Naruto: Unlocking Kaido Template

Deidara had originally believed that his C4 would serve as the ultimate display of explosive artistry, a masterpiece that would purify those who dared to blaspheme against true art. But he never expected his carefully crafted bomb to misfire—no sound, no detonation, nothing.

"Damn it! Is there interference? Lightning Release is known to suppress my bombs. Could it be that some powerful Lightning Release user is secretly obstructing me? Yeah, that has to be it!" Deidara couldn't make sense of the situation. His entire arsenal had gone silent in an instant, and he knew things were looking grim.

"I need to get out of here. The old man's probably around too. Damn, he's stubborn as hell. If I run into him, I'll get an earful." Deidara didn't hesitate. His chakra reserves were nearly depleted, and lingering any longer would only spell disaster.

Rosinante had no time to worry about Deidara. The range of the C4 bomb was massive, and if he didn't stay focused, it might actually go off.

"Forget him. Secure the area, tend to the wounded, and get back to the village." Aburame Hatsuizumi decided against pursuing Deidara. The bomb wasn't an immediate threat, but Rosinante couldn't sustain his ability indefinitely. Clearing it was the priority. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

The remaining Mist and Rock shinobi, who had escaped the blast's range, gathered nearby. They had watched everything unfold and gained a clearer understanding of the mysterious black spears.

Meanwhile, Konoha's forces had already withdrawn per Jiraiya's orders. As Hokage, he always prioritized the safety of his village. Having witnessed the horrors of war firsthand, he deeply understood the suffering of those who had lost everything. He despised unnecessary conflict between villages, but he had a duty to act in Konoha's best interests. If the village didn't profit from war, its people wouldn't have enough to eat. Preserving his forces was his best move for now.

"Uchiha... Itachi!" Sasuke's senses sharpened as he detected a familiar chakra lingering in the air. His Sharingan flared as he stared into a massive crater.

"That bastard was here too..." Sasuke clenched his fists, his hatred unwavering despite all the changes he had undergone.

"Huh? You mean Itachi? Yeah, he was here, but he's already gone. That guy's strong as hell," Zixu commented while speaking with the other Kage.

"His genjutsu is insane, and he's got these black flames that never go out. Oh, and his red skeletal thing has ridiculous defense." Zixu spoke as if offhandedly, but he was deliberately provoking Sasuke step by step.

Sakura, watching from behind, felt the seething hatred bubbling up inside Sasuke. If this kept up, he might lose himself completely.

"Don't stress, Sasuke. You've got us. With Sakura and me, we can take Itachi down together!" Naruto grinned, clapping a hand on Sasuke's shoulder.

Sasuke didn't respond. Instead, his voice turned cold, his gaze locked onto Zixu. "What are my chances of beating Itachi now?"

Zixu found his question amusing but still answered. "Hey, Raikage, he wants to know the gap between him and Itachi. Wanna explain it to him?"

"Bastard! I haven't even settled the score with you for my fallen Cloud shinobi. Get lost!" A bristling A had just finished tending to his people when his rage reignited. While he knew Itachi's genjutsu had trapped his men, it didn't change the fact that Uzumaki's forces had wiped them out. And now, things were even worse—Two-Tails had been attacked. Fortunately, the assailant was alone, and she had managed to fend off Hidan.

"Oh yeah, speaking of Two-Tails..." Zixu smirked, glancing at Kakuzu, who was bound tightly with only his head exposed. "This guy right here was part of the last mission to capture her."

Kakuzu, still wrapped up like a dumpling, cursed under his breath.

"Come on, Kakuzu, tell him about your life's work."

"Zixu, you son of a—!#$%^&(!@#$%^^&—"

Zixu ignored his protests. "If you don't cooperate, that's fine. Impure World Reincarnation makes you immortal anyway. You can't die, even if you want to. That means eternal suffering, right?"

Kakuzu's expression darkened. He realized the implications and immediately shut up.

"Good. Now, let's give this kid a demonstration. See for yourself what Itachi is up against." Zixu unsealed Kakuzu's restraints.

Without hesitation, Kakuzu launched a mass of tentacles from his mouth, gathering lightning before firing it at Sasuke. But Sasuke had only left a clone in his place.

"That all you got?" Sasuke sneered, gripping the nunchaku at his waist.

Kakuzu wasted no time. The masks on his back detached, forming a deadly Five Elements Ninjutsu attack.

Sasuke felt the immense chakra and instantly went on high alert. His Sharingan scanned the battlefield, searching for an opening. But before anything could escalate, Zixu suddenly moved in, grabbing Kakuzu's mouth and forcing the half-formed ninjutsu to explode inside his body.

"Trying to level the village? Control yourself. You've seen this guy's power. Given what Itachi has shown so far, how many of these could he handle? You're still too weak." Zixu dismissed Kakuzu's muffled protests and resealed him, burning away any lingering tendrils.

There was no point in continuing the argument. The Akatsuki attack, while chaotic, had inadvertently benefited the villages. It forced the major nations to acknowledge the true threat the organization posed.

At least Zixu and his people hadn't been blamed, right? Ōnoki, Chiyo, and the others noticed this but chose to remain silent. They were seasoned veterans and could tell Zixu might have anticipated this attack. Normally, if a new power like Uzumaki's nation emerged, all focus would be on it, leading to increased hostilities. But with Akatsuki in the mix, attention had shifted.

Now, everyone was a victim. Akatsuki was the enemy, not each other. That meant no reason to be suspicious of allies, right?

Ōnoki glanced at Zixu, who was smiling as he bid farewell to the Raikage and the remaining Cloud ninjas. "What a cunning brat."

"To show my sincerity, I've prepared a gift as compensation. Consider it an apology." Zixu produced several ancient-looking scrolls—though they had been artificially aged—and tossed them to the gathered Kage.

Raikage, who had started to leave, immediately turned back and took the scroll without hesitation.

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