(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
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Thump!
Sasuke couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed beside Itachi.
Several consecutive high-power [Fire Style] techniques, and a grueling battle against Itachi's [Tsukuyomi].
Finally, the [Lightning Style: Kirin] was released.
It was his limit at this point.
"Is it finally over, Itachi?"
"I wonder if your Sharingan saw this scene before?"
Standing in the rain, Kisame silently watched the comatose Uchiha brothers in a somewhat complicated mood.
From his perspective, he definitely hoped that Itachi would survive.
After all, the two of them had a lot in common.
In Kirigakure, to ensure that information wasn't leaked, Kisame had killed his companions on missions more than once.
Itachi's actions were even worse than his; it was no longer just the blood of his comrades but of his dear ones.
"A man who kills his fellow clansmen will not end up well…"
Muttering what Itachi had said to him once, Kisame was about to leave.
"Hey, it's not over yet."
The sudden voice startled Kisame.
"You haven't left yet?" Kisame, who had just regained control of his body, thought that Colt would leave after watching the battle, but he was still there.
"Go and collect Uchiha Itachi's body. It will be useful."
Kisame showed an ugly smile.
"I know you hate Itachi, but you shouldn't desecrate a corpse."
"Nonsense, am I that kind of person? It's just for the [Impure World Reincarnation]. Hurry up, Obito and White Zetsu are on the move."
Colt urged again, and Kisame walked reluctantly towards Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi.
At this time, White Zetsu had collected Itachi's Sharingan, held Sasuke on his shoulders, and prepared to take him back.
"Give me Itachi's body. After all, we've been teammates for many years."
Kisame arrived and spoke.
Obito thought for a moment and nodded.
"Yes, after all, he is my descendant. I can't leave his corpse exposed in the wilderness."
In front of Kisame, he still used the identity of Uchiha Madara.
But for Kisame, who knew the truth, every time he heard such words, he couldn't help but want to laugh.
Laugh at Obito's act, but also at his own ignorance.
At first, he had really thought that Obito was the real Uchiha Madara, but he was in fact just a poor man.
Watching Kisame take away Itachi's body with a scroll, Obito continued:
"Since Itachi is dead, let's find you another teammate."
"What do you think of Sasuke?"
Obito was ready to go back and tell Sasuke all the 'truth' and trick him into joining the Akatsuki.
"Agree to it," Colt said instantly in Kisame's mind.
Kisame nodded.
"No problem. Surveillance as before, right?"
Obito didn't refute.
"I want to see if changing to Itachi's eyes will produce the Eternal Mangekyō."
If Sasuke's eye power becomes stronger, he can grab it again and turn it into his own power.
With [Kamui], he wouldn't take Sasuke lightly.
Absorbing Sasuke and White Zetsu into the Kamui space, Obito also left the Uchiha clan ruins.
Kisame was the only one left at the scene.
Colt withdrew his mental power, and it didn't take long for his body to arrive.
On the way, he saw Team Taka and used his eye power to put them to sleep for a while.
Kisame handed over the scroll, and the two walked into the room where a large hole had been ripped out.
"Damn, I forgot to prepare the sacrifice," Colt said, slapping his forehead as he remembered what he was missing.
Kisame was speechless.
"You go back first. Remember that when you capture the Eight-Tails, he has a secret technique to cut his tail to save his life," Colt warned.
"Be sure to make sure that what you are grasping is the actual body."
While Colt had nothing against the capture of the Eight-Tails; he wasn't his friend anyway.
Could it be that he couldn't be caught just because he was an important character? What a joke.
Since when did Colt care about that?
Kisame nodded, taking Colt's instructions to heart.
"Then I'll go first."
"Go."
After sending Kisame off, Colt scratched his head and returned to the Konoha Village using the [Flying Thunder God].
He went to the prison and took away a powerful criminal.
Using this kind of person as a sacrifice, he didn't have the slightest psychological burden.
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In the ruins of Uzushiogakure, Orochimaru brought Yakushi Kabuto to the ancestral hall of the Uzumaki family.
Relying on their identity as Senju's distant relatives, the Uzumaki family had established the Land of Whirlpools, but it had perished decades ago.
Due to this relationship, Konoha had many records about the Land of Whirlpools.
One of them was related to the Shinigami.
Looking at the dozens of masks on the wall, the ever-cunning Orochimaru extended his tongue and grabbed the mask belonging to the Shinigami from above.
"Kabuto, if anything happens to me, go find Anko in Konoha and use my chakra to activate the [Curse Mark of Heaven]."
As expected of the man most afraid of death in the ninja world.
Although he had absolute certainty, Orochimaru made contingencies for everything.
Yakushi Kabuto nodded, pushed up his glasses, and summoned the body of a White Zetsu.
This was Orochimaru's meticulously remodeled White Zetsu, with not only the maximum amount of Hashirama cells inside but also the chakra he'd taken from Sasuke's body.
With that amazing compatibility, the power within the White Zetsu had also been balanced.
After receiving it, all he had to do was summon the Shinigami.
This was not only related to whether his arms could return but also greatly affected the lack of cards in his hand for the future.
Wearing the Shinigami mask would allow the bound Shinigami to attach to him and he would draw it out.
Taking a deep breath, Orochimaru began to perform the ritual.
The movements were very enchanting.
This couldn't be helped; his arms couldn't form seals, so he couldn't use the normal method to summon it.
Only this ancient sacrificial method could be used.
A tall phantom slowly emerged from behind him, with a red face and white hair, a sword in its mouth, and a pair of sharp horns on top of its head.
It was the Shinigami!
Even if it was just a phantom, the unique sense of oppression from this god was enough to make those who saw it feel awe.
The other person present, Yakushi Kabuto, quickly lowered his head, not daring to meet its gaze.
Orochimaru finished the ritual and made the Shinigami's movements fully synchronized with his own.
He the abruptly slashed open his stomach!