Impure World Reincarnation

"You?"

Sasori's hoarse voice echoed. "I hear Lin Qing beat you once, and you nearly died in Konoha. Heh... I'd better go."

"I'm very interested in Lin Qing and Orochimaru's bodies... They both have the potential to make excellent puppets."

Itachi Uchiha shot Sasori a cold glance, unmoved.

the full release

Only one person present had the authority to give orders: Pain. Given Itachi's temperament, he naturally wouldn't bother arguing with anyone else.

Besides, Itachi might give way on other matters, but this time, he had to go.

He'd once thought Lin Qing was just a ninja with a special ability. But ever since Lin Qing left the village with Sasuke, the whole situation had gone far beyond what Itachi had expected.

Last time, everything had happened too hastily and unexpectedly. This time, Itachi wanted to see Lin Qing's strength for himself.

And while he was at it...

He could finally see Sasuke again.

At the thought of his younger brother, Itachi's feelings turned complicated.

"As long as he's healthy and safe, that's enough."

"Itachi, you're one of the team members."

Pain said, "Orochimaru was once your partner, and Lin Qing was once your opponent. Orochimaru also severely wounded your only younger brother, Sasuke Uchiha. You should be the one to settle this score."

"Sasuke... was badly wounded?!"

A surging killing intent rose in Itachi's heart, but he showed none of it. He silently nodded.

"The second team member..."

Pain looked at Deidara, who had his hands in his pockets.

"Deidara, you're going."

Kisame Hoshigaki froze for half a second. "I'm Mr. Itachi's partner. Shouldn't I go with him?"

Pain was cold, but he still showed the Akatsuki members the respect they were due. He briefly explained, "Lin Qing has killed three of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of Kirigakure in a row. Kisame, you're from Kirigakure, and Lin Qing already knows your methods and style. If we're going after Lin Qing, we should send opponents he isn't used to dealing with."

Kisame nodded in agreement.

All the reports on Lin Qing mentioned that the area within two or three meters of him was his absolute domain, and that he had an extremely powerful ability to close in on opponents.

Itachi Uchiha, who excelled at genjutsu.

Deidara, who specialized in explosive ninjutsu and could fly.

They really were the best combination.

Hearing his name, Deidara grinned. "I knew it. A tough nut like this should be left to me. Let's see if Lin Qing can appreciate my art."

"But are we supposed to capture Lin Qing alive so we can recruit him into the Akatsuki?"

Pain nodded.

Lin Qing's demonstrated combat strength and his attitude toward civilians had reminded Pain of his former self.

He wanted Lin Qing to join the Akatsuki.

To fight for the ideal of "peace."

Deidara said, "Got it. I'll go easy when I beat Lin Qing. I won't kill him. But why do we need to capture Orochimaru alive, too? Isn't he a traitor?"

Konan answered this time.

"None of you can be sure that the person you killed was the real Orochimaru rather than a test subject or a clone.

"Nor can you be sure that after killing him this time, he won't crawl out of some other base. So I'll be the third member of this mission."

Konan said to Itachi and Deidara, "I'll assist you in battle. Once we've defeated Orochimaru, I'll seal him and bring him back for Pain to deal with."

Itachi Uchiha, Deidara, and Konan.

The three formed a team and set out to capture Lin Qing and Orochimaru.

The Akatsuki was an efficient organization.

As soon as the meeting ended, the three gathered and rode the giant clay bird Deidara had made toward the Land of Fields.

Deidara's bird was huge.

It was big enough for all three of them to ride without feeling cramped.

Deidara was absorbed in his art, writing and sketching on paper and occasionally letting out a chuckle.

Itachi Uchiha closed his eyes to rest.

Konan sat on the other side, observing Itachi's every move out of the corner of her eye.

Her mission this time wasn't just to help in battle and seal Orochimaru. She also had a secret task from Pain—

To investigate Itachi's background.

Everyone in the Akatsuki had a less-than-glorious past to some extent, along with secrets of their own.

Pain didn't care how many secrets they had. As long as they helped advance his plans, he never pried into their private affairs.

A leader usually had four cards to play:

Inducements, emotional ties, protection, and the threat of force.

Playing different combinations against different people was a leader's job. Pain was good at it.

Itachi Uchiha was the one exception.

On the one hand, Itachi wanted nothing, focused entirely on his missions, and carried them out flawlessly. He was a perfect teammate.

