Begin the Operation

July 4th, 3:15 AM.

On the double bed, Hikari was already fast asleep.

Chen pulled the towel out, folded it, covered the small map on top, and tucked it into the interlayer of his travel bag.

After all, out in the world, he couldn't be too careless. It wouldn't do to stain the inn's sheets.

Wearing a bathrobe and wooden clogs, he picked up a glass of red wine and stepped onto the small balcony of the inn, letting the cool summer night breeze wash over him as he savored the afterglow.

Looking down, he saw a pale white head emerge from beside the cornflowers in the garden below, its faintly glowing brown eyes staring up at him with a pleading look.

Chen set the wine glass on the small wooden table on the balcony, slid the door shut, and gestured for the figure below to come up.

The white head rose from the flowerbed, leaped lightly onto the balcony railing, and spoke respectfully: "Lord Chen!"

Who else could it be but a White Zetsu?

In the Fourth Great Ninja War, excluding Tobi, Chen had saved a total of two hundred White Zetsu.

That number was insignificant among the hundred thousand White Zetsu, but it was the limit Chen could manage without compromising his own concealment and other operations.

After the Shadow Hidden Ninja Village was established, Chen thawed out one hundred and eight of them.

He applied Mizuha no Kotoamatsukami to all of them, ensuring absolute loyalty, then divided these one hundred and eight White Zetsu into two columns: Inner Array and Outer Array, fifty-four each.

Why split the White Zetsu into two columns?

Because Taoyuan's isolation from the world rendered even the White Zetsu's ability to sense each other through thought ineffective.

To ensure Taoyuan's absolute privacy as the rear base.

Only two people could open the gate to Taoyuan.

Chen, the true master of the Shadow.

And Konan, whom Chen had granted proxy authority.

No matter how great the matter, Konan would never leave Taoyuan even half a step—that was her resolve.

There was no one left outside worth her concern anymore.

The ones handling communication between inside and outside, gathering intelligence, and acting as 'feet' were the 'White Zetsu.'

But they couldn't just open the Taoyuan gate every time a White Zetsu needed to pass a message—hence the two columns!

The Inner Array and Outer Array were even modeled after Kara's structure.

Additionally, one member from the Inner Array and one from the Outer Array formed a two-person team as partners.

One hundred and eight individuals, divided into fifty-four groups, each given the same 'number,' with one-on-one contact between partners!

With the Taoyuan gate closed, only partners could communicate one-on-one across the gate to relay information.

This was achieved through a 'special method' only Chen could use, and it was strictly one-on-one, with an irreversible limitation.

If an Outer Array White Zetsu met with trouble outside, the Inner Array White Zetsu partnered with it and remaining in Taoyuan would also die.

Death itself was a form of information transmission.

So far, no White Zetsu had died.

As for the remaining White Zetsu, they were kept in the Otsutsuki Time Zone as living sacrifices for Impure World Reincarnation, used up over the years until, after completing the Impure World Madara, only a handful remained.

The White Zetsu before Chen was Inner Array No. 18.

Its partner, Outer Array No. 18, was specifically tasked with monitoring all movements around Chen's residence in the Land of Lightning.

It spoke respectfully: "Lord Chen! Outer Array No. 18 reports! Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke are currently lying in ambush outside your home! From the looks of it, they've been waiting for a long time!"

"Also, Uchiha Sasuke suspects your connection to Kumogakure and has gone to investigate! But he should return soon!"

Chen nodded and said: "Understood. Tell Outer Array No. 18 to prioritize its own safety and temporarily withdraw from the area."

Inner Array No. 18 White Zetsu asked: "Should we stop monitoring?"

Chen said: "It's pointless. Those two won't leave until I return. Alright, good work. You go rest too."

"As you command, Lord Chen!"

Chen picked up the wine glass and swirled it in his hand.

"It must be that hidden line from Orochimaru. My [Kotoamatsukami] on him—aside from making him hand over 'Impure World Reincarnation' and 'cell technology'—also planted another suggestion: if any sudden situation involving me arises, he should use his own judgment to steer the outcome toward what I'd want to see..."

Chen tilted his head back and drained the glass.

What I want to see is an outcome favorable to the overall situation of the ninja world.

"So, you think Naruto and Sasuke coming to me at this time is favorable to the ninja world's situation?"

"Alright, I'll trust your judgment."

Back in the room, he left a note explaining the situation on the nightstand, weighed down by the wine glass. Then Chen leaned down, gazing at Hikari's peaceful sleeping face, and gently pressed his lips to her full, moist ones.

