Black and White Zetsu's Test! Quiet Cultivation at the Temple of Fire!

Facing the shocked Lin Hai, White Zetsu did not stop.

With a fierce swing of his right hand, several sharp wooden spikes shot out!

At the same time, he pressed his left hand against the lake's surface, his voice turning cold.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

"Roar!"

A massive water dragon burst from the lake with a roar!

It opened its gaping maw and lunged at Lin Hai alongside the wooden spikes!

Lin Hai reacted with incredible speed, activating the Body Flicker Technique.

Like an afterimage, he narrowly slipped out of the attack's range.

The moment his feet touched the water, White Zetsu was already upon him like a ghost.

A wooden spear thrust straight toward Lin Hai's heart.

There was no avoiding it!

Lin Hai rapidly formed hand seals. "Fire Release: Flame Reversal!"

The flames he spat out did not shoot toward his enemy. Instead, they instantly wrapped around his body, forming a scorching shield of fire.

"Clang!"

The wooden spear struck the fire shield and was instantly reduced to ash.

Then, the fire shield transformed into a burning "fire man" that pounced at White Zetsu with bared fangs and claws!

White Zetsu was startled and hurriedly retreated.

His hands rapidly formed seals. "Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

A curtain of water rose up and mercilessly extinguished the fire man.

After putting ten meters between them, White Zetsu stood on the water and tilted his head.

There was a trace of arrogance in his voice. "I've kept my chakra level at the peak of a jonin's."

"I've only used Wood Release, Earth Release, and Water Release. It's not like I'm taking advantage of you, kid."

"If you can beat me, I'll give you a reward. How about it?"

Lin Hai's gaze turned icy as he held his short blade across his chest.

"The greatest reward would be taking you back to Konoha!"

"So you really are using Wood Release!"

White Zetsu chuckled, his face full of mockery. "Beat me, and I'll do whatever you say!"

"Gladly!"

Lin Hai shouted and burst forward, charging straight at White Zetsu!

White Zetsu spread his hands, growing a wooden spear from each palm as he wielded both weapons at once.

With a kunai held in reverse grip in one hand and his short blade gripped tightly in the other, Lin Hai engaged White Zetsu in an immensely dangerous close-quarters brawl atop the lake!

Land of Hot Springs, Kumogakure-Kirigakure Allied Forces camp.

The Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki, stood on high ground, watching the advancing Iwagakure-Takigakure allied army ahead.

He stroked his small mustache and gave orders to the Kirigakure elites behind him.

"Soon, Kirigakure will pierce directly into the enemy's central army and cut their formation in half!"

"Kumogakure's troops will help us pin down their vanguard and rear guard."

Killing intent flashed in Gengetsu's eyes. "We only have one target—the Second Tsuchikage in the central army!"

"Understood!"

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and Kirigakure's jonin shouted in unison.

"Charge with me!"

Gengetsu laughed loudly and bit his finger. "Summoning Technique!"

Amid a huge cloud of white smoke, the master of mirages—Clam—appeared on the battlefield.

Gengetsu leaped onto Clam's back and led Kirigakure forward like a sharp blade, viciously stabbing into the enemy formation!

At the same time.

"Report, sir! Lord Gold and Lord Silver have already led their troops in a frontal assault against the enemy vanguard!"

A Kumogakure ANBU reported to a burly white-haired man.

The white-haired man glanced at the time, then abruptly drew his ninja blade and pointed it at the sky.

"Glory is ours at this very moment! Soldiers, follow me and make your names!"

"Kill!"

The white-haired man took the lead, lightning flashing wildly around his body.

Like a violent bolt of lightning, he charged straight into the enemy's rear!

The melee erupted in an instant.

At the center of the battlefield.

"Gengetsu Hozuki, your little mustache is as disgusting as ever!"

Mu, the Second Tsuchikage, looked at the charging Second Mizukage and sneered disdainfully.

"You lowly bandaged freak think you have the right to talk about me?" Gengetsu shot back.

"How could an ugly bastard too afraid to show his true face understand my handsome elegance?"

"Today, I'll send you straight to hell!"

Before his words had faded, Gengetsu raised a hand and pointed. "Water Style: Water Gun Technique!"

A high-pressure water bullet shot toward Mu like a real bullet.

