The pressure was suffocating and heavy. What exactly was it?
"Oh?"
"You can withstand my spiritual pressure? Impressive."
Kimimaro looked at the two with interest.
Spiritual pressure? What was that?
"Hey, Kimimaro!"
"This man is my opponent. You are not allowed to touch him!" Sasuke shouted fiercely.
Swish—!
Kimimaro's eyes flashed coldly as he glanced at Sasuke. With a single slap, he sent Sasuke flying through the air.
Sasuke tumbled across the desert like a kite with a broken string, kicking up plumes of yellow sand.
"Holding onto hatred is good."
"But if your strength falls short of your hatred, seeking revenge is just a death wish."
Kimimaro's face was indifferent.
He only listened and followed orders from Orochimaru and Ryujiro. Although he spent time with Sasuke and Gaara, he did not consider them friends.
Sasuke?!
Itachi's heart skipped a beat. Such terrifying power from a casual strike. Was Kimimaro another of Orochimaru's experiments?
Itachi knew well that Orochimaru had been conducting human experiments. To him, Kimimaro was no longer human but a product of Orochimaru's research.
Did Orochimaru realize what a terrifying monster he had created?
"Akatsuki, Gaara belongs to Ryujiro-sama. I can't let you take him." Kimimaro said flatly.
What?!
Kisame and Itachi's eyes widened in shock. Ryujiro again? Did he have ties with Orochimaru?
Was he working with Orochimaru?
Itachi's face remained taut with horror.
Meanwhile, Sasuke crawled out of the sand, his face contorted as he glared at Kimimaro.
Damn it!
How dare Kimimaro treat me like this!
Power!
Power!
What I lack is power!
Why won't Ryujiro transform me into someone like Kimimaro, even if it means no longer being human?
As long as he could kill Itachi and get his revenge, he was willing to pay any price.
Besides, in his view, Kimimaro had only changed in appearance, but fundamentally he was still human.
"Itachi, what should we do now?" Kisame asked deeply.
The immense spiritual pressure greatly restricted their movements. That feeling was not a reaction from their bodies but their souls!
"Retreat!"
As soon as the words fell, Itachi and Kisame disappeared one after another.
"You're quite fast at running away."
However...
Kimimaro raised his fingertip and aimed in a direction, condensing a red Cero with high-density spiritual pressure.
Swish!
The terrifying Cero shot out as a beam, causing a violent sandstorm. The explosion in the distance shook the earth, raising a massive mushroom cloud and a burst of blinding fire.
Even from kilometers away, the scorching temperature could still be felt here.
"Whether you survive depends on your luck."
Kimimaro coldly watched the distant fire, no longer excited by releasing a Cero. He knew it was his power, so there was no need to be surprised.
Sasuke stared in shock at the black smoke in the distance.
Was this Kimimaro's power?
Was this a human's power?
That red beam wasn't a ninjutsu!
Tsk tsk...
Gaara also clicked his tongue and looked on in astonishment.
Indeed, he's no longer a human. Even Shukaku's power was no match for this.
What kind of monster was Ryujiro, and how would he change the shinobi world?
The scorched earth, nearby trees, and plants had turned to ashes, with embers still burning.
A massive red giant stood in the center, protecting Kisame and Itachi. In an instant, the red giant vanished.
Itachi immediately knelt, coughing up blood.
"Itachi!"
Kisame hurriedly helped him up.
"What was that just now?"
At that moment, both he and Itachi felt the threat of death. If they hadn't been protected by this red giant, they would have died long ago.
"This is the Uchiha clan's ultimate power."
"But it comes at a great cost."
"Kisame, the situation has exceeded our expectations. We need to return to the organization."
The burden brought by Susanoo was not ordinary, and Itachi had recently been using the Mangekyo Sharingan's power excessively. His vision was starting to blur.
Kisame dragged Itachi away from the scorched earth.
Capturing the One-Tail Jinchuriki wouldn't be easy.
When Itachi, who was heavily injured, was dragged back to Akatsuki's base by Kisame, all the members of Akatsuki were shocked.
A man like Itachi was actually injured?
Pain frowned. "Kisame, what happened? Was Itachi hurt by the One-Tails Jinchuriki?"
