Chapter 85: Core vs. Akatsuki
"Our coordination is quite good, isn't it?"
On the other side of this black market distribution center, Biwa Jūzō carried the Decapitating Carving Knife on his shoulder and smiled at Uchiha Itachi.
"Your Fire Release, genjutsu, and shuriken, combined with my kenjutsu, make dealing with these guys really easy."
"Yeah."
""
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Uchiha Itachi remained expressionless; solving these people wasn't actually that difficult for him.
Moreover, he found that concentrating on the mission could indeed distract him slightly, so he spoke directly.
"Let's turn in the mission quickly so we can proceed to the next one."
"It seems you've gained some resolve as a Rogue Ninja."
Biwa Jūzō didn't mind; using missions to numb oneself and not think about messy things was the best method.
What Biwa Jūzō didn't know was that the phrase 'Rogue Ninja' made Uchiha Itachi clench his fists again.
He really didn't want to become a Rogue Ninja...
"But be careful lately; the exchange office mentioned that someone seems to be looking for us."
Just as Uchiha Itachi was feeling uneasy, Biwa Jūzō suddenly spoke again.
"I've already reported to the others, but no matter what, we must be serious."
"Oh..."
""
Uchiha Itachi was somewhat absent-minded, which made Biwa Jūzō unhappy.
"Hey, did you forget the advice I gave you?"
"No..."
""
"Hmph, don't underestimate anyone, even a ridiculous-looking Genin!"
""
""
Uchiha Itachi didn't speak; he had heard this history from Biwa Jūzō.
He himself hadn't expected Might Guy's father to be so legendary, single-handedly turning the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist into a pathetic remnant.
This incident was also Biwa Jūzō's nightmare; he felt he really should be more serious.
"Don't worry, I'll be careful."
"Yeah."
""
Biwa Jūzō nodded, but just as he intended to continue towards the exchange office, he suddenly frowned.
Not just him, but Uchiha Itachi's eyes beside him also turned crimson in an instant as he quietly scouted the surroundings.
"I didn't expect you to be so sharp."
A slightly playful voice rang out quietly, causing Biwa Jūzō and Uchiha Itachi's gazes to freeze instantly.
They looked up and saw two figures standing on the trees not far away!
They were both wearing white robes engraved with black tomoe, and both wore masks to hide their faces.
Such a bizarre outfit immediately made Biwa Jūzō and Uchiha Itachi's gazes sharpen!
"It's them?"
Uchiha Itachi had truly seen how people in similar outfits had crushed Orochimaru and Sasori!
Biwa Jūzō had run fast that time and hadn't seen who acted, but the tragic state of that area was still fresh in his memory.
Encountering these two now, they both felt a bit apprehensive!
"We couldn't be that unlucky, could we?"
"Finding you was truly a hassle."
Just as the two were worried if they had encountered that terrifying guy again, Hyuga Makoto spoke.
"Last time you attacked our people, shouldn't we settle this score?"
"Attacking your people..."
""
Both Biwa Jūzō and Uchiha Itachi were stunned, but then they realized.
"It's that guy Kakuzu!"
This incident had already spread within the Akatsuki organization, and it was because of this that they realized the mysterious organization wasn't just one person.
The investigation didn't have much to do with them for now; that guy named Zetsu was in charge of it.
All they had to do was work hard on their missions to raise funds for the organization.
Heaven knows they were actually tracked down...
"Don't worry, it's not that guy."
Suddenly, Uchiha Itachi spoke in a low voice.
"Their clothes are the same, but the masks are very different. That guy's mask didn't look like this."
"Distinguishing identities by masks?"
Biwa Jūzō nodded; since it wasn't the person who seemed utterly unbeatable, he felt slightly relieved.
He gripped the Decapitating Carving Knife tightly, and his gaze turned slightly cold.
"You want to settle the score? Fine, how do you plan to settle it?"
"Konoha's bounty on Uchiha Itachi is quite high, after all, he's the man who killed his own parents with his own hands."
Hyuga Makoto chuckled, and his Chakra began to surge faintly.
"I think his head and his eyes should be enough to make up for the mistakes you've committed!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Chakra throughout his body erupted.
The ground surged, and in the next instant, a massive vine broke through, sweeping towards the two of them!
"Wood Release? Watch out!"
