286-290

*Chapter 286: Another Spring*

Konoha Year 59.

Cherry blossoms bloomed, casting a light, rich pink hue over Konoha’s streets, ushering in the spirit of spring.

“It’s already been so long!” muttered Hotaru Tsuchigumo, walking along the street, gazing at the now-familiar surroundings. The sigh that escaped her was laced with complexity—a sentiment fitting for an eleven-year-old, whose emotions often took on intense highs and lows.

She had first come to Konoha five years ago, in early autumn, with her mentor. The passing seasons had blurred together, with time flying like an arrow. Before she knew it, over five years had slipped away through her fingers.

And just like that, it was spring again.

“Hotaru, hurry up! If you keep dawdling, we’re leaving without you!”

The girl at the front turned back, now walking backward, laughing as she chided her lagging friend. She moved with graceful ease, her smile radiant, her long black hair swaying gently in the spring breeze as pink petals drifted through her hair—a sight too beautiful to be put into words.

In that moment, even Hotaru, a fellow girl, felt her heart skip a beat.

The human pursuit of beauty is never confined to gender.

She took a deep breath, quelling her drifting thoughts, and retorted, “It’s you who’s too fast, Fujika! Look, even Yakumo isn’t walking that fast! Though, well, maybe just a tiny bit faster than me… In any case, Fujika, you’re the one rushing ahead. What’s the point in getting there early? We’ll just end up listening to a bunch of idiots arguing in the classroom.”

“Huh?”

A question mark seemed to pop up over Yakumo Kurama’s head. How did she get pulled into this?

“Talk all you want, but leave me out of it.”

After five years of knowing these two friends, Yakumo knew their personalities well. Calling them “unruly” might be an exaggeration, but they were certainly not the kind to sit still and play by the rules.

If she got dragged in, she’d undoubtedly end up with a headache.

But—

She’d underestimated her friends' sheer audacity.

“See? Even Yakumo said you were too fast, Fujika. And walk properly! You’ll bump into someone that way. Turn around already.” Hotaru's twisting of Yakumo’s words was shamelessly bold, leaving Yakumo momentarily speechless.

“How could I possibly bump into anyone?”

Uchiha Fujika puffed up her chest confidently.

“Even without looking, I can sense anyone nearby. And Yakumo didn’t say anything…” As she spoke, she really did close her eyes and kept walking backward. Yakumo could only sigh as she watched her friends bicker.

Those two… they never seem to tire of it!

Just then, she noticed a familiar figure rounding the corner. The person placed a finger to their lips, signaling silence, so Yakumo swallowed the words that had been on the tip of her tongue and cast a sympathetic glance at her friend, who was still walking backward with her eyes closed.

Without a sound, a hand chop descended from above.

It landed precisely on Uchiha Fujika’s head.

“Ouch! Who hit me?!”

Catching a surprise chop, Fujika immediately exploded in indignation.

She opened her eyes, looking around fiercely to find the culprit… only to see Hotaru and Yakumo still standing where they had been when she last had her eyes open. Did they ambush her with a Shadow Clone?

A moment later, however, the deep, steady voice from behind dispelled her suspicions.

“Fujika, why are you messing around, walking backward? Are you planning to perform tricks at the zoo with the monkeys?”

“Eh? Brother? Why are you here?”

Fujika rubbed her head, completely forgetting her plan for vengeance. She turned around, staring in surprise at Uchiha Sōgen’s unexpected presence.

“Master,” the other girls greeted, swiftly stepping closer to him.

“What, am I not allowed to be here?”

Sōgen nodded to his students, signaling there was no need for formalities, but he still continued lecturing his sister.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at the Hokage building?”

“I’m out on business, can’t I?”

“I didn’t say you couldn’t… but you, personally, coming out for business? Is there something big happening?” Fujika’s eyes lit up, clearly eager for some excitement. She was no longer the girl who once played Ninja Games.

In these peaceful times, perhaps it was no big deal. But in wartime, kids were on the battlefield by age six—Sōgen himself went to war at seven, and Kakashi Hatake, for an even more extreme example, had graduated from the Academy and headed to the front lines at five. By six, he was already a Chūnin.

Now, all Fujika could think about was graduating from the Academy and becoming a real ninja.

“Move along; this doesn’t concern you,” Sōgen said, delivering another chop to his sister’s head. He looked up at the sky, adding, “If you keep dragging your feet, you’re going to be late. And if you don’t pass due to tardiness, don’t expect me to make any excuses for you.”

“Humph… Fine, don’t say anything, but why hit me again? Let’s go, Yakumo, Hotaru.”

Fujika muttered, rubbing her head and calling her friends to join her as they headed off.

Clearly, the threat of repeating a grade was effective. If she were held back, she wouldn’t be able to graduate with Yakumo and Hotaru next year. She might be smart, scoring perfect marks on exams in her first two years, but recently, her interest in academics had plummeted, focusing all her energy on ninjutsu and taijutsu training. Barely passing her exams was only thanks to her still-sharp mind and Yakumo’s help. Hotaru was no different, struggling with academics just as much.

In every test, they managed to pass—by clinging to Yakumo’s coattails!

“Master, we’re off,” Yakumo and Hotaru called, waving.

“Off you go!”

Sōgen watched as the girls disappeared down the street, carried by the spring breeze. Then, he turned around and leapt toward the Akimichi clan’s grounds. The reason he was here today was simple: the Fifth Hokage, Chōza Akimichi, had fallen ill once again and couldn’t make it to the Hokage’s office.

He intended to check in on him and had spotted Fujika and her friends along the way.

As for Chōza’s illness, it had come and gone repeatedly. Four years ago, the Anbu had finally tracked down the ever-elusive Tsunade, but she still refused to return to Konoha.

The Anbu dared not force her.

In the end, Shikaku Nara had to go himself, offering to settle Tsunade’s debts if she agreed to treat Chōza. But even Tsunade was human, not an all-powerful deity; Chōza’s condition was half illness, half old age.

A complete cure was simply impossible.

---

Even so, Tsunade really lived up to her reputation as the top medical ninja in the shinobi world. Thanks to her treatment, she managed to stabilize Torifu Akimichi's condition, extending his life by over four years. Although he suffered several relapses during this time, Tsunade’s prescribed medicine kept his condition under control.

Upon arriving at the Akimichi Clan's grounds, the gatekeepers quickly sent someone to inform the clan. They didn’t dare to stop Lord Sougen, the Hokage's advisor, and accompanied him inside instead. After all, this wasn’t his first visit—over the years, he'd often come to check on Torifu during his illness.