Kisame shook his head. "No, the One-Tails Jinchuriki is indeed at Orochimaru's base, but his power alone wasn't enough to force us to flee."
"There's another monster in Orochimaru's base."
A monster?
"One whose power rivals, no even surpasses that of a Tailed Beast. Under his pressure, Itachi and I could hardly move."
What?!
The Akatsuki members were horrified.
Just the pressure immobilized Itachi and Kisame?
How was that possible!
The organization's medic ninja healed Itachi, but their expression changed instantly.
Glancing at Pain, the medic whispered something to him.
Pain's expression changed, looking at Itachi.
"Itachi, your body..."
Itachi, who had been treated for his injuries, stood up calmly. "I can still hold on."
Holding on, huh...
Indeed, human life is fragile.
Even a man like Itachi couldn't escape the torment of illness.
Kisame and Itachi reported the mission details to Pain.
Nagato, in the treehouse, was visibly shaken.
How could it be?
A human with a hollow void in his abdomen, yet alive?
And with power rivaling a Tailed Beast? That's not human.
What has Orochimaru done since leaving Akatsuki to create such a monster?
Such a creature could disrupt the balance of the ninja world. Orochimaru was a stumbling block on Akatsuki's path to everlasting peace.
"Nagato, what's wrong?"
Konan, who was taking care of Nagato beside him, saw Nagato's face change drastically and couldn't help but ask worriedly.
Nagato shook his head.
"I'm fine."
It seems I'll have to personally deal with the One-Tails Jinchuriki.
---------------
Guys do leave some power stones and reviews.
🤞patreon.com/plotplanner🤞
If you guys enjoy this story, you can support me on Patreon and get access to 50 Advance Chapters, it really helps me to work on new chapters.
Land of Lightning
"Bang!"
A, the Fourth Raikage, slammed his fist down on the table, shattering it into pieces as he roared in anger.
"Onoki!"
During the Four Kage Summit, Onoki of the Hidden Stone Village had shown no respect to him.
A had hoped to become the commander of the allied Shinobi forces, but Onoki had opposed him at every turn.
He's just an old man with one foot in the grave!
The summit had ended in discord yet again.
After several Shinobi World Wars, the nations couldn't trust one another.
Only the emergence of a figure who threatened the entire shinobi world, or Konoha becoming a threat to the other nations, might make the Four Nations trust each other temporarily.
'Damn it, if we declare war on Konoha alone, the Land of Earth might seize this chance to attack us, the Land of Lightning.'
Moreover, A wasn't just wary of Ryujiro.
He still hadn't figured out the full extent of Ryujiro's abilities.
Were they some kind of illusion that deceived the senses or something more?
But back then, the feeling he got from him seemed more than just an illusion.
Their village's Two-Tails Jinchuriki had been captured by the Akatsuki, and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki was his brother.
He couldn't let anything happen to his brother.
Damn it!
It wasn't the right time to start a war with Konoha!
Just thinking about Darui and C's deaths, and the humiliation he had suffered in Konoha, made A grit his teeth in hatred.
Damn you, Konoha!
...
Late at Night, in the Hyuga Compound
A small white snake silently slithered into Ryujiro's room.
Ryujiro wasn't asleep; he grabbed the snake and held it tightly in his hand. Within moments, the snake burned to ashes.
Has Orochimaru already come to Konoha?
The most likely place he would go was the Uzumaki Clan's mask storage hall, where Orochimaru had already taken the Shinigami Mask.
At that moment, Ryujiro's figure suddenly appeared beside him.
"Ryujiro-kun."
Orochimaru's gaze hardened as he looked at Ryujiro.
The aura around Ryujiro had become even more vast and unfathomable, akin to that of the White Snake Sage.
Could it be that Ryujiro's life had evolved to the same as the White Snake Sage?
"You're quite quick," Orochimaru remarked.
"It seems you've just knocked these ninjas unconscious."
"Heh, Ryujiro-kun, you're a Konoha ninja. Naturally, I had to go easy on them."
"Tch."
Ryujiro showed a look of disdain.
Orochimaru had once tried to destroy Konoha.
Now, besides the Shinigami Mask, he also needed a living sacrifice, and the mask had no restrictions on its wearer.
