In the vast, sprawling forests of northern Land of Fire, many events were unfolding across its expansive lands. Among them, an extremely fast figure darted past, veering off in a diverging direction.
"No ambushes after coming out..." Logan swiftly traversed the woods and ravines, moving far faster than usual. Small animals along the path barely registered a whoosh before he was gone, only reacting in startled jumps long after.
As scenery blurred past, he muttered to himself, recalling the minutes prior and touching his face, "But that's to be expected, right? I was just being overly cautious."
When he had first emerged from Kamui Dimension, his surroundings had been peaceful… no Obito, no White Zetsu. The scorched battlefield from their previous clash had even sprouted new buds, reclaiming its lush greenery.
Obito had already determined that he was 'dead', and Logan's initial caution had been warranted. But since nothing happened, all was well.
Besides, mastering Sage Mode had been his goal, and Logan quickly moved past the matter.
"Then, the next thing is to find Sasuke." Logan's thoughts shifted. With the danger gone, it was time to resume his 'unfinished business'.
He still didn't know that Sasuke had already killed Orochimaru, and the plot had advanced far beyond his expectations.
Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a fiery glow on his crimson pupils, perfectly complementing his current Sage Mode. Like the wind, he raced across Land of Fire's borders.
Sage Mode's duration was short. Once his Senjutsu Chakra depleted, the Sage Mode would end. Without a Biju to gather Natural Energy for him, Logan didn't want to waste a single second, pushing his speed to the limit.
…
Land of Grass, an ordinary small town.
A struggling shop half-heartedly operated, its streets sparsely populated. Logan, concealing his identity, stepped inside. He needed to visit a nearby black market for intel.
Spending too much time in isolation risked disconnecting from society, something Logan, as a former shut-in, understood well. Before acting, he had to catch up on recent events, hear the gossip, and maybe enjoy a soda.
'The duration of Sage Mode matches what the old clan head tested...'
As he navigated the unfamiliar streets from memory, Logan mentally calculated. Once Natural Energy absorption began in a 'static' state, entering combat would shift to a 'dynamic' one. Senjutsu Chakra would deplete quickly, and while sitting still could prolong the mode, high-intensity battles would shorten it. Based on his tests, Logan estimated his limit at roughly ten minutes.
"Should be enough... right?" Logan muttered uncertainly.
'Don't scoff at the short time. Naruto only had five minutes when he first learned it. And hey, some of you single folks should work on your own three-second stamina first, ha!'
…
Black markets were universally chaotic, shadowy places. Since it was far removed from ordinary civilian life, it teemed with ill-intentioned individuals and schemes of exchanged interests.
This black market in the Land of Grass is no different. A bar tucked deep in an alley, guarded by two burly men at the entrance, housed a mix of shady merchants, rogue samurai, and wandering Ninja.
Though it was daytime, the place wasn't lively, but the hushed, disorderly chatter was just as dense as peak hours. Recently, the emergence of the Akatsuki and their growing friction with the Five Great Ninja Nations had become an undeniable fact, sending ripples through the underworld.
Groups of people huddled in corners, most too insignificant to partake in the world-shifting events unfolding. But gossip was human nature, and knowing just a bit more than the ignorant masses gave them a strange sense of superiority.
"Hey, have you heard? It seems that Yonbi has been captured."
"What? Another Biju? That organization…"
"Who else but Akatsuki could pull that off?"
"Tch, your info's outdated."
At the bar and wooden tables, burly men drank cheap liquor early in the day. Exaggerated rumors and half-truths floated in the air, as muddled as the low-quality alcohol. Logan, cloaked and seated against the wall, silently sifted through the chatter for useful tidbits.
Or rather, he was just here for the scraps. He didn't need intel from these lowlifes, as just enough to align with his mental timeline.
At one table, a group of rogue shinobi from small Ninja Villages laughed into their drinks, "... Someone from Akatsuki got killed. They messed with Konoha… hah, guess they're not invincible after all."
"It was that famous Immortal Duo, right? I saw them once from a distance..."
"Bullshit! They're immortal! That Hidan guy worships some Jashin, and even stabbing his heart won't kill him." The person next to him objected.
"Then how'd they die? Maybe Konoha's got someone who worships the opposite? Some 'God of Light'? Love and peace… whatever, not my problem..."
Logan rubbed his temples. He listened patiently, catching everything from claims of 'I'm related to an Akatsuki's member' to 'the only woman in Akatsuki is actually a crossdresser' and even 'Got a secret letter yesterday: 'I, Akatsuki Leader, urgently need 5 million. Wire funds'.'.
Just as Logan was about to leave, a passing conversation between two men heading to a private room caught his ear.
"Inoue, any word from Deidara-sama?"
The voice was hushed, but Logan's sharp hearing picked it up.
"None, boss. No contact since he went to the Land of Fire." The underling said respectfully.
"Hmm… figures, with his personality. Stay sharp… higher-ups are planning something. Konoha's been scouting the borders… something about… Uchiha..."
The two moved quickly, and Logan lost track of the rest. But the keywords made his eyes sharpen. He watched them enter a private room and shut the door.
"Akatsuki's underlings."
Logan waited a moment, then stood.
…
The black market's enforcers refused to let Logan see the two men. Given that they were Deidara's intel operatives, even flashing his Akatsuki credentials wouldn't help.
Not that it mattered.
Bang!
The VIP hallway's soundproofing was excellent, so when Logan kicked the door open, he had the idle thought, 'Hey, I'm Akatsuki's member too. Why don't I have underlings? Too many absences?'
"Who the hell…?"
The underling had already been dealt with during a bathroom break. Logan stepped inside to see the boss alone on the couch, staring in terror.
Logan casually straightened the crooked door, walked over, plucked the cigar from the man's mouth, and then, a stolen blade flashed past the boss's face, embedding in the wall a hair's breadth away.
"You know the drill. I've got questions."
The boss's eyes darted to the severed strands of his hair drifting to the floor. He was so scared he nearly pissed himself.
"Ask! I'll talk! Just spare me..."
"What were you saying outside?"
"I-I was just talking about… the higher-ups in the organization..." The man was sharp. He paused, then realized, "It was Akatsuki. Akatsuki sent people to the northern part of the Land of Fire! Deidara, Deidara-sama mentioned going after the Kyubi and Uchiha Sasuke..."
"Going after who?" Logan's casual demeanor vanished in an instant, his face suddenly changed. His grip on the blade tightened, and the wall splintered, his aura surging like a storm.
"T-the Kyubi! And Uchiha Sasuke." The boss stammered.
Logan grabbed his collar, locking eyes to confirm the truth, "Hand over the intel."
"R-right!" Under the crushing pressure, the man frantically patted himself down before remembering and yanking open a drawer, shoving a stack of papers forward.
"…"
The boss crouched, arms over his head, his mind racing through worst-case scenarios.
After a while, there was no movement.
He couldn't help but look up and was stunned.
The room was a mess, but no one was there.