"The ones who carried out the mission… were Deidara and Sasori."
Naruto suddenly became excited. "You mean, we have to stop Akatsuki from doing bad things?!"
Morkel nodded. "Exactly. Deidara and Sasori—also known as the Scorpion."
"One's a missing-nin from Iwagakure, and the other from Sunagakure. There's a huge bounty on their heads."
"Although we still don't know Akatsuki's true motive for capturing the Tailed Beasts, it definitely can't be good. So it's our job to stir up some trouble."
Naruto grinned. "Well, we just happened to show up at the border of the Land of Water… maybe it's fate."
Morkel raised a brow. "Are you starting to believe in fate now?"
Naruto chuckled. "Just talking…"
---
Meanwhile…
Following the Hokage's orders, two squads—Kakashi's and the reduced Team Kurenai—set off on a reconnaissance mission.
With Kurenai away on urgent business, Hinata, Kiba, and Shino had temporarily rejoined Kakashi's command. The five-member group had just reached the edge of the Land of Water.
Suddenly, Akamaru barked twice, nudging Kiba urgently.
"Smell something familiar? Is it a Konoha ninja?" Kiba asked.
Akamaru barked again and wagged his tail.
Kiba's eyes lit up. "It might be Morkel and Naruto!"
Surprise spread among the squad. Even though Morkel and Naruto had run away, they were still comrades at heart.
"If they're here, this mission just got a whole lot easier," Kakashi said with a smile.
"Let's go find them."
He waved the group forward, though his thoughts lingered on a question: Why were Morkel and Naruto here of all places? Was this about the Third Hokage?
Kakashi sighed internally.
"Morkel… you're too kind-hearted. You think you have to carry the weight alone. Silly child, Konoha would never let you fight by yourself."
---
Elsewhere, near the Land of Water border…
Three figures in black cloaks with red clouds stepped out of the forest.
"Tell me again—how did that guy get near the Gedo Statue?" Deidara asked from atop his giant clay bird.
His injuries from the last fight with Morkel had healed, and his arm had been reattached by Kakuzu. But with Kakuzu gone, Akatsuki had no one left who could do that kind of surgery.
"Why bother thinking about it?" said Tobi (a.k.a. Ah Fei), voice muffled beneath his mask. "Let the boss worry."
"That red-haired kid is strong," Sasori murmured hoarsely. "We need to study him carefully."
"If he's really that scary, we should be cautious," Tobi said, though his casual tone made it sound like a joke.
"This is no time for jokes, Tobi!" Deidara barked. "Underestimating him could get you killed!"
Sasori nodded. "Wood Style isn't something you pick up off the street."
"I've seen puppets better than Deidara's clay art at the market," Tobi teased.
Deidara twitched. "Scissor kick attack!"
"Don't you dare insult my art! It's ultimate! A masterpiece that will shock the world!"
---
Back in the Land of Water—outside an Orochimaru base…
Kabuto approached a fortress, cloak billowing behind him. A small child followed at his side.
Suddenly, a pink crystal rose from the earth.
BANG!
A thick crystal pillar crashed down in front of them. Kabuto yanked the child back just in time, sweat on his brow.
"Guren! Stop messing around!"
From the shadows emerged a sarcastic voice. "Oh? And here I thought it was an intruder. Turns out it's just Lord Orochimaru's errand boy."
Kabuto smirked. "Misjudgment or not, you know why I'm here."
He dragged the child forward. "Lord Orochimaru gave me a message for you."
Guren frowned. "Since he took in Uchiha Sasuke, he's barely acknowledged me. I thought I'd been forgotten."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "Actually, the first part of the message is: he's chosen you as the vessel for his next reincarnation."
Excitement flared in Guren's eyes. "Really?!"
"But before the ceremony, you have a mission," Kabuto added.
Guren thumped her chest. "Don't worry! I won't let Lord Orochimaru down!"
Kabuto rolled his eyes. "Wait until you hear what it is…"
---
Meanwhile, riding across the water…
Morkel and Naruto felt a presence and looked toward the shore.
Five familiar figures appeared in the distance.
Hinata blushed. "Naruto-kun!"
Morkel patted Naruto's back. "Looks like we're not alone. Let's go."
After reaching the shore, Morkel briefly debriefed Kakashi.
"Orochimaru's base is nearby?" Morkel asked in surprise.
Kakashi nodded. "That's why we brought Hinata's team. They're skilled in tracking."
"You didn't know this base was here? Then why are you here?" Kakashi asked, brow raised.
