Naruto: I Have a Gravity Training Room-Chapter 467 - 465

So Victor's only option was to run.

But even then, he would still be facing pursuit from Konoha shinobi. If he wanted any chance of escaping, the only way was to go find that Ōtsutsuki.

That way, Team Kakashi could tail him all the way, locate the hidden Ōtsutsuki, and take him down. The shinobi world's hidden threat would be resolved.

That was the plan on paper. The only question was whether Victor would actually do it.

So even Kakashi's team couldn't be fully sure. They had doubts, but they still had to execute the plan.

Sure enough, the moment Victor heard Kakashi's words, panic flashed through him. He tried to argue his way out.

"They volunteered for these experiments! I had them sign consent forms. You can't convict me for that! And this is the Land of Valleys. Even if Konoha is strong, you can't bully civilians in another country. Aren't you afraid the entire shinobi world will condemn you and spit on you?!"

It sounded reasonable at first glance, but it was all bark and no bite.

And he was backing away as he spoke, inching toward the massive cylindrical glass apparatus. He was clearly trying to take the God Tree fragment with him.

Kakashi didn't waste time. He snapped a hand signal.

Shino, Kiba, and Hiashi charged at once and dropped the dark-skinned secretary on the spot.

But Victor had already retreated a good distance. He formed seals quickly and spat out a swirling gale.

"Fūton: Bōfūsen (Wind Release: Storm Whirl)!"

Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.

It was a decent Wind Release. It forced the three of them to halt their advance.

In truth, breaking through it wouldn't have been hard. They stopped on purpose. If Victor couldn't run, then there was no point to the whole plan.

Seeing it work, Victor's face lit with relief. He formed seals again and slapped his palm to the floor.

"Doton: Sajinran (Earth Release: Sand-Dust Tempest)!"

In the next instant, a massive wave of sand surged up from the ground and swallowed Shino's team whole.

Victor used the opening to pull back, racing straight to the main cylindrical apparatus. He wanted to yank the God Tree fragment out and bolt, but Kakashi appeared beside the device without warning and kicked Victor hard, sending him flying.

"Damn you, Hatake Kakashi!"

Victor had recognized him immediately.

Victor had taken part in the war. He'd definitely seen the Third Division's captain. He knew Kakashi was dangerous, and he understood in that moment that there was no way he was taking the God Tree fragment with him.

Rage boiled up so fiercely he wanted to kill them all.

But he couldn't. Their strength was beyond him.

The only option was to run. Forget the fragment. Save yourself first.

Because Victor's identity wasn't simple.

If Konoha caught him, a lot of buried secrets would come spilling out.

So he had to run.

"Katon: Gōenka (Fire Release: Great Flame Blossom)!"

Victor formed seals again and blasted out a massive fireball, then turned and fled. He actually managed to force his way out of the lab and cut through the facility, sprinting out of the company by a shorter route.

Kakashi's team looked as if they were blocked by the giant fireball, and for a brief moment they really didn't catch up.

Victor didn't dare relax. He pushed his speed harder, quickly putting the company behind him as he tore off in a specific direction.

Sasuke was outside the company, watching Victor disappear into the distance. "Looks like Kakashi-sensei's plan is going smoothly. Hopefully the old man really does run to that hidden Ōtsutsuki."

Inside the laboratory, Kakashi's group exchanged looks, unable to stop their smiles.

Shino asked, "Kakashi-sensei, do we chase right now?"

Kakashi nodded. "Shino and Kiba, chase immediately. But stay far behind. Let Victor know you're pursuing him. Only if he feels the pressure will he seek help from the Ōtsutsuki."

Shino and Kiba didn't hesitate. They took off at once.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes at the massive cylindrical apparatus. "Hiashi, we'll deal with this here and publicize Victor's crimes, so the employees don't riot. Though honestly, once their 'high-paying job' disappears, they're going to make noise anyway. Not our problem."

Hiashi didn't respond. He couldn't be bothered to spare ordinary civilians a thought.

Not long after, Kakashi sealed the God Tree fragment along with the main apparatus, planning to bring it back for Orochimaru to examine.

A thing like the God Tree was strange. It seemed to be the Ōtsutsuki's method of stealing a planet's power. Now that they'd obtained a fragment, they couldn't just destroy it carelessly.

They needed to study it, find weaknesses.

If they could identify a weakness, then the next time an Ōtsutsuki tried to plant one, they would have a targeted way to stop it.

As for the employees' bodies, those would serve as evidence of Victor's crimes. Their friends could retrieve them and give them proper burials.

Meanwhile, Victor sprinted to a temporary safehouse. He gulped down tea before finally breathing easier, but the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. In the end, he smashed the cup and flipped the table.

How could he not be furious?

He'd been so close. With the God Tree fragment, he could have cultivated a new God Tree and used it to ascend alone.

And then Konoha's shinobi ruined everything.

He'd underestimated Konoha's reach. They'd investigated him that quickly. Even if they'd only started watching him because of the disappearances, the new God Tree project could never stay hidden forever.

And worst of all, his secretary had fallen into their hands.

"Damn Konoha… They moved too fast! And so silently. They just stormed my lab out of nowhere. I didn't even have time to prepare!"

As Victor raged, he also couldn't help sighing.

Some things really were impossible alone. In the end, he had to crawl back to the organization and keep working under them.

At that moment, the air in front of him warped. A figure condensed into view: a man in a white haori, with strange braided hair, and a black diamond mark on his chin.

Victor's expression eased. He spoke in a low voice. "Jigen, why contact me through Genjutsu: Tsūshin (Illusion Technique: Communication) so suddenly?"

Genjutsu: Tsūshin (Illusion Technique: Communication) allowed someone to project an illusionary image at a specific location. It was perfect for notifications and meetings. Victor was clearly used to it.

And this mysterious man called Jigen was clearly no ordinary figure either.

Jigen's face was calm, his eyes cold. "If I didn't appear, you'd already be captured by Konoha. Your death doesn't matter, but Kara operates in secrecy. We can't let a fool like you expose more to Konoha, let alone the Alliance. It's not the time for us to face the shinobi world head-on. You'll hide at headquarters for a while."

Victor didn't argue. He nodded. "Konoha shinobi are still chasing me. Take me to headquarters. Now."

Jigen said nothing more. The projection vanished.

In the next instant, a black-and-red circular portal opened. Victor stepped through immediately, and the portal snapped shut a heartbeat later.

(End of Chapter)

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