Naruto: Unlocking Kaido Template-Chapter 153

Boom!

A deafening explosion echoed outside the village, its shockwave powerful enough to be heard clearly even within the hidden research laboratory. Orochimaru, who had been focused on his work, glanced toward the source of the disturbance. The vibrations caused by the blast made the reagent bottle in his hand tremble slightly, the light blue viscous liquid within splashing against the glass walls.

With meticulous care, he placed the reagent into a complex reaction device, a contraption equipped with various extraction and purification instruments. No one knew what he was attempting to create. Only after securing the device did he remove the gas mask covering his face. Even someone as proficient in poisons as Orochimaru—akin to a master chemist—took such precautions, a testament to the danger of his experiment.

Brushing aside the long black hair that had been obstructing his vision, Orochimaru took a small blade and severed a portion of it. The newfound lightness made him feel more agile and refreshed.

"Kabuto, back up the data, then destroy the originals. It's time to leave," Orochimaru ordered, his golden eyes narrowing as he shifted his gaze toward the center of the test bench. Sitting atop it was a Devil Fruit—Mawaru no Mi (Spinning Fruit). As he poured the reagent over it, the liquid initiated a series of complex reactions. Soon, a deep red apple, its surface adorned with an intricate swirl pattern, formed on the tray.

Kabuto nodded, unfazed. He had rehearsed this procedure countless times. When the moment arrived, carrying it out was second nature.

There were no blaring sirens, no flashing warning lights. Everything proceeded in eerie silence. The data was erased, leaving only the most valuable equipment behind in the laboratory.

"What about these machines?" Kabuto hesitated, reluctant to abandon the devices that had been instrumental to their research. The thought of destroying them with his own hands left him uneasy.

"Leave them. We may need them again in the future," Orochimaru replied casually, unwilling to dismantle something only he could operate perfectly. Whether Uzumaki Zixu would destroy it, however, was another matter entirely.

Pausing momentarily, Orochimaru began forming intricate hand seals, his fingers moving with such blinding speed that even Kabuto, standing beside him, struggled to follow. From the soil beneath them, a coffin emerged, rising steadily like a plant sprouting from the earth. In mere moments, it stood fully formed before them.

Under Orochimaru's control, the lid creaked open, revealing the figure inside.

Long black hair cascaded messily over the corpse's body, which bore stitched-up scars from repeated modifications. Four grotesque masks were sewn into his back, and his already deathly pale skin was now riddled with cracks. The whites of his eyes had darkened completely, transforming into an abyssal black. Dressed in a red-and-black cloak, he stared vacantly ahead.

With a flick of his fingers, Orochimaru manipulated the revived Kakuzu. As the former Akatsuki treasurer reanimated, his body twitched unnaturally before he fell into a deep, reflective silence.

"Ugh—!" The first thing Kakuzu did after being resurrected by Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation) was drop to his knees and dry heave. Of course, a reanimated corpse had no functioning digestive system, so his retching produced nothing but dust and smoke.

"You... will accompany us. Go and disrupt Zixu's actions. You should already be aware that the body granted by Edo Tensei is fuhen (immortal), with near-infinite chakra regeneration. You can fight without restraint," Orochimaru instructed.

Kakuzu's dull eyes flickered with a dangerous light. The name Zixu triggered a violent reaction within him. His pupils turned deep red, and the black tendrils writhing from his body flailed wildly, as if possessed by rage.

"Kill that brat!" Kakuzu roared, his composure completely shattered. The last thing he remembered before death was the taste of Buggy's stinking socks stuffed in his mouth. The mere recollection sent him into a berserk frenzy.

"Be cautious. Immortality does not make you invincible," Kabuto warned. "That man is from the Uzumaki Clan, masters of fūjutsu (sealing techniques). Edo Tensei bodies have low resistance to sealing. If he binds you, its over."

With their preparations complete, Orochimaru wasted no time leaving. The entire process had taken no more than five minutes. He had no interest in harming the people or infrastructure of Uzushiogakure. After all, this land was once his personal investment. Destroying it would be a waste of his own effort.

More importantly, attacking outright would make him an eternal enemy of Zixu. Orochimaru knew better than to provoke the wrath of an Uzumaki outright—especially one capable of assassination. If he made the wrong move, he would have no time for research, forever living in fear of an unseen dagger.

Meanwhile, Kakuzu moved swiftly. With unlimited chakra at his disposal, he unleashed his full power, propelling himself through the air like a chakra-fueled jet warrior.

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His singular focus was revenge. Whether Orochimaru was using him or not no longer mattered. He wanted to tear Zixu apart, to make him feel the agony he himself had suffered.

Zixu, on the other hand, was still lamenting his failure to capture Uchiha Itachi. Despite all his precautions, the famed master of genjutsu (illusions) had deceived him. Itachi had used a massive Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique) to obscure Zixu's vision, then layered multiple subtle genjutsu. In the end, they had only managed to capture a mere crow clone.

However, Hoshigaki Kisame remained, lying on the ground while Samehada (Shark Skin) secretly funneled chakra back into him. Zixu, noticing this, did not hesitate. Gripping his tetsubō (iron club), he delivered a devastating blow, sending the sentient blade flying.

"What a pity. Only this one remains," Zixu muttered, just as a new opponent arrived.

Seeing the grotesque mass of black tentacles before him, Zixu instantly recognized him—Kakuzu. The memories surfaced. He had scattered Kakuzu's ashes with his own hands. This should not have been possible.

"Unless he had already given a portion of his body tissue to Orochimaru... Meaning he had ties to Akatsuki long before his death." Zixu stroked his chin, piecing together the situation. This outcome had been inevitable.

"Orochimaru has fled."

"Raikage and Hachibi no Jinchūriki (Eight-Tails Jinchuriki), head to the forest outside and deal with any Akatsuki operatives. There are more than one of them. Also, be warned—the Nibi no Jinchūriki (Two-Tails Jinchuriki) may have already been targeted."

Hearing this, A's expression darkened. Kumo-nin had already been used as sacrificial pawns, subjected to illusions to turn them into cannon fodder. Now, his village was a target once more. This was an insult he would not tolerate.

Ignoring the furious Raikage, Zixu gripped his kanabo and hurled it at Kakuzu.

"Kongō Rčikō (Adamantine Dysprosium)!"

The iron club tore through the air, breaking the sound barrier. Kakuzu formed defensive layers using his black tendrils and chakra barriers, but it was futile. Edo Tensei chakra was not truly infinite—it merely regenerated quickly. His limits were the same as in life, if not weaker.

Despite his desperate defense, Kakuzu's body was steadily worn away, reduced to nothing but ash.

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