Black Zetsu Makes His Move

"These things don't seem human." Uchiha Yi held up a White Zetsu Clone and examined it. "They're more like plants. They don't even have internal organs."

Tsunade nodded grimly. In the end, she did not tell Yi and the others that these might be products of Konoha's Wood Release Experiment.

It was not that she distrusted Yi. He was simply too young to be exposed to such filthy matters, and she could not be sure how they might affect him.

Tsunade decided to protect the children's innocence. Until they turned fifteen, she would keep them from learning about the village's darker side.

And the darkest part of the village was actually her Second Grandfather, Tobirama Senju!

Besides, outsiders were present. With nobles and Samurai around, she could hardly let them know about any of this.

She took out a Storage Scroll and sealed away all the White Zetsu bodies. Though she suspected they were products of Wood Release research, these White Zetsu might not have come to harm them. Perhaps they had come to protect them—no, to monitor them.

Hadn't Kushina Uzumaki said these things bore them ill will?

Tsunade was certain Hiruzen Sarutobi was not behind this. The only person she could think of was Shimura Danzō.

Danzō, that bastard, was up to no good after all. Her Second Grandfather had been right not to make him Hokage.

"Let's put these things away for now and take them out when we return to the village," Tsunade explained quietly. Once they got back, she intended to make her teacher rein Shimura Danzō in.

If Shimura Danzō had a force that could hide even from the Byakugan, would anyone have any privacy left?

"Are we still going through with the mission? I can't shake the feeling something will happen." Uchiha Yi did not know what Tsunade had concluded, but he strongly suspected Madara Uchiha was plotting something.

If Madara Uchiha made a move, their entire team was finished.

"We've come this far. It isn't up to us to refuse now." Tsunade glanced meaningfully toward the noble's carriage in the distance, then said lightly, "Besides, since Kushina can sense them, it shouldn't be much of a problem.

"And we have our seniors with us, don't we?

"As long as no one overwhelmingly powerful intervenes, we'll be fine. And why would ninja like that make a move so casually?"

"All right." Yi could hardly bring up Madara Uchiha. Besides, part of him was excited about the coming fight.

"Black one, the Cloud Shinobi have learned about Kushina Uzumaki and Hyuga Rinka. They're heading toward Tsunade's group," a White Zetsu reported to Black Zetsu.

When Madara Uchiha was absent, Black Zetsu represented his will. Of course, even when Madara was present, only the White Zetsu and Black Zetsu themselves knew which of them the White Zetsu truly obeyed.

"Good. It seems the war is about to begin." A faint smile appeared on Black Zetsu's face. The Rinnegan had awakened. Before long, he could rescue his mother.

But first, he needed to weaken the Shinobi World as much as possible.

He also had to test whether his two brothers had left any contingencies in the Shinobi World. The Senju, Uchiha, and Uzumaki Clan all needed testing. Oh, and the Hyuga too. He wondered how those Ōtsutsuki on the moon were doing.

The Uzumaki Clan was all but gone now, making the Senju and Uchiha his primary targets.

The key, then, was to target Konoha!

Black Zetsu's expression suddenly changed. In a raspy voice, he said, "The White Zetsu following Kushina Uzumaki have been discovered. It must have something to do with the Nine-Tails.

"Mito Uzumaki isn't dead yet. It looks like she gave Kushina Uzumaki some Nine-Tails Chakra.

"That girl really is talented."

Even Black Zetsu had to admit how exceptional Kushina Uzumaki was. Not just anyone could withstand Nine-Tails Chakra.

That remained true even though Mito Uzumaki had purified that chakra.

If Kushina Uzumaki kept growing stronger, she might become another Mito Uzumaki. Then they would still be unable to send White Zetsu into Konoha.

The Cloud Shinobi had to abduct Kushina Uzumaki. That could also spark a war across the Shinobi World.

He refused to believe Konoha would do nothing if the Cloud Shinobi killed the Uchiha's top prodigy, abducted the backup Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, stole a Byakugan, and gravely wounded Hashirama Senju's granddaughter. If it did, Black Zetsu would call Hiruzen Sarutobi the most patient man in the Shinobi World—and crown him the Shinobi Hero.

"If the two sides start fighting, have the White Zetsu help the Cloud Shinobi and hold off those Anbu," Black Zetsu instructed the White Zetsu beside him.

Yi had no idea Black Zetsu had set his sights on them again—or rather, had never stopped watching them. He was determined to destroy them, and Kushina Uzumaki had somehow become the prize everyone wanted.

It was a serious test for Yi, too. While escorting the noble to the Daimyo's Residence, they spent most of their time inside carriages, giving him more time to rest and train. After all, nobles did not travel at a ninja's pace. If a journey from the Land of Rivers to the Daimyo's Residence in the Land of Fire took less than a month, the Land of Fire might feel embarrassed.

Wouldn't that make its territory seem small?

At last, the Battle Space's monthly refresh arrived.

White Zetsu!

Hinata during the Fourth Shinobi World War!

Mifune during the Five Kage Summit!

Tobirama Senju in his youth!

Yi's eyes lit up at the four names that appeared in the Battle Space.

One look was enough to tell him he could not beat Mifune. During the Fourth Shinobi World War, Mifune was unquestionably Kage Level, probably even stronger than Hatake Sakumo was now.

Yi had sparred with Hatake Sakumo before. Frankly, he was nowhere near Sakumo's match at present.

He was confident he could handle White Zetsu, though—as long as it was not that special White Zetsu.

As for Hinata during the Fourth Shinobi World War, Yi could not remember whether she had been a Jonin or a Chunin. Chunin seemed more likely.

Hinata was a textbook example of someone with talent who had never fully brought it out.