Chapter 182 – The Controlled Kabuto, Departure!
Kitagawa Gen was a man of action. Once he decided to set out, he went straight home to prepare.
"Mission to the Hidden Cloud, huh? No idea what I'll get out of it."
He split off a God Tree clone to handle organizing things while he sat cross-legged, lost in thought.
The Cloud's biggest value to him, aside from getting another chance to study Storm Release, probably came down to one thing: tailed beasts.
"Besides that… maybe I should look into the Yata Mirror's whereabouts, too."
That particular treasure had been on his list for ages, but he'd never had the time to retrieve it. This trip might be the perfect opportunity.
As for a summoning beast…
His original target had been that giant lizard belonging to a certain "Masashi Kishimoto," but now it didn't seem all that important.
"After all, I've got Wood Release—what do I need a summoning beast for?"
Gen chuckled softly, then looked at his God Tree clone.
"When I'm gone, handle things as you see fit. Oh, and work on grasping that Storm Release for me—I won't have time."
"You think I'm your shadow clone or something?"
The clone curled its lip, but as a clone, it didn't have much say.
"Fine, I'll do it."
"Good. Oh—almost forgot something. Kabuto… and that White Zetsu pretending to be Kisame."
Stretching lazily, Gen remembered the two matters he hadn't dealt with yet.
He was especially curious about whether White Zetsu could take a 'Kāma' mark—after all, that was prime-grade material.
Even Edo Tensei reincarnations of Hashirama and Tobirama could reach near-peak strength when using a White Zetsu body.
Whether that "near-peak" claim was exaggerated… well, that was debatable.
"Still, not bad. And I've also got Self-Reincarnation—I wonder if it works on Edo Tensei bodies."
It was a shame he hadn't used Self-Reincarnation much yet.
If it could stack with Edo Tensei, the technique's value would skyrocket.
"And what if I could combo it with Izanagi to break the system?"
For example—revive with Self-Reincarnation, then use Izanagi to erase the death state entirely.
Definitely worth testing.
But for now, the priority was prep work. And as for Kabuto—Gen had no intention of letting him go.
---
Meanwhile, in a forest on the edge of the Leaf…
"Still no word from Lord Orochimaru?"
Kabuto's face was grim.
Days had passed without a single message. It made him uneasy.
He knew the Leaf must be on high alert now, so maybe Orochimaru was simply lying low.
Still, in this situation, Kabuto wasn't sure what he should be doing.
"…Maybe I just have to wait a little longer."
After a long silence, he murmured the thought aloud.
"I really didn't expect Kitagawa Gen to be this strong."
He had always known Gen was formidable—after all, the man had defeated Orochimaru.
But to take on three opponents plus a tailed beast, wipe them out, and kill two Kage in the process?
No matter how you looked at it, that was insane.
"Kitagawa Gen… you're barely even human."
Kabuto whispered the words, but then—
"Even though I know you're trying to compliment me, phrasing it like that doesn't exactly make me happy."
The sudden voice froze the breath in his lungs.
He spun around—and there was Kitagawa Gen, standing behind him as if he'd been there all along.
"jōnin... Gen?"
Cold sweat ran down Kabuto's back, but he forced himself to stay calm.
"What are you talking about, I—"
"Drop the act, Kabuto."
Gen shook his head with a sigh.
"Why do you think I came here? And tell me—do you think I don't know about you and Orochimaru?"
Kabuto went silent for a moment, staring at him. Then, unexpectedly, he chuckled.
"You're joking, Gen-san. If I were really connected to Orochimaru, you wouldn't have come here alone."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Gen smiled too, taking a slow step forward.
"What if I told you… one of me is scarier than all of the ANBU combined?"
Kabuto's smile vanished.
From anyone else, he'd scoff. But from Kitagawa Gen… he didn't dare take it as a joke.
Step by step, Gen closed the distance. Kabuto's body trembled despite himself.
When only a meter remained between them—
Vwoom—!
Kabuto moved first.
Chakra flared in his hand, forming the sharp glow of a Chakra Scalpel. He swung it straight at Gen's neck.
"Decisive. But compared to Orochimaru, you've got a long way to go."
Gen merely shook his head. Kabuto's eyes widened in shock—he couldn't move.
Vines erupted from the ground, winding around him in an instant. His chakra was being devoured, strength draining fast.
"W-Wood Release?!"
Kabuto Yakushi stared in disbelief at what was happening.
Kitagawa Gen, on the other hand, simply smiled—as if everything was perfectly natural.
"Just Wood Release," Gen said casually. "A fusion of Water and Earth Release… maybe with a touch of Yang Release. Nothing too difficult for me—just like Dust Release."