To be honest, Sougen knew the Akimichi estate well enough to navigate with his eyes closed. Before he had gone far, Choza Akimichi rushed over, apologizing, "Lord Sougen, thank you for coming once again. We’re truly sorry for the trouble."

"Enough apologies, Choza. How's the Hokage’s condition?"

Without wasting time on pleasantries, Sougen cut straight to the point.

“Not great,” Choza replied, his forced smile fading into a worried frown. “The elder has already taken the medicine Tsunade-sama left behind, which usually has an immediate effect, but this time…”

He paused, looking around to ensure no one else was nearby. In a low voice, he added, “Uncle… can’t see anymore.” (To clarify, Choza is Torifu's nephew, not son. Torifu, like Danzo, never married or had children, making him a lifelong bachelor.)

For large families like the Akimichi, nephews and sons aren't much different. If someone has no children, it's common to pass on the family legacy to a nephew.

Upon hearing this, Sougen’s expression shifted. Blindness—it explained the vague reports and Choza’s grim expression. Losing vision would be devastating for anyone, especially for a shinobi. For most people, 80% of the external information they receive comes through vision.

Aside from the pain and suffering of blindness, an individual unable to see would be incapable of continuing as Hokage. If this couldn’t be healed, it might change everything.

“Are there medical ninjas here?” Sougen suppressed his racing heartbeat, asking calmly, “Have they arrived?”

“They’re currently in consultation. The hospital director got here just five minutes before you.”

“Good, if it’s Yonoyu, then… though he doesn’t quite match up to Tsunade-sama, he’s still likely the second-best in Konoha.”

“Once we realized the severity of the situation, we sent someone to call Director Yonoyu immediately,” Choza explained, his heavy tone conveying deep worry.

In five years, Konoha had undergone many changes. For example, after struggling to maintain the orphanage's growing expenses, Yonoyu founded a new hospital, with guidance from his adopted son, Kabuto, named after himself—the Yonoyu Hospital.

Of course, Yonoyu didn’t have the money for a large-scale build. It was Sougen who lent him a substantial sum on behalf of the Uchiha clan, interest-free, in exchange for training twenty Uchiha children less inclined toward combat in medical ninjutsu.

Not all Uchiha, after all, are fighters like Chiyaku Uchiha. Some want to become shinobi but find it hard to endure the bloodshed. In the past, such clansmen would either give up on being shinobi or die early in battle… but now, they had a new path.

For those who dislike fighting on the battlefield, they can stay back and treat the wounded. Besides, even if they never awakened the Sharingan, most Uchiha still have more chakra than the average civilian ninja. Although it’s often compared to the Senju and Uzumaki, their chakra levels remain above average.

Plus, if they do awaken the Sharingan—even with just one tomoe—it grants Uchiha sharper insight and better chakra control, both crucial for medical ninjutsu.

Guided by Choza, Sougen entered a bedroom. The six-tatami-mat room was sparsely populated, with most people waiting outside. Only a select few were permitted inside.

There were Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, Yonoyu treating Torifu, and Uchiha Izumi assisting as Yonoyu's apprentice.

“Uncle, Lord Sougen is here to see you,” Choza said softly, kneeling beside Torifu, who was lying on the tatami, his eyes closed.

“Is that you, Sougen?” Torifu turned his head, eyes open but devoid of light, blindly gazing around. Sougen realized, beyond a doubt, that the Fifth Hokage couldn’t see.

“Yes, I’m right beside you, on your left,” Sougen replied, kneeling beside him.

“Thank you for coming to see me in this state.”

Torifu, now seventy-one, sighed. His gray hair and weakened voice conveyed an air of resignation and loss.

“Why would I laugh? People grow old, and even the moon waxes and wanes—it's just nature's way. Someday I’ll be like this too. Besides, with Director Yonoyu here, if need be, we can call Tsunade-sama.”

“The village has Shikaku and me to handle things, so don’t worry. Focus on getting well.”

“Haha!” Torifu chuckled. “Sougen, you don’t need to comfort an old man like me. I think… never mind. Otherwise, Choza and Shikaku will start arguing. For now, let’s leave things as they are. Please, Sougen, look after the village for me while I take this rare opportunity to rest.”

“It’s my duty,” Sougen replied earnestly.

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 287: Timing and Monsters

Sougen didn’t linger long. With the Fifth Hokage on medical leave, as acting advisor with Hokage duties, he couldn’t afford to be away for too long. After exchanging some polite, reassuring words, he took his leave, joined by Doctor Nonou Yakushi, who had just finished the diagnosis.

“How does it look, Doctor Yakushi?”

“Haven’t I already told you? Do you need me to repeat it?”

“So, the chances of the Hokage regaining his sight really are slim?”

“He’s beyond hope, beyond cure,” Nonou replied firmly.

“I understand,” Sougen nodded.

It seemed that Choza Akimichi didn’t have much time left. Although Nonou’s medical skills weren’t on par with Tsunade’s, she was still one of the top medics in the ninja world, and her judgment could be trusted. Even Tsunade herself had said four years prior that Choza’s condition could only be managed, not cured.

With that in mind, some preparations could indeed begin.

The Sixth Hokage... Sougen was determined to claim the position, and it looked like Konoha didn’t have any strong contenders. Choza’s illness had been recurring for years, so this wasn’t the first time Sougen had exercised Hokage authority as his advisor. All signs seemed to point to Sougen as the destined Sixth Hokage.

Yet, in Sougen’s mind, variables still existed.

For example, if Tsunade were to return to the village and run for Sixth Hokage, who knew how many supporters she could rally with a single call? The legacy left by the First and Second Hokage ran deep, and no one could know its full extent until it was tested.

In any case,

Better safe than sorry.

Still, there was no need to discuss this with Nonou. Though the Yakushi Hospital was built with funding from the Uchiha, Nonou had insisted on it being a loan rather than a donation. She’d learned her lesson after being burned by Danzo and wanted to avoid any potential manipulation.

Her past as a spy had left Nonou exhausted, and now, she had no desire to involve herself in the village’s political struggles.

Sougen, for his part, didn’t mind.

The reason he funded the hospital was because of a suggestion from his current assistant, Kabuto Yakushi. Establishing a new hospital could significantly improve the Uchiha clan’s reputation in the village, even if Kabuto’s motivation was likely to help his adoptive mother.

