Chapter 314: Dealing with the Backer

Chapter 314: Chapter 314: Dealing with the Backer

Shinichi had only just arrived. Hearing that agonized scream, he froze for a moment, completely forgetting what he had been about to say.

Shinno said bluntly, "This is an important experimental facility. Please leave!"

"An important experimental facility?" Shinichi chuckled and moved closer to Shinno. "That scream just now sounded an awful lot like Hiruko. What, is there something wrong with his body?"

Shinno’s expression turned cold. "No comment."

Shinichi didn’t seem to mind. He continued with a grin, "En already told me about what happened with you. Heh, who would’ve thought you were hiding a secret like that? Is it really okay to keep something like this from the Akatsuki?"

Veins bulged across Shinno’s face as anger surged within him. "Are you threatening me?"

Shinichi shrugged. "Think whatever you want. Either way, I’ve got something on you now. If you think I’m threatening you, then sure—consider it a threat."

Shinno forcibly suppressed his anger and asked, "What do you want?"

"Hand over the Chimera Technique. In exchange, I’ll pretend I never heard about your plan to devour the Priestess." After a brief pause, Shinichi smiled. "Otherwise, I’m afraid the fact that you sabotaged the Akatsuki’s operation for your own personal agenda won’t stay hidden for long!"

His grin widened.

"When that happens, you’ll have no choice but to defect just like Orochimaru."

Shinno said, "I won’t accept threats. I was already planning to come clean with the Akatsuki about this. Even if I’m punished, I’ll accept it willingly, so don’t waste your time."

Shinichi curled his lips. "Is that so? Then forget I said anything."

With that, Shinichi turned and started walking out of the base.

Shinno suddenly called after him. "I never expected that even someone like you, who possesses the Mangekyo Sharingan, would covet Hiruko’s Chimera Technique. How ironic!"

Without looking back, Shinichi merely raised a hand in farewell. "You’d better hurry up and confess, or I might accidentally let something slip. Oh, right—I also heard you’ve been colluding with Orochimaru. You’d better confess that to the Akatsuki while you’re at it. Hopefully, the Leader will spare you!"

The moment Shinichi mentioned the name Orochimaru, Shinno’s heart skipped a beat, and panic began to set in.

After confirming that Shinichi had left the base, Shinno pondered to himself, "Once the truth about what I hid from the Akatsuki comes out, they probably won’t trust me anymore. By then, even Hiruko will likely start guarding against me. And if they discover that I’m still in contact with Orochimaru—or worse, that I even brought Orochimaru along to observe Hiruko’s Kekkei Genkai fusion ritual—then I’ll really be in trouble."

Shinno had never felt much of a sense of belonging toward the Akatsuki in the first place.

By now, he had already gotten everything he needed from the Akatsuki, and he had acquired most of Hiruko’s techniques as well. At this point, leaving the Akatsuki was hardly a difficult decision for him to make.

Shinno silently made up his mind.

"Perhaps it’s time!"

The Priestess’s rule over the Land of Demons had already collapsed, and Shion was now all alone. Even with Konoha’s protection, she was ultimately nothing more than an inconspicuous little girl. Shinno believed that as long as he was patient, devouring Shion and obtaining the Priestess’s power was merely a matter of time.

After deciding to leave the Akatsuki, Shinno’s first step was to relocate his supplies and experimental materials.

Although this base nominally belonged to Hiruko, many of the laboratories inside actually belonged to Shinno, and they contained a large amount of important experimental material.

Since he had decided to leave the Akatsuki, there was naturally no way he would abandon those resources.

Knowing that Shinichi wouldn’t give him much time, Shinno moved quickly. While Hiruko was suffering from the hidden complications of his body inside the sealed chamber, Shinno used storage scrolls to empty out more than half of the laboratories.

Once he had finished transferring his supplies, Shinno composed himself and headed toward the tower where the Akatsuki’s leader resided.

Before long, Shinno stood before Pain.

Pain looked at him and asked indifferently, "What is it?"

Shinno replied respectfully, "There’s something wrong with Hiruko’s body, and he needs certain medicinal ingredients. Because of that, I may need to leave the Land of Rain for a while."

Shinno knew very well that he needed an excuse if he wanted to leave the Land of Rain. Otherwise, even with the tremendous increase in strength he had gained after devouring the demon Mōryō, there was absolutely no way he could escape from the Land of Rain.

And Hiruko’s hidden complications were undoubtedly the perfect excuse.

Given Hiruko’s current physical condition, even if he managed to endure the complications, he would still require a considerable amount of time to recuperate. During that period, no one would question Shinno’s whereabouts.

That would give him more than enough time to escape the Land of Rain and hide away in some distant corner of the world.

Pain had never cared much about matters like this in the first place, so he said nothing more and merely nodded coldly.

Shinno felt as though he had been granted a pardon and let out a long sigh of relief.

Just as Shinno was about to turn and leave, however, Konan, who stood beside Pain, called out to him.

"You seem rather nervous?"

Shinno stiffly turned around and forced a smile as he explained, "I don’t know why, but whenever I stand before the Leader, I can’t help feeling nervous. Perhaps the Rinnegan is simply too intimidating."

Konan gave a cold snort. "I hope you aren’t entertaining any thoughts you shouldn’t have. Focus on doing your job for the Akatsuki!"

Shinno hurriedly nodded. "What happened this time was my responsibility. I ask the Leader’s forgiveness. There won’t be a next time!"

After leaving the tower, Shinno immediately put on a raincoat and sped off in the direction of the Land of Fire.

Not long after Shinno departed, Shinichi emerged from a nearby building and grinned.

"That guy really does have something to hide. All it took was a little bluff, and he exposed himself!"

......

Konoha.

Poof...

Along with a burst of white smoke, Shozaimaru once again appeared inside Hyuga Kagami’s home.

Kagami conscientiously paid the fee, then took the scroll Shinichi had sent from Shozaimaru’s paws.

Unrolling the scroll and reading through it, the corners of Hyuga Kagami’s mouth immediately curled upward.

"Just as I thought, that guy was never truly on the same side as the Akatsuki!"

Over the past few days, Kagami had carefully analyzed the Akatsuki’s plan from that night, and Shinno’s actions had undoubtedly disrupted it.

No matter what method Shinno used to attack Shion, it would have alerted Konoha to the involvement of an outside force. And given the Third Hokage’s cautious nature, he certainly wouldn’t have turned against the Uchiha on the spot under those circumstances.

On top of that, Shinno had maintained close ties with Orochimaru, who had already betrayed the Akatsuki. From these two points alone, it was clear that Shinno and the Akatsuki were merely allies in appearance, each harboring their own intentions.

And Shinno with the Akatsuki backing him and Shinno without the Akatsuki backing him were two completely different matters.

Since Kagami had already decided to make a move against Shinno, naturally, the first order of business was to deal with the force backing him.

"Now I just need to find out where Shinno is hiding, and then I can gather everyone and make our move!"

Tracking down Shinno might have been difficult for others, but for Hyuga Kagami, it was practically effortless.

After all, sensing worked both ways.

If Shinno could sense Shion’s location, then naturally, Shion could sense Shinno’s location as well.

As long as Kagami had Shion with him, there was nowhere in the world Shinno could hide...