Black Zetsu's Scheme

"Notice: Successfully killed an enemy (Level 45 White Zetsu clone). Gained 80 Experience Points."

Kyosuke had successfully "stolen the kill" and unexpectedly gained 80 Experience Points. By all rights, he should have been happy.

But the mention of a "White Zetsu" clone made it impossible for him to feel pleased.

"White Zetsu was behind this incident? But wasn't he already dead?" Kyosuke's expression beneath his mask was incredibly grim.

He carefully recalled the plot of the "original work" and realized that White Zetsu's main body had indeed been killed by the Otsutsuki brothers during the "ancient era."

But then he remembered that Madara Uchiha had once revived White Zetsu's main body using the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, only for it to be killed by Sasuke again soon afterward.

Yet although White Zetsu's main body was dead, his clones still remained alive.

This showed that White Zetsu's clones likely possessed the ability to survive independently and did not rely on the "main body."

If that was the case, then White Zetsu's appearance here could be explained.

Or rather, the White Zetsu clone had also been "controlled" by someone. It should not have done something like this of its own accord.

Other than Black Zetsu, who lurked in the shadows and stirred up trouble, Kyosuke could not think of anyone else capable of controlling it.

Kyosuke rubbed his aching head and sighed helplessly in his heart. I never thought I'd find traces of Black Zetsu during such an ordinary mission. This really is...

Just as Kyosuke was getting a headache over it, Ankoku, the team leader, opened the sealed wooden crate.

When he saw what was inside, his breathing hitched.

The "child" inside the crate had already completely stopped breathing.

"Damn it, were we too late?" Ankoku clenched his fist and punched the wooden crate hard, but then he noticed something was wrong. "Strange. If they had already killed the hostage, why go through so much trouble to seal the crate?"

Filled with doubt, he carefully examined the pitiful child again.

"No, this isn't the Daimyo's child. What is going on?" Realizing something was wrong, Ankoku took out the photograph of the mission target. After carefully comparing them, he muttered in confusion.

Kyosuke noticed it as well, and a certain thought gradually became clear in his mind.

"It used White Zetsu to impersonate Sand Shinobi and abduct the Daimyo's child, luring Konoha into the trap."

"Then it had the 'Sand Shinobi' die at our hands."

"The Daimyo's child went missing, and the corpse of an unfamiliar child appeared."

"Sand Shinobi reinforcements."

"Oh no!!!"

Just as Kyosuke finally understood Black Zetsu's true objective, an angry roar abruptly interrupted his thoughts.

"Konoha scum! You actually dared... you actually dared..."

Hearing the voice, they all turned to look toward the cave entrance.

Several ninjas dressed as Sand Shinobi stood there, glaring furiously at them.

At the same time, one of the ninjas held the corpse of a "Sand Shinobi" in his arms.

"Damn it, did it still succeed?" Kyosuke's heart sank at the sight.

If Black Zetsu could abduct the Daimyo of the Land of Fire's child to lure them here, why could it not use the same method to lure the Sand Shinobi?

Once the two sides met while "completely unaware" of the truth, a fierce battle would inevitably erupt.

No matter who won, they would return with the hostage's "corpse" to report their success.

Then the hatred between the two villages—or rather, the two nations—would deepen once again, and war would naturally break out.

"Jonin Rasa, what should we do now?" One of the Sand Shinobi looked at the "corpse" beside Ankoku and asked painfully.

"What should we do?!" Rasa glanced at him, then turned back and stared viciously at Ankoku and the others. "Of course..."

"We'll tear this Konoha scum to pieces!!!"

With that, he suddenly brought his hands together and instantly unleashed his signature Ninjutsu.

"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Wave."

As his Ninjutsu took effect, layers upon layers of extremely dense Gold Sand surged forward across the ground and rushed toward them.

"Not good, it's Rasa of the Sand Shinobi! Everyone, watch out for his Magnet Release!" Ankoku shouted as he rapidly formed hand seals, hoping to use Ninjutsu to counter Rasa's Magnet Release.

But at that moment, Kyosuke stepped forward beside him and used the Ninjutsu he had prepared long ago.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow River."

The earth in front of Kyosuke suddenly flowed like waves. As he poured out a massive amount of Chakra, it ultimately formed a several-meter-high tidal wave made of mud.

The moment Kyosuke recognized the arriving Sand Shinobi, he had secretly begun forming hand seals, preparing to withstand the enemy's sudden attack.

He understood that fighting Rasa inside this cave was an extremely unwise choice.

Thus, while controlling his Ninjutsu in a clash against Rasa's, Kyosuke shouted at Ankoku, "Break through the rock wall and get out! We can't fight him in here."

Ankoku nodded, then unleashed his signature Ninjutsu at the rock wall not far away.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique."

"Boom."

After a loud crash, the rock wall was blasted open by the water dragon, leaving a gap.

Nightshade then stepped forward and picked up Kyosuke, who was still maintaining the Ninjutsu clash. The group escaped through the opening.

"Hmph, let's see where you can run." Rasa snorted coldly and flicked his wrist. His group immediately gave chase.

"Something's not right," Lin suddenly said as they ran.

The others nodded as well, agreeing with her.

"That's right. What happened just now was indeed strange, especially..." Ankoku paused before continuing, "the expression on that Sand Shinobi's face."

"Yeah, now that you mention it, I felt it too." After recalling Rasa's behavior, Nightshade said mockingly, "It was like... we had abducted their Daimyo's child."

The moment Nightshade finished speaking, he froze and instinctively turned to exchange glances with the others.

They had all remembered the child who had died in the crate for some unknown reason.

The Sand Shinobi had completely lost control only after seeing that child.

"Damn it, we've been set up this time." Nightshade cursed bitterly. Then he noticed movement beside him and asked Kyosuke, "Snake, what are you doing?"

"Nothing. I'm just checking whether there are any other enemies around." Kyosuke casually made up an excuse to conceal the fact that he had used the Summoning Technique.

His purpose, of course, was not merely to scout for enemies.

Because the system had not yet notified him that the "mission" had failed, which meant those two children might still be alive.

Even if the hope was slim, Kyosuke was still willing to try. After all, it concerned his mission.

But something that greatly surprised him happened just like that.

Less than two minutes later, one of his Summoning Animals told him that it had discovered a strange wooden crate not far ahead.

Based on the limited description from his small snake, Kyosuke could confirm that this wooden crate looked exactly like the one described in the intelligence.

"What's going on?" Kyosuke frowned in confusion, then told his companions about his discovery.

"Whether it's real or not, we have to take a look." After a brief moment of thought, Ankoku decided to investigate.

After all, judging from the direction they were heading, the wooden crate was located just a short distance ahead.

But this only made the ominous feeling in Kyosuke's heart grow stronger.