Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Seven-Tails, Six-Tails, and One-Tail
Takigakure.
Outside the residence of the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki, Fū.
Two Jōnin assigned to guard the Jinchūriki simultaneously placed their hands on the hilts of their swords.
"What is it? What's going on? Is there an enemy?"
Seeing the two guards on high alert, Fū's young face was filled with confusion.
"Fū, stay behind us."
One of the Jōnin, named Yōrō, protectively placed an arm in front of Fū and spoke in a low voice.
"Kagen, did you feel that?"
Kagen nodded grimly. "Someone's been watching us from the shadows for a while now..."
The two exchanged glances, an incredulous expression crossing their faces.
Someone dared to target the Jinchūriki inside Takigakure?
Clearly, this person didn't know the meaning of the word "death."
Drawing his long blade, Kagen shouted toward the nearby forest.
"Hey, you hiding over there! Come out! We've already found you!"
Two figures emerged unhurriedly from the woods.
One was a sharp-looking man with slicked-back hair. His tone was mocking as he addressed the trio.
"I told you this was a hassle. We can't even kill them. What a pain."
Kagen and Yōrō's anger flared instantly at the man's insolence.
"Who the hell are you?!"
Behind them, Fū peeked out curiously and noticed something peculiar.
"Hey, mister over there... You're not from Takigakure, are you?"
The man, his green eyes the only feature visible behind his mask, nodded slowly.
"No, but I was."
Fū's eyes lit up with excitement.
"I've heard of you! You're Kakuzu, the guy who failed to assassinate the Hokage and fled after stealing a village elder's heart!"
Kagen's expression shifted dramatically.
"K-Kakuzu?!"
Yōrō was equally stunned.
"That's impossible! How old would he even be now?!"
Fū's voice trembled with excitement.
"I've always wanted to meet you, Kakuzu-senpai! Let's be friends!"
Hidan, standing beside Kakuzu and leaning on his scythe, rolled his eyes.
"Kakuzu, is this girl an idiot?"
Kakuzu shook his head, his tone indifferent.
"No idea. I left the village a long time ago."
To everyone's shock, Fū stepped out from behind her guards and approached Kakuzu, holding out her hands.
"Let's start as tea-drinking friends! Please, Kakuzu-senpai!"
"Fū, stop!" Kagen's face turned red with fury. "Guards! We're under attack!"
But before anyone could react further, Hidan spat on his hands, swung his massive scythe, and struck Fū on the back of her head.
With a dull thud, the girl collapsed instantly.
"Hah! Capturing a Jinchūriki is easier than I thought," Hidan cackled.
"And that sound! She's got a good head for it, huh, Kakuzu?"
Kakuzu crouched down, slinging the unconscious Fū over his shoulder. His voice was calm.
"Let's move. I'd like to finish a few more jobs on the way back."
The furious shouts of pursuing Takigakure shinobi grew louder behind them.
"You bastards! Put her down now!"
Dozens of ninja had already arrived, surrounding the duo and blocking their escape.
Hidan's grin widened as he gripped his scythe eagerly.
"Kakuzu, these guys are perfect for a little ritual. You mind if I kill them all?"
Kakuzu glanced at the approaching forces, set Fū down against a tree, and muttered, "Make it quick. You've got an hour."
"That's more than enough time to send them all to meet the gods!" Hidan laughed maniacally, charging into the fray.
...
An isolated mountain village.
Four men with fearsome auras walked through the quiet streets of the village.
Kisame Hoshigaki.
Jūzō Biwa.
Raiga Kurosuki.
Zabuza Momochi.
The four rogue shinobi from Kirigakure exuded false kindness as they advanced deeper into the village.
After some time, Zabuza halted, a cruel grin spreading across his face.
"There he is, our target."
Perched atop a high tree branch was a handsome man wearing a blue haori, casually blowing bubbles.
The Six-Tails Jinchūriki—Utakata.
Utakata leaped down, his serene gaze sweeping over the four attackers.
"You've come for me, haven't you? Did Kirigakure send you to capture me?"
Raiga chuckled darkly.
"No, don't misunderstand. We're rogue nin, just like you."
Kisame grinned wickedly.
"But we're here for Obito's cause, so we still need to take you back."
Utakata scoffed.
"Of course. It's always about the tailed beast inside me."
A surge of crimson chakra enveloped him, forming six tails behind his back.
Faced with the immense power of a Jinchūriki, the four hardened shinobi steeled themselves.
"Not an easy one, huh?" Kisame muttered, drawing Samehada. "Let's go!"
...
Sunagakure.
Laughter echoed through the skies above the village.
"Art is an explosion, yeah!" Deidara's clay bird circled high above, dropping bomb after bomb.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The village erupted into chaos, fire and destruction everywhere.
But no one paid attention to Deidara.
All eyes were on the massive puppet rampaging through the streets.
"Is that... the missing Third Kazekage?! Someone turned him into a puppet!"
"And he's controlling hundreds of puppets at once—this is the work of Sasori of the Red Sand!"
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, hovered on a platform of gold dust, his expression grim.
Behind him, a frail, elderly figure approached, her gaze heavy with emotion.
"Grandson..."
Sasori's brows furrowed at the word, a flicker of discomfort crossing his face.
"Troublesome," he muttered.
"Grandma Chiyo, why don't you just sit this one out?" Sasori said coldly, commanding his army of puppets forward.
...
The Land of Frost.
Obito stood before a rugged man with crimson hair tied back, his face lined with years of hardship.
The man's determined eyes met Obito's unyielding gaze.
Obito chuckled darkly.
Finally, he had found his target: the Four-Tails Jinchūriki—Rōshi.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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