Biwa Jūzō and Uchiha Itachi's eyes widened; they never expected to encounter Wood Release!
Wasn't Wood Release the power the First Hokage used to pacify the chaotic world? How could such power appear in a guy like this?
The two of them immediately dodged in a panic, and Uchiha Itachi sought an opportunity to form hand seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
The whistling fireball surged towards the vines, and his power set them ablaze.
However, the vines were completely unaffected; they continued to strike at the two of them frantically, quietly forming a forest through continuous entanglement!
"Wood Release: Nativity of a World of Trees?"
Uchiha Itachi had heard of this technique, but this was the first time he had witnessed it.
His Sharingan constantly scanned the surroundings, and he quickly warned Biwa Jūzō.
"You must not stay in one place; all the trees possess Chakra, and they will constantly attack you."
"Tch, I know."
Biwa Jūzō was also suffering; the last time he encountered someone like this, he was beaten up by Hyuga's Anbu, and he had barely escaped.
But this time, it seemed he wasn't so lucky?
He kept jumping while hacking at the harassing vines, shouting loudly.
"Think of something! This is too passive!"
"I know..."
""
Uchiha Itachi nodded; he was trying to find a way, however...
"Oh no!"
In an instant, another figure quietly appeared before him.
That speed, nearly at its limit, made it difficult even for him to react!
What made it even more unbelievable to him was that he saw a surge of Chakra appearing on this figure.
This Chakra appeared green and continuously extended and expanded, eventually taking a human form!
"Susanoo? How is that possible?"
Uchiha Itachi's expression changed drastically; ignoring everything else, he immediately activated his own Susanoo.
The red Chakra giant quietly appeared, but it was half a beat too late; the green Susanoo, looking like an Asura, had already thrown a punch!
Boom—
An ear-splitting roar echoed through the forest, and the ground couldn't help but tremble at this moment.
The surging shockwaves overflowed frantically, and massive clouds of dust rose up, permeating the air!
"This is?"
In the distance, two people who looked like samurai looked at each other.
They were actually Root members sent by Danzo to investigate in the Land of Eddies.
This situation puzzled them, but after a moment's thought, they immediately headed towards the direction of the battle.
What they needed to investigate and screen was everything potentially related to the Uchiha.
Although they didn't know what was happening, they couldn't miss such an event.
"What?"
In the Land of Water, Black Zetsu, who was waiting for news, suddenly looked stunned, and a hint of surprise also appeared!
"That mysterious organization has appeared?"
"Mhm."
Zetsu.
His White Zetsu half was still grinning, looking truly carefree.
"They've made a move against Uchiha Itachi and Biwa Jūzō, and it's because Kakuzu attacked their people."
""
"It seems I was right; they really are an organization!"
Black Zetsu clenched his fists excitedly; he had finally found a clue...
He finally found it!
But just as his smile reappeared, White Zetsu's words froze him.
"But those two are also very powerful. One can use Wood Release, and the other seems to have the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"What?"
Black Zetsu couldn't smile anymore; his expression became somewhat solemn.
"Are you sure you didn't see it wrong?"
"Relax, relax. How could I see something like this wrong?"
White Zetsu shook his head with some dissatisfaction and spoke with a pout.
"Besides, that guy's Wood Release is much better than Obito's, and the strength is really high."
"..."
""
Black Zetsu had no comment on Obito's Wood Release; that guy hadn't practiced his Wood Release much at all.
With Kamui, he could handle most enemies, so his Wood Release was used almost entirely by instinct.
If Hyuga Makoto hadn't stunned him and forced him into a corner to practice a bit, it would probably be even more unsightly!
"The other one is using Susanoo; Uchiha Itachi is getting beaten quite badly by him."
White Zetsu continued, and seeing Black Zetsu's silence, he asked with a grin.
"Do you think Biwa Jūzō and Uchiha Itachi will be killed by these two?"
"..."
""
Black Zetsu didn't speak; he didn't know if they would be killed.
But he knew that his mother's clansman was truly a bit terrifying!
"Wood Release, Mangekyō... are they replicating Indra and Asura?"
Admittedly, Wood Release isn't actually used by the Senju clan, or even by the reincarnations of Asura.
It was something Senju Hashirama came up with himself, but Senju Hashirama was indeed a bit'special.'
This guy could be said to have broken fate, surpassing all previous reincarnations of Asura!
