The message Inoichi relayed through the Mind Transmission Technique struck like a depth charge, stirring towering waves in the hearts of everyone in Konoha!
"Mr. Inoichi, what on earth is going on?! Naruto would never do something like this! There must be some mistake!!!"
"Iruka...!!!" Inoichi said.
"All right, you can shut up now!"
The Mind Transmission Technique cut off, and black flames leaped from Black Zetsu's palm, setting Inoichi's body ablaze!
"Aaaaaargh...!!"
Inoichi collapsed to the floor, screaming!
Hurried footsteps sounded outside the door!
A thunderclap went off in the dying Inoichi's mind. "Shikamaru!!! Ino, run! Don't come in!!!"
Black Zetsu glanced over darkly as a vicious idea flashed through his mind.
Then... his figure and appearance rapidly changed!
When Inoichi saw whom Black Zetsu had transformed into... he understood the full extent of his vile scheme!
This would spare Shikamaru and Ino, but afterward...
I absolutely cannot let him get away with this...!!!
In his final moments... Inoichi shattered his own front teeth and spat the fragments hard into the shadows beneath the table!
Shikamaru... please. You're the only one who can expose this monstrous lie!
Crash!! Shikamaru and Ino burst through the door, and a wave of heat struck their faces!
They looked closer... and saw a flickering cluster of black flames!
The boy standing beside the flames was their classmate... Sasuke Uchiha!!
Unable to find Inoichi, Ino asked, "Sasuke... where's my dad?!!!"
Disguised as Sasuke, Black Zetsu coldly raised a finger, pointed at the black flames, and smiled cruelly. "Right there..."
Whoosh...!
The black flames dispersed, revealing a heap of unrecognizable ashes!
"You're lying..."
Ino's pupils dilated. Covering her mouth, she slumped to the floor and screamed in a trembling voice, "You're lying!!!!!!!"
"This is reality."
Sasuke gave a cold, contemptuous smile and turned to leave!