But Sougen had to admit, Kabuto was quite persuasive; even with his transparent intentions, he managed to sway the Uchiha elders.

And thus, the Yakushi Hospital was founded.

To Kabuto’s credit, he was truthful as well. The hospital’s profits were enough to support a small orphanage, and the Uchiha’s involvement in its construction spread gradually among the hospital staff, improving the clan’s reputation.

“Isumi, how’s your progress studying with Doctor Yakushi?” Sougen asked, turning to the girl beside Nonou. Sixteen-year-old Izumi Uchiha had blossomed into a graceful young woman, her gentle demeanor captivating many young men in the clan.

Unfortunately,

This flower had already been claimed.

Most could only secretly curse the lucky jerk who’d won her heart—someone so formidable that few dared challenge him openly.

“It’s... going okay, I guess?” Izumi answered hesitantly, sneaking a glance at Nonou.

“Though she started learning medical jutsu late, Izumi is talented, diligent, and her Sharingan is a great asset for medical work. I’m confident she’ll be a competent medical-nin before she’s eighteen,” Nonou replied confidently.

“That’s excellent,” Sougen commented, then added, “Being a medical-nin is a valuable path. Not every Uchiha needs to be a frontline fighter. Healing in the back lines is just as important. If anyone criticizes that, beat them up. If you can’t, ask Itachi to help.”

Every family has its naysayers.

Especially one as large as the Uchiha.

Not all clan members saw becoming a medical-nin as a respectable choice. Some felt that the Uchiha should be known only for their battlefield prowess. Sougen couldn’t root out every biased viewpoint, so he relied on his authority to suppress them.

“I’ll try,” Izumi replied, blushing.

“Not try. Definitely. Unless they’re over sixty or sixty-five, if anyone mocks you, put them in their place, and tell Itachi not to hold back.”

“Yes, Clan Leader,” Izumi replied firmly this time.

“Now that’s the spirit... That’s it for now. Doctor, Izumi, I’ll head out.” Sougen waved farewell and headed toward the Hokage’s office, while Nonou and Izumi continued north toward the hospital and the orphanage, both located on the village’s north side.

Back at the Hokage’s office,

Sougen entered his advisor’s office. Though he still officially held his position as Chief of Police, his duties were largely managed by his deputy, Uchiha Ranzan. His focus had shifted to his advisor role, and he spent at least twenty-five days each month working in the Hokage’s building.

And,

Aside from assisting the Hokage and his role as head of the Police Department, he now held another position.

Just as Sougen had settled into his chair, a knock came at the door.

“Come in!”

Sougen put down the file he had just glanced at, and looked up to see a young man with white hair walking in. "Mangetsu, what brings you here?"

“No big deal, it’s personal.”

With his white hair, purple eyes, and sharp teeth, the young man's identity was unmistakable. He was Hozuki Mangetsu, the "Prodigy Beloved by the Ninja Swords," from Kirigakure. Of course, the title of "prodigy" was a thing of the past for him now.

“Personal? Asking for time off again?”

“Heh heh, you know me too well, boss.”

“You... always taking time off. What’s the reason this time? Never mind, just tell me—how many days do you need?”

“At least twenty days.”

“Twenty days? Bold of you to ask.”

“I can’t help it! The journey from Konoha to Kirigakure is so long! Factoring in the travel, I barely get to spend time at home. But this time it’s serious—my father passed away, and my younger brother Suigetsu’s been acting up a lot lately. My mother asked me to come home since there’s a lot for me to take care of.”

“My condolences.”

Sougen's face turned solemn.

“Heh, it’s alright. Honestly, my relationship with the old man wasn’t good. If it weren’t for my mother’s letter, I wouldn’t have planned on going back.” Mangetsu didn’t seem the least bit sad.

Sougen didn’t press further. He knew Mangetsu had a difficult relationship with his father. But since it was a family matter, it was best to stay out of it.

“I’ll give you a month off. If that’s not enough, you can extend it. Just come back when your family matters are settled—there’s nothing urgent at the department right now. By the way, Yuyuri isn’t going with you, is she?”

“I’m going alone.”

“Be careful on the road.”

The “department” here wasn’t the Police Department; Mangetsu and Yuyuri were in the Konoha-Kirigakure Joint Rogue Ninja Task Force, a cooperative unit supposedly formed to help both villages pursue rogue ninjas across borders. In truth, though—

It was far more complex.

This unit was Sougen's idea to pacify and ally with Kirigakure. By making Uchiha Madara, a common enemy to both Konoha and Kirigakure, the target, he established a solid alliance between the villages. The Mizukage at the time was fully on board.

After the Fourth Mizukage passed and Mei Terumi became the Fifth Mizukage, she quickly sent Mangetsu, Yuyuri, and a team of capable Kirigakure ninja to Konoha. Sougen, in turn, selected Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Chisato, and others.

And so,

The Konoha-Kirigakure Joint Rogue Ninja Task Force was established, with Sougen serving as its first head.

Forming the department was quick, but achieving results was another story. Over the years, the two villages had indeed captured many rogue ninjas, but the investigation into Uchiha Madara had made little progress—no solid leads had surfaced.

Sougen did know that Uchiha Obito likely frequented Amegakure.

Sougen was confident he could take down Amegakure if he gathered enough power.

But unless he could subdue both Obito and Nagato in one strike, an assault on Amegakure would only drive his enemies deeper underground. Besides, Sougen’s own strength had been growing steadily in recent years, so waiting was to his advantage.

So,

He refrained from offering his subordinates any extra help.

However, as time passed, perhaps… change wouldn’t be too far off. After all, Naruto and his class would graduate next spring. Although the future had veered far from what he remembered, it was still a point worth noting.

It held some reference value.

“Does anyone really live in a place like this?”

The speaker was a woman dressed in a sharp, deep purple outfit, with a rain-shielding hat and no headband, suggesting she wasn’t from one of the five major villages.

Standing on a stone jutting up like a fang, she surveyed her surroundings, which looked much the same: jagged rocks and mist-covered peaks hidden in the rain.

This was typical of the ninja world.

Just as the Land of Rain had endless rainfall and the Land of Iron had perpetual winter, some regions in the ninja world had peculiar climates, whether naturally occurring or shaped by ancient forces. This mountain, located on the border between the Land of Iron and the Land of Taki, was clearly influenced by the cold climate of the Land of Iron.

Though it was spring, the cold wind still howled.

