WebNovels

Chapter 33 - chapter 33

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33

"What, you want this eye too?"

After confirming that the Mangekyō Sharingan Itachi gave him was genuine, Pain swallowed the crow—with the eye still in it—right in front of Tobi.

"It doesn't matter who holds it. In the end, it's just another tool against the Tailed Beasts."

Tobi did covet Shisui's eye.

But Pain—no, Nagato—had made it clear he wouldn't hand it over.

Knowing that, Tobi didn't press the issue.

After all, one day, not just that Mangekyō, but even the Rinnegan on Nagato's face… would be his.

He wasn't in a rush.

"You're right. But the plan for the Tailed Beasts is still..."

While they all aimed to gather the Tailed Beasts and usher in peace, their methods diverged drastically.

Especially when it came to *what* would happen to the beasts in the end.

And frankly, Nagato had always been wary of the masked man who never showed his face—yet dared to call himself Uchiha Madara.

There was no way he'd entrust him with Shisui's Mangekyō.

"Has the Gedo Statue's body been restored yet?"

To recreate the Ten-Tails, they'd need to seal the One-Tail through Nine-Tails precisely into the Gedo Statue—once the Ten-Tails' husk.

"It still needs more time."

Nagato had pushed his limits—burning away his own lifespan to rejuvenate the Gedo Statue.

But the vessel was still incomplete.

"More importantly—why is Uchiha Itachi so insistent on returning to Konoha?"

To the point of surrendering *Kotoamatsukami*?

Nagato was genuinely curious what could drive such a high price.

"Because of a brat named Uchiha Kage. But mostly, he's worried about his brother."

There was a hint of disdain in Tobi's voice.

A powerful shinobi… with such an obvious weakness?

Not worth fearing.

"…Kage?"

Nagato didn't care for the Uchiha clan's infamous obsession with their brothers.

But that name…

"What is it?"

"Nothing… just reminded me of someone I knew long ago. His name also had 'Kage' in it."

"This fake world isn't worth clinging to. Just get the Gedo Statue ready. We can't delay the beast captures any longer."

Ending the conversation abruptly, Tobi vanished without another word.

---

"There really *was* treasure down here!?"

Hayate Gekkō pushed open an underground vault door—only to be blinded by the shimmering gold and glittering jewels inside.

"Rather than treasure, I'd say it's loot—plundered over the years by rogue shinobi hiding in the ruins of Uzushio."

Even Yugao Uzuki looked visibly surprised.

But once she remembered the blood that had been spilled for these riches… she calmed.

The ruins of Uzushio—unclaimed land between the great nations—had long been a haven for rogue ninja and outlaws.

"Still, no one's going to claim it now. Lord Hokage's gonna *love* us for this! We—cough, cough—"

Hayate was already imagining the day they returned to Konoha—honored by the Hokage, admired by the village…

But the excitement triggered a coughing fit that reminded everyone of his poor health.

"We really have Kage to thank. He led us straight to their hideout… and the vault."

Yugao glanced at Uchiha Kage, walking silently behind them.

Then she quickly patted Hayate's back, trying to help him breathe.

"Your condition is too poor… you shouldn't have joined this mission."

"It's fine. Just an old problem."

Hayate coughed a few more times before steadying himself.

"But it's true—without Uchiha Kage, we wouldn't have found any of this. Maybe we should just leave him behind to guard the vault?

With Kakashi-senpai leading, we should be enough to handle Kirigakure."

"That…"

Yugao hesitated.

"You still think he'll slow us down?"

"He's just a rookie genin. Better to leave him here than risk him dying in the Hidden Mist."

An S-rank mission—to infiltrate Kirigakure and gather intel. Hayate didn't think Kage should come.

No matter how talented the Uchiha were, a genin was still a genin.

"Let's ask him directly. Lord Hokage personally assigned him to this mission."

Though Hayate made a good point, Yugao felt Kage deserved the choice.

Whether or not he'd hold them back—staying behind would definitely be safer.

"What's he doing?"

Their eyes drifted to the back of the room—where Kage was standing before a rack of old masks.

"Those masks… something special about them?"

Yugao followed his gaze curiously.

The legend of the Shinigami—that rumor probably came from these masks.

"Nothing."

Kage shook his head, calm as ever. But inside, his heart was racing.

Because one of the masks on the rack was labeled:

**[Shinigami Fragment]**

If he was right… this was the same mask Orochimaru would one day use to summon the Shinigami.

But what was this "Shinigami Fragment"?

Could he absorb it—like the ninja fragments?

He slowly reached for the mask.

"Just looked really lifelike, that's all."

Kage casually picked it up—and confirmed it.

**He could absorb it.**

Pretending to store it inside his cloak, he secretly activated the system.

[Shinigami Fragment x1 absorbed]

…Did that mean he could *use* the Shinigami's power now?

But what exactly could the Shinigami *do*?

Kage felt… different. Like something inside him had changed.

But not in any way he could clearly define.

"Pretty realistic, I'll give you that. These rogue shinobi must've used them to play gods or demons."

Hayate picked one up as well.

So easily distracted by masks… yep, still just a kid.

---

"So… you're leaving me here for *my own good*?"

After they finished securing the vault and mapping the area, Yugao and Hayate informed Kage of the plan.

"But shouldn't Hayate-senpai be the one staying behind?"

"Huh? Why me?"

Hayate looked baffled.

"Because you've got heavy eye bags, pale skin, and a nonstop cough. You look seriously ill."

Honestly, Kage was starting to worry *he'd* be the liability on this mission.

"I—cough, cough—I'm not *sick*! Just a little weak, that's all! Cough—!"

"See? What if you suddenly start coughing during an infiltration—"

"I *won't*! Yugao, don't give me that look too! I can hold it in, you know that—cough, cough!"

Hayate was flailing now—trying desperately to dig himself out of the hole he'd just fallen into.

The worst part? The more anxious he got… the more he coughed.

Damn brat—turning the tables like this…

He had to prove himself.

Otherwise

Yugao really *would* leave him behind.

"Fine then. Let's fight, Uchiha Kage. If you can earn my respect in battle, I'll let you come to the Land of Water with us.

If not—you're staying here."

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