Shimura Takeshi is an interesting fellow.
This conclusion comes from Amado, who is currently working for the Akatsuki Organization.
As an Inner Circle member, he also possesses his own exclusive channels for information.
He has already obtained quite a lot from Jigen, and Amado has no intention of sincerely serving this guy who wants to destroy the entire planet.
His goal is similar to Orochimaru's: to reach the root of all things.
For this purpose, he cannot sit idly by and watch Jigen complete his plan.
"Although this conflict appears to be the result of various actions by the organization's members, what truly facilitated all of this is the Fifth Hokage. It is because he showed the shinobi a new path that more people chose to follow it."
Amado looked at the Ōtsutsuki Shibai cells in his hand, attributing everything that had happened to Takeshi alone.
The cells in his hand were noticeably more than what Jigen had given him.
Just as Victor had guessed, anyone who went to Amado for a cell transplant was heavily skimmed by him, citing excessive dosage that could be life-threatening, and then used in his own research.
"That being said, if the shinobi embark on this path, what will the ninja world ultimately become?"
Miyatsu Reimei stared blankly at the last two artificial humans in the culture dish.
Silence, a deathly silence.
Amado did not answer Miyatsu Reimei's question, merely smoking his cigarette quietly.
"Should we act?"
Miyatsu Reimei, who didn't receive an answer, stopped dwelling on it and instead asked Amado about their next move.
Amado could, at least, answer this question.
"It is not time yet."
Yes, it is not time yet. At the very least, he must wait until the people around Jigen fall one by one before he launches his glorious backstab.
Everything is for the sake of the ninja world.
Or perhaps, for himself.
Hōki is dead, and the remaining individuals are Victor, Sasori, Boro... As for Fūka, although she didn't personally kill Kitsuchi, the rage of Ōnoki is enough to let her know what terror is.
He had underestimated Kitsuchi, who managed to drag Ras with him.
"If the intelligence is correct, Fūka has already encountered Ōnoki, right?"
The intelligence was not wrong.
Fūka had indeed met Ōnoki at this time.
The fact that all the researchers were killed, and only Sorata survived, aroused Ōnoki's suspicion.
As an old fossil who had personally witnessed Uchiha Madara's might, this clumsy stratagem did not fool his aged eyes.
Just as Ōnoki predicted, the impatient Fūka quickly re-established contact with Sorata, intending to create new trouble for Ōnoki.
When the conspiracy was brought into the open, and the nefarious deeds exposed brazenly to the sunlight, Fūka's fate was predictable.
Fuen, who had just healed his arm, was decomposed by Dust Release before he could even exert himself.
Ōnoki, experiencing the pain, erupted with combat power far exceeding his previous level, thrashing Fūka in both taijutsu and ninjutsu.
Fūka clutched her wound after being heavily slammed twice by Ōnoki, her eyes filled with fear.
Impossible, why was that old geezer, who should be ancient, pushing her to such a state?
She had clearly obtained the power of a god, why, why was it still like this?
Fūka could not accept this cruel reality and still wanted to struggle.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow River!"
However, her brain was clearly smashed by Ōnoki, as she actually intended to use Earth Release to resist Dust Release head-on.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
At this final juncture, it was Ōnoki who calmed down. He used the sharp Dust Release to dissipate the lower half of Fūka's body, decomposing it along with her Earth Release into dust.
"Damn old man..."
Fūka, having lost her lower body, did not die, nor did any blood flow from her wound.
"Indeed, only by decomposing your entire body into dust can you be thoroughly killed. What a truly repulsive monster."
Seeing Fūka slowly regenerating her lower body, Ōnoki made a comment filled with loathing.
"Hahaha, what do you know, old geezer, I have obtained eternal life, next—"
Before Fūka could finish her sentence, her head was smashed by Ōnoki using a rock fist.
This fierce action made Deidara, who was circling continuously in the sky, let out a whistle.
The old man is terrifying when he gets angry.
However, it was indeed a pity that the person who killed Kitsuchi did not die under his own art.
Forget it, he should go back and comfort Kurotsuchi. She had completely changed since learning of Kitsuchi's death.
He was still more accustomed to her playful antics around him.
Seeing Fūka's body completely stop its self-healing, and confirming she was truly dead, Deidara spiraled up on the large bird beneath him and headed towards Iwagakure.
Fūka was dead, and Iwagakure was also steadily advancing on the main battlefield.
For the shinobi, especially those who have made significant progress in technology, the war against the Daimyō had become a matter too tedious to describe in writing.
The battle reports Ōnoki received every day were victory, victory, and still victory.
When they encountered a difficult position, they would bring out the 152mm howitzers supplied by Konoha Village and fire a few rounds.
What, you say the enemy dares to return fire? Then just fire a few more rounds.
He refused to believe that there was anyone in this world who wasn't afraid of artillery?
