"What did Kagetsu's intelligence report say?"
In a dense forest, Nagato and Konan curiously watched as Yahiko unrolled a small scroll in his hand.
Konan even crouched down to play with the small, gleaming white snake that had delivered the message.
The small white snake, after being teased, blinked human-like eyes before curling its body into a coil. It tucked its head inside, almost as if saying, "Do whatever you want, I don't care."
"We need to change our route," Yahiko said, handing a scroll of intel to Nagato and Konan.
"Change our route? Aren't we returning to the Land of Rain?" Konan asked in surprise.
After witnessing Hanzō's death, their original plan was to head back to the Land of Rain, gather their scattered allies, take control of Amegakure, and rebuild their business network.
This time, they didn't need to worry about Hanzō or any resistance from Amegakure.
But now, just as they were about to arrive at the Land of Rain, they were changing their course?
"Kagetsu asked us to escort Shisui," Nagato said quickly as he skimmed through the information on the scroll.
"Escort Shisui? That terrifyingly strong guy needs an escort?" Konan's eyes widened. She had witnessed Shisui's battle with Hanzō firsthand.
The vivid green chakra giant and the overwhelmingly powerful jutsu were still etched in her memory, leaving her breathless whenever she thought about it.
How could someone capable of defeating Hanzō need an escort?
"It's just a precaution. We might not even need to show ourselves or take action," Nagato explained, passing the scroll to Konan after finishing it.
It was just preparation for unforeseen circumstances.
If the request had come from anyone else, the three of them might not have dropped everything to rush over.
But if the person making the request was Nara Kagetsu, none of the three could refuse. Especially Yahiko—after all, his life had been saved by Kagetsu, who had snatched him back from the clutches of death itself.
Besides, they all had a good impression of Shisui. They could sense the kindness and gentleness in his heart.
"I can go alone. Even if something unexpected happens, Shisui and I can handle it together. I'll leave Amegakure to Nagato, Konan, and Mr. Kakuzu," Yahiko said decisively.
"I'll go with you. My sensory abilities can help you locate Shisui faster and assess the situation," Nagato shook his head, stepping forward. "Leave Amegakure to Konan and Mr. Kakuzu."
"Hey, hey, hey! You brats are pushing your luck! Don't overdo it!" Kakuzu, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke up in frustration.
If it weren't for Nagato's rapid improvement in strength and the new Rinnegan abilities he had developed under Kagetsu's research and guidance, Kakuzu—despite his two Kekkei Genkai hearts—would have long since refused to deal with them.
One after another, they all treated him like a laborer!
"We'll pay you, Uncle Kakuzu!" Konan clearly knew Kakuzu's weak spot. As long as the Healing Tag business could be restored, the Land of Rain and Amegakure wouldn't lack resources or money.
"Let's head out then." Yahiko and Nagato exchanged a glance. Nagato summoned a large bird that looked like a pterosaur. Both climbed onto its back, and as its wings flapped, the bird ascended into the sky, eventually disappearing into the distance.
The next day.
Close to evening.
Shisui and the Root team, preparing to travel overnight and find a campsite before nightfall, encountered an unexpected obstacle.
"Who are you?"
In the clearing ahead, a strange figure with a white body emerged from the ground. Shisui's expression instantly became serious as he observed the intruder.
This creature was entirely snow-white and looked oddly familiar.
White Zetsu?
It seemed Shisui recalled Kagetsu naming these creatures like this. The specimens of these monsters were stored and studied by Kagetsu and Orochimaru in their lab.
According to Kagetsu's research, these creatures appeared to be a unique lifeform that straddled the line between plants and animals, capable of transitioning between the two states.
They had the ability to use Wood Release and regenerate their wounds!
Could it be that the disappearance of their comrades had finally led this one to them?
Regardless, Shisui could tell this intruder wasn't here for peaceful reasons. As soon as its body left the ground, it launched an attack.
Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees.
From the earth, massive branches burst forth with a rumbling noise, rapidly transforming the clearing into a dense forest.
Shisui evaded the attack immediately. However, he hadn't expected that the Root team accompanying him would act at the same moment.
Numerous seals crawled from Shisui's soles, climbing up his body. Then, two sharp short blades pressed against his neck and the back of his head from the front and rear.
The trees extended their branches, wrapping around Shisui's body and absorbing his chakra.
"Why?" Shisui's gaze shifted to the Root team's leader, a ninja wearing a cat-faced mask.
Although he had seen the actions of the Root organization before and had worked with them on missions, he knew that everything was prioritized according to the mission. They would stop at nothing to complete their objectives.
But Shisui never imagined that one day, this organization, which operated externally, would turn and target the internal members of the village.
This left Shisui confused, but it also stirred an unusual anger within him.
"Mission!" The voice of the Root squad leader, muffled and low, came from beneath the mask, clearly reaching Shisui's ears.
"Mission? Is it from Lord Hokage, or is it an order from Shimura Danzo?" Shisui seemed to accept his fate, grasping any chance to speak, and asked again.
However, this time, the Root squad leader remained silent and did not respond, but ruthlessly activated a sealing technique on Shisui.
This was an elite Root squad, but they were not focused on combat prowess. They specialized in capturing and restraining.
They excelled in various sealing techniques and curse seals, as well as sensory and control ninjutsu, working together with exceptional coordination.
"Ah, first time meeting you, Uchiha Shisui!" A figure with a face like that of the Uchiha clan's mask, White Zetsu, hung upside down from a tree branch, facing Shisui directly.
"Please move aside," the Root squad leader warned. "Be careful of his eyes!"
"I know more about the Sharingan than you!" White Zetsu replied proudly. "Don't worry! I have a question for you: do you know what it feels like to defecate? I really want to know what that feels like, but Lord Madara never answers my question.
You're about to die. Can you answer that for me?"
"Lord Madara? Is he the one behind you?"
A familiar voice suddenly came from behind them.
****
Support me on my ko-fi account and read upto 15 early chapters,
https://ko-fi.com/pirateking24/tiers