Chapter 50: Trembling Karin
Ding, the chip fell onto the metal experiment table with a crisp sound. This chip was not large, its entire body pitch-black, with the surface covered in golden granular protrusions.
Su Xiao picked up the chip. Although the chip was small in size, it was not light in weight.
[Lamil Apostle Core]
Quality: Light Gold
Type: Component (One-Half)
Effect: Can be used to modify any detection-type equipment, thereby improving the equipment's quality. The quality improvement is unrelated to the quality of the modified equipment.
Rating: 296 (Note: Light Gold items have a rating of 260 to 310. Higher-rated items are more valuable.)
Description: Knowing the strength of an enemy can make battle twice as effective with half the effort.
Price: Unsellable, untradeable, drops upon death.
Warning: Carrying this component while traveling through the void will result in pursuit by Mechanical Apostles.
...
Su Xiao examined the chip in his hand. From the description, it was clear that this chip was only one-half of a component. As for the other component, there was no clue at all.
If he could find the other component and combine them, the resulting item's rank would surely be astonishing.
Su Xiao was very self-aware in this regard. First, this violator had obtained this chip from who knows where. The target was already dead, so trying to obtain the other component would undoubtedly be like fishing for the moon in the sea.
Second, carrying this chip while traveling through the void might invite pursuit. The intensity of the pursuit was unknown, but in any case, it was not a good thing. It would be best to use it up as soon as possible.
At this moment, Orochimaru and Kabuto were nearby. Using the chip immediately would not be a wise move.
"Mr. White Night, is this your enemy?"
Orochimaru's low, hoarse voice came through.
"Something similar."
Su Xiao retracted the Realm Severing Thread. Kabuto regained his freedom and instinctively stepped back, intending to distance himself from the dangerous figure that was Su Xiao.
"Well then, our first transaction is complete. Now, let's talk about that potion. I'm very interested in that thing."
Both sides had barely completed the first transaction amicably, but unfortunately, they still did not trust each other.
"Fine. Trade it for similar knowledge."
Su Xiao's arm hung naturally, casually approaching the hilt of Dragon-Slaying Flash.
Bang.
The iron door of the laboratory slammed shut. Orochimaru licked his lips.
"Similar technology? Sorry, I don't have that kind of technology."
As Orochimaru's words fell, several large test tubes, three meters tall, cracked open in the room. Several completely naked, expressionless men walked out of the test tubes.
"Mr. White Night, how about we renegotiate the terms of the transaction?"
"Renegotiate?"
Su Xiao put away the chip in his hand. This venomous snake, Orochimaru, was finally baring its fangs.
"How about trading your life for the potion and the Sharingan in Mr. White Night's hands?"
Orochimaru let out a sinister laugh. Kabuto had long since disappeared.
As his words fell, the laboratory door opened, and a man and a woman walked into the room. The man had white hair and a mouthful of shark-like sharp teeth that were particularly eye-catching. The woman had long red hair and wore glasses.
It was Orochimaru's subordinates, Suigetsu and Karin.
"Sigh, what a hard life. Looks like I have to fight again, and the opponent is a member of the Akatsuki."
Suigetsu looked listless, as if he had just woken up. Karin stood motionless at the door, her gaze towards Su Xiao somewhat off. Her pupils were trembling.
Karin stared intently at Su Xiao and whispered to Orochimaru, "Orochimaru-sama, this guy..."
"Hmm?"
Orochimaru's expression turned displeased.
"This guy has killed who knows how many people. His aura has turned red. This kind of aura is simply that of an executioner."
Su Xiao just stood there, and the aura he inadvertently released made Karin's hair stand on end.
"Very normal. Ordinary people aren't qualified to join the Akatsuki."
"But..."
Orochimaru signaled Karin to step back. She only needed to monitor the energy flow within Su Xiao's body.
"What do you think, Mr. White Night?"
Orochimaru was confident of victory. He had exposed the location of the laboratory precisely for this opportunity—a chance to trap Su Xiao.
"Orochimaru, Akatsuki members usually act in pairs. Aren't you curious about where my partner went?"
"Heh."
Orochimaru let out a cold laugh.
"Your partner is already dead at the hands of the brat and the old hag. As for Deidara, he's gone to find Kakuzu to sew up his severed limbs."
Orochimaru's intelligence network was indeed not to be underestimated.
"Then, aren't you curious about this three-man squad?"
"Three-man squad."
Orochimaru showed a contemplative expression. Suddenly, he thought of something.
"Could it be that you..."
"That's right. To be precise, I am not actually the partner of Sasori or Deidara. I am the third member of all squads."
"White Night, this is leaking internal organization information."
A man's voice came from the corridor behind Karin. Karin's pupils constricted to the extreme. She hadn't sensed anyone approaching at all.
"Uchiha Itachi!"
Orochimaru's expression turned ice-cold. He turned his head to look at the newcomer in the corridor.
Itachi, wearing a red-cloud black-bottomed windbreaker, slowly walked over, followed by Kisame.
"Karin!"
Orochimaru looked at Karin. Only then did he realize that Karin's chakra was very unstable. This was clearly a characteristic of being caught in a genjutsu.
Itachi's genjutsu was absolutely top-notch in the Naruto world. The enemy would be caught in his genjutsu without even realizing it.
"Just as expected. This snake took the bait. The Sharingan works well as bait."
Kisame, carrying the Samehada on his back, laughed a few times. His dead fish eyes surveyed everyone present.
The situation on the field had changed from the original ten versus one to ten versus three.
Su Xiao was not a member of Sasori's squad at all. Nagato had assigned him the role of assisting in capturing tailed beasts. In other words, whichever squad was capturing a tailed beast, he would temporarily join that squad.
Orochimaru's expression was as dark as water. After a moment, he laughed.
"Not a bad plan. Unfortunately, it's useless against me."
Orochimaru's body suddenly collapsed. Itachi's Sharingan met Orochimaru's snake-like pupils.
With a thud, Orochimaru fell to the ground. His pale skin cracked, revealing the face of a female ninja. This was not Orochimaru at all.
With a splash, Suigetsu turned into a pool of clear water, quickly seeping into the stone cracks on the floor. In an instant, Orochimaru and Suigetsu disappeared.
"Th-this, this, this."
Karin stumbled back a few steps. She was a perception + medical type ninja and didn't have such a strong means of escape.
"Heh, as expected. This snake escaped, Itachi."
Kisame didn't seem surprised by Orochimaru's escape. Itachi's expression was also calm.
"Then I'll pretend I didn't see anything."
Su Xiao took out an apple and took a bite. Itachi had held back just now. Otherwise, he could have definitely stopped Orochimaru. As for why he held back, there was no need to think about it. It was to help Uchiha Sasuke grow.
Dragon-Slashing Flash slowly left its sheath. Su Xiao's figure vanished in an instant. When he reappeared, the blade was already stained with blood. He had killed several of Orochimaru's experimental subjects. These subjects had been standing dazedly in place after Orochimaru left.
"One left."
Su Xiao crouched in front of Karin, took a big bite of the apple, and chewed slowly.
Karin collapsed to the ground. She didn't dare to resist at all, nor would she be stupid enough to resist. Because the three people in front of her were all monster-level. Resisting would only lead to a faster death.
"Since she's Orochimaru's subordinate, let's kill her."
Kisame stepped forward. Karin trembled all over.
"Wait."
Itachi stepped forward.
"She's still useful."