Chapter 82: Ryuzen and the Strategist's Plan
A forest of withered trees stretched across the land.
Under a towering dead tree—its branches bare and lifeless—six figures gathered.
Members of Team 8 and Team 10 stood together.
Suddenly, Ryuzen's voice broke the silence.
"No. Your plan won't work."
Everyone looked toward him.
He held the cigarette that Shikamaru Nara had handed him earlier, his expression calm but serious.
"I admit your strategy is excellent," Ryuzen said.
"It's the perfect example of using weakness to control strength."
"But your sequence is wrong."
Shikamaru showed no displeasure.
Instead, he looked at Ryuzen earnestly.
"Then tell me."
"What did I miss?"
Ryuzen returned the cigarette and spoke carefully.
"I fought the Akatsuki member Sasori and killed him."
"So I know a little about how that organization works."
He paused before continuing.
"And from what you told me, I've reached a bold conclusion."
Shikamaru's nerves immediately tightened.
"What conclusion?"
Ryuzen continued slowly.
"When Team 7 and we carried out the S-rank mission to rescue the Fifth Kazekage, our opponents also worked in pairs."
"One of them pursued the explosive art of fleeting beauty."
"The other pursued the eternal art of puppetry."
Though he did not say their names, everyone knew he was referring to Deidara and Sasori.
"From our perspective," Ryuzen said, "they are dangerous S-rank missing-nin."
"But from another angle… they are also artists."
He then stared directly at Shikamaru.
"If the Akatsuki always operate in pairs…"
"And the pair who killed Asuma followed the same pattern…"
"Do you think their abilities are simply similar?"
"Or could they complement each other?"
Shikamaru's face gradually paled.
"No."
He answered immediately.
"I remember everything from that fight."
"One of them worships something called the Evil God and performs ritual sacrifices."
"That man isn't especially strong."
"But the other one… the one who stitched his head back on…"
Shikamaru clenched his fists.
"That man is terrifying."
Ryuzen nodded.
"Exactly."
"Then consider another possibility."
"What if the second person also has an unknown form of immortality?"
"What if stabbing his heart isn't enough to kill him?"
Shikamaru's pupils shrank.
His mind immediately began calculating.
After a moment, he spoke.
"If that's true…"
"The probability of our plan failing rises to more than 35%."
He lifted his gaze toward Ryuzen.
"And without you…"
"Our chance of dying exceeds 95%."
Cold sweat ran down Shikamaru's back.
If Ryuzen had not pointed this out, he would have led Team 10 directly into a death trap.
Shikamaru took a deep breath.
"Give me time."
"I'll modify the plan and include this possibility."
But Ryuzen raised a hand to stop him.
"There's no need."
"Your plan is still excellent."
"It only needs a small adjustment."
He continued analyzing calmly.
"The real threat isn't the immortal one."
"It's his partner."
"But the strange thing is…"
Ryuzen's lips curved slightly.
"Despite possessing such a dangerous ability, the immortal one isn't actually that strong."
"As long as we prevent him from tasting anyone's blood…"
"His ritual curse becomes useless."
Shikamaru's mind raced.
Fragments of strategy began forming rapidly.
Still, he asked carefully.
"So what do you propose?"
Ryuzen gestured for everyone to gather closer.
Then he quietly explained his plan.
The Plan
Shikamaru was a genius strategist.
In the original scenario, his plan alone nearly destroyed the Akatsuki duo.
But Ryuzen knew more than anyone present.
He knew their abilities.
Their weaknesses.
Their hidden trump cards.
The advantage of being someone who knew the future.
If their strength were equal, Ryuzen was confident he could eliminate them before they ever had the chance to use their final abilities.
Just like when he fought Sasori.
The moment the Third Kazekage puppet appeared, Ryuzen had seized the opportunity—
Cutting it apart instantly before striking Sasori's core.
After hearing Ryuzen's plan, the members of both teams showed excitement.
Especially Ino Yamanaka and Hinata Hyuga.
Hinata looked at him with clear admiration.
Ryuzen then gave his orders.
"Ino. Hinata."
"You'll be responsible for locating the enemy."
Both girls answered immediately.
"Yes!"
Shikamaru also stood up, smiling slightly.
He looked toward the sky where an eagle circled overhead.
"The Byakugan can observe up to one kilometer."
"So we'll search within that range."
"If those two pass through this area…"
"They won't escape us."
The Hunt Begins
The cooperation between the Hyuga sensory ability and the Ino–Shika–Cho techniques produced remarkable results.
Less than twenty minutes later—
Hinata suddenly focused her gaze.
At the same moment, Ino—who had her eyes closed while sensing chakra—spoke.
Both of them said the same thing at once.
"We found them."
Shikamaru's expression hardened.
"Everyone."
"Move according to the plan."
"Let's go."
Six figures vanished instantly into the forest.
The hunt for the Akatsuki pair—
Had finally begun.
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