"All right."
After a moment's thought, Lin Ze nodded in agreement.
"I'll have Ichirō establish diplomatic relations with Kirigakure and sign a mutual aid treaty. We can offer more generous terms."
"This is a good thing for Dragon Release Village. Kirigakure is one of the five great hidden villages, after all. Its resources and intelligence network are both substantial."
Uchiha Itachi nodded slightly in understanding.
Beside him, Ryōta finally could not hold back any longer.
"Lin Ze, what do we do next?"
"The Masked Man isn't dead, and Black Zetsu is so strong... are we really just going to let this go?"
His eyes were filled with unwillingness to accept it.
Lin Ze looked at him and said calmly,
"Of course we aren't going to let this go."
"Rest for a few days first and recover. I expect they'll make a move soon."
"After suffering such a heavy loss, there's no way they'll do nothing."
Ryōta gritted his teeth.
"But Black Zetsu..."
"Leave Black Zetsu to me."
Lin Ze interrupted him, his voice steady. "You've already drawn out some of his abilities. That's enough. From here on, I'll lay the plans myself."
Ryōta wanted to say more, but Uchiha Itachi gently pressed his shoulder and shook his head slightly.
Ryōta took a deep breath, suppressed his emotions, and said nothing more.
"Go get some rest, all of you."
Lin Ze waved a hand.
Itachi and Tagitsuhime bowed and withdrew. Ryōta and Kabuto also nodded, then turned and left.
Only Lin Ze remained in the room.
He slowly rose, walked over to the apparatus holding the Tailed Beasts, and placed the Six-Tails and Seven-Tails on it in order.
At a glance, they looked like nine figurines. Of course, the Nine-Tails was rather special. He was alive... and still swearing incessantly.
Lin