Chapter 157: Locating the Eight-Tails — Akatsuki Attacks!
Oborotsuki had no idea that he had already been framed as the "mastermind" by Hiruzen Sarutobi and Konoha's top leadership. They had successfully pinned the blame for both the Nine-Tails attack on Konoha and the One-Tail rampage in Sunagakure squarely on him—replacing the real culprit, Obito.
When Sunagakure's envoys received this information, they were stunned.
Of course, at first they refused to believe Hiruzen's and Konoha's one-sided claims.
But Hiruzen had his ways of handling it.
First, he demonstrated Konoha's remaining military strength by summoning Jiraiya, Kakashi, and the clan heads of every major family to the meeting.
Clearly, if Sunagakure's envoys continued to make unreasonable demands and push Konoha too far, the village was already prepared for war between the two nations.
This immediately made Sunagakure hesitate. War was their last resort—something they would only do if they had no other choice.
Next, Hiruzen promised humanitarian aid: Konoha would provide financial assistance to help Sunagakure through their current difficulties.
He also offered to join forces with Sunagakure to condemn and pressure Kirigakure.
After weighing the pros and cons, Sunagakure's envoys had no choice but to accept.
In this way, through careful maneuvering, Hiruzen and Konoha's leadership successfully defused the crisis—turning a former enemy into an ally on the same side.
Oborotsuki remained completely unaware of any of this.
He had traveled to Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning, gathered some intelligence through his methods, and immediately set off for Turtle Island.
"I never expected that, at this point in time, the Fourth Raikage has already begun confining Killer Bee…"
After much effort, Oborotsuki finally located the moving Turtle Island in the vast ocean.
Standing atop a towering tree, he activated his chakra sensing and quickly locked onto Killer Bee's exact position.
With the massive tailed beast chakra combined with Killer Bee's own power, it was nearly impossible to miss him.
Oborotsuki flashed away from the tree.
The next instant, he appeared right in front of Killer Bee, who was meditating in front of the real waterfall.
"Who the hell are you?!"
Motoi—the one supervising and guarding Killer Bee—immediately noticed the intruder and shouted, instantly going on high alert.
Killer Bee slowly opened his eyes and looked at the man before him.
"Yo… looks like some weird dude showed up."
"You here to hang out with me, huh?"
Killer Bee asked an oddly casual question the moment he saw Oborotsuki.
If Oborotsuki hadn't known Killer Bee's personality and the original story, he might have found it strange.
But right now, Oborotsuki wasn't surprised at all.
As the Eight-Tails jinchūriki, Killer Bee carried a heavy burden alone.
To train his control over the tailed beast and protect Kumogakure, he had willingly followed his older brother the Fourth Raikage's orders—first training in the Cloud-Thunder Gorge, and now isolating himself on Turtle Island to further deepen his bond with the Eight-Tails.
He was deeply lonely.
Finally meeting a stranger—and a handsome one who didn't seem like a bad guy at first glance—Killer Bee couldn't help but ask that question.
"I'm here to take you away from this place."
Oborotsuki gave Killer Bee a slight smile as he answered.
"Take me away? So you really are here to hang out with me…"
Killer Bee immediately stood up.
"Idiot! That's clearly not what he means!!"
Motoi shouted at Killer Bee right away.
But Killer Bee completely ignored him, extending a fist toward Oborotsuki:
"I'm Killer Bee. What's your name, yo?"
Oborotsuki knew the gesture—he wanted to bump fists.
He raised his own fist and lightly touched it against Killer Bee's:
"I'm Hōzuki Oborotsuki. And no—this guy's right. I'm not here to hang out. I'm here to take you with me."
Oborotsuki explained.
Hearing his name, Motoi's expression instantly turned grave:
"Hōzuki clan… if I remember correctly, that's a ninja clan from Kirigakure!"
"So you're really here for something else!!"
"You're from Kirigakure, huh? If you came all the way from Kirigakure to take me away, doesn't that mean you're here to hang out with me?"
"I've been cooped up here way too long anyway. Time to go out and stretch my legs…"
Killer Bee completely ignored Motoi's muttering, withdrew his fist, stepped onto the water's surface, and started walking toward the shore.
Motoi panicked immediately:
"Bee, that's clearly not what he means!!"
"And don't forget—you promised the Fourth Raikage! You can't leave this place!"
"Until you've fully mastered the Tailed Beast Ball and…"
Motoi realized he had said too much and quickly shut his mouth, glaring warily at Oborotsuki.
"No need to worry. I'm not interested in your secrets."
"I'm only here to take him away."
Oborotsuki shrugged casually when he saw Motoi staring at him.
"You're not taking Bee anywhere!"
"Bee—this guy isn't here to be your friend. He's after the tailed beast inside you!!"
Motoi was sharp. The moment he heard that, he realized Oborotsuki's true intentions.
He immediately drew a kunai and positioned himself protectively in front of Killer Bee.
"So you're after the Eight-Tails inside me, huh?"
Killer Bee turned around in surprise and looked at Oborotsuki. Beneath his sunglasses, his eyes turned serious.
He had just bumped fists with this guy who seemed pretty likable.
And now he finds out the man is after the tailed beast inside him…
"I'm only doing this to prevent the Eight-Tails from falling into someone else's hands. Explaining the details would be too troublesome. Just come with me—that's all."
Oborotsuki said impatiently.
But right after he spoke, his brows suddenly furrowed:
"Too late, huh…"
Muttering to himself, Oborotsuki looked up at the sky.
Seeing his strange behavior, both Killer Bee and Motoi curiously followed his gaze upward.
They saw several small black dots in the distance—rapidly descending toward them.
In the blink of an eye, the figures arrived right in front of them.
It was Pain's Six Paths—but he wasn't alone. Kakuzu had come along as well.
"Hōzuki Oborotsuki. Long time no see."
Pain's Six Paths surrounded Oborotsuki, Killer Bee, and the others. The Deva Path spoke first.
Though his tone remained as cold and emotionless as ever.
"I was just talking about you—and here you are."
"How've you been lately? Finished collecting all the tailed beasts yet?"
Oborotsuki turned toward the Deva Path and asked with a mocking smile.
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