Chapter 555: A Self-Staged Performance

Chapter 555: Chapter 555: A Self-Staged Performance

While Konan was still racking her brains over Hiruko’s situation, in another underground chamber within the Akatsuki base, the White Zetsu clone who had just returned from Konoha was reporting to Obito and Zetsu the conditions proposed by Kagami and Itachi.

"Heh, looks like I underestimated him a little!"

Listening to the White Zetsu clone’s account and glancing at his severed right arm, Obito chuckled. However, his expression remained unchanged, as though Kagami’s actions had merely surprised him slightly.

Zetsu, standing nearby, asked, "Are we going to agree to their conditions?"

Resting his chin on his hand, Obito considered the matter for a moment before saying, "If we don’t agree, I’m afraid they won’t feel comfortable gathering intelligence on Kamigami for us."

Zetsu asked another question. "Release both children together?"

Obito nodded. "Mm. Release them both. Those two kids aren’t of much use to us anymore anyway."

It was common knowledge that both Sasuke and Neji had fallen into Akatsuki’s hands. Therefore, they either had to release neither of them or release both together. Otherwise, there would be no way to reassure both informants simultaneously.

Not long ago, the Mist squad that had raided Orochimaru’s hideout had sent back a report. Their surprise attack had failed. They had come up empty-handed, unable to find any trace of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki inside Orochimaru’s hideout.

And with that raid, the proposed hostage exchange between Akatsuki and Orochimaru had naturally fallen through. As a result, Sasuke and Neji were no longer of much use to Akatsuki.

In Obito’s eyes, trading two children who had already lost their value for the cooperation of two informants capable of gathering intelligence on Kamigami was a worthwhile deal.

"All right. I’ll go make the arrangements right away!"

With that, Zetsu sank into the ground.

...

Inside Orochimaru’s base.

Kabuto stood at the cave entrance and respectfully bowed to Orochimaru, who had just returned from Konoha.

"Lord Orochimaru!"

"Nothing happened while I was away, did it?"

Orochimaru asked casually as he walked into the cave.

Wiping the fine beads of sweat from his forehead, Kabuto carefully chose his words before replying, "Not long after you left, Akatsuki launched a surprise attack on this place. To prevent them from taking Naruto, I had no choice but to take Naruto and Hinata into Ryuchi Cave to hide."

Orochimaru abruptly stopped in his tracks.

His snake-like eyes fixed on Kabuto as he asked in a deep voice, "What did you say? You entered Ryuchi Cave?"

"Yes!"

Under Orochimaru’s gaze, Kabuto lowered his head, his heart filled with unease.

Although Orochimaru had permitted him to retreat into Ryuchi Cave when confronted by powerful enemies, he had never authorized Naruto to train in senjutsu there. Kabuto was therefore somewhat worried that taking matters into his own hands would earn him Orochimaru’s punishment.

After a moment, Orochimaru withdrew his gaze and continued walking into the cave.

"What did you do while you were in Ryuchi Cave?"

Kabuto followed closely behind Orochimaru, recounting everything they had experienced in Ryuchi Cave from beginning to end.

However, Kabuto had not been able to observe Ichikishimahime’s instruction of Naruto in senjutsu. Therefore, he only knew that Naruto seemed to have mastered senjutsu, but he was unaware of the entire process Naruto had undergone during his training.

Listening to Kabuto’s account, the corners of Orochimaru’s mouth curled upward into an intrigued smile.

Clearly, Naruto’s experiences in Ryuchi Cave had piqued his interest.

Soon, the two arrived inside the cave, where they found Naruto sitting cross-legged on the ground, scratching his head in frustration as he muttered, "How could this be? It clearly worked before!"

Kabuto said to Orochimaru, somewhat speechlessly, "Lord Orochimaru, this is the situation."

The reason Kabuto had told Orochimaru that Naruto seemed to have mastered senjutsu was that, back in Ryuchi Cave, not only had Naruto himself claimed to have learned senjutsu, but even Ichikishimahime, who had personally instructed him, had explicitly stated that Naruto had mastered it.

Yet, for some inexplicable reason, the moment Naruto left Ryuchi Cave, he could no longer enter Sage Mode, no matter how hard he tried.

This had forced Kabuto to develop an entirely new appreciation for just how unreliable Naruto could be. It had even left him with the impression that Ichikishimahime, who had been responsible for teaching Naruto senjutsu, was somewhat unreliable herself.

Orochimaru stepped forward and carefully observed Naruto for a while. After asking him a few questions, he smiled.

Kabuto asked curiously, "Lord Orochimaru, have you figured out the problem?"

Orochimaru glanced at Kabuto and explained, "The foundation of senjutsu is the natural energy dispersed throughout the air. Jugo gained the ability to communicate with birds and beasts precisely because his body accumulated an excessive amount of natural energy. As for why Naruto can’t enter Sage Mode, it’s probably simply because he hasn’t absorbed enough natural energy."

Unlike Kabuto, who had personally experienced the trip to Ryuchi Cave and whose understanding had been shaken and influenced by everything he had encountered there, Orochimaru was an outside observer and could approach the matter more objectively.

Combined with his many years of research into Jugo and natural energy, this allowed him to quickly identify why Naruto could no longer enter Sage Mode after leaving Ryuchi Cave.

Hearing Orochimaru’s explanation, Kabuto suddenly understood.

Kabuto was also very familiar with Jugo, so he understood the origins of Jugo’s bodily mutations. Consequently, he knew that the concentration of natural energy within Ryuchi Cave was far greater than that of the outside world.

However, he had encountered far too many things in Ryuchi Cave that had completely overturned his understanding of the world and left him speechless. His thoughts had become somewhat muddled, preventing him from immediately recognizing this crucial point.

Having sorted out his thoughts, Kabuto asked, "So Naruto really has mastered senjutsu?"

The smile disappeared from Orochimaru’s face as he replied in a deep voice, "Yes. Who would have thought that this little brat, who couldn’t even learn the Clone Technique, would actually manage to master senjutsu!"

Kabuto was overjoyed. "This is wonderful! With Naruto, we’ll finally be able to uncover the true nature of senjutsu!"

Orochimaru shook his head. "Those two children must be handed over to Danzo immediately."

Kabuto was startled. "What!?"

"Don’t worry. We’re only handing them over to Danzo temporarily."

Patting Kabuto on the shoulder, Orochimaru curled his lips into a smile and said, "Go make the arrangements. Make the performance convincing, as though Danzo really rescued them. Also, remind Naruto not to casually reveal that he’s been training in senjutsu."

Realizing that Orochimaru and Danzo had probably reached some sort of agreement, Kabuto said nothing more and quickly nodded.

...

Half a day later.

Boom...

A series of explosions echoed continuously throughout the valley.

Leading the charge, Danzo stormed Orochimaru’s base in the valley with a group of Root shinobi. After killing more than a dozen guards stationed at the base, they successfully rescued Naruto and Hinata, who had been temporarily transferred there.

Looking at the fierce-looking Root shinobi surrounding them, Naruto wore a completely bewildered expression, having absolutely no idea what was going on.

Hinata, meanwhile, was so frightened that she trembled uncontrollably, hiding behind Naruto.

Danzo coldly swept his gaze over the two nervous children before loudly announcing:

"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has been successfully rescued!"