Black Zetsu emerged from Madara Uchiha's side, feigning concern as he asked, "Lord Madara, are you alright?"
Madara replied indifferently, "I'm not dying."
Black Zetsu persisted, "Lord Madara, the Three Great Sages have a heritage spanning over a thousand years. Their strength is unmatched, and in their respective domains, they are invincible. Even the Sage of Six Paths showed them respect. You really shouldn't have ventured there recklessly..."
"Oh?" At this, Madara asked nonchalantly, "Black Zetsu, I created you just a few decades ago. How do you know about events from over a thousand years ago?"
"!" Black Zetsu's heart skipped a beat, realizing he had slipped up. Carefully, he replied, "Well, during your absence, I have been constantly preparing for your return. Gathering intelligence like this was naturally part of my efforts..."
Madara pressed on, "Then why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Black Zetsu answered smoothly, "As the saying goes, 'seeing is believing.' I couldn't be certain whether the rumors about the sages were true. Besides, as your creation, I understand your personality. Even if I had told you earlier, you would have been eager to go anyway. Knowing you had Flying Thunder God as a fallback and the healing ability from Hashirama's cells, I was confident you wouldn't be in mortal danger. That's why I didn't mention it earlier."
Madara's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Hmph, let's leave it at that then."
Hiss, hiss, hiss!
The wounds on Madara's body healed completely. Clenching his fists, he thought with lingering fear: If it hadn't been for Susano'o absorbing some of the impact, I might have been melted in that instant by the acid. I wouldn't even have had the chance to use Flying Thunder God. The real body of that slug is on an entirely different level compared to its clones. Forceful methods won't work. If I want to learn the Sage Techniques of the Shikkotsu Forest, I'll need to find another way...
...
Madara then asked, "By the way, in Amegakure, there's a pink-haired girl who can use slug techniques. What's her background?"
Black Zetsu replied, "Oh~! You must mean Sakura Haruno. She was originally a ninja from Konoha, a disciple of the Fifth Hokage Tsunade, and a teammate of Naruto and Sasuke. For some reason, she died and was later resurrected by Kabuto's Edo Tensei. Eventually, she ended up in Amegakure."
Madara's expression shifted slightly. "Oh? Hokage, Tsunade, you say? Skilled in slug techniques? Then what's her connection to Mito?"
Black Zetsu explained, "She's Mito's granddaughter~!"
Madara's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Mito's granddaughter? That makes her Hashirama's granddaughter too? Interesting, very interesting..."
Black Zetsu hesitated, "Lord Madara, you wouldn't be thinking of..."
Madara stood up and said coldly, "That slug has a close relationship with Mito. If her granddaughter is in my hands, the slug will have no choice but to comply. Lead the way, Black Zetsu. We're going to Konoha."
Black Zetsu replied wickedly, "As you command, Lord Madara!"
...
The next morning, Naruto Uzumaki had just gotten up and immediately went to inspect the Edo Tensei resurrected individuals who had not yet been unsealed.
When Konan finished her morning routine and descended the tower, she was greeted by a humorous sight.
Other than the former Six-Tails Jinchūriki, Utakata, all the other Edo Tensei individuals—including the former Jinchūriki, the remaining Seven Ninja Swordsmen, the Sound Four, and Danzo's former guards—were suppressed under the Torii Seal.
Konan glanced around and asked, "Why did you unseal all of them?"
Naruto scratched his head sheepishly. "Uh, it's been raining heavily for several nights. I was worried they might get moldy if I didn't unseal them. Besides, the main events are mostly over. I can pretty much guess who's who without much suspense, so I figured I might as well deal with them quickly."
Konan nodded lightly. "That does make things simpler." She then glanced at the handsome man standing beside Naruto.
Naruto explained, "This is Utakata. We met once before."
Konan nodded. "I know. He was the former Six-Tails Jinchūriki. Pain personally hunted him down."
Utakata turned his gaze to Konan. "You're one of Pain's associates, aren't you?"
Konan replied honestly, "Pain is no longer with us."
Utakata's eyes narrowed. "That monster—who defeated him?"
Konan said, "The one before you, Naruto Uzumaki."
"I see..." Utakata murmured, then asked, "The ninja world must have changed drastically by now. What about Hotaru? Is she safe?"
Konan replied, "The girl who was with you back then? Our goal was the Jinchūriki. We wouldn't harm innocent people."
Utakata reached into his robe and took out a scroll. "Then I can rest assured. Naruto Uzumaki, we crossed paths once. Consider this my farewell gift—my expertise in Bubble Techniques."
Rustle, rustle, rustle...
After placing the scroll down, his spirit began to ascend.
Naruto picked up the scroll and watched Utakata's soul rise, saying, "Take care."
After all, they were acquaintances. Respecting his choice to leave was the least Naruto could do. He couldn't impose the future of the ninja world on others as a form of moral coercion.
At this moment, Kakuzu approached and lamented, "What a waste. That kid's looks would have made him quite popular as a 'host.' Don't you think so, Konan?"
Konan replied coldly, "Who knows? That's not my type anyway."
Orochimaru also arrived. "Naruto-kun, have you used today's Kotoamatsukami?"
Naruto glanced around. "Not yet. I'm still deciding who to use it on."
"These kids can probably be spared..." Orochimaru said as he walked toward the Sound Four.
The Sound Four exclaimed, "Lord Orochimaru!!!"
Naruto adjusted his hand seals, releasing the Torii Seal suppressing them.
Orochimaru stopped and smiled hoarsely. "Would you still be willing to follow me?"
"We swear to follow Lord Orochimaru to the death!!" Sakon, Jirōbō, Tayuya, and Kidōmaru knelt respectfully.
Naruto's gaze then focused on Fū Yamanaka and Torune Aburame, who had served as Danzo's guards.
Fū said, "Naruto Uzumaki, if you're still alive, that means Lord Danzo is dead, right?"
Naruto replied, "Dead. As dead as can be."
Torune sighed. "Then Root must have perished as well. Lord Danzo's ambitions ultimately failed..."
Naruto said solemnly, "I understand you both. As elites of the Yamanaka and Aburame clans, you had bright futures ahead of you. But Danzo forcibly dragged you into Root. Torune... you replaced 'Shino,' didn't you?"
Fū and Torune remained silent.
Naruto continued, "Your abilities are valuable, but trusting you unconditionally is something I can't do. To make things easier for both sides, I'll use Kotoamatsukami on you!"
Zzz! Zzz!
The technique activated, and Naruto's Mangekyō Sharingan faded from view.
The Torii Seal was then lifted.
Fū and Torune knelt simultaneously. "We pledge our loyalty to Lord Naruto!"
Naruto instructed, "You two are to investigate the whereabouts of Danzo's confidant, 'Ryoma Aburame.' Bring him back alive or dead!"
"Understood!" they replied in unison.
Naruto glanced at the remaining suppressed Edo Tensei individuals. For now, this would do. Later, he would use Kotoamatsukami to subdue them one by one.
Naruto turned, his brow furrowed in thought.
After dealing with these Edo Tensei individuals, where should I expend Kotoamatsukami to store its ocular power and strive for the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan?
No matter how I think about it, there's no better way than that...
"Looks like I'll have to capture large numbers of White Zetsu, after all..."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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