After witnessing Shimoku and Orochimaru arrive, Deva Path Pain finally spoke.
"You're late..."
"No big deal, nothing's started yet. What's a few more minutes?"
Shimoku chuckled casually, showing no signs of tension.
"By the way, I haven't introduced myself."
"My name is Shimoku Uchiha. Good afternoon, members of Akatsuki!"
As he greeted them, Shimoku scanned the room with his eyes.
When he realized that Kakuzu—the person he was most looking forward to seeing—wasn't present, he felt slightly disappointed.
Eventually, his gaze settled on Sasori.
At least this puppet master was here.
He needed to think of a way to lure him back home and have him craft some "Gundam (giant mechanical puppets)" for his family!
At the same time, the intense look in Shimoku's eyes made even Sasori feel a slight chill creeping down his spine.
He was hidden behind such an ugly puppet body—how could this brat stare at him so intensely?
Is this little Uchiha kid into creepy stuff or something?
While a confused Sasori was left wondering,
Biwa Juzo, who had never met Shimoku before, showed even less respect.
"Hmm? Weren't the Uchiha Clan supposed to take part too? How come only a child shows up?"
"What use could a little brat like this possibly have?"
Biwa Juzo waved around his Cleaver Sword, clearly unimpressed by the sight of just a tiny kid standing there.
He snorted,
"What's a little brat like you even good for? Gonna piss your pants outta fear when things get rough?"
"Juzo, shut up!"
Konan snapped instantly, trying to stop Biwa Juzo before he dug himself into deeper trouble.
Unfortunately, she hadn't even finished speaking when—
A sharp red glow flashed through the air!
The moment their eyes met, Biwa Juzo was trapped in a genjutsu by Shimoku's Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
*Smack—*
*Smack, smack—*
The clear sounds of slaps echoed out.
Under the control of the illusion, Biwa Juzo lost all self-awareness and began violently slapping his own face.
Each hit landed with full force!
Slap after slap cracked out without stopping.
Before long, both sides of Biwa Juzo's face were rapidly swelling red, as plump as a monkey's butt.
This scene left the others
Simultaneously amused and unsettled.
They couldn't help but be awed by how powerful the Sharingan's genjutsu really was...
...
After delivering thirty loud smacks to himself, Biwa Juzo finally stopped.
Shimoku also ended the illusion.
"If you don't know how to speak properly, then keep your mouth shut!"
"If you ever open that mouth again, you won't wake up the second time."
Shimoku coldly warned him, projecting absolute arrogance.
After all, he was representing Homura Hidden Village in cooperation with Akatsuki.
Their relationship with Akatsuki was completely equal.
It was necessary to show strength and authority.
Moreover, with his current capabilities, he indeed had every right to act arrogant.
Anyway, it wasn't like Biwa Juzo—one of the 'Auspicious Three Treasures'—had any position to mock or belittle him.
Today's humiliation was meant simply as a lesson.
If they were elsewhere, things might've gone far worse...
This Biwa Juzo won't survive another three seconds.
And the [Cleaver Sword] in his hand already has a new master waiting...
"Mud! You..."
Biwa Juzo's face had swollen redder than a monkey's butt, making it hard for him to even speak clearly.
All he could do was let out a furious growl.
But then he remembered how terrifying it had felt to be completely controlled just moments ago.
In the end, he just backed down.
Silence was his only option, as he swallowed his bitter defeat.
What else could he do?
That kid is way too dangerous!
He definitely didn't want to be controlled again by the Mangekyō Sharingan, dying without even knowing why...
"Enough fooling around."
"It's time to start our operation!"
Deva Path Pain eased the tension slightly, then gave orders quickly:
"Zetsu, you infiltrate Konoha first. Find the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's location."
"Report immediately once found."
"Yes sir!"
Zetsu acknowledged and promptly sunk into the ground, heading toward Konoha.
However, just after entering Konoha,
Zetsu split into White Zetsu and Black Zetsu.
One went ahead to search for Hiruzen's whereabouts while the other went to scout the Nine-Tails' host's location.
Clearly, compared to that old man Hiruzen,
[Nagato] was far more interested in the Nine-Tails...
"As for the rest of you, divide into two groups."
"Animal Path, Preta Path, Naraka Path, Sasori, Biwa Juzo, Orochimaru, and Shimoku Uchiha — you'll be with me, responsible for killing the Third Hokage!"
"Asura Path, Human Path, and Konan — your task is backup, monitoring surroundings and preparing immediate reinforcement at all times!"
Of course, this second group was supposedly for support.
