Chapter 524: Secret Talk
Shinnō was sealed within the incredibly thick ice. It was clear the old man's life force was more tenacious than expected; even though his body was completely encased, he had not entirely lost the ability to resist.
The room, which was the size of a basketball court, along with the corridors on either side, was now frozen solid. The ice rapidly absorbed the surrounding heat. Shinnō, his body still emitting black steam, forcefully infused his muscles with chakra. Like a bodybuilder from her past life on a massive dose of steroids, his muscles swelled to a grotesque size. His muffled roars echoed from within the ice.
Ino held the final "Ram" hand sign, continuously pouring more frigid air into the room. The space available for Shinnō to move grew smaller and smaller. No matter how strong his muscles were, with his arms unable to swing and his body suspended in mid-air, he was powerless.
The forbidden technique of the Eight Inner Gates was not a permanent state; it had a time limit. Once all the heat was drained from his body, Shinnō's power plummeted.
His thick black hair turned into withered white strands, and his swollen muscles atrophied at an alarming rate. The ferocity on the old man's face was quickly replaced by dejection, pain, and dizziness.
All the power gained from opening the Eight Gates vanished. The muscular man visibly reverted to an old man. The forced extraction of energy from his cells left his body much more stooped than before, his face covered in wrinkles, and most of his teeth had fallen out. His life was now on a countdown.
Ino asked, "Do you have any written records of your Cell Activation Technique? Where are they? Can I take a look?"
"In your dreams! In your dreams!" the old man slurred.
"Then I'll just have to read the information from your brain. This method has always been known for being crude. I don't really like using this secret technique. Kabuto-senpai, you know me, right?" Ino asked the empty air.
A figure that was neither real nor illusory, neither true nor false, suddenly appeared where there had been nothing.
"Miss Yamanaka is as cautious as ever. Not a single flaw to be seen in your combat," Kabuto's figure was extremely blurry, and it was impossible to tell if he was shirtless or not.
Ino sized him up. "It seems your trip to Ryūchi Cave was quite fruitful. That's not easy. I heard it's been over a hundred years since a ninja last mastered the Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave. Kabuto-senpai, you are a remarkable ninja... Anyway, let's get to business. It's a rare reunion for our Baroque Works. Surely the main event isn't just to meet up, chat, and beat up Shinnō for fun, is it?"
Kabuto was merely using the surrounding ice to project an image; his real body was nowhere to be found. Ino couldn't sense his tracks even with Sage Mode. Without a doubt, Kabuto had also entered Sage Mode on his end.
Kabuto's voice came from the blurry figure. "Shinnō's Cell Activation Technique is in his notebook. I've spoken with our senior medical-nin a few times. He should have built a secret room in the fortress's second basement level. If I'm not mistaken, the notebook is in there."
"Thank you so much," Ino said, though she didn't really take it to heart. Both the flying fortress and Shinnō were now in her hands. Finding something would be quick.
Kabuto was testing her, so she threw out a piece of information in return. "Your childhood friend from the orphanage, the one named Urushi, has been found. He insists that you are his brother and that you're on a mission, and that you'll return to the village when peace is achieved."
Upon suddenly hearing a familiar name, Kabuto's illusion flickered violently. It took him a good while to stabilize his chakra output again.
"...Is he well?"
"He's doing great. A few days ago, he discovered the First Hokage's treasure. After paying a small fee, he obtained one C-rank and one D-rank ninjutsu."
Kabuto: "..."
It sounded like his friend had fallen into some kind of scam.
He cleared his throat. "I need to know Lord Orochimaru's whereabouts."
Ino stated her own condition. "I need to know Madara Uchiha's movements."
Kabuto thought for a moment. "What exactly are you trying to do?"
"Nothing much. Just handing in some homework."
Kabuto's illusion slowly faded. "I can't figure out your intentions... Alright. I will contact you again."
While Ino and Kabuto were having their secret talk, in a hidden room on the second basement level of the flying fortress, the duo of Kakuzu and Hidan were also rummaging around.
Nagato had hired the Sky Ninja to participate in the battle. The massive flying fortress, the many Sky Ninja who died in Konoha—what was the price? The price was that the funds Akatsuki had accumulated over many years were nearly depleted.
Kakuzu did not approve of Pain's actions. He insisted that the money was the organization's common property and should be managed by him. But at the time, he couldn't beat Pain, so he could only acquiesce. Now that Pain was dead, he would naturally take back the money that belonged to "him"!
This was definitely not robbery; it was returning property to its rightful owner. At least, that's what he thought.
Hidan had no interest in money; he had been forcibly dragged along to help.
"Hey, how long are we going to be looking? I think the Konoha ninja might be here soon." Hidan stood guard at the door, his large scythe in hand.
They weren't afraid of ordinary Konoha ninja, but the two of them really couldn't beat Ino. Hidan couldn't even guarantee that his curse jutsu would work; that kunoichi could make Lord Jashin tremble in fear. To be honest, he was scared too.
Kakuzu was a miser. As a ninety-year-old man, things like honor and dreams were nonsense. In his heart, nothing was more important than money. He was currently ransacking Shinnō's room.
"Don't rush me! If I find the money, I'll give you half," Kakuzu said casually as he rummaged through chests and cabinets.
Hidan pouted. "That stuff is useless to me."
Kakuzu took the opportunity. "Good, you said it yourself... Haha, found it!"
His rich life experience had given him a wealth of knowledge. He quickly found the secret room Kabuto had mentioned. Opening the hidden door, he found not only the money Nagato had spent to hire the Sky Ninja, but also the funds Shinnō had accumulated over many years to revive the Sky Ninja clan.
Kakuzu was like a mouse that had fallen into a rice jar, overjoyed.
He hurriedly took out sealing scrolls and sealed away all the banknotes, gold, and jewels.
As for Shinnō's thick medical notebook, the "Cell Activation" and "Cell Regeneration" techniques he had developed over years of medical practice—he didn't even glance at them. Right now, his mind was filled with money!
"Who's there? It's the Akatsuki?!" Fu Yamanaka and Torune Aburame fought their way in. Just as they turned a corner, they saw Hidan, wearing a black cloak with red clouds and holding a large scythe, standing guard.
The two exchanged a glance. They were perfectly in sync; no words were needed at a time like this.
Without a shred of fear, they rushed forward, one from the left and one from the right, drawing their swords to strike.
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