Even though Naraku tried to hide it, his prolonged silence and avoidance made Kakashi realize that he seemed a bit off.
Immediately, Kakashi touched Naraku's forehead with the back of his hand.
"Still not feeling well?"
"Probably..."
Naraku mumbled a reply, then lay down on the dry wooden floor, leaning his back against Kakashi's thigh, and continued to feign sleep.
On the surface, he appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, but in reality, most of his attention was on his sub-body... "Well done, Nagato~"
Zetsu casually flipped through the materials Nagato handed him, satisfied with his high efficiency.
In just one year, Amegakure had been managed like an iron fortress, with everyone united and sharing a common hatred for their enemies.
The Land of Rain, once impoverished and weak, had improved significantly after the Akatsuki Organization's infiltration and transformation.
Although most commoners still lived in poverty and hardship, at least they no longer had to worry about themselves and their families starving or dying of illness.
"However, sneaking around isn't a long-term solution~ What do you plan to do with the Land of Rain's Daimyo and nobles next?"
"The time is not yet ripe," Nagato said, putting down the last document and stretching with a big yawn, "Once everyone gradually gets used to being managed by the Akatsuki, I will deal with them..."
"Well, as long as you have a plan in mind~"
Looking at the faint dark circles under Nagato's eyes and his slightly gaunt cheeks, Zetsu chuckled mischievously and rubbed his hands together, preparing his Medical Ninjutsu.
Then he quickly walked around the large office desk and, before Nagato could react, cupped his face and rubbed it vigorously.
"I told you a long time ago, go easy on your Rinnegan, otherwise don't blame me if you die young without a warning."
This caught Nagato off guard, and he struggled to defend himself amidst the green light that filled his entire vision: "I... I understand... but there's nothing I can do..."
After a few breaths, the green glow dissipated, and Nagato felt all the accumulated fatigue in his body vanish, returning him to his optimal state for the first time in a long while.
His eyes lit up, and just as he was about to speak, Zetsu waved him off.
"Stop, I told you I really dislike using Medical Ninjutsu, didn't I?"
"Instead of considering such a pathetic thing as having me treat you regularly, you should think about how to complete our plan."
"In today's Ninja World, Tailed Beasts aren't as easy to catch as they used to be; you need to plan ahead."
"Understood," Nagato nodded compliantly, "I know."
Zetsu turned to leave, and as he went out the door, he specifically turned back to remind him: "There will be changes in the Land of Fire soon; just observe the situation, and I'll come see you after it's over~"
Nagato knew that Zetsu was about to make a move again, but the Land of Fire was, after all, one of the strongest countries in the Ninja World, and Konoha was filled with powerful Ninja.
These two were simply not on the same level as the Land of Rain and Hidden Rain Village.
"Zetsu, do you need my help?"
"Are you worried about me, Nagato? I'm very touched~"
Zetsu's tone was full of laughter, and the confidence radiating from him made it seem as if he was merely going to do a trivial task.
"After the matter is concluded, there will naturally be places where I need your help."
... "Is it happening soon?"
Matsukata Seigou placed a piece on the board under the moonlight, looking at the mysterious Ninja across from him, who was in a casual posture.
After several encounters, he could now remain calm and composed in the other party's presence.
"That's right~" Zetsu played with the chess piece in his hand, casually placing it in an inconspicuous position, "In seven days, the 'rebels' will rush into the Daimyo's mansion as planned; remember to seize the opportunity well~"
-- The situation had reversed.
Matsukata Seigou keenly noticed the subtle yet fatal changes on the chessboard, strengthening his belief in his own suspicions.
-- This was an old monster who had lived for an unknown number of years.
Zetsu, on the other hand, acted as if he didn't care at all about Matsukata Seigou's inner thoughts, or the vigilant and distant look in the latter's eyes, hidden in the shadows, like he was looking at a monster.
He even asked in a joking tone: "Perhaps I should address you as Lord Daimyo in advance?"
"The outcome is not yet decided, so it's better not to be so blindly optimistic."
"You're right," Zetsu said, touching the lower edge of his mask in agreement, "Changing the address prematurely now would make for a very poor experience~"
He slowly stood up from the wooden floor, theatrically patting his completely unwrinkled black robe until he was satisfied with his actions.
"Since everything has been said, I'll be leaving now~"
Just like the previous times, his figure suddenly vanished, as if he had never existed in the first place.
"Someone."
The next second after Matsukata Seigou spoke, a Uchiha instantly appeared before him.
"Lord Head, what are your orders?"
..."I'm going to rest; add one more person to stand guard."
"Yes."
Once this Uchiha left, Matsukata Seigou clenched his fists in frustration.
-- Sure enough, it's still like this... Even the Uchiha can't detect it...!
-- Just how strong is that undying Zetsu?
...Yun Muyan returned to his residence after his shift. One moment the entire house was empty, but the next second, as he closed the door and turned on the light, a pale humanoid creature already stood in the center of the living room.
"Good evening, Yun Muyan~"
"Good evening, my foot."
He rolled his Byakugan, unfazed, took a cold drink from his newly bought refrigerator, and, hugging the bottle, threw himself onto the soft, comfortable sofa.
"Let me guess," with a mouthful of icy drink, Yun Muyan's expression immediately became much more refreshed, "Our dear leader has remembered this little shrimp again?"
no. 666 white zetsu scratched the back of its head in confusion, unable to tell whether the Ninja it was responsible for contacting felt dislike or affection for Zetsu.
However, it dutifully conveyed the message: "Zetsu said he will make his move in seven days."
Yun Muyan waited several seconds but heard nothing further, so angry that the veins on his forehead throbbed, and he almost crushed the drink bottle: "...That's it!?"
"Don't be angry, Ayan~"
A familiar voice sounded behind his ear, and then a pair of hands rested on Yun Muyan's shoulders, speaking with a saccharine, affected intimacy.
"Didn't I come to see you myself, traveling under the stars and moon?"
The warmth emanating from Zetsu's palms climbed around Yun Muyan's neck like a vine, making him utterly disgusted.
He even forgot to scold the other party for the ridiculous act of making the White Zetsu deliver a message when he himself had already arrived.
"Can you be normal, you bastard? I'm getting goosebumps."
"Alright, alright."
Zetsu shrugged as he retracted his hands, then unceremoniously turned and opened the refrigerator, slowly and carefully selecting, allowing a large amount of cold air to continuously blow on his mask and upper body.
After a while, enduring the murderous gaze burning into his back, he finally chose his desired drink.
Then, the exasperated Yun Muyan chased him around the living room with a bloodied blade.
"Damn it! There were only two kinds, did you really need to take that long to choose!?
Zetsu tried to evoke friendship by acting cute while running: "I have decision-making difficulties, you know~"
"I think you're just purely insane!"
...(This chapter is a bit short; I'll complete it tomorrow~)
(It's completed now~)