Chapter 241: A Simple Notice
"White Zetsu, as long as you continue supplying me with vitality, I… or rather, we—our plans will all be realized."
Land of Water, Hidden Mist Village.
Nagato once again tried persuading Zetsu to cooperate.
"Although I don't know exactly what you and Toby are planning, based on your past behavior, I believe our ultimate goals align."
"We may differ in our methods, but as long as the end result is the same, isn't that enough?"
"If you assist me with your abilities, I—possessing the Eyes of God—will become the strongest existence in the ninja world. And with that power, even ultimate peace will be within reach."
Though his tone was free of illusions, his words brimmed with a persuasive allure—subtle yet powerful.
The five-village coalition had been marching toward the Land of Water for half a month. Now, they had reached the borders of the Land of Hot Water. Another week or two, and they'd arrive.
In a traditional war, the Akatsuki would've gathered their forces, prepared for battle, and moved to the borders of the Land of Water—keeping the fight offshore to protect the homeland.
But Akatsuki did not treat the Land of Water or the Hidden Mist Village as their own.
Instead, they were using a mix of coercion and manipulation to sway the locals into siding with them—into becoming enemies of the world.
In truth, they wanted the five-village alliance to invade. Let them step foot into their stronghold, where the Akatsuki would have the advantage—and where the odds of capturing the Tailed Beasts would improve dramatically.
"Of course. You're the leader of Akatsuki. I will follow your will," White Zetsu replied with a grin, without hesitation.
But that reply didn't sit right with Nagato. He stared at White Zetsu for a long moment before shifting his gaze to the darker half.
"Black Zetsu… I'd like to hear your answer."
Zetsu, a two-in-one being, existed as both Black and White—like a single body with two minds.
To outsiders, it appeared that White Zetsu was the dominant one—talkative, light-hearted, and seemingly in control.
But recently, Nagato had begun to suspect otherwise.
White Zetsu could be replaced. There were many of him, and they could even sacrifice themselves to restore one another. But Black Zetsu… there was only one.
"I will always follow Madara-sama's will," Black Zetsu said, voice calm and unwavering.
That answer stood in stark contrast to White Zetsu's hollow words—and it made Nagato believe even more deeply.
Compared to Black Zetsu's solemn tone, White Zetsu sounded like a carefree slacker with no credibility or spine.
"We can definitely negotiate," Nagato said, trying to sound sincere.
"In truth, you've always been the ones doubting me. I've never distrusted your goals."
Black Zetsu stared back, expressionless. His demeanor was cold and unreadable, opposite White Zetsu's constant smirk.
"Madara-sama believes that only by crushing the ninja world with absolute power can peace be achieved," Black Zetsu stated.
"That's no different from what you want—to create a power so overwhelming that the entire ninja world is forced to unite and face Akatsuki."
"We all want peace. That's why we've never acted against your decisions. We've only ever cooperated."
He paused for a moment.
"Back in Hidden Rain, when you were powerless, we were the ones who saved you."
"At that time, all other Akatsuki members were absent. It was just the three of us. Yet even though you were unconscious and defenseless, we never once attempted to take your Rinnegan."
"You didn't trust Madara-sama and even sent him away to Iwagakure, yet he still agreed to cooperate."
"All because we share the same goal. That's why we trust you. So please understand—our cooperation in this plan has never wavered."
His voice was icy, void of emotion—but far more solid and convincing than White Zetsu's flippant smile.
Nagato didn't respond immediately.
Indeed, if they'd harbored any ill intent, he would have died in Hidden Rain. And even if by some miracle he survived, the Rinnegan would never have remained in his sockets.
He once believed no one could resist that kind of temptation.
And yet… someone had.
"I'm sorry. My doubts may have caused unnecessary friction," Nagato finally said, breaking the silence. "But what happens now will determine the final outcome—an outcome I've waited decades for. I can't allow any mistakes."
"If either of you have any grievances, feel free to take them out on me after it's over."
"When the world becomes what I envisioned… we'll go there."
Black Zetsu replied flatly, "Of course."