On the other hand, he had slaughtered his entire clan in an instant for no apparent reason. He was a complete madman.

Pain's mission for Konan was to observe the choices Itachi made when facing Lin Qing, Sasuke, and Orochimaru.

If anything seemed off, then when Itachi returned...

Kill him on the spot!

Konoha.

ANBU medical room.

A giant "bubble" floated in the air.

It was Purified Water, made jointly by the two Mount Myoboku sages, Fukasaku and Shijian. It could isolate the outside Natural Energy to the greatest extent possible.

Sasuke was immersed in the center of the Purified Water.

Since all things in the world contained some Natural Energy, he was now nearly naked, with only a strip of cloth wrapped around his waist and the Crown of Thorns on his head. He wore nothing else.

Jiraiya sat cross-legged in front of the Purified Water.

A week had passed since the battle with Orochimaru. For the entire week, he'd gone without sleep, keeping watch over Sasuke.

Jiraiya had originally wanted to take Sasuke to Mount Myoboku, where it would be safer without anyone else around.

But the Natural Energy on Mount Myoboku was too concentrated, and the Purified Water couldn't be maintained there for long. They had no choice but to move the treatment to Konoha.

Jiraiya looked at Sasuke floating in the water, his arms slightly spread, the Crown of Thorns on his head, his body growing thinner...

For some reason, he felt a sudden urge to kneel and bow.

Jiraiya rubbed his face hard, thinking he must simply be exhausted.

"If you're tired, go get some rest."

The familiar, aged voice came from behind him.

Jiraiya turned and met the gaze of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had approached in casual clothes, looking like an old man out for a stroll.

"Go rest, then wait for Danzo to make another move against Sasuke?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi came quietly to Jiraiya's side and gazed at Sasuke inside the water sphere. Only after a long while did he speak again.

"As for the Uchiha... I couldn't find a better choice."

Did Hiruzen Sarutobi not know that the Uchiha Clan Massacre was wrong? Did he not know it would weaken the village?

He knew.

It was just that his political skill and ability to scheme hadn't been enough to make a better choice.

So all he could do was keep silent.

Jiraiya turned his head and glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

When he first heard about the Uchiha Clan Massacre, he'd been furious, eager to rush back and give Hiruzen Sarutobi a piece of his mind.

But now...

Jiraiya sighed softly. "Sensei, we really are alike."

Jiraiya had failed to make a better choice during battle and had ultimately remained silent, letting Orochimaru escape. How was that any different from his teacher?

Even in both cases, Sasuke had been the one hurt.

"But I won't hesitate anymore."

Jiraiya said, "Sensei, you can never bring yourself to let go of the things you should abandon. That's why people take away the very things you should have protected."

The Uchiha, Minato, Orochimaru, or even the former glory of Konoha and the Will of Fire that had once shone over the Ninja World.

"What do you think I should do?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.

Jiraiya shook his head. "I don't know, but there's someone... He should know."

"Lin Qing?"

"Yes."

Hiruzen Sarutobi heard the trust in Jiraiya's voice. "The last time I heard you speak about someone like that, it was Minato. But if Lin Qing comes back, it means Orochimaru is dead."

Jiraiya nodded.

"He... died a long time ago."

"From the moment he stubbornly lost himself in the pursuit of immortality, the soul of the man called Orochimaru had already rotted away."

Meanwhile, in Otogakure, Land of Fields.

Orochimaru looked at the thirty people standing before him.

Kabuto Yakushi stepped forward. "Lord Orochimaru, they've all volunteered to become 'materials' this time."

"Did you explain the price?"

"Yes. They're certain to die."

Orochimaru nodded and pointed to the volunteers, selecting two of them.

Although they were about to become sacrificial materials and die, the two looked delighted. Everyone else gazed at them enviously.

Once they became Orochimaru's volunteers, their families, friends, and even neighbors would receive preferential treatment. Their parents and children would also receive a large sum in compensation, enough to live comfortably for the rest of their lives.

In such a miserable world, it was practically a gift from the gods.

And the price was only their lives.

It was an incredible bargain!

The two stepped forward. Orochimaru personally straightened their collars and smiled.

"Thank you."

The two were overwhelmed with gratitude, so moved they could barely speak.

Orochimaru patted them on the shoulders and said to Kabuto Yakushi,

"Since everything's ready, let's begin. The forbidden jutsu—"

"Impure World Reincarnation."