Konoha Notes

Chapter 324 A Puppet Show at Sea
The seawater was still boiling, and the whirlpools pulled at the air, emitting a low, mournful sound.

As Orochimaru finished speaking, a figure emerged from the hatch behind him.

Dark blue hair, pale skin. The whites of her eyes are jet black, while the pupils are whitish.
The Third Kazekage looked at his own body and saw the person standing on the water.

“The Third Kazekage, Shuji-kun, is the one who killed the Fourth Kazekage. You’ll be happy to witness his power,” Orochimaru said.

"The infighting among Konoha ninja has turned them into using me as a weapon..."

Iron sand poured out from his cuffs and hem, suspending in the air as fine black particles.

"However, since they are enemies of Sunagakure—"

The black iron sand suddenly accelerated.

Countless iron pellets transformed into bullets, tearing through the air and cascading down towards the sea.

At the same time, the seawater in front of Shuji suddenly surged up, transforming into a flowing wall.

The iron sand crashed into the wall of water and lost its momentum.

The third-generation Kazekage stepped out of the cabin.

His feet weren't touching anything, but his body was suspended in mid-air. The white cloak behind him unfurled in the wind, and more iron sand gathered from all directions.

Magnet Release: Sand Iron Wings!

Black iron sand coalesced into wings behind him. The wings flapped, lifting him higher into the sky.

Meanwhile, the iron sand on the sea surface began to deform.

They coalesce into sharp spikes, locking onto Xiu Si's position from various angles, and then firing simultaneously.

Zi-chen-mao-yin.

In an instant, he completed four hand seals, and the seawater beneath his feet rose up, spiraling into the air and transforming into a water dragon over twenty meters long.

The water jet crashed into the incoming iron spikes.

The first spike pierced the water dragon's head, but was immediately shredded by the swirling water. The second, the third—all the spikes disintegrated the moment they made contact, the iron filings scattered by the water flow.

The water dragon continued its momentum, lunging towards the Third Kazekage in the air.

The third-generation Kazekage flapped his wings to dodge.

His wings traced black trails in the air as he dodged the water dragon's attack, simultaneously bringing his hands together in front of his chest.

The scattered iron sand regrouped, coalescing into a massive black cylinder in front of him, which slammed down towards the water dragon's waist.

The water dragon was hit, and its body exploded in the middle, turning into a shower of water.

But the water droplets did not fall.

Xiu Si then formed the You Seal again, and the water droplets transformed into thousands of bullets that shot out simultaneously.

Water Release: Water Barrage!
The Third Kazekage didn't dodge; the water bullet pierced his body, creating countless holes. No blood flowed out, only fine dust drifted from the wounds.

Meanwhile, inside the airship that had already risen to a higher altitude during the fight between the two, Orochimaru watched the scene with a smile.

The next moment, the Third Kazekage's body, which had been pierced, was repaired by flying debris.

“Those revived by forbidden techniques cannot be killed, Shuuji…”

Before he could even utter the word "Your Majesty," Orochimaru noticed that the sea in front of Shuji had turned into a whirlpool, spinning faster and faster.

The seawater was thrown into the air by the enormous centrifugal force, forming a huge column of water. The column rose higher and higher, and then split and shaped at the top, transforming into three water dragons.

Water Release: Water Dragon Bite!

The water dragon rose again, rushing towards the Third Kazekage who was reforming in the air from three directions.

Just as the Third Kazekage was about to use his wings to dodge, he sensed something was amiss.

A thin film of water adhered to the surface of the iron sand. Chakra that did not belong to him seeped into the water film, interfering with the control of Magnet Release.

The iron sand circulation became sluggish.

The flapping of the wings was a beat slow.

It's just this half-beat.

Three water dragons bit down at the same time.

The dragon's mouth closed, swallowing the Third Kazekage entirely into the cage of water.

