[Chapter Size: 1400 Words.]
---------------------------------------
In the imposing mountains of the Land of Fire, a tall man in a cloak adorned with flame-like clouds advanced steadily. His gray hood concealed his face, but it couldn't hide his stern demeanor. His pair of dark green pupils gleamed with intensity.
A second man, also wearing a cloak, followed him leisurely. He had silver hair slicked back and carried a three-bladed, blood-red scythe on his back. His composed demeanor contrasted sharply with the serious aura of the man ahead.
These two were none other than the so-called Immortal Duo, Hidan and Kakuzu of the Akatsuki, two of the organization's infamous members.
During a recent Akatsuki meeting, Pain had ordered Kakuzu to visit Deidara's hideout to reattach his severed arm. Reluctantly, Kakuzu embarked on the journey, traveling across mountains and rivers from the distant Land of Fire to complete this task.
After walking for a long time along the winding mountain path, they finally stopped outside a cave sealed with a talisman.
Kakuzu swiftly performed a series of hand seals.
"Boom! Boom!"
The seal shattered, and the stone door rumbled open.
Stepping inside, Kakuzu called out gruffly, "Deidara, get out here right now!"
From within the shadows, Deidara emerged, his tone filled with frustration. "Took you long enough, Kakuzu! My arms are practically infested with maggots!"
Kakuzu scoffed. "Perfect. Why don't you use that freakish mouth of yours to eat them raw?"
Deidara shot back, "Hey, hey, cut me some slack! I'm not a weirdo like Orochimaru, my mouth is dedicated solely to the art of explosions!"
Kakuzu had no patience for Deidara's banter. Without another word, he released the black threads of his Earth Grudge Fear technique from his shoulder and began suturing Deidara's severed arm.
The process went smoothly. Deidara flexed his newly reattached arm and smirked. "Kakuzu, thanks. I owe you one."
Kakuzu dismissed the sentiment. "Spare me the useless gratitude. Just keep your promise and bring me Uchiha Sasuke's head."
Deidara clenched his fist. "Right! I'll come up with a new technique to take that guy down and finally settle the score with him!"
Kakuzu arched an eyebrow. "A new technique? You think you can push your explosive clay even further?"
Deidara responded with absolute confidence. "Of course! Art has limitless possibilities! I already have an idea. As long as I can overcome its one weakness, Lightning Release, then dealing with Itachi's little brother won't be a problem!"
Hidan, who had been idly scratching his neck, strolled forward and glanced around. "By the way, where's Tobi?"
Deidara shrugged helplessly. "Tobi heard that Kakuzu once killed his own teammates, so he ran off and hid. What a coward..."
Hidan spread his arms. "Hah! I actually think that guy and I would get along just fine. Next time, I'll invite him to join the cult of Jashin!"
Time was money, and Kakuzu had no intention of wasting any more of it.
"Hidan, we're leaving."
Deidara called after him, "Hey, we rarely get to meet up. Why don't you stick around and chat for a bit?"
Kakuzu's voice was cold as he turned his back. "I'm busy."
Leaving Deidara's hideout behind, Kakuzu and Hidan headed north.
Hidan frowned. "This doesn't look like the way back."
Kakuzu, ever the money-driven man, responded flatly, "We're headed to the Fire Temple. The abbot there, Chiriku, was once one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja of the Fire Daimyō. His head is worth 30 million ryō. Since we're already in the Land of Fire for Deidara's business, we might as well make a fortune while we're here."
Hidan's eyes gleamed with bloodlust. "A temple, huh? Gods and Buddhas are heretics before Lord Jashin! Their blood will be a perfect offering!"
And so, the Fire Temple met its downfall, three years ahead of schedule.
The Land of Fire was shaken to its core.
Upon receiving the news, Kabuto reported back to Orochimaru on Blue Island.
"We've tracked down Kakuzu and Hidan. They attacked the Fire Temple and killed the abbot, Chiriku. They're now heading to the southern part of the Land of Fire to cash in his corpse."
Orochimaru smirked and sighed. "They sure know how to make a scene. Are they afraid we won't notice them?"
