024 Reborn as the Third Kazekage

"Do you have a test tube?"

"Yes. Why? What do you need it for?"

"Take one out. Hold it like this. Just wait a moment."

Arashi pulled out a handkerchief and squeezed it over the test tube. After a while, a small amount of white liquid filled half the tube.

"What is this?" Tsunade curiously examined the liquid in the test tube and instinctively added half a tube of sealing solution to it.

"It's a friend's blood."

"Blood?" Tsunade froze for a moment. She grabbed a pipette, took a sample, and placed it under a microscope.

"What kind of friend do you have? Is it a plant? I'm seeing cells with characteristics of both plants and animals here, and they're incredibly active. Where is this friend of yours?" Tsunade grew more excited the more she observed.

"You want to meet them?"

"Of course! Don't tell me you brought them with you!" Tsunade's face lit up with the enthusiasm of a child discovering a new toy. With the recent lull in the war, she didn't have much to occupy her time. This seemed like the perfect chance to do some research.

"They're not here, but if I'm right, they should be… on me."

"On you? What do you mean? Be clear!"

"It's complicated. Do you know where Jiraiya is?"

"I think I have an idea," Tsunade replied.

"Great. Let's go find him. He'll clear everything up."

...

"So you're saying the Third Kazekage has entered the war?"

Madara seemed genuinely surprised.

"That's correct," Black Zetsu confirmed.

Madara fell silent in thought.

"Like his predecessor, Reto, he's a cunning… cough, cough… strategist. It seems that even if we do nothing, events will still unfold in their destined direction." After a long pause, Madara finally spoke.

"Indeed," White Zetsu chimed in.

"Humans will always have conflict and fighting… cough… It's their nature. No amount of compromise can erase that. Hashirama… cough, cough… that fool never understood. Only the Infinite Tsukuyomi can bring true peace! Cough! Cough!"

Madara's voice grew more impassioned, and his coughing intensified.

Black Zetsu quickly moved to pat Madara on the back.

"Do you think recruiting him into our organization was the right move?"

It took a moment for Madara's breathing to stabilize.

"Don't think you can sway him with a few grandiose words. Every Kazekage has always been the type to act only when it benefits them."

"I wasn't expecting him to accept our ideals immediately. But leaving behind a seed of possibility can't hurt. After all, he's a Kage. I believe he could prove useful to your ambitions," Black Zetsu explained.

"Exactly! We even became sworn brothers!" White Zetsu added enthusiastically.

Madara shot White Zetsu a sharp glare before letting out a resigned sigh.

"You didn't tell me the whole truth, did you?"

"Your eyes see through everything. Indeed, under those circumstances, I wasn't confident I could take him down. There was a significant chance he'd defeat me instead."

Madara nodded thoughtfully. "You made the right call. You're not strong enough to face him head-on. The representative I'll send to walk the surface hasn't been decided yet, and it's too early for any major moves. You can't afford to take risks."

"As for this 'seed' you mentioned, leave it for now. It might come in handy later. Have you planted spores on him?"

"Of course!" White Zetsu said smugly.

"Then let's leave it at that. Sunagakure isn't a threat for the time being. We'll revisit this later. What's the situation between Kumogakure and Iwagakure?"

"They're fighting fiercely."

"Oh? Be specific."

"The two sides clashed in a protracted battle. In an attempt to break the stalemate, the Third Raikage, A, went scouting alone. He was surrounded by nearly ten thousand Iwa-nin and fought for three days and three nights before dying of exhaustion. Iwagakure also suffered heavy losses. Tetsuya, the man seen as the successor to the Third Tsuchikage, was killed, along with over a thousand other ninja."

"Three days and nights? And he killed a thousand enemies? It's been a long time since I've seen such an extraordinary young man. It's a shame he's gone."

Madara sighed deeply.

"Yes, even someone like you, Madara-sama, can't escape death." White Zetsu teased, earning a sharp glare from Madara.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

The cave filled with White Zetsu's cries of pain.

...

"Alright, time to eat!"

The roasted fish, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, drew eager chopsticks from Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.

"Delicious!"

"So good!"

The children's exclamations brought a smug smile to Jiraiya's face.

"Hahaha! Of course! This is my secret recipe—nothing ordinary about it!"

Knock, knock, knock.

"Hmm?" Jiraiya looked surprised. Visitors were rare in this secluded spot.

"Eating, huh? Don't mind us. We've already had dinner." Arashi's grin was as wide as his face.

"Tsunade? Arashi? What brings you two here? And how did you even find me?" Jiraiya's wariness melted when he recognized them.

"I didn't want to come, but he insisted," Tsunade said with a shrug, gesturing at Arashi.

"Oh? What can I do for the esteemed Kazekage?" Jiraiya asked, puzzled.

"Jiraiya help me catch some lice, will you?"

"Lice?!"

Konan recoiled in disgust. "The blue-haired man has lice? Gross!"

"Yep, lots of them," Arashi said with a teasing grin.

"Actually, I need your help. You've signed a contract with Mount Myoboku, right?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Can you summon Fukasaku and Shima?"

"Sure, but why?"

"I can't say yet, but you'll understand soon."

"All right, kids, keep eating. I'll step out for a bit." Jiraiya quickly picked up on Arashi's serious tone.

In an abandoned house, Jiraiya formed a seal.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Two toads appeared in a puff of smoke.

"Jiraiya-boy, what's so urgent?" Shima asked.

"It's not me—it's him." Jiraiya gestured to Arashi, who bowed in greeting.

"Hmm, iron and sand… you're from Sunagakure, aren't you? And… wait, what's this?" Fukasaku's expression shifted.

"How many?" Arashi asked.

"Four."

"Perfect. I'll need your help in a moment."

"Piece of cake."

Turning to Jiraiya and Tsunade, Arashi instructed, "Create a shadow clone each. No matter what emerges from me, subdue it immediately."

They nodded, their clones standing by.

"Let's begin."

Arashi sat cross-legged, his back to Fukasaku. Natural energy flowed into his body, causing his face to swell and develop warts.

Suddenly, four white figures burst from him, taking shape and fleeing in different directions.

"Now!" Fukasaku shouted.

Shima struck Arashi, halting his transformation. Meanwhile, the clones restrained the fleeing White Zetsu.

"See? A big catch for you. Feel free to research them," Arashi said to Tsunade, rubbing his aching head.