The moment his consciousness entered that strange space, Shinju enthusiastically greeted the others.
"Hello there! （＾ワ＾）"
"..."
The members of Akatsuki wore nothing but awkward expressions.
You killed Hidan and Kakuzu—who the hell would want to greet you!! Ծ‸ Ծ
Standing at the front, the leader with those strange spiral-patterned eyes quickly figured out the situation.
"So you managed to break the binding on the ring's seal… I'm impressed."
Shinju turned his head, locking eyes with the Akatsuki leader.
When he saw that strange ripple-pattern, his heart jolted! (´°Δ°`)
He recognized those eyes from the old Konoha records he had studied.
The Rinnegan!
The eyes said to command life and death!
The bearer could wield all six chakra natures, and even control Yin and Yang itself—possessing powers beyond imagination.
"I thought those eyes only existed in legends," Shinju murmured.
The next moment!
The Akatsuki leader raised his hand, and Shinju's consciousness trembled.
When he came to, he was back in his own body.
"Huuh…" Shinju let out a long breath.
The discovery of the Rinnegan left him deeply shaken.
Beside him, Naruto looked shocked. Since Shinju first showed his talents, it was the first time Naruto had seen him so unsettled.
"What is it? What's hidden in that ring? (‧_‧?)"
Naruto asked curiously.
After gathering his thoughts, Shinju explained,
"I don't know the exact technique, but I'm certain this ring is the medium Akatsuki uses for communication. It allows the wearer's consciousness to enter a shared terminal space…"
Naruto was completely lost: (´இ皿இ｀)
"So are we still going to Amegakure?"
Shinju shook his head. "Before entering that space, I overheard some of their conversation."
"Their next target is the Three-Tails in the Land of Water."
"They've assigned the capture to Deidara and Sasori."
Naruto's eyes lit up with excitement.
"So what you're saying is—we step in, carry out justice, and stop Akatsuki's evil plans?! !୧⍢⃝୨"
Shinju nodded. "That's one way to put it. And besides, Deidara and Sasori—one's a rogue from Iwagakure, the other from Sunagakure. Both carry extremely high bounties! (ﾉ∇︎〃 )"
"Whatever their reason for capturing tailed beasts, it can't be anything good. Interfering with them is the right move. "
Naruto nodded firmly.
"Alright! And since we just so happen to be at the border of the Land of Water, maybe this is destiny, arranged by the heavens. ୧⍢⃝୨"
"You too? When did you get all superstitious?"
Shinju asked in puzzlement.
Naruto scratched his cheek. "I was just saying… (￣3￣)"
...
Elsewhere.
After receiving their mission from the Hokage, the reduced Kakashi team joined forces with Kurenai's squad.
Because Kurenai had urgent matters, Hinata, Kiba, and Shino were temporarily placed under Kakashi's command.
Now, the five-man scouting unit had arrived at the Land of Water's border.
Suddenly, Akamaru sniffed the air and barked twice at Kiba.
"You smell something familiar? Is it Konoha shinobi?" Kiba asked.
Akamaru nodded and barked again.
Excitement flashed in Kiba's eyes as he turned to report.
"Kakashi-sensei, Akamaru caught the scent of Konoha ninja."
Kakashi asked, "Could it be that Anbu operative delivering intel?"
Kiba shook his head.
"No, this scent—it's likely Shinju and Naruto."
The group brightened immediately.
Even though Shinju and Naruto had left Konoha, they were still Konoha shinobi in truth.
With their help, this scouting mission would become much easier.
"Find them."
Kakashi gave the order with a wave of his hand.
At the same time, he began to wonder why Shinju and Naruto were here.
Could it be… for revenge on the Third Hokage?
After some thought, Kakashi found it plausible. ❛‿˂̵✧
Shinju was a good-hearted, upright child, modest and reserved, never one to wear his emotions openly.
"Silly kid… Konoha would never let you fight that battle alone. (｡•́__ก̀｡)" Kakashi muttered softly.
...
At another part of the Land of Water's border.
Three figures in black Akatsuki cloaks emerged from the forest.
"How do you think that boy managed to enter the space beside the Gedo Statue?"
Deidara asked from atop his clay bird in the sky.
The injuries from his last battle with Shinju had fully healed—even his severed arm had been stitched back on by Kakuzu.
But now Kakuzu was dead. No one else in Akatsuki could perform that surgery…
"Senpai, why bother with such things? Leave that kind of headache to the leader," Tobi said, voice light and playful.
"That red-haired boy is a formidable opponent. We need to analyze him carefully," Sasori rasped in his hoarse voice.
If not for that torrential rain last time, he would likely have been surrounded and killed by the Konoha shinobi and Chiyo in that cavern.
"Come on, is he really as scary as you two say? In the end, he just used Wood Release. I can do that too."
Tobi's tone was flippant, as if joking.
"This isn't the time for jokes, Tobi! Carelessness against that boy will get you killed! (′д｀σ)σ"
Deidara scolded sharply, showing the air of a senior.
"Exactly. You think Wood Release is something just anyone can wield?"
Sasori added coldly, "If you really could use Wood Release, Deidara would blow himself up right here to prove it! （｀Δ´）!"
Deidara: (ー_ー)!!
"Sasori, senpai! Tobi definitely can't use Wood Release, but don't make jokes about my explosions. (*Ӧ)σ"
"That's my ultimate art—the grand masterpiece I'll leave in the history of art!!"
Tobi chimed in idly, "By the way, at the last market I think I saw puppets that looked just like your clay dolls, Deidara-senpai. Could it be… you're plagiarizing?"
Deidara: (ꐦ ಠ皿ಠ)
"Don't question my art!!!"
...
Outside a fortress base somewhere in the Land of Water, under Orochimaru's control.
Kabuto, cloaked, led a child toward the gates.
The next moment—
"Crash!"
Strange pink crystals erupted from the ground.
With a deafening "boom!", a massive crystal pillar came crashing down toward Kabuto.
Yanking the child back, Kabuto broke into a cold sweat and shouted,
"Guren, enough!"
A woman's silhouette emerged from the shadows, voice mocking.
"My, my. I thought it was an intruder. Turns out it's Orochimaru-sama's right-hand man—Yakushi Kabuto."
"Heh, you know perfectly well whether it was a mistake in judgment or not," Kabuto sneered, pulling the child forward.
"Orochimaru-sama has ordered me to bring you a new mission."
Guren frowned in dissatisfaction.
"Ever since Orochimaru-sama found Uchiha Sasuke, he hasn't sent me a mission. I thought he'd forgotten me."
Kabuto smiled faintly.
"Not at all. In fact, the first message he asked me to deliver is this—he's chosen you as the body for his next reincarnation."
Guren's calm expression shattered into shock, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Really?! (´◊ω◊｀)"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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