The White Zetsu Clone turned its gaze toward Sasori, wearing an oddly goofy yet strangely endearing expression on its face. Quickly, it communicated with its main body through underground plant roots.
In Amegakure...
"It looks like it's time to move out!"
Saitama twisted his neck a few times, letting out a couple of sharp popping sounds as his somewhat sluggish body slowly came back to life.
"It's definitely time to go. Those Mist ninjas have already sent out a distress signal. I estimate that even if the Mizukage himself isn't coming personally, the forces they're sending won't be easy to deal with!"
White Zetsu grinned, revealing sharp carnivorous teeth that reflected faint glimmers of light.
"You go inform Konan then. I'll head over to support Sasori first—might be a nice little surprise waiting there!"
Saitama looked up toward the Akatsuki Tower, then shot Zetsu a firm stare.
"Understood! My clones will also closely monitor developments from the Kiri side! I'll notify you immediately upon getting new information!"
White Zetsu nodded.
"Then it's settled."
Without wasting words, Saitama stepped into the rainstorm and vanished from Zetsu's sight in an instant.
Watching Saitama disappear, White Zetsu's eyes briefly flashed with coldness and confusion.
"He's gone."
White Zetsu murmured softly.
"I know."
Black Zetsu's deep voice responded.
"It seems we need to speed up the plan. Saitama's starting to slip through our fingers."
White Zetsu spoke playfully, his single eye slowly narrowing into a slit.
"He can't run. He's just a pawn who thinks he's figured something out. Strength alone isn't enough! This world has too much even for one powerful man to handle."
Black Zetsu opened his eyes and stared at the dark sky, thick with falling rain, his expression thoroughly gloomy.
"That works best."
Looking sideways, White Zetsu tried to see Black Zetsu, but since they shared the same body, he couldn't actually view his companion's expression.
"Just let him run around for now. Once Madara returns, everything will fall into place!"
Black Zetsu spoke slowly, still firmly believing in his heart that Madara was and had always been the most suitable choice.
"Go inform Konan then. Perhaps she'd find it interesting to observe firsthand. Also, because of this incident, there's a high possibility that the Mizukage will leave her village! Isn't she supposed to capture the Three-Tails together with Saitama?"
"If the Mizukage does come, we can conveniently proceed with tailed beast collection as well!"
Black Zetsu continued speaking before closing his eyes again, returning to silence.
"Got it!"
White Zetsu let out a soft chuckle before his body gradually sank into the ground, leaving no trace behind.
At the Akatsuki Tower.
As soon as Saitama entered the storm, Pain sensed his chakra and watched him leave the village.
"Saitama has left the village..."
Without turning around, Pain spoke in a cold tone toward the shadow standing behind him.
"There hasn't been any news indicating that the Mizukage has left her village either. What exactly is he up to?"
Konan felt puzzled, her lightly furrowed eyebrows creasing together as her otherwise aloof face displayed an unusual expression.
Pain remained silent. Even he didn't understand why Saitama had left the village. Perhaps, just like before, he had something important to attend to.
After all, he had no interest in being constrained.
His sole objective was to gather the Tailed Beasts and create an ideal world!
"Hmm? Zetsu, what are you doing here?"
Pain suddenly turned around, fixing his gaze on the area behind Konan. His tone carried a subtle shift.
"Hmph."
Zetsu slowly emerged from behind Konan, while Konan herself turned around, watching cautiously. Without Pain's warning, she wouldn't have even noticed Zetsu appearing behind her.
Zetsu rose from the ground, chuckling softly.
"There's new development with Sasori. The Mist shinobi were stationed at the edge of the battlefield where Sasori captured the Six-Tails, and they requested backup, so Saitama went ahead to provide support to prevent unnecessary casualties!"
White Zetsu spoke, his single eye fixed on Pain.
"Oh, the Mist shinobi..."
Pain murmured thoughtfully, his Rinnegan flashing faintly with pale blue light.
"Saitama asked me to come inform you, so he's already headed over."
After finishing his words, Zetsu stopped paying attention to Pain and Konan's reaction and sank into the ground once more, disappearing before their eyes.
"I'll go check it out too."
Konan's eyes flickered with contemplation as she said to Pain.
"Alright, be careful! If necessary, you can call on me for assistance!"
Pain nodded, giving instructions to Konan. Though Konan had an edge in battle, the skills of seasoned masters were unpredictable—it was wise to stay alert!
"Understood!"
Konan gave a slight nod, then her body instantly scattered into countless white paper scraps floating down the stairs.
She still needed to prepare some tools. Intended originally for the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, she decided to bring them along this time just in case!
Perhaps the Mizukage herself came this time?
That wasn't impossible, so it was better to be well-prepared!
...
[Whoosh!]
Sasori controlled Roshi, vanishing from his spot, leaving behind a crimson shadow shooting toward that red figure with three tails.
Ephemeral had already lost control of his body. After entering the Three-Tails state, he gradually lost consciousness.
The powerful, violent chakra of the Tailed Beast had corroded his entire body—his skin was severely damaged, revealing raw flesh beneath, though a protective layer of chakra kept him from looking completely grotesque.
At that moment, he looked exactly like Naruto during his Tailed Beast transformation at Pain's hands back in Konoha—wrapped entirely in Tailed Beast chakra. Though roughly retaining human form, he had lost every shred of human emotion, including the sense of pain...
"Roar!"
Ephemeral stood on all fours, roaring furiously at Roshi charging straight toward him, just like a wild beast whose territory had been invaded.
[Zrraa!]
He planted both hands firmly on the ground, scraping across the surface, while kicking off with his feet and charging forward as well.
[Boom!]
A thunderclap-like explosion erupted—as if from a clear sky!—a clash of magma, violent chakra, and swinging tails of the Tailed Beast.
Roshi was completely wrapped in hot, blazing magma. Each punch he threw carried unstoppable power and overwhelming momentum.
Ephemeral was just as powerful as him.
After his Tailed Beast transformation, every attack he unleashed had the same crushing power and destructive might of a real Tailed Beast. It looked like he was only moving slightly faster, but only Sasori, who controlled Roshi, could truly grasp how devastating each of Ephemeral's attacks really was!
"Thud!"
Roshi kicked Ephemeral straight in the face, but immediately afterward, one of Ephemeral's tails smashed into him from behind, creating a dull, heavy impact.
"Crash!"
Struck by that powerful tail swipe, Roshi uncontrollably flew backward toward Sasori.
"This is getting interesting!" Sasori said.
His hands kept moving skillfully, fingers dancing as he manipulated Roshi to skid along the ground, gradually halting his backward momentum.
He hadn't expected this Jinchuriki to be this strong. Perhaps this boy was indeed the toughest opponent he'd personally faced in years!
Though still a seemingly young teenager, with the power of the Tailed Beast inside him, he'd already joined the strongest fighters in the Shinobi World.
No wonder Pain wanted to collect all the Tailed Beasts and turn them into ultimate weapons!
Sasori narrowed his eyes as Roshi came to a halt a few meters away from him.
On the other side, Ephemeral had been kicked into the ground by Roshi. Now, he violently shook his head and let out furious roars.
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