232Heading westAI Model: gemini-3.0-flashChapter 232: Heading West
On the outskirts of the Metropolis in the Land of Fire.
Kakuzu glanced at Konan again and again.
Finally, Konan turned her head and said, "If you have something to say, just say it."
Her face was no longer smooth skin, but a patchwork of paper pieces.
A literal paper person.
This was her Ninjutsu, the Dance of the Shikigami.
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It shared a similar ingenuity with Sasori's puppet shells.
It possessed very versatile functions, capable of transforming into various ninja tools, wings, and more.
Its only weakness was a fear of oil.
Only when her Chakra was exhausted would her true form inside be revealed.
"Do we really not need to wait two more days?"
Beneath his mask, Kakuzu was in absolute agony.
A single night meant hundreds of millions!
Konan was somewhat speechless, but fortunately, her paper exterior didn't show her expression at all.
"The big picture is more important. We can earn money next time."
"Fine then."
Kakuzu nodded very reluctantly.
For a miser like him, losing several hundred million was like losing a heart.
But luckily, he had many hearts.
If Naruto ever got bored and tried to trigger a 'Black Tiger Steals Heart' achievement on him, he could probably trigger it five times over.
He just worried the system wouldn't recognize that kind of achievement.
The sky gradually brightened.
Uzumaki Menma's figure solidified in the air.
"I invited him to meet here under the guise of an Iwagakure spy," he explained.
He added an explanation.
Roshi was only at odds with the Tsuchikage Ōnoki; he wasn't a rogue Ninja.
"Kakuzu, you'll be the main attacker later. Sister Nan and I will help you restrict his movements," Uzumaki Menma continued. "Roshi possesses Lava Release. Water Release can be considered his natural counter."
Lava Release is a combination of Fire and Earth attributes; simply put, it's the manipulation of magma.
In the original work, Roshi was defeated by Kisame Hoshigaki's Water Release.
However, the paper secret techniques used by Konan were not very effective against Lava Release.
As for Uzumaki Menma, the Fire Release and Sealing Jutsu he used in the Akatsuki Organizationwere theoretically mediocre as well.
But Sealing Jutsu was top-tier for restricting movement.
After a moment, Roshi arrived as agreed.
After a moment, Roshi arrived as agreed.
"Let's begin."
Konan directly spread her wings and flew into the sky.
"Who's there?"
Roshi felt the movement and quickly looked up.
He saw an angel hovering there.
The next moment, the angel began to "shed feathers."
Countless pieces of paper fell like a torrential rain, covering his vision.
Roshi was startled. He clapped his hands together, smoke rising from his mouth, and then with a breath in and out, scorching magma transformed into several spherical objects and flew out.
Although the paper was infused with Chakra and was as sharp as a blade, it still couldn't withstand the magma and began to burn fiercely.
Instantly, the entire sky was filled with flames.
Konan frowned slightly and ascended further, avoiding the flames.
Just as Roshi was about to speak, he saw the river surface not far away suddenly boil.
Uzumaki Menma had specifically chosen a location by the river.
He was mainly afraid that Kakuzu's Water Releasewouldn't be powerful enough.
The flowing water rose under the pull of Chakra, eventually transforming into a giant dragon that charged out with a roar.
"Two people?"
A sense of crisis rose in Roshi's heart.
Judging by the Ninjutsu used, they were certainly no small characters.
Thinking of this, magma began to burst out from all over his body.
The flames directly formed a protective film.
The ground beneath his feet began to blacken and then melt; clearly, the temperature had reached an extreme.
Lava Release Chakra Mode!
Roshi, looking like a Super Saiyan transformation, watched the water dragon and clapped his hands, causing a huge granite wall to rise.
Not only that, its surface was flowing with flame-like boiling water.
Sizzle.
The water dragon was instantly vaporized.
Mist rose.
Uzumaki Menma, with the lazy mindset of a slacker, cast a Great Fireball Technique.