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"

Mu did not yield in the slightest. A dazzling translucent cube formed between his hands and met the water bullet head-on.

The two terrifying forces collided, forcing both men back several steps.

At that moment, Ōnoki landed beside Mu, his tone anxious.

"Teacher! The Takikage up front has been firmly tied down by those two monsters, Gold and Silver."

"This ambush was premeditated by the Kumogakure-Kirigakure allied forces. We should retreat first!"

Mu shook his head, his eyes fixed firmly on Gengetsu.

"It's fine! Ōnoki, go stabilize the rear guard first. Don't let the rear collapse."

"This is the perfect chance to kill the Mizukage!"

"Teacher, please be careful. I'm going now!"

Ōnoki nodded heavily, then turned and flew toward the rear guard.

Mu looked at Gengetsu and said coldly, "I'll deal with you quickly, then organize a full-scale counterattack!"

Uchiha Ruins, atop the lake.

Lin Hai knelt on one knee on the water, gasping heavily.

As he looked at White Zetsu standing across from him with his arms folded and a calm expression, a sense of helplessness rose in Lin Hai's heart.

I'm completely outmatched in close combat! This monster's taijutsu is incredibly strange!

He glanced at the chipped short blade in his hand and gritted his teeth inwardly. When I get back, I have to get a proper chakra weapon!

White Zetsu looked down at Lin Hai and mocked him without mercy.

"Your close-combat skills are an absolute mess."

"Your Fire Release is barely passable. A genius? You're nothing but trash."

"Looks like your life ends here!"

Lin Hai slowly stood and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

A crazed cold smile appeared on his lips. "Not necessarily!"

Lin Hai abruptly crossed his hands, and the chakra inside him erupted like a volcano!

"Eight Gates Technique!"

"Gate of Opening! Gate of Healing! Gate of Life! Open!"

Boom!

Violent blue chakra surged around Lin Hai's entire body in an instant!

Unable to withstand that immense pressure, the lake surface suddenly sank.

Lin Hai appeared before White Zetsu as though he had teleported, then lashed down with a vicious roundhouse kick!

White Zetsu instinctively raised an arm to block.

But with the Gate of Life open, Lin Hai's strength had increased by far more than several times!

"Crack!"

The sound of breaking bone rang out!

White Zetsu's arm was kicked cleanly in half, sending his entire body flying backward like a cannonball!

Lin Hai gave him no chance to catch his breath. His feet struck the water with a sonic boom.

He instantly caught up to White Zetsu's flying body, grabbed him by the collar with one hand, and violently hurled him into the sky!

Lin Hai followed close behind, leaping into the air and delivering a heavy kick to White Zetsu's chin!

"Shadow of the Dancing Leaf!"

In midair, Lin Hai unleashed a dazzlingly frantic barrage of attacks, beating White Zetsu until he could not fight back at all.

Upon reaching the highest point, Lin Hai suddenly locked White Zetsu in a tight hold from behind.

"Reverse Lotus!"

The two fell headfirst toward the lake like meteors plummeting at tremendous speed, carrying a momentum that seemed capable of destroying everything!

"Boom!!!"

A deafening explosion shook the heavens and earth!

The lake water erupted into a terrifying column dozens of meters high!

White Zetsu's entire body was smashed into a twisted, distorted mess, floating on the water like a pile of mud.

Lin Hai panted heavily, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan spinning madly as he stared fixedly at the water.

He's not dead?!

Lin Hai's heart tightened as he formed hand seals again.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A massive fireball blasted toward White Zetsu.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

A curtain of water rose and blocked the fireball.

Under Lin Hai's stunned gaze, White Zetsu's twisted and distorted body began slowly returning to normal, like an inflated rubber ball!

White Zetsu twisted his neck, producing a crisp grinding sound from his bones.

He smiled at Lin Hai. "An excellent chain of taijutsu attacks."

"The Eight Gates? That forbidden technique developed by Tobirama Senju. You learned it quite quickly for a kid!"

Looking at the completely uninjured White Zetsu, Lin Hai's heart was thrown into turmoil.

He knows the Second Hokage? He even knows this is the Second Hokage's taijutsu?

Why would someone at this level be hiding in such a remote wilderness?

Lin Hai did not hesitate. His hands rapidly formed seals.

"Poof! Poof! Poof!"

Three Shadow Clones appeared instantly!

