The Raikage's explanation was reasonable enough.
Though, he likely had some private motives hidden beneath it.
Shinju couldn't be bothered to think too deeply.
He had already set his bounty targets as Hidan and Kakuzu, and now with Kumogakure's commission, the goal remained unchanged—just icing on the cake.
After consulting with Naruto beside him, Shinju nodded.
"We'll take this commission."
The Raikage, generous as ever, saw Shinju accept the mission and waved a hand for his subordinates to bring the money.
"Here's a two-million ryo deposit."
Shinju sealed the money into his summoning scroll, then happily pulled Naruto along to start the mission...
...
Raikage's Office.
A rested his chin on his hands, looking down from above at Shinju and Naruto walking through Kumogakure.
"If only those two were willing to join us in Kumogakure," A muttered.
"I heard they've already fallen out with Konoha. Maybe we could pull a few tricks…" his secretary suggested.
A thought about it, then waved it off. "Forget it."
If they joined Kumogakure, his position as Raikage might not be so secure.
Not long after Shinju and Naruto left, Killer B pushed open the office door.
The moment B entered, he started complaining:
"Bro, I heard you asked that Konoha kid to rescue Yugito?"
"Kumogakure isn't lacking manpower! You could've just sent me!"
"Handing our village's rescue mission to outsiders… people will laugh at us, think we're talentless… Ծ‸Ծ"
A, exasperated, replied: "If Shinju is the measure of talent. Then aside from Konoha, every other shinobi village is talentless. (ー_ー)!!"
"And do you think I'd trust you to go? I'm afraid you'd get yourself killed too! -_-||"
B frowned. "Bro, you really don't trust me? (ー ー゛)"
A shrugged. "That's the truth. ┐(´-｀)┌"
Then, in a lecturing tone, he added:
"And besides, if money can solve the problem, why not? If Shinju succeeds and Yugito is rescued, everyone's happy. If Shinju fails and gets killed by Kakuzu and Hidan, all the better… "
"And even if he doesn't die, we can always finish him off while he's weakened... A genius like that—so long as he walks this world, I won't sleep soundly. ¯\(ツ)/¯"
After hearing his brother's reasoning, B nodded.
"So should I follow him now?"
A rubbed his forehead.
"Shinju's a sensory ninja. If you tail him recklessly, he'll notice. Stuff like finishing him off—just let it happen naturally. We can't let Shinju sense Kumogakure's hostility, or I'm afraid he'll unleash that giant Buddha and flatten the village… -_-#"
"Fine."
B frowned thoughtfully. "Is there really nothing in this world that can restrain him?"
A didn't reply. His gaze drifted toward the mountain peaks beside Kumogakure.
Rumor had it Orochimaru was developing a drug that could suppress chakra…
...
Land of Lightning.
The Land of Lightning had many towering mountains piercing into the clouds, wrapped in mist and echoing with thunderous roars.
Spirit Cat Peak was one of them.
It was said Yugito, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, had disappeared here.
Upon arriving, Shinju didn't even need to summon ninja hounds.
He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and overextended his spiritual energy, pushing his sensory range to the maximum.
A Jinchuriki had a tailed beast sealed inside, and tailed beasts always contained massive chakra.
To a sensory ninja like Shinju, that chakra was like a torch in the darkness—impossible to miss.
Very soon, beads of sweat appeared on Shinju's forehead as he extended his senses.
But he finally locked onto the Two-Tails' location!
Opening his eyes, Shinju pointed north. "There!"
He formed hand seals, summoning a hawk to carry himself and Naruto toward the target.
"Shinju, do you know the specifics of Kakuzu and Hidan's abilities?" Naruto asked from the hawk's back.
Shinju shook his head. Not even the information brokers had detailed intel on them.
All he knew was—one was unnaturally long-lived, the other a religious fanatic…
...
Meanwhile, inside a cave in the Land of Lightning—
Yugito had entered her tailed beast form, her body engulfed in blazing blue chakra as she became a monstrous cat!
"So this is the Two-Tails, huh? Looks pretty flashy."
Hidan swung his grotesque scythe, eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Don't underestimate her, or you'll die," Kakuzu warned.
Hidan looked confident. "Die? I'll make sure she dies before I do. ＜(￣3￣)＞"
Kakuzu added sternly, "Before the extraction ritual, she must stay alive."
Hidan clicked his tongue, annoyed.
"These stupid rules are such a pain. And leaving someone alive goes against Jashin doctrine… ┐(´-｀)┌"
"Not my problem. What matters is ensuring the extraction succeeds," Kakuzu replied, arms folded, like a spectator at a show.
Hidan glared at him. "Yeah, yeah, I'll hold back."
Across from them, the massive blue-flamed cat felt mocked.
"Meooowww!!"
With a raspy, chilling roar, it lunged straight at Hidan!
"Whoooa!!"
Hidan swung his massive scythe to meet it!
CLANG!!!
The impact thundered through the cave.
Hidan's mouth twisted into a sly grin.
Swish!
From his sleeve, he whipped out a hidden black spear, slicing a shallow cut across Yugito's body!
"That was easier than expected."
He licked the blood from the spear.
The moment it touched his tongue, his body shifted into black and white, sinister and eerie!
"Meooowww!!"
The Two-Tails roared again, chakra surging in its jaws—
A Tailed Beast Bomb!
Sensing the terrifying chakra forming, Hidan didn't dare delay!
Schlk! He stabbed the black spear into his own chest!
Blood poured down as he dipped a foot into it, tracing a circular ritual pattern on the ground.
He stepped into the center of the sigil.
The moment the ritual was complete, the Two-Tails shrieked in agony. The chakra in its jaws dissipated, and its form shrank back into Yugito's human body.
Watching from the side, Kakuzu stood up.
Once Hidan had his enemy's blood, half the battle was already won.
Annoying, fanatical, and creepily religious as he was, Hidan's efficiency was undeniable.
Kakuzu muttered, "Time to start preparing. (*￣3￣)"
At that moment, Shinju and Naruto arrived outside the cave.
Shinju raised his fist—
BOOM!!
With one strike, he shattered the rocks blocking the entrance!
Shinju and Naruto stepped inside, spotting the battered Yugito. Together, they shouted in unison:
"Let go of that girl!!"
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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