However, under his massive amount of Chakra, the great fireball was like a red sun.
But Roshi was even brighter.
His whole person was like a steel furnace, radiating light and heat.
He had turned himself into lava.
Uzumaki Menma vaguely remembered this move was called Needle in the Deep Sea.
In his previous life, he was very puzzled that this name didn't match the Ninjutsu at all.
But it was indeed very powerful.
It burned everything in its path.
Amidst the chaotic battle, mist continued to rise.
A tail had already sprouted from Roshi's tailbone, entering a semi-Tailed Beast state.
Konan's attacks from the sky all turned into fuel.
Instead, the fire burned even more vigorously.
Uzumaki Menma thought for a moment; this current state didn't quite fit their plan.
He shouted, "Kakuzu, give him something more intense!"
Kakuzu didn't reply. A mask floated to his chest and opened its mouth.
Water Release: Water Basin!
A vast ocean sprayed out from that small mouth.
Everything within dozens of meters was covered by the waves.
Roshi, in the center, was like a piece of burning coal thrown into water.
Strange noises continued one after another.
At the same time, another of Kakuzu's masks began to fly about.
A lightning flash suddenly burst from its mouth, landing on the water's surface and immediately spreading out.
The electrical sparks spread, the pillar of light grew thicker, and eventually formed a lightning spear.
Because it was highly concentrated, it possessed a powerful piercing effect.
With the water acting as a conductor, it was far more dangerous than usual.
Roshi let out a roar. The air currents around him swirled into a storm, and he pressed his hands to the ground.
Lava Release: Flower-Fruit Mountain!
A vast sea of magma erupted from beneath his feet, vaporizing the water waves.
The magma then shot out in all directions like a volcano.
Uzumaki Menma quickly retreated, but the range of the magma was too wide. Finally, he leaped up, transforming into a gust of wind to distance himself.
Black threads leaked from Kakuzu's body, and his four masks flew with the air currents.
He formed hand signs, and a wall of water rose before him to block the magma.
Konan raised her hand, and pieces of paper scattered down, covering the sky above Roshi.
As they drew near, they all exploded.
The booming sounds were incessant.
They were all exploding tags.
In that one move, at least nearly a hundred had been thrown.
"What a waste, what a waste."
Uzumaki Menma couldn't help but shake his head.
Most importantly, this was all the money he had earned.
Oh, and Kakuzu's contribution too.
Kakuzu now understood why Konan rarely made a move.
Because every time she did, it was like throwing money away.
Uzumaki Menma estimated the time and used the wind to move beneath Konan.
It was mainly because she was flying too high.
"Sister Nan, let me."
After Uzumaki Menma spoke, he looked down at the fully Tailed Beast Roshi. A series of chains erupted from his upper body.
Konan was slightly taken aback.
She couldn't help but glance at him.
The Uzumaki Clan's Adamantine Sealing Chains?
Roshi, transformed into a giant red gorilla, was immediately bound by the chains.
He didn't care at first.
He exerted force with both arms, trying to break free.
But the chains only rattled; they didn't break at all.
Roshi's expression turned grim. He was a perfect Jinchuriki and possessed self-awareness at this moment.
He realized these chains were no simple Ninjutsu.
He stomped on the ground, and amidst the violent shaking, the magma surged up in another series of waves.
And the Ninjutsu Kakuzu had been preparing was also finished.
The moment the sea of magma formed, countless waves of water surged continuously from the river.
This resulted in the entire large river being drained dry.
At the bottom of the river, only fish were left flopping around in confusion.
Massive waves like a torrential downpour came one after another.
Roshi seemed to be drowning; he wanted to reach the shore, but the chains on his body made him unable to move.
In just a few seconds, a sea had formed.
Kakuzu caught his breath.
He had released almost all the Chakra in his Water Release mask at once.
The Ninjas he targeted and took masks from were never ordinary Jonin.
