Rinnegan Transplantation

"Is Black Zetsu ready?"

The Masked Man removed his mask and spoke to Black Zetsu beside him. He had been waiting for this day for a long time. Now that he could finally achieve his goal, his heart was filled with joy. As long as he successfully transplanted the Rinnegan, he could surpass his Madara Uchiha and spread the glory of the Uchiha throughout the entire Ninja World.

Everything will be as you wish.

A glint flashed in Black Zetsu's eyes, but he concealed it very well. It went unnoticed by Madara, who was caught up in the excitement. People are often least vigilant when they have achieved their goal.

"That's good. Let's begin!"

Madara lay down on the bed prepared especially for him. The room was empty except for the two of them, and the location was extremely secluded. From this, it seems the only person the Masked Man truly trusted within the Akatsuki Organization was Black Zetsu; one could only say Black Zetsu was a good actor.

"Um."

The intense pain made the Masked Man's face change, as he thought his eyes had been gouged out alive. Unwilling to use anesthesia, Masked Man endured the agony of having his eyes gouged out. After all, in this treacherous ninja world, maintaining a conscious mind was essential.

Black Zetsu picked up the Rinnegan from the tray, his mind racing.

"Mother, please wait a little longer. We will be reunited soon."

Black Zetsu had forgotten how long he had been waiting for this moment; he only remembered that he had been carrying this mission since birth.

Although Black Zetsu thought a lot, his hands didn't slow down at all, and he completed the transplant steadily.

"Alright. Now we just need to wait until you've fully adapted to the Rinnegan."

After the surgery, Black Zetsu wrapped a bandage around Madara's eyes.

How long will it take?

"At most one day."

Black Zetsu briefly mentioned the time.

"It's not that long."

"Oh, right. Contact my grandpa and the others; they can come over now."

The Masked Man has now obtained the Rinnegan and believes that no one in the Ninja World can defeat him. He thinks that as long as he destroys the Five Great Shinobi Villages, he will become the new God of Shinobi. In order to prevent his relatives from being harmed, it would be best to bring them to his side.

"Okay. I'll have White Zetsu."

"Hmm. I still believe in your abilities. You can go now. I need to rest."

The Masked Man definitely needed to rest; the surgery he had just undergone had almost left him exhausted.

"You should get some rest."

After receiving the Masked Man's words, Black Zetsu slowly disappeared into the darkness, as if he had been born from it, attracting no attention whatsoever.

"White Zetsu, send this intelligence to the caravan."

Ever since realizing that his concealment technique couldn't hide from Karot, Black Zetsu formed a trading caravan. Using the caravan as a base, he gathered intelligence within Konoha, and with the help of the Uchiha Grand Elder providing cover, Black Zetsu believed his actions in Konoha were flawless.

"OK."

This batch of White Zetsu were truly chosen workers, carrying out Black Zetsu's orders without question. They disappeared from Black Zetsu's sight in no time.

After receiving orders from Black Zetsu, the caravan leader led the caravan, loaded with goods, to Konoha to do business. However, their rendezvous was witnessed, and they arrived at their destination, Konoha, after dawn.

"Lord Karot, the Lord Hokage requests your presence."

An Anbu visited while the Karot family was having breakfast.

"Rushing people to work so early in the morning, is Orochimaru- senpai having such a hard time that he wants others to have a harder time too?"

As a man who didn't want to go to work, Karot was naturally displeased that Orochimaru had come to bother him so early in the morning.

Kakashi couldn't help but roll his eyes when he heard Karot say that.

"Hey bro, you still have the nerve to talk about going to work? How long has it been since you last went to work?"

However, Kakashi wouldn't say it aloud; he was afraid that Karot, that bastard, would drag him along, eventually using the excuse that his older brother didn't want to think, and that it was only right for him, as the younger brother, to accompany him. Karot had a history of this. Kakashi stood up, immediately wanting to leave.

"Kakashi, are you coming with your brother? What a good 'little brother'!"

Karot emphasized the word "younger brother" to show how much he valued his brother.

However, Kakashi perceived those two stressed words as a threat.

Karot placed his hand on the table and grabbed Kakashi's hand with the other. With a "whoosh," the two of them disappeared.

Hatake Sakumo held his chopsticks in mid-air, his face completely empty, while the Anbu members stared blankly at the sudden turn of events. Just like that, Karot vanished, along with the table laden with breakfast.

"Cough cough."

Hatake Sakumo coughed, bringing the Anbu members back to their senses.

"Go back and report! Karot should be at the Hokage's office by now."

Hatake Sakumo had just sent the Anbu members away and was about to eat when Karot, that "good son," took his share too.

"Master, would you like another one prepared for you?"

"No need. I'm going fishing, I'll eat out while I'm at it."

After fiddling with his fishing gear for a while, Hatake Sakumo happily went out.

"Hi."

"Hey, everyone's here!"

Karot's entrance was quite a surprise. People had gotten used to Karot unpredictable appearances before, but no one expected Karot to upgrade his entrance. A large table was covered with a dense array of food, and Kakashi was also there.

"Karot, are you eating this much first thing in the morning?"

Jiraiya was a little surprised Jiraiya saw Karot's breakfast. He knew Karot could eat a lot, but wasn't it a bit much to eat so much so early in the morning?

"It's nothing, don't worry about me, you guys continue chatting."

After Karot finished speaking, he gestured for Kakashi and him to move the table aside, since Karot didn't want to be watched while eating breakfast.

"Is Orochimaru for real?"

The Third Hokage elder spoke up, after all, this matter was far too significant; it could affect the unity of the village.

"Teacher, would I have called you here to discuss this without solid evidence?"

Orochimaru stated this clearly.

"How dare they? Hasn't Konoha treated them well enough?"

Jiraiya clenched his fists and gritted his teeth as he spoke.

Karot listened while eating, but was still completely confused and didn't know what had happened. Then Karot gestured for Shisui to come over.

"Lord Karot"

"Shisui, what exactly happened?"

After Karot finished speaking, Kakashi quietly moved closer to Karot so he could hear what they were saying.