Chapter 44: Transaction and the Eye
Hearing Scorpion's words, Su Xiao paused in his steps for a moment before continuing forward.
When the three of them first arrived at the desert, Su Xiao and Deidara had already sensed something off about Scorpion, and when Scorpion saw Chiyo, that sense of "wrongness" grew even stronger.
Su Xiao was certain that Scorpion would die inside this cave, even though Chiyo and Sakura were far from a match for him.
To be precise, Scorpion had long since "died." What remained was merely his consciousness surviving.
During the few days spent with Scorpion, Su Xiao noticed that Scorpion didn't need sleep, water, or food—he only occasionally added a special liquid into his "core."
Scorpion felt no pain, no sensation, and had even lost some emotions. To him, his body was just a puppet that could be manufactured at any time.
Su Xiao walked slowly toward the cave entrance. He chose not to stay and help Scorpion fight, even though they were teammates.
Everyone has different choices. Scorpion might already be weary, and rashly interfering in someone else's choice was an act of extreme selfishness and arrogance.
"Stop!"
Sakura blocked Su Xiao's path, clearly unwilling to let this villain leave so easily.
"Sakura."
Chiyo pulled Sakura back, signaling her not to stop Su Xiao from leaving. One Scorpion was already troublesome enough.
"Consider yourselves... lucky this time."
Su Xiao walked out of the cave. Not long after, sounds of battle erupted from behind him.
At this point, Team Kakashi was held back by Nagato's sealing technique, Kakashi and Naruto were chasing Deidara, and Sakura and Chiyo were engaged with Scorpion. That meant Su Xiao had no enemies left.
Stretching lazily, Su Xiao decided not to help Deidara. Pain's intentions were already clear—there was no need to capture the Nine-Tails for now, so there was no reason for him to join the fray.
Leading Bubu Wang into a forest, Su Xiao looked around.
"How's the progress?"
Su Xiao seemed to be talking to thin air, but that wasn't the case.
A plant resembling a pitcher plant emerged from a tree trunk, with both Black and White Zetsu inside it.
"Found it. What about the payment we agreed on?"
Black Zetsu spoke, while the other half, White Zetsu, had its eyes closed, seemingly in a dormant state.
Su Xiao pulled a test tube from his chest. Inside was a misty liquid that appeared to be blood, but it constantly shifted between liquid and gaseous states.
This was the blood of Shukaku, the One-Tail, which Su Xiao had collected earlier.
Su Xiao tossed the test tube to Black Zetsu, who caught it, examined it, and nodded after confirming it was genuine.
"Though I don't know how you did it, I can give you the information. There are 397 people of the type you're looking for, and three meet your requirements. One is in the Land of Fire, one in the Hidden Mist Village, and one in the Hidden Sand Village."
The pitcher plant containing Black Zetsu slowly retracted into the tree trunk.
"Oh, and don't mention I was here. This is a secret cooperation."
With those words, Black Zetsu vanished.
"Hidden Mist Village... Hidden Sand Village..."
Su Xiao fell into thought. He had been to both places, and the person he was looking for wouldn't be there—otherwise, the tracking function would have already activated.
"That leaves only the Land of Fire. Hey, what's the exact location?"
"Near the Tenchi Bridge, on the border of the Land of Fire."
Black Zetsu left this final remark before disappearing completely.
"Tenchi Bridge? That guy knows how to pick a spot. He's probably eyeing Orochimaru's lab."
If Su Xiao wasn't mistaken, Sasuke would soon "take down" Orochimaru, leaving his lab wide open.
The person Su Xiao was looking for was Violator No. 10001. Since the Naruto world was too vast, Su Xiao had to rely on the power of plot characters.
Now that he had a lead, Su Xiao prepared to head to that area.
The Akatsuki organization had a loose structure—members were free to roam when there were no missions, as evidenced by the immortal duo who ran wild across the world.
Su Xiao and Bubu Wang traveled at a leisurely pace. There was still over a month left before the main mission deadline, so time was plentiful.
A clay bird sped across the sky. Su Xiao looked up—wasn't that Deidara?
"This guy sure is relaxed. Hmm."
Deidara glanced down at Su Xiao from above but said nothing. No need to guess—Deidara had deliberately "passed by" here.
Deidara flew off on his clay bird. Moments later, two figures burst out of the forest: Naruto, already showing signs of tailed beast transformation, and Kakashi.
Naruto's only thought now was to retrieve Gaara's body from Deidara, while Kakashi was there to protect Naruto.
Since Naruto was a jinchuriki, and given the conversation between Deidara and Scorpion, Kakashi was on high alert.
Crack.
Wood chips flew as Naruto crushed a tree branch underfoot and shot toward Deidara like a cannonball.
Kakashi glanced at Su Xiao below. Judging by his route, he didn't seem intent on engaging Su Xiao.
"That Deidara."
Su Xiao gripped the scabbard of Dragon-Slaying Flash and drew the blade in an instant.
Clang.
A blade aura shot out, cutting through a large swath of branches before flying toward Kakashi. Kakashi halted his forward momentum and sidestepped midair to dodge the aura.
The blade aura disappeared into the sky. Naruto chased after Deidara into the distance, leaving Kakashi with a grim expression.
Su Xiao twirled his blade in a flourish and smiled at Kakashi, who was not far away.
"If I let you pass just like that, I might as well stop wearing this outfit."
Su Xiao not helping Deidara and Scorpion was one thing, but letting an enemy pass by without a fight was another—especially since Zetsu was watching.
Black Zetsu might not leak information, but White Zetsu's loose lips were another story.
Kakashi had no intention of fighting Su Xiao. He had a secret mission: to protect Naruto.
Pushing off the ground, Kakashi prepared to chase Naruto, but he stopped after just a few steps. His three-tomoe Sharingan contracted to its limit.
A barely noticeable, razor-sharp thread appeared right in front of Kakashi's nose. If he had continued forward, it would have severed his head.
By now, Kakashi could no longer sense Naruto's presence. Naruto had run off somewhere.
"Damn it."
Kakashi's expression darkened further as he glared coldly at Su Xiao.
In the original story, Kakashi was portrayed as caring toward his subordinates, but now he was facing an enemy. Su Xiao was his enemy.
"Looks like I can't get past you without dealing with you."
Kakashi turned to face Su Xiao.
"That eye of yours isn't bad."
Su Xiao wasn't sure if he could take the Sharingan directly into Reincarnation Paradise, but it was worth a try. Even if he couldn't bring it in, someone in the Akatsuki would surely pay a heavy price for that eye.
"Shadow Clone Technique."
Poof, poof. Smoke rose as Kakashi split into three identical copies.
Su Xiao carefully sensed all three Kakashis but couldn't tell which was the original. All three had chakra flowing through them.
The three Kakashis charged at Su Xiao simultaneously. One of them shouted.
"Chidori."
Zzzzzz～
Lightning enveloped one of Kakashi's hands, the sound like a thousand birds chirping.
Logically, the Kakashi using Chidori should be the original, but was it really that simple? Would Kakashi expose himself so easily?
"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu."
Two hands emerged from the ground beneath Su Xiao's feet, aiming to grab his ankles.