"…My lord, I—"
Kabuto's mind reeled. Just like Dust Release?
Dust Release was a Kekkei Tōta—a bloodline selection technique—something only a handful of shinobi in the entire world could use.
As far as Kabuto knew, the only living users were Ōnoki and Deidara.
But this man not only wielded Dust Release—he could now use Wood Release too?
"L–Lord Gen… there might… be some kind of misunderstanding!"
Kabuto struggled against the vines binding him, still trying to talk his way out. But Gen merely raised his hand, and a glowing sphere of blue chakra bloomed in his palm.
"I know who you are, Kabuto Yakushi. The orphan taken in by Nono Yakushi… and the discarded pawn abandoned by Shimura Danzō."
"!!"
Kabuto's eyes went wide. How… does he know that?
"Danzō used someone else's photo to impersonate you, deceiving Nono Yakushi—and driving the two of you to kill each other. I know that too."
Gen's voice dropped to a murmur, but his words nearly stopped Kabuto's breathing.
"I also know that, when you were lost, Orochimaru gave you the reason to keep living—and that you see yourself as his shadow."
"…"
"And I know you once acted as Sasori's spy… though not anymore, of course—since Sasori's dead."
Kabuto's mind buzzed. His breathing turned shallow. He stared at Gen for a long moment before finally speaking in a low voice.
"…Who are you? Why do you know all this?"
"Danzō's dead. That means I can read his files whenever I want. In front of me, Kabuto… you have no secrets."
Gen tossed out the lie as if it were nothing, then said quietly,
"Instead of asking stupid questions, you should be wondering… who you're about to become."
"…What do you mean?"
"Simple. I don't have time to 'rehabilitate' you. I'm here to do just one thing."
Before Kabuto could ask, the chakra sphere in Gen's hand shot into his body.
In that instant, Kabuto's head exploded with pain. A strange, invasive energy flooded his mind, tearing at his will.
And he couldn't resist it at all.
"All done. Karin, it's safe now."
Gen didn't even look at Kabuto anymore. He turned his head toward the trees.
"Good work. Without you, it would've taken longer to track him down."
"…Senpai."
Karin stepped out hesitantly from behind a tree.
"This guy… he's one of Orochimaru's men?"
"That's right. Though probably not anymore."
Gen shook his head. The Spirit Sphere's effectiveness had already been proven on Kisame—someone with willpower far stronger than most.
Even Kabuto—talented, cunning, and a potential future mastermind—was no exception. At least, not at this stage.
"Oh, and about today…"
Before he could finish, Karin smiled faintly.
"I know, senpai. I won't say a word."
She didn't need reminding.
After all, she still remembered the day of the Chūnin Exams, when Gen had subtly warned her in advance. Later, she'd sensed his chakra outside the village—different, transformed, yet unmistakably his.
If Gen wanted something kept quiet, she'd keep it quiet.
He was the one who took her from Kusagakure.
The one who gave her a life in Konoha.
The one who saved her.
Why would she ever betray him?
"…But senpai, is he really going to be okay?"
"Him? Don't worry."
Gen glanced at Kabuto—still holding his head, still trembling slightly—and nodded.
"He'll behave from now on. As long as I'm around, he won't cause trouble. Who knows—maybe in the future, I won't even need the chakra sphere to keep him in line."
"Karin, you can head back first."
He smiled faintly.
"You know how things are right now. The ANBU might show up soon."
"Alright, senpai. You be careful too."
Karin gave a small nod and left, her footsteps light. She understood he probably still had other business to handle. Everyone had their secrets.
And besides—she now knew a few of his.
Once she was gone, Gen turned back to Kabuto.
"Now… do you know who you are?"
"Yes… my lord…"
Kabuto's voice was weak, but the control had taken root.
"Good. Pretend nothing happened. Keep in touch with Orochimaru. I want everything he has."
"…Understood."
Satisfied, Gen thought of the possibilities. Orochimaru's research might give him inspiration—or, at worst, serve as tools for others.
The man had explored countless forbidden sciences—who knew what he might uncover?
And Kabuto himself had potential worth exploiting.
Gen chuckled softly, then vanished from sight—leaving Kabuto still bound, still in pain, yet bowing slightly toward where his master had stood.
---
Elsewhere in the forest—
"You're late. I thought you ditched me."
Deidara crossed his arms in mock irritation.
"Something unexpected?" Terumi Mei asked curiously.
"No. Just some… preparations."
Gen smiled lightly.
"Now that we're all here…"
"…Let's move out."
---