Naruto: Eating Kaido's Azure Dragon Devil Fruit-Chapter 280 Kakuzu

Looking at the two of them full of confidence, Sora sighed inwardly again.

’Sure enough, professional matters should be left to professionals.’

’If it were up to me, I’d probably be completely clueless staring at this thing. I’d either give up or resort to brute force disassembly, ruining the cells.’

He nodded and handed the human puppet over completely to the two of them.

"That’s it then, I’ll leave it to you. Make a list of any resources you need, and I’ll find a way to get them."

"Understood!"

Nonō and Kabuto said in unison, immediately immersing themselves in the study of the Third Kazekage human puppet, starting to discuss extraction plans in low voices.

Seeing that the two had entered a working state, Sora did not disturb them further. He turned and started chatting with Yumi, Ayumi, and Miyamoto Ichirō.

He asked about the daily situation at the base and the progress of their own training.

Finally, Sora remembered something from before and asked,

"How are those medical ninjas we ’invited’ from Konoha last time doing?"

Miyamoto Ichirō answered,

"Sora, you can rest assured. They have all been properly accommodated in the expanded detention area, well fed and taken care of."

Yumi and Ayumi chimed in as well,

"We even added some modern facilities inside. They can even watch movies~"

"That’s right. Apart from not being able to leave, their living conditions are much more comfortable than when they were at Konoha Hospital."

"Mm, very good."

Sora nodded.

"Keep them stable. We’ll find a suitable opportunity later to quietly send them back."

His departure from Konoha this time was, on the surface, under direct orders from Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Sarutobi Hiruzen sent me to the Land of Water to investigate the movements of Kirigakure."

"Right now, the war between Konoha and Iwagakure is basically deadlocked. Kumogakure has shifted its focus to the Land of Earth. That leaves only Kirigakure, whose attitude is ambiguous, neither fully committing to fighting nor withdrawing. It’s confusing."

"My coming out this time is under the pretext of carrying out this mission."

Hearing this, Miyamoto Ichirō and the others showed understanding expressions.

They all knew about the subtle relationship between Sora and Konoha’s higher-ups, especially with the Hokage.

After giving instructions about the base and learning about the progress of the cloning project, Sora felt somewhat reassured.

He did not linger. He formed hand signs.

"Poof!"

Another shadow clone appeared in a puff of white smoke, staying behind at the base in his place.

Sora’s main body then turned and left Ascension Island quietly once more, merging into the vast sea.

...

Land of Water, outside a certain hidden valley.

Sora, wearing the Vermilion Bird mask and dressed in a large black robe, walked out from the entrance of the bounty exchange.

He had just handed over the results of several missions inside, earning another considerable sum of money, and casually picked up two new bounties with substantial rewards.

With a thick stack of banknotes tucked in his robe, Sora mentally calculated the costs of those expensive experimental instruments Nonō had mentioned earlier, shaking his head inwardly.

’The Precision Chakra Conductive Metal Refiner, the High-Multiple Cell Activity Maintenance Chamber... the prices for these things on the black market are truly outrageous.’

’Indeed, scientific research is the most money-burning industry.’

’For the Kekkei Mora plan, it seems this "Vermilion Bird" alias must continue to be used.’

While thinking about his next course of action, he casually walked towards the dense forest outside the valley.

Behind him, at the entrance of the bounty exchange, several hidden gazes watched Sora’s departing figure, discussing in low voices.

"It’s him again, ’Vermilion Bird’..."

"He’s been very active lately, specifically targeting tough targets, and completing them all."

"Shh... keep your voice down. Someone who dares take on missions like that is either crazy or truly capable. Does he look crazy to you?"

"I heard he took on the missions for ’Namiashi’ and Hōzuki Zangetsu last time, and completed both..."

"Over thirty million ryō... truly envy-inducing..."

The discussion was mixed with wariness and greed, yet no one dared to actually take action.

However, in a deeper, shadowy corner inside the bounty exchange, a figure cloaked in a black robe, wearing a windproof mask revealing only a pair of dark green eyes, sat quietly.

He held a bounty information scroll in his hand, and at the end of the scroll were clearly written the two characters "Vermilion Bird".

"Vermilion Bird... thirty-five million ryō..."

"I happen to be short on money lately. This target is not bad."

...

Sora, holding the bounty on himself, walked unhurriedly through the forest. He seemed relaxed, but his perception had long since quietly spread around him.

’Thirty-five million ryō? Exactly one Asuma’s worth.’

He was not surprised that the "Vermilion Bird" identity had drawn attention.

This alias had risen too quickly, completed missions of high difficulty, and, crucially, its origins were a mystery, as if it appeared out of thin air.

Whether it was other underground forces wanting to figure out its background, or previous enemies seeking revenge, posting a bounty was the most direct and effective method.

He deliberately chose a relatively remote path precisely to see if anyone foolish would follow today.

Sure enough, after leaving the bounty exchange for about ten miles, a powerful presence, completely unconcealed, appeared behind him and closed in rapidly.

Sora stopped and slowly turned around.

A black figure landed steadily on the open ground not far ahead of him.

The newcomer was entirely shrouded in a black robe, a windproof mask covering most of his face, revealing only a pair of emotionless dark green eyes.

"Vermilion Bird?"

The newcomer’s voice was hoarse and low, confirming.

Sora did not answer, merely looking calmly at the newcomer. He had already recognized his identity.

’Kakuzu! Makes sense. Such a high-value bounty is perfectly suited for an experienced and powerful bounty hunter like him.’

Information about Kakuzu quickly flashed through Sora’s mind.

’Jiongu, five hearts, equivalent to five lives, secret technique stitching, capable of using multiple chakra nature transformations... a troublesome character.’

Seeing that Sora did not reply, Kakuzu also wasted no more words.

For him, confirming the target was enough. Extra words were meaningless.

Swish!

His hands instantly formed hand signs, extremely fast.

"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"

Boom!

An ultra-high density wind sphere instantly condensed, carrying an aura that could tear everything apart, howling towards Sora!

From the start, a high-level Wind Release jutsu, with a tricky angle and astonishing power!

’Fast hand signs! As expected of an old monster who has lived for nearly a hundred years. His combat experience is indeed rich.’

Sora was slightly alarmed inwardly, but his movements were not slow at all.

He also flipped his hands rapidly, his hand sign speed not much slower than Kakuzu’s.

"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"

Facing the high-pressure wind sphere, Sora chose a Fire Release with a larger area to counter it!

Flames mixed with Dragon Vein chakra spewed from his mouth, surging forward like a tidal wave, crashing fiercely against the violent wind sphere!

The wind fanned the flames, the flames borrowed the wind’s power!

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

📖 Like the story? Read 120 Chapters ahead!

🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━