novel-bin Chapter 343 Arrival
Chapter 343 Arrival
A thrilling and suspenseful battle finally came to a slow close. Although the final outcome wasn't as perfect as everyone had hoped, thankfully, Kakashi Hatake and his companions were all safe and sound, with no casualties. However, this fierce battle also came at a great cost—their physical and mental strength were almost completely exhausted, making it impossible for them to move at their previous lightning speed. They had to stop and find a suitable place to rest and recover their energy.
In this long and arduous journey, every battle is a severe test of life and will. Now, facing this desolate land before him, Kakashi Hatake pondered to himself: How should they proceed? How could they better cope with the various challenges that might arise in the future? He knew that only after sufficient rest and adjustment could the team regain its powerful fighting strength and continue their journey to rescue Gaara.
Having already clashed with the enemy here, it undoubtedly means they are very close to the enemy's lair. At this moment, the most crucial thing is to focus all their efforts on adjusting their condition so they can be in the best possible state to deal with the fierce battle that may erupt soon. It's worth noting that even just one substitute sent by the Akatsuki disguised as Itachi Uchiha has already put immense pressure on everyone, making progress extremely difficult. One can imagine that when they finally face the ruthless Akatsuki members in real combat, it will be a breathtaking, life-or-death struggle!
However, Hyuga Kanan, who had originally planned to accompany Kakashi Hatake's team, suddenly had a change of heart and changed his mind. At this moment, he firmly believed that they were now very close to the mysterious and feared Akatsuki organization. In this critical instant, Hyuga Kanan knew he couldn't blindly follow others; he had to take proactive measures to deal with the situation.
Therefore, he decided to go ahead alone, deep into enemy territory, to investigate the true nature and internal details of the Akatsuki organization. He secretly pondered that if he could successfully gather accurate information about the Akatsuki, it would be of great benefit to the subsequent battles. Moreover, through covert observation, he might even be able to uncover the hidden truth behind this legendary organization—was it truly, as rumored, a carefully orchestrated scheme by the Sage of Six Paths?
Filled with questions and unwavering conviction, Hyuga Kanan embarked on this journey fraught with uncertainty. He moved through the mountains and forests like a ghost, his divine sense constantly monitoring his surroundings, carefully avoiding potential traps and enemy surveillance. Every step he took was exceptionally cautious, for fear of arousing unnecessary trouble by even the slightest provocation.
Having only traveled a few thousand meters forward, Hyuga Kanan's incredibly keen senses detected a rather peculiar and vast area ahead, tightly shrouded by a mysterious and unfathomable barrier. This barrier was completely different from any barrier technique he had ever encountered or understood before; it was entirely beyond his comprehension. Although it did not impose any obstacles or restrictions on external detection, it contained an exceptionally powerful and surging energy fluctuation, as if it could erupt at any moment.
Drawing upon his years of experience and in-depth research into various barrier techniques, Hyuga Kanan almost instantly grasped the essence of the barrier before him—it was actually a barrier specifically designed to block intruders, possessing extremely high defensive capabilities! Clearly, forcibly breaking through this barrier would not be easy; he would need to find its weakness or a way to break it. However, he hadn't come here to clash with the Akatsuki, but rather to gather intelligence, so he didn't need to destroy the barrier; he only needed to thoroughly investigate its interior.
Finally, after a long journey, Hyuga Kanan gradually approached the core area of the Akatsuki's barrier. He hid in the shadows, holding his breath and scrutinizing every movement around him with sharp eyes. At this moment, he was like a cheetah poised to pounce on its prey, ready to obtain crucial information at any moment.
Hyuga Kanan took a deep breath, then suddenly opened his eyes, his unique Byakugan instantly blazing with dazzling light! Through those mysterious eyes, he clearly saw a shocking scene in the distance—Gaara was standing in front of an incredibly huge and grotesque monster!
The monster was enormous beyond imagination, emanating a nauseating stench. Around it, seven ethereal, ghostly figures hovered above the fingertips of its two gigantic hands, along with two real, physical figures. These figures either floated in the air or stood on the ground, their powerful aura sending chills down one's spine.
