# Chapter 7: Important Intelligence
"There's no abnormality in the chakra fluctuations. This must be the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki."
Karin spoke softly, her heart trembling as she faced Su Xiao.
Karin was a sensory-type ninja, which was the main reason Sasuke didn't trust Su Xiao's judgment. After the Hawk Team captured the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, they immediately had Karin confirm whether there were any abnormalities. The result was no abnormalities, only that because the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki was severely injured, his chakra fluctuations were weak.
"The chakra fluctuations are too faint."
Obito reached out, grabbing the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Killer Bee by the neck and lifting him off the ground.
"He's badly injured. Weak chakra is normal..."
Crack!
Before Karin could finish speaking, Obito directly snapped Killer Bee's neck.
For a ninja of Killer Bee's caliber, having his neck broken wouldn't cause death in a short time. Besides, both of Sasuke's subordinates had healing abilities.
Everyone's gaze focused on Killer Bee. Sasuke's expression grew increasingly ugly.
Killer Bee's aura showed no change at all, still just as faint, as if having his neck broken had no effect on him.
Obito's exposed Sharingan eye narrowed, and a spatial vortex appeared, containing a shredding force within it. Sensing this fluctuation, Su Xiao immediately judged that Obito had already transplanted Kakashi's Sharingan eye.
Bang.
White smoke rose, and Killer Bee disappeared, replaced by a nearly two-meter-long octopus tentacle.
The facts proved that Sasuke hadn't managed to capture Killer Bee, and had instead been completely fooled by him.
It was understandable that Sasuke was deceived. This was his first time capturing a tailed beast, and he lacked experience. Moreover, Killer Bee's substitution was too realistic. Even Kisame and Deidara, who had captured tailed beasts before, hadn't noticed anything wrong—though that was also related to the fact that neither of them were sensory types.
"Hahaha."
Deidara laughed loudly, completely unconcerned about Sasuke's gloomy expression.
"How could this be."
Karin was somewhat incredulous. She had confirmed multiple times but still couldn't detect anything unusual about Killer Bee.
"Sasuke, you're not mature enough yet."
Obito's tone held no reproach; he was simply provoking Sasuke. He knew Sasuke's competitive nature all too well.
"Newcomer, the first thing you need to learn is to respect your seniors."
Kisame showed his shark-like teeth. He had clashed with Sasuke before, and because of Itachi's relationship, he paid relatively close attention to Sasuke.
"Don't lecture me."
Sasuke knew he was in the wrong. Failing on his first mission—but getting him to admit his mistake was unlikely. It should be said, Second Pillar was indeed Second Pillar.
"Kisame, you're responsible for capturing the Eight-Tails."
Obito didn't pursue Sasuke's failure. Instead, he was privately considering how to make this chess piece grow quickly. This had to start from the angle of hatred. Right now, Sasuke's enemies were the Konoha higher-ups.
"No problem."
Kisame agreed readily, stood up, and walked out of the base. That was Kisame—accepting a mission and taking action immediately.
"Deidara, you'll cooperate with Zetsu to find Konan. If Zetsu is exposed, you're responsible for covering his retreat."
"I'm the insurance, huh."
Deidara still had that self-questioning, self-answering way of speaking.
"White Night, you're responsible for the Nine-Tails. You've attacked Konoha before, so you're familiar with Konoha's barrier. If possible, don't capture the Nine-Tails near Konoha."
"I can capture the Nine-Tails, but only if he leaves Konoha. There's no way I'm capturing the Nine-Tails inside Konoha."
"That's what I mean too."
Obito finished laying out the general plan. Kisame would capture the Eight-Tails, Su Xiao would capture the Nine-Tails, Zetsu and Deidara would be responsible for finding Konan, while Obito himself would wait for an opportunity, ready to use his space-time ability to support Zetsu and Deidara. To find the Rinnegan, only he or Sasuke could handle it. The Rinnegan was too crucial, and Sasuke wasn't yet capable of such an important task.
While the Akatsuki was holding their meeting, in the Land of Lightning, Kumogakure.
Kumogakure was built among high mountains and ridges, its location a natural fortress. Because the Land of Lightning's resources were somewhat scarce, Kumogakure couldn't obtain too much funding from the Land of Lightning's Daimyo's residence.
With no other choice, Kumogakure had to find another path. They began researching technology—specifically, the combination of ninjutsu and technology. Although they hadn't yet created anything that would shock the ninja world, they had developed many technological ninjutsu devices.
The name Kumogakure wasn't obtained out of thin air. In the early morning, the tallest building in Kumogakure was almost shrouded in clouds. This high terrain also caused the oxygen content in Kumogakure's air to be relatively low.
It was unknown what race the residents of the Land of Lightning were. Most of them had relatively dark skin—not pure black, but a deeper wheat-colored complexion.
The clouds and mist were stirred by a gentle breeze. At the highest point of Kumogakure, on a man-made mountain peak supported by metal supports.
At the mountain's peak, inside the Raikage's office, an angry roar came through.
"You still haven't found any trace of Killer Bee? Are you all useless!"
Bang!
A sharp sound came, and wood splinters flew. The Raikage's office was dead silent. In front of the shattered desk, three Jonin knelt on one knee.
Behind the desk, a nearly two-meter-tall strong man was breathing heavily. He wore a white robe with the character "Raikage" on the back. This was the Fourth Raikage, A.
Just standing there, the Fourth Raikage exuded a powerful oppressive aura. The three Jonin kneeling on one knee didn't even dare to raise their heads.
"Raikage-sama, Killer Bee-sama he..."
The Raikage's secretary, Mabui, spoke up. She was a dark-skinned, white-haired beauty wearing a dark green fitted skirt, holding a document in her hand.
The Fourth Raikage raised his hand, signaling Mabui to stay quiet for now. Mabui bowed and stepped back.
"I'll give you two days. Use every method to find Killer Bee."
The Fourth Raikage issued his ultimatum. Killer Bee was not only the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki but also the Fourth Raikage's brother. Although the two weren't blood-related, they had lived and died together for many years, their bond even closer than that of biological brothers.
"Raikage-sama, this matter is somewhat complicated. According to known intelligence, the person who captured Killer Bee is named Uchiha Sasuke, and he was wearing the Akatsuki's iconic uniform. There's likely more to this involving the Akatsuki. According to what I know, the Akatsuki has already successfully captured seven tailed beasts. If we count Killer Bee-sama, then..."
The person speaking was named Darui. He also had dark skin and white hair, with a somewhat lazy expression, as if nothing could interest him.
The Fourth Raikage was in a rage. Even his secretary didn't dare to speak much, but Darui chose this moment to speak, and his words somewhat disagreed with the Fourth Raikage's view.
If anyone else had dared to say this, they would most likely have been glared at by the Fourth Raikage, then "kindly" told to get the hell out.
Darui was different. If Killer Bee was the Fourth Raikage's right hand, then Darui was his left hand. Not only that, the Fourth Raikage vaguely intended to train Darui as the next Raikage.
"Your meaning is?"
The Fourth Raikage temporarily suppressed his anger.
"Raikage-sama..."
Darui suddenly fell silent. The Fourth Raikage glanced at Darui, then understood what he meant.
"You all, get out first."
"Yes."
The three Jonin felt as if they had received a pardon. One of them secretly glanced at Darui, a hint of gratitude in his eyes. Darui lowered his eyelids, showing no reaction.