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Now—two paths lay before Black Zetsu.
One, be sealed by the Third and Fourth Hokage, its plan to revive Mother utterly ruined. Two, release the Edo Tensei Shinobi, attracting Kabuto's attention, while simultaneously distracting the two Hokage.
The ambitious Kabuto, upon discovering Nagato's true body here, might even betray them on the spot, attempting to seize the Sage's eyes.
Shinobi scientists—utterly devoid of loyalty. They'd betray you in an instant!
Thinking of Kabuto, Black Zetsu seethed. All that effort collecting corpses, fabricating myths to secure his loyalty—only to feed an insatiable wolf!
But now, Black Zetsu had no choice.
This was a three-way gamble. Winner take all!
Even Black Zetsu, the long-time puppet master, was forced onto the stage, into the spotlight.
Risking everything, a desperate gamble!
Gamble—that before Kabuto reacted, it could manipulate Nagato into using Rinne Rebirth to revive Uchiha Madara!
The plan began—
Black Zetsu slammed its hand on the sealing scroll.
Poof—
Three plumes of white smoke billowed through the dark corridor.
When the smoke cleared, three ancient coffins were revealed.
With a clang, the coffin lids fell, revealing the faces of the three Edo Tensei Kage who had recently fought at the Falls of Truth.
Simultaneously, the Edo Tensei chakra within them flowed towards the caster.
Like quantum entanglement, regardless of distance, if one appeared in the Shinobi World, the other, no matter how far, would instantly sense it.
Even more insidious than Nagato's method of controlling puppets with chakra rods.
But puppets, after all, were extensions of the user's will, capable of maximizing their abilities. Edo Tensei bodies—if the caster lacked understanding of the resurrected Shinobi, interfering in battle might actually diminish their combat effectiveness.
Unwavering conviction, yields results!
....
Kabuto, who had been holed up in Akatsuki's hideout, remotely controlling the Edo Tensei Shinobi, snapped his eyes open, his face etched with confusion. "Why Amegakure? Didn't Black Zetsu release all the Edo Tensei Shinobi in the Land of Lightning?"
"Why return quickly?"
Though filled with doubt, Kabuto, ever the professional, possessed the Second Tsuchikage. His eyes shifted, turning towards the fleeing Black Zetsu. "Zetsu, why are you running so pathetically?"
"No time for talk, Kabuto! Two Konoha Hokage are attacking! Stop them!" With those words, Black Zetsu sank deeper into the ground.
The instant its voice faded, Minato and Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived, their gazes falling upon the three figures blocking their path. Their advance slowed.
"This is—the Second Tsuchikage, Second Mizukage, and Third Raikage!" Minato gripped his Flying Thunder God Kunai. "As expected—not an easy fight..."
"Minato! You handle them! Let this old man seal that Black Zetsu!"
Not fleeing!
Nor picking the weaker opponent.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was set with determination.
Gojo Kaigetsu's intel had laid everything bare.
The primary objectives of this mission were twofold—
First, seize Nagato Uzumaki's eyes.
Second, seal Black Zetsu, thwarting its plan to revive Uchiha Madara.
The path ahead was perilous. Worst-case scenario, if Uchiha Madara was indeed revived—Hiruzen Sarutobi, hailed as the strongest Hokage in history, was already past his prime, his strength waning daily.
In this situation, the cost-effectiveness of him using the Dead Demon Consuming Seal was higher than Minato's!
Sensing the resolve in his master's words, Minato nodded solemnly. "I leave it to you, Third Hokage. I will eliminate these three Edo Tensei Kage as quickly as possible."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, then, with a Body Flicker, attempted to bypass the three Edo Tensei Kage.
Kabuto, controlling the Third Raikage, moved to intercept. But before he could react, a Flying Thunder God Kunai flew towards him.
"Your opponent—is me!"
———
Deep within a hidden basement, a place no one could find...
Black Zetsu was the first to enter.
This secret chamber, personally designed by Nagato, offered excellent security, completely concealing any trace of chakra.
If Nagato hadn't voluntarily revealed his coordinates, even Black Zetsu wouldn't have been able to locate it.
In the dim room, Nagato lay slumped over the control panel, near death. Hearing the commotion, he struggled to lift his head.
"It's Zetsu..."
Black Zetsu wasted no time, rushing forward to possess Nagato.
But before it could reach him, a thick, long, hard Adamantine Staff shot out from behind, impaling its body, pinning it to the ground.
The staff seemed to be inscribed with some strange sealing jutsu, temporarily preventing Black Zetsu from even using its escape techniques.
Black Zetsu panicked.
If it couldn't manipulate Nagato into using Rinne Rebirth, it would have to rely on—Talk-no-Jutsu, persuading him to act himself!
Just as Kaguya Ōtsutsuki had done to it, Black Zetsu flicked its sleeve, and a sealing scroll appeared.
The instant the scroll was exposed to the air, it exploded, revealing a coffin exuding a terrifying aura.
Sensing Hiruzen Sarutobi rapidly approaching from behind, Black Zetsu cried out desperately, "Nagato! Quickly, use Rinne Rebirth on the one within this coffin!"
Nagato was bewildered. "What's happening, Zetsu?"
"No time to explain! The Third and Fourth Hokage are about to attack! Only by reviving the one in the coffin can your ideals be realized!"
"The one in the coffin—who is it?" Nagato's voice was weak, yet he persisted.
He sensed something was wrong.
Zetsu—was too eager. As it approached him earlier, Nagato had detected a deep malice.
"It's Uchiha Madara—AAGH!!!" Black Zetsu screamed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had arrived, his voice a low growl. "You inherently evil Black Zetsu! I will seal you now!"
Lightning, Wind, Water, Fire, Earth—Hiruzen Sarutobi concentrated the five different chakra natures within his fingertips.
Purple nether flames ignited on his fingertips. Hiruzen, his expression fierce, slammed his palm onto Black Zetsu. Instantly, five glowing crests appeared on Black Zetsu's mud-like body.
The appearance of these crests signified that Black Zetsu could no longer mold chakra; all its abilities were completely sealed.
Altering curse seals, Mayfly Technique, Spore Technique, Wood Release, Spiritual Fusion—all unusable. Black Zetsu was now—utterly helpless, a lamb to the slaughter.
Considering that the sealing jutsu he knew weren't particularly powerful, and only the life-for-a-life Dead Demon Consuming Seal could permanently seal such a dangerous entity, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to first incapacitate Black Zetsu.
His life—could be sacrificed on the battlefield for Konoha, fighting to the last drop of blood. Not wasted here, in mutual destruction with an already defenseless enemy.
Once Black Zetsu was removed from this place, either Minato or Kushina, with their mastery of sealing jutsu, could easily seal it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi impaled Black Zetsu with his staff, simultaneously silencing it.
Only then did he look up at his "unnamed grand-student," seated at the control panel.
It wasn't that Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't want to deal with Nagato directly. But while he was handling Black Zetsu, Nagato had already formed the "Serpent" hand seal, calmly observing the commotion below.
It seemed—he was about to unleash that incredible jutsu. And the coffin Black Zetsu had produced before being sealed—it contained Konoha's most notorious rogue ninja—Uchiha Madara!
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