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In a top-secret Akatsuki location, unknown to other members, Nagato, in his true body, met with the masked Obito Uchiha. In the original story, Obito should have joined the Akatsuki as “Tobi” by now, but that hadn’t happened.
“Are you saying Shin Uzumaki interfered with the Tailed Beast collection?” Obito stared at Nagato, his brow deeply furrowed.
Shin Uzumaki suddenly intervening… what were his intentions?
“Aren’t you and Shin Uzumaki partners? You don’t know?” Nagato looked at this “Madara Uchiha” impassively, his own thoughts unreadable.
Obito’s face, hidden beneath the mask, darkened. Shin Uzumaki, his partner? No. He never considered Shin Uzumaki to be on his side.
“I understand the situation now.” Obito turned and left.
He needed to think some things through himself.
Shin Uzumaki wasn’t on his side—he was Madara’s collaborator, not his.
———
At this moment, Shin and Kushina were heading towards the Land of Earth.
Rōshi, though having left Iwagakure, was still in the Land of Earth. That was why Shin and Kushina were going there.
“The environment in the Land of Earth is terrible,” Kushina couldn’t help but comment.
It was constantly raining rocks from the sky. Shin kept Shinra Tensei active, deflecting all the falling debris.
Most of the Land of Earth was desolate, rocky terrain. Strong winds would whip up the fine gravel, creating these so-called rock rains—
—This debris would also blow into neighboring countries, making life miserable for them as well.
“This place is desolate. I’m never coming back here again. By the way, Shin, if we find that Four-Tails Jinchūriki, Rōshi, let me fight him.” Kushina said, eager for a fight.
Back home, Kushina couldn’t find any worthy opponents. Tsunade and the others were as strong as her—fighting them was pointless.
“Alright.” Shin had no objections. If not for wanting to speed up the Akatsuki’s Tailed Beast collection, Shin wouldn’t even be interested in dealing with Rōshi.
———
They arrived at a small town on the border of the Land of Earth. According to White Zetsu’s intel, Rōshi was currently in this town.
As for Rōshi’s exact location within the town, White Zetsu couldn’t provide precise information. Rōshi wasn’t an inanimate object—he was a person and could move.
But that didn’t matter. As long as Shin could determine Rōshi’s general vicinity, he could easily find him.
“I’ve found him—” Kushina said to Shin.
Kushina also possessed the Kagura Mind’s Eye. Finding Rōshi wasn’t difficult. A Jinchūriki’s chakra was distinct from other ninjas’, making them easy to identify.
Besides, in this small town, only one person possessed such chakra. It was too obvious.
When they found Rōshi, he was drinking in a tavern, looking quite carefree.
“Should we do it here?” Kushina asked Shin.
“Well, fighting here would affect innocent bystanders. Let’s grab him and leave town.” Though Shin wasn’t a saint, he wouldn’t kill innocents indiscriminately.
If they fought here, many people in this town would likely die.
Shin walked over, grabbed Rōshi by the collar, and before Rōshi could react, used Space-Time Ninjutsu to teleport him out of the town.
“WHO ARE YOU?!” Rōshi, thrown to the ground by Shin, angrily demanded.
“We’re here for the Four-Tails. Hand it over obediently, or you’ll die a miserable death,” Shin said coolly to Rōshi.
Rōshi’s face paled. Extracting a Tailed Beast was a death sentence.
They wanted him dead!
“You… You’re Shin Uzumaki???” Rōshi looked intently at Shin and recognized him instantly.
Rōshi recognized Shin—
Even the Four-Tails had clashed with Shin before, though it ended with Shin beating it into a hasty retreat.
But that was during the Second Shinobi World War, over twenty years ago…
“Kushina, go ahead and deal with him. Judging by his looks, he won’t hand over the Four-Tails willingly. Remember, don’t kill Rōshi. If he dies, the Tailed Beast dies too,” Shin reminded Kushina.
This reminder was necessary.
If Kushina used a bit too much force, she might accidentally kill Rōshi. After all, Kushina was incredibly strong now, and Rōshi was fragile.
A slightly heavier blow could definitely kill him.
“I know. I’ll control my strength,” Kushina assured Shin.
Shin looked at Kushina, not entirely convinced—If Kushina really killed Rōshi, the aftermath would be quite troublesome. Though he wasn’t bothered by a little trouble, it was best to avoid it if possible.
“You’re not going to fight?” Rōshi, hearing Shin and Kushina’s conversation, felt his worry gradually dissipate.
If his opponent wasn’t Shin Uzumaki, but the Kushina Uzumaki beside him, Rōshi felt he could still win—Then he could capture Kushina Uzumaki and use her to threaten Shin Uzumaki.
It wasn’t impossible to escape…
Rōshi, who had thought he was doomed, suddenly felt a glimmer of hope. It’s not a completely hopeless situation after all.
Rōshi still hadn’t grasped the situation, hadn’t realized the severity of things. He thought Kushina would be easy to deal with.
“What’s with that smug look? Are you looking down on me?” Kushina’s face showed a hint of displeasure.
Rōshi, who had looked desperate just moments before, suddenly appeared arrogant. Does he think she’s weak?
“<Lava Release Chakra Mode!>”
Rōshi activated his Lava Release Chakra Mode. It was somewhat similar to the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, practically the same in principle.
His entire body was wreathed in high-temperature lava, capable of melting anything it touched.
This was Rōshi’s greatest reliance.
The lava armor formed by Lava Release protected Rōshi, providing both offensive and defensive capabilities.
Lava Release wasn’t weak. Consider Akainu from One Piece. But Rōshi was Rōshi, and Akainu was Akainu. Rōshi definitely couldn’t reach Akainu’s level.
Still, being covered in lava… it looked quite intimidating.
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