Orochimaru licked his cheek with that snake-like tongue. How could he take those Sharingan of his a step further?
At this thought, his gaze involuntarily focused deep into his own pupils.
In those crimson eyes, two pitch-black tomoe slowly rotated, emitting a strange and enchanting luster.
A smile tinged with satisfaction and greed appeared at the corners of Orochimaru's mouth.
These eyes, seized from the Uchiha bloodline, had indeed lived up to his expectations in terms of potential.
However, that satisfaction was fleeting, replaced by an even deeper craving.
Two tomoe? This was far from enough!
It was still a long way off from the Sharingan that Shisui used to manifest that massive, dozens-of-meters-tall giant.
Therefore, the Sharingan must evolve!
"So then," a cold voice filled with investigative desire echoed low in Orochimaru's empty laboratory.
"Exactly what kind of opportunity is needed to let these eyes break through their shackles and move toward a more perfect form?"
He fell into deep thought, his cold gaze finally settling on a deep corner.
There, several clan members with mediocre talent, kidnapped from the Uchiha Clan earlier, were imprisoned.
It seemed the key to the answer could only be obtained from these people!
...
On the other side, inside a cold cave, the residual light of the Sealing Jutsu formulas had not yet fully dissipated. The air was filled with the unique, restless after-resonance of Tailed Beast chakra being forcibly stripped away.
Members of the Akatsuki had just finished sealing the Four-Tails and Five-Tails, and a brief silence enveloped everyone.
Takuno's Wood Clone stood quietly in a corner, but his consciousness had already sunk into the insights he had just gained.
The existence of the Ten-Tails was essentially a miracle of creation.
When this great power, sufficient to shake the world, was divided into nine parts, nine Tailed Beasts were born, each with completely different forms, abilities, attributes, and even chakra characteristics.
However, what was even more mysterious was that when the chakra origins of these unique individuals were re-aggregated, they could actually merge seamlessly, manifesting that source power once again.
"This strange compatibility ultimately cannot be separated from the harmonizing power of the Gedo Statue, this 'vessel'," Takuno pondered silently.
Attempting to forcibly piece together nine unruly strands of Tailed Beast chakra outside the statue would be no different from playing with fire.
Once that violent energy collided out of control, the resulting catastrophic consequences—a massive explosion—would likely be only the most insignificant beginning.
Just as Takuno was immersed in the mysteries of the relationship between the Ten-Tails and the Tailed Beasts, the low and majestic voice of the leader, Tendo Pain, broke the cave's silence.
"Everyone, regarding the whereabouts of the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata, are there any leads?"
The question was thrown out, but the response was an oppressive silence.
Utakata had chosen to go into seclusion years ago. The secrecy of his movements and the thoroughness of his methods clearly far exceeded the organization's previous estimates.
The search seemed to have reached a stalemate.
Nagato's cold gaze slowly swept across the figures present, finally settling on Zetsu's iconic, bizarre face composed of black and white halves.
Zetsu remained silent for a moment, no expression visible on that grotesque face, only a raspy voice rang out.
"...I still need a little more time."
"As soon as possible," Nagato's response was brief and powerful, carrying an unquestionable tone of command, essentially granting Zetsu's request.
At this moment, Takuno's thoughts were pulled back from his insights into the Ten-Tails, and the conversation just now clearly entered his consciousness.
He pondered slightly, then spoke: "I'll handle the matter of the Six-Tails."
He recalled his brief past with Utakata. The other man's calm attitude of 'knowing the times' and handing over the Six-Tails chakra without resistance had left Takuno with a rare, decent impression of him.
Since that was the case, he didn't mind leaving the man a way out.
"Lord Suzaku," Zetsu's heterochromatic eyes, hidden under the pitcher plant leaves, locked onto Takuno, his tone carrying undisguised inquiry.
"Regarding the whereabouts of the Six-Tails Jinchuriki... do you possess relevant intelligence?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the doubts deep within Zetsu's heart surged once again.
In this Akatsuki, which gathered experts from all walks of life, he knew the backgrounds and abilities of almost everyone like the back of his hand, relying on his spore network spread throughout the Shinobi World.
Only the member before him with the code name 'Suzaku' had a true identity as thick as an impenetrable fog.
Zetsu only knew that he had been personally recruited by the leader, Nagato; beyond that, it was a complete blank.
On that face, which was not hidden, Zetsu's intelligence database could not find any information on a strong individual that matched it.
