Amegakure Village.
Saitama and Zetsu stood side by side, gazing at the rain-drenched village, each wearing a different expression.
"They've initiated engagement with their targets!"
White Zetsu's feet had fused deeply into the earth, as if they'd always belonged that way—he was like a plant rooted in place.
Saitama understood this was White Zetsu's method of long-range communication. Those separated Clones relied on this technique to rapidly relay information back to the original body.
It was how he linked his body with underground plants—roots, vines, you name it—for long-range communication!
Saitama knew exactly who White Zetsu meant and remained silent instead.
It had been nearly a week since Sasori and his team left the village; confrontations were about to begin.
"Sasori's target seems easy enough to handle. That Jinchuriki is still too young and inexperienced to match him. As for Kakuzu's side, though, there might be some trouble."
White Zetsu grinned. The reports from his Clones indicated that Sasori was already gaining the upper hand while Kakuzu remained locked in a stalemate.
Moreover, Kakuzu's target—the Five-Tails Jinchuriki—was a formidable opponent by nature.
Although White Zetsu's Clone hadn't sensed any abnormalities yet, Iwagakure would never just let a Jinchuriki leave the village unchallenged.
"I'll deploy my Clones to monitor them closely. If they really run into insurmountable obstacles, my Clones can help extract them temporarily."
White Zetsu's voice was hoarse, and as he spoke, he glanced sideways at Saitama with one eye.
"Then I'll leave it to you. They're important combat assets for our future—we should avoid losing them if possible."
Saitama looked at Zetsu but kept his gaze fixed on the quiet black half for quite some time.
"What's wrong, Saitama?"
White Zetsu noticed Saitama's stare, his eyes gleaming with amusement—there was a moment when he felt completely exposed under Saitama's scrutiny.
"Nothing much—I just suddenly became curious about Black Zetsu…"
As Saitama said this, he slowly stepped closer to Zetsu, his eyes glowing faintly with an ancient, mysterious pattern—an activated [Sharingan]—flickering within them.
"Snap!"
Black Zetsu's eyes shot open. Something felt off about Saitama today.
Though puzzled inside, his face remained emotionless—like a machine devoid of feeling.
"Me?"
Black Zetsu turned toward Saitama, this being one of the rare times he exchanged words with him.
"You know exactly who I am, don't you…?"
Black Zetsu's eyes ran deep, filled with things difficult to bear directly—staring into them caused dizziness.
But Saitama didn't even blink. Three tomoe appeared abruptly in his Sharingan as he fixed Black Zetsu with a piercing stare.
"Hehehe..."
Saitama gave a faint chuckle, saying nothing further.
"I'm merely the embodiment of Lord Madara's will..."
Finally, under the intense pressure of Saitama's ocular power, Black Zetsu seemed to emphasize something deliberately, his voice heavy and dark.
"That's right—the embodiment of will!"
Saitama smirked ambiguously. His Sharingan's tomoe gradually faded away, and the aura around him retreated inward as though nothing had happened at all.
Black Zetsu didn't say anything else. For a brief moment, he thought Saitama had noticed something, but thankfully in the end, Saitama seemed to drop it for some reason.
A brief moment of thought crossed his eyes, his pitch-black pupils hiding feelings too complex for most to understand.
Saitama shifted his gaze and turned toward White Zetsu with an almost imperceptible smile on his face, looking completely relaxed.
Earlier, he had simply felt that Black Zetsu had been acting suspiciously lately, so he seized the opportunity to test Black Zetsu's limits.
It turns out Black Zetsu still lacked the courage to betray him—or worse, attempt to kill him.
He—Saitama—was Madara Uchiha's backup plan, a pawn used to resurrect Madara after all Tailed Beasts were gathered.
Just like Obito Uchiha in Saitama's memories, he remained the final trump card until the very last moment.
Therefore, even though Saitama's attitude had recently turned somewhat hostile and slightly beyond control, Black Zetsu would keep tolerating it.
After surviving a thousand years, those final years—the time when he'd finally be the player instead of the pawn—were something he was determined to see through no matter what!
"By the way, any news from Three-Tails?"
Saitama asked White Zetsu, choosing not to press Black Zetsu further.
Pointless and unnecessary anyway.
"Uh… Nothing yet! The clones I placed inside Kirigakure haven't sent me any useful updates."
White Zetsu was still shaken from watching Saitama and Black Zetsu face off just now. When questioned, he hesitated briefly before offering an awkward but polite smile.
He realized that Saitama was no longer the young boy he once found at the border of the Land of Grass.
Because now, Saitama thought for himself.
But thankfully, everything was still sticking to the script!
"Alright then. Keep monitoring the situation, and inform me immediately if you receive anything."
Saitama nodded slightly. While others were already wrapping things up, he hadn't even started yet, which felt somewhat uncomfortable.
He knew they must act against the Mizukage before Iwagakure Village made its move.
Otherwise, once all Tailed Beasts were gone, Iwagakure Village wouldn't maintain peace the way it does now.
Tsuchikage Onoki would surely request a Meeting among the Hidden Villages to launch actions against Akatsuki!
