Chapter 169 » Mei: You Didn't Really Think We'd Be Unprepared, Did You?

In a forest near the border of Kirigakure.

At this moment, Kakuzu was slowly saying, "So the shelter has collapsed. I need a new shelter. You and I are already desperate fugitives. As for betrayal, it's not even worth mentioning. After all, originally, my relationship with the Akatsuki was just cooperation — or rather, it was just an employment relationship."

After he finished expressing his inner thoughts, he began to look at Sasori beside him.

"So in that case... you're planning to defect to the enemy?" Sasori had already sensed the implication in his words. Now, after seeing his expression, he became even more certain of this point.

Although Kakuzu had come along with him on this mission to Kirigakure, his true intention was actually to defect to Yūsuke's forces!

"Don't put it so harshly. Enemy? What qualifies as an enemy? Besides, we have no need to provoke an enemy we absolutely cannot defeat." Kakuzu slowly shook his head.

He had been alive since the Warring States period and has lived until now! Now, at over ninety years old, his understanding of life has reached a whole new level.

Staying alive is the only way out!

"Sasori, the reason I'm telling you this is because I want to say: come with me and join Lord Yūsuke's forces. I have already sent both our names to the current second tier of management in Kiri's ANBU. Soon, someone will come to receive us."

After he finished speaking, Sasori's expression slightly stiffened. Then he said with some displeasure, "Kakuzu, why did you make this decision for me without asking?"

Kakuzu casually shrugged his shoulders and continued.

"I just did it as an afterthought. Calculating the time..." He raised his head, looking at the sky that was about to dawn. Then he muttered, "They should arrive here in about half an hour. Within this half hour, Sasori, if you want to leave, I won't stop you. You can leave here at any time."

This was a choice: whether to continue helping the Akatsuki or to defect to Kirigakure with him. Kakuzu left this decision up to Sasori himself.

The atmosphere fell silent. Finally, after a long while, the later took a deep breath.

"As for me, what I love most is pursuing eternal art. If I don't have the life to research it, then my art will come to a standstill. So, in life, it's best to know your limits."

Whoosh!

After he finished speaking, suddenly, over fifty elite jōnin-level ninja appeared around them!

The leader was the brown-haired, green-eyed Mei Terumī. And beside her were Jūgo and Kimimaro.

The moment these people appeared, both Kakuzu and Sasori's hearts began to race. Since when had so many Kiri ninja been lying in ambush here? Moreover… had these ninja been hiding here all along?!

When the two saw Mei, Kimimaro, and Jūgo, their pupils contracted sharply. They could sense that the strength of these three people was definitely beyond the elite jōnin level!

Kage level! Moreover, it might not just be ordinary Kage level — it could be peak Kage level!!

And there was also this hidden army of elite jōnin-level ninja surrounding them...

"Gulp…" Sasori swallowed hard at this moment.

Fortunately, he hadn't chosen to leave. Otherwise, he might have truly had to permanently leave this beautiful world.

"Wasn't it agreed that you would come half an hour later?" Kakuzu said, also feeling somewhat scared now.

"Hahaha." Hearing this, Mei laughed gracefully, "You didn't really think we in Kirigakure wouldn't prepare in advance, did you? Moreover, you two are still members of the Akatsuki. My husband told me long ago — if it's members of the Akatsuki, we need to keep a close eye on them."

She narrowed her eyes, looking at Kakuzu and Sasori before her. The expression these two men made upon hearing that she was Yūsuke's wife was indescribable.

Too bad she couldn't — nor did she want to — linger here.

"Since you've chosen us, then come."

After Mei finished speaking, she turned and left this place.

At this moment, Jūgo and Kimimaro walked up to Kakuzu and Sasori, then said calmly, "Let's go."

The two grown ninja swallowed hard in front of these kids but didn't say anything more. Then, taking a deep breath, they obediently followed behind Mei.

With over fifty pairs of eyes from the elite jōnin-level ninja army watching them, plus these two Kage-level powerhouses behind them, Kakuzu and Sasori truly didn't dare to make even the slightest move!

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Kamui!

A phantom figure slowly appeared atop a huge rock in a forest on the border of Kirigakure.

After materializing, Obito silently began to wait. He had already arranged for Kakuzu and Sasori beforehand. Comparatively, it shouldn't be long before they arrive to rendezvous with him.

When they do, he would only need those two to distract most of Kiri's attention. Meanwhile, he himself could use the Kamui technique to easily enter the Mist Village and capture the Tailed Beasts!

After all, those Tailed Beasts, under his Mangekyō Sharingan, would have almost no power to resist!

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