"So fast! Is this the turtle? Is the turtle a giant turtle?" Fū looked around in wonder.
"It's a super-sized sea turtle as big as an island. It's roamed the ocean for years, drifting unpredictably, so normal folks can't find it at all. Hiding here is the safest option for you two."
Natsuki explained while leading them to look for Killer B and Sasuke.
Before long, they arrived. Killer B was scribbling in a little notebook—clearly thinking up new lyrics—and Sasuke was inside the Falls of Truth.
Natsuki waved. "Yo! Killer B, I brought you some friends. Let me introduce them. The Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, Uzumaki—er, Naruto, and the Seven-Tails' jinchūriki, Fū. Get along, okay?"
"Yo-yo-yo! New friends in the house—lemme take a look. Dumb blond! Cute girl! Big bro here's the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki, Killer B—oh yeah!"
Killer B was obviously excited—new playmates.
Training alone in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning had been boring. Now, on the Island Turtle, having companions was great—and the more the merrier. Most importantly, they were fellow jinchūriki, so there was no prejudice at all.
Fū perked up, scooted closer, and beamed. "Hi, ojisan! Let's be friends!"
Killer B clasped her hand. "Green-haired girl! Super cute girl! Best—buds—with Killer B—yeah!"
"Best buds—with Killer B—yeah!" Fū echoed, pumping a fist.
Both were pretty guileless by nature—especially Killer B, who was sensitive to others' feelings. He could clearly feel Fū's sincerity, so he was happy to be friends.
Naruto's mouth twitched. "Uh, this ojisan… what's with the weird rap…?"
Killer B scowled. "Dumb blond! Dweeb blond! My rap ain't weird—you're the one behind the times. Say that again and I'll stomp you!"
"Stomp him—oh yeah!" Fū jumped right into Killer B's rhythm.
"Y-yeah… yeah!" Naruto half-heartedly raised a hand to match.
Natsuki couldn't stop grinning, but he didn't forget business. "Killer B, Naruto can't control the Nine-Tails' power well. Help him out when you have time. I've got things to handle. You all play nice."
And with a swish, he was gone.
No one paid it any mind—Natsuki was always swishing in and out. They were used to it.
Naruto pointed toward Sasuke. "Hey, Killer B-ojisan, that's the Falls of Truth, right? What's Sasuke doing in there?"
Killer B's tone returned to normal. "Inside the Falls of Truth, you face your true self, discover the darkness in your heart, and defeat it. Do that, and you can become a perfect jinchūriki."
On the other side, Natsuki had just returned to the operations conference office when he was dragged into a meeting.
The agenda was simple: Anko's recon unit had picked up Kabuto's trail and brought back the intel.
Sending Anko to investigate Kabuto had been a deft move. As one of Orochimaru's former students, she understood him better than most. She'd naturally have an easier time finding a successor who inherited Orochimaru's "legacy."
"Anko's message says Kabuto is in a hidden lab in the Land of Rice Fields," Shikamaru summarized.
"There's still a lab in the Land of Rice Fields?!"
Tsunade was displeased. "We practically dug that whole country three feet deep back then. I thought we crushed all of Orochimaru's laboratories. And there's still one left?!"
No one was surprised—it was Orochimaru.
That venomous snake was cunning beyond belief and obsessed with research. A hundred labs in one small country wouldn't be strange.
A said, "If we've found the target, we send a team to eliminate him. He knows Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation). We can't let him keep operating—it's disastrous for our war situation."
Gaara agreed. "And if we kill Kabuto, those already brought back with Edo Tensei should slip his control."
Killing Kabuto brought too many advantages to ignore. Action was a must.
"Who should go? I recommend my granddaughter Kurotsuchi," Ōnoki started—again.
"Send Chōjūrō. I vouch for his strength," Mei added, not missing her chance to propose one of her own.
"Atsui and C are good choices," A shot back, unwilling to be outdone.
"C is a sensory shinobi, you know…" Even Gaara had to complain—these people were at it again, turning it into a contest.
Fortunately, the two chief advisers, Shikaku and Mabui, conferred quickly and spoke up. "From the candidates everyone suggested earlier, have the remaining ones form a strike unit."
No one objected.
Soon, Neji, Atsui, Kurotsuchi, Chōjūrō, Temari, and Kankurō were called back. This time there was no picking and choosing—they'd deploy as a six-man strike team.
Hearing they'd be taking Kabuto out, they were instantly fired up.
Kabuto was a priority elimination—one of the war's most critical targets. Getting tasked as the strike unit on that mission? How could they not be excited?
A cautioned them, "This strike is crucial. Succeed if at all possible."
The six answered loudly, "We'll complete the mission!"
They were brimming with confidence—not just in themselves, but in their resolve to give everything. Everyone understood that eliminating Kabuto would massively shift the war. No one was about to let that credit slip away.
Still, the enemy was dangerous. Carelessness would be fatal.
Natsuki offered a final reminder. "Neji, Kabuto is as cunning and ruthless as Orochimaru. Be careful."
Neji nodded gravely. "I understand. You can count on me."
The others said nothing more and watched the six-man team depart, though worry tugged at their hearts.
Compared to the Orochimaru of back then, Kabuto was only stronger. And to face the Fourth Shinobi World War, he'd certainly prepared numerous Edo Tensei bodies. If the team was surrounded by a cluster of resurrected powerhouses, the danger would be very real.
"Natsuki." Tsunade looked to the boy she trusted.
"Mm. I know."
Natsuki understood. "I'll monitor the position of the Hiraishin formula from Neji's gear and judge the timing of their arrival. When they reach the area, I'll flash over to take a look. I should be able to help."
Only then did everyone truly breathe out.
In their eyes, Natsuki was the real deal. Even if they stumbled into Edo-Madara, Natsuki could still extract the team intact.
To be honest, Natsuki felt uneasy too.
As the saying goes: the carts creak and the horses whinny—Obito and Black Zetsu are scheming, and Kabuto is hatching something big.
The war was about to erupt, yet the villains were strangely quiet. That wasn't normal at all. Don't tell him a hundred thousand White Zetsu were stuck on a bathroom break.
Which is to say, Kabuto was definitely preparing something. They couldn't drop their guard for a second.
(End of Chapter)
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