Chapter 261: Ultimate Benevolence, Equality in Death
"Hey, you guys think Pain has already used a super-sized [Shinra Tensei] to blow up the Land of Fire's Royal Capital?"
[Rampage] was just trying to make small talk. He was extremely uncomfortable traveling with Mercenary Tao. His companions, Orochimaru and Uchiha Itachi, seemed to have no intention of speaking. This silent atmosphere, combined with Mercenary Tao's faint, mocking smile, made Rampage feel like he was being watched by a viper every second.
He was beginning to understand why Catherine had strongly requested to go with Pain and Konan this time. That strong-willed woman had probably had her nerves stretched to the limit these past few days.
Uchiha Itachi paid this "rogue ninja" no mind. Orochimaru merely glanced at the surprisingly decent-looking man; in Orochimaru's eyes, his frivolous (light and floating) nature meant he was not cut out for great things.
Only Kaito Shirogane, sitting with Hana Hiranaka on the summoning beast, was interested enough to answer.
"Pain will probably give a long speech... complaining about the world, but one that no one will listen to. Then he'll destroy the place."
As he spoke, he took a bite of the stewed Tailed Beast meat.
[You have consumed Tailed Beast meat. Food Grade: Medium. Taste Grade: Average]
[Gourmet Cells have grown slightly. Current: Lv0 (62/100)]
[Milestone: Gourmet triggered. You have gained a temporary buff: Energy Overflow (Rare): When using energy, you will erupt with an additional 10% energy intensity.]
Rampage knew Mercenary Tao had Gourmet Cells and was constantly strengthening himself. From a Reincarnator's perspective, a guy like Mercenary Tao was probably in the category with the highest chance of survival.
"I've really never seen anyone like you. It's like... you were custom-made by the Nexus."
Rampage spoke his thoughts aloud, but he quickly realized saying such a thing to Mercenary Tao could be taken the wrong way. He quickly waved his hands and began to explain.
"I just mean, you have all the traits we need! Look, we need the courage to never flee a fight, the ability to constantly challenge difficulties, and on top of that, the ability to ensure we survive every dangerous situation, and... to never get tired or weary of the future..."
Rampage had heard of many Reincarnators who didn't die in mission worlds due to a lack of strength. Some were strong, some were lucky, but in the face of endless,-back-to-back missions, they were eventually crushed by the pressure.
Those people fell into various desires, trying to relieve the stress, and finally, after becoming degenerate, died in some unknown mission world.
But a guy like Mercenary Tao, in Rampage's view, was like a robot. Even when eating, he had no pursuit of haute cuisine. He felt that if it weren't for the demands of his [Gourmet Cells], this guy would probably eat the Tailed Beast raw.
After trying to explain, Rampage found he was only making it worse. Seeing Mercenary Tao tilt his head and look at him, he could only make an excuse about checking how far they were from their destination and pulled away.
"They are all afraid of you."
Orochimaru had already figured it out. This Mercenary Tao, that Providence, and this Rampage—these people who could use special "jutsu without hand seals"—all came from the same place.
And they were not harmonious. Their relationships were extremely tense.
And this Mercenary Tao... was most likely at the top of the food chain.
Kaito Shirogane nodded, unconcerned.
"Yes, they misunderstand me a great deal. Orochimaru, you know, I'm actually a generous and good person. Just like you, I simply have a vigorous desire to explore certain things."
Kaito Shirogane spoke his half-truths and ghost stories, and Orochimaru didn't probe any further.
Using the map Providence had given them, they were on their way to find Uchiha Madara's body. On the way, they would pass through the Land of Rain to deliver a cruel gift to the Land of Lightning's Royal Capital.
"Mr. Mercenary Tao, that young lady said... my husband is missing. And news of him... only that man... knows..."
Hana Hiranaka was afraid of Mercenary Tao, but she still wanted to ask about her husband.
Because her husband's actions—leaking that information—had led to their entire town being massacred, Hana was naturally confused, even resentful, at first. But after losing all her relatives, her husband was the only one she had left in this world.
And, along the way, having heard so much about the hatred between ninjas and the wars of the great nations, even she was starting to believe... did her husband really do such a thing for some greater good?
Shimura Danzo was tied to the summoning beast Orochimaru was riding. A foul stench was emitting from him; because Kaito Shirogane had shattered his spine, his body was beginning to fail.
Shimura Danzo's expression had grown numb.
Kaito Shirogane looked at this woman, who, just because she had cooked for him twice, was now carefully trying to probe his attitude. His lips curled, but he didn't interrogate Danzo as she had hoped.
In fact, he had already guessed Minoru Hiranaka's fate.
[Providence] claimed she could influence and manipulate him to some extent by "manipulating the Nexus." At first, this sounded very mysterious.
But Kaito Shirogane had experience in this area. He knew how it worked.
It was just like how he had killed Mercenary Tao in his first trial world, causing Gekko and the others to fail their main quest. Since Providence knew, to some extent, the contents of his trial mission, she could use that to interfere with his actions.
If he wasn't mistaken, the second phase of his Special Trial: Ultimate Benevolence would have extended from Hana Hiranaka to her husband, Minoru Hiranaka—the man who had truly caused the dilemma in the first phase.
If Providence had not interfered, Minoru would most likely be locked up in Konoha.