The original and all three clones formed seals at the same time!

"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Fire Technique!"

"Wind Style: Thousand Faces of Wind!"

"Shuriken Manipulation Technique!"

The wind fanned the flames!

Dozens of shuriken wreathed in blazing fire transformed into an impenetrable rain of flames that shot down upon White Zetsu from all directions!

At the same time, Lin Hai's original body roared as he forcibly broke past his limit!

"Gate of Pain! Open!"

Lin Hai's speed surged again. He became a blur and charged at White Zetsu right behind the rain of fire!

Faced with such a fierce offensive, White Zetsu stood atop the water as calmly as if taking a leisurely stroll.

He completed a complex series of hand seals in three seconds!

"Tiger-Ox-Monkey-Rabbit-Rat-Boar-Rooster-Ox-Horse-Dog-Tiger-Dog-Tiger-Snake-Ox-Monkey-Rabbit!"

"Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"

A towering tidal wave appeared out of nowhere, like a wall of water, instantly extinguishing the rain of fire!

With overwhelming force, the giant wave swallowed Lin Hai and all his Shadow Clones!

Lin Hai struggled to steady himself within the wave, wind-nature chakra coating his short blade.

"Wind Style: Wind Cutter Technique!"

A sharp wind blade forcibly carved an opening through the giant wave!

Lin Hai took the opportunity to leap from the water. Suspended in midair, he formed hand seals once more.

"Fire Style: Great Flame Flower!"

Several scorching fireballs resembling miniature meteors fell from the sky, crashing toward White Zetsu!

White Zetsu remained unhurried and clapped his hands together.

"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"

A row of thick wooden pillars burst from the ground, quickly bending and closing together.

Forming an indestructible hemispherical wall that firmly shielded White Zetsu within.

The fireball struck the wooden wall, leaving behind nothing but a charred black mark.

Then, the dome suddenly opened!

Hundreds of sharp wooden spikes shot toward Lin Hai in midair like a torrential storm of pear blossom needles!

Lin Hai had nowhere to evade.

He could only control a Shadow Clone Technique clone and have it violently kick his real body toward the lake, barely escaping the shredding barrage of wooden spikes.

The moment his feet touched the water's surface, Lin Hai's legs gave out from the backlash of the Eight Gates, and he nearly dropped to his knees.

White Zetsu watched the panting Lin Hai and suddenly stopped attacking.

He smiled. "I never expected a brat like you to grow this much."

"Not even ten years old, yet you've opened four gates. You really are a rare genius."

"Time's up. You win today's battle."

"This is your reward."

White Zetsu tossed out a scroll, then his body slowly sank beneath the water and vanished.

Lin Hai did not pursue him.

He knew very well that he had used every trump card he had, yet he had not even forced his opponent to get serious.

Chasing after him would only mean death.

Besides, the backlash after releasing the Eight Gates was crashing over him like a landslide and tsunami.

He endured the agonizing pain that felt as though it would tear his body apart.

He picked up the scroll, sealed it away with the sealing technique Mito Uzumaki had taught him, and staggered away from the lake.

Deep underground.

"Hehehe, Lord Madara Uchiha, you didn't win!"

White Zetsu's voice echoed through the dark cavern.

Madara Uchiha sat upon a stone throne, expressionless, his gaze profound.

"This White Zetsu clone simply cannot bear all of my will and combat experience."

"It cannot even perfectly perform the Senju Clan's ninjutsu. It seems the body's design still needs further improvement."

Black Zetsu emerged from the soil, his voice hoarse.

"Lord Madara Uchiha, that brat has released his taijutsu and is now rolling around in the forest in pain. Should we take the chance to eliminate him?"

Madara Uchiha shook his head slightly. "As expected of someone with the purest Uchiha bloodline."

"Let him live. Perhaps one day in the future, this chess piece will be of great use."

Black Zetsu said coldly, "He may also become an obstacle to our plan."

A domineering, confident sneer appeared on Madara Uchiha's face.

"Before absolute power, any obstacle will be crushed to dust beneath my feet!"

Madara Uchiha's smile faded as he asked, "Have you found any leads on the perfect vessel from the Uzumaki Clan that I told you to seek?"

White Zetsu spread his hands helplessly. "Not yet!"

"Konoha guards the Uzumaki Clan survivors far too closely. We can't get near them at all."

