Ascension Island, underground laboratory.
Nonō was recording a set of data with her head lowered, while Kabuto focused intently on adjusting the cultivation chamber's parameters beside her.
Yumi and Ayumi were also nearby, carefully examining the clone in the cultivation chamber that resembled Lin Ze.
Miyamoto Ichirō leaned against the wall with a book in his arms, watching silently.
Everything seemed calm and orderly.
Hiss-!
The sealing array in a corner of the laboratory suddenly lit up. Space warped slightly, and several figures appeared.
They were Lin Ze, Kurenai Yuhi, Tagitsuhime, and Mountain Lord, who had shrunk in size.
Nonō and the others were startled at first, but delight appeared on their faces once they recognized Lin Ze.
Soon, however, their gazes were drawn to the small, utterly lifeless body in Lin Ze's arms.
That familiar figure, that pale face, that hideous wound across her neck...
"Sister... Rei?"
Yumi's little face turned deathly pale, her voice trembling.
Ayumi covered her mouth, tears instantly filling her large eyes.
"Lin Ze... what... what happened?"
Nonō hurriedly asked.
Kabuto and Miyamoto Ichirō gathered around as well. Looking at the lifeless Rei Uesugi, their expressions turned extremely grim.
Lin Ze said nothing. He simply walked silently to an empty experimental vessel and gently placed Rei Uesugi's body inside.
He gazed at the face inside the vessel, which looked as though she were merely asleep, and took a deep breath before turning around and briefly recounting what had happened at the Valley of the End.
From Danzo joining forces with Kakuzu and Orochimaru to set an ambush, to Rei Uesugi resolutely taking her own life rather than burden him, to his transformation into an Azure Dragon in his fury, his overwhelming slaughter of his powerful enemies, and finally his defection from Konoha...
Although Lin Ze