Chapter 55: Fang of the Dawn
"Troublesome, I just fell out with that guy."
Seeking out Orochimaru at this time was clearly impossible, given he had just ransacked the other's laboratory.
Since Orochimaru was out, the only option was to find Elder Danzo, the failed village leader candidate. That guy had ambiguous morals and was a potential collaborator.
However, before that, Su Xiao had other matters to attend to—joining Itachi's squad to capture the Four-Tails.
Just as Su Xiao was about to leave, a fluctuation came from his Ring of Emptiness. It was Nagato summoning him.
Finding a concealed spot, Su Xiao took out [Apostle's Eye] and activated the Aerial Guard ability.
The Apostle's Eye floated into the air, its shape changing from a mechanical eye into a flying disc. The disc emitted dozens of wavelengths, scanning the surroundings.
[Aerial Guard has been deployed. Duration: 12 hours.]
Not only was the Aerial Guard monitoring the area, but Bubu Wang was also patrolling nearby.
"Technique of the Projection Body."
Consuming mana to use the Technique of the Projection Body, Su Xiao's vision flickered with light and shadow. When he opened his eyes again, he was inside a sealed cave. The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had already appeared, and he was standing on one of its fingers.
A Dawn member had captured a Jinchuriki, meaning they were about to begin sealing a Tailed Beast.
"Everyone's here."
The Deva Path formed hand seals, and below, the body of a female Jinchuriki floated upward.
"Which tail is this?"
Su Xiao felt somewhat helpless. Joining Dawn had this downside—wasting time sealing Jinchuriki.
"Two-Tails. I caught it. Where's that dog of yours?"
Hidan spoke, touching his cheek. He actually brought up Bubu Wang voluntarily. At this moment, both he and Kakuzu were in their true bodies.
"Projection Body. It can't come."
"Is that so? Too bad. I wanted to 'get revenge' on it."
Hidan sighed. Beside him, Kakuzu turned his head, as if associating with Hidan was embarrassing. But when Su Xiao looked at Kakuzu, he felt like laughing. It was said this guy had once fought Hashirama, but the gap in their strength was enormous.
Could this guy really have thrown a shuriken at Hashirama from 'eight hundred miles' away, as the rumors claimed...
"Silence. The sealing begins. This sealing will take about two days."
"Two days? Looks like the sealing speed has increased."
Hidan chuckled lightly.
"Yes. Three Tailed Beasts have already been sealed. The Demonic Statue has awakened somewhat, so of course the speed will increase."
The One-Tail wasn't the first Tailed Beast sealed. There were two before it. It was just that Su Xiao had newly joined Dawn, and Nagato hadn't disclosed this earlier.
Looking at the eyes of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path now, indeed, three of the nine eyes were open.
The first two Tailed Beasts were captured and sealed personally by Nagato and Obito. After that, the two felt the progress was too slow and began recruiting members to speed things up.
The tedious and lengthy sealing began.
Two days later, the Deva Path, which had remained motionless, opened its eyes.
"Good. The sealing is complete."
The body of the Two-Tails Jinchuriki fell to the ground. Just as everyone was about to leave, the Deva Path spoke.
"We need to speed up the capture of the Tailed Beasts. The Five Great Ninja Villages have sensed our movements and will soon send people to stop us."
After a moment of thought, the Deva Path looked at Itachi.
"Itachi, you, Bai Ye, and Kisame will capture the Four-Tails. Stick to the original plan, but be quick."
"No problem."
Itachi nodded. The Deva Path then looked at Deidara.
"Deidara, you are responsible for capturing the Three-Tails. Konan will tell you its specific location."
"No problem. Hmm."
Deidara's limbs had been stitched back together, his combat power restored. He also had a new teammate, Tobi—aka Obito.
"I will handle the Six-Tails personally. As for the remaining Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails..."
The Deva Path looked at Hidan and Kakuzu.
"The Eight-Tails is for you two. The Nine-Tails will be considered later. That is all."
The Deva Path's projection vanished. Su Xiao also dispelled the Technique of the Projection Body, his consciousness returning to his main body.
Opening his eyes, Su Xiao lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.
"Looks like the One-Tails incident pissed off Nagato. He's mobilizing all of Dawn."
If everything went smoothly, all these Tailed Beasts would be sealed within ten days—assuming everything went smoothly.
