The Second Elder and Toneri had been in the shinobi world for three years now.
Those three years had been nothing short of excruciating—the pain etched into their very souls.
Back on the moon, even without other people, they at least had puppets to control and make their lives more convenient.
In the shinobi world, however, their struggles went far beyond mere displacement and wandering.
Not only did they have to constantly watch for the Tenseigan on the moon potentially detecting them, but they also had to handle every aspect of daily life themselves.
The Second Elder discovered for the first time just how arduous life could be, especially when forced to interact with those "inferior beings" of the shinobi world—encounters that utterly disgusted him.
Worse still, with his life force nearly depleted, that sense of his flame flickering out filled him with the deepest despair.
"No matter what happens, I must do something for Toneri."
Knowing his end was near, the Second Elder resolved to make one final, desperate move.
For three years, he had exhausted himself teaching Toneri, and though the young Ōtsutsuki couldn't see, he had made remarkable progress.
"Before I die, I'll secure a new pair of eyes for him!"
The Second Elder had made his decision. He knew where the branch of moon descendants resided on Earth and was calculating how to obtain superior Byakugan.
Though he despised these so-called "inferior beings," he wasn't concerned about them posing any real threat.
His primary concerns were how to retreat afterward and how to successfully transfer the Byakugan to Toneri.
"That black entity—it appears to be a chakra manifestation, and its target is also the Hyūga clan?"
Perceiving these developments, the Second Elder began formulating his strategy.
He would certainly not make direct contact—at this point, he trusted no one!
"But I'll keep watching you closely. The moment you make your move, my opportunity will arise."
"You're saying..."
In the Akatsuki hideout within the Land of Rain, Obito Uchiha gazed darkly at Black Zetsu, pondering deeply before finally speaking.
"Konoha has taken notice of the Uchiha stone tablet, and since they have the First and Second Hokage under their control, they're also searching for Senju relics?"
"Precisely," Black Zetsu confirmed with a nod.
Beside him, White Zetsu blinked playfully, adding with his characteristic grin, "They're digging like madmen! When we investigated, we saw craters everywhere."
"Damn it," Obito muttered, clearly troubled by this development.
"How did they suddenly think of this? They never showed interest before!"
"Most likely because of Ōtsutsuki Minamoto," Black Zetsu replied, casting a sidelong glance at White Zetsu, appreciating his partner's cooperation.
"My investigation revealed that the Rabbit Goddess's surname is Ōtsutsuki. They probably have their own methods, plus the stone tablet has been in Konoha all along."
"Indeed, we can't underestimate them," Obito acknowledged reluctantly.
"So what now? Once they find what they're looking for, it won't be easy for us to acquire it."
"Perhaps we should take action," Black Zetsu suggested, feigning hesitation though his mind had already formulated a plan.
"For instance, creating chaos in Konoha..."
"Have you lost your mind?!" Obito's eyes widened in shock.
"..."
Black Zetsu was momentarily speechless.
What the hell?
When did Obito become so cautious?
"Have you forgotten your dream, Obito?" he pressed.
"Spare me the rhetoric," Obito replied, embarrassment flashing across his face before he took a deep breath to compose himself.
"My dream remains unchanged—I will create a peaceful new world where tragedies like Rin's never happen again. But you should know the trouble Kitagawa Minamoto poses. If we provoke him now—"
"I understand it's not ideal, but our goals align!" Black Zetsu interjected, confident that Obito wouldn't abandon his ultimate objective. He recognized his proposal was audacious but necessary.
"Once they locate the Senju artifacts, whether they decipher them or not, our chances diminish significantly—unless something diverts their attention."
"I could attempt to steal it," Obito suggested after brief consideration.
Black Zetsu shook his head. "What if it's a decoy? What if they seal it away? Our opportunities are limited!"
His reasoning was sound. No one could predict how the Senju relics would ultimately be handled. While the Uchiha stone tablet was well-documented, the Senju artifacts were different—if sealed away, they would become even more inaccessible!
Despite his misgivings, Obito finally asked, "What exactly is your plan? Be specific."
"We attack the Hyūga clan!" Black Zetsu declared, inwardly relieved as Obito began to seriously consider the idea.
"Don't question it—attacking the Hyūga is our safest option."
"You mean..." Though not the sharpest strategist, Obito quickly grasped the concept.
"By attacking the Hyūga clan, we divert their attention and create an opportunity for ourselves?"
"Exactly. The Hyūga are one of Konoha's most prestigious clans. If they're threatened, Kitagawa will certainly intervene," Black Zetsu confirmed, his tone resolute.
"This creates a window of opportunity. Even if Kitagawa is alerted, as long as we apply sufficient pressure on the Hyūga, he won't dare leave them unprotected!"
"Because as the designated Hokage, he can't ignore the plight of a major clan?" Obito nodded, drawing from his experience impersonating the Mizukage.
"This plan has merit. But who will lead the attack?"