"As for Kirigakure... their fighting strength is too weak. They can't even beat Iwagakure, much less help us do anything."

Madara Uchiha pondered for a moment, a glint flashing through his eyes.

"Looks like we need to cause Konoha some trouble and divert their attention."

"Black Zetsu, keep a close watch on Kirigakure Village!"

"Monitor the Second Mizukage's movements at all times. If necessary, I will personally act and control the next Mizukage!"

"Only by completely taking Kirigakure into my grasp can I make them fully obey my will!"

Who knew how much time had passed.

Lin Hai slowly awoke from the coma brought on by the excruciating pain.

He found himself lying in a simple side room.

A huge character for "Buddha" hung on the wall.

The air was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood.

"What temple is this?"

The door was gently pushed open, and a young monk entered carrying a basin of water.

When he saw that Lin Hai was awake, the young monk bowed in delight.

"Benefactor, you're finally awake! You've been unconscious for three whole days! I'll go prepare a vegetarian meal for you right away!"

With that, the young monk ran out like a gust of wind.

Not long afterward, a kind-faced old monk entered, followed by the young monk carrying a simple vegetarian meal.

Lin Hai forced himself to sit up and nodded gratefully. "Thank you both for saving my life, Masters."

The old monk smiled slightly. "Those who have left the secular world hold compassion in their hearts. Benefactor, there is no need for such courtesy. Please eat."

Lin Hai was truly starving, so he wolfed down the entire meal.

Only after seeing that he had finished did the old monk begin to ask.

"Benefactor, you wear the attire of a Konoha ninja. Why were you so badly wounded outside the gates of our temple?"

"Did you encounter a powerful enemy? Do you need this old monk to send someone to Konoha for aid?"

Lin Hai shook his head and gave a bitter smile. "Thank you for your concern, Master. I am already out of danger. May I ask where this place is?"

The old monk pressed his palms together. "This is the Temple of Fire."

"The Temple of Fire, the foremost temple in the Land of Fire?"

Lin Hai froze briefly, then sighed. "I really don't know how I stumbled all the way here."

The old monk looked at the lingering gloom between Lin Hai's brows and spoke gently.

"I see darkness clouding your brow, Benefactor. It seems you are burdened by grave worries. Might this old monk help resolve your confusion?"

Lin Hai fell silent.

"Five years of hellish training. I gave it everything I had."

"But today, facing a monster of unknown origin, I used every trump card I had, yet I was still toyed with in the palm of his hand."

"Ever since coming to this world, I have never truly defeated a single strong opponent."

"I'm too weak!"

"I need power! I want greater power!"

Lin Hai roared wildly in his heart.

His eyes unconsciously turned blood-red!

Three tomoe spun wildly within his pupils, radiating a cold, bloodthirsty ferocity!

His hands clenched tightly, his nails digging deep into his flesh until thin streams of blood seeped out.

Sensing the terrifying chakra fluctuations and violent aura, the old monk let out a long sigh.

"Amitabha. Benefactor, you have fallen into demonic obsession!"

The words "demonic obsession" struck deep into Lin Hai's soul like a temple bell at dawn and dusk!

As if a basin of icy water had been poured over his head, Lin Hai instantly regained his senses.

The Sharingan in his eyes quickly faded.

Covered in sweat, Lin Hai looked at the old monk in confusion. "Master, you say I... have fallen into demonic obsession?"

The old monk looked at him with compassionate eyes and slowly said, "Obsession too deep becomes a demon."

"Your obsession has already become shackles around your neck."

"Judging by those eyes of yours just now, you must be a member of Konoha's Uchiha Clan."

"Truly, the young are to be feared. At such a young age, you have already awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. But this power has also brought you deeper karmic burdens."

Lin Hai's heart trembled violently.

This reclusive old monk had actually seen through the true nature of the Uchiha Clan at a glance!

Suppressing the pain wracking his body, Lin Hai rolled out of bed, dropped to both knees before the old monk, and bowed deeply.

"I beg you to take me in, Master!"

"Allow this junior to cultivate quietly here for a time and dispel the violent aura within my heart!"

The old monk stepped forward to help Lin Hai up, smiling kindly.

"The Temple of Fire is a place of peace and freedom to begin with. Benefactor, you may remain here for as long as you wish."