vstars Chapter 564 I promise you
Chapter 564 I promise you
This little girl will become the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki in the future, and she is also a member of the Uzumaki clan with enormous potential! If he could control her, it would undoubtedly be of great benefit to Konoha, and even to himself.
Zhang Hai didn't hesitate; he knew it was a win-win deal. He readily agreed to the old man's request.
"I promise you," Zhang Hai's soul spoke, his tone firm and powerful. "I will protect your granddaughter, ensuring her safety and that she can successfully inherit the power of the Seven-Tails."
Upon hearing Zhang Hai's promise, a relieved smile finally appeared on the old man's aged face. At that moment, his eyes seemed to regain their vitality.
"Thank you... thank you..." the old man said weakly, his soul becoming even more transparent, as if it might dissipate at any moment. "Since you've agreed, I'm relieved... I won't leave, you can leave here in peace."
Zhang Hai nodded. He knew that the old man was using his life and will to maintain the stability of the soul space so that he could safely escape.
Without further hesitation, his soul swiftly separated from the old man's soul and returned to his own body.
"call--!"
Zhang Hai suddenly opened his eyes, his body trembling slightly, panting heavily. Although the Spirit Transformation Technique was powerful, it also consumed an enormous amount of mental energy.
"Zhang Hai! Are you alright?!" Xuan Weng asked anxiously as soon as he saw Zhang Hai wake up.
Zhang Hai waved his hand, indicating that he was fine. He looked at Xuan Weng, a strange smile appearing on his face.
“Elder Xuanweng, things are going much more smoothly than we imagined.” Zhang Hai’s voice carried a hint of mystery. “Now, we just need to wait here until Kakuzu resolves all the troubles, and then… we can take over Takigakure Village.”
Just as Zhang Hai was speaking, faint explosions and screams came from the direction of Takigakure Village.
Xuan Weng's expression changed, and he immediately activated the sensors he had set up around the village. Soon, a look of shock and disbelief appeared on his face.
“He…he really is making a move…” Gen-o’s voice trembled as he sensed the intense chakra fluctuations emanating from within Takigakure and the aura of ninjas falling one by one. “Those ninjas…they were brutally murdered!”
Kakuzu indeed began his "cleansing" of the Takigakure ninja! Moreover, his methods were extremely bloody and cruel, giving the opponents absolutely no chance to resist.
When the screams from Takigakure Village finally subsided and the stench of blood filled the morning air, Zhang Hai knew that Kakuzu's "cleanup" was over. He emerged from his hiding place and went to the central square of Takigakure Village.
The plaza was littered with the corpses of Takigakure ninja, some still bearing the terrified expressions of their dying moments. Most of their hearts had been ripped out, leaving only gaping holes in their chests. Meanwhile, the civilians, who weren't ninja, remained unharmed in their homes. Kakuzu had indeed kept his promise, targeting only ninjas.
Seeing this, Zhang Hai's lips curled slightly. He knew that Kakuzu's method of killing was to obtain more hearts of different attributes in order to maintain the power of the Earth Grudge.
He looked around, searching for Kakuzu. Soon, he spotted Kakuzu in a corner of the plaza. This money-grubbing man was meticulously plundering the belongings of the dead ninjas, and... selecting the "suitable" hearts.
Zhang Hai slowly walked to Kakuzu's side, watching him skillfully dig out the heart. There was no disgust in his eyes, but rather a hint of inquiry.
“Kakuzu,” Zhang Hai said calmly, “Although you are powerful enough to kill these ninjas, you cannot infiltrate the village to obtain secret information, or even get close to the Jinchuriki like I can.”
He paused, his tone slightly guiding: "My appearance can easily disarm a ninja's guard. My identity allows me to obtain information that you would find difficult to acquire. Besides, your 'collection' wouldn't be interested in the hearts of ordinary ninjas, would it? You'd prefer those powerful hearts with special chakra properties."
Kakuzu abruptly stopped. His cold green eyes slowly turned to Zhang Hai. He didn't speak, nor did he refute, but simply scrutinized Zhang Hai with his deep eyes. Zhang Hai knew that although Kakuzu was greedy, he wasn't a fool. He understood the deeper meaning in Zhang Hai's words. Zhang Hai was demonstrating his value and the necessity of cooperation.
What Zhang Hai described was precisely Kakuzu's weakness. His bloodlust and greed prevented him from infiltrating and gathering intelligence like a normal ninja. Zhang Hai, however, as a young Konoha ninja, possessed this unique advantage. He could easily infiltrate various ninja villages, obtaining information on the powerful hearts that Kakuzu coveted, and even... directly helping him find those hearts with special chakra properties.
After a long while, Kakuzu shifted his gaze from Zhang Hai. He didn't respond to Zhang Hai's words, but simply tossed aside a heart he had just dug out, then turned and walked towards the outskirts of Takigakure.
Zhang Hai knew that Kakuzu had tacitly agreed. He accepted Zhang Hai's "cooperation proposal" through this silence.
"Let's go, Elder Xuanweng," Zhang Hai said softly to Xuanweng, and then followed Kakuzu's steps.
Xuanweng watched in stunned silence. He had no idea what the inexplicable conversation between Zhang Hai and Kakuzu meant, but seeing Zhang Hai follow Kakuzu, he could only helplessly follow as well.
The three formed an extremely strange group, one in front and one behind. At the forefront was the taciturn and murderous Kakuzu; in the middle was the enigmatic and unfathomable Zhang Hai; and at the very back was the suspicious and cautious Gen'ou. They passed through the ruins of Takigakure, leaving this village bathed in blood, and headed towards their next destination—Kumogakure.
Throughout the journey, Kakuzu remained taciturn, only occasionally responding when Zhang Hai initiated conversation or when interests were involved. Zhang Hai, meanwhile, used this time to learn more about the secrets of Takigakure from Gen'ou, including its hidden resource points and some facilities that Kakuzu hadn't destroyed. This made Gen'ou even more impressed with Zhang Hai's foresight.
A few days later, they finally arrived at the border of the Land of Lightning.
Kumogakure, along with Konoha, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure, is one of the Five Great Ninja Villages. It is located in the Land of Lightning, atop a mountain range that rises high into the clouds.