Chapter 189: Chapter 189: A Marriage Proposal! To Welcome Back the Two Sages!
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In the dark, damp headquarters of Akatsuki in Amegakure, the notorious organization was preparing for a mission.
At the forefront were two puppets, the Third and Fourth Kazekages, the strongest of their respective generations, now mere tools in the hands of their controller.
These were no ordinary puppets. Enhanced with technology provided by the Hidden Snow Village, these figures could utilize their Kekkei Genkai of Iron Sand and Gold Dust just as when they were alive.
Over the past few days, the Fourth Kazekage puppet had mined a considerable amount of gold sand for Akatsuki, which had been used to bolster their ranks.
Behind the two Kazekage puppets stood a hundred humanoid puppets, clad in chakra armor, ready for deployment. This new technology from the Land of Snow had significantly enhanced the puppets' capabilities.
With such a force, Sasori felt confident he could easily defeat himself from the Konoha-Suna Trade Route era. He believed it was more than enough to wage a small-scale Shinobi war.
Standing beside Sasori was the recently recruited Shinnō, his arms crossed, his expression haughty. Since Kakuzu's death, Sasori had finally found a new battle partner.
Today was the day! They were setting out on a mission!
Black Zetsu approached them, a sinister glee in his voice. "Latest intel - from within the Land of Wind."
"The Fifth Kazekage has invited Konoha's Gojo Kaigetsu to participate in a joint operation to eliminate a Missing-nin. Suna's defenses may be vulnerable~"
"It's the perfect opportunity to teach that two-faced village a little lesson."
After taking the title of the Kazekage—Baki had unilaterally torn up the agreement he'd made with Black Zetsu, refusing to sell any more chakra metal to Akatsuki.
While their relationship had always been based on mutual exploitation, Baki's swift betrayal still stung, a testament to the fickle nature of humanity.
But it didn't matter. Helping Baki become Kazekage was just a means to an end, a way to destabilize the Shinobi world and weaken Konoha's influence.
The ultimate objective had been achieved. Chakra metal… whether sold to Amegakure or the Akatsuki, it made little difference.
"This is a two-birds-with-one-stone plan!" Black Zetsu emphasized. "Originally, our plan was to capture the weakened One-Tail Shukaku. But since Gojo Kaigetsu is also in the Land of Wind, we'll take him out too!"
"First, we capture the tailed beast, then we kill him!"
"If Gojo Kaigetsu dies in the Land of Wind, no matter if Suna Shinobi did it or not, their relationship will immediately crumble. A cold war is the best outcome. It could even erupt into open war!"
"Also, we need to retrieve the Ryūmyaku sealed in Rōran. It's a powerful, sustainable energy source. Whether it's for developing your puppets, Sasori, or for the Asura Path, it will be extremely useful."
Another assassination?
Capturing a tailed beast was within Sasori's comfort zone. After all, the two strongest Kazekages in history were now his puppets. Aside from Shukaku, the only other significant threat in Suna was the recently retired Chiyo.
But… Gojo Kaigetsu? He was hesitant.
His partner, Kakuzu, had been taken out during an attempt on Gojo's life. Even with two Kage-level puppets, Sasori wasn't fully confident.
Seemingly sensing Sasori's apprehension, Black Zetsu chuckled.
"Don't worry. This time, Konan will also participate to ensure success. And I've confirmed that Gojo Kaigetsu's team doesn't have any Mangekyo Sharingan users. There's no chance of an ambush."
"However, Konan won't intervene unless absolutely necessary, to avoid exposing her abilities. You know how it is."
Sasori's brow relaxed. "With Konan's help, it's in the bag."
Within Akatsuki, there was a certain degree of… let's call it professional respect. Sasori was the top expert when it came to puppets. When it came to Paper Release, however, Konan was untouchable, able to restrict his puppets' movements, leaving them helpless.
Konan was his Achilles' heel.
Regardless of Konan's combat performance against other opponents, at least when she had to escape, she could create a paper bird and fly away.
Fighting on land was one thing, but in the air, it was a different story.
Very few Shinobi in the entire Ninja world could fly.
It was like facing a Devil Fruit user at sea. No matter how strong a land-based Shinobi was, if their target took to the skies, they were helpless!
Unless they were a perfect Jinchuriki who could unleash a Tailed Beast Bomb, or someone like Hashirama Senju who could use Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands for an all-out aerial assault.
"In that case—Operation: Sandstorm, commence!"
Black Zetsu gave the order, and the Akatsuki members, Sasori and Shinnō, who were guarding the base, vanished.
…
The Land of Wind.
Fierce winds whipped up a blinding sandstorm, like a series of raging waterfalls connecting the heavens and the earth.
Amidst the swirling sand, in the vast, boundless desert, the scorching sun beat down, the dry air practically burning. Even breathing became a challenge.
Wind-driven sand swirled like yellow dragons across the dunes, an endless, desolate landscape.
In this desolate desert, life seemed to have been devoured, leaving only a few hardy cacti struggling to survive under the blazing sun.
Gojo Kaigetsu's Konoha Anti-Terrorism Guidance Team trudged along the winding dunes, slowly making their way towards Rōran.
The Konoha Anti-Terrorism and Vice Eradication Team consisted of about five or six people.
Perhaps to give the younger generation of Shinobi a chance to see the world, three familiar faces were in the group: Might Guy, and Shisui Uchiha.
A standard lineup, not enough to make the Fifth Kazekage wary.
They had been training hard, even during their downtime…
Might Guy, in particular.
After endless hours of elbow-intensive training, Guy had finally mastered Gojo Kaigetsu's signature taijutsu move, the Black Elbow - Dead Star.
With this breakthrough, Guy also managed to open the Seventh Gate of the Eight Gates, the Gate of Wonder.
However, due to the immense strain the Seventh Gate placed on his body, even though he knew he had broken through the barrier, Guy didn't dare to test it.
Youth wasn't fuel to be burned recklessly. Only when used to protect the village and its bonds could Might Guy transform into the Blue Beast!
The power of the Eight Gates was based on the user's physical condition. To ensure he could unleash the strongest possible power when he transformed into the Hulk, Guy trained his muscles even harder.
This year, Might Guy was only fifteen.
To use the proper term, his development had surpassed even the original timeline!
As for Shisui Uchiha, there wasn't much to say. He simply opened and closed his eyes, and bam, he had a three-tomoe Sharingan. His chakra levels were steadily increasing too.
Perhaps in another year or two, after accumulating enough chakra and with a little eye drop-induced stimulation, he would awaken the second Mangekyo Sharingan of the Uchiha clan.
...
After traveling a short distance, they spotted the outline of Sunagakure in the desert.
Baki was already waiting at the village entrance, wearing a forced, yet welcoming smile, looking as harmless as a freshly scrubbed puppy.
Seeing Gojo Kaigetsu, he immediately reached out his hand, bowing as he trotted over.
He gave the Konoha envoys his utmost respect.
He couldn't afford to be careless!!
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