"Leave?"
Sasori turned his gaze to Konan.
"Have they already arrived?"
Konan nodded calmly.
"Judging by their speed, they'll reach this place in thirty minutes."
Deidara clicked his tongue.
"That fast?"
White paper fluttered endlessly around Konan as she spoke.
"So we must leave immediately. For now, the leader does not wish to clash with that man from Kirigakure."
After a brief pause, Konan added in a solemn tone,
"Kakuzu and Hidan were killed without putting up any resistance. You two had better not provoke him lightly."
Deidara's expression darkened.
"That's terrifying… weren't those two supposed to be immortal? They died that easily?"
"Who told those idiots to ambush someone inside Kirigakure and get dragged tens of thousands of meters beneath the sea?" Sasori scoffed coldly. "Immortal? What a joke."
Perhaps that man's combat power was terrifying at sea—but this was the Land of Wind.
Even though there were scattered forest regions, the air here was extremely dry. Using Water Release in such an environment would consume far more chakra than usual. In this place, that Kirigakure shinobi's strength would inevitably be suppressed.
"In any case," Konan said, "do not engage them for now. Capture the Tailed Beasts as quickly as possible."
As she finished speaking, Konan's body lifted into the air. White paper unfolded into a pair of wings behind her, and she soared straight toward the horizon.
Deidara glanced at Sasori.
"Senior, are we moving together?"
Sasori turned his eyes toward Gaara's lifeless body.
"No. We split up."
"Alright! I'll go first, then!"
Clay surged and reshaped itself into a massive white bird. Deidara leapt onto it and flew off into the sky.
Sasori, carrying Gaara's body, headed in another direction.
High above, a white dove with wide, glassy eyes silently observed the three Akatsuki members, carefully memorizing the direction each of them fled.
More white doves followed quietly, spreading out and tailing them one by one.
Trying to escape?
Impossible.
What surprised Shigure slightly was Konan's presence—something that differed from the original flow of events.
Then again, in the original timeline, Gaara hadn't died at this point either.
Since everything was already in chaos, Shigure no longer cared about following the plot.
Suddenly, he stopped.
"They've split up."
Granny Chiyo froze for a moment.
"How do you know?"
Shigure smiled faintly.
"My ninjutsu. As for how, there's no need to ask."
Granny Chiyo lowered her head, thinking.
"What about Gaara?"
"His body was taken by Sasori of the Red Sand."
Sasori.
Granny Chiyo's eyes narrowed slightly.
It had been far too long since she had last seen him.
"Which direction?"
Shigure raised his hand and pointed.
"I'll go after Sasori. Saving Gaara takes priority. As for the others—decide for yourselves."
Granny Chiyo turned to Kankurō.
"If Sasori took Gaara's body, then it's likely for puppet research. He specializes in turning humans into puppets."
The thought of Gaara becoming a puppet made Kankurō's eyes turn bloodshot.
"Granny, we absolutely cannot allow that!"
Granny Chiyo nodded heavily.
"Then we'll pursue Sasori."
Shigure glanced at Kuji.
"You'll go with them."
Kuji nodded.
"Then what about you, Lord Shigure?"
"Me?" Shigure replied calmly. "I have someone else to pursue."
He turned toward Kisame.
"You go that way. Your target is Deidara."
"Deidara, huh?" Kisame grinned, baring his sharp teeth. "Leave it to me."
Without hesitation, Kisame formed hand seals.
Water Release: Water Shark Bullet Technique!
A massive shark-shaped current enveloped his body, propelling him forward at extreme speed. Though he could only maintain it briefly, it was far faster than ordinary movement.
Watching Kisame disappear into the distance, Kuji frowned slightly.
"Lord Shigure… sending him alone, isn't that a bit risky?"
Shigure smiled.
"That's precisely why he's going alone."
Kuji paused, then nodded in understanding.
This was a test.
A test to see whether Kisame would flee—or whether he would hesitate when facing a former comrade.
"We're moving too," Shigure said calmly.
Chiyo urged them forward.
Kuji silently nodded to Shigure, then followed Chiyo and the others in Sasori's direction.
Shigure raised his hand and summoned a white dove.
"Follow it. It'll lead you straight to Sasori of the Red Sand."
Looking at the dove, Chiyo immediately understood.
A reconnaissance-type summoning… used for tracking and pursuit?
So many hidden tricks… the new Mizukage of Kirigakure is far from simple.
The next second—
A terrifying roar erupted behind them.
A gigantic Water Dragon surged skyward, spiraling violently into the air.
Shigure stood atop the Water Dragon Bullet Technique, riding it as it shot straight toward Konan's direction.
The sheer speed left Chiyo stunned.
What kind of speed is that?!
That was clearly Water Dragon Bullet—yet he was using it like this?!
Even someone who had survived countless battlefields like her had never seen Water Release wielded in such a manner.
The three-pronged pursuit had officially begun.
Shigure spearheaded the chase, heading directly after Konan.
Although the Water Dragon Bullet could only be maintained for around ten minutes at most, that was more than enough.
Its speed was nothing short of terrifying.
Above the forest canopy, Shigure maintained a fixed altitude, gliding rapidly over the treetops below.
Suddenly, his gaze shifted.
He felt it.
A strange, hidden stare.
He didn't know who it belonged to—but this wasn't the time to care.
Shigure pushed his chakra even further.
The Water Dragon Bullet tore through the air, leaving a long trail of mist behind him as his body shot forward like an arrow.
Afterimages flickered in his wake.
Faster.
Faster.
Even faster.
Soon, a tiny black dot appeared in the distance—rapidly growing larger.
A faint smile curved Shigure's lips.
Trying to escape?
It's already too late.
He lightly stomped his foot.
The Water Dragon Bullet beneath him instantly exploded, splitting apart into five or six towering water pillars that shot forward at high speed.
They twisted violently through the air, like water serpents locking onto their prey.
Clang!
Bang!
The water pillars collided midair, erupting into massive splashes and sending a brief downpour raining across the forest.
Konan fell from the sky and landed steadily on a thick tree trunk.
"Oh no… Konan!"
A White Zetsu slowly emerged from a nearby tree.
"That guy's locked onto you."
Konan frowned, her expression icy.
"I know."
"You're not his opponent. Try to escape."
Before the sentence even finished—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A razor-sharp water blade swept through the forest like a scythe, instantly cleaving through a vast stretch of trees.
As trunks and branches collapsed, Konan manipulated her paper, clearing away the falling debris.
She leapt out from the shattered forest.
Opposite her, Shigure stood calmly atop a massive tree stump, looking down at her from above.
"Miss ninja," he said with a faint smile,
"please don't run away."
"Come with me."
"I won't hurt you."
(End of Chapter)
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