There was no snow, but the icy rain was just as unforgiving.

“We need to go further in. The person we’re looking for is here.” The man, dressed like a wandering monk with a staff, gazed into the depths of the mountain, but the veil of rain hid the landscape ahead.

“Tenme, see anything?”

The man with the staff addressed another companion.

“Oh, I see something!”

Tenme, crouched down, opened his eyes and looked up. “I don’t see any people, but there’s something strange up there. We’d better be careful.”

The three-person team was none other than Homma and his companions.

“What do you mean, ‘something strange’?”

Homma frowned and looked up toward the sky, seeing only gray clouds. Wait… there was something… a strange sight!

“What is that?”

Ziji was stunned.

Breaking through the clouds and into view was a massive creature that defied classification. It had a single horn on its head, two wings, four legs, and two tails, with a pale, armored body that seemed built to crush entire streets.

“Forget what it is—run!”

Tenme shouted.

The creature opened its mouth and spat a searing stream of fire toward the trio below, like a waterfall of flames descending from the sky. The ferocity of the fire seemed capable of melting the stones below.

Tenme and Ziji took off.

Homma, after a half-second of consideration, chose to avoid the creature as well. He was here to find someone, not to fight. Besides, fighting an airborne monster wouldn’t be easy; he’d need a way to bring it down first.

Seeing its flames miss entirely, only striking a fang-shaped rock, the creature grew enraged. It let out a furious roar and swooped lower, ready to shred the intruders with its claws since its fire had failed.

*Chapter 288: Forbidden Technique - Wrath of the Sky*

“Hey, Kazuma, what’s going on here? Weren't we here to find someone? Why does it feel like we’ve stumbled into a monster’s lair?” Tenme shouted, swinging his katana to deflect a crossbow bolt powerful enough to pierce stone. The strange part was it wasn’t fired from any siege weapon.

Instead, it shot from the shoulder of a beast shaped like a hound.

For some reason, just as the enormous creature initially prepared to attack them, it vanished without warning, replaced by an array of smaller creatures that began their assault. Among them were bone-armored hounds with crossbows mounted on their shoulders, regenerating blue-scaled serpents with two heads, and monstrous birds in the air that dropped explosive feathers...

It was bizarre!

“This doesn’t seem like any natural creation!” muttered Shiko, frustrated as her poisoned senbon proved useless against the endlessly regenerating blue-scaled serpent. The monster simply abandoned its poisoned body parts and regenerated anew.

“An artificial creation, perhaps?”

Kazuma punched a beastly hound flying through the air, agilely dodging the incoming explosive feathers. Surveying the creatures around them, he smirked, “Looks like we’re in the right place!”

“This is a welcoming party, then?” Tenme couldn’t help but quip.

“What? Tenme, were you expecting the host here to offer us tea and sweet cakes? If someone tried breaking into my place uninvited, I’d treat them to my full hospitality—whether they could handle it or not.”

Seeing her poisoned senbon were ineffective, Shiko switched to a short katana. After all, as a skilled jonin, close combat was hardly her weakness.

“Fair point… but Shiko, isn’t that a strange stance to take?” Tenme replied, slightly bemused.

“Hmph. What's the problem? We’re uninvited intruders anyway, so let's not pretend otherwise—it’d be shameless.”

“Fine, fine! Uninvited guests it is.”

Tenme shrugged, unwilling to argue further. “But Kazuma, what now? Should we get rid of these pests?”

Initially, the creatures’ bizarre abilities caught them off guard. But as they learned the creatures’ techniques, the threat level dropped significantly. A group of high-ranking jonin could hardly be felled by beasts that only acted on basic commands and instincts.

“No need for you two to interfere,” Kazuma said, narrowing his eyes. “Step back. Since our hosts want a demonstration, let’s not disappoint them, or they might not even agree to meet us.”

“Wait, seriously? That technique? Is your body up for it?” Judging by Tenme’s expression, he remembered something unpleasant.

“Enough talk!” Kazuma snapped, forming hand seals and casting Earth Style: Rising Earth Spears. Massive stone spikes erupted from the ground and walls, injuring both the bone-armored hounds and the two-headed serpents. Even the low-flying birds were struck by the unexpected spikes.

Seeing this, Tenme and Shiko took the hint and slipped away.

They understood this high-level Earth Style was just a time-buying appetizer; the main course was yet to come!

Shadow Clone Jutsu!

Kazuma created three clones that sprang into action without needing instructions. They immediately defended against the monsters’ renewed attacks, shielding Kazuma’s real body to buy him more time.

Yes, he needed time.

Kazuma was preparing a forbidden technique known as Wrath of the Sky, stolen from the Tsuchigumo clan. Its strongest wielder once used it to destroy a large town, an attack-enhancing forbidden jutsu unleashing unparalleled destructive power.

Depending on the time allowed for preparation, the jutsu’s destructive scale could vary, but it demanded Kazuma remain still to absorb natural energy from the environment. Unlike chakra, natural energy was wild and prone to instability—too much movement risked triggering a catastrophic outburst, something Kazuma intended to avoid.

Fortunately, he wasn’t here to level Mount Mirou.

He had another objective.

After about three minutes, his chakra-depleted clones were destroyed one by one by the monsters. As the final obstacle was cleared, the creatures swarmed toward Kazuma’s real body.

Then—

A blinding white light erupted.

It was as if a miniature sun had risen from the ground.

In that instant, the darkened world shrouded by endless clouds was flooded with brilliant light. The creatures’ shrieks and growls fell silent, along with any trace of life—or even remains.

When the light faded, only Kazuma stood atop a lone stone pillar amidst deep craters where the creatures and terrain had once been obliterated, the sheer devastation rivaling the might of a Tailed Beast Bomb.

The term “forbidden technique” was no exaggeration.

---

Deep within Mount Mirou lay a palace built into the mountainside. This sprawling palace was eerily quiet—no people, insects, birds, or plants to be found. As far as the eye could see, the only thing left was the cold, gray stone, standing in silence, enduring the elements year after year.

Yet, judging by the condition of these stone walls, this palace wasn’t some ancient ruin from centuries past.

From the level of erosion on the outer walls, it seemed that this palace could be no more than twenty years old at most.

In fact, that was indeed the case. The master of the palace was actually not away but inside the palace. However, because the palace was so vast and had so few inhabitants, it looked rather lifeless.

