Chapter 319: You Were Tricked
Chapter 319: You Were Tricked
Watching as Killer Bee and Nagato disappeared one after the other, the Fourth Raikage roared in fury,
"Mabui, what do you think you're doing?!"
"Raikage-sama, please remain calm. We currently have no means to counter a Jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails. Lord Bee made this decision to protect the village—it was a last resort. I believe this was the best option under the circumstances," Mabui responded in a voice devoid of emotion, nearly cold. "Right now, our priority should be finding a way to counter him. With his current power, even Konoha won't be able to stop him."
"Damn it!"
The Fourth Raikage clenched his fists so tightly that the veins bulged across his arms. With a furious boom, he slammed his fist into the ground, shattering the stone beneath him and sending debris flying in all directions.
His rage and helplessness reached their peak, but Mabui's words were like a bucket of ice-cold water poured over him, forcing him to regain his composure.
Bee sacrificed himself to protect them. The least he could do was not waste that sacrifice.
"...You're right." The Raikage took a deep breath, straightening up. Though his fists remained clenched, a trace of rationality returned to his voice.
"We are no match for him."
The surviving Cloud shinobi all lowered their heads in frustration.
After a moment of silence, the Raikage turned to Mabui. His voice was low and heavy.
"Gather all remaining operable shinobi immediately. Call an emergency meeting. We need a detailed battle plan. Our goal is to retake the Tailed Beasts from Ideal City."
"At the same time, notify Konoha about what happened here. Warn them not to underestimate Nagato."
"The power of a Ten-Tails Jinchūriki far exceeds our expectations. But Konoha may have countermeasures. We need to unite every force available to face this threat!"
The Raikage hadn't forgotten that the Mangekyō Sharingan had appeared on the moon.
The Uchiha clan was responsible for the disaster that had crippled the Land of Lightning's military strength. If other Mangekyō users in Konoha possessed similarly overwhelming abilities, there might still be a way to turn the tide.
"Understood!"
The Fourth Raikage opened his mouth as if to say something else, but in the end, he remained silent.
However, Mabui, with her years of experience, already knew what he was thinking.
The Ten-Tails Jinchūriki was terrifying, but he wasn't the only monster.
Someone else had already displayed power beyond the rest of the ninja world.
But unless the Land of Lightning was on the brink of annihilation, the Fourth Raikage would never ask for that person's help.
---
"You're overestimating yourself."
Nagato flung Killer Bee to the ground, watching as his body transformed into an octopus tail. His Rinnegan shifted toward the nearby forest.
"You thought you could fool me with a tail clone?"
"I wasn't trying to run," Killer Bee raised his hands and stepped out from the trees. "If I wanted to escape, I wouldn't have sent my real body to meet you in the first place. And I certainly wouldn't have stayed nearby watching."
Still, he felt a deep sense of relief.
Good thing I made that decision quickly.
If he had tried to deceive Nagato and failed, an enraged Nagato would have wiped out the entire Land of Lightning.
"...Can you tell me your real goal?" Bee asked. "You're collecting the Tailed Beasts, reviving the Ten-Tails—what exactly are you trying to do?"
Nagato's voice was deep and unwavering.
"To bring peace."
"…Peace?"
Killer Bee was stunned.
He couldn't understand. A man who was hunting the Tailed Beasts, who wanted to revive the Ten-Tails, was claiming that his goal was peace?
But before he could dwell on it, he felt his body go numb.
Nagato's iron grip clamped around his arm. The chakra of the Eight-Tails began to pour out uncontrollably.
It was being ripped from his body.
Bee's consciousness began to fade. His body felt heavy.
Inside his mind, he spoke to Gyūki.
"Sorry for dragging you into this."
This was his choice, but Gyūki was suffering the same fate. Even though the Eight-Tails had already accepted this outcome, Bee still couldn't forgive himself.
"Bee… It's fine," Gyūki rumbled. "Maybe… this is just the fate of the Tailed Beasts."
Hearing Bee's genuine apology, Gyūki let out a soft chuckle.
Using the last of his chakra, he sent a small portion into Bee's body.
"I just hope you survive, Bee."
Bee froze.
---
As the Eight-Tails' power gradually vanished, Killer Bee's body began to wither.
His once muscled physique shrank, his skin paled, and his breathing weakened.
At the same time, Nagato's body transformed.
The runes on his ceremonial robes became more complete, and a seventh Truth-Seeking Orb manifested behind him.
Looking down at the half-dead Killer Bee, who still had a single tail attached, Nagato arched an eyebrow and carelessly tossed him aside.
Even now, Bee was still clinging to life.
As expected of the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki.
He was second only to the Nine-Tails.
But as long as Nagato never returned the Eight-Tails, Bee would never recover.
The bond between Jinchūriki and Tailed Beasts was too deep.
Even if Bee somehow survived, at best, he would only be a jōnin-level ninja for the rest of his life.
"The Two-Tails and Eight-Tails are secured. Now it's time for the Seven-Tails."
Nagato ignored Killer Bee, checking his position before heading toward the Land of Earth's coastal border.
The Six-Tails was currently trapped in the war between the Land of Water and the Land of Earth. Konan was handling its capture.
They had agreed that once she secured it, she would bring it to him.
After claiming the Six-Tails, it would be time for Konoha.
Ideally, he should have targeted the Nine-Tails first, but Konoha had three Mangekyō Sharingan users.
Nagato had personally witnessed the power of Obito and Hikari. There was a chance for unforeseen complications, so he had adjusted his plan accordingly.
As for the Seven-Tails…
Nagato placed it last on the list.
Because capturing the Seven-Tails meant facing Hyuga Fuji.
Right now, he wasn't confident enough to do that.
---
Land of Earth's Border
Nagato arrived at the rendezvous point and saw Konan, who had finally arrived with her captive.
But the moment he saw her prisoner, his brows furrowed.
"Nagato, what's wrong?" Konan asked.
"You were tricked." Nagato sighed, shaking his head.
"That's not the real Six-Tails Jinchūriki. It's just a clone made of the Six-Tails' chakra."
Konan's expression froze.
She turned to the so-called "Jinchūriki"—only to watch as it shrank into a tiny version of the Six-Tails.
Her face darkened.
"Impossible. No one in Kirigakure has woken up yet."
"How did he pull this off?"
Her intelligence had confirmed that everyone in Kirigakure was still unconscious.
And yet, somehow, the real Six-Tails Jinchūriki had escaped right under her nose.
(End of Chapter)