Naruto: Unlocking Kaido Template-Chapter 161

After ending the call, Orochimaru leaned back comfortably—only to be met with the hard thud of stone.

"Oh, I forgot I left the Land of Whirlpools," Orochimaru muttered, rubbing the back of his head. He'd smacked it against the cold stone chair and was momentarily dazed.

"Orochimaru..."

A male figure draped in an Akatsuki cloak appeared behind him. His voice was deep, magnetic—void of emotion. It was cold, like death.

"Hiss... Pain? Is something wrong...?" Orochimaru shrank his neck slightly and stood up.

The man behind him was swallowed by shadows. The only thing visible were his glowing eyes—purple, with strange concentric ripples like a blooming onion. Just meeting those eyes felt suffocating.

"You chose to leave the organization before, and that can be overlooked. Now, show me your value," Pain said. He didn't move, just stared. But Orochimaru knew that a wrong answer might get him hunted by both the Land of Whirlpools and the Akatsuki.

"Let me think... Akatsuki is after the Tailed Beasts, right? The stronger the members, the easier it is to capture them. Some of your members have already made contracts with me. When they die, I can resurrect them..."

Pain said nothing, his purple Rinnegan (Samsara) eyes still locked on Orochimaru with chilling calm.

After a tense silence, Orochimaru felt the pressure ease slightly. Pain didn't reply, but he knew he'd passed—barely.

"Orochimaru, you've spent a long time in the Land of Whirlpools. Do you think technology can bring peace?" Pain turned, not waiting for a response.

"Technology's just a tool. It depends on the user. If people can't understand each other, technology is just a deadlier weapon."

"I want to end war in this world of fire. That is God's will... In wars between nations, how do we stop them quickly? By giving each one a forbidden weapon. They'll use it. Thousands will die. The horror will be unforgettable..."

"People, countries, the world itself will learn pain. That fear will restrain them. War will cease. The world will grow through pain, just as I did... To grow, the world needs a God's guidance. It's still immature. Pain is the path to maturity."

His tone was icy, sending chills down the spine. And strangely... it almost made sense.

Orochimaru leaned his chin on one hand, silent.

Pain pushed open the stone door. Sunlight bathed his silhouette, but most of it was blocked by his frame.

"Orochimaru, technology brings ruin. Pain brings peace. You know what to do." Pain glanced at him, then left.

"Interesting..." Orochimaru chuckled stiffly, his snake-like tongue flicking.

"I was originally obsessed with the Rinnegan. Research shows a deep connection between the Sharingan and the Rinnegan. But now... my focus has shifted." He looked toward a half-fused Devil Fruit sample embedded with cells from the First Hokage, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

After leaving, Pain didn't rest. As Akatsuki's leader, he had no time for that. And besides...

"How'd it go?" A tall woman with light blue-purple hair in a side bun appeared behind him. Konan.

A blue paper flower adorned her head. Her orange-yellow eyes were sharp, her purple eyeshadow subtle. A piercing below her lip added to her cool demeanor.

She wore the signature black Akatsuki cloak with red clouds and white trim, light purple tights, a backless zipped top, and a ring in her navel. Her body seemed to flutter like paper.

"He's thinking about it. Konan, prepare to move when the Nine-Tails returns to Konoha." Pain left the room completely.

The sky was gloomy, but sunlight peeked through. When Pain stepped outside, the clouds thickened. Rain fell—on branches, on dead leaves, on his spiky orange hair, and on his cold, dead heart.

"Those who don't understand sorrow will never understand peace. Uzumaki Zixu, your ideals are too naive." He closed his eyes and let the rain soak his face.

Konan stood silently behind him, glancing toward the rain-shrouded Amegakure, worry flickering in her gaze.

"Uzumaki Zixu of the Land of Whirlpools... Latest intel says he might transform into a Tailed Beast. An undiscovered one."

She wasn't sure of the intel. After all, there were only nine known Tailed Beasts. Could the Sage of Six Paths have made a mistake during the separation?

"I understand. Regardless if it's true, I'll confirm it myself. But first, prioritize capturing the others." Pain was skeptical. There were supposed to be only nine—but people once thought there were four Heavenly Kings. Who's to say there aren't more than nine Tailed Beasts?

He remained undecided. Seeing it himself would be the safest route.

Meanwhile, the Nine-Tails Pain had just mentioned was currently thrilled by all the tech he'd seen.

"That mecha's so badass! It floored Choji in just a few hits! Okay, it exploited Choji's weak balance, but still—awesome!"

Sakura and Sasuke buried their faces in shame. This idiot. As if he'd never seen anything cool before.

"Oi, tone it down! Stop hyping the enemy, you clown," Sakura snapped, yanking Naruto by the collar. He'd been congratulating Kankuro for the win.

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.

"Ahahaha, my bad," Naruto laughed, scratching his head. He'd gotten way too into it.

Far off, the announcer kept up lively commentary for the audience. As the current match ended, the next fighters stepped into the ring.

"Up next, from the Hidden Mist Village: Jin'an, known for his unpredictable Genjutsu (Hypnotic Illusions)!"

"His opponent: a rookie from the Land of Whirlpools. With guns as extensions of his limbs and superb crafting skills—Yamagami Kirei!"

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Do you want to read Advanced Chapters?

Visit this link:

Påtreon.com/Fanficlord03

Change (å) to (a)

Check my Discord!

https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9