Born with a great love for the Uchiha

It started with a major scoop.

Uchiha Gen never expected to hear about the "internal division within the Akatsuki" drama.

He only knew that Orochimaru had publicly withdrawn from the Akatsuki organization at an internal meeting of the "Illusionary Body Technique".

Unexpectedly, Kakuzu and Sasori of the Red Sand also followed closely behind and left.

The rogue ninja truly had no principles whatsoever.

But how did these three S-rank rogue ninjas who parted ways with Akatsuki end up together again?

Kakuzu continued speaking.

"...A few days ago, Orochimaru and Sasori found me..."

"...The two of them wanted to assassinate the Kazekage and continue to seize the One-Tailed Jinchuriki of Sunagakure..."

"...Based on the intelligence provided by Sasori, we launched an attack on Rasa on his likely route..."

"...Afterwards, I took the Kazekage's heart, and Sasori took the Kazekage's body..."

"...As for Orochimaru, he took the One-Tailed Jinchuriki with him..."

The information Kakuzu provides at this time is basically presented from his personal perspective.

There are many unclear or ambiguous parts.

However, Gen Uchiha didn't care much about those minor details.

He went straight to the question that concerned him most.

Where are Orochimaru and Sasori now?

Since it was Orochimaru who took Gaara away.

So if we find Orochimaru's whereabouts, we can find Gaara, and then find Shukaku.

"I do not know."

Kakuzu shook his head and answered honestly.

"After I infiltrated Sunagakure with Orochimaru and Sasori of the Red Sand and took away the One-Tailed Jinchuriki, we parted ways with them."

"I've been dealing with the Kazekage's heart these past two days and haven't been paying attention to Orochimaru and the others' movements..."

Kakuzu recalled the Fifth Hokage's "enthusiasm" for the Tailed Beasts and made another guess.

"As for the One-Tailed Jinchuriki, Orochimaru may have made a deal with Pain and sent the One-Tailed to the Akatsuki."

To actually say something like this, which is purely subjective conjecture...

Gen Uchiha realized that Kakuzu had indeed completely lost contact with the Akatsuki organization.

Otherwise.

Kakuzu was not unaware of Pain's previous actions.

There's no Akatsuki organization anymore...

Gen Uchiha was quite satisfied that even someone who understood reality could cooperate so well.

However, the information provided by Kakuzu was of very poor quality, which Gen Uchiha disliked.

The 100-year-old rogue ninja, who was good at reading people's expressions, noticed that the Fifth Hokage's expression was gradually turning cold and felt uneasy.

He racked his brains trying to recall Orochimaru and Sasori's last movements, when suddenly something occurred to him.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing!"

Kakuzu quickly spoke up.

"After we captured the One-Tailed Jinchuriki, Sasori and Orochimaru no longer acted together."

"Sasori left in the north, while Orochimaru took the One-Tailed Jinchuriki westward!"

A map of the ninja world quickly appeared in Uchiha Gen's mind.

To the north of the Land of Wind are several unnamed small countries, such as the Land of Birds.

Further north lies the Land of Earth, one of the Five Great Nations.

However, Sasori's movements are not important.

Even so, it was this S-rank rogue ninja who took away the body of Kazekage Rasa.

Furthermore, he used some unknown means to remotely manipulate the Kazekage's corpse, and together with Pain and the others, attacked the Five Kage Summit.

However, Gen Uchiha did not care about this genius puppeteer from Sunagakure.

He was more concerned about Orochimaru, the S-rank rogue ninja from his own village who had taken Gaara away!

'The Land of Wind is located in the western part of the Ninja Continent…'

Further west, besides the sand, there are a bunch of small countries located on the edge of the Ninja Continent…

'The two small countries that left the deepest impression on me are the Land of Swamps and the Land of Demons…'

These two small countries left a deep impression on Uchiha Gen.

This is because a special power, distinct from that of ninjas, exists within the borders of these two small countries.

A priestess who has mastered the powers of prophecy and sealing!

There is also the extremely special monster called "Wangliang"!

Will Orochimaru take Gaara to the Land of Demons or the Land of Swamps?

Gen Uchiha frowned slightly, but he had already made the decision to head west.

"I'll go to Sunagakure first to check on the situation there... then I'll go take a look to the west!"

After making his plans, Uchiha Gen then looked at Kakuzu on the opposite side.

"Although it's not of much use, I still appreciate the information you provided."

Kakuzu's unease intensified.

He involuntarily took a small step back, forcing a smile onto his face.

"Lord Hokage, you're welcome..."

"In return."

A crimson light flashed in Uchiha Gen's eyes.

"I'll give you a quick death."

Kakuzu's pupils instantly contracted to the size of a pinprick, and his body shot backward.

During his retreat, Kakuzu also used his [Earth Grudge] tentacles to leap across the desert in irregular patterns.

This was to avoid Gen Uchiha's fast and accurate beam attacks.

however.

The sheer variety of methods employed by Gen Uchiha far surpasses what Kakuzu could even imagine.

【Tian Chang Li Zun - Open】!

The gravitational wave was compressed into a spatial slash, which struck Kakuzu with lightning speed as he moved at high speed.

The spatial slash passed silently.

The black tendrils formed by [Earth Grudge] were cleanly and neatly severed.

Kakuzu himself didn't even realize what was happening before a thick, black, and strong black tentacle left his body and flew backwards into the air.

'That was so fast!'

Kakuzu's green eyes darted around slightly, and he saw Uchiha Gen appear beside the [Earth Grudge Fear] tentacle as if he had teleported instantly. A ball of amber-like golden substance appeared on the latter's right hand.

And then.

Kakuzu could no longer see much.

Because a raging black flame completely obscured his vision.

[Fire Release·Amaterasu]!

The pitch-black sun fire, carrying terrifying heat, clung to Kakuzu's body, igniting it like a lit candle.

The immortal body provided by [Earth Grudge] became the best fuel for [Amaterasu].

Just for a moment.

Kakuzu's entire body was enveloped in the black flames of [Fire Release: Amaterasu].

Faced with such terrifying solar fire.

The S-rank rogue ninja from Takigakure was reduced to ashes without any chance to resist.

On the other side...

The Amber Seal released by Gen Uchiha also sealed the black tentacle that had been severed from Kakuzu's body.

And at the tip of this black tentacle was none other than the mask made from the heart of the Wind Shadow!

A notification message pops up on the panel.

You killed the S-rank rogue ninja Kakuzu!

You have accomplished a great act of love!

Chapter 281 Immortality [Earthly Grudge]!

You have earned five million Love Points!

You have obtained the S-rank spell [Earth Grudge]!

"Ok?"

Uchiha Gen's right hand, which was pressing on the [Amber Seal], paused slightly.