"I understand. I'll depart shortly." Shinji nodded.
"Good, I'll feel much more at ease with you escorting him back. Asuma will take over as the assistant commander on the battlefield." Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief when Shinji agreed.
After all, transporting a Jinchuriki back to the village without Shinji was simply impossible.
Shinji naturally had no objections to what Kakashi said. Asuma was not weak. Having become one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja at such a young age, his mastery of Wind Release and Fire Release made him an elite Jonin.
Without hesitation, Shinji walked to where Roshi was being held.
This return trip would, at most, be done as a small team. The front lines currently had no extra ninja to spare. This was also the best arrangement, too large a team would become a target.
At that point, he would have to look after others, so it was better to simply return to Konoha with a small team.
Arriving at the place where Roshi was imprisoned, Shinji saw that Asuma was outside the tent, smoking.
Seeing Shinji approach, his eyes fixed on him.
"What's wrong?" Shinji was startled, then checked himself, finding nothing amiss.
"Nothing. Just be careful on your way back to the village." Asuma slowly exhaled a puff of smoke and said.
Shinji scratched his head, a bit confused, but still nodded in response.
Entering the tent, he saw Roshi, who had already woken up, sitting cross-legged on the ground, surrounded by a sealed cage.
Hearing footsteps, Roshi looked up and asked, "What? Are you taking me to Konoha?"
"Yes, after all, your Tsuchikage's army is already at our doorstep." Shinji said calmly, casually undoing the seal on the outer cage and walking inside.
With his Yin Release enhancement, these seals now only served for the Sealing Squad to report. After all, even if Shinji was the Hokage's disciple, it was still the same. One still had to be careful where caution was due.
"Let's go." Roshi said, standing up when he saw this.
"Wait a moment. Yushu." Shinji called out towards the tent.
Hearing his voice, Yushu slowly walked in.
Seeing the handcuffs brought by Yushu, Roshi spoke up, "Is that really necessary? I can't even use a shred of Chakra right now."
"Just an extra precaution." Shinji completely ignored the other meaning in Roshi's words, having Yushu shackle Roshi's hands.
Instantly, as the handcuffs were applied, layers of runes spread out.
"You—"
Before he could finish, Roshi fell unconscious.
Muta, who had just pulled back the tent flap, was not surprised by what he saw, and set down the large jar behind him. This was Shinji's plan. Roshi would remain inside Muta's jar for the rest of the journey.
With everything prepared, Shinji then said, "Alright, let's move. The main mission for the journey ahead is to prioritize returning to the village."
"Yes."
Muta and Yushu exchanged glances, nodding in response.
—
Amegakure.
Another Akatsuki meeting was convened.
"Oh dear. Four-Tails is about to be taken back to Konoha." The pitcher plant-like White Zetsu spoke.
All the Akatsuki members looked towards Pain's figure.
"Kakuzu, Kisame, you two go and retrieve him."
Pain, who had been keeping his eyes closed, finally opened them after a long while, looking towards Kakuzu and Kisame.
"Remember to nip it in the bud. We cannot let anyone notice our existence at this stage."
"Hmph." Kisame's lips curled into a grin, a form of acknowledgment.
Kakuzu said, "No problem, I also need to make a trip to the bounty station as soon as possible."
Kakuzu glanced at Kisame and said, "Let's meet up in the Land of Fire."
"Alright. Got it." Kisame nodded in response.
"Dismiss." Pain said when he saw this.
—
They passed through the Land of Rivers without incident, and upon entering the border of the Land of Fire, Yushu and Muta's expressions finally settled down, but—
Thud!
Shinji's expression remained serious, continuously leaping through the giant trees.
After crossing the border of the Land of Rivers, he had felt an unsettling feeling.
Thinking this, he paused, stopping on top of a giant tree.
Yushu and Muta, who were following behind, stopped immediately, looking at Shinji with puzzled expressions.
"Let's rest for a bit. We won't stop again after this, we'll go all out to return to Konoha." Shinji adjusted the bandages on his wrist as he spoke.
"Yes." Seeing this, Yushu and Muta nodded, beginning to rest on the spot.
Shinji's gaze scanned the surrounding giant trees, his brows tightly furrowed.
The heavy snow had stopped, leaving only pristine white snow, and the surroundings seemed perfectly normal.
However—
"Since you're here, then come out directly." Shinji suddenly spoke.
Hearing this, Yushu and Muta immediately stood up, looking around warily.
No one responded, only the rustling sound of accumulated snow falling from the trees.
"What? Do you want me to make the first move?"
As Shinji spoke, Chakra condensed around him, and an invisible shockwave spread out.
"So, how did you notice us?"
A tall figure quietly emerged, baring a mouth full of shark-like teeth, with the bandaged samehada resting on his shoulder.
Shinji did not respond, turning his head to look at another location. Kakuzu's figure had already appeared there, his eerie green eyes fixed on Shinji. No, it should be said he was looking at Shinji's head.
"A bounty of sixty-five million ryo, Kisame. Be careful not to damage the body." Kakuzu said, looking at Kisame in the distance.
"Oh? That high?"
Hearing Kakuzu's words, Kisame's lips curled into a grin, looking at Shinji's figure with great surprise.
Kakuzu nodded. "Yes, after all, an additional ten million ryo was issued by a certain country, and it can be stacked."
As for which country, it was not hard to guess at all.
"Shinji-sama." Yushu said with a solemn expression.
She had never sensed such a presence from any ninja before. That feeling of unease throughout her body told her that these two individuals were definitely not simple.
"Muta, Yushu, you two go first. I'll be right behind you." Shinji looked at Kakuzu and Kisame, instructing Yushu and Muta.
"But—"
Yushu wanted to say something more, but Muta, beside her, patted her shoulder.
"Let's go first." Muta said, a bead of cold sweat trickling down his face, his legs trembling slightly.
His insects were desperately warning him, urging him to leave.
After speaking, Muta pulled Yushu, swiftly departing.
The next instant, a figure clad in a black cloak with red clouds appeared in front of Muta, who was about to leave.
"Well, I can't let you two leave."
Kisame's lips curled into a grin, revealing his shark-like teeth as he spoke to Muta, raising the massive samehada in his hand, and bringing it down towards the two of them.
Shinji's eyes turned cold, and the next instant, he appeared in front of Kisame, then delivered a spinning kick directly to samehada.
Kisame, who had initially seen this scene with a ferocious smile, instantly froze, his entire body sent flying backward.