The seaside sky darkened as night fell. Thunder rumbled endlessly, followed by a lightning strike that unleashed a torrential downpour. The flashes of lightning cut through the stormy sky like sharp swords slicing through darkness, while gusts of wind drove the rain harder and harder until everything was submerged—a world drowned in gray.
In this chaotic environment, Anya had been sitting motionless for an entire day and night. Around him lay numerous corpses, and The Supreme Blade, now split into six hovering pieces, floated like silent specters, attacking any ninja who approached with ill intent. Not even Anya himself could have predicted that his Sword Manipulation Art would reach mastery in such a state of despair.
Yugao stood by his side the entire time, her Ninja Blade clutched tightly as she kept a sharp eye on every enemy approaching. Gradually, her eyes filled with worry—and something else, unspoken yet unmistakable: envy. If only there were a man in this world willing to do the same for her... dying would be worth it!
Plop... plop...
Footsteps echoed. Yugao tightened her grip on the blade, channeled chakra to shield herself from the rain, and glared fiercely at the two figures approaching from afar.
"There's no need to look at us so defensively. We're here to help him."
Unmoved by their words, Yugao remained silent. As an Anbu member, she knew most of Konoha's ninja. These two were definitely not among them.
"You're Yugao, right? Part of his squad?" The speaker didn't raise a hand but spoke patiently. "His name is Anya. He is the disciple of White Fang, once locked away by Konoha for three years. Now, he leads an Anbu unit under the codename Night."
"Who are you?" Yugao's composure slightly wavered as she finally spoke. Though not strictly classified, such details weren't easily known.
"I'm Sasori. I'm his brother."
Of course, these two were none other than Sasori and Kakuzu. Thanks to Zero Organization's extensive intelligence network, Sasori already knew exactly who Anya was.
Kakuzu scanned the field of corpses and quickly noticed the floating blades circling around them. "Enough talk. Stand aside. His condition isn't good. Those blades haven't attacked us yet. That alone tells us everything."
Yugao took a deep breath and decided to let them pass, though her eyes never left them. At the first sign of danger, she'd cut them down without hesitation.
Sasori approached confidently. He intimately understood Anya's techniques, especially [Spirit Transformation Technique]. With Ryumyaku energy flowing within him, he could sense how weak Anya's life force had become. If this continued, things wouldn't end well.
Looking toward Yugao, he asked, "How long has he been like this? Is he searching for someone?"
"One full day and night," Yugao answered shortly. "Big sis Haku was lost at sea, and he's been trying to find her using a secret jutsu."
"Empress Megatron?" Sasori muttered thoughtfully. He clearly remembered how deeply Anya had cared about that woman before. With the vast, boundless sea between them now, recovery seemed nearly impossible.
"Wake the kid up," Kakuzu said calmly. "This place isn't safe."
"Right," Sasori agreed.
Anya's eyes snapped open, breaking the vacant stare she had worn all along. After glancing at the three people around her, she wore a faint smile on her face. "You're here. Don't worry, I'm okay."
Yuugao quickly asked, "What about Big sis Haku?"
"She's not gone yet. I believe she's still alive." Though Anya appeared very weak, her voice was firm. "Actually, I shouldn't have looked for her in the first place. Since she met me, she hasn't lived a single day for herself or had her own life. Everything she did was in service to my will. I should have given her freedom long ago."
Anya spoke emotionally, but Sasori understood that the [Spirit Transformation Technique] must have failed to locate her. Otherwise, even if he wanted to let her go, he would have saved her first.
Whether this was self-deception or self-comfort, Sasori was still very glad to see Anya recover.
Kakuzu had long become indifferent to life and death. Standing aside, he said, "Kid, since you're awake, let's go."
Anya looked tiredly at the sea. Her resentment transformed into boundless regret, her eyes dimming completely as she spoke to Kakuzu. "Uncle, I have no strength left. Carry me one last time."
"Alright."
Kakuzu didn't refuse. Naturally, he bent down and picked Anya up onto his back, just like the day he saved her at the Mist village gates. On that day, Kakuzu also saved Haku. But now, Haku was gone.
Leaning on Kakuzu's back, Anya soon fell into a deep sleep.
Sasori used chakra to examine Anya's body, inhaling sharply as he did. "His body has been completely overdrawn. I should have realized this earlier. No matter how strong one's spiritual power is, such intense usage will inevitably overload the physical body. Immediate treatment is needed. By the way, Tsunade in Konoha can help."
Sasori quickly made the decision.
Yuugao, standing nearby, was surprised. "But Tsunade-sama is so far from us, and we're still in enemy territory. Shouldn't we..."
"Don't worry," Sasori interrupted her. "Just follow us. Whoever dares to block our way, I'll kill them."
After speaking, Sasori deployed his upgraded giant puppet, [Red Spider]. After a period of modification and enhancement, the Red Spider's form had become more perfected, and its flying speed was even faster. In terms of speed alone, it surpassed the Warhawk Puppet previously used by Anya.
Kakuzu also activated [Earth Grudge Fear] to summon his wind-based black beast.
The four of them shot into the sky and flew straight toward the stronghold at Mount Hakuto.
At the Mountain Tomb, Madara Uchiha had once again returned to this place. Sitting on a stone chair now, two tubes were inserted into his back. The other ends of these tubes were connected to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, which Nagato had summoned earlier.
Before Madara Uchiha lay a teenage boy whose half-body had been crushed. It was indeed the young Obito Uchiha, who had been rescued by White Zetsu.
Obito opened his eyes now, seeing the old man covered in wrinkles before him, with white hair and noticing the Sharingan in his eyes. He couldn't help asking, "Have I already died? Where is this?"
Madara replied calmly, "Between the living world and Yomi (the underworld)."
Obito, surprised, looked into Madara's eyes and asked, "Grandpa, are you also part of the Uchiha Clan?"
"Well, how should I put this?" Madara hesitated for a moment.
Obito continued asking, "You said this place is a narrow gap in Yomi, pitch-black and impossible to see anything. And hey, old gentleman, exactly who are you? You wouldn't happen to be the Shinigami everyone talks about—the one who guides souls to Yomi?"
After saying this, Obito noticed the scythe in Madara's hand and panicked, jumping up with a scream, "No way! I'm not ready to die yet! Help! I saw the scythe—you must be the Shinigami! Please, don't send me to Yomi yet! I've done tons of good deeds, really! Ow, it hurts!"
As Obito shouted wildly, the pain from his wounds flared up.
"Don't worry. If you can still feel pain, you're not dead. That you're alive at all is already a miracle. Half of your body was completely crushed beyond recognition. I just gave you a quick emergency treatment."
Obito suddenly realized, "So it was you who saved me, old geezer! Thanks!"
"It's too early to thank me," Madara replied, his eyes dark and piercing as he studied Obito. Everything was unfolding precisely as he had planned.
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