Chapter 93: The Raikage Mobilizes, Madara Watches
"Boss, this intel just arrived from the underground bounty network."
Not long after the captain of the sealing team departed, an ANBU ninja entered and handed a communication scroll over.
The Third Raikage's secretary, swinging her round hips exaggeratedly, took the scroll from the ANBU and placed it on the desk in front of the Raikage.
The Third Raikage unrolled it and read.
"Li Yao…"
"The Immortality Technique… heh!"
He scoffed at the mention of an "immortality technique." As far as he was concerned, it was an obvious exaggeration—just something to stir up attention.
Still… it was worth checking out.
The Raikage didn't believe in immortality, but the fact that Li Yao escaped from Konoha—wait, that's right. He escaped from Konoha!
Realizing this, the Raikage furrowed his brow, and a flash of thought brought up a report previously received from their diplomatic envoy to Konoha.
That same night they attempted to abduct Kushina, there had been a brief but incredibly loud and chaotic battle outside Konoha.
The combatants: one was the current Nine-Tails jinchūriki and one of the most powerful shinobi in the world, Uzumaki Mito. The other, an unknown ninja who used black chakra chains strikingly similar to the Uzumaki's Adamantine Sealing Chains.
According to the report, this mysterious ninja had held his ground against Mito—even while she unleashed her full sealing strength—suggesting his sealing techniques were no weaker, possibly stronger, than Kushina's.
The underground bounty network didn't mention anything about black sealing chains. It only stated that Li Yao used a chakra-formed giant eagle to fly—a unique flight jutsu.
"All black chakra, huh… heh."
"Seems this intel was leaked intentionally by Konoha. What are they playing at?"
The Raikage pondered, then shook his head. It didn't matter.
What was important now was the confirmation: Li Yao was the ninja who used black chakra chains.
Originally, they had abducted Kushina because she carried the Uzumaki clan's sealing chakra—an invaluable resource for Kumogakure to research and develop their own method for sealing Tailed Beasts.
Unfortunately, Kushina had been taken back by Konoha.
But now, there was a new opportunity—a ninja with even stronger sealing capabilities than Kushina had emerged.
The Third Raikage made up his mind instantly.
This time, he would lead the team himself to capture Li Yao and ensure success.
…
While the Third Raikage made plans to pursue Li Yao—
In a hidden location somewhere between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth, within the borders of the Land of Grass…
Inside a dimly lit stone chamber, an old man sat slumped on a stone throne, long gray-white hair styled rigidly as if gelled upright—an unmistakable symbol.
Even without moving, the presence he exuded was oppressive, like that of a fallen emperor still unwilling to die on his throne.
Suddenly, he stirred. The old man slowly lifted his head. A pair of crimson Sharingan eyes gleamed in the dim candlelight.
At the same time, two figures emerged from the chamber floor—both entirely white, as if sculpted from latex.
"Lord Madara!"
"Lord Madara!"
"I know what poop smells like—"
"Shut up."
The spiral-faced White Zetsu flailed around, babbling in a childlike voice. The spiky one gave him a sharp glare.
Then Spiky Zetsu turned to Madara. "Lord Madara, you've finally awakened. A lot has happened in the ninja world during your slumber."
"I'll explain—"
Before he could finish, Spiral Zetsu cut him off and excitedly recounted the night Li Yao escaped from Konoha, as well as the key intel gathered since.
Madara, rubbing his temples, barely followed the chaos of Spiral Zetsu's story, but the message was clear:
A ninja named Li Yao had escaped from Konoha.
This Li Yao possessed Hashirama's power—Wood Release chakra.
He also had a sealing technique comparable to that of Uzumaki Mito—black chakra chains.
Finally, bounty intel claimed he possessed a technique capable of granting immortality.
"Wood Release chakra?"
Madara wasn't interested in the other two points.
In the face of true power, sealing techniques were only useful against Tailed Beasts.
As for immortality… heh. With the Rinnegan and its dominion over life and death, Madara had already surpassed such trivial concerns. He didn't believe any technique could rival the Rinnegan's gift of immortality.
So the immortality rumor was likely a lie.
But the fact that Li Yao possessed Wood Release chakra intrigued him.
"Tell me exactly what happened that night," he said to Spiky Zetsu, while signaling Spiral Zetsu to keep quiet.
Spiral Zetsu obeyed. Spiky Zetsu gave a detailed, orderly report of Li Yao's escape from Konoha.
Konoha had always been a primary surveillance target for White Zetsu—more specifically, the Uchiha within Konoha.
However, due to Uzumaki Mito's ability to sense malice, Zetsu had never dared approach too closely.
On the night Li Yao escaped, he had observed the battle with Mito from a distance.
After Li Yao escaped, Zetsu sent a clone to follow him. When Li Yao used Wood Release to heal himself, Zetsu sensed it clearly.
Being a lifeform created from Hashirama's cells, infused with Rinnegan and the Gedo Statue, White Zetsu had a deep connection with the earth and vegetation. He could merge with nature—rendering him undetectable.
That's why Li Yao, despite his exceptional chakra-sensing ability, never noticed Zetsu's presence.
In fact, apart from Mito and her malice-sensing ability, no one in the entire ninja world could detect a hidden Zetsu underground.
With this natural advantage, Zetsu had extremely acute chakra sensitivity—especially to Wood Release.
So when Li Yao used it, Zetsu felt it instantly.
"After Li Yao entered the sea, I lost track of him," Spiky Zetsu finished.
Their chakra perception was limited to land. Over the sea, it became ineffective.
"Tobirama… It seems someone in Konoha has inherited your ruthlessness."
After hearing the full report, Madara sighed.
The way Li Yao had dealt with Konoha's forces—and especially his repressed hunger toward that female shinobi—made it clear to Madara: this was a result of Hashirama cell transplantation.
Only such mad science could explain it. The only person who had once dared such extremes was Tobirama.
So someone in Konoha was continuing that legacy.
But that was fine.
Madara smiled to himself and told Zetsu, "Find this boy named Li Yao. If necessary, bring him back."
Powerful sealing arts and Wood Release didn't impress Madara. With the Rinnegan awakened, he had already surpassed even peak Hashirama.
Another replica born of Hashirama's cells was no more than a Zetsu-level being—insignificant.
But what did interest him… was Li Yao's hatred toward Konoha.
The Rinnegan's true vessel required both immense chakra and deep, festering hatred.
Li Yao, with his Wood Release and seething rage, was a perfect candidate.
Though Madara had already implanted the Rinnegan in Nagato and prepared him carefully—filling his heart with sorrow and anger—it never hurt to have a backup.
Li Yao could be the contingency, should anything happen to Nagato.
Which meant… Li Yao had to survive.
"Understood, Lord Madara. I won't let Li Yao die."
Zetsu clearly grasped Madara's intention and nodded, vowing to protect Li Yao at the critical moment.
Given how much buzz surrounded Li Yao across the ninja world—
Both Madara and Zetsu, seasoned schemers, could already foresee that a deadly trap was being prepared for Li Yao.
They didn't need to interfere with it.
They just had to step in at the last moment and save him.
Their time to appear… had not yet come.
(END CHAPTER)
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