But actually, it aimed to separate them out discreetly for capturing the Nine-Tails.
After all, both Asura Path and Human Path excelled in close combat and suppression.
Combined with Konan, they were perfect for capturing the Jinchuriki.
As for the first group?
They were naturally the main offensive team.
To draw all Konoha's forces and attention...
Regarding this arrangement, Shimoku had no objections either.
Anyway, he simply wanted to use Akatsuki's hands to eliminate Konoha's elites, attempting to destroy Konoha itself.
The fiercer battle between both sides, the better!
The better if Akatsuki and Konoha wiped each other out completely!
...
Right now, twenty miles northeast of Konoha stood an old castle left over from the Warring States era.
Based upon this castle, numerous merchants and ninja travelers established quite a prosperous small town.
Among which lies the famous [Tanzaku Street], known as Gambling Paradise and Playground of Pleasures.
Upon learning Tsunade's current location,
Jiraiya rushed directly here without delay.
Then, after urgently searching most of the street, he finally located Tsunade.
At this moment, she burst out violently from a gambling house.
All she wore were shorts and a grey-white sleeveless undershirt—nothing else.
Clearly, this 'big-time loser' had lost everything again at the gambling table.
Now desperately trying to flee!
So hastily did she rush out, she ended up crashing straight into Jiraiya.
At the same time, the magnificent bounce against his chest sent Jiraiya soaring into bliss, his nose bleeding uncontrollably like he'd reached climax on the spot.
He almost forgot why he came here in the first place.
"Whoa—huge rack! This feelin's like..."
"Jiraiya!"
"Tsunade! It really is you! Finally found you!"
"What the hell are you doing here, old perv?"
"No time to explain—Konoha's in another huge crisis! Hurry back with me—we'll talk on the way!"
Suddenly recalling their real mission, Jiraiya quickly wiped the lecherous look off his face.
Grasping Tsunade's hand tightly, he prepared to leave.
Tsunade was caught off guard, a blush creeping across her face.
After so many years apart, who knew Jiraiya would get all touchy right from the start?
She hadn't even had time to process this yet!
But then, upon hearing it was about the village again, her temper flared.
For the sake of this village, her brother and lover—her entire world—had been destroyed.
And what did the village do?
Not a shred of compensation.
When needed, she was Konoha's ninja.
When not wanted, just an unknown gambling addict no one remembered...
What reason did she have to bleed for such a village—or its Hokage?
"No! I refuse!"
"I'm never going back again. That place has nothing worth staying for!"
"Let that stubborn old Third deal with it himself—he's still young enough to play hero anyway!"
Tsunade shoved Jiraiya aside and turned him down flat.
Behind them, Shizune—holding the little pink pig—came chasing after them.
"Tsunade... you've changed."
Jiraiya stared at her, sighing heavily.
"Hmph! At nearly forty-six, how could I stay the same? Time changes everyone..."
"Tsunade, this time it's different. The village might truly be destroyed! We need you!"
Jiraiya pleaded earnestly.
"What does that have to do with me? If it falls, let it fall..."
"Tsunade, is your fear of blood still acting up?"
"It's got nothing to do with that! I just..."
Tsunade stubbornly shot back,
Clearly unwilling to admit she still hadn't overcome her fear.
Just then—
RUMBLE~~~
A faint rumbling sound, accompanied by slight tremors in the ground, came from the southwest.
"That direction—that's Konoha!"
"Has Akatsuki already begun their attack?"
"How? It's way too early!"
Damn it—we're too late!
Jiraiya frowned deeply, muttering a curse under his breath.
Then immediately bid farewell to Tsunade:
"Tsunade, since your fear of blood hasn't gone away yet, don't push yourself!"
"I have to head back to the village now."
"And if… Konoha really goes down for good, just don't forget to pick up what's left of me."
"Also, make sure Naruto gets looked after..."
With those words, Jiraiya leapt into the air and vanished swiftly into the distance.
Heading toward Konoha.
Though both he and the village desperately needed Tsunade's strength,
How could he force a ninja afraid of blood into battle?!
He'd already lost far too many people dear to him, and he absolutely didn't want war to take Tsunade-sama's life as well.
...
"Kage-sama. Isn't that Jiraiya-sama over there? How did he...?"
Shizune asked groggily, completely bewildered by what was going on.
"You arrogant fool! You reckless bastard!"
"Who gave you the nerve to talk about bringing back a body...? Who told you to go playing hero like that!"
As she watched Jiraiya walk away, Tsunade gritted her teeth and clenched her fists tightly, cursing him furiously in her mind.
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