Chapter 260: A Tense Summit

Chapter 260: Chapter 260: A Tense Summit

The scroll Uchiha Shinichi had sent briefly explained the mission Akatsuki had assigned him—to capture a Swift Release Kekkei Genkai ninja—and how he had successfully captured the target in the Land of Whirlpools.

"Storm Release... Swift Release..."

Setting the scroll down, Hyuga Kagami’s expression gradually turned grave.

When Aida, the Storm Release Kekkei Genkai ninja from Kumogakure, had been attacked, Kagami had only had his suspicions. But now that Akatsuki had captured a Swift Release Kekkei Genkai ninja, those suspicions had undoubtedly been confirmed.

"Looks like Hiruko really has perfected the Chimera Technique."

The reason Kagami hadn’t been in any hurry to get his hands on the Chimera Technique before was because he believed Hiruko wouldn’t be able to overcome its flaws anytime soon.

But unexpectedly, after joining Akatsuki, Hiruko’s development of the Chimera Technique had progressed at an astonishing pace.

This was completely beyond Kagami’s expectations, catching him somewhat off guard.

"Since Hiruko has already made moves against Storm Release and Swift Release Kekkei Genkai ninja, he must have his eyes on other Kekkei Genkai ninja as well."

After a brief pause, Kagami continued pondering.

"With the powerful Akatsuki helping him capture Kekkei Genkai ninja, the ones he’s targeted will probably have a hard time escaping his grasp. In fact... it’s possible he’s already captured every last one of them."

The thought immediately gave rise to a sense of urgency in Hyuga Kagami’s heart.

Without a doubt, he had to get his hands on the perfected Chimera Technique as soon as possible. Otherwise, once Hiruko completed his Kekkei Genkai Absorption Plan, obtaining the Chimera Technique from him would become far more difficult.

After all, in the original timeline, Hiruko had fallen short at the very last step and failed to fully complete his Kekkei Genkai Absorption Plan, yet even then, he had been able to easily overwhelm Kakashi.

So if Hiruko were allowed to perfectly complete his Kekkei Genkai Absorption Plan, even Kagami couldn’t predict just how drastically his strength would increase.

Having made up his mind, Kagami wrote another secret letter to Shinichi, instructing him to closely monitor Hiruko’s every move and immediately inform him of any unusual activity.

Right now, Kagami urgently wanted to know exactly which Kekkei Genkai Hiruko had set his sights on, whether he had already succeeded in capturing their owners, and when and where Hiruko’s final Kekkei Genkai fusion ritual would take place.

Kagami had no way of investigating this information himself, so he could only rely on Shinichi, who was undercover within Akatsuki.

The next day.

Kagami had barely met up with Shisui when Shisui said with a grim expression, "Senpai, do you still remember Uchiha Hiiragi?"

"Yeah."

Kagami nodded.

Uchiha Hiiragi had previously represented the Uchiha clan in challenging Kagami. And not long ago, when Kagami had disguised himself as Homura to clear Shisui of suspicion, he had happened to run into Hiiragi again.

Because of that, Kagami remembered him quite well.

Shisui said, "He disappeared last night!"

Under normal circumstances, someone being gone for a single night wouldn’t have been a particularly serious matter. But things were different now. Both the village and the Uchiha clan were on high alert because of the threat posed by Kamigami. So unless something had happened to Uchiha Hiiragi, there was no reason for him to vanish without a trace for an entire night.

Kagami immediately thought of Hiruko.

"First it was a Storm Release Kekkei Genkai ninja, then a Swift Release Kekkei Genkai ninja, and now someone from the Uchiha clan has disappeared. Looks like Hiruko’s selection of Kekkei Genkai ninja is the same as it was in the original timeline. In that case, the other two Kekkei Genkai he’s after are probably Steel Release, with its extraordinary defensive power, and Dark Release, which can absorb chakra."

In the original timeline, by the time Hiruko initiated his Kekkei Genkai Absorption Plan, the Uchiha clan had already been wiped out for years. As a result, the only candidates available to him for acquiring the Sharingan dōjutsu Kekkei Genkai were the difficult-to-locate Uchiha brothers, Itachi and Sasuke, and Kakashi, whose Sharingan Hiruko had placed a curse on beforehand.

Thus, Hiruko had ultimately chosen Kakashi rather than a true member of the Uchiha clan.

But now, the Uchiha clan had yet to be exterminated. For Hiruko, acquiring the Sharingan dōjutsu Kekkei Genkai through the authentic Uchiha bloodline was obviously the more suitable choice.

Kagami inwardly sighed again.

"To infiltrate the village without anyone noticing and abduct an Uchiha jōnin... even within Akatsuki, only a handful of people could pull that off. It was probably Obito."

If the attacker really was Obito, then Uchiha Hiiragi was clearly beyond saving...

......

Yokosuka City, Five Kage Summit.

"It’s precisely because of your incompetence that a damned organization of rogue ninja like Kamigami was able to emerge in the shinobi world! You should be held responsible for this!"

The Fourth Raikage’s furious roar echoed continuously throughout the Five Kage Summit.

This attack had not only cost the Fourth Raikage two powerful guards, but had also caused the ever-proud Kumogakure to lose face. Given the Fourth Raikage’s temperament, it was only natural that he would fly into a rage.

At the side, the Third Tsuchikage gave a faint snort, a trace of disdain on his face.

Noticing the Third Tsuchikage’s reaction, the Fourth Raikage turned toward him and glared furiously.

"I haven’t even settled the score with you Iwagakure bastards over Gloya yet! I suspect Kamigami is secretly backed by Iwagakure! Otherwise, why would they do your dirty work and assassinate a Kumogakure envoy in Konoha?"

At the Fourth Raikage’s accusation, everyone at the summit turned their attention toward the Third Tsuchikage.

The Third Tsuchikage remained completely unruffled.

"What nonsense is this about some ’Kamigami’? We in Iwagakure have never even heard of them. If Kumogakure wants to frame Iwagakure, you should at least produce some evidence first."

He snorted.

"Raikage, do you have any evidence?"

The Fourth Raikage flew into a rage and instinctively activated his Lightning Release Chakra Mode. In an instant, dazzling blue lightning erupted around his entire body!

The Third Tsuchikage floated into the air as well, his gaze turning cold, looking every bit prepared to start fighting at the slightest provocation.

Kumogakure and Iwagakure could practically be called mortal enemies.

The Third Raikage had died after being surrounded by Iwagakure shinobi, while countless Iwagakure shinobi had likewise died at the hands of Kumogakure.

So the summit had barely begun before the Raikage and Tsuchikage were already at each other’s throats.

Seeing that the Raikage and Tsuchikage were on the verge of fighting, everyone in the meeting hall rose to their feet, each taking up a guarded stance.

"Ahem..."

After coughing lightly twice, Danzo stood and said, "Everyone, I proposed this Five Kage Summit so that we could sit down together and discuss how to deal with the threats posed by Kamigami and Akatsuki. So for the time being, I ask that everyone set aside their grievances with one another."

The Raikage shot Danzo a cold glance.

"And who the hell are you? Where’s the Hokage? Why didn’t he come to attend the Five Kage Summit himself?"

That single question from the Raikage immediately turned Danzo’s face livid...