Subduing the Akatsuki Organization

Although only certain families in Iwagakure had any chance of mastering it, and it qualified as a Secret Technique tied to a Kekkei Genkai, the danger remained.

If it leaked, who knew whether someone in Konoha might learn to use it?

If that happened, Deidara would go down as a traitor to Iwagakure for all time.

But compared to becoming Uchiha Genya's puppet for all eternity, unable to rest even after death, Deidara had no choice.

Besides, if Uchiha Genya wanted it, he had other ways to get it. With his back against the wall, Deidara could only make the sensible choice.

The old man would forgive him, right?

Deidara's fears were hardly unfounded. Now that Konoha had captured him, it only needed to extract his cells to give other Konoha ninja the power of Explosion Release.

Who knew how Ōnoki would feel when he learned that his prized student had given away Iwagakure's most closely guarded secrets?

With Deidara settled, Xuanye turned his attention to the others.

Hiruko had the fewest scruples of all. The moment he was captured, he surrendered to Orochimaru. With Xuanye's approval, his Chakra was sealed and he was taken straight to the Research Department.

He was still a prisoner, but Hiruko had already become one of the Research Department's most valuable talents. Orochimaru thought highly of his Chimera Technique.

Even Orochimaru had to fuse cells one at a time, strengthening himself step by step on the foundation of an immortal body.

The Chimera Technique Hiruko had developed, on the other hand, defied all reason. It could fuse five Kekkei Genkai at once.

Balance was still a concern, but there was no denying it: the boy who had once lagged behind them all had grown into an outstanding researcher.

Biwa Juzo had surrendered the instant