Casting a Wide Net

Deep in the Forest of Death, in a stretch of woodland several kilometers from Tsukimi's camp.

Three white figures rose halfway out of the ground. The Spore Technique attached to the three Amegakure ninja fed them a steady stream of sights and sounds.

The three White Zetsu pressed their heads together, chattering and giggling.

"Hee-hee, that Nara Tsukimi is amazing!"

"How do you know he's amazing? Did you understand what he said?"

"Nope. But look at Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan. They went dumb after listening to him. Isn't that amazing?"

"When you put it that way, Nara Tsukimi really is amazing!"

The White Zetsu Clones thought in simple, straightforward terms. They couldn't understand the conversation, but they could read expressions. To them, that was the clearest way to judge.

Tsukimi had talked three living people into standing there like statues. How was that not amazing?

As the three White Zetsu played around, a White Zetsu with a spiral pattern on its face emerged from a tree trunk behind them.

It shook its head and clicked its tongue twice, sounding surprised.

"Nara Tsukimi... This kid seems pretty smart. Ordinary ninja only know how to fight and seek revenge, but this guy can actually analyze things."

It tilted its head and muttered to itself.

"What do human ideals and obsessions feel like, anyway? Are they like needing to poop? This kid's so smart, he must know what that feels like. I really want to go ask him."

"Oh, Tobi, you're here." The three White Zetsu greeted him casually, then went right back to fooling around.

None of them noticed the faintest glimmer of crimson flash and vanish in the shadow of a thick tree trunk nearby.

Having just shattered the three young people's dreams, Tsukimi seemed to realize he had gone