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Along the way, they spotted patrolling Amegakure Shinobi.
But due to the vast disparity in their strength, the patrols couldn't detect the presence of the Golden Flash Sage Minato and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
A moment later...
Minato stopped, pointing towards a nondescript, single-story house in the distance. "Inside there."
Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes. "Almost no chakra signature. The enemy's concealment is—excellent."
They exchanged a glance, then simultaneously dashed in opposite directions, forming hand seals. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof—
Two plumes of smoke erupted. Around the small house, Golden Flashes appeared, positioned at opposite corners, hands poised to form seals.
The moment Black Zetsu appeared, they would unleash Konoha's strongest known barrier ninjutsu—Four Red Yang Formation!
Gathering four Kage-level Shinobi, positioned at the cardinal directions, they would create a rectangular barrier of red, transparent flame, isolating the target. The barrier, infused with fire, would prevent entry from the outside and escape from within.
Contact with the barrier's walls would result in severe burns. Its durability—had been proven to withstand a Tailed Beast Bomb from the Nine-Tails!
However, Nagato and Black Zetsu, the targets of this operation, clearly didn't possess Nine-Tails-level destructive power. Thus, the jutsu, even with the combined strength of two Hokage, would be a weakened version.
According to Gojo Kaigetsu's intel, one of the targets, Black Zetsu, possessed the Mayfly Technique, allowing it to escape underground. The primary purpose of the weakened Four Red Yang Formation was to block Black Zetsu's escape route.
To prevent it from inexplicably shouting, "Didn't expect this, did you? This is my escape route!" and vanishing.
Neither Minato nor Hiruzen Sarutobi could use Flash Step.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, eager for vengeance, after establishing his position, created another Shadow Clone. He formed hand seals, ready to activate the Three-Way Deadlock Seal with his other two selves, a secondary measure to block escape routes.
The Four Red Yang Formation sealed the larger area; the Three-Way Deadlock Seal sealed the smaller space.
After sealing Black Zetsu's escape routes, they had prepared various sealing jutsu to use against it.
One Pure Seal, Two Principles Seal, Three-Way Deadlock Seal, Four Symbols Seal, Five Elements Seal, Six-Six Seal, Eight Trigrams Seal...
And if all else failed, they would risk a life-for-a-life exchange, summoning the Shinigami and using the Dead Demon Consuming Seal on Black Zetsu!
Hiruzen Sarutobi was prepared.
Konoha's two greatest masters of sealing jutsu after Kushina would give their all to seal Black Zetsu!
Lying in wait! They concealed their presence, awaiting Black Zetsu's arrival.
Black Zetsu never imagined that Gojo Kaigetsu's eyes could trace the chakra from the black receivers back to Nagato's true location.
With no Sage Mode users present, Black Zetsu believed it was absolutely safe!
Besides—even Sage Mode could only track Nagato's location at close range. From a distance, the chakra trail was like a severed kite string, easily lost.
The distance between the Falls of Truth and Amegakure was immense. Only Nagato, burning his life force, could barely manage to control the Six Paths of Pain from this distance.
What kind of eyes were the Rinnegan? And what kind of glowing eyes did he possess?
Nagato, with his Rinnegan and self-immolation, could achieve such remote control. How could he possibly track him?
It was like comparing the Rinnegan's remote control capabilities—a Mercedes, a Rolls Royce, capable of seamless long-distance chakra transmission—to Sage Mode, a Mazda. At this distance, it would be hopelessly stuck in traffic. How could it possibly find Nagato?
Under this massive information disparity, Black Zetsu, rushing headlong, returned to its loyal Amegakure, completely unsuspecting!
———
Amegakure remained Amegakure.
Sealed, mysterious, indescribable...
Night fell, a light rain descending.
This small village, nestled at the crossroads of three great nations, ravaged by war, forgotten by time, lay silently amidst the patter of rain.
Dilapidated houses lined the streets, their mottled walls and greenish moss whispering of dampness. Even near midnight, faint lights flickered from small shops, illuminating the simple faces of Amegakure's people.
Though hardship was etched into their wrinkles, smiles adorned their faces.
Children chased each other through narrow alleyways, their laughter piercing the night, adding a touch of life to this rain-swept village. Adults sat on shop steps, reminiscing about Amegakure's peaceful past, their eyes gleaming with a faint hope for tomorrow.
What reason for joy? What could possibly bring smiles to their faces? What were they anticipating?
Tomorrow...
Tomorrow was Sunday.
"God" would perform his miracle, granting Amegakure a clear, rainless sky!
Living in this perpetually rain-shrouded nation, a sunny day was a cause for celebration.
A sunny day. Whether airing out musty clothes and bedding, or taking family outings during this rare respite from war—these were the simple joys of Amegakure's common folk.
Half an hour remained until Sunday midnight.
Based on past experience, at the stroke of midnight, regardless of the thickness of the clouds, the strength of the wind, or the intensity of the rain, all would subside under divine power.
Experienced housewives had already hung out their damp clothes and bedding, ready to seize the moment, ensuring they received the sun's blessing the instant it rose.
Black Zetsu slipped into the village, detecting nothing unusual.
Following Nagato's chakra signature, it quickly arrived at the inconspicuous, single-story house where Nagato was hiding.
Stepping into the small courtyard, Black Zetsu hesitated for a moment.
It seemed—to sense a fleeting chakra signature, a faint hint of hostility? A trap?
"Tch—"
"No need to be so cautious. Nagato doesn't even trust Konan anymore. He would never reveal his location to an outsider. And I personally monitored the Six Paths of Pain. There shouldn't be any surprises."
"I'm overthinking it!" Black Zetsu declared confidently, stepping fully into the courtyard.
And the moment it entered Nagato's hiding place, just as it was about to descend the stairs...
"Four Red Yang Formation!"
"Three-Way Deadlock Seal!"
Fierce shouts erupted from the four cardinal directions. Black Zetsu's mud-like body trembled, its bell-like yellow eyes filled with terror.
Escape! Escape! Escape!
Every cell in its body screamed at it to flee.
But—as one of the most chakra-sensitive beings in the Shinobi World, Black Zetsu sensed the power of this barrier ninjutsu...
No time to think!
The Flying Thunder God Kunai, whistling through the air, and the Adamantine Staff, extending as if to pierce the heavens, were aimed to deliver a fatal blow.
If escape outwards was impossible, then its only option was to fight for survival.
Black Zetsu slammed its hands together. "Wood Release: Vine Snare!"
Twisted vines erupted from the ground, blocking the path of the staff and kunai.
Though Black Zetsu could use Wood Release, it was—bonsai-level, at best. Its power and scale couldn't compare to even Yamato's.
It could block the path, but only momentarily.
The instant the Flying Thunder God Kunai struck the vines, Minato's Rasengan shattered them. On the other side, the Adamantine Staff's advance was only slightly delayed before breaking through.
Exploiting this brief respite, Black Zetsu sank deeper into the ground, heading for Nagato's basement. Simultaneously, it produced a sealing scroll. Gazing at the seals on its surface, Black Zetsu's expression hardened with resolve.
"No time for hesitation! Kabuto, if you sense this, do something!"
Black Zetsu didn't want to get further entangled with Kabuto. Or rather, it disliked scientists, considering them all madmen.
Especially Kabuto, obsessed with his insane Chimera Technique, constantly trying to wheedle information about Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara's remains.
A truly unstable element...
Given the chance, Black Zetsu would have eliminated Kabuto. But now, it had no other cards to play, forced to rely on Kabuto's Edo Tensei Shinobi.
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