"Ninjutsu doesn't work on it anymore!" Shisui, more perceptive than Kakuzu, realized what had happened.
Zero-Tails had evolved!
Its skin had strengthened to a point where it not only possessed incredible defense but also rendered it immune to Wind and Lightning Release techniques.
Shisui had no doubts—any other fire, earth, or water-style jutsu would also be quickly neutralized and absorbed by Zero-Tails.
The opponent was practically a nemesis for ninjutsu users!
A ninja skilled in ninjutsu would find themselves at a severe disadvantage against Zero-Tails if unaware of its abilities. Even with prior knowledge, escaping its predatory hunts without meticulous preparation would still be nearly impossible.
Kakuzu and Anko easily dispatched the ninja trying to block their path with just a few strikes.
These ninjas weren't particularly strong; they relied on unusual mechanical tools and basic teamwork.
In terms of individual skill and strength, without their tools and tactics, they couldn't compare to ninjas from the Five Great Nations—or even those from smaller villages like the Land of Rain or the Land of Grass.
The blockade was swiftly broken.
"Ancor Vantian… It's a flying fortress, isn't it?" Kakuzu muttered, standing beneath the enormous structure. He tightened his grip on a captive's throat, silencing them instantly.
From the information extracted, the fortress was a project meticulously designed and rebuilt by Shinnō for warfare. However, due to various limitations, it was still only a prototype.
Still, as long as it had a stable energy supply, Ancor Vantian could move and fly for a limited time. To avoid drawing attention, the fortress mostly drifted on the ocean's surface or remained at the ruins of the Sky Ninja Village for maintenance.
Following the directions obtained during the interrogation, the group quickly located an entrance. They took out the guards at the entry point and, without attempting to hide, walked inside.
Inside Ancor Vantian, chaos reigned.
With their leader, Shinnō, missing and no further orders being issued, confusion spread.
The reinforcements sent out had suffered significant casualties, and now, intruders were openly walking into their base without bothering to conceal themselves.
The internal managers of Ancor Vantian argued among themselves, but as the invaders advanced deeper, they finally agreed on one thing—deal with the intruders first. Only then could they recover Zero-Tails, the fortress's power source, and search for Shinnō.
"Who are these people?"
Walking through a dimly lit corridor, the flickering flames along the walls cast long, dark shadows.
The sight that met their eyes was rows of prison-like rooms.
Inside the cells were groups of people—some appeared to be poor civilians, while others were clearly ninjas.
"Help us! Please, save us!"
It seemed the ninja in the cell noticed the forehead protectors on Kagetsu and the others.
From one of the cells, a shinobi wearing the Amegakure forehead protector suddenly stumbled to the bars, stretching out his hand through the gaps, pleading for help from Kakuzu and his group.
Under the flickering light of the flames, the Amegakure shinobi's face appeared gaunt, his body alarmingly frail, like skin stretched tightly over bones.
His sickly appearance made him look like he was on the verge of death. Even from their sensory perception, his life force felt as fragile as a flickering candle about to be snuffed out.
"I'm not your subordinate!"
Following Kagetsu's signal, Kakuzu muttered in a dark tone but still stepped forward. Threads of Earth Grudge Fear surged from his arm, forming a sharp battle axe.
After gesturing for the Amegakure shinobi to back away, he swung the axe, splitting the bars of the cell apart.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
The Amegakure ninja's eyes lit up with gratitude and a desperate will to survive as he saw the cell door opened. He scrambled out of the confinement with all the speed he could muster, practically crawling on his hands and knees.
Even this small effort left him gasping for breath. Once out, he had to lean against the wall to keep himself upright.
"It's chakra!" Shisui said, observing the cell and the surroundings before pointing at certain seals etched into the ceiling. "These cells are absorbing their stamina and chakra." The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novel★fire.net
"That's correct. We are the power source for this place," the freed Amegakure ninja replied between labored breaths. "As long as you're locked in these cells, your chakra and stamina are drained constantly. You can barely muster enough energy to perform even a single jutsu. This is a forbidden area for ninja!"
"Were you captured and brought here?" Anko asked as she walked ahead, glancing at the rain ninja's dire condition.
"No, I was tricked into coming here by Shinnō," the rain ninja admitted, still leaning heavily on the wall. He hesitated as he watched Kagetsu and the others move forward.
"He's incredibly powerful. My advice is to escape quickly before he realizes we've broken out. If you have a mission, the four of you alone won't stand a chance of getting away if Shinnō finds us."
"Don't worry about this," Anko said, as she and Kakuzu opened the prison doors along the way, not bothering to care whether the imprisoned ninjas inside came out. "We're heading to the control room. Does anyone know where it is?"
"I know!" The first ninja to be freed saw the calm expressions on Kagetsu and the others. He gritted his teeth and quickly closed the gap, speaking up.
"Then lead the way," Kagetsu said, stopping to wait. Kakuzu helped the weak Rain ninja as they followed the freed ninja's directions toward the main control room.
Along the way, several empty ninjas charged out, trying to stop and eliminate Kagetsu's group, but they were all swiftly dealt with.
The Rain ninja leading them began to feel more confident and secure about Kagetsu and the others.
Before long, under the guidance of the Rain ninja, they arrived at the main control room of Ancor Vantian.
The room was large, with dozens of empty ninjas inside. As they entered, these ninjas seized the opportunity to launch a long-planned combined attack.
However, all those combined ninjutsu were blocked and absorbed by a black shadow wall.
When the black wall dissipated, a mass of black shadows shrank back toward Kagetsu's feet. Without even needing to communicate, Kagetsu began his attack on the group of empty ninjas, who looked increasingly anxious and frantic.
The black shadow transformed into a monstrous figure, suddenly expanding from Kagetsu's feet.
After spreading for a short distance, it branched out like tree limbs, expanding wildly in all directions.
The black branches quickly filled the entire vast control room. The empty ninjas who couldn't escape were trapped by the black branches. With cries of panic, their bodies lost control and began attacking their nearby comrades uncontrollably.
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