But only he understood the deeper meaning behind those words.
"…"
Silence returned to the room.
After a while, Nagato stood up.
No longer bound to his mechanical walker, he now walked with the steady steps of an ordinary man. With an ample supply of vitality and advanced medical ninjutsu, the toll the Rinnegan had taken on his body had been reversed—even his legs had recovered.
Just as he reached the door, Nagato turned back.
"Toby… is he really Uchiha Madara?"
As one of the world's most powerful figures, he found it hard to believe someone like that would serve under another. Just as he would never bow to anyone else.
"Does it really matter?" Black Zetsu answered calmly. "What's important is that we want the same result… and that we have the strength to stand by your side and help realize it."
Obito's acting had always been poor—messy, unconvincing. He lacked the aura of the real Madara.
But maybe that wasn't important anymore.
"You're right," Nagato muttered with a laugh. "Then I'll take my leave. The battle is approaching. Mr. Black Zetsu, prepare accordingly."
It really didn't matter.
---
Land of Earth – Near Iwagakure Village.
"This damn shell… No matter how many times I come here, it always feels like a village tucked inside a turtle shell."
Amid towering mountains and steep cliffs, cylindrical towers clustered tightly together, forming the stone citadel of Iwagakure.
From above, the surrounding peaks looked like a massive shell, shielding the village within. The stone towers inside resembled tiny shells, each guarding the people below.
Wearing his mask, Uchiha Obito looked down at the Iwagakure ninja through an illusion. His body pulsed with dull, lingering pain.
"The pain you left me at Kannabi Bridge… that's where it all began."
His hoarse voice trembled with rage. Emotion surged, and the Sharingan in his eye began to spin slowly.
"Now, it's your turn… to feel what you once made me feel."
With Ōnoki having led most of the troops away, Iwagakure was left with less than a third of its total force. Only a few jōnin remained.
They were not enough to stop what was coming.
With his Mangekyō Sharingan in a virtual state, Uchiha Obito had no difficulty slipping through the village's security barrier and infiltrating Iwagakure unnoticed.
He strolled through the streets at a leisurely pace and soon reached the central area of the village.
"Let's begin here."
The heart of Iwagakure, only a hundred meters from the Tsuchikage's office building, was bustling. In front of him stood the Iwagakure mission commission building—the central hub for all commissions issued within the Land of Earth.
Overseas missions, however, were directly assigned by the Tsuchikage himself.
As a key thoroughfare within the village, the street was lined with ninja tool shops and apothecaries. Ninjas bustled through, either headed to the mission hall or leaving with fresh assignments.
But in the middle of this crowd, something sudden and unnatural happened.
The air twisted like a vortex—and a figure in a black cloak slowly materialized from nothingness, his presence now laid bare before the eyes of every Iwagakure shinobi.
"Enemy attack! That black cloak with red clouds—he's from Akatsuki!"
"Take him down!"
"Be on guard! It's space-time ninjutsu!"
…
As the administrative and military heart of the village, Iwagakure's response was swift.
The moment Obito appeared, all eyes locked on him. The seasoned Rock Ninjas didn't waste a second. In an instant, countless kunai whistled through the air from all directions, aiming to pierce him.
Yet, to their shock, the kunai passed cleanly through his body—like slicing through mist—before continuing on and nearly striking their own comrades.
Ding ding ding—
Though caught off-guard, the Iwagakure ninjas reacted quickly, deflecting the stray projectiles with their own tools.
Before anyone could regroup, the masked intruder calmly formed a hand seal.
The moment they turned their wary eyes back to him, roots burst from his body—thick, writhing trees surging outward with unstoppable force.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence."
His voice, frigid and emotionless, echoed beneath the mask—piercing through the startled murmurs of the crowd.
…
"Everyone!"
Compared to Obito's stealthy infiltration of Iwagakure, the approach taken by Eren and his companion at the gates of Kumogakure was brash—bordering on arrogant.
They didn't sneak. They shouted.
Their voices rang out boldly at the Hidden Cloud Village gate, drawing the attention of passing villagers and shinobi alike.