What confused Zetsu even more was that since Suzaku joined, he seemed to exist completely outside the organization's core plans.
He had never participated in the grand Tailed Beast capture operations, as if he were an outsider.
And most incredibly, regarding this transcendent state of detachment, Nagato actually showed unprecedented acquiescence and tolerance, never expressing any dissatisfaction.
"Who exactly is he? Why does he get such special treatment from Nagato?" This question haunted Zetsu.
He had tried to track Suzaku's movements more than once, even attaching spores that could silently parasite and transmit information onto the man.
However, every attempt was like a stone sinking into the ocean.
The other's movements could not be determined at all, and once a spore touched Suzaku, it would instantly lose all contact, failing to provide even a shred of feedback.
This... made Zetsu even more curious. Who on earth was Suzaku?
And how did Nagato get to know him?
Faced with Zetsu's scrutinizing question, Takuno's reaction appeared nonchalant.
He just glanced casually at Zetsu, his voice flat and calm, carrying an unquestionable certainty.
"You needn't worry about that. In a few days at most, I will bring the Six-Tails here myself."
He paused slightly, then continued, "You all should focus your minds on how to capture the Seven-Tails instead."
Zetsu seemed unsatisfied with this light answer. His leaves twitched slightly, as if he wanted to further question or test him.
However, before Zetsu could speak again, Pain's majestic voice rang out clearly, directly putting an end to this conversation.
"Since Suzaku has taken the initiative to accept, then the mission to capture the Six-Tails is fully entrusted to Suzaku's responsibility."
Nagato's voice was steady, but a hint of surprise actually flashed through his heart as well.
He had not expected that Suzaku, who usually stayed out of things, would suddenly be willing to step up and execute a mission.
But because of this, he was even more certain that since Suzaku had spoken, he must have absolute confidence.
He glanced inconspicuously at Zetsu, thinking to himself.
Zetsu's testing should stop while it's ahead; he must not let a few redundant words cause this Suzaku, who was finally willing to act, to give up on acting again.
Nagato's decisive voice echoed in the cave.
Zetsu could only swallow back the words he wanted to continue asking, though the look he directed at Takuno vaguely revealed a sense of unease.
The other members of the Akatsuki couldn't help but focus their gazes on Suzaku.
They had long sensed an unusual aura from this colleague, and Nagato's display of near-absolute trust and special arrangement for him now silently confirmed their intuition.
This Suzaku's identity and strength were likely even more unfathomable... than they could imagine.
"Kakuzu," Nagato's voice was low and direct, "The location of the Seven-Tails Chōmei is Takigakure Village. When it comes to familiarity with that place, no one should surpass you, right?"
"Of course," Kakuzu responded in a low voice.
This place name was like a rusty key, instantly opening his long-buried box of memories.
In his mind appeared the Hidden Village he had once staked his life to protect, surrounded by lush waterfalls, yet harboring the coldest betrayal.
He clearly remembered that just because of a single mission failure, those comrades he had bled for and those villagers he had protected turned their blades against him in the blink of an eye.
A cold curve quietly climbed onto his mouth; it was a mockery of his past foolish protection.
Of course, he had also long since repaid that betrayal in full!
"Couldn't be more familiar."
Nagato keenly caught the coldness in Kakuzu's tone, but he didn't care, focusing only on the current goal.
"Then, without further delay, please set out immediately."
His tone carried an unquestionable sense of urgency.
"The commotion we caused in Iwagakure was too great. The successive capture of the Four-Tails and Five-Tails is a warning bell.
The Five Great Shinobi Villages are by no means dull prey; they must already be on high alert.
Uniting is their most likely next choice.
Once they truly unite and hide the Seven-Tails strictly, the cost to obtain it again will be immeasurable."
"Depart immediately?" Kakuzu asked back, his voice showing no ripples, but his mind was calculating rapidly.
He admitted Nagato's analysis hit the mark; the lesson of Iwagakure was enough to make other Villages wary.
But the problem was, he had no interest in Akatsuki's plans, let alone loyalty.
Staying here was only because the price Pain offered was generous enough to fill his never-ending thirst for money.
As for the organization's success or failure? That was just a play he watched on the side while making money.
Besides, he had just gone through a fierce battle in Iwagakure.
Whether it was seizing the Four-Tails Son Goku or the Five-Tails Kokuō, he had been on the front line, consuming a large amount of chakra and energy.
