of the Akatsuki were using Genryū Kyū Fūjin (Nine Phantom Dragons Sealing Technique) to extract the Tailed Beast from Gaara. The Gedō Mazō (Demonic Statue of the Outer Path) opened its eyes a fraction.
The colossal statue stood in the cave. Nine figures stood upon its ten fingers: Pain, Konan, Zetsu, Itachi, Kisame, Sasori, Deidara, Kakuzu, Hidan. Except for Deidara and Sasori, all were projections.
Each took a position, channeled chakra, and drew out the beast to be sealed. The process required three days. Now they were nearly done. At the final stretch, Zetsu, tasked with perimeter watch, reported: "The Sand pursuit squad is in place. There's also an unknown young man outside, but from observation he doesn't seem that strong."
The ten-fingered silhouettes did not budge, the sealing continued. Pain's cool voice carried: "You two go deal with them. You'll need to expend thirty percent chakra."
"Understood." A hoarse voice answered from among the phantoms.
Gaara's whole body writhed. The Tailed Beast's chakra poured from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Only a jinchūriki could know that pain.
Shigeo would not stop the Akatsuki. At this point, it was likely too late anyway.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki had to appear. Only the Fourth Great Ninja War would twist the nations of the shinobi world into a single rope to face the greater threat to come.
So why was he here? Of course—to bring Deidara under his banner.
"How do you know it's the Akatsuki? Who are you really?" Baki still wouldn't let it go.
Shigeo leapt onto a nearby branch and sat. "That fixation will get you killed."
As the words fell, a cold gust swept the ground. Leaves skittered. Two figures appeared before the group.
One had blue hair and carried the massive blade Samehada (Shark Skin) across his back. Gill-like lines marked his face. Blue skin. A savage aura—the "tailless Tailed Beast," Kisame.
Ten-plus meters off to his side stood a man of striking beauty, long hair, an icy presence, eyes devoid of warmth, tear troughs etched deep—Kisame's Akatsuki partner, Itachi.
Itachi glanced back at the youth perched in the tree—the "Land of Birds" shinobi in disguise. A faint lift of his brow. Deep blue eyes? So he came.
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Eight on the ground. One in the tree," Kisame counted, murderous intent rolling off him. "All for me, or…?"
Itachi said only six words: "I have already shown up."
Which meant: since he was here, he would handle matters.
Kisame chuckled and nodded. "Got it."
Wind gathered. In the valley, dense killing intent congealed, encircling the Sand shinobi.
"Kill!" Trust Baki to be a hard man—capability aside, his courage never lacked.
He charged first—and Kisame kicked him flying in an instant.
The other seven moved as well. Four engaged Itachi. The remaining three teamed with Baki against Kisame.
Eight against two. Momentum fierce, movements fluid.
But a good opening did not make for a good fight. Once blades crossed, the picture changed.
"Fūton (Wind Release): Kamaitachi no Jutsu (Sickle Weasel Technique)!" Two Sand jōnin coordinated, lunging at Kisame as he erupted from the ground.
"Hah! Nameless nobodies—hardly worth the breath!" Kisame sprang up from below, booted Baki skyward again, then swept Samehada in a brutal arc. Raw force tore through the wind technique and slammed toward the two attackers.
(End of Chapter)
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