And by then, if the Mizukage hadn't left the village, opportunities to capture her afterward would be slim indeed!
Perhaps Pain could directly invade the village for the capture, but for himself, pulling off such a direct abduction of Three-Tails would be nearly impossible.
That was exactly what he was worried about!
In short, they must strike Three-Tails before the news about Five-Tails and Six-Tails' captures spreads among the Hidden Villages.
Thinking of this, Saitama's gaze turned toward Akatsuki Tower—the towering secret base standing tall within Amegakure.
If he had the Rinnegan right now, along with Hashirama's cells and all the other enhancements inside him, maybe he could actually handle its chakra drain?
But that eye belonged to Madara Uchiha—it definitely bore restrictions.
Moreover, another person's eye was never as convenient or natural to use as one's own!
Saitama's fingers slowly lifted as he lightly touched his right eye, fleeting thoughts crossing his mind.
Only with the Rinnegan could he have even basic confidence in winning the final battle. But how difficult it was to obtain those eyes!
Even Madara Uchiha had awakened the Rinnegan only in his old age, on the verge of death, and through a series of coincidences. How much longer would it take for him?
"Saitama seems to be undergoing a new change."
As Saitama was still pondering, White Zetsu's voice whispered by his ear. He slightly turned his head and saw White Zetsu looking directly at him.
"What's going on?"
Saitama knew something must have happened and swiftly cleared the lingering thoughts from his mind.
"About Sasori..."
White Zetsu's voice carried an unusual tone.
...
"Puff!"
Another series of explosions once again overturned a large area of the fishing village, leaving the ground looking freshly plowed.
"Hiss!!"
Ephemeral, with three tails visible, let out a shriek. He still maintained a human-like form, though appeared to be slipping into unconsciousness.
His entire body turned crimson, with raging chakra forming a Kara-like shell around him.
A grayish-white liquid dripped from the corner of his mouth, eating into the ground and leaving small craters.
"Zzzz!"
The liquid kept sizzling, producing white smoke.
About a kilometer north of the battlefield, a group of figures crouched behind some rocks.
They seemed to have arrived earlier and had been watching the battle unfold for a while.
"Lord Ao, what should we do now?"
A ninja wearing a Hidden Mist forehead protector softly asked the man beside him, who revealed only one eye.
"Request reinforcements from the village! The one fighting the Jinchuriki is from the Akatsuki Organization! We can't handle them!"
Near Ao's right eye socket, grotesque veins surfaced, allowing him to clearly observe the distant battle.
"Understood!"
The ninja nodded. He knew that a mysterious organization had recently emerged in the Shinobi World, its core made up of various rogue ninjas whose strengths were unpredictable and formidable. Their small squad definitely couldn't handle such opponents!
Thinking this, he began forming hand seals, activating the Summoning Technique. With a puff of white smoke, he summoned his messenger animal—a dog-sized lizard.
Ao wore a stoic expression, his face betraying only seriousness. Before arriving with his team, he had already noticed the Six-Tails Jinchuriki engaged in battle, so he paused here.
Since he was born with the Byakugan and was also a trusted ally of the Mizukage, he had been assigned this mission to track down the escaping Jinchuriki.
Previous Anbu teams sent after the Jinchuriki had either been evaded or wounded, which caused concern for the Mizukage.
With Ephemeral running loose across the Shinobi World like this, he had become a prime target for the Akatsuki Organization—ones who would descend upon him like rabid dogs drawn to rotting flesh.
Therefore, he sent Ao accompanied by a ninja skilled in Sealing Techniques, hoping to capture Ephemeral and stop further chaos from spreading across the Shinobi World!
"Inform the Mizukage: the enemy is extremely powerful, likely a Kage-level opponent. Request appropriate reinforcements at once!"
Ao continued observing before finally turning to Sasori, who was writing.
Through his Byakugan, the Akatsuki member looked unusual, but the distance was too great for Ao to make out the details clearly. One thing was certain—this person was powerful!
Sasori hesitated, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes, then he lowered his head and resumed writing.
Made sense. After all, you'd need serious guts—and power—to take on a Tailed Beast alone!
"Damn it! I hope reinforcements arrive soon!"
Ao bit his lip.
The Jinchuriki had already entered the Half-Tailed-Beast Transformation state, and judging from appearances, their enemy was handling things effortlessly.
If backup didn't arrive in time, he'd have no choice but to step in and block them for now! Whether or not he succeeded would just come down to luck!
But as long as he was still breathing, no one was taking the Mist Village's Tailed Beasts!
A determined and ruthless glint flashed through Ao's left eye.
"Ugh!"
Not far to the west, a pale face suddenly peeked out from behind a tree—it was the White Zetsu Clone.
He stared in shock at Ao and the other Mist ninjas, his mouth slightly open.
"Those are Mist Village ninja? They actually found us! What should I do now?"
Feeling conflicted, the White Zetsu Clone transmitted this information to its original body far away in Amegakure.
"I guess I should warn Sasori about this too—otherwise he's gonna get crushed."
The White Zetsu Clone turned his head again, gazing toward the distant battlefield where Sasori was controlling puppets and fighting.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>