At that moment,

Inside a room marked "Surveillance Room," a white-haired man, his hair as pale as early winter snow, sat silently on a cold stone seat, watching a large screen. The screen showed a battle unfolding at the edge of Mount Milou between a group of people led by Hema and a swarm of monsters.

The screen's feed was transmitted from cameras mounted on giant bird-like creatures flying overhead, capturing the action and sending it live to the palace’s monitoring system.

At first,

The palace’s master thought it was simply some rare entertainment.

However, the skill and ferocity shown by Hema’s group made him realize these weren’t the usual weaklings who wandered here by mistake. These people had come prepared. Yet, after some thought, he refrained from immediate action, letting his “precious pets” test their strength first.

Whether they were friend or foe, there was no harm in learning more about them.

Unfortunately, Hema and his team all wore wide-brimmed hats, and the giant birds had no particular skills in cinematography, making it hard to discern their identities. Plus, they didn’t have any distinguishing marks.

But then,

The palace master’s curiosity didn’t remain unanswered for long.

“What… is that?”

The white-haired man’s calm demeanor vanished. He stood up abruptly, staring at the screen filled with an overwhelming white light. Then, the feed cut off, the screen turning to static gray. It was clear that the creature with the camera had been destroyed, obliterated by the sudden burst of destructive power.

Of course, the loss of those monsters didn’t matter to him.

They were merely expendables, products of time and effort but nothing irreplaceable.

What mattered was the nature of the power that had destroyed them. The destructive force… it was unheard of—or rather, he recalled hearing something similar long ago back in his village days.

The man dug through his memories, piecing together fragments of information until he formed a guess about the identities of these intruders.

“Let’s see what you really are!” he muttered.

His voice echoed in the surveillance room,

But the palace’s master, once seated before the screen, had vanished.

…

“Is it over?”

“For now, it seems.”

“Just for now?”

Standing on the edge of a massive crater, Ziko called out to Hema, who stood on a rock column in the crater's center, “So, there’s more fighting to come?”

“Hold on; let me get over there and explain.”

Hema made a series of hand signs, using Earth Release: Earth Tremor Core to raise a pathway from the crater’s bottom, allowing him to reach Ziko and Tenmoku.

“Ziko, you asked why it’s just ‘for now.’ Is that really something you need to ask? Whether there’s more fighting depends on our opponent’s intentions.”

“Cut the crap—I was asking if you’re okay!” Ziko’s voice dropped to a whisper.

She looked around cautiously, as did Tenmoku, who remained on high alert. Given the strange jutsu and forbidden techniques across the Shinobi World, no one could be too careful about eavesdroppers.

Even Hema could barely catch what she was saying.

“I’m fine! I held back on the force; it’s not an issue,” he answered shortly. This wasn’t the time or place for details.

“That’s holding back?!” Tenmoku exclaimed, glancing nervously at the crater. Even though he had seen the technique before, its impact was always startling.

With power like this,

It was a wonder the Shinobi World hadn’t been completely ravaged by ninja battles!

“Not moving forward?” Ziko asked as Hema paused, looking uncertain.

“There’s no need,” he said. “Our target will probably show up soon… I doubt he’d miss this much commotion.”

“Are you sure? Won’t he just run the other way after seeing that kind of power?”

“Probably not.”

Hema spoke with a hint of uncertainty.

“Who knows? Someone who hides and uses monsters to attack us can’t be much of a threat,” Ziko shrugged.

But—

Tenmoku suddenly tensed, his eyes locked on a raised stone in front of them.

“Well, well, young lady. Isn’t it a little uncouth to speak poorly of someone behind their back?”

A white-haired man in a white robe with red eyes—not Sharingan, just plain red eyes—emerged from the ground like a ghost. “You certainly surprised me, but I’m not about to run away so easily.”

Ziko didn’t seem fazed, rolling her eyes in mock apology, “Oh, terribly sorry!”

The apology,

Was clearly lacking any real sincerity.

The palace’s master hadn’t expected such thick-skinned indifference. After a brief silence, he gave up on arguing with her and said, “Enough talking. Tell me why you’re here, traitors of the Twelve Guardians. Your answer will determine your fate.”

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 289: Pawns Don’t All Need to Be in Hand*

"Have I already been seen through?"

Kazu lifted his straw hat slightly, looking up at the man with white hair and red eyes. "Mind if I ask how you saw through my disguise? Was my attempt really that poor, or has my name already reached even the likes of you, Hiruko?"

With his identity revealed, Kazu also called the man by his true name.

Hiruko,

S-Class rogue ninja from Konoha.

This middle-aged man with white hair, red eyes, and clad in a high-collared white robe, had once believed himself clumsy, dull, and lacking talent—a mediocrity. He looked up to friends who were called the "Three Legendary Ninjas," striving desperately yet failing to stand on equal footing with them, weighed down by self-doubt.

To gain the qualifications to stand alongside his friends, he reached for forbidden techniques that had been sealed away.

However, fate seemed determined to obstruct him at every turn.

He hadn't yet fully deciphered the forbidden technique.

The Third Hokage became aware of his actions and sent the Legendary Three to capture him. Feeling no match for his friends, Hiruko chose to defect and became a rogue ninja, leaving Konoha to tread a dark path.

"The forbidden jutsu of the Tsuchigumo clan, Anger Burst."

Hiruko answered Kazu’s question as if it were obvious. "Since you know who I am, you should understand that, as a Konoha ninja, I would certainly know about the Tsuchigumo clan’s forbidden technique. Also, with the assassination of the Tsuchigumo leader five years ago, it wasn’t hard to deduce your identities.”

His statement lacked logic.

Who said all Konoha ninja knew of the Tsuchigumo clan's forbidden jutsu? Only a few in Konoha were aware of such secrets.

But with Hiruko’s own history, it wasn’t so surprising. Given his inferiority complex and relentless pursuit of power, Hiruko had gone to great lengths to gather intelligence on any forbidden techniques that could strengthen him.

The Tsuchigumo clan's forbidden jutsu, Anger Burst, couldn’t possibly have escaped his attention.

Unfortunately, the Tsuchigumo clan leader was still in his prime at that time, and Hiruko didn't believe he could seize the forbidden jutsu with enough certainty. Unwilling to face his fallen comrades so soon, he’d removed it from his list of targets.

Yet, five years ago, news of the Tsuchigumo leader's assassination by rogue ninjas, including Kazu, had surfaced.

Despite Hiruko’s reclusive lifestyle, which had even Konoha’s Black Ops wondering if he’d perished while experimenting in some remote corner of the ninja world, he wasn’t truly cut off from society.

