Chapter 61: Revelations in the Forest

"Finally, it's almost complete," Shin murmured.

Over the past two years, he had mastered the Eight Gates, progressing up to the seventh gate, and his own taijutsu and physical strength advanced at an astonishing rate.

Opening the Eight Gates is essentially an extreme form of training. With Shin's incredible physique, he quickly reached the third gate, and after that, he began training rigorously with the gates open each day. His relentless practice, even while sustaining intense physical strain, would have been impossible for others like Guy or Lee, who would risk permanent injury within months.

However, Shin had a unique advantage with his extraordinary physique and the Munch-Munch Fruit. No matter how much he pushed his body to the limit, the fruit's healing ability ensured he would recover from nearly any injury, allowing him to go beyond normal boundaries without worrying about hidden injuries or exhaustion.

While Shin focused on training the Eight Gates, his shadow clones delved into mastering various jutsu. Within two years, he had accumulated a formidable arsenal, mastering the conventional elemental release jutsus. Yet, his primary focus had been perfecting the Wood Release jutsus of the legendary Senju Hashirama.

Even if he disregarded his fruit abilities, Shin knew he possessed power at a super Kage level. With the addition of his unique talents, he felt confident enough to rival even Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara themselves.

"Now that I've reached this point, it's time to make a move," he mused, a hint of excitement flickering in his eyes. "With my strength, I should be able to start my next hunt."

Exiting the underground base, Shin's first stop was the black market, where he aimed to gather information and possibly attract some prey.

The moment Shin, in a black mask, entered, a hush fell over the entire black market. The boss, who had once cautiously watched him from behind the counter, hurried over with a nervous smile. "Kurogami-sama, what can I assist you with today?"

Shin tossed a small suitcase filled with money onto the counter without missing a beat. "Bring me all the information from the past two years," he ordered.

The boss, who would usually scrutinize the payment, didn't touch it. Instead, he hastily instructed his subordinates to gather the requested information. Soon, a mountain of documents lay in front of Shin.

Shin flipped through the reports, analyzing each one in minutes. He sighed, "The ninja world remains unchanged." He put down the last documents, his masked face making him appear colder. "It seems my actions haven't stirred the world as much as I expected."

Nonetheless, some things had changed. Due to the absence of Danzo's interference, the Uchiha clan had participated fully in recent battles and weren't isolated to a remote corner by Konoha. Uchiha Fugaku, who had barely survived his encounter with Shin, had lost his Mangekyo Sharingan. While Konoha still harbored suspicions against the clan—especially after Nine Tails was seen with Sharingan in its eyes—their distrust was now aimed at individuals rather than the entire Uchiha family.

"The Uchiha clan may have avoided complete isolation this time, but their fate is still precarious," Shin thought. "Danzo may be lying low after the recent losses, but he'll reappear when the time is right."

Moving on, Shin reviewed information on the Land of Rain. "The Rain Country has closed off its borders, and the entire Hidden Rain Village is in seclusion?" he murmured, scanning the documents. 'It appears the Akatsuki organization has shifted from collaboration to terrorism. Hanzo must be dead now, with Uzumaki Nagato as the new leader.'

Shin's expression hardened. He returned the documents to the counter and left the black market. Behind him, the silence quickly shattered, followed by the chaotic sounds of summoning jutsus and the hurried writing of messengers. Within hours, his reappearance would be known across the ninja world.

"I wonder who'll come after me first," Shin mused, gazing at the sky. "But regardless of who it is, I'll head towards my main objective—the Land of Rain."

While Shin aimed for the Rain Country, he moved slowly and made calculated stops. He knew that Nagato, the leader of the Akatsuki and a dangerous figure in his own right, rarely appeared in person. If Shin attempted a direct approach, he'd likely encounter only Nagato's puppets rather than the man himself.

Three days later, Shin entered a dense forest after leaving a small town. He paused, sensing a presence behind him. "You can come out now. You've been following me for over an hour," he called.

Emerging from the shadows, a tall man with spiky white hair and wooden clogs stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Shin.

Shin tilted his head, studying the figure before him. "It's you, Jiraiya of the Sannin. I didn't expect Konoha to make the first move," he remarked a hint of surprise in his voice. "I thought Konoha was too weak to send anyone after me."

"Konoha is Konoha. I am here for myself," Jiraiya replied, his voice heavy with a grief-stricken resolve.

Shin noticed the somber tone and the weight behind Jiraiya's words. "Do you intend to fight me?" he asked as a dark mist emanated from his body. "If it's just you, I doubt you'll be enough of a challenge."

Jiraiya's face tightened. "I want the truth," he demanded, his voice firm. "That night… what happened? How did the Nine Tails break free?"

Though Jiraiya still bore the title of Konoha's ninja, Shin sensed that his question was less about Konoha's losses and more about his fallen student, Minato Namikaze.

For a brief moment, Shin considered the situation. Jiraiya was among the few people he had respected when he only knew him from the manga. Reluctantly, Shin allowed the darkness to recede, his aura subsiding.

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Chapter 111: Obito's Suspicions is now available.