A Pretext for Trouble

Land of Fire, Valley of the End.

Ever since the plan had failed, Fugaku had come here. He sat atop Madara's statue, gazing into the distance in silence.

There was not much dejection on Fugaku's face.

Perhaps he had never believed he would succeed from the very beginning?

That was what White Zetsu thought. In any case, it could not see much change in Fugaku's expression, even though one of his eyes had completely turned grayish white.

But this was fine too.

White Zetsu was not good at comforting others. Asking it to play the understanding big sister and console Fugaku was truly making things difficult for it.

The waterfall beneath them roared on endlessly.

White Zetsu did not know why Fugaku had come here. Since the plan had failed, shouldn't he have hurried out of the Land of Fire? What was there to see here?

"Fugaku, Nagato sent word. He wants to see you," White Zetsu said after a moment of silence.

"Mm, I know." Fugaku nodded.

From this day onward, he had joined Akatsuki under the identity of Fugaku. Secretly, of course, he was still Madara.

The two did not conflict.

Nagato wanted to see Fugaku for no other reason than to meet this new member, learn the truth about Konoha, and prepare for the future.

Even this invasion had been so difficult. That showed just how hard it was to obtain the Nine-Tails.

Fortunately, the Tailed Beasts had to be sealed into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path in sequence. While the order was not absolutely strict, the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails could not be switched.

They still had plenty of time.

Although Konoha had not suffered many personnel losses, the village itself had been blown apart. That had invisibly drained part of its strength.

But for