Chapter 245: Heading Toward 'Longevity Village'
[Mabui] stared at Killerdio, who was struggling to crawl toward her, not daring to move an inch.
She silently prayed that Killerdio would breathe his last before reaching her.
Or at least collapse from exhaustion and give up.
She could not step forward.
If she did, her earlier surrender and confession would become meaningless.
Nor could she bear to retreat.
After all, Killerdio was her comrade, and even her benefactor.
If Killerdio had not spent his days in the village tirelessly using the Eight-Tails to fill [Raikage A]'s insatiable emptiness…
She would have long since fallen victim herself.
Unlike the two standing nearby.
[Raikage A]'s right-hand men had often accompanied him on missions.
Whenever Killerdio was absent…
Disaster followed.
"Ignore him?"
[Konan] noticed Killerdio's movements but did not act, merely glancing at Shiromo.
"No need. It's almost over. Whatever they do afterward is none of our concern."
Shiromo took one look and then dismissed it.
His voice was quiet, but the surroundings were utterly silent.
[Mabui] heard every word.
Upon hearing Shiromo's leniency, Mabui released a long breath of relief.
Not much later, Killerdio, barely clinging to life, finally reached her.
[Mabui] glanced toward Shiromo.
Only to find that all three of them had vanished.
They had already left?
Lowering her head, Mabui looked at Killerdio, whose life now hung by a thread.
She activated the Heavenly Transfer Technique.
Even though the enemy was gone…
Without its terrifying healing effects, Killerdio would still die.
Thus.
Killerdio was transported back to the Kumogakure Village.
The exact same place where [Raikage A] had just been sent.
——
Kumogakure Village.
At this very moment, [Raikage A] was chasing a fleeing figure.
"Karui! Stop! Now is the time for your noble sacrifice!"
Panting heavily, [Raikage A] shouted while running.
The once fastest shinobi in the world…
Unable to catch an ordinary jōnin?
What was going on?
A closer look revealed the truth.
The Lightning Armor enveloping [Raikage A] had grown nearly transparent.
His earlier charges against Shiromo had appeared harmless.
Yet the chakra consumption had been enormous.
And during his desperate escape via Heavenly Transfer…
[Raikage A] had pushed his Lightning Armor to maximum output to resist the technique's effects.
The proliferation of the Heavenly Delivery Technique can be gradually prevented; medical ninjutsu can be used to cut off the affected areas, or training can reduce its size, allowing for reuse.
Conversely, continuous use of the Heavenly Delivery Technique is extremely dangerous, exponentially increasing the probability of instant death.
[Raikage A] had resisted part of the damage on arrival.
Resisted again upon return.
But he had still been affected.
Not only had he exhausted vast amounts of chakra…
But now, one phrase from historical records described his condition perfectly: "Advancing while burdened below."
With every step, faint metallic clattering sounds followed him.
His speed had dropped yet another degree.
Which was precisely why, he could not catch Karui.
And why was he chasing Karui?
Because amplification had magnified more than just physical effects.
It had magnified desires.
At present, [Raikage A]'s great blade was unbearably restless.
"No! Raikage-sama, I would rather die than submit!"
"You know me, I only like small ones!"
[Karui] shouted while sprinting away.
Her preference was rooted in grim reality.
Her parents had once been forced to use Heavenly Transfer during wartime.
They died instantly.
Yet during that same mission…
A scrawny genin from Karui's squad had returned almost completely unharmed.
From that day forward, Karui developed an unwavering appreciation for "small."
Clearly, whether [Raikage A] or Tailed Beasts…
Both belonged firmly to the category of "large."
Which Karui deeply despised.
"Hahahahaha! That fool actually let me, Lord Killerdio, return alive!"
Killerdio suddenly burst into laughter.
Karui and Raikage rushed past him in pursuit.
Karui was out of reach now.
[Raikage A] halted.
Slowly turning toward his younger brother.
"No, brother! I just lost my Tailed Beast! My body is still weak! You can't…!"
Killerdio's face drained of color.
What was worse, once his laughter ceased, he noticed something horrifying.
Because he had lost the Eight-Tails' protection…
He had suffered amplification upon transfer.
He might as well change his name entirely.
Although the new name sounded suspiciously like some cursed pairing.
But to [Raikage A]…
Killerdio now resembled nothing more than a tempting dessert.
"Brother, have you forgotten your duty?"
[Raikage A] walked forward step by step.
"..."
Duty?
Killerdio's duty had always been simple.
Assist the Raikage.
Fill the Raikage's emptiness.
…
Killerdio gave up resisting.
Devoid of chakra, he had no means of escape.
"Remember, death is not scary; death is a cool summer night, a time for peaceful sleep."
[Raikage A] gave a sinister smile, dispersing the Lightning Armor he could no longer sustain.
But in the very next second, his smile froze.
An overwhelming heat surged through his body.
"What have you done?!"
"Killerdio, you dare poison me?!!!"
BOOM!!!!
A violent explosion tore through the area.
The ill-fated brothers were obliterated instantly.
Earlier, at some unnoticed moment, [Konan] had used her ability.
Several explosive tags, disguised via the Paper God Technique, had been planted within Killerdio's body.
For one simple reason.
Total eradication.
In Konan's view, a perfect jinchūriki who had achieved such "intimacy" with a Tailed Beast… was beyond saving.
Releasing such a being would only continue polluting the shinobi world.
——
In the sky.
Shiromo and the others were already heading toward their next destination.
The wild Three-Tails of the Land of Water had been reserved for last.
Their next targets were the Four-Tails and Five-Tails of the Iwagakure Village.
On the way there, they would pass through Takigakure.
With Fū providing coordinates, Shiromo quickly located the Seven-Tails' jinchūriki.
Strangely enough, according to Fū, she had remained in the same place without moving.
No updates required.
As they neared their destination, Konan began speaking again.
"Takigakure possesses a sacred water known as…"
"The Hero Water."
"It greatly increases chakra but shortens lifespan."
Uchiha Hikari answered calmly.
This Information was obtained directly from Fū.
Just as she had learned Karin's past from Karin herself.
"Hm?"
Konan blinked, then smiled and shook her head.
"That is incorrect intelligence."
"It is called Yin Maiden Water."
"After drinking it, men become 'femboys.'"
"However, all chakra is converted into lifespan."
"Which is why Takigakure is also known as Longevity Village."
"…?"
"Wasn't Longevity Village supposed to be Uzushiogakure?"
Even Hikari, well aware of this world's distortions, found this increasingly absurd.
"Not at all."
"Uzushiogakure was eradicated long ago.
"Its village name sounded too much like an insult."
"..."
(End of this chapter)