"Sure enough, Akatsuki has also received the news and sent members to capture the Five-Tails!"
Uchiha Fugaku thought silently.
Akatsuki was already capturing the Tailed Beasts, so it was not surprising that members would appear here after hearing the news.
He walked out without hiding or attacking.
With his current strength, there was no need to use sneak attacks to deal with Akatsuki members other than Nagato.
"Didn't you say we might meet Konoha ninjas? How come we haven't met any?"
Searching through the forest, Hidan complained unhappily.
As a devout follower of the Evil God, he felt uncomfortable even if he didn't offer a daily sacrifice.
Under Nagato's orders, he reluctantly accepted the task of capturing the Five-Tails.
He had expected to run into Konoha ninja and be able to sacrifice one of them, but none appeared.
"It's better not to. Meeting Konoha shinobi is not a good thing for us."
Shennong said.
If they didn't encounter Konoha ninja, it likely meant Konoha hadn't received the news yet, and they could use all their energy to search for and capture the Five-Tails.
If they did, they would be hindered, which would not benefit their mission.
"How can I offer sacrifices to the Evil God without meeting Konoha ninja? Or are you volunteering to be sacrificed?"
Hidan looked at Shennong dangerously.
"You can try."
Shennong exuded a dangerous aura and said coldly.
In exchange for healing Nagato's legs, he completed his long-awaited research using the Akatsuki's help and resurrected the Zero Tail.
In terms of strength, he was still superior to Hidan and thus not afraid.
"Who's there?"
Suddenly, both Hidan and Shennong stopped arguing and looked alertly in one direction.
There, someone walked toward them, his footsteps crunching on dried branches and leaves.
It was a middle-aged man wearing the Uchiha clan emblem. Though he appeared devoid of chakra, he felt as vast as the ocean.
The man walked toward them casually, ignoring their Akatsuki robes, which were feared across the ninja world.
When they saw his face clearly, their expressions changed.
"Not good! Konoha's Uchiha Fugaku is here in person—abort the mission and retreat immediately!"
Shennong shouted in panic.
As a full member of Akatsuki, he had seen Uchiha Fugaku's portrait and received strict orders: flee immediately if encountered.
"Uchiha Fugaku... If I sacrifice him to the Evil God, the deity will definitely be pleased."
Hidan's expression showed anticipation.
"This is not an enemy we can handle. Nagato ordered us to retreat immediately upon encountering him."
As Shennong spoke, he was already retreating quickly in one direction.
Hidan was reluctant. Though he believed his immortal body made him untouchable, he still followed Shennong and withdrew.
Swish—
Uchiha Fugaku used the Body Flicker Technique and appeared before them, blocking their path.
With the way ahead blocked, Shennong and Hidan halted abruptly, facing Fugaku with caution.
"It seems we have no choice but to fight."
Unable to flee, Hidan wasn't worried but instead seemed excited.
He wanted to fight from the start. Now, since retreat wasn't an option, it was perfect for him.
"How can you be so happy in a situation like this?"
Shennong glared at Hidan.
They were clearly in danger, yet Hidan seemed thrilled. He must be insane.
"Uchiha Fugaku, if I can offer you to the Evil God, the deity will be overjoyed."
Hidan took down his giant scythe and swung it at Fugaku like a reaper.
Clang—
Before the scythe could strike, it was blocked by a black Susanoo.
If not for its high-grade chakra-metal composition, the scythe would've shattered on impact.
Fugaku knew well that Hidan's curse technique required the enemy's blood as a medium.
Understanding this, he had no reason to fight Hidan with taijutsu.
Even though he was confident Hidan couldn't touch him, there was no need to risk it.
Whoosh—
Susanoo's right hand lunged to grab Hidan.
Hidan dodged swiftly.
As a taijutsu expert, he had exceptional agility.
Susanoo's right hand followed, grabbing again.
Hidan dodged once more—but this time—
Susanoo's left hand joined in.