Among these Tailed Beast capture teams, the Hidan and Kakuzu pair had a grim outlook. The reason was that the Fourth Raikage of Kumogakure was quite strong. Even Sasuke with his Mangekyo had nearly been kicked to death by that burly man.
The Raikage's physical strength was too high. Whether Hidan could obtain his blood was an unknown.
Putting these thoughts aside, Su Xiao had to seize this opportunity to capture the Four-Tails. This was the last Tailed Beast he could capture.
Su Xiao mounted Bubu Wang. Man and dog headed straight for the Land of Grass on the border of the Land of Fire. Itachi and Kisame were near there.
...
Three days later, the Land of Fire border.
Su Xiao sat at the edge of a cliff, playing a puzzle game on a tablet. Bubu Wang stood on a towering rock, howling at the sky, looking as if his royal bloodline had awakened.
"Stop howling. You've been at it since morning."
"Owww~"
Bubu Wang let out a wolf howl, looking thoroughly satisfied.
"This idiot."
Ignoring Bubu Wang, Su Xiao continued playing the puzzle game.
A few hours later, footsteps approached. Su Xiao didn't turn around; he had already sensed who it was.
"Have you been waiting long?"
The newcomer spoke.
"Just a day."
Su Xiao put away the tablet and stretched. It was Itachi, Kisame, and Karin who had arrived.
He glanced at Karin. This red-haired girl looked listless, yawning frequently.
"Hey, even if I'm a prisoner, the treatment doesn't have to be this bad, right?"
Karin, severely sleep-deprived, protested. Clearly, Su Xiao and the others ignored her protest.
"Where abouts is the Four-Tails?"
"Land of Earth, near the Great River Valley."
The location Itachi gave was barely precise. The Great River Valley was vast, making it difficult to find the Four-Tails Jinchuriki there. That's why they needed Karin.
"The Four-Tails Jinchuriki is affiliated with Iwagakure. His name is Roshi. He has a stubborn personality. Due to a conflict with the Fourth Tsuchikage, Onoki of the Two Scales, he left Iwagakure years ago but didn't leave the Land of Earth."
Su Xiao knew this information, but there was one thing he couldn't confirm.
"When we capture the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, that old man Onoki won't interfere, will he?"
The Third Tsuchikage's strength was unquestionable. His Dust Release was famous across the major ninja villages.
"If we act quickly, it should be fine."
"Then let's move out."
Su Xiao stood up. The four-man squad headed straight for the Land of Earth.
The Land of Grass was wedged between the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire. That's why Itachi chose to gather here.
The Land of Grass was very small. Traveling at full speed, the group crossed it in less than a day.
The next morning, a towering rock wall appeared before them. The Land of Earth lay ahead.
Most of the Land of Earth was barren rock walls. Rocky outcrops of varying heights blocked transportation. With scarce land and poor transport, the Land of Earth's economy was predictable.
However, the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, Onoki, was very capable. His country lacked resources, but he could plunder support from the surrounding small nations.
As a result, the small countries around the Land of Earth suffered, such as the Land of Grass, the Land of Bears, and the Land of Demons.
These small countries lacked strength and could only grit their teeth and endure the oppression. Under this policy, the Land of Earth's economy was decent. Though not as wealthy as the Land of Fire, it was much richer than the Land of Water and the Land of Wind.
The Land of Water had it worst. Even if they wanted to plunder, there were no small countries around. They could only fish.
...
A day after entering the Land of Earth.
A fierce wind blew. Su Xiao raised his hand to shield his face. Small gravel was swept up by the gale, stinging his skin. This was the Land of Earth's famous climate phenomenon: the rock rain.
"Ahead is the Great River Valley. Have you sensed any special chakra?"
Itachi asked Karin. Karin shook her head.
"I haven't sensed anything."
Su Xiao walked over to Karin and put an arm around her shoulder. Karin's body was soft and had a faint, pleasant scent. This wasn't perfume or some so-called natural body odor; it was the faint scent of a special energy.
"Looks like your treatment these past few days hasn't been great."
Karin shrank her neck and whispered, "It's... it's okay."
Su Xiao's sudden warmth made Karin feel uneasy.
"Find the Four-Tails within three days, or I'll kill you."
Having suffered for days, tears welled up in Karin's eyes. She dared not slack off anymore and expanded her perception range.
"I... I think I've found it. I sense a scorching chakra, and the amount is terrifying. It's Tailed Beast level."