"Fortunately, that useless pawn bought me some time," Kakuzu muttered coldly. "Otherwise, that guy might have caught up."
He had never thought much of the Grass shinobi. If not for the organization, someone that weak would never have been worth recruiting. Arrogant, short-sighted, and ignorant of his own limits—among all internal candidates, he had been the weakest.
Even if he somehow survived, Kakuzu had no intention of letting him live.
---
Chen Xing soon noticed that Kakuzu had completely left his sensory range. He was not surprised.
Someone who had survived since the era of Hashirama Senju would inevitably possess exceptional escape methods. Even if Kakuzu was no longer at the level of the Five Kage, his life-preserving abilities were still formidable.
Letting him escape was unfortunate—but not unexpected.
A streak of purple chakra flashed as Chen Xing returned to the others.
"Lord Celestial Shadow…" the young shinobi said respectfully, lowering his head.
Chen Xing nodded. "Let's move."
"Yes!" the three replied in unison.
Although they had long heard rumors that Chen Xing's strength surpassed even a Kage, witnessing it firsthand was something else entirely. Any lingering doubt they had about the title Celestial Shadow had vanished.
---
By noon, the group arrived at Qianhai City, a major coastal city.
The port was bustling with activity, merchant ships anchored offshore, and traders calling out loudly along the streets.
After making inquiries, they learned that a cargo ship bound for the Land of Water would depart in two days.
They decided to stay and wait.
---
Deep underground, within a vast, pitch-black cavern, the Gedo Statue stood immobile.
Its massive body emerged halfway from the ground, its ten fingers curved inward like pillars. Nine eyes remained shut.
One by one, translucent figures appeared atop its fingers.
On the thumb of the right hand stood a figure with ripple-patterned eyes—Zero.
"Why were we summoned?" a voice asked cautiously.
Another shadow noticed something missing. "Isn't someone absent?"
"The Grass shinobi," a hoarse voice replied. "Still under observation. His absence means nothing."
"He's dead."
The calm voice of Zero cut through the cavern.
A brief silence followed.
"Killed?" someone repeated.
"Yes," Kakuzu said grimly. "By the Peacock King."
The atmosphere shifted.
"Peacock King?" several voices echoed.
"You were with him," one asked Kakuzu. "Why didn't you save him?"
Kakuzu snorted. "I was barely able to escape myself."
Even the others fell quiet at that.
"His strength is abnormal," Kakuzu continued. "He uses a secret technique that transforms chakra into a massive peacock-shaped construct. Its defensive power rivals a giant summoning. None of my attacks could break through it."
"He didn't even use a dōjutsu," Zero said slowly. "Which means he's still hiding his true strength."
A few of the shadows exchanged glances.
"For now," Zero continued, "avoid direct conflict with him. The organization cannot afford exposure."
No one objected.
---
Three days later, the cargo ship arrived in the Land of Water.
Thick fog blanketed the sea and shoreline, as it always did. Even at noon, visibility remained low, and sunlight struggled to penetrate the mist.
Chen Xing stepped onto the dock, clearly uncomfortable with the oppressive atmosphere.
At that moment, a figure in dark attire, wearing a strange mask, appeared before him and knelt respectfully.
---