Morkel explained, "Remember the Akatsuki ring Neji picked up? I used it to infiltrate their communication network. I found out they're targeting the Three-Tails next, in the Land of Water."
Kakashi was stunned. "Only Morkel could pull that off with just a ring…"
Morkel suddenly turned serious. "When I was in that space, I saw the leader's eyes—purple sclera with concentric ripple patterns."
Kakashi's expression sharpened. "Are you sure?"
"I'm certain."
"This is serious. We need to alert the Hokage immediately," Kakashi said.
Morkel didn't hesitate—he activated the Flying Thunder God Technique and vanished in a flash, reappearing in the Hokage's office to deliver the message.
Shortly afterward, Kakashi said, "You have your own path to follow. Be careful."
Morkel and Naruto nodded and set off again.
---
Later, Morkel sat cross-legged on the ground, extending his chakra perception to the limit.
He sensed a large chakra presence roughly 70 to 80 kilometers away—undeniably the Three-Tails.
But then, he sensed something else. A familiar chakra signature quietly approaching the same location. He couldn't place it… yet.
"Let's move," Morkel said, standing with determination.
---
Ten minutes later…
The two stood outside a strange fortress.
"There are a lot of people here," Morkel observed. His expression darkened. "And…"
He paused.
"This chakra… it's like the curse energy from Sasuke's mark."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "So this is… the base Kakashi-sensei mentioned?"
Morkel nodded. "Probably. But Orochimaru himself doesn't seem to be inside."
Naruto hesitated. "Should we destroy it?"
Morkel thought deeply.
These people might be test subjects. Victims. Killing them would be cruel. But if freed, they could become a danger to the world…
"Unless," Morkel muttered, "we find a way to remove the curse."
The cursed seal gave users power—but at a heavy cost. If he could find a way to reverse it, it might help Sasuke too.
Decision made, Morkel walked forward.
BOOM!
A Rasengan shattered the fortress gate.
Inside was a horrifying prison: cells stacked in circular tiers. Around 300 test subjects, each physically altered and grotesque, filled the structure.
Some had cannon-like limbs. Others looked aquatic. Some wore strange, skintight suits. It was chilling.
As the gate crashed, a clamor erupted.
"Who are they?!"
"They're not with Orochimaru!"
"Where's Lady Guren?!"
"Maybe they're the new managers?"
"They're just kids…"
Morkel raised his hand. "Quiet."
The crowd calmed slightly.
"You're Orochimaru's modified humans, right?" he asked.
The response was immediate chaos.
"Modified? We were blessed by Lord Orochimaru!"
"They're just test subjects! Wake up!"
"I volunteered!"
"Why call us 'upgraded'?! You're the upgraded one! Your whole family's upgraded!"
PFFT!!
The room fell silent.
Morkel casually wiped his bloodied Kusanagi sword and smiled. "It's okay. Keep talking. Just know, saying the wrong thing… might get you killed."
Tension flooded the room.
Someone whispered, "Is that Orochimaru's Kusanagi sword…?"
"Yes. And I'm not one of his men," Morkel said coldly.
"I'm his enemy. I'm here to test a method to remove the cursed seal."
"If you're willing to help me… step forward."
No one moved.
Until…
"I'll do it!"
A man on the second floor stood up. "I've heard of him—Morkel of Konoha! The Wood Style genius!"
"You're just a spy!" someone accused.
"I came in two years ago. I've heard the stories. I trust him! I'm done being a prisoner."
His words inspired others. One by one, a dozen more stepped forward.
Morkel nodded. "I promise to protect you during the process."
Onlookers watched from above, skeptical.
Morkel summoned a wooden operating table using Wood Style.
Then he pulled out scalpels, lamps, sutures, a microscope…
Naruto's jaw dropped. "Did you… empty out Konoha's hospital?"
"I'm a doctor," Morkel said casually. "Of course I carry tools."
He tossed Naruto a white coat. "You're my assistant."
Naruto: "…what?!"
The first experiment began.
After several minutes, the subject flatlined.
The prisoners laughed.
"Told you!"
"Removing Orochimaru's curse? Impossible!"
"Trusting a kid… ha!"
"Wait. What's he doing now?!"
Morkel gathered green medical chakra in his hands, his scalpel glowing.
Moments later, the near-dead subject opened his eyes.
"I'm a medical ninja," Morkel said calmly. "My chakra scalpel is for healing, not harming."
Gasps filled the prison.
The procedure resumed.
It was far more complex than Morkel anticipated—what he thought would take half an hour stretched into over an hour.
But finally, he succeeded.
Morkel formed a seal. "Shadow Clone Technique!"
---