After taking a shower, Chiba sat on the sofa, deep in thought.

Chiba hadn't expected that Jigen had implanted a Karma into Uzumaki Aonagi, making him one of his vessels for reincarnation.

According to Uzumaki Aonagi, Jigen didn't know that he was already aware of what Karma was, thinking he could keep it a secret from him.

Chiba assessed his current strength against Jigen's second stage Karma.

Sukunahikona, which could instantly shrink and restore objects, could be avoided with Observation Haki's precognition.

In terms of Taijutsu, he now possessed a Sage Body, and both his strength and speed had greatly increased, but he might still not be a match for Jigen's second stage; however, Kamui's intangibility could bridge this gap.

As for absorbing Ninjutsu, Jigen absorbing Ninjutsu was equivalent to giving Chiba an opportunity, because Jigen's movements would become sluggish during the absorption process.

As for Daikokuten, which could instantly summon objects from a different dimension, it was quite easy to deal with.

Therefore, Chiba judged that he was now capable of confronting Jigen.

However, Chiba now had a concern.

What if Jigen was killed and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki resurrected in Uzumaki Aonagi's body?

Therefore, until Orochimaru completely deciphered Karma, Chiba dared not act rashly.

“Sigh, I can only wait.”

Chiba now wished he could go to Hidden Rain Village and slay Jigen, but for now, he could only endure.

After telling Uzumaki Aonagi about Karma, Chiba instructed Uzumaki Aonagi to stay in the village; until the results were out, Chiba dared not let Uzumaki Aonagi wander around outside anymore.

Three months later.

The Akatsuki expanded its members: Kimimaro, Jugo, Uzumaki Aonagi, Haku, and Uchiha Hikari, five people, joined the Akatsuki.

Adding Orochimaru, Pakura, Raiga Kurosuki, Zabuza, Miyuki Uzumaki, Yahiko, and Chiba, there were now 11 official members.

Orochimaru was still conducting research on Urashiki Otsutsuki's corpse; if it weren't for occasionally seeing Yakushi Kabuto, Chiba might have thought something had happened.

As for Uchiha Madara, he had successfully recruited Deidara and Hidan.

Because Deidara was defeated by Uchiha Itachi and thus forced to join the Akatsuki, and Uchiha Madara, with an even more dominant stance, defeated Deidara; for Deidara, he only wanted to pursue art, and now the Akatsuki, controlled by Jigen, was no longer suitable for him to continue pursuing art, so he agreed to Uchiha Madara's recruitment.

As for Hidan, it was even easier.

Because Hidan himself was a restless person, joining the Akatsuki was also because he valued the Akatsuki's inherent “restlessness,” and at the same time, it was to do what he wanted to do.

Killing and proselytizing.

So for Hidan, whether it was the Akatsuki or Uchiha Madara's faction, it didn't cause him much loss, as long as they didn't hinder his religious beliefs and allowed him to continue doing what he wanted.

Uchiha Madara's faction was also gradually taking shape; Black Zetsu goes without saying, Uchiha Shin, Kisame Hoshigaki, Hidan, and Deidara, a total of six people.

As for the Akatsuki, having directly lost four members, it now only had Jigen, Nagato, Konan, Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Obito, Sasori, and Kakuzu, a total of seven people.

Konoha.

Although Minato Namikaze knew that Hidden Sound Village was where Chiba and his group were hiding, Minato Namikaze had never been there.

Because Minato Namikaze knew that Miyuki Uzumaki had no reaction to the letter he gave her, so going there now would be useless and might even cause Miyuki Uzumaki's disgust.

He had to do something that would make Miyuki Uzumaki forgive him.

As for Naruto Uzumaki, he was currently training in Sage Mode at Mount Myōboku and developing new Ninjutsu that were advancements of Rasengan.

Minato Namikaze was also helpless concerning Naruto Uzumaki; every time he saw him, Naruto Uzumaki treated him with a cold, business-like attitude, leaving Minato Namikaze completely at a loss, unable to cultivate any relationship with Naruto Uzumaki.

Current Sunagakure, under Minato Namikaze's high-pressure policy, had completely become a training ground for Konoha Shinobi to train Ninja.

At this moment, an uninvited guest appeared outside Hidden Sound Village.

Uchiha Itachi.

In these three months, Uchiha Itachi had used every means to finally inquire about suspected Uchiha Sasuke's whereabouts in the Land of Rice Fields, and the result of his investigation was Hidden Sound Village.

Chiba, who was training Uzumaki Aonagi, Uchiha Sasuke, and the others, interrupted the training.

Chiba glanced at Uchiha Sasuke and said, “Dismissed, take a break.”

Before leaving, Chiba said to Uchiha Sasuke, “He's here to confirm your safety. Whether you want to see him now is up to you.”

Chiba used the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared from his spot.

Just as Uchiha Itachi was about to step into Hidden Sound Village to look for Uchiha Sasuke, Chiba instantly appeared before Uchiha Itachi: “Stop. Hidden Sound Village does not welcome you.”

Uchiha Itachi stared at Chiba, his heart turbulent: “I didn't expect you to be hiding in Hidden Sound Village.”

Chiba looked at Uchiha Itachi disdainfully and said, “Don't make it sound so bad. What do you mean by 'hiding'? Is there anything I need to hide?”

Uchiha Itachi asked in a deep voice, “Is Sasuke in Hidden Sound Village?”

Chiba chuckled, “Ah, yes, he traded himself to me to get revenge on you.”

Uchiha Itachi frowned and asked, “What happened?”

Chiba looked at Uchiha Itachi with a mocking expression: “What happened? Isn't this all thanks to you? His head now has a seal engraved by me; as long as I want, I can crush his brain, and what he wants is the power to kill you.

He is now strictly following your plan, hating you, resenting you, and then, to gain the power to kill you, he will give up everything he can.”

Uchiha Itachi's face instantly became very ugly.

He hadn't expected Uchiha Sasuke to dare to make such a deal with Chiba.

Chiba looked at Uchiha Itachi's ugly expression playfully: “Why the long face? Isn't this what you hoped for? You want Sasuke to gain the power to kill you, and then you die by his hand, giving him the Mangekyō Sharingan, isn't that right?

It's coming soon; he will soon gain the power to kill you. Aren't you happy? And the powerful strength he gains after killing you will be used by me. I will gain a powerful subordinate. For this, I have to thank you, Itachi.”

Uchiha Itachi stared at Chiba with piercing eyes and asked, “What will it take for you to remove the seal in Sasuke's mind?”

“You are truly strange, Itachi. He is clearly advancing on the path you envisioned. You wouldn't think Sasuke would gain power through normal means, would you?

To be honest, under your torment, if Sasuke isn't crazy, it means he has a strong inner self. This is a deal he willingly made with me, so by what right are you choosing for Sasuke now?”

Chiba looked at Uchiha Itachi in front of him and truly couldn't understand what he was thinking.