"Why is the gate wide open?"
Walking into the fortress prison, Kakashi asked with suspicion.
Then he noticed the strange, twisted experimental subjects in the surrounding cells.
"So this must be one of Orochimaru's fortresses… truly insane, turning people into things like this." Kakashi frowned.
Beside him, Sai asked, "But why is the gate here open, and some of the buildings empty… wait, why is there even an operating table set up here?! (꒪⌓꒪)"
"Kiba said that Akamaru smelled the presence of the Shinju here," Kiba suddenly spoke up.
Connecting Kiba's words with the operating table made from Wood Release…
It wasn't hard to tell that Shinju had already been here!
"What was he doing setting up an operating table here? Don't tell me he's turned into some twisted scientist like Orochimaru, experimenting on people?" Sai couldn't help but ask.
"Do you really think that's possible?"
Kiba shot back, "If Shinju did this, there's definitely a reason for it."
Kakashi thought Kiba was right and nodded.
Afterward, the group investigated inside the fortress prison and learned about Guren's movements—and that Shinju had been here experimenting on removing cursed seals…
"So it was for removing cursed seals… Shinju did this for Sasuke, huh…"
Kakashi sighed as realization dawned.
That boy Shinju still remembered his old friends.
...
Meanwhile, the Akatsuki trio were also hurrying along the road.
"Do you think that red-haired kid knows we're going after the Three-Tails?" Deidara suddenly asked, flying above.
"Didn't he come in after you finished talking about capturing the Three-Tails? How could he have heard?" Sasori replied.
Deidara looked doubtful, uncertain.
"That guy's got endless tricks—who knows if he has some other way to listen in through the rings?"
"Deidara-senpai must have been scared stiff by the red-haired boy! ( ˝ᗢ̈˝ )"
Tobi mocked without holding back.
"Oi, Tobi! You looking to die?! (눈益눈)" Deidara roared.
Sasori, exasperated at the two about to start another fight, raised his voice.
"Cut it out! Let's go over the tactics for capturing the Three-Tails!"
Deidara shrugged with complete indifference.
"No need for something like that!"
"The Three-Tails isn't like the other Tailed Beasts—it doesn't have a jinchūriki, so it's easier to deal with. （＾ワ＾）"
Beside them…
The usually hyperactive Tobi suddenly went quiet and heavy.
Behind the mask, his single remaining eye trembled.
"No jinchūriki… huh…"
...
At the center of a massive lake.
Guren, Yukimaru, and Gyū sat on a boat.
After confirming the Three-Tails' location, Guren followed the method Kabuto had taught her—placing a helmet on Yukimaru's head and feeding him a handful of pills.
"I don't know what kind of connection you have with the Three-Tails, but please… do your best."
"Once this mission succeeds, I'll help you find where you truly belong."
Guren's voice was firm.
After finishing, she stepped onto the water, signaling Gyū to row the boat back.
Gyū did as instructed.
The next moment, Guren clasped her hands into seals and shouted!
"Crystal Release: Crystal Hexagonal Pillars!!"
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!!"
Six pink crystal pillars shot out from beneath the water, forming a circular formation!
At the same time, Yukimaru—wearing that strange device—let out a painful scream!!
"Splaaaash—"
After dozens of seconds of this, dense bubbles appeared in the center of the hexagonal formation.
And then!!
"Fwooosh—!!"
A gigantic turtle surfaced!!
It was massive, forty to fifty meters long, with a single crimson eye—and three monstrous tails!
"So this is the Three-Tails… what a presence!"
Guren said excitedly.
She could already picture herself flawlessly completing this mission—and being chosen by Orochimaru-sama as the next vessel for his rebirth!!
The Three-Tails' single eye swept over Guren.
And then—
"Vmmmmm—"
An enormous wave of chakra burst outward from the giant turtle's body!!
The center of the lake instantly surged into waves tens of meters high!
In response, the crystal hexagonal pillars Guren had created were shattered in half!
Behind her, Yukimaru's screams of pain continued.
Guren realized he still hadn't fully controlled the Three-Tails…
"Looks like I'll need some backup!"
She shouted, formed seals, and charged forward!
"Swish!"
Three giant pink crystal dragons burst out from beneath the lake, hurtling at the Three-Tails!
But against this tickle of an attack, the Three-Tails didn't even bother to lift its legs—it simply released chakra outward, shattering the dragons instantly!
Seeing this, Guren quickly retreated!
"Splash!!"
One of the Three-Tails' tails suddenly slammed down on the water's surface!
The waves surged, nearly knocking Guren off balance.
When she steadied herself, she saw the Three-Tails opening its mouth, gathering and compressing a dense ball of chakra!!
Though only the size of a fist for now, the energy inside could easily blow apart a mountain!!
"Gulp…"
Guren swallowed nervously.
She realized she had severely underestimated a Tailed Beast!
Just as she was about to pull Yukimaru and retreat, she noticed—a giant white bird appeared in the sky!
And it seemed… someone was riding on it!
The next moment, the person on the bird dropped a white lump…
And then roared from above:
"Drink this!!"
The white clay he had dropped exploded instantly!!
"BOOOOOOM——!!!!!!"
A terrifying explosion engulfed nearly half the lake!
The heat was so intense that Guren even felt the lake's surface drop a little!!
At the moment of the blast, she hastily created a crystal barrier to protect herself.
But behind her, Gyū and Yukimaru weren't so lucky!!
Realizing this, Guren spun around frantically, shouting toward the shattered remains of the boat:
"Gyū! Yukimaru! Are you alright?!"
A few seconds later, Yukimaru's small head surfaced.
"I'm fine, Guren."
"And Gyū?" Guren asked with a frown.
"When the explosion happened… Gyū shielded me with his body." Yukimaru said, ashamed.
"He said I was necessary for your mission, so he had to protect me…"
Guren's eyes flickered—she couldn't understand why Gyū would go that far for her…
After a quick assessment of the situation, she looked toward the shore.
"Let's go."
"Gyū is dead, and the device that controlled the Tailed Beast is destroyed. There's no reason for us to stay here any longer."