In fact, his need to stay hidden made keeping up with recent intelligence essential, lest someone discover his location too late for him to respond.

“I see.”

Kazu accepted this somewhat outlandish yet plausible explanation. “I thought my disguise was better than that…”

"I don’t think just wearing a hat counts as a high-level disguise… Anyway, stop trying to change the subject. Answer me: what’s your purpose for coming here? And how did you find me?"

Hiruko steered the conversation back on track, adding a new question.

Just as Kazu felt his disguise was effective, Hiruko had equal confidence in his concealment abilities. He had multiple hideouts similar to this one in Miroku Mountain, yet Kazu and his team found him directly, prompting Hiruko to wonder if he’d made a slip somewhere.

“Our purpose? Here and now?”

“I’ve told you, I’ll decide what to do with you based on your answers.”

Though he said this, Hiruko already had a hunch that these people weren’t here merely to cause trouble; otherwise, they wouldn’t be talking this long. Concerned about the power of the Tsuchigumo clan’s forbidden technique, he hadn’t yet resorted to confrontation and was curious about what they intended to discuss.

“An alliance.”

Kazu inhaled the frigid air deeply. “Hiruko, I’ve come here to seek an alliance.”

"An alliance?"

Hiruko’s expression remained unchanged.

This answer wasn’t entirely unexpected.

“What sort of alliance? In my eyes, an alliance is about mutual benefit. You’re here because you want something from me, yet I have no needs from you… That hardly seems like an alliance to me.”

“Don’t worry. I wouldn’t say such a thing unless I was confident.”

Kazu’s calm demeanor piqued Hiruko’s curiosity. He seemed sincere, but Hiruko couldn’t think of anything he needed from these people. Even the Tsuchigumo clan’s forbidden technique no longer held his interest.

Now that he’d established a grand plan, he no longer required such superfluous power.

Still, this was intriguing.

He wanted to see what Kazu would offer.

“The creatures from earlier were created using the Jutsu of Chimera Fusion, correct?” Kazu suddenly brought up what seemed like an unrelated topic.

“Yes.”

Hiruko openly admitted it.

His defection from Konoha was due to his experiments with the forbidden Jutsu of Chimera Fusion, although the official reason on his wanted notice was for harming comrades. Since Kazu could find his hiding place, it was no surprise he knew about Hiruko’s use of the technique.

“My understanding of the Jutsu of Chimera Fusion is limited, but it seems the technique’s essence lies in fusion—merging different animals or animals with humans. However, your goal isn’t to turn yourself into a half-human, half-animal hybrid. You intend to use the jutsu to merge the power of bloodline abilities, correct?”

As he finished speaking, the atmosphere grew suddenly dense and cold, as if winter’s frost had descended.

Hiruko’s face, mostly hidden by his high collar, went expressionless and icy, his red eyes radiating a chilling, penetrating gaze.

“How… do you know about this?”

Hiruko’s heart turned to ice.

Using the Jutsu of Chimera Fusion to merge multiple bloodline abilities, aiming for eternal life and unmatched power—this was indeed his plan. However, he’d never disclosed it.

In principle, no one else should know.

Unless... someone was secretly watching him at close range without his awareness, or somehow reading his thoughts and memories without making contact? This guess seemed a bit too absurd to him.

But the more absurd part was that only such an explanation could reasonably account for how his secret had been exposed to others.

"It doesn’t matter where I learned it. What matters is that I can offer something that will truly interest you." With those words, Kama formed a hand seal and bit his thumb, summoning —

A person?

In Konoha Village.

The spring sunshine was bright and beautiful.

Uchiha Obito sat on a branch of a cherry tree in the corner of the wall, his gaze, complicated and hard to interpret, silently watching this familiar yet strange academy. He observed the young boys and girls training on the field, sweating as they worked hard.

Once upon a time,

He was one of them.

Like these young ones, he had worked hard with dreams for the future, all for the moonlight he once thought was the most beautiful thing in his heart.

"Feeling nostalgic?"

Zetsu, the pitcher plant, poked his head out from a nearby branch, and Black Zetsu’s gloomy voice sounded in Obito’s ear.

"Hmph! Pointless and stupid question. The past... what’s worth reminiscing about?" He truly felt this way; memories of the past brought him nothing but unending pain and despair, a sorrow that had seeped into his very bones and had not faded to this day.

"Just a casual question! I’m here to let you know that Kama has used a summoning technique, and the sacrifice has already been summoned over."

"They’ve already made contact? Not wasting any time."

"Efficient, yes, but... isn’t it a bit much?"

"Are you questioning my decision?"

"I just think it’s a bit much."

"But we don’t have a choice. The Akatsuki needs useful pawns, and we need people to help push the plan forward. If I could, I’d rather recruit capable talent directly. The problem now is that talented people are hard to come by."

Obito replied irritably.

Life hadn’t been easy for him these past few years.

While waiting for Nagato to familiarize himself and fully master the power of the Rinnegan, he’d been racking his brain to expand the Akatsuki’s ranks. Unfortunately, the harsh reality didn’t quite match his ideal vision, and recruiting core members for Akatsuki had been very challenging. They had recruited new members over time, but many of those idiots had died one by one during missions.

Now, Leaving aside Pain, Konan, and Zetsu, the current members only included Kakuzu, Orochimaru, Hidan, and Deidara, who was recently recruited, just barely forming two teams capable of acting independently. Kakuzu and Hidan formed one team, while Orochimaru and Deidara partnered up.

The first team had a stable dynamic, working together for over a year without any major issues, unlike the constant conflicts between Kakuzu and Orochimaru before. Their fights often caused a huge mess, leaving Pain with a headache. When Hidan was recruited, they were finally separated.

The issue was, The new pairing of Orochimaru and Deidara seemed almost incompatible, as if they might clash at any time. Kakuzu and Orochimaru had both survived multiple clashes, but if Deidara were to get into conflict with Orochimaru, the Akatsuki might find itself down another member.

Sigh! Running an illegal organization wasn’t easy these days!

"Alright! Alright! Then why did you suddenly come to Konoha?" Black Zetsu changed the topic, glancing at the ninja academy in front of them. "A bunch of kids… could there possibly be a future recruit here?"

"See that girl over there with the fire fan clan crest on her clothes?"

"Hmm... doesn’t seem particularly special."

"That’s Uchiha Zongxian’s younger sister."

"What?"

