The Rebellious Genius and the Tail-ender

Inside Iwagakure!

"They're here!"

In a somewhat secluded grove, a figure standing on a tree branch muttered softly. He had short red hair—Naraku.

On the ground below him lay Roshi, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, completely bound in chains.

After arriving in Iwagakure, Naraku had not rushed to rendezvous with Shisui. With Shisui's strength, even if he faced Ōnoki alone, he could still retreat unscathed, so he did not need Naraku's support for the moment.

Though he had not met up with Shisui, Naraku had already activated Mind's Eye of the Kagura. His formidable perception blanketed all of Iwagakure, allowing him to detect the energy fluctuations near the Tsuchikage Building.

The situation was almost exactly as he had expected. Ōnoki did not dare allow an enemy Kage-level expert to remain in his village, so he had chosen to stay behind.

That was exactly the outcome Naraku wanted. He simply had not expected Ōnoki not to attack Shisui, which came as something of a surprise.

With Ōnoki's strength, even Shisui, despite having mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, could only passively evade his attacks.

But Naraku soon understood.

What a sly old man.

Naraku thought to himself, realizing why Ōnoki had not attacked Shisui: he was conserving his strength.

Though Ōnoki was immensely powerful and his Dust Release was devastating, he was already advanced in years. His physical functions had begun declining many years ago. Moreover, he knew full well that his attacks could not inflict any substantial harm on Shisui, which was why he had not made a move.

There was another possibility as well: Naraku suspected that Ōnoki had already anticipated his next plan.

But none of that mattered to Naraku anymore. Just like Obito right now—had he not seen that Naraku was deliberately using the Five-Tails to bait him? The