From this, one could imagine just how deep this sea was.
After waiting for a moment, Uzumaki Menmaretracted the Adamantine Sealing Chains. His face was slightly pale, clearly feeling the strain.
He was not the main body, after all.
Konan's eyes flickered at the sight.
But she said nothing.
"He seems to have fallen unconscious."
Uzumaki Menma descended and stood on the water's surface.
Through the clear water, he could see Roshi's vibrant purple color.
Kakuzu reached out, and under his Chakra control, the unconscious Jinchuriki gradually floated up.
At that moment, lightning appeared at the bottom of the water.
It was dense and numerous, occupying this ten-meter area like a swarm of jellyfish.
In an instant, sword light leaped out of the water, flashing across the sky.
Kakuzu's expression changed drastically.
A sense of crisis welled up in his heart, making his hair stand on end.
What kind of Ninjutsu was this?
His figure flickered as he retreated rapidly.
At the same time, the mouth of his Wind Releasemask opened, spitting out a blast of air.
The air current transformed into a high-pressure water gun that blew away the lightning in front of him, then expanded and exploded, creating a vortex storm.
Kakuzu took the opportunity to escape the range of the sword light.
But to his shock, the wind that should have countered the lightning was almost everywhere, yet it didn't harm the intruding Ninja at all.
It was as if he were invincible.
Kakuzu's expression immediately became serious.
Seeing this, Konan also narrowed her eyes, looking at the cluster of lightning.
Roshi was suspended on the water's surface, encased in Chakra.
And in front of him was a strange young man wearing an Iwagakure forehead protector.
He held an ordinary katana in his hand.
It was hard to believe the sword technique from just now had been performed with it.
Only Uzumaki Menma's eyes widened.
Wasn't that something like'sword light is like me, cutting through beef offal'... oh wait, it's 'cutting through the mundane'.
Wait, what was Keqing's ultimate called again?
He couldn't remember for a moment.
Without a word, Kakuzu extended his right arm.
The three masks representing Wind, Fire, and Lightning quickly attached themselves to the sides of his arm, forming a bizarre limb.
Chakra was being charged.
The lightning was dazzling.
A powerful aura, similar to a Tailed Beast Ball, slowly poured out.
It was Kakuzu's ultimate combination Ninjutsu—the Railgun, no, the Final Shot.
Naruto, disguised as an Iwagakure spy, saw this, sheathed his katana, and moved his fingers rapidly.
Biu-biu-biu~
The Six Meridian Divine Sword was instantly fired.
Chakra exploded from his fingertips.
Six beams of light, moving at extreme speed, arrived before Kakuzu's Chakra cannon could even fire.
The black threads of Earth Grudge Fear instantly exploded.
Kakuzu abandoned his Ninjutsu without hesitation and performed a backflip, avoiding the six sword beams.
The sword beams hit the water, and six pillars of water shot into the sky.
Naruto grabbed Roshi, turned, and ran.
His direction was due west, where the Fire Templewas located.
Konan immediately accelerated.
The paper pieces flying all over the sky turned into shuriken, blotting out the sky and sealing off the area around Naruto.
Kakuzu and Uzumaki Menma exchanged a look, and through their silent communication, he was certain that this powerful newcomer was from the Tianming Organization.
Thinking back on the previous ruthless fighting, he felt a bit speechless.
Do you really not see me as one of your own? Attacking so harshly.
But he didn't realize it was Naruto.
Because the Ninjutsu used was too strange.
He had never seen the Six Meridian Divine Swordor the Heavenly Street Patrol.
At the Fire Temple.
Jiraiya's face was livid.
In the distance, Kazuma and three others were seen piloting four coffins, sliding rapidly across the plain.
"This is simply going too far!"
One of the ascetic monks said indignantly.
"Enough. Let's put this matter aside for now. The priority is to send someone to escort the Daimyo to Konoha to ask for help."
Jiraiya's expression changed repeatedly.