Black Zetsu glanced at Obito in surprise. Unfortunately, Obito’s mask blocked his view, so he couldn’t read his expression. "Are you planning... to take a hostage? Would that really work? Would Uchiha Zongxian be threatened?"

"According to my research, Uchiha Zongxian deeply cares for his sister."

Obito rested his chin in his hand. "And did you notice the two girls next to Uchiha Toka — that’s Zongxian’s sister? The one with auburn hair is Yakumo Kurama, a descendant of the Kurama clan in Konoha, and the one with curly brown hair is Hotaru Tsuchigumo, granddaughter of the yakuza. Both are Zongxian’s students. The first is unsurprising, but the second… isn’t that interesting?"

"Granddaughter of the yakuza?"

Black Zetsu’s mind began to whirl with devious thoughts.

The yakuza had died at Kama’s hands, and now Hotaru Tsuchigumo was Zongxian’s student. This... had a lot of potential! If handled correctly, it might be possible to topple that nuisance, Zongxian.

"So you plan to use Kama..."

"No."

Obito immediately dismissed Black Zetsu’s unspoken schemes. "I haven’t decided yet on how to make the most out of this, but in any case, taking hostages is the lowest form of tactic. Sometimes… leaving pieces on the board, instead of holding them close, can be more useful."

"A plan is meant to achieve a goal. Sticking rigidly to the plan without adapting to changing circumstances is foolish."

Hearing Obito’s almost blatant sarcasm, Black Zetsu laughed dryly, not offended. A little criticism meant nothing to him; he had been tempered by a thousand years of experience and was not easily angered. As long as Obito stayed focused and did his job, being insulted for a day wouldn’t matter.

"It was just a suggestion; if you’re not interested, then forget it."

"Just watch and stay out of it. For Rin, I’ll achieve my ambition at any cost."

With that,

He looked up at the sky.

The gentle spring sun radiated a warm light, lovingly touching the grass, trees, mountains, and rivers below. But he had no love for the gentle spring sun. What he longed for was the blood-red moon he had once glimpsed in a genjutsu.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 290: A Prickle on the Back*

The pitch-black crow hovered silently in the air, its shadow blending into the shifting figures below. In the practice arena, the young trainees faced off in fierce competition.

A sudden burst of flames engulfed the swooping crow, surging forward with the unstoppable force of a volcano. Heat radiated in every direction, smoke and dust billowing skyward as the onlooking students gasped in awe at the rare and spectacular display. Only the instructor, sweating profusely, seemed less than thrilled.

Regret filled his mind.

"If I'd known it would turn out like this, I would've rigged the draw."

If he could have foreseen this scene, he would never have pitted Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha against each other. But hindsight offered no solutions. Now, all he could do was do his best to keep the students safe.

As for stopping the match—

Both Naruto and Sasuke seemed utterly oblivious to the outside commotion, their focus solely on each other.

"Sasuke, looks like your Fireball Jutsu’s got even stronger."

Naruto held a brush in one hand and a scroll in the other, furiously sketching on the blank paper. Realistic birds and beasts sprang from the page, charging at Sasuke. This mastery of the Yang Release technique, Super Beast Imitating Drawing, was proof of his training under Zongxian.

However—

Naruto's art style had clearly evolved.

"Tch, Naruto, you’re just going to hide in the back, huh... Face me head-on if you've got the guts!" Sasuke swung his small blade, slashing through the ink beasts with deft, sharp strikes. His blade, now stained black with ink, bore the marks of his relentless effort.

But he had no choice—

With his chakra limited, he couldn’t keep using Fire Style techniques to fend off these creatures. Relying on his sword was more efficient, a lesson learned from countless battles with Naruto.

"Your taunts won’t work on me, Sasuke! That trick's been played one too many times."

Naruto laughed, unfazed by Sasuke’s provocations, as he continued to paint. Boars, coyotes, hyenas, crows, and owls leapt from the paper in an endless stream, contrasting Sasuke's strict chakra conservation and cautious use of even the simplest transformation techniques.

"Give it up! Otherwise, I’ll have to carry you back to class once you’re out of chakra."

At those words, Sasuke’s face flushed red.

This time, it seemed Sasuke was the one provoked, his frustration emerging as a fierce growl. The single tomoe in his Sharingan spun faster, and with a determined grip on his blade, he charged into the ink beasts, cutting them down like a storm through leaves.

Yet—

Despite his fury, he couldn’t quite reach the strength to shatter walls, let alone make a dent in the relentless tide of ink creatures.

Frustrated, he threw three shuriken.

But this final gambit fell short. Only two shuriken aimed accurately at Naruto’s chest, only to be knocked away by a diving crow. The third veered off course, skimming past Naruto’s left side.

"Poof!"

White chakra smoke rose into the air.

The stray shuriken transformed into Sasuke himself. Or rather, Sasuke dispelled his Transformation Jutsu, revealing his true form. The “Sasuke” engulfed by the ink creatures vanished in another “poof.”

It was a shadow clone.

"Naruto, you lose!"

Sasuke’s small blade was now at Naruto’s neck.

"When did you do that?" Naruto halted mid-drawing, staring at Sasuke in disbelief, unable to figure out when Sasuke managed to create a shadow clone, replace himself, and use the Transformation Jutsu all at once.

He was sure he hadn’t taken his eyes off Sasuke.

"Right when I used Fireball Jutsu! Everyone was focused on the fireball, so I took advantage of the smoke to make a quick substitution. With you, going for a direct clash is a losing game."

Sasuke explained calmly, completely composed—his earlier anger clearly an act.

"That was the moment? Alright, I got careless. Next time, I’ll just start with a few shadow clones to confuse you. I’ve got chakra to spare, anyway." Naruto admitted defeat with a grin, already assessing his mistakes.

"Hey, are you trying to get on my nerves?" Sasuke couldn’t help but grumble.

“Chakra to spare”—was that even a human thing to say? Sasuke’s words would probably send nine-tenths of the ninja world into fits of despair. After all, chakra shortages plagued nearly every shinobi for life.

"Is it finally over? Ahem... Winner: Uchiha Sasuke!"

Relieved, the sweat-drenched teacher eagerly announced, "Alright, Naruto, Sasuke, make the sign of reconciliation and clear the field. Next match: Yakumo Kurama versus Kiba Inuzuka. Both come forward."

Naruto and Sasuke clasped hands in reconciliation, slinging their arms around each other’s shoulders as they left the center of the field, making room for the next pair.