"Mmm... Chen, I'm already spent~." Hikari murmured in her sleep, turning over with a soft moan, her fair long legs exposed beneath the bathrobe.

Chen smiled fondly, took off his own bathrobe, and draped it over her legs. He grabbed the black God Robe from the hanger and put it on.

Glancing down at his watch, it was 4:15 AM.

"It's been a long time since I've gone out at night..."

Taoyuan, the rear mountain.

"Boom!" As Obito was pinned beneath the Gate of the Great God, the two Flower forms recalled by Chen were now clearly distinguished as superior and inferior!

Watching the man approaching from the wreckage of the True Thousand-Armed Buddha, Obito sighed and said, "To think you could use the fists of the True Thousand-Armed Buddha to continuously suppress me, pushing me to my limit of penetration—truly worthy of you. Even Senju Hashirama couldn't have done something like this..."

Madara mused, "The Natural Energy in Taoyuan is far more abundant than in the outside world, which is why I could keep the regeneration of the Enlightenment of the Summit matching the rate of consumption. In other words, I couldn't have done this outside either. So, Obito, you lost because you don't know senjutsu—that's why you fell before me!"

Obito was deeply surprised. He hadn't expected Madara, as the victor, to no longer be overbearing but instead voluntarily give him a way out!

"Madara, you've really changed."

"Who hasn't changed? The only constant in this world is that everything changes."

Madara sat down in front of Obito.

"Naruto and Sasuke have changed. The direction of the shinobi world has changed. Even you and I, for the same goal, are willing to use and be used. I saved your life, and you repaid mine. We were supposed to never cross paths again, yet now we're reunited because of Chen."

"Heh!" Obito found it amusing as well, sighing, "Isn't this what they call 'enemies always meet'?"

"We were enemies in the past. From now on, we are comrades."

Madara formed hand seals to open the Gate of the Great God, then stood up and extended his hand to Obito.

"..." Obito's eyes held deep complexity.

It was from this moment that he truly let go of his prejudice against Madara.

Madara, you proud and arrogant man, to lower yourself and assist your junior—isn't that the same resolve I've made?

We both once fell into deep despair over this world, only to find ourselves again after all the ups and downs.

But... we've only let go of the past; we've never truly been redeemed. Because only oneself can truly redeem oneself.

Chen chose us, and we both chose Chen.

Because Chen is different from how we were back then. Through the trials of the world, he has washed away the stubbornness and obsession we once had, becoming a truly mature strong one.

Obito said, "Honestly, I still feel like I don't quite get along with you, but..."

Madara smiled. "But what?"

Obito said, "At least we still have a choice. There are far too many people who lost their lives because of our willful, selfish actions—they never got to choose their own paths."

Madara's hand remained in the air. After a silence, he said in a low voice, "So, whether it's to atone for past sins or to realize our own worth, we can't afford even a moment of slack!"

He pushed his hand forward another inch.

"Obito, join me in helping Chen!"

Obito grasped the hand extended before him.

Two hands, covered in cracks, clasped together. They looked at each other, and the bond they forged was more complete and steadfast than ever before.

"Alright. From now on, we're partners."

"It seems I came just in time."

Chen landed with a smile in front of the two.

Madara and Obito both turned their heads and let go of each other's hands.

Madara folded his arms; Obito put his hands on his hips.

"First time seeing you out at this hour."

"Something up?"

"Yeah. An urgent matter came up. I need to head back."

Urgent... In this shinobi world, there aren't many things that Chen would call urgent enough to disrupt his routine.

Madara's gaze sharpened. "Naruto and Sasuke came knocking?"

Chen smiled. "Yes. But they didn't find their way to Taoyuan—they found my home instead. Apparently, they've been staking it out for nearly a day."

Madara thought: This conflict came much sooner than expected.

Obito asked, "Chen, do you need us to show ourselves and speak?"

"No. Without the right opportunity, words are useless. That's the conclusion I've drawn from hundreds of setbacks over the past decade or more."

Madara's eyes darkened. "So... you intend to fight."

Chen smiled. "Mm. I'll handle it myself. You two just watch from the sidelines."

You're serious, huh... Chen.

Madara thought: Before coming to the Hidden Shadow, I didn't really believe you had that kind of ability. But now... it's hard to say.

A hint of amusement returned to Madara's eyes. "You specially brought us along just to be your audience?"

"No, I'm not that bored..." Chen smiled faintly, lowering his head to glance at his watch.

4:30.

"Since my rest time has already been disrupted, I might as well—after I send those two home—head to the Outer World, unseal the Demonic Statue, and officially put our [plan] into action!"

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