Whether it was Konoha or Nagato, neither side realized that amidst this intense battle… someone had been watching from the sidelines the entire time.
The fierce clash that had just settled in the village, Konan's departure from within the giant tree, Nagato's use of Shinra Tensei to repel the Konoha strike team, all of it, Ye Zi had observed clearly, using White Zetsu's ability.
"Those puppets alone were never going to accomplish anything." Standing atop a tall tree, Ye Zi leaned against the trunk, gazing coldly toward the edge of Konoha's walls.
He had previously gathered intel on the Six Paths of Pain specifically so that, if he had to face them alone, he could easily defeat them without too much effort. Ultimately, the one who truly needed attention… was Nagato.
White Zetsu gave a silent, mocking laugh.
Each Path of Pain was powerful in its own right, with unique abilities, but when facing the entire might of Konoha, the fragmented power of the Six Paths couldn't compare to the strength of the original body. The strongest among them, the Deva Pain, was completely countered by the Yellow Flash. Perhaps that was the real key.
Ssshh...
With a faint sound, a White Zetsu clone emerged from the tree bark.
Ye Zi cast a sideways glance. A spirit body burst from his shoulders, entered the clone, and after a few moments returned to him, bringing all the intel the clone had gathered directly into his mind.
"It's his turn to appear... but..." Ye Zi's eyes flickered slightly. "Kushina... The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki isn't in the village?"
White Zetsu chuckled and replied earnestly, "She's definitely not in the village. Look, Nagato doesn't know that, and he still made a mess of Konoha without getting a single piece of useful intel. Now the original body's finally moving, but who knows how that'll end up."
"Why don't you just show up and tell Nagato that the Nine-Tails isn't in Konoha?"
Ye Zi shot him a cold glare. "That wasn't funny."
White Zetsu shrugged. "Fair enough. Not my best joke. So, what's your plan?"
"Wait," Ye Zi replied, retracting his gaze and continuing to stare toward the edge of Konoha.It was true that Nagato didn't know Kushina wasn't in the village. But since he had already entered the fray himself, it wouldn't be hard for him to find that out eventually.
"She'll come back," Ye Zi said coolly.
He didn't have many people he was close to, but that red-haired girl who always smiled so freely… she was one of them.
Maybe Ye Zi didn't know Kushina that well, but he was certain of one thing... Kushina loved Konoha because all her smiles were given to Konoha.
Some things, some people, are only truly treasured after they're lost. And when you get them back, you cherish them even more deeply.
Kushina had seen the brutality of war, had felt the pain of losing a homeland. Those experiences were etched into her life forever. For her, Konoha was a new home and one she would protect.
Ye Zi, too, had experienced the darkness of humanity, and the heartbreak of losing a home. Those scars also marked his life, and for him, his only remaining family meant everything.
At roughly the same age, they had both endured extraordinary experiences. Those experiences had become inseparable parts of their identity, shaping their values, and influencing how they made decisions.
Because everyone's journey is different, the things they care about are different too. And so, at the crossroads of choice, those differences in perspective inevitably lead to different paths.
Ye Zi believed Kushina would come back.
It was an irrational belief, even if he thought she loved her home deeply.
Kushina wasn't in the village. She was likely far away. She might not even know Konoha was under attack. And even if she did, she probably wouldn't make it back in time.
Which meant, she was unlikely to appear in this battle.
White Zetsu glanced at Ye Zi's profile. "That belief really has no logic," he thought. He didn't believe Kushina would show up suddenly either. So regardless of whether Nagato succeeded or failed, this opportunity had to be used to gather intel on Kushina's whereabouts.
"If the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki doesn't show up, this whole operation is a failure," White Zetsu muttered.
Ye Zi responded flatly, "Doesn't matter. One way or another… I will get the Nine-Tails."
Though his tone was calm, White Zetsu could hear the undeniable conviction in his voice.
That pale man, like a ghost, smiled slightly at the words, though the smile was tight and restrained.
....
BOOM...