Then, the second phase of his trial would have been to infiltrate Konoha to rescue him, or to avenge him by killing a key Konoha figure.
Such a mission balanced difficulty with plot development; it was very much in the Nexus's style.
But now, it was clear. The woman code-named Providence had once again demonstrated the ambition of a Reincarnator, and had begun to high-handedly reshape this world with another power system.
The world had changed. The other purpose of Kaito Shirogane's Konoha Crush Plan had failed. Minoru Hiranaka had already been "arranged" by Providence.
Through this, she had dragged him into her plan.
"If your husband turned into a monster, would you still love him?"
Kaito Shirogane asked the woman this question with great interest, which made both Orochimaru and Uchiha Itachi look over.
In their eyes, the topic of "love" seemed to have zero connection to this humanoid Tailed Beast. From start to finish, he hadn't even shown a hint of sexual desire.
Hana Hiranaka's face paled. She imagined many terrible things. Her hands twisted together. Finally, she took a few deep breaths and said, "As long as he is still my husband, I will love him."
The woman spoke this line calmly. The image of that mediocre, but honest and dutiful, man appeared in her mind. Scenes from the past flashed by. She was grateful for his sacrifices for her and their family. He wasn't a strong ninja, but he always went on missions, and he had always... tried so hard to come back alive...
Kaito Shirogane watched the woman's heart rate go from a high frequency of fear and agitation, to a calm and steady resolve. The smile on his face slowly faded.
Tsk. As expected. The weaker the creature, the more they talk about 'love,' fantasizing about eternity when they can't even take a single blow from me.
This "weak yet resolute" quality... was something Kaito Shirogane did not possess.
He remembered the little girl in the One Piece world who had cried and wiped her snot on his pants. His face was blank, showing neither joy nor sorrow.
Thwack!
He flicked his finger. A pulse of energy struck Danzo's face.
The Hokage Advisor, who was just numbly awaiting death, merely looked at Kaito Shirogane in a daze.
"The guy who leaked the intel about the conflict between Konoha's leadership and the Uchiha... where did you hide him?"
Orochimaru prepared to form hand seals. He had some experience in interrogation. But Danzo spoke on his own.
"That guy... escaped..."
"He suddenly became very strong... escaped the Konoha prison three days ago... It was probably... that woman... who helped him..."
Clearly, Danzo had his suspicions.
"Escaped... Is Minoru... okay?!"
Hana Hiranaka quickly asked. Danzo just lowered his head.
"Golden pupils... he has golden pupils..."
"What kind of dōjutsu is that..."
Danzo began to mutter to himself, voicing the questions he had pondered. The man was likely on the verge of a mental breakdown.
Kaito Shirogane had his answer. It was obvious. That woman, Providence, had already planted the Erdtree somewhere, and Minoru Hiranaka had received a part of the Golden Order's blessing.
The Golden Order, where no life truly dies... it probably held a fatal attraction for many people in this world.
Kaito Shirogane looked again at the name of his special trial, [Ultimate Benevolence], and felt it had taken on a new meaning.
It seemed the trial he had received from activating the [Virtue] card... the mission world... had not been chosen at random.
Displaying "Ultimate Benevolence" through the Golden Order?
Kaito Shirogane's expression was inexplicable.
Swoosh, thud!
Uchiha Itachi suddenly spun and threw a shuriken. It lodged itself deep in a tree trunk with a dull sound.
Kaito Shirogane turned his head. Wearing the Akatsuki cloak and a spiral mask, Uchiha Obito had appeared silently behind them.
He seemed to have been hiding here all along.
Itachi, seeing the Akatsuki uniform, did not attack again.
Uchiha Obito jumped down from the tree, landing on the summoning beast Kaito Shirogane was riding.
"Mercenary Tao, I advise you not to trust that woman. She deceives everyone who trusts her."
"Including the Third Hokage, Danzo, me, and... you."
Obito's voice was grim. He felt the situation was spinning out of control. Nagato was slipping from his grasp, and the Konoha side's actions had been disrupted by Uchiha Shisui, who had been arranged by Mercenary Tao.
Kaito Shirogane nodded, stating frankly, "She wants me to kill you, so no one will interfere with her 'grand plan of planting a tree'."
Obito's heart skipped a beat as he thought of the "world where no one dies," but he quickly shook his head.
Rin is already dead. Even if that so-called "Golden Age" comes... it's not the world I want.
It's just a world without Rin.
"What is your choice, Mercenary Tao."
"I know you have ambitions for power. Trust me, I can give you everything you want."
"Sharingan, Mangekyo Sharingan... even the Rinnegan!"
"As long as the Infinite Tsukuyomi can be cast... I can give you everything after."
Uchiha Obito's voice was impassioned. He truly didn't care about these things. As long as the Infinite Tsukuyomi was complete, none of it would matter.
Tch~
Kaito Shirogane scoffed.
"You people... you still don't understand me."
"My 'Ultimate Benevolence' is not that model."
"Golden Erdtree, Infinite Tsukuyomi... all of it is just too troublesome."
Obito felt a gust of wind wash over him. A purple aura—the Satsui no Hado—flickered around Kaito Shirogane's body like a flame, but it was sinister and strange.
"Do you know, Obito? There is only one condition in this world that allows everyone to empathize and truly understand one another."
"And that... is the fear of death."
(End of Chapter)
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