"Yes, Lord Madara."
"Very good. You did well this time." Madara's lips curved upward, as though even his body had grown younger.
Black Zetsu lowered his head. "Thank you for the praise, Lord Madara."
"It's just that killing Mirai Uzumaki might be..." Black Zetsu didn't think he could do it.
Madara smiled faintly. "It doesn't matter. I'll make my move when the time comes."
"Then success is guaranteed!" Black Zetsu's voice dripped with flattery.
He had never met anyone stronger than Madara—except Hashirama Senju!
Silence returned to the depths of the cave.
Only the occasional sound of liquid flowing through the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's tubes and Naori's faint breathing echoed in the darkness.
Meanwhile, in Konoha, Mirai knew nothing of it.
He sat beneath the eaves of the Senju Clan Compound, watching Konan teach Yugito some basic Shurikenjutsu.
Kushina leaned against his shoulder, eating a skewer of dango. Moonlight fell across the courtyard, bathing it in a gentle glow.
"Mirai, Naori's coming back tomorrow, right?" Kushina asked through a mouthful of dango.
"Yeah. She said she'd arrive tomorrow afternoon."
"Then tomorrow night is mine, right?"
"Uh... We're taking turns, one night each. Tomorrow's hers."
"Hmph!"
Mirai smiled but said nothing.
He looked up at the night sky. The moon was full, and the stars shone brightly.
A breeze blew in from beyond the village, carrying the faintest hint of a chill.
Early the next morning, Mirai took Team One out on a mission.
The assignment was simple: clear trash from the river.
Several heavy rains upstream had washed piles of branches, broken planks, rotten straw mats, and other debris downstream. It had all jammed up the river east of Konoha.
The water was already rising. If they didn't clear the blockage, it might flood the nearby