vstars Chapter 574 Elimination Method
Chapter 574 Elimination Method
With that, Zhang Hai turned and headed back the way he came. Kakuzu followed closely behind, and the two quickly disappeared into the distant jungle.
Hanzo watched the two figures gradually disappear into the distance, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He hadn't expected that these two mysterious individuals could move him so deeply. Alliance… the word swirled in his mind, bringing a glimmer of hope.
The two hadn't gone far when Kakuzu coldly asked, "Kid, are you planning to change your destination again and go to Kumogakure this time?" Although his tone was questioning, there was no blame in it; he simply wanted to confirm Zhang Hai's intentions.
A slight chuckle escaped Zhang Hai's lips as he shook his head, a playful glint in his dark eyes. "Uncle, I can't go to Cloud Village. Think about it, if I appeared there as someone who had been resurrected, they wouldn't be stupid. They'd probably arrest me immediately for research, or even dispose of me as an ominous sign."
Kakuzu's face showed a hint of annoyance, clearly feeling that Zhang Hai was wasting time again. "Hmph, chatting with that so-called 'demigod' just now was already a waste of time enough."
Zhang Hai didn't care at all, and even took it for granted. "Uncle, you don't understand. In times of war, intelligence is always the most important thing. It's just a casual chat, it won't waste much time. Besides, didn't you notice how tight-lipped Hanzo is? He only mentioned Iwagakure briefly, but if what he said is true, then Iwagakure has really been hiding its secrets very well."
Just then, Kakuzu suddenly stared intently at Zhang Hai in a very confident tone and said, "Kid, you're a Konoha ninja, aren't you?"
Having his identity exposed, Zhang Hai remained completely calm. He had never intended to hide it anyway, and instead offered a relaxed smile, asking, "Oh? Am I that obvious?"
Seeing that Zhang Hai didn't deny it, Kakuzu seemed more relaxed. "Just like you said, we can use the process of elimination." His tone was casual, as if this wasn't a secret to him. Hearing this, Zhang Hai couldn't help but sigh inwardly; the process of elimination was indeed very effective, almost always succeeding.
Zhang Hai looked at Kakuzu with some curiosity: "But speaking of which village I belong to, it shouldn't matter to you, Uncle, right?" After all, Kakuzu is a bounty hunter through and through. In his eyes, there is only money and strength. As for which village a ninja belongs to, it probably doesn't matter at all.
Kakuzu admitted, "Indeed, it's the same." However, his tone subtly shifted at that moment. "Speaking of Konoha, it reminds me of the first Konoha ninja I fought. It was because of that guy that my life changed dramatically." His tone carried a complex mix of emotions, a hint of barely perceptible hatred, and yet, seemingly, an indescribable respect.
Zhang Hai's curiosity was instantly piqued. "Oh? Which Konoha ninja? How did the battle end?" he pressed, eager to know who this person was that had left such a deep impression on Kakuzu.
However, Kakuzu abruptly changed the subject, merely glancing coldly ahead and gesturing, "Enough talk, let's get going." Clearly, he was unwilling to delve into the matter.
Seeing this, Zhang Hai didn't press the matter further. He understood that there were some things Kakuzu didn't want to talk about for the time being.
The two left the perpetually gloomy and rainy area of Amegakure and soon entered a vast and boundless desert. This place was completely different from Amegakure; the sky was azure, the sun blazed, and the yellow sand stretched as far as the eye could see.
The harsh environment was laid bare; there was no arable land, no pasture, and no water source. Ordinary people could hardly traverse such a place, and commercial development was impossible. Essential supplies like water and food required a large number of ninjas to transport them using giant puppets. Zhang Hai gazed at this barren land, lost in thought. He speculated that this was one of the reasons Sunagakure possessed the strongest puppeteers among the Five Great Nations—this unique skill was entirely shaped by the environment. In this environment, the puppets' power was maximized.
The two raced through the desert at an incredible speed. Soon, the unique architectural style of Sunagakure came into view in the distance, and they were almost within reach.
Kakuzu stopped in his tracks, his voice low and deep in the desert: "How do you plan to infiltrate this time?"
Zhang Hai did not answer, but instead took out a scroll from his pocket. He slowly unrolled the scroll, laid it flat on the ground, and then quickly formed a hand seal, slapping the scroll hard.
"Oh!"
With a soft sound, a plume of white smoke rose. As the smoke dissipated, a medium-sized four-wheeled wooden ox puppet appeared on the yellow sand. The puppet had a simple design and no aggressive appearance; it looked more like a simple means of transportation.
Zhang Hai looked at the wooden ox puppet in front of him, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. "I don't plan to sneak in this time," he said softly, a hint of nonchalance in his voice. "I'll just walk in openly and honestly. Uncle, please get in the car."
Kakuzu quickly understood Zhang Hai's intention. His green eyes swept over the wooden ox puppet, then he looked at Zhang Hai. "This puppet... did you buy it in that gambling town before?" He then deduced, "You've also learned puppetry?"
Zhang Hai chuckled, a hint of smugness in his voice. "I know a little bit," he said modestly, then his fingers twitched slightly, and strands of chakra extended from his fingertips, connecting to the various joints of the wooden ox puppet.
Under his control, the wooden ox puppet, which had no offensive capabilities, began to move on the soft sand. Its four wooden wheels slowly turned, and it moved steadily toward Sunagakure.
Kakuzu watched the wooden ox puppet, clumsy yet steady, moving across the sand, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He had initially thought Zhang Hai was just a brat who was good with words, but he hadn't expected him to actually be able to control a puppet. He couldn't help but exclaim, "That kid's learned quite a few things."
Zhang Hai just chuckled and didn't say anything more.
The wooden ox puppet, carrying two people, swaggered into the simple entrance of Sunagakure. The village entrance was carved from a massive rock, with a Sunagakure ninja guarding each side. Zhang Hai waved enthusiastically to one of the guards from afar, his face bearing his signature sunny smile.
When the gatekeeper saw Zhang Hai wave, he instinctively raised his hand in response. However, his expression held a hint of doubt, as if he was trying to recall where he had seen such a young person who could manipulate puppets before.