Even more astonishingly, Gaara was now firmly held between two enormous hands. He was unconscious, yet he was groaning in pain. Clearly, the nine figures were unleashing some kind of mysterious and powerful ninjutsu. With each movement, a visible energy surge converged from all directions, continuously absorbing the chakra from Gaara's body at the center.
This external force rapidly absorbed an extremely violent chakra within Gaara's body. This chakra seemed to possess a self-awareness, rampaging through Gaara's meridians, attempting to break free of its restraints.
The entire scene was incredibly breathtaking, like a magical painting unfolding before one's eyes. Hyuga Kanan stared wide-eyed, observing everything intently, wondering to himself, "What kind of ninjutsu is this? So strange and powerful..." At the same time, he couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for Gaara, wondering if he could successfully withstand the absorption of his chakra by this terrifying power.
However, after only a casual glance at Gaara, Hyuga Kanan quickly looked away, as if it were just a fleeting moment. His gaze, like a sharp arrow, pierced through the void and locked firmly on the nine mysterious figures.
These figures stood in the distance like ghosts, emanating a chilling aura. Hyuga Kanan stared intently at them, trying to glean as much information as possible from every subtle detail. By carefully observing their attire and the way they communicated, Hyuga Kanan became increasingly certain that these nine people before him were undoubtedly the core members of the legendary Akatsuki organization!
Who exactly are these people? Are they agents of the Sage of Six Paths? Countless questions flooded his mind, but Hyuga Kanan knew this was not the time to seek answers. He had to remain highly vigilant and prepared for any eventuality. He was likely facing the enigmatic Sage of Six Paths, and the slightest misstep could lead to catastrophic consequences.
Hyuga Kanan stood still, slowly scanning everyone around him. However, his gaze was ultimately drawn to him as if by a magnet, fixing firmly on the figure in the center of the crowd—the one with eyes that displayed a strange, wavy pattern.
Hyuga Kanan stared into the other's eyes, as if he could see through the mysterious ripples to the endless secrets hidden behind them. He keenly sensed that the light emanating from those eyes was not ordinary, but a unique and powerful energy fluctuation. This energy fluctuation rippled outwards like waves, seemingly containing countless complex rules quietly at work.
This astonishing discovery left Hyuga Kanan utterly astonished. He had never imagined that such a wondrous thing could exist in the world—eyes that surpassed traditional bloodline artifacts like the Sharingan and Byakugan! Even more astonishing was that, upon closer inspection, he discovered that these eyes were actually constructed using the Sharingan as a foundation, yet they were by no means a simple upgraded version. The power of rules they contained was not only far more profound and unfathomable, but also encompassed a much wider and more comprehensive range.
At this moment, Hyuga Kanan's heart was filled with endless curiosity, as if countless ants were crawling on his mind, making him unable to resist the urge to explore its mysteries. However, based on his years of research and understanding of various mysterious powers, he had roughly sketched out a vague outline in his mind, and vaguely guessed that these eyes emitting strange light were very likely to have some connection with the legendary Sage of Six Paths.
Perhaps it was the Sage of Six Paths, with his unparalleled power, who personally crafted this astonishing bloodline artifact. What kind of powerful and mysterious force does it contain? And how will it influence the fate of this world? These questions lingered in Hyuga Kanan's mind like a mist, making him increasingly eager to unveil this veil and see its true face.
Hyuga Kanan was absolutely certain that the other party was a member of the Sage of Six Paths' plan. How could someone who could obtain the Sage of Six Paths' bloodline and magical artifacts be unrelated to the Sage of Six Paths? However, Hyuga Kanan couldn't understand why this Akatsuki organization was completely different from the Sage of Six Paths' previous plans, even going against them.
"It seems I need to observe the Akatsuki organization closely to see what they're up to. This will also help me guess what the Sage of Six Paths' plans are, and gather more intelligence for future battles," Hyuga Kanan muttered to himself. This discovery surprised and puzzled him, but it was still a significant gain. He now knew that the Akatsuki organization was indeed connected to the Sage of Six Paths, and quite closely at that. Now, as long as he remained hidden and continued to observe the Akatsuki's actions, more information would surely emerge.