Catching Tailed Beasts

Seeing them act like this, Hidan put a hand to his chin and crouched down to look at them. "Hey, hey, did you two know each other before?"

Tobi giggled. "Of course. I'm the one who brought him here, after all~ Um, well, even if that's true, since I brought him here, it wouldn't be good if the seniors slaughtered him as soon as he joined, right?"

"Hmph!" Sasori said in a hoarse, cold voice. "Then I'll kill you too."

"..."

Tobi immediately put on a terrified expression and curled up in the corner. "Waaah! Senior, spare me!"

Sasori: "..." Why was he even arguing with this idiot...? Forget it. He was just in a bad mood. Besides, they were not there in person right now. They could discuss it later.

Uchiha Gen froze when he saw Obito's reaction, then looked at "Tobi," who was trembling in the corner. He acted like a coward so naturally. Impressive!

Since none of them intended to speak, Uchiha Gen did not plan to keep pretending to be meek either. Mainly because he could not compete with Tobi in that department. He introduced himself, "Hello, everyone. My name is Uchiha Gen. Also, if any senior has a problem with me, I'll be waiting here anytime."

At those words, which sounded much like a provocation, the atmosphere immediately stiffened. An Uchiha? Everyone's gazes shifted teasingly between Uchiha Gen and Uchiha Itachi.

Sasori slowly turned his eyes and finally gave Uchiha Gen a proper appraisal.

Kisame folded his arms. He had just thought this kid was about the same as Tobi, but he was pretty arrogant. But he was an Uchiha? At that thought, Kisame looked toward Itachi. Itachi showed no reaction at all, as though this person calling himself Uchiha Gen had nothing to do with him.

Deidara had a vein throbbing on his forehead. If this had been in reality, flames would probably have been shooting from his eyes. He muttered something under his breath while kneading something in his hand...

Kakuzu said nothing, but he was calculating something internally. Later, he planned to check whether there was a bounty for Uchiha Gen in the Black Market.

Hidan, meanwhile, laughed delightedly. "You're not bad, kid. Interested in joining my Jashin Cult? Lord Jashin should like you."

"Thanks, but I don't really like believing in that sort of thing. If Lord Jashin knew he had such an unfaithful follower as me, he probably wouldn't be happy either." Uchiha Gen smiled as he politely declined.

Hidan looked regretful. That seemed right. "Fine, then."

Once the new member had finished introducing himself, Pain said, "Enough. I didn't gather all of you here today to welcome a new member. We recently received news that Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, is alone..." He left the rest unsaid, but everyone present understood what he meant.

Pain swept his gaze over the group, then suddenly called out, "Uchiha Gen, what do you think?"

Everyone was somewhat surprised by Pain's sudden call-out. Had this kid displeased the leader? They all looked at Uchiha Gen with schadenfreude in their eyes.

Uchiha Gen: ...Was he supposed to stand here and watch? He hesitated, guessing, "How about—I capture him?" Did interns have to capture Tailed Beasts too?? Promote me to full employee already, damn it!

Pain nodded. "Then you and Uchiha Itachi will capture the Five-Tails."

"???" Kisame Hoshigaki was dumbfounded. His partner was gone?

Originally, Pain had planned to capture the Five-Tails himself, but this sudden development changed his mind.

Seeing everyone's confused expressions, Pain explained, "This is only a temporary team. Even as an intern, since you have no achievements, you need to demonstrate your strength if you want to join Akatsuki."

That was what he said, but the main reason for this arrangement was that Pain had always harbored a measure of wariness. Including Uchiha Gen, there were already four people in the organization introduced by Uchiha "Madara."

Moreover, not only was this person's background unknown, but he was also from the same clan as Uchiha Itachi, who had exterminated his own clan. This was the perfect opportunity to test Uchiha Gen's strength and their attitude toward each other. Pain had always been suspicious of the masked "Madara," but he could not determine what exactly his goal was.

Itachi did not say much about the arrangement. Since the beginning, he had been considering one question: Uchiha Gen? He did not recall anyone by that name in the clan. An alias?

Since he had been brought personally by Uchiha "Madara," could it be—he was someone from the same era as "Madara"?

Konoha...

Uzumaki Reikawa watched Sasuke's movements. Although Sasuke's experiences had been changed greatly by him, and Sasuke had learned plenty of information and intelligence, who knew what that idiot Uchiha Sasuke was thinking.

Without Orochimaru, Sasuke could not improve his strength? What a joke. As Indra's reincarnation, even casual teaching would not leave him weak. Wasn't it those eyes that truly made Sasuke stronger? What did Orochimaru have besides the Kusanagi Sword and a Curse Mark whose side effects outweighed its usefulness? As for combat experience, there were plenty of people in Konoha who could teach that.

And if they really had to say it, Uzumaki Reikawa felt that Uchiha Gen's main body could teach him as well. Though he lacked actual combat experience, as a fellow member of the Uchiha Clan, his insights into ninjutsu and the Sharingan were something Orochimaru could never match.

More importantly, he had not gotten the autograph yet. Come to think of it, it was fortunate the system had a function that concealed the green light. Otherwise, Uzumaki Reikawa might suddenly burst out laughing in certain situations.

This corresponded to Jiraiya teaching Naruto.

Because of his earlier promise, Kakashi and Sasuke were also training at the practice field. Kakashi was preparing to teach Sasuke Lightning Blade, the advanced version of Chidori.

However, when Sasuke repeatedly injured his hand due to being too eager for quick success, Kakashi was forced to stop the training.

"I advise you to rest first. At this rate, your hand will be ruined." Kakashi wore a serious expression as he grabbed Sasuke's hand, trying to make him stop. In truth, reaching this level so quickly was already very impressive.

Sasuke looked unwilling. "No, I think I can still do it! I'm almost there." Refusing to accept it, Sasuke knocked Kakashi's hand away.

Before Kakashi could stop him, he used Chidori again. Crackling electric currents gradually gathered together. A bead of sweat slowly formed on Sasuke's forehead, and all that remained in his vision was white lightning. Gather!

Suddenly, Sasuke's pupils contracted. He had succeeded!!!

Kakashi had been wearing a grim expression and was about to forcibly stop him, but at the sight, he was so shocked that he could not speak for a moment.

However, once the ninjutsu succeeded, Sasuke completely relaxed. The exhaustion from chakra depletion overwhelmed him, and he could not stop himself from collapsing unconscious onto the ground. Both his hands were numb and unable to move. Judging by the situation, he probably would not be able to use ninjutsu for quite some time.

Kakashi walked over, looked at Sasuke, and sighed helplessly. "That was far too reckless!"

But—well done! Kakashi picked Sasuke up, intending to take him to the hospital.

Uzumaki Reikawa had no intention of showing himself. He merely followed silently and memorized the hospital's location. During his free time, he basically stayed around Sasuke's hospital, until he sensed the approach of those four people while they were still unaware of him.

Tayuya and the others, sent by Orochimaru, were on their way. Yet the closer Tayuya got to the hospital, the more inexplicably uneasy she felt. Something was wrong!

"Kidomaru, do you feel anything?"

Knowing Tayuya would not speak without reason, Kidomaru thought for a moment but did not sense anything.

Jirobo merely mocked her. "What? Don't tell me you're scared?"