Strange. Kakashi was about to be born, yet Kakuzu felt an inexplicable pain in his heart. Could it be that this kid was cursed with misfortune? If that were the case, should he eliminate him right now?
…What a joke.
In the original timeline, Kakashi was only able to hold his own against Kakuzu due to tactics and surprise attacks. Now, however, Kakuzu was far stronger than he had been back then. This concern was entirely unnecessary.
After bidding farewell to Sakumo, Kakuzu set off back to White Tree Town. On the way, he still had to deal with Hiruko.
Solving the problem of Hiruko wasn't difficult. Abandoned by Konoha, everything he had worked for had crumbled. He was now nothing more than a stray wandering the shinobi world, lost and without purpose. Eventually, Kakuzu tracked him down.
Kakuzu orchestrated an 'accident' and acknowledged Hiruko—not for his strength, but for his research. To a man in despair, being recognized was a powerful thing. It could give rise to immense strength. Hiruko wept once more, but this time, it was because he had finally found a new home after leaving Konoha.
With that, Kakuzu took Hiruko back to White Tree Town. The lab had been destroyed, leaving everything in ruins, and it would be up to Hiruko to rebuild it. After this incident, Kakuzu realized a crucial problem—establishing the lab there wasn't completely safe. It was time to relocate.
The new arrangements were set. Hiruko would oversee the laboratory, while the task of building a new force fell to Heisei Rokuno. Heisei was one of Kakuzu's longest-serving subordinates. Once a clueless boy, he had now grown into a middle-aged man in his forties. Under Kakuzu's training, his strength had reached near-Kage level. While he might not be able to defeat a Kage-class opponent outright, he could at least stall for time in an emergency.
Meanwhile, the newcomer "Ni" would stay by Kakuzu's side. Kakuzu intended to train her personally. Her contract with the Spirit Beast Clan made her summoning creatures particularly outstanding. Kakuzu planned to help her sign more summoning contracts. When it came to large-scale battles, the sheer size of summoned beasts could be a tremendous advantage. Much like Pain's Animal Path, she would be instrumental in wide-scale destruction.
The rebuilding process proceeded steadily and efficiently on Kakuzu's side, while the Second Shinobi World War raged on.
However, after Sunagakure suffered heavy losses and retreated, and Iwagakure also withdrew, the most intense period of the war had largely passed. The remaining fierce battles were concentrated in Amegakure.
Hanzō, the so-called 'Demi-God,' had initially joined the fight to protect Amegakure from invasion. The great nations could fight their wars, but he wouldn't allow his village to be drawn into their conflicts. However, as the war continued, Hanzō's reputation grew. He no longer minded expanding the Land of Rain's territory. After all, the most fertile land in the shinobi world belonged to the Land of Fire. Thus, clashes between the two nations escalated once again.
In response, Hiruzen Sarutobi's three disciples took to the battlefield. Rumor had it that the commanders on both sides engaged in a one-on-one duel, though the outcome remained unknown. However, since all four combatants survived, many speculated that the battle had ended in a draw. Following this, hostilities between the Land of Rain and Konoha gradually subsided.
Konoha's war with Kumogakure remained fierce, but it had become a routine conflict. Once both sides realized they couldn't decisively defeat the other, the front lines gradually stabilized. Small skirmishes continued, but large-scale battles became rare.
Meanwhile, Kumogakure and Kirigakure were also engaged in war. However, Kirigakure's situation was unique. With seventy percent of its territory consisting of ocean, it was difficult for foreign forces to invade. Moreover, Kirigakure preferred internal purges over external wars. With the rise of the Third Mizukage, the ominous signs of the Blood Mist era had begun. Many clans with kekkei genkai were being systematically eradicated.
To achieve this, the Third Mizukage needed manpower. Thus, Kirigakure relied on its elite assassination squads to deal with Kumogakure. Although both sides suffered casualties, no major battles erupted. Over time, the two nations tacitly agreed to a truce, focusing on recuperation instead.
With this, the Second Shinobi World War finally drew to a close.
The smaller nations still clashed sporadically, but they were inconsequential. Once the great nations ceased fighting, the smaller ones naturally followed suit.
The war had lasted nearly two years—longer and bloodier than the First Shinobi World War. The death toll was staggering.
Historians would later analyze the outcome of the war. The biggest loser was undoubtedly Sunagakure. They had waged war against both Konoha and Iwagakure, only to end up antagonizing both nations while failing to claim victory. More importantly, their homeland had suffered devastating damage. Sunagakure had gambled away nearly all of its good fortune. Under the leadership of Reto, the village had once been able to develop slowly and steadily. But now? They had lost everything. For the next several decades, Sunagakure would remain at the bottom among the Five Great Nations.
As for the biggest winner—many believed it was Konoha. Defending its land while facing off against four nations was a remarkable feat. This war gave rise to legends such as the 'White Fang,' the 'Three Sannin.' However, beneath Konoha's triumph lay untold hardships—hardships that only Konoha itself could fully comprehend.
Time flew by, and three years passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside the laboratory, Ni stood gracefully, her figure fully matured. Now an adult, she had grown increasingly beautiful, her body developing in all the right ways. Her dark red wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, exuding a mature and alluring charm. Age-wise, she wasn't particularly old—just a little younger than Tsunade, and only by a tiny margin.
As a member of the Spirit Beast Clan, her physique was somewhat unique compared to ordinary people. Their natural heat dissipation was superior, making them more prone to feeling hot. Because of this, Ni dressed lightly—her red battle dress was all she needed to deal with the issue.
At this moment, she stood with a worried expression, her gaze locked on the figure behind the glass door—Kakuzu.
Standing beside her was Hiruko. But don't get the wrong idea—this time around, Ni was not under Hiruko's command. In fact, they were both working under Kakuzu. Hiruko was in charge of experimental matters, while Ni handled Kakuzu's personal affairs, essentially serving as his private secretary.
Inside the glass chamber, Kakuzu stood stark naked, his right hand gripping his left wrist with an ironclad grip. Every ounce of his strength was concentrated on this single point. The relentless exertion caused veins to bulge violently across his forehead, thighs, and arms.
Pain wracked his body.
Two conflicting energies clashed fiercely within him, colliding like fire and water. One moment, an icy chill swept through his body, the next, an unbearable heat surged within him, leaving him restless and agitated. This torment was far from what an ordinary person could endure.
Even someone as physically formidable as Kakuzu found himself uncertain at this moment.
"Huff… Huff… Huff…"
His labored breathing echoed throughout the chamber, heavy and erratic. Sweat poured from his body like rain, streaming down in rivulets. His strength was being drained bit by bit, his legs growing weaker as his body slowly crouched lower.
But could he afford to give up?
No!
If he wanted to obtain something he never had before, he had to do things he had never done before. This world was full of passion and bloodshed—but it was also cruel.
Without the bloodline of the Sage of Six Paths, one would eventually end up strung up like a trophy, waiting for some protagonist to come and "rescue" them.
Kakuzu refused to be that person.
This was the best way to draw closer to the power of the Sage of Six Paths.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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