Seeing this, Orochimaru's smile remained unchanged, and he formed hand seals again, causing another hatch on the side of the hull to slide open.

Another figure leaped out of the cabin and landed on the sea.

Dark skin, long hair that is half white and half green.

Upon landing on the sea, he immediately completed his half-tailed beast transformation, his eight tails flailing. At the same time, he opened his mouth and fired three Tailed Beast Balls at the water that was trapping the Third Kazekage.

The Third Kazekage and the water column were simultaneously blasted to pieces.

Dust filled the air.

However, a few seconds later, the dust began to gather again.

"I had expected that the Third Kazekage alone would be no match for Shuji-kun." Orochimaru's voice came from high above. "Therefore, the Eight-Tails' former jinchūriki, Brubi, was the one truly meant to entertain Shuji-kun."

Shuji looked at Brubi and agreed, "Indeed, as a form of hospitality, all I can do is express my gratitude."

Brubi opened his mouth wide and began to gather power, this time the Tailed Beast Ball was even larger than before.

Xiu Si immediately dived underwater.

His figure disappeared into the sea, leaving only a ripple.

Brubi couldn't retract his Tailed Beast Ball in time. He could only adjust his direction and launch the fully charged Tailed Beast Ball towards the spot where Shuuji had disappeared.

The Tailed Beast Ball plunged into the sea.

The seawater first caved inward, forming a huge crater, and then light burst forth from the bottom of the water.

boom----! ! !
The sea surface exploded.

The seawater was thrown into the air and turned into a torrential rain.

But at the very instant the explosion occurred, several streams of water shot out from beneath Brupi's feet, entangling his hands, feet, and body.

The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki roared, trying to break free, but as the water flowed, a dozen or so wooden strips wrapped around his body.

The wooden strips branched and extended, growing more branches. The branches intertwined and tightened, securing Burubi firmly.

Brubi's tailed beast cloak was visibly peeling away.

At that moment, a black cylinder with a diameter of over three meters crashed down on them.

He smashed Brupi along with the water and wooden planks that were wrapped around him.

The seawater exploded, scattering debris everywhere.

Just as Brubi's body was recovering, the sea level dozens of meters below him suddenly rose.

It wasn't waves, but the entire seawater rose up as if it were alive, forming a giant water cube that completely enveloped the recovering Brubi.

Upon seeing this, Orochimaru, who was on the airship, raised the airship even higher.

"They found a way to counter the Impure World Reincarnation so quickly. However, this is just the beginning."

"No matter how outstanding your energy is, it is limited, but the reanimated body can fight without sleep."

"I'll continue to harass you from now on."

Shuji rose from underwater and stood on top of the water cube.

Beside him was the trapped Brubi, whose body was entwined with bluish-gray vines.

The vines sometimes relaxed and sometimes tightened, and each time they tightened, they would draw a trace of chakra from Burubi.

“I have a different opinion.” Shuuji pointed to Brubi beside him. “If his chakra can be replenished indefinitely, it will be the same for me.”

“Or,” Shuuji said slowly, “you intend to undo this spell.”

"Orochimaru."
-
“Here you are, Obito,” Zetsu said.

"Hmph, which direction did you come from?"

"I sensed Jiraiya's chakra in the sky."

Having played hide-and-seek with Jiraiya's team in the Akatsuki for so long, Black Zetsu was already very familiar with Jiraiya's chakra.

"In the sky?!"

Jiraiya had a means of flight... no, Jiraiya used the equipment of the Sky Ninja... Konoha shouldn't... no, it was Sunagakure who gave their equipment to the people of Konoha.

"Besides Jiraiya, Kakashi is here too, probably in his capacity as the secretary-general."

Obito was calculating.

Jiraiya has set sail, and Shuji is also at sea...

So now, within Konoha Village, all that's left are Tsunade, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and at most, Shisui Uchiha.

He was satisfied: "Let's play here with them for a while, and then we should go find our real target."

(End of this chapter)