If Jiraiya knew of Ōnoki's thoughts at this moment, he would definitely send someone to invite Ōnoki to visit the Land of Snow, because there really was a guy here who wasn't afraid of artillery.
Boro underestimated Kazahana Koyuki's ability.
As the Queen of the Land of Snow, when she discovered that her subordinate elders were attempting to collude with the Akatsuki Organization, she immediately and decisively wrote a letter and sent it to Konoha Village, which had helped her ascend to the throne.
Upon receiving the news, Sakumo immediately sent Jiraiya, who had swept through the Land of Snow back then.
Worried that the elders might use the regular army to cause chaos, Sakumo specifically instructed Jiraiya to bring the 12 newly manufactured 152mm howitzers.
They didn't encounter the regular army, but Jiraiya did encounter Boro.
"What a truly troublesome ability..."
Jiraiya clicked his tongue, looking at Boro, who could regenerate after taking a round of cannon fire.
The members of the Akatsuki Organization appearing recently were all a bit peculiar; it was the earlier Yōwan and Setsuna who seemed more like humans.
"Jiraiya-sama, the opponent's Regeneration Technique should have some limitations."
Seeing Boro recover his body, Uchiha Itachi quickly approached Jiraiya and stated his speculation.
"I was thinking the same thing, but we need further observation to determine what the limitation is."
Jiraiya thought to himself, isn't that just stating the obvious? If his regeneration technique had no limitations, what would he even fight with?
This kid Uchiha Itachi, although a disciple of Takeshi, is perhaps a bit too rigid in character—polite, but boring.
However, to have awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan at this age, he must be a very meticulous fellow.
It's highly likely this kid will awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Mentioning the Mangekyō Sharingan reminded Jiraiya of his other foolish disciple.
He should have called Obito over; he could have just used his Kamui to starve this guy Boro to death.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Although he thought this, Jiraiya couldn't call back Obito, who was on the front line. Seeing Boro already fully recovered, he bit his finger and activated the Summoning Jutsu.
Three figures appeared on the battlefield.
"Jiraiya, you bastard, are you summoning me in the snow and ice again?!"
Bunta immediately let loose on Jiraiya.
Toads are cold-averse creatures.
In this weather, they should be hibernating.
Jiraiya had clearly overlooked this issue.
Gamaken and Gamahiro beside him didn't speak, but their expressions said it all.
"My apologies, but I'm going to use that move, so please try your best to stall for some time."
Jiraiya chuckled awkwardly and hurriedly ran elsewhere.
"Huh? Is the enemy that terrifying?"
Bunta heard this and looked in Boro's direction.
"He can withstand over ten rounds of artillery fire and still recover completely, what do you think? Ah, over ten rounds of artillery fire is equivalent to hundreds of explosion tags."
Jiraiya explained using a term the toads could understand.
"Oh, that is indeed somewhat terrifying."
Bunta drew the blade from his waist while puffing on his pipe.
"Charge!"
Bunta leaped up fiercely, swinging his blade towards Boro.
"What a large toad." Looking at the approaching blade, Boro shook his neck, exerted force in his lower limbs, and leaped up suddenly.
With just a single punch, Bunta was sent flying by Boro.
"Not good." Bunta felt the pain in his abdomen and knew he had underestimated Boro's strength.
He immediately issued a warning, trying to alert his two companions.
"Too late, Lava Release."
Highly corrosive acid liquid was spat from his mouth, raining down on Gamaken.
Gamaken hastily raised his shield to block, but a considerable amount of acid still splattered onto him.
The strong corrosiveness of the Lava Release ate away at the splashed skin, exposing red flesh.
Gamahiro drew two long swords and brandished them at extreme speed.
Boro easily dodged Gamahiro's slashes, moving nimbly between the blades and jumping in front of him.
Another punch was thrown, and Gamahiro, just like Bunta, was powerfully sent flying by Boro.
"Hmm? Still able to stand?"
Looking at Gamahiro lying in the ice, whose condition was unknown, Boro was satisfied with the effect he had created, then leaped up abruptly, dodging Gamaken's harpoon attack.
Seeing that Gamaken could still move despite being hit by the Lava Release, Boro was somewhat surprised and immediately charged toward his location.
"Kid, do you know Fire Release?"
Bunta knew Gamaken wasn't Boro's match, but having been heavily hit, he couldn't quickly provide support, so he could only ask Uchiha Itachi nearby.
Asking a member of the Uchiha clan if they know Fire Release is as laughable as asking Takeshi if he knows Ice Release.
Of course, this also had to do with Itachi's ordinary shinobi outfit.
He had no Uchiha clan markings anywhere on his body.
Receiving an affirmative answer, Gamabunta didn't hesitate, struggling to stand up: "You use fire, I use oil!"
"Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"
----------------
Fanfic is finished on Patreon (445 chapters in total.)
Patreon(.)com/Jixo (for only $4.50, read this entire fanfic)