Anyone who wore it could summon the Shinigami, so Orochimaru didn't need to be the sacrifice himself.
He could just find some unfortunate soul. Of course, Ryujiro wouldn't let him use Konoha's ninjas for that.
After all, Ryujiro was Konoha's Hokage assistant.
Orochimaru had prepared for this after learning the method to break the seal.
Suddenly, Ryujiro's Observation Haki detected two familiar presences.
Those presences were...
"It seems we must cut our conversation short." Ryujiro said lightly.
Orochimaru and Ryujiro both vanished in an instant, and two figures appeared in the Uzumaki Clan's mask storage hall.
Anko and Kakashi frowned as they looked at the missing mask.
"This aura... it's Orochimaru," Anko confirmed.
"And there's one mask missing," Kakashi added.
"So, Orochimaru is indeed still alive."
Anko touched the spot on her neck where the cursed seal had disappeared.
The disappearance of the seal might be related to Orochimaru's resurrection.
Though she had escaped Orochimaru's control, Anko couldn't let go of her hatred for him.
"What is the secret of that mask?"
Kakashi had an uneasy feeling, as if besides Orochimaru, there was someone else who felt particularly familiar.
Could there be another spy for Orochimaru in the village?
Shinigami...
In Ryujiro's Room
Lying in bed, Ryujiro couldn't sleep.
If the Shinigami could be Hollowfied, would it become an Adjuchas-class Menos or even higher level hollow?
Although Hollows only evolved by devouring each other, the Shinigami was different from ordinary souls.
Ryujiro even had thoughts of Hollowfying the previous Hokages.
But he quickly dismissed the idea.
Hollowfying the previous Hokage might lead to them becoming uncontrollable, even though Ryujiro could destroy them.
Why waste the effort?
Orochimaru wanted to become an Arrancar, seeking eternal life.
Hollows indeed had eternal existence, and without the Shinigami, Hollows would have no natural enemies in the shinobi world.
Even if injured, their rapid regeneration could allow them to regrow lost limbs.
It's something to look forward to.
...
In the Root Base
Danzo and Obito were gathered in the base.
Here Obito was pretending to be Madara in front of Danzo.
"What did you say?"
"Ryujiro is in contact with Orochimaru?"
Danzo frowned, finding it hard to believe.
"Yes."
"The reason there's been no news about the One-Tail Jinchuriki is that Ryujiro has hidden him with Orochimaru."
Obito spoke calmly.
It was hard to believe that someone like Ryujiro would actively seek out Orochimaru.
Hadn't Orochimaru previously died at Ryujiro's hands?
Did Ryujiro know all along that Orochimaru would resurrect?
Had their previous battle been just an act?
Thinking about it.
Even Danzo couldn't help but breathe cold air.
"Underestimated!
I underestimated him!
Ryujiro is the most dangerous enemy of Konoha."
"His methods and mysteries are beyond even my comprehension," Obito said heavily.
"Even you can't handle him?"
A look of shock crossed Danzo's face.
"Ryujiro..."
Danzo's eyes revealed a cold gleam, he believed that he was the true darkness of Konoha.
No matter what, even if it meant cooperating with Obito,if it was for Konoha's good and if it allowed him to become Hokage, he would do it.
He had always prioritized Konoha's interests and wouldn't let anyone endanger it.
Should he use that eye to control Ryujiro?
The power of the Uchiha clan...
Kotoamatsukami, the ability to enter another's mind and alter their will, turning them into a puppet.
This eye was Danzo's secret weapon.
He had even considered using it on Obito but had dismissed the idea.
If the person in front of him was truly Madara Uchiha, Kotoamatsukami might not work on him.
Forget it!
Though Shisui's eye were precious, controlling Ryujiro would be more beneficial to his becoming Hokage.
Danzo and Obito's plan was to restrain Ryujiro during Pain's invasion of Konoha and let the fifth Hokage die in battle so that Danzo could take the position of Hokage.
"I have a plan to deal with Ryujiro. But the Akatsuki should just proceed according to the original plan."
---------------
Guys do leave some power stones and reviews.
🤞patreon.com/plotplanner🤞
If you guys enjoy this story, you can support me on Patreon and get access to 50 Advance Chapters, it really helps me to work on new chapters.