Despite trying his best to dodge, he was a moment too late.
Under Fugaku's control, even Susanoo's hands were unnaturally flexible.
"Forbidden Medical Technique: Flesh Revitalization—"
Seeing Hidan charge in recklessly, Shennong was furious.
But now wasn't the time for anger. He quickly used dark chakra to cast a forbidden medical jutsu.
His wrinkles faded, hair darkened, and his body reverted to a youthful prime in mere moments.
"Eight Gates of Ninja—open!"
Now in his physical prime, he activated the Eight Gates.
Empowered by dark chakra and forbidden jutsu, his physical body reached peak condition.
In this state, any injuries healed rapidly, allowing him to use the Eight Gates freely, without fearing death.
Swish—
Fully opened, he darted to Hidan's side.
"Taijutsu: Bone-Splitting Fist—"
He kicked Hidan aside and punched Susanoo's hand.
Boom—
Susanoo's hand was unscathed, but Shennong staggered back.
His punching hand was bloody, with even white bone exposed.
Though he had used the Eight Gates, his strength was nowhere near Might Guy's, or even Fugaku's Eight Gates.
Taijutsu enhanced by the Eight Gates depends heavily on the user's base physical prowess.
Shennong's taijutsu was inferior to both Might Guy and Fugaku, so even boosted, it couldn't match theirs.
However, Shennong had one unique advantage: the forbidden medical technique empowered by dark chakra.
"Medical Forbidden Technique: Flesh Regeneration—"
His mangled fist healed rapidly, the bone and flesh restoring within seconds.
"What kind of medical ninjutsu is this?"
Fugaku was surprised to see such rapid healing.
But he didn't have time to ponder. Shennong's next strike was incoming.
Swish—
Now fully recovered, Shennong appeared behind Susanoo in a flash.
"Ninjutsu: Super Divine Fist—"
Dark chakra condensed into a dense ball in his palm, which he slammed into Susanoo.
Boom—
A fierce explosion erupted across Susanoo's exterior, but it remained unscathed.
Crack—
Susanoo turned, trapping Shennong between its giant hands.
Unable to dodge, Shennong was caught in its grip.
The pressure increased, and his body began to deform under the force.
Swish—
Hidan appeared, his scythe imbued with chakra, slashing at Susanoo's arm to free Shennong.
But it was pointless.
Even infused with chakra, his scythe couldn't pierce Susanoo's defense.
"Zero Tail—"
As Shennong was about to be crushed, his body vanished.
In his place was a long-bodied creature with a strange mask-like face.
Under Susanoo's crushing grip, it was torn in two—but quickly reformed as if untouched.
This creature was Zero Tail, resurrected by Shennong with Akatsuki's help.
Despite its name, it wasn't a true Tailed Beast, but a parasite that fed on dark emotions to generate dark chakra.
After reviving it, Shennong housed Zero Tail within his body to supply him with power.
Just now, he released it and hid inside to avoid being crushed.
"This is... Zero Tail? Then this man must be Shennong!"
Recognizing the creature, Fugaku recalled who this opponent was.
Shennong, a doctor on the surface, was in fact the leader of the Sky Ninja.
He once tried to conquer the ninja world using Zero Tail's power and possessed the regenerative traits Orochimaru sought.
Unexpectedly, Nagato had recruited him into Akatsuki.
"Nagato's legs must've been healed by him."
Fugaku connected the dots.
Shennong joined Akatsuki, and Nagato's crippled legs were now healed—it couldn't be coincidence.
"I can't hurt him physically. Get me his blood. If I get it, I can kill him."
Hidan approached Zero Tail and whispered to Shennong inside.
"Alright."
Shennong agreed.
Only by cooperating could they stand a chance against Fugaku.
Swish, swish, swish—
Dozens of hands emerged from Zero Tail's body, stretching like serpents.
Some attacked from the air, some from the ground, and some from underground—aimed at the vulnerable areas of Susanoo.
(End of this chapter)
***
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