As he watched Uchiha Setsuna walk toward Kirigakure,
Black Zetsu revealed an amused smile.
"Heh, let's hope your abilities are as impressive as your boasting."
He sighed softly and wiped away nonexistent tears from the corners of his eyes.
"My frail mother has been trapped all alone for nearly a thousand years..."
"Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo..."
Black Zetsu's heartbroken sobbing actually amused the White Zetsu beside him.
"Lord Black Zetsu, you have quite a distinctive way of crying."
"Shut up!"
"Oh..."
Outside Kirigakure.
The two ninja guarding the gates
narrowed their eyes at the same time and tightened their grips on their weapons.
Within their field of vision,
a fellow who looked like a white steamed bun come to life was slowly approaching them.
One Mist Ninja cautiously asked,
"Who are you?"
Uchiha Setsuna calmly glanced at the two Mist Ninja.
Both froze, a trace of resistance surfacing on their faces.
A second later,
their expressions returned to normal.
They opened the gates expressionlessly and let Uchiha Setsuna walk inside.
"The defenses on the east side are weaker. I should be able to control them instantly..."
After a moment's consideration, Uchiha Setsuna headed east.
The pattern of his Mangekyō Sharingan
was a nearly circular four-pointed star.
Against the pitch-black night, it looked especially eerie.
Along the way,
he encountered three patrols of Mist Ninja in succession.
But he never even needed to make a move.
A single glance at them was enough to resolve everything.
Setsuna raised his left hand.
Looking at his fair-skinned limb, he gave a soft snort and said,
"These so-called hashirama cells truly are miraculous. Even after such intensive use of my dōjutsu, my eyes are only slightly sore."
He looked up at the towering building before him.
It was also the destination of this excursion—the Mizukage Building.