Sasuke is fighting a tough battle over there, while in the forest, Su Xiao is waiting for news.

Su Xiao is leaning against a tree trunk, holding a tablet and playing a puzzle game to pass the time. Beside him, Bubu Wang and A Mu are starting another staring contest, their eyes ’flashing with lightning and thunder’. Who knows what bet they’re making this time; if it’s to eat trees, then Bubu Wang is in for it.

Shinfuru, who has recovered somewhat, looks anxious. After all, the intense aura of Bubu Wang and A Mu’s stare is quite formidable, and she’s starting to doubt if this dog and bull have turned against each other.

It’s not that Su Xiao doesn’t want to rush to the battlefield, it’s just that he’s injured. As for biting Shinfuru to heal his wounds, it’s not possible right now; Shinfuru is already half-exhausted, and if she got bitten now, she would most likely die.

Boom!

An explosion sounded in the distance. Su Xiao looked towards the source of the sound, seeing a surge of blood-red chakra shooting into the sky.

"Roar!!"

The roar echoed in his ears as Su Xiao leaped several times up to the higher tree canopies.

From afar, he could see a large shatter of rocks and splashes of water near the stone bridge, with red and purple energies clashing and shockwaves rippling outwards.

"Looks like there’s no opportunity."

Even from a distance, Su Xiao could sense how furious the Nine-tails’ chakra was. Judging from the violent chakra, Naruto may have erupted beyond six tails.

The colossal figure of Toad Wentai was visible to Su Xiao even from afar. Given the situation, the Toad Sage Shen Zuo and Chiazma must be present, along with those Contractors beside Naruto. It would be unwise for Su Xiao to rashly join in this battle.

The best outcome would be to successfully capture Naruto. However, in an emergency, the Nine-tails within Naruto would erupt entirely. The Nine-tails is the strongest Tailed Beast, not on the same level as the other eight.

Seeing no good opportunity, Su Xiao hesitated no longer and prepared to head back to the base within the Country of Fire with Bubu Wang, A Mu, and Shinfuru.

As for whether Sasuke lives or dies, it has nothing to do with Su Xiao. It is Obito who wants to use Sasuke, not Su Xiao.

Now, what Su Xiao needs to do is wait until the Great Ninja War breaks out. He’s done almost everything he can, and now only needs to handle some trivial matters, that is, to put pressure on the Five Great Shinobi Villages to unite against Obito.

Su Xiao has assassinated two Kage, which put a lot of pressure on the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Hidden Cloud and Hidden Mist will soon select new leaders and unite with other villages swiftly.

Su Xiao chose to assassinate the Raikage and Mizukage, not blindly. Of course, there is a personal grudge when it comes to the Mizukage.

Among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, the ones most unwilling to unite are the Hidden Cloud Village and Hidden Mist Village. Hidden Cloud is a group of martial factions, and they wouldn’t choose to unite without immense pressure. As for Hidden Mist Village, their geographical position is too advantageous, and without enough pressure, they would retreat to their island.

Now with the deaths of the Kage of these two villages, the villages’ high-end combat power is vacant. Uniting with other ninja villages is the best choice to prevent other villages from attacking them.

Su Xiao has done what he can. He can’t completely control all Five Great Shinobi Villages, but the Great Ninja War is pretty much inevitable at this point.

Su Xiao is most worried not about the Main Task but about the Hunting Task.

Walking through the forest, Su Xiao has a slight headache. He’s killed many Violators, but it’s the first time he’s learned about the existence of Foreigners.

As a Hunter, although Su Xiao receives certain benefits, all these bizarre things have to be handled by him, including Violators and Foreigners.

Task Brief: Clear TQ-9670 Foreigner by any means.

...

A keyword in the brief caught Su Xiao’s speculation, ’TQ’. Seeing this abbreviation, Su Xiao immediately thought of his old rival, Apocalypse Paradise.

Apocalypse Paradise left Su Xiao with the impression of a bunch of cowardly Contractors, with lenient punishment methods, resulting in a bunch of greenhouse flowers that couldn’t stand any hardship.

However, not all Contractors in Apocalypse Paradise are cowards. For instance, Xi, who is dead now; not only did she have a high IQ, but she also withstood the Sun God·Apollo.

Of course, the meaning of ’TQ’ is Su Xiao’s speculation. What’s more curious now is where this Foreigner has gone?

The Foreigner wasn’t present at the Five Shadow Summit, and even now with Naruto fighting Sasuke, that guy is still absent. If he never shows up, there’s nothing Su Xiao can do.

"Could it be hiding in some Ninja Village?"

Without a single clue, this is what gives Su Xiao the biggest headache every time he receives a Hunting Task. Luckily, he is not without advantages; Bai Jue’s perception range is vast. Perhaps, Su Xiao can get some intel through Bai Jue.

Bai Jue is Obito’s man. Although now everyone is part of the Akatsuki Organization, to get any information from Bai Jue, he must first strike a deal with Obito, as Bai Jue will only take orders from Obito and Madara.

The good news is that Obito might soon come to ask Su Xiao for help, and that’s precisely the opportunity.

Su Xiao quickly traversed through the forest, with Shinfuru, injured, getting the special seat as she was carried by A Mu.

About two hours later, Su Xiao returned to the Akatsuki Organization’s base, a subterranean facility.

The base inside was deathly silent. Su Xiao checked the Barrier Technique at the entrance; there were no signs of intrusion. He looked at Bubu Wang, who shook his head knowingly, indicating that there was no one inside the base.

"Kisame went to capture the Eight-tails, his short absence is normal. Where did Deidara go?"

Su Xiao felt something was amiss. Previously, Deidara’s task was to divert the Tsuchikage, and then he could retreat. Judging by the progress, Deidara should have been the first to return to the base.

Su Xiao couldn’t help but wonder, could it be that Deidara was killed by the Tsuchikage? It’s not out of the question.

Deidara may have gone out wandering, or studying his art, or he might have been killed by the Tsuchikage.

As for Deidara being captured, Su Xiao hadn’t even considered that possibility. That guy’s biggest dream was to find a strong enemy to prove his art, to die for art, commonly known as self-destruct.

Being captured? Don’t be ridiculous. Su Xiao doesn’t believe it at all. However, Deidara did get captured because the Tsuchikage thoroughly understood Deidara’s abilities.

Deidara’s situation will be clear once Obito and Bai Jue return, and Su Xiao temporarily shelved this issue.

After heading deep into the base, Su Xiao found a small room, about ten square meters, and locked the door tightly, sitting cross-legged on a simple wooden bed inside. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Su Xiao took out several Treasure chests from his Storage Space, a total of four, which were:

[Treasure Chest (Dark Purple)] dropped by Mizukage·Mei Terumī.

[Treasure Chest (Light Gold)] dropped by Raikage Guard·Darui.

[Treasure chest (gold)] dropped by Mizukage Guard·Solitary Lamp and Remnant Moon.

[Treasure Chest (Legendary)] dropped by Raikage·Ai.

...

Four Treasure chests: the one dropped by Mei Terumī puzzled Su Xiao; even if Bai Jue intervened in the battle, weakening the gain by 40%, it should still be at least Light Golden Quality, not Dark Purple Quality.

There’s no point in wild guessing. Opening this Treasure Chest might reveal what’s going on. However, Su Xiao is more looking forward to the Legendary treasure box dropped by Raikage; it’s his first time obtaining a Treasure Chest of this grade.

Su Xiao eagerly picks up the Dark Purple treasure chest dropped by Mei Terumī. He habitually lights a cigarette with Fate Redemption, exhales a puff of Light Golden smoke, amping up in the European King’s State.