But the moment the crowd noticed the unfamiliar forehead protectors on the two men, wariness spread.
"What ninja village are you from?" a Kumogakure Chūnin demanded, stepping forward and eyeing them suspiciously.
The headbands were unfamiliar—likely from some obscure minor country, or maybe a loose gathering of rogue ninja without any real backing.
Glancing sideways at Mikasa, who remained silent, Eren answered earnestly, "We're ninjas from the Land of Rain."
"The Land of Rain?" the Chūnin frowned, stepping back slightly. "You're Rain Ninja?"
Behind him, several more Kumogakure ninjas arrived to back him up.
As for the ordinary villagers, they had already retreated behind the safety of the gates, peeking out to observe the commotion.
"No, wait—that's not the Rain Village's forehead protector," one of the shinobi noted with a deepening scowl.
"State your origins and purpose clearly!" the Chūnin warned, voice sharp. "Or we'll use force to verify who you really are!"
"We're not Rain Ninja," Eren replied calmly, "because Hidden Rain no longer exists."
"We are ninja from the Land of Rain, but we serve Hyūga."
"Hyūga?!"
That single name caused the Kumogakure ninjas to immediately draw their kunai.
Several darted back into the village—likely to report the news.
The Chūnin scrutinized the pair. "You don't look like members of the Hyūga clan."
"We're branch members—outsiders," Eren explained. "The forehead protectors we wear bear the Hyūga crest. I assume you recognize it?"
Seeing the guards still uncertain, Eren continued, "We were sent by the clan head to deliver a message—an urgent one for the Hidden Cloud Village."
"Our Raikage-sama isn't in the village at the moment."
Upon hearing it was Hyūga business, the Chūnin visibly eased. His earlier aggression faded.
"In truth," Eren said, glancing around nervously, "the message is for every shinobi in the Hidden Cloud Village."
He scratched his head with a forced smile. "We're just messengers. Please forward it to the Fifth Raikage."
"And… if possible, I ask that you let me speak without interruption. Our clan head said this message is non-negotiable."
Despite his humble tone and plain words, something about Eren's sincerity kept the surrounding shinobi from silencing him outright.
Was the Hyūga clan really reaching out to the Land of Lightning after losing their position in the Land of Rain?
"Ahem… this is a storage scroll. There's no danger—please don't worry."
Eren slowly pulled a few scrolls from inside his robe, careful not to make any sudden moves.
The Kumogakure shinobi watched him like hawks.
"Stop dragging it out—just say what you came to say," one snapped, irritation in his voice.
"This guy doesn't even act like a Hyūga."
"If you have a letter, hand it over and get lost."
Clearly, they didn't see him as a threat—just an errand boy. But they didn't want to harm him either, lest it cause diplomatic issues.
"Since I'm not a ninja and don't have chakra, I can't open these scrolls myself. My partner will handle that."
Even with their growing impatience, Eren continued to explain each step, cautious not to provoke them into attacking.
In plain sight, he handed the scrolls to Mikasa.
These weren't the same bloodstained scrolls they'd received from Ryosuke—they had been cleaned and resealed, their contents now impossible to discern at a glance.
"Alright… I'm going to speak now."
Eren took several subtle steps backward, then cleared his throat.
"Hurry it up!"
"I swear, I'm gonna lose it!"
"This guy isn't from Konoha, right? Why's he stalling so much?"
More and more people had gathered. The gate was now crowded—ninja and civilians alike, all waiting for Eren to reveal the mysterious message from Hyūga.
"The following statement represents the position of the Hyūga clan—not my own personal opinion," Eren began solemnly. "I, Eren, am merely the messenger. Please keep that in mind."
When he saw the crowd was at its peak, his tone shifted—his previously timid expression turned solemn.
"On behalf of the Hyūga, I officially announce: in two months, our clan will dispatch fifty shinobi to Kumogakure… with the intent to take the lives of 2,480 ninjas."
"Please… make preparations accordingly."
As soon as those words left his mouth, Mikasa unsealed all the scrolls at once.
A heavy, sickening scent of blood filled the air.
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
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