But—

Only one fighter appeared in the arena. Kiba Inuzuka stood holding Akamaru, sharing a confused look with the teacher.

As for the other combatant, “Yakumo? What’s wrong? It’s your turn.”

Uchiha Fujika nudged her friend, who seemed distracted, to remind her it was time.

“Hmm... I just felt like someone was watching me from behind.” Yakumo Kurama frowned, her immense natural mental power giving her an uncanny sense of awareness. Even though she wasn’t a sensory ninja, she could still detect something unusual.

Unfortunately—

The sensation was too faint for her to be sure if it was real or just her imagination.

“Someone watching you?”

Fujika paused for a moment before her face broke into a mischievous grin. Leaning close, she whispered, “Maybe it’s some shy admirer waiting to confess but only brave enough to watch you from afar?”

“What? Fujika, you and your wild ideas!”

Yakumo grumbled, pushing her friend away in exasperation.

However, with the interruption, she felt even more unsure about the strange sensation of being watched. Urged once again by her teacher, she temporarily pushed down her confusion, quickly stepping forward with the intention to finish this boring class swiftly and figure things out later.

The battle ended swiftly.

Facing Yakumo’s genjutsu, Kiba Inuzuka, who had been boasting about showing her his strength, was immediately ensnared. Controlled by her genjutsu, he ended up throwing a punch at their teacher instead. The teacher, with a deep sigh and a head full of frustration, reluctantly declared Yakumo the winner, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead.

“What kind of monsters are these?” the young teacher thought, sighing internally.

He couldn’t even grasp how Yakumo had managed to control Kiba so easily with her genjutsu. His intuition told him that he himself probably couldn’t block such mysterious techniques. He was a Chūnin, yet he felt outdone by a bunch of students.

But the teacher’s mood quickly shifted from frustration and amazement to resignation and helplessness.

When Uchiha Fujika and Hotarugumo Homura took the stage, each of them crushed their opponents as well. The power they displayed far exceeded his expectations for students. By the end of the combat class, the young teacher, now deeply shaken, retreated to his office in silent defeat.

Thankfully, his mentor at the academy was a man named Iruka, so it was unlikely the school would lose a teacher so easily.

...

The sun began to set, and the ninja academy had already been dismissed for a while.

But the students weren’t in a hurry to head home. Although the academy didn’t have clubs, the training grounds were always full of dedicated students. Recently, a boy in a green jumpsuit had become something of a permanent fixture there.

Of course, most students weren’t quite that hardworking.

Some boys gathered at the bookstore to read manga for free. Though they had money, some manga couldn’t be brought home without risking their moms finding them, which would be embarrassing. Worse yet was if a sister found their prized collector's edition… Sasuke still had nightmares about that. Not even his doting older brother would back him up in front of their father.

Since then, Sasuke resolved to move his manga stash to Naruto’s house.

But even there, he faced trouble. Jiraiya would “borrow” them without asking, and seeing his prized editions stained with drool and unknown substances made Sasuke feel the world was truly out to get him.

After that, the boys gave up buying manga altogether.

They’d mastered the art of “reading for free.”

“Boys are such idiots,” Fujika scoffed as she glanced at Naruto, Sasuke, Kiba, and the others peeking at the shelves. “What’s so interesting about that stuff anyway?”

“Come on, Fujika,” said Yamanaka Ino, nudging her. “Let’s go already! If we’re late, the movie will start without us.”

“Well, that’s because you wasted time eating those meat croquettes,” Fujika replied.

“What does that have to do with me? Sakura, you ate two of them, too!”

“I… I did not eat that many! And shut up, Ino-pig!”

“Forehead-girl!”

“Ino-pig!”

The girls’ bickering grew loud enough to draw the attention of the boys “appreciating art” inside.

“Ah, there they go again, Ino and Sakura!” Kiba sighed, as though it was nothing new.

“Women… such a hassle,” muttered Shikamaru, tiredly.

“That’s why manga is better,” Sasuke chimed in, still haunted by obsessive fans. “Women are nothing but trouble.”

Naruto scratched his head and remained silent, refraining from joining his friends’ complaints.

Outside, the girls noticed that Yakumo, who usually played the mediator, seemed lost in thought, staring blankly down the street toward the park.

“Yakumo?” Fujika called out, nudging her. “Are you still thinking about that feeling of being watched? Do you still feel like someone’s watching you?”

She glanced around, but nothing or no one unusual appeared in sight.

“I don’t know,” Yakumo replied, shaking her head.

The sensation of being watched had vanished, but it only made her more certain that it hadn’t been her imagination. At the academy, it could’ve been a trick of the mind, but experiencing it again outside confirmed something wasn’t right.

“What?” Fujika’s eyes widened. She couldn’t understand what Yakumo was sensing.

“Maybe I’m just overly sensitive! Sorry, Ino, Sakura, Hinata. I don’t feel well, so I’ll skip the movie today,” Yakumo said suddenly, stopping Ino and Sakura mid-argument, both exchanging confused glances.

The shy, pale-eyed Hinata looked puzzled too.

“Oh! I just remembered, my brother asked me to see him after school because of my last exam. I barely passed and he’s probably going to scold me,” Fujika said suddenly, changing her plans as well.

“Well… looks like the movie’s off, Ino, Sakura, Hinata. Let’s plan for next time, and make Yakumo and Fujika treat us,” Hotarugumo Homura suggested, glaring at Fujika for her flimsy excuse.

“No problem; we’ll just go next time.”

“See you all later.”

The girls split into two groups—Ino, Sakura, and Hinata went one way, while Fujika, Yakumo, and Homura took another, parting with smiles.

...

“Why did you purposely reveal your presence?” Black Zetsu asked in confusion, looking at the swirl-masked figure. “Isn’t that just alerting the enemy? If Uchiha Zōka gets suspicious, it’ll make using them much harder!”

“I want Uchiha Zōka to feel a little pressure.”

“What?”

“I said, I want him preoccupied. Things in Konoha will be changing soon, and while some things can’t be stopped, it won’t hurt to keep him from getting too comfortable. Besides, I don’t have much else to do lately.”

Black Zetsu could only shake his head in exasperation.

He’d expected some grand plan, only to find out it was because this guy was bored.

But then again, perhaps there was more. Obito always had his own agenda, and even if Black Zetsu couldn’t foresee it all, at least he was confident Obito wouldn’t escape the bigger picture they’d already drawn up.

(End of chapter)