"Damn it!" Black Zetsu said with a dark expression. "It seems our plan has been exposed."
But...
How did Lord Madara find out?
Or rather, who told him?
"It was that brat," White Zetsu said, shrugging helplessly. "He exchanged spores with Tobi when he went there."
So...
While they were working themselves to death outside, those two were playing schoolteachers in Uzushiogakure?
That idiot Tobi—had he forgotten their grand goal?
"Uzumaki Jun..." Hearing White Zetsu's words, Black Zetsu's face twisted in anger. "I knew that damn brat must know something."
But...
Where did he learn it from?
Could it be Hagoromo...?
No, that unfilial son is long gone. But if not him, then...
"Who could it be?" Black Zetsu frowned. "It seems we'll have to be even more careful from now on."
After lurking for a thousand years, he didn't think anyone else knew his secret. After all...
He had outlived them all.
Well, except for that one toad...
"What do we do now?" White Zetsu sighed. "The Rinnegan must not be lost!"
"This..." Black Zetsu fell silent for a moment before sighing. "We wait until Madara dies. He doesn't have much time left."
The Rinnegan was the key to rescuing Mother. No matter what, he had to obtain it.
Years ago, he had experimented with a single Mangekyō Sharingan, trying to see if he could awaken the Rinnegan. But...
Every attempt failed.
It seemed...
Awakening the Rinnegan wasn't just about being a descendant of Hagoromo. There was something more to it.
So, he didn't dare gamble on whether any other descendants could awaken it.
"What about that brat?" White Zetsu scratched his head. "Even if Madara dies, that brat still knows our plans."
No matter what, they couldn't avoid him.
"..."
Hearing this, Black Zetsu sighed helplessly. That was true.
Right now, they didn't know how much Jun and Madara actually knew. Did they only realize he had deceived Madara, or...
Did they know everything?
If it was the latter, things were dangerous.
After all, no shinobi would want to see Mother return.
"We wait."
Black Zetsu gritted his teeth. "Until he dies."
"Humans only live for a hundred years at most. Even with his Uzumaki bloodline, give him a hundred and twenty years—so what?"
Besides...
"Shinobi lives are full of accidents."
Who knows? He might choke on his drink and die suddenly.
"Whatever you say." White Zetsu shrugged indifferently. "I'm going back to collect pollen."
After all, Black Zetsu was the will.
If they couldn't win, hiding wasn't a bad option. They had already hidden for a thousand years—what was another hundred or two? And...
Once a shinobi passed fifty, their strength would decline sharply.
So, maybe in the future, they could actually defeat that damn brat.
When it came to lifespan...
They had never been afraid!
"Let's go." Black Zetsu sighed. "I hope there won't be any more surprises."
If anything else went wrong, he would... he would...
Just hide in a hole for a few hundred years and come out after this generation of shinobi had all died and been forgotten.
...
"I see." Jiraiya nodded, staring at the "Blade of the Fire God" in Jun's hands. He wiped the drool from his mouth and said seriously, "So they really are collecting legendary weapons."
This was a national treasure!
The kind worth a fortune. If he could get his hands on it...
Who needed a job?
He could spend every day gathering material!
"So, neither Uzushiogakure nor the Akatsuki knows what this 'Goddess Alliance' is planning?" Jiraiya rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "This is troublesome!"
The enemy was hidden while they were exposed...
They could suffer huge losses.
"No." Jun carefully held the Blade of the Fire God, speaking solemnly. "According to our investigations with the Akatsuki, this Goddess Alliance has existed for a very long time."
"Though we still don't know their goal." Jun put the blade away. It was enough to just look at it—he still needed to sell it to other villages. He looked at Jiraiya with a serious expression. "Based on our speculation, they seem to be collecting these weapons to summon something or open something."
"But one thing is certain..."
"They are definitely up to no good."
Since he didn't know what to do with these weapons anyway, and they had volunteered to take the blame...
He could only wish them good luck.
"So, we must be careful." Jun looked at Jiraiya earnestly. "We cannot let them succeed."
"I should inform the old man." Jiraiya nodded in agreement. "But that weapon..."
"The Akatsuki found it by accident and entrusted Uzushiogakure to auction it. We'll send it to the Land of Iron for bidding." Jun said righteously. "This weapon should not belong to Uzushiogakure."
Turning it into money was much better.
"This is also a good opportunity to convene the Five Kage Summit." Jun sighed, looking concerned for the world's safety. "Uzushiogakure..."
"Being a small nation, we won't interfere."
"But..." Jun raised his head, his gaze clear as he looked at Jiraiya. "No matter what the Five Kage decide, Uzushiogakure will follow their lead."
"For the sake of the world's safety, we will not hold anyone back."
So, let the Five Great Nations fight over this blade. Uzushiogakure only wanted the money.
"You..." Hearing Jun's words, Jiraiya was deeply moved. He hadn't expected someone in the shinobi world to be so selflessly devoted to peace. He sighed. "Don't worry, this weapon..."
"I won't let Uzushiogakure suffer any losses."
Hearing this, Jun nodded in satisfaction inwardly. But on his face, he still showed reluctance and regret. "It's fine. This is for the sake of world peace."
He, Uzumaki Jun, was just that righteous and selfless.
Jiraiya sighed, looking at Jun with admiration. He couldn't help but feel emotional. Truly, the youngest Kage in the world. Truly, the one who had created a paradise like Uzushiogakure. If there really was a Child of Prophecy...
Wait!
Jiraiya suddenly remembered something and smacked his head hard. "I almost forgot what the Great Toad Sage told me." He looked at Jun seriously. "The Great Toad Sage has invited you to Mount Myōboku."
This kid might really be the Child of Prophecy. Otherwise...
Why would the Great Toad Sage invite him?
But...
Hearing this, Jun looked at him in confusion. What did he need to go to Mount Myōboku for?
He wasn't exactly a fan of toads.
Well...
He had eaten plenty of fried frog legs—a specialty dish in Uzushiogakure. He heard they sold pretty well.
But...
Jun narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Sure. When?"
The Great Toad Sage wanted to see him? Why?
Did he already know about his plan to release Kaguya and was planning to gang up on him in Mount Myōboku?
But...
Just a bunch of toads. Who would be beating up whom was still unclear.
"Tomorrow." Jiraiya thought for a moment and said, "I'll go to Mount Myōboku first to inform them."
An outsider without a summoning contract needed permission.
"In that case." Jun nodded. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. There's still a lot of work to do in Uzushiogakure."
But...
"Wait." Jiraiya quickly stopped him, grinning sheepishly as he leaned in. "There's something I need your help with."
What now?
Seeing Jiraiya like this, Jun frowned. Was it...
Borrowing money? No way!
He immediately put on an expression that said "I don't know you" and was about to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to escape when...
Jiraiya rubbed his hands together, glanced around, and whispered, "I just need you to help me... go through the back door..."
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