Having one's ancestral graves dug up and still having to swallow one's pride—it was fortunate he was a practitioner of Buddhism, skilled in self-cultivation.
Of course, the Daimyo's safety was more important.
He looked at En Shū and Haku and said, "I have already selected the thirteen most outstanding Ninja monks of this temple according to the Princess's instructions. Please, Daimyo, depart with us."
En Shū nodded worriedly, in no mood to talk.
He had broken through the encirclement under the protection of En Yui, Haku, and Zabuza.
After escaping danger, En Yui and Zabuza stayed behind, intending to return to the Metropolis to regroup and wait for Konoha's support from within.
Thinking of this, he let out a sigh.
It was only today that he realized his daughter was the most filial.
After a night of development.
The news of Maru Hifū becoming the Daimyo had already spread.
It was publicly announced that En Shū had died suddenly of illness.
This made him so angry he almost spat blood.
But there was nothing he could do.
Now, the only chance for a comeback was in Konoha.
The mobility of Ninjas could completely bypass the Land of Fire's army of over a hundred thousand.
Jiraiya led the way, with En Shū and Haku in the middle, and twelve Ninja monks distributed on both sides.
But just as they stepped out of the Fire Temple, they encountered an emergency.
"There's a sound. Be on alert."
Jiraiya raised the khakkhara in his hand and gave a loud warning.
He could be one of the Twelve Guardian Ninjanaturally because of his own strength.
The Fire Temple possessed a special inheritance of secret techniques, not at all inferior to small and medium-sized Ninja clans.
Although it couldn't compare to the Uchiha or Hyuga, it was enough to live very comfortably in the Ninja World.
"I am not an enemy."
Naruto walked out slowly, raising his hands to show his sincerity—he had no weapons and no intention of attacking.
"Why is a Ninja from Iwagakure here?"
Jiraiya's expression remained wary as he asked, "Our Fire Temple has no connection with your Iwagakure. Please leave."
"I have an emergency and need to rush to Konoha."
Naruto scanned their group and said, "I see you're also on the way. Why don't we go together?"
"Impossible!"
Jiraiya refused without a second thought. "I don't know if what you're saying is true or false."
"It's naturally true."
Naruto took out a scroll and said, "It has the seal and personal signature of Hokage Lady Tsunade."
Jiraiya took a look but still did not agree.
Where the Daimyo was concerned, he wouldn't take any chances.
Moreover, the timing of Naruto's arrival was far too suspicious.
"Fine then."
Naruto smiled, turned, and left.
Jiraiya watched his back disappear, and the group continued on their way.
A few minutes later, a whistling sound came from the sky.
A beautiful young girl with white wings descended.
Jiraiya was immediately on high alert.
Uzumaki Menma and Kakuzu appeared immediately after.
"Yo, isn't this the Daimyo?"
Uzumaki Menma raised an eyebrow and smiled.
As soon as these words were spoken, Jiraiya and the monks behind him all brought out their staves.
Konan looked at En Shū, feeling slightly puzzled.
Because she had been fighting Roshi, she didn't yet know what had happened in the Metropolis.
From the current situation, it was far too strange.
As the leader of the Land of Fire, the Daimyo was nominally more respected than the Hokage.
Yet he appeared in the wild for no reason.
There was a problem.
Konan reached out, paper pieces swirling in front of her. Her tone was cold and carried a clearly visible threat.
"What is the purpose of your group?"
The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Jiraiya took a deep breath, stuck his khakkhara into the ground, took two steps forward, and said with hands clasped, "Amitabha. If the three of you leave now, nothing will happen to anyone."
"Hey, baldy, hurry up and answer Sister Nan's question."
Uzumaki Menma waved his hand and said in a lackadaisical manner.
"So, there's nothing to talk about?"
A cold light flashed in Jiraiya's eyes as he said, "Know that even a Bodhisattva has a wrathful gaze."