Black Zetsu's Fury

Humming an off-key tune, Izuna Earth Flow slowly along the streets of Kyoto as the city lights began to twinkle, wondering if the Tempura of hungry wolves would snatch all the tempura at the victory celebration. He figured he'd better hurry.

Just as he turned a street corner, he could already see the warm glow of restaurant lanterns in the distance.

[Bite!]

The system, which had always only served as Rhythm Game simulator, suddenly emitted a notification sound in his mind.

Immediately afterwards, a semi-transparent screen popped open in front of him, the blood-red mission title dazzlingly bright:

[Urgent Mission: Rescue Uchiha Shinya]

Time remaining: 02:00

Izuna stopped abruptly, his languid expression instantly replaced by astonishment.

Shinya? The Uchiha clansman he sent to infiltrate the Biwa Master group for pre-show publicity? Something happened to him? Now? On this night, with the performance a resounding success and everything seemingly settled?

An ominous premonition washed over him like ice water, instantly sobering him up.

He immediately opened the detailed map on the screen. The green dot representing Uchiha Shinya was about two blocks away from him, moving towards Biwa Courtyard along with a group of slowly moving dots.

Almost simultaneously, a blinding spot of light, flashing with ominous black and red ripples, was hurtling towards the group of lights where Shinya was from another direction at an extremely fast speed!

The black and red dot marker is -- [Senju Hideki (Abnormal Status)]!

"Damn it! I knew it!" Izuna cursed under his breath. That persistent ghost! It still hadn't given up, and at a time like this, it chose to target the sensitive Uchiha Shinya?

Is the intention to create trouble and damage Konoha's newly established positive image? Or is it simply for revenge, or is there a deeper scheme at play?

No matter which method it is, we must not let him succeed!

He sprang into action instantly, his deep blue figure flashing through the crowd in a few barely perceptible movements before he broke away from the main road, leaped onto the rooftops, and raced at full speed across the continuous rooftops of Kyoto!

Chakra erupted beneath his feet, and with each rise and fall he covered several meters, the night wind whistling past his ears.

He stared intently at the two points of light on the System Map that were about to intersect, his heart pounding rapidly in his chest.

Two minutes! I have to make it!

Meanwhile, on another, more secluded stone path leading to the musicians' quarters.

Uchiha Shinya was dressed in plain clothes similar to those of the Biwa Hōshi around him, carrying his Biwa on his back, head down, blending into the crowd.

His feelings were unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

Absolutely brilliant! As expected of Lord Izuna!

Despite being subjected to such a one-sided, overwhelmingly positive media campaign, they managed to stage a remarkable comeback, turning what seemed like an unfavorable situation into an epic moment that gave voice to the entire Ninja community and deeply moved everyone!

The Biwa technique is no longer important; what matters is that the Ninjas will step onto the stage of the era with dignity because of this performance!

In Uchiha Shinya's heart, pride and shock surged like boiling water.

He longed to leave the band and talk with his colleagues, sharing the shock he felt.

But he can't leave now, because as one of the instigators, it would be very abrupt for him to leave at this moment. Moreover, he can retain this identity; he has seen clearly the methods the Biwa Hōshi use to manipulate public opinion in this drama.

No matter what, he must help Lord Izuna this time!

The Biwa Hōshi around him were just as shocked as he was.

They came to the Spring Festival with the intention of causing trouble, but now those thoughts have completely disappeared.

Uchiha Izuna's goal was never to become an authority in the music world like them.

The other party's stage is the whole world, and their audience is the hearts of people everywhere.

In their eyes, we are probably not even a stumbling block, just insignificant background noise.

There's no need to jump out like a clown to oppose or slander; that would only lower your own standing and make you a laughingstock.

Leaving quietly might preserve a shred of dignity.

Therefore, this group of Biwa Hōshi, with mixed feelings, silently and somewhat dejectedly walked along the path back to the Biwa Courtyard where they were temporarily staying.

No one spoke; only the sound of weary footsteps echoed on the stone path.

Uchiha Shinya discreetly blended into the crowd, his head slightly lowered.

Just then--

A sudden change has occurred!

A figure suddenly darted out silently from the shadows of a narrow alleyway beside the road, like a ghost!

With incredible speed and a clear objective, carrying a chilling aura that suggested he was no ordinary person, he charged straight at Uchiha Shinya in the crowd!

It's Senju Hideki possessed by Black Zetsu!

That once honest face was now covered with abnormal bluish-black veins, his eyes rolled back, his expression twisted, exuding an inhuman madness and resentment.

He clenched his right fist, and green Chakra surged within it, revealing the Senju Clan's signature Monster Strength!

Black Zetsu has waited and endured for so long, and finally his opportunity has arrived!

Its plan to incite public opinion and orchestrate Izuna's downfall through excessive praise has completely failed.

Far from damaging Uchiha Izuna's reputation, it actually became a stepping stone for that epic performance, elevating the image of Konoha and its Ninjas!

Seeing that the Ninjas, a group it regarded as pawns and could be sacrificed at any time, were about to use this play to step onto the historical stage in a dignified manner and gain unprecedented attention and sympathy.

It might even lead to a new and more stable cooperative relationship with the Land of Fire... Black Zetsu is extremely anxious!

