Chapter 54: Next Time, You'll Pay

Over the next two days.

Shishou established a partnership with Kirigakure.

Kirigakure would contribute personnel to Shishou's fishing and seafood trading company.

Shishou held 51% of the shares, while Kirigakure held 49%.

The company would be based at a natural port next to Kirigakure.

To that end, Shishou invested 20 million to build the port.

Additionally, Shishou was responsible for providing funding and finding markets.

Kirigakure would recruit employees for fishing, production, and security work.

Being able to act as a hands-off manager, Shishou was very satisfied.

As for the market, he wasn't worried at all.

His casinos, banks, and mining companies had tens of thousands of employees, capable of consuming all the seafood.

Kirigakure was equally satisfied.

They not only secured a long-term and stable source of funding but also provided many jobs for Kirigakure's ninjas and civilians, reaping numerous benefits.

"Now that the partnership is settled, it's time for me to take my leave."

Shishou stretched and stood up from the chair in the Mizukage's office.

He had been away for several days and it was time to go back.

"Are you leaving?"

Mei Terumi, who was seated at the Mizukage's desk, spoke subconsciously.

As soon as she spoke, her face turned red.

It sounded as if she couldn't bear to see him go.

"Of course."

Shishou got up and walked towards the door.

"Wait."

Mei suddenly stood up and called out to Shishou.

Approaching him, Mei opened her mouth and asked:

"Can you take off your beard and let me see your face?"

Mei couldn't get Shishou's handsome face out of her mind.

Hearing this, Shishou laughed and stared directly into Mei's eyes:

"Do you really want to see?"

"Yes."

"Give me a kiss."

"Go to hell!"

Being teased by Shishou, Mei angrily punched his shoulder.

With a chuckle, Shishou suddenly grabbed Mei's shoulder and used the Flying Thunder God technique to transport her to a forest outside Kirigakure.

After feeling his face, Shishou removed his fake beard.

So handsome!

Mei's eyes widened, as if she wanted to imprint Shishou's face in her mind.

"Alright, I have to go now."

Taking advantage of Mei's momentary daze, Shishou stole a quick kiss on her cheek.

Then he quickly fled.

"You..."

Caught off guard, Mei shivered, her face turning bright red.

It wasn't until Shishou disappeared that she regained her composure.

"Daring to steal a kiss from me."

"I'll make you pay next time."

Mei muttered to herself, feeling surprisingly good as she returned to Kirigakure.

...

Land of Rain.

In the tallest spire.

"That person was injured."

"His right hand and right leg are missing."

With blue-violet hair adorned with a light purple paper flower and a 'White Tiger' ring on her finger, Konan approached Tendo Pain and spoke calmly.

Tendo Pain stood by the window, looking at the people coming and going below the spire, and spoke coldly:

"Who did it?"

Konan shook her head.

"I don't know. He was injured in Kirigakure."

"Maybe it was someone from Kirigakure."

Tendo Pain nodded and then looked towards the mid-air beside him.

At the spot where Pain's gaze landed, the space distorted rapidly, and Uchiha Obito's figure slowly appeared.

At this moment, his right hand and right leg were intact, showing no signs of injury.

"Explain what happened."

Tendo Pain withdrew his gaze and continued looking down below the spire.

"That person possesses the Flying Thunder God technique and carries a potent poison."

"He's not from Kirigakure."

"Judging by his..."

Uchiha Obito spoke in a deep voice, detailing the events.

"Can we recruit him into the Akatsuki?"

"I don't know."

"Have Zetsu start tracking him. If he is suitable, recruit him."

"You decide."

"Where is the Three-Tails now?"

"It's missing..."

"Find it and capture it. I'll send Kakuzu to assist you."

"I understand."

With that, Uchiha Obito entered the Kamui space and disappeared.

Konan withdrew her gaze from Obito's fully healed right leg and hand, deep in thought.

Then she approached Pain, watching the people below the spire together.

"He is not to be trusted."

"I know."

They fell silent, quietly observing the bustling citizens of the Land of Rain below.

...

After several uses of the Flying Thunder God technique,

Shishou first visited Mikoto and the other women in Fire Source City, then returned to his home in Konoha.

"Swoosh."

The wooden door at the entrance opened, and Shishou's insect clone walked in.

Shishou glanced at it, snapped his fingers, dispelling the Parasite Clone, and walked towards the bedroom.

Shishou's insect clone had independent consciousness, but unlike shadow clones, it didn't return memories and experiences to the original body.

The only advantage was that it could last for several days without using ninjutsu, making it very durable.

And Shishou's insect clone would enter 'study mode' at the ninja academy.

With this,

Hinata, Ino, and the others who were close to Shishou wouldn't disturb him, allowing him to 'study' in peace.

The so-called 'study mode' was just something Shishou made up to prevent his clone from interacting with Hinata and Ino, which could lead to the clone being discovered.

Unexpectedly, maybe because 'study mode' sounded impressive,

Naruto, Sasuke, and the others also started adopting various modes.

For example, Sasuke's training mode,

Naruto's Hokage mode,

Shikamaru's napping mode,

These made Shishou both amused and exasperated.

Taking out his spoils from the storage scroll, Obito's severed hand and foot, Shishou began to study them carefully.

Uchiha Obito's hand and foot were transplanted with Hashirama cells by Uchiha Madara himself, making them the most perfect Hashirama cell transplantation product.

If given to Orochimaru for research, he might soon achieve the perfect method for Hashirama cell transplantation.

If Shishou chose to devour and absorb them directly, he might also gain a portion of Hashirama's power.

It was a substantial gain.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Shishou noticed a thin layer of membrane-like material on Obito's hands and feet.

Of course, Spiral Zetsu had been covering Uchiha Obito.

Since Obito's hand and foot were blown off, Spiral Zetsu couldn't have escaped unscathed either.

So, this layer should be Spiral Zetsu's hand and foot...

Shishou then activated his Mangekyo Sharingan and carefully examined Spiral Zetsu's limbs.

He wanted to ensure there were no hidden spore clones of White Zetsu.

He didn't want to end up like Sasuke, with White Zetsu sprouting from his body...

"Ordinary methods probably won't detect it."

Muttering to himself, Shishou began using his Chakra Bugs for investigation.

The Chakra Bugs were nano-scale, perfect for detecting spore-sized White Zetsu.

Pressing his finger on Obito's arm, Shishou closed his eyes and carefully sensed the feedback from the Chakra Bugs.

A minute later, Shishou suddenly opened his eyes.

"Found you!"