Kabuto's expression darkened slightly. "However, while I was investigating their whereabouts, White Zetsu seemed to have discovered mine."
Orochimaru lowered his gaze and said, "White Zetsu those creatures are everywhere, and their reconnaissance abilities are formidable. You once used your identity to lure Sasori. If you plan to deal with the Akatsuki in the future, you will inevitably come into direct contact with these products of the Infinite Tsukuyomi..."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, concern evident in his voice. "If they alert Kakuzu and Hidan in advance and change their route, we might end up losing them..."
Orochimaru fell into deep thought.
"Obito holds a higher priority than Nagato when it comes to commanding White Zetsu. White Zetsu will definitely notify Obito first. Only after receiving Obito's approval will he inform Nagato."
Kabuto's eyes narrowed. "Could it be that Obito has a reason not to report this situation? After all, the lives and deaths of Akatsuki members directly affect his personal interests, don't they?"
Orochimaru's expression darkened. "Obito and Nagato have fundamentally different goals. The biggest disagreement lies in the respective roles of Sasori and Kakuzu. The order in which former Akatsuki members were eliminated might give us some clues. Also, Obito has been planning to manipulate Sasuke's hatred for his own benefit. So, there's a plausible reason for him to withhold information, but I can't be absolutely certain. Either way, we will remain unchanged in the face of change..."
"Understood."
Kabuto then asked, "How are Sasuke-kun's preparations coming along?"
Orochimaru smirked. "Let's take a look together."
Beneath the massive waterfall on Blue Island, Sasuke sat shirtless, his body silently cleansed by the rushing water.
On the riverbank, Karin rested her chin in her hands, staring at Sasuke in a daze.
Orochimaru approached and teased, "Karin, would you like to jump in and spar with Sasuke-kun for three hundred rounds?"
Realizing she had been caught, Karin shot up, flustered, pushing up her glasses with both hands as her face turned crimson. "I…I wasn't doing anything!! Don't make it sound like I'm obsessed with Sasuke's body!!!"
Orochimaru merely smiled, standing beside Kabuto without commenting further.
At that moment, Sasuke's skin was completely covered by the White Cursed Seal.
Kabuto activated his Sharingan, examining Sasuke carefully. "Ah! He's already in 'Stage One'!"
Orochimaru's grin widened. "Not bad. The fact that he can enter Stage One proves that the effects of the first battle have far exceeded expectations!"
Over the past month, through her conversations with Orochimaru, Karin had learned about the White Cursed Seal and the plan for the tenth battle.
However, she was still unaware of Sasuke's rebirth or his true purpose. Even so, she sensed that Sasuke was hiding something from her, his "heavy," "mature," and "somber" chakra felt inconsistent with his age.
Karin was an intelligent woman, especially in matters that truly mattered. She understood that if Sasuke wanted to tell her something, he would. So, instead of asking, she chose to observe him silently, trusting her own eyes to uncover the truth.
Standing behind him, she watched intently.
Beneath the waterfall, Sasuke opened his eyes. He knew, the second battle was about to begin.
He spoke with unwavering determination:
"I've decided. In this battle, I will fight without using the power of the 'Sharingan'!"
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you at least ask who your opponent is first?"
Sasuke stood up, his voice resolute. "It doesn't matter who it is. To defeat the enemy, I must first conquer myself!"
"What terrifying resolve!"
Orochimaru, inwardly impressed, asked seriously, "If you don't use the Sharingan, you won't be able to rely on your specialty, Chidori. Have you found a way to compensate for that?"
Sasuke slowly raised his palm.
"Fwoosh!"
Blue chakra surged in his hand, rapidly condensing as it rotated, compressed and suddenly formed into a dense, spiraling sphere of chakra!
Kabuto's stomach twisted in shock. "So that's what he's planning!"
Orochimaru's eyes flickered with intrigue. "Oh? Rasengan? Now this. I'm truly looking forward to seeing."
------------
Support me and be 60 chapters ahead of webnove for $6:
👉[patreon.com/DylanBriak]