"Edo Tensei!" Black Zetsu answered without hesitation, sensing he had successfully persuaded Obito.
"Reanimated warriors fear nothing, and their strength is considerable. Even if they can't defeat Kitagawa Minamoto, their endless revival will ensure he remains occupied. This is our perfect opportunity!"
"Edo Tensei, huh..." Obito was clearly intrigued, prompting Black Zetsu to press his advantage.
"Additionally, we should harvest some Byakugan, perhaps even arrange an encounter with Naruto Uzumaki."
"Why take that approach?"
"Once Konoha's attention is diverted inward, they'll focus on protecting their village. This will create complications for Kiri and Iwa!"
"You mean..."
"Precisely. Kiri and Iwa may still maintain contact with Konoha, but Konoha will be preoccupied with determining whether our attack is merely a diversion."
"..."
"In such chaos, Konoha will be overwhelmed, straining their alliances and creating greater opportunities for us!"
Black Zetsu's cunning strategy left Obito silent and impressed. He didn't bother asking why they wouldn't send jinchūriki to Konoha—major villages still maintained certain standards.
If the plan succeeded, they might indeed gain some breathing room!
"We'll proceed as you suggested," Obito finally agreed after lengthy deliberation, allowing Black Zetsu to breathe easier.
"Don't worry—everything will work out perfectly."
Black Zetsu smiled outwardly while inwardly feeling bitter. Though the plan appeared sound, he knew it was primarily designed to deceive Obito.
He couldn't afford to deceive himself as well!
The power disparity remained significant, and Edo Tensei had its limitations.
"Still, if we can obtain what we need while fulfilling Orochimaru's agreement..."
Black Zetsu mused silently, glancing at Obito with a subtle nod.
"And help Obito regain his confidence... I suppose that counts as progress."
While storms gathered beyond Konoha's walls, within the village, Kitagawa Minamoto's life continued as usual.
"It's strange though—why didn't anyone end up in the hospital after our last mission?" Minamoto suddenly remarked while sitting with Kakashi and Might Guy at a training ground.
"..."
Kakashi froze momentarily, while Guy looked puzzled.
"Minamoto, isn't it better that no one was hospitalized?" Guy asked, confused.
"Ignore him," Kakashi sighed, massaging his temples. He sometimes wondered if his student deliberately tried to provoke reactions.
Glancing toward Sasuke, who was sparring with Naruto nearby, Kakashi ventured, "Perhaps it was Sasuke who declined?"
"Or maybe the Second Hokage," Minamoto suggested thoughtfully, stroking his chin.
"The information we discovered was quite shocking. The Second might have found it difficult to accept—though being under Edo Tensei, he couldn't exactly refuse..."
"That's enough! Should you really be discussing this so casually?" Kakashi chided, quickly scanning their surroundings. Seeing only Guy's curious expression, he relaxed slightly.
Guy knew about the Edo Tensei situation, though he hadn't been involved in many of the strategic decisions. This wasn't because Guy was undervalued—he simply excelled more in direct combat than planning.
Normal secrets weren't kept from him; he was, after all, one of Konoha's pillars and elite jōnin.
"Don't disrespect the Second Hokage. While it's possible, you shouldn't speak so flippantly."
"How am I disrespecting him?" Minamoto blinked innocently, earning a deadpan look from Kakashi.
"You haven't yet, but your talent for nonsense is remarkable. Is this really appropriate conversation?"
"What's inappropriate about it? Kakashi-sensei, can you explain why the Uchiha have one but the Senju don't?"
"..."
Kakashi was rendered speechless by Minamoto's question. Though he found the theory plausible, it seemed too absurd to consider seriously.
Could it really be that the Second Hokage was so outraged that he refused to manifest fully through Edo Tensei?
As Kakashi sank into contemplation, Guy blinked but refrained from inquiring further. He understood well that some secrets weren't meant for casual discussion.
"Speaking of which, the list for Edo Tensei should be nearly finalized by now," Minamoto continued with a smile.
"Kakashi-sensei, Guy-sensei, do you think there might be..."
"I don't know," Kakashi replied after a thoughtful pause, gazing skyward.
"But if I do see him, I'd have much to say."
"As would I," Guy agreed, his eyes reflecting distant memories before quickly brightening again.
"I'd probably tell him that I've embraced his philosophy, and thank him for helping me understand the true essence of youth..."
Guy paused, his mind drifting back to days spent training together, shedding tears that proved their youthful spirit. Though he had occasionally found it exasperating, he ultimately understood the profound meaning behind it all.
"True victory isn't about 'defeating the strong'—it's about 'protecting what's precious to you, even unto death.'"
Seeing his two teachers lost in reflection, Minamoto placed a reassuring hand on each of their shoulders. He felt he should contribute, especially given his considerable influence over such matters.
"Perhaps we should give Sasuke an opportunity to shine in front of his family?"
As his gaze shifted toward Sasuke training with Naruto, Minamoto's eyebrows suddenly arched as a notification appeared:
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