Immediately after, he participated in the long and mentally draining ritual of sealing the Tailed Beasts.
At this moment, what he desired most was a brief rest, the pure satisfaction of counting a thick stack of bills, rather than immediately throwing himself into another journey.
Just as Kakuzu was planning on needing rest, Nagato's emotionless voice rang out again, as if he had already seen through his thoughts.
"The reward for capturing the Seven-Tails will be increased by fifty percent."
Instantly, Kakuzu didn't even hesitate for a second and immediately said:
"Deal!"
All thoughts of fatigue vanished into thin air!
They seemed so insignificant compared to a massive fifty percent price increase.
And... Kakuzu's mind whirled.
Takigakure Village? That Village had long lost its former glory after he left. Now its strength had withered, with only a few small fries left.
With his abilities, dealing with them would be as easy as turning over his hand.
Such a simple task, yet he could get such a generous bounty!
This deal was practically pure profit!
Kakuzu could almost hear the clinking of heavy bills falling into his money box, and his fighting spirit was instantly ignited.
Inside the Akatsuki base, a silent confusion spread among the members.
Everyone's gaze turned in unison toward the enthusiastic Kakuzu, this colleague famous for amassing wealth.
The same question revolved in their minds: why was he still so obsessed with earning bounties, almost to the point of paranoia, when his net worth was already enough to rival a nation?
Reasonably, he couldn't squander it all in several lifetimes, so why?
This greed for money had clearly long exceeded material needs.
To the side, Takuno took in Kakuzu's focus and Konan's calm, a playful ripple rising in his heart.
An extremely interesting and even dark-humored association emerged in his head.
What if Kakuzu knew what happened after his death in the 'original work'?
The massive wealth he had spent his life accumulating was ruthlessly dug up by Konan and turned into exactly six hundred billion Explosive Tags...
And this terrifying quantity of Explosive Tags, enough to shake the Shinobi World, ultimately failed to blow up the target, Obito, as intended, and didn't even manage to seriously injure him.
This 'miser' who valued money as much as life would probably jump out of his coffin in anger on the spot, only to be fumed to death once more, wouldn't he?
Thinking of this, Takuno almost couldn't help but laugh.
He shook his head helplessly to himself. Konan's drive was certainly impressive, but her tactical deployment was truly too simple and crude.
If she had received systematic Shinobi tactical training and could accurately calculate the effective explosion radius of a single Explosive Tag, then combined it with her deep grasp of Obito's 'Kamui' intangibility characteristics, she could have meticulously designed a much more efficient trap.
With just precise calculation of the explosion's coverage area and duration, she could have formed an airtight death fire net lasting for several hours in the space Obito must pass through to exit his intangibility.
If she could strike with such precision, even if Obito used the forbidden jutsu 'Izanagi' at the last moment to rewrite the reality of his death, he would be completely swallowed by the seamlessly connected explosions the moment he revived, with absolutely no chance of survival.
What a pity. Konan's overwhelming six hundred billion Explosive Tags were a pure accumulation of 'quantity', severely lacking in tactical precision.
Besides calculating it that way, if Konan knew the Multiplying Explosive Tags and used those six hundred billion tags as a base, it would definitely have been enough to kill Obito.
However, Konan didn't know these things, leading to this gamble of an ambush ultimately falling through due to an unimaginable and massive waste.
The original hunter instead became the prey after exhausting her cards, dying on the spot.
Kakuzu completely ignored the gazes projected from around him, which contained various emotions.
In his long life and philosophy of survival, making money was the highest principle; what did losing face matter?
Having made his decision, he no longer hesitated.
As this Akatsuki meeting came to a close, the members' figures began to disappear one after another.
This was indeed a rare moment where all the members of the Akatsuki were gathered in person; after all, they had just finished the large-scale operation against Iwagakure, and their main bodies were still assembled here.
Without any delay, Kakuzu immediately set off with Hidan, their target pointed directly toward Takigakure Village.
Regarding this duo, the Akatsuki members already had a tacit understanding.
Only a fanatical cultist with an immortal body like Hidan could barely tolerate Kakuzu's extreme style of treating teammates as tools, even ready to discard them at any time if necessary.
And since Kakuzu had already accepted such a high-paying bounty mission...
Then he would definitely complete it on time. When it came to bounties, he was serious!
On the other side, Takuno also walked toward a secret location.