We must not allow them to rise in status! We must not allow them to unite! This is a tremendous threat to the great cause of the Mother's resurrection!

Then, it suddenly remembered something, a small thing that it had temporarily ignored but which now became an excellent starting point.

Before the Spring Festival, Uchiha Izuna sent an Uchiha clansman disguised as Biwa Hōshi to infiltrate the musicians and stir up public opinion!

Black Zetsu's inhuman thoughts raced through his mind.

As long as we're here, in front of everyone, we can force this Uchiha to use his Sharingan! And expose his identity as an instigator!

Then, using this Senju Hideki's body, they would cruelly murder him as members of the Senju Clan! Finally, they would simply make this body "die in some kind of accident" or "commit suicide out of guilt"...

Thus, a perfect incident, enough to ignite a powder keg, was born.

The Senju Clan and Uchiha Clans outwardly cooperate, but deep-seated resentment remains! Internal strife erupts in Konoha! Senju clan members ambush and kill Uchiha in the street!

The fact that the Uchiha infiltrated the community of ordinary musicians and stirred up public opinion will be confirmed.

Ninjas are not as upright as they appear; they too use insidious methods to manipulate people's hearts!

In this way, even if people sympathize with the Ninjas in the show, they can't help but have doubts.

Was that deeply moving performance also a meticulously orchestrated manipulation of public opinion? Was it a grand spectacle staged by the Uchiha, and even the entire Konoha, to elevate their own status?

Once the seeds of suspicion are sown, the fragile goodwill that has just been established will quickly crumble.

More importantly, the Uchiha Clan will never let this go!

Their clansmen were murdered in the streets by the Senju. Regardless of the reason, this will be considered the most serious provocation! The newly stabilized Konoha will instantly see its internal rifts widen, and may even erupt into direct conflict!

Let it be chaotic! Let it become chaotic! As long as Konoha is thrown into chaos, the Mother's resurrection plan will have an opening!

"Die! Uchiha bug!" The possessed Senju Hideki let out a hoarse, inhuman roar, and his hand, flashing with a dangerous green light, stabbed fiercely toward Uchiha Shinya's back with a sharp whooshing sound!

The incident happened so suddenly that the surrounding Biwa Hōshi had no time to react. They only saw a figure that looked like a madman rushing towards them, and they screamed in fright and scattered to avoid him.

Uchiha Shinya sensed the killing intent the moment the attacker lunged out of the shadows! But he never expected the attacker to be Senju Hideki! He also never expected the attack to be so ruthless and decisive, targeting vital points!

In the heat of the moment, he could only rely on the Uchiha's exceptional dynamic vision and physical reflexes to lunge to the side and forward, while simultaneously using the Biwa on his back to block behind him!

"Sizzle--!"

The green Chakra, like a heavy hammer, easily pierced through the hard soundboard of the Biwa! Wood chips flew everywhere!

Although Shinya avoided the heart, a deep, bone-revealing gash was still cut open on his left shoulder blade by the sharp edge of the Chakra, and excruciating pain instantly struck!

He rolled awkwardly on the ground, kneeling down to steady himself. His left hand covered his bleeding shoulder, while his right hand instantly reached for the Kunai hidden behind his waist. His Sharingan almost instinctively activated!

But reason prevailed at the last moment.

I can't open my Sharingan! I can't resist! Once my Sharingan is exposed, my identity will be completely revealed! All my previous infiltration, all of Lord Izuna's arrangements, could be ruined in an instant!

But... without using his Ninja powers, how long could he hold out against this strangely bewildered "Senju Hideki," Strength seemed to have been enhanced? His opponent was clearly after his life!

He feigned fear and asked tremblingly, "Who... who are you? Why are you trying to kill me? I didn't do anything!"

"Oh? Still pretending? Are you blind? Where's the pride of the Uchiha?" Black Zetsu, controlling Hideki's body, let out a hoarse laugh, his movements unwavering as he pounced again like a leech, his hands glowing with a dangerous green light. "Then die with your secret!"

Shinya gritted his teeth, pretended to be an ordinary musician, staggered to his feet, and ran away.

He cannot use the power of Ninja.

If he uses it, it means he is indeed Ninja, that is, an infiltrator.

There's no other way.

Shinya was punched into the corner of the wall and slowly closed his eyes.

Lord Izuna, Shinya afraid I won't be able to see your future plans, nor will I be able to witness you leading everyone to a better future.

I'm so unwilling to accept this...

Just as that fist, glowing with deadly green light, was about to smash Shinya's head—

"Black Zetsu--!"

A furious and murderous shout, like a thunderclap, resounded above the narrow alley!

Uchiha Izuna's figure appeared like a deep blue lightning bolt tearing through the night.

The moment Izuna saw Black Zetsu, his Sharingan he had never activated, suddenly appeared in his eyes.

Immediately afterwards, three jet-black Tomoe spun rapidly around the pupil, elongating and deforming, eventually transforming into a three-straight windmill pattern, slowly rotating against a scarlet background!

Mangekyō Sharingan

Even more shockingly, strange dark purple eye markings appeared around the corners of Izuna's eyes.

A vast, boundless Chakra, imbued with the pressure of nature, rose from his body, intertwining with the cold, powerful eye energy of his Mangekyō Sharingan, creating a terrifying aura that sent shivers down one's spine!

Sage Mode!