Chapter 79: Fixed Expenses of the Raikage Building
That was not a huge problem.
Impure World Reincarnation could forcibly control a reincarnated body, but it did so by erasing the soul's consciousness inside the vessel, then pinning it down with a marked kunai. It was control through the body, not direct interference with the soul itself.
If a similar imprinting method could be engraved onto the surface of machinery, then in theory, a comparable effect might be achieved.
In short, it needed more research. More tests. More funding.
Sasori stood there with a frown, clearly deep in thought, and Kenichi quietly filed that away. If this line of work hooked Sasori properly, it might be possible to coax some experimental funds out of him. Sasori was wealthy, and Akatsuki did not demand that members surrender their savings. If it did, Kakuzu would have fled on day one, dragging the safe with him.
Kenichi had some money, but not much. Robbing the rich too often would paint a target on his back and invite a joint manhunt from multiple villages.
Of course, if he truly ran out of cash, Kenichi could always go chew on wild grass and pretend it was a cutting edge diet plan.
"But I can probably reach my goal through other means," Kenichi said, nodding to himself. "For example, we can visit the tombs of the Land of Lightning's daimyo. Wealthy people love hiding savings, and sometimes they hide secrets that are even more valuable."
It was a solid plan. Still, the immediate priority was Sasori, since he was clearly invested now.
"I think we could start by using a soul manipulating ninjutsu, and then…" Sasori began laying out his thoughts with unusual enthusiasm.
Kenichi listened carefully. Some of Sasori's ideas were surprisingly sharp, and a few angles might even be useful for Kenichi's other projects.
Meanwhile, in Kumogakure, the Fourth Raikage, A, scanned an urgent report submitted by the village's ANBU.
"A strange ninja in odd clothing was seen at the cemetery near Thunderfire City," A read aloud, eyes narrowing. "And he raised the skeletons there?"
His interest rose for a moment.
So someone still dared to stir trouble in the Land of Lightning. Was it Konoha again?
Kumogakure's higher ups were familiar with jutsu that manipulated the dead. Konoha had its own forbidden techniques, and Iwagakure had methods that touched the same taboo.
But the report continued.
The remains had later been returned to their graves. The two unidentified shinobi vanished afterward. Their strength seemed weak. ANBU had found nothing unusual in the bodies. Only scorch marks on the ground and a field of bone fragments reduced to ash, as if they had been blasted apart by Fire Release.
In other words, the strange jutsu had no real lethality.
A's interest evaporated.
"Konoha is definitely provoking us!" A roared, slamming his fist down and shattering the table into pieces. "Increase support on the battlefield! Jonin will join the fight too!"
"Understood," the officials nearby replied, not even blinking. They were used to it. Ever since the Fourth Raikage took office, tables had lived short, tragic lives.
The ANBU at the side moved with practiced efficiency, pulling a fresh table from a sealing scroll and setting it into place as if nothing happened.
Then someone spoke up carefully, like a man stepping around a sleeping tiger.
"Fourth Raikage, your younger brother has not been at that place for a while now. About that…"
A's face darkened instantly.
"That idiot," he snarled, fist rising again. "I will cut off his other horn sooner or later!"
He had ordered B to stay in Yunrai Gorge and train the Tailed Beast Ball. Instead, B spent his days thinking about sneaking out to rap.
The ANBU who had just finished cleaning up the splinters shot a resentful glance at the official who had brought it up. Everyone in Kumogakure knew A's temper. Why ask that now?
There was even a dedicated budget in the Raikage Building for buying replacement tables. The shop owner who supplied them was probably praying for A's long life and frequent meetings.
Still, no one pushed the topic further. Despite A's fury, everyone knew he was not truly panicking. And B's strength was real. The A B duo had once dominated the battlefield like a storm made human.
Back in the wilderness of the Land of Lightning, Kenichi and Sasori left their campsite after a night's rest and continued toward Kumogakure.
The Land of Lightning was vast. Without accurate information, finding Kinkaku and Ginkaku's burial site could take a lifetime. Visiting Kumogakure was the obvious next step.
And it would also provide an excellent place to test a thermobaric bomb.
Naturally, Kenichi could not stroll into Kumogakure openly. He was not Nagato. Still, with the Disguise Technique, slipping in would not be difficult.
The only question was security. If the village was locked down tightly, they would need a different approach.
"Someone's there," Kenichi said quietly.
Sasori's gaze flicked toward the trees. "One person."
They stopped and turned.
A moment later, a man stepped out of the forest wearing sunglasses, his head swaying with a rhythm only he could hear. He looked eccentric, almost comical.
Kenichi and Sasori both shifted into battle readiness instantly.
They recognized him.
Killer B, Kumogakure's jinchuriki, and one of the most troublesome shinobi in the Hidden Cloud.
Kenichi's expression tightened. "Should I call this good luck or bad luck…"
Killer B folded his arms, then struck a pose like he was about to command a stage instead of a battlefield.
"Are you here for my concert?" he asked, voice full of swagger.
"Yes," Kenichi said immediately, without hesitation. "We both admire rap as an art."
Sasori froze beside him, momentarily stunned. He had been preparing for a fight, and Kenichi had just walked straight into the strangest possible opening.
"Huh?" Killer B blinked, caught completely off guard. When he first saw two oddly dressed shinobi, he assumed they were trouble.
He had not expected fans.
Kenichi smiled politely, because he remembered something important about Killer B.
If you gave him an excuse to perform, he would take it.
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