Nothing remained on the ground. Only a few crushed leaves and half a blurred footprint marked where Uchiha Itachi had stood.
In the distance, Yongye, locked in fierce combat, seemed to sense something. He glanced that way, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
The Pure Land World? Perfect!
He had been hoping that old Six Paths would take Uchiha Itachi away. He had secretly left three markers on Itachi to track his location.
Once Uchiha Itachi entered the Pure Land, it would reveal the coordinates of the Pure Land World.
Even if the Sage of Six Paths found the Flying Thunder God Mark, he would never find the other two. They came from other worlds.
Then Yongye could take a trip to the Pure Land World, see the sights, and give old Six Paths a little shock while he was at it.
But that could wait until this fight was over.
Black and White Zetsu slowly rose from the shadows of a rubble pile.
His half-black, half-white outline wavered in the darkness. His slit of a mouth opened and closed soundlessly, then shut again.
He tore his gaze from the dark-gold doorway that had sealed shut and looked at Nagato, his voice urgent and agitated:
"Even Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha together are getting beaten back! This Uchiha Yongye is simply..."
His voice dropped away, as though something had strangled it from within. Then it rose sharply again, his anxiety spilling into the words:
"Pain, make your move!"
"Once they're completely defeated, we won't have a chance!"
Nagato stood beside him, watching the giant ape swing the Adamantine Staff. He said nothing. He simply took a deep breath and nodded slowly.
He raised his hands and began forming Hand Seals before his chest.
But before he could finish