Land of Wind.
Kashin Koji and Code headed straight toward Sunagakure.
Everyone knew where Ichibi Shukaku was.
In the endless desert, two gray-robed figures walked forward without hesitation.
Dust rolled around them. A violent sandstorm churned across the sea of sand. If not for the storm's interference, the two would have already reached Shukaku long ago with their travel speed.
They found a sheltered sand cave and sat down.
The wind and sand could not enter here. It gave Kashin Koji a chance to meditate and enter Sage Mode.
Code stood nearby, watching with interest.
Capturing Shukaku without alerting the Sand shinobi required exploiting the time difference. This was Gaara's home ground, and with Shukaku added, the difficulty increased dramatically.
To complete the mission quickly, they had to stay low-profile and strike directly.
After a moment, Kashin Koji opened his eyes.
"That direction. The chakra there is enormous. That should be Shukaku."
Code nodded. "We'll move once the sandstorm weakens."
Whether Shukaku could lure out that mysterious faction didn't matter. Any Tailed Beast was indispensable to forming the Ten-Tails. As long as Shukaku was captured, the initiative would remain with Kara.
The sandstorm outside howled like a beast.
"Rest for now," Koji said calmly after exiting Sage Mode. He took out dry rations from his pouch.
Code remained silent, more curious about Koji than anything else. A man personally recommended by Amado, whose abilities are unknown, whose identity is mysterious.
But no one in Kara pried into secrets. Everyone had the same goal.
Immortality.
Koji quietly ate and drank water.
Gradually, the wind began to soften.
The two opened their eyes at the same time.
Without a word, they stood up together like reflections of each other.
"Lead the way," Code said. "This sandstorm shouldn't trouble you anymore."
Koji nodded and stepped out into the sand.
For ordinary shinobi, such a storm demanded caution. For these two, it became a silent contest.
They moved through the desert like phantoms, sand whipping against their robes, neither willing to slow down.
Footprints formed and vanished instantly.
In this unspoken rivalry, they successfully approached Shukaku.
They stopped about a kilometer away to recover their stamina. The storm had already died down, and sweat soaked their backs under the scorching sun.
Ahead—
Ichibi Shukaku lay lazily in the sand, basking in sunlight.
Its eyes narrowed as it sensed the two murderous auras from afar.
"So you two… are here to capture me too?"
Code and Koji exchanged a glance.
Koji immediately answered, "That's right. We are here on orders to apprehend you, Shukaku."
Code added smoothly, "Since tracking Tailed Beasts one by one is troublesome, why not tell us where the others are hiding?"
Kashin Koji: …
Shukaku: ???
So arrogant?
Shukaku laughed harshly and rose to its feet, chakra surging as sand exploded outward.
At the same time, it subtly injected chakra into the ground.
This was the emergency signal Gaara had arranged. If Shukaku encountered danger, Gaara would be notified.
Shukaku wasn't foolish.
If the other Tailed Beasts had fallen, then the enemy clearly had special methods.
The sandstorm roared around them again.
The two gray-robed figures remained still.
When the gust passed, they moved instantly.
Code activated the White Kāma. A white mark appeared on his cheek, and his modified hands extended into sharp claws.
Kashin Koji remained still. Sage Mode required time.
"Wind Release: Practice Air Bullet!"
Shukaku inhaled deeply, slapped its belly, and fired massive air cannons.
Code's eyes narrowed.
He chose not to dodge.
The claws tore through the air cannons, slicing them apart one by one.
Shukaku was stunned.
Was this the strength of Kara?
"Wind Release: Sand Barrage!"
Sand bullets filled the sky like gunfire.
Code dodged and slashed through them effortlessly.
"Continuous Tailed Beast Ball!"
Shukaku dropped low and spat out a rapid barrage of miniature Tailed Beast Balls.
"Dare to take this head-on again!" Shukaku taunted.
Code smirked. "No need. Are you trying to stall for time?"
"Tch! Big talk from a brat!"
White Kāma flared brighter, but quickly reached its limiter.
The white chakra surged like flames around Code's claws.
Under Koji's silent disbelief, Code dashed straight toward the bombardment.
Shukaku blinked.
Boom—!!
Explosions thundered across the desert.
In the next instant, Code's figure flashed inside the explosion zone.
Deep claw marks were carved into the ground.
Code had already teleported within them.
Like Flying Thunder God.
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A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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