As for the Mangekyō Sharingan, it's also extremely precious, as it carries his mother's power.
"But this guy was able to replicate it, which is enough to prove his ability, and..."
""
Black Zetsu couldn't help but speculate: are these two also part of that mysterious Otsutsuki's power recovery?
"Even with Hyuga Makoto as a 'vessel,' he has never hidden his intention to reclaim Mother's power..."
""
Black Zetsu clenched his fists; he remembered that the first time that guy acted, it was for the 'Power of Asura'!
And with these two around, then the Tailed Beasts...
Black Zetsu didn't dare to think further; the more he thought, the more terrified he became!
"Speaking of which, they seem to be very interested in Uchiha Itachi."
Just then, White Zetsu seemed to think of something and continued with a grin.
"They seem to want Uchiha Itachi's eyes and head..."
""
"The Mangekyō?"
Black Zetsu's fists tightened further; he had seen many Mangekyō and didn't find it strange.
But if the Mangekyō really can control Tailed Beasts, this seemed to coincide with his expectations.
"Go notify Obito immediately; we must hurry there..."
"."
Black Zetsu could no longer keep his composure, let alone sit still.
"We absolutely cannot let them succeed!"
"Oh..."
""
White Zetsu didn't know what Black Zetsu meant, but he still obediently agreed.
However, while they were preparing, the situation for Biwa Jūzō and Uchiha Itachi was truly becoming quite dire.
"It's said that for the sake of these eyes, you didn't hesitate to try and kill your entire clan?"
Shisui controlled Susanoo, frantically raining heavy punches on Uchiha Itachi within the forest Hyuga Makoto had created.
His gaze was also icy, and his voice was incredibly indifferent.
"Although you failed, you still killed your parents. But these blood-stained eyes..."
"."
Before he could finish, his green Susanoo let out a roar, and flesh and muscle structures appeared on the skeletal Susanoo.
At the same time, a spiral sword quietly condensed in Susanoo's right hand, and he struck fiercely at Uchiha Itachi!
"Don't seem like much!"
"Oh no..."
""
Uchiha Itachi's face looked grim; he started by using Susanoo to block.
Even though he successfully defended, the force still penetrated through to his body.
Now, seeing the opponent's Susanoo improve again, and being in the forest of 'Nativity of a World of Trees,' it was difficult for him to dodge.
He could only grit his teeth, constantly injecting ocular power into his own Susanoo!
Buzz—His Susanoo also began to change rapidly, but such a transformation caused his eyes and body to endure immense pain.
This caused him to pause involuntarily, but the spiral sword had already pierced him!
Boom—,
A massive roar echoed through the forest, and within the dust, Uchiha Itachi's Susanoo was also pierced.
Only the Susanoo's defense caused the sword to stop right in front of him!
Uchiha Itachi gritted his teeth, looking at the masked figure, and asked in a low voice.
"Who on earth are you? Why do you have such eyes?"
"Who I am is none of your business. I'm just purely curious..."
""
Killing intent surged in Shisui's gaze as he spoke coldly.
"What was your mindset in doing this? How could you bring yourself to do it? After all, killing one's own kin is not something just anyone can do."
"What a boring question..."
""
Uchiha Itachi clenched his teeth; this question had quite an impact on him.
His emotions grew increasingly angry, and he stared at the guy in front of him, shouting in a low voice.
"You don't understand what I've endured at all, nor do you understand my capacity!"
"Capacity?"
Shisui's heart sank; he seemed to have obtained the answer!
He really was testing his own capacity, all to gain such eyes and power!
No wonder he wanted to kill the entire clan; no wonder he still killed his parents even when surrounded by Konoha...
"So you've been lying to me all along? Are you already beyond saving?"
Shisui's fists tightened slightly; he truly regretted giving his eye to Uchiha Itachi now!
He made up his mind; he must deal with this guy...
Thud—
But just as he was thinking, a figure came flying back and smashed heavily onto the ground!
At the same time, the forest shook.
Looking up, countless vines were seen intertwining and winding, eventually transforming into a massive wooden dragon!
This wooden dragon was a hundred meters long, its terrifying aura inspiring awe and fear.
And atop the wooden dragon's head, Hyuga Makoto stood with his arms crossed, looking down at the earth, his calm voice quietly ringing out.
"Haven't you played enough, Indra?"
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