Defeated

After getting himself together, Shinji went to the dressing room and changed into the Akatsuki Organization's Red Cloud outfit, then put in the contact lenses he'd prepared in advance.

He'd considered long ago that the Rinnegan couldn't be turned off.

So, aside from wearing conspicuous goggles, contact lenses were the only way to hide the Rinnegan's distinctive pattern.

But it wasn't a long-term solution. If an Uchiha like him never activated his Sharingan, anyone would grow suspicious.

Once he'd changed into the Red Cloud outfit and put on the Cat Mask, Shinji checked his ninja tool pouch.

Along with the usual assortment of ninja tools, it held several portable nutrient canisters. After all, he could only feel at ease if he kept precious eyes like Karin's Rinnegan, Yakumo's Red Dragon Eye, and Fugaku Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan on hand.

If he lost them, the consequences would be unimaginable.

With everything ready, Shinji set out.

He wasn't planning to interfere with the Akatsuki Organization's efforts to collect the Tailed Beasts, but that didn't mean he'd let them do whatever they wanted.

Besides, weakening the Akatsuki Organization a little as it gathered the Tailed Beasts would make it easier for him to take the resurrected Ten-Tails from them in the end.

Leaving the secret laboratory, Shinji hurried all the way to the outskirts of Konoha.

He gazed toward the village. The fighting still seemed contained within the Forest of Death, which let him breathe a little easier.

Then his gaze shifted to the other side.

Clouds of dust billowed there, and the air shook with explosions. A major battle had clearly broken out, and the front line seemed to be inching toward Konoha.

"What's going on over there?"

Shinji wondered, then vanished in a flash.

Before long, he reached the edge of the