Sworn Brothers Instead

As he looked at Zetsu's half-smiling face, Jing Hang wondered how to kill him. This guy was definitely the most treacherous bastard in the entire manga. If he could finish him off now, Kaguya Otsutsuki could rest easy, Madara Uchiha could slowly die of old age out there, and every conspiracy and accident would never happen. Maybe even the Third and Fourth Shinobi World Wars could be avoided, and so many innocent people would not have to die...

Black Zetsu was merely Kaguya's will. He excelled at scouting, stealth, and had some mental control abilities, but he was not very strong himself. Still, killing him was extremely difficult. The slightest lapse and he could slip away.

White Zetsu, on the other hand, was a ruthless one. He had originally been an ancient human trapped by the previous Infinite Tsukuyomi. This one before him had also fused with Hashirama's cells, mastered chakra of all seven attributes—wind, fire, lightning, water, earth, yin, and yang—and possessed that troublesome Spore Technique. He was undoubtedly powerful. Jing Hang was not even certain he could take him down himself.

Jing Hang was still calculating.

"Such intense killing intent from a stranger."

"Relax, I mean no harm."

Black and White Zetsu spoke separately, each minding his own business. It looked rather strange.

"This place is too small. It is not suitable for talking. Shall we talk outside? I'll wait for you at the mountaintop, stranger."

With that, Zetsu actually plunged stiffly into the mountain.

Jing Hang laughed at himself. What am I thinking? I actually wanted to kill him? Naruto and Sasuke, those two utterly overpowered freaks, had needed Yin-Yang Release and Planetary Devastation just to seal this guy! How could I possibly kill him? He was a monster born in Kaguya's era, one who had lived in this world for thousands of years. My little bit of skill really wasn't worth mentioning.

He should first consider how not to get killed by him.

"The Hidden Stone Village army has fully withdrawn. Within the range of my vision, there are no ambushers," Renga Hyuga said after activating his Byakugan and looking around.

"Look more carefully. If Torifu Akimichi had not been so reckless last time and had conducted reconnaissance in advance, we would not have suffered such heavy losses," Danzo said irritably.

"There really are none. I'll stake these eyes of mine on it," Renga Hyuga said confidently.

"Very well. Take a squad and continue scouting ahead. If you reach the Land of Rain's border without finding any trace of Hidden Stone Village, return. If you encounter them, return as well. Understood?"

"Understood!"

"Looks like Jing Hang's plan worked." Danzo let out a sigh of relief.

"Send a message to the Third Hokage. We are withdrawing all forces."

"Yes."

Danzo thought for a moment.

"Have the shinobi sent to the Earth Country and Lightning Country returned?"

"Not yet."

"Mm. Report to me immediately when there is news. There are still two days until the original deadline. Keep a close eye on Hidden Cloud Village's movements!"

"Yes!"

"By the way, how is Torifu Akimichi?"

"I just asked Lady Tsunade. Lord Torifu's life has been saved, but..."

"But what?" A rare hint of tension appeared on Danzo's face. After all, Torifu was a brother who had shed blood alongside him under the Second Hokage, Tobirama.

"Lady Tsunade said Lord Torifu was struck by Dust Release. He also took a secret medicine, had one spleen removed, half his stomach cut away, and his right hand was severely damaged. He will never be able to fight again."

Danzo waved weakly, signaling the reporter to leave. His expression carried a trace of desolation.

"One fewer again..."

"You mean permanent peace?" Jing Hang's astonished expression made him look like an elementary school student listening attentively after hearing something unbelievable.

"Yes, true and permanent peace. Once this great technique is completed, there will no longer be wars between nations, nor disputes between people. No one will suffer, no one will fall ill, and no one will go hungry. Everyone can realize their dreams within this technique. It will be exactly like reality—no! It will be reality. Young man, are you willing to lend me a hand? Are you willing to join us?" Zetsu extended both hands toward Jing Hang. Under the lingering light of the setting sun, his half-white, half-black face actually seemed somewhat sacred.

"You mean everyone can achieve their dreams within this technique?"

"They can!"

"Then I can eat whenever I want, drink whenever I want, and any woman I like will obediently... Hehehe."

"Hehe, of course."

"Damn, that's badass. I can live like a useless bum every day. Of course I'm joining you! How do I join?" Jing Hang suddenly looked extremely excited.

"You already have."

"I already have?"

"Yes!"

"That's great! What's our organization called?"

"Uh, it does not have a name yet."

"Oh, no problem, no problem. Then how many people are in our organization?"

"Uh, well... including you, there are four in total."

"Oh, that few? It's fine. Running a scam—ah, ptooey! Running an organization always starts small and grows like a snowball."

"Hehe, yes." White Zetsu was the first to burst out laughing.

"How about we become sworn brothers?"

"Hm?!"

Jing Hang pulled out a kunai and slashed his palm. Blood immediately began to flow. He promptly dropped to one knee.

"Heaven above, earth below, I... Eh? Right, what was your name again, sir?"

"Zetsu."

"May I ask your age?"

"Uh, probably older than you?"

"Fine. Zetsu and I shall become sworn brothers, though we bear different surnames. From this day forth, we shall share fortune and hardship alike. Let blood be our pledge, heaven and earth our witnesses." Jing Hang then handed the kunai in his hand to Zetsu.

Zetsu lowered his head and looked at the kunai, then at his own hand. Suddenly, his black half raised a hand and cut open his white half's hand! Quite a bit of white... fluid flowed out. What a pity. It would have been better if Black Zetsu had used the blade. White Zetsu? White Zetsu would do. This seemed to be the only powerful White Zetsu anyway. Jing Hang's hands did not slow as he thought this. He immediately pulled out a handkerchief and diligently wiped Zetsu's hand. After a while, he put away the handkerchief and took out a strip of bandage.

"Oh, big brother, you're too sincere. Look, even the handkerchief can't stop it. Let's use a bandage instead."

"Hehe, little brother, you are too modest. How could I not be sincere when becoming sworn brothers with the esteemed Third Kazekage?"

Upon hearing that, Jing Hang stopped bandaging him. He looked at Zetsu in astonishment.

"Also, little brother, everything I said is true. And I am not a scammer."

On the 12th, the Third Raikage, A, declared that Hidden Stone Village had attacked Hidden Cloud Village's border outposts without cause. Their methods had been cruel and their actions vile, openly trampling upon the peace between the two nations and utterly desecrating the dignity of every Hidden Cloud shinobi. Thus, Hidden Cloud Village formally declared war on Hidden Stone Village!

Two hours later, fifteen thousand Hidden Cloud shinobi brazenly invaded the Earth Country. Four hours later, the Hidden Cloud army met tenacious resistance from the already-prepared Hidden Stone shinobi at Grey Crow Crossing. Thus, the Second Shinobi World War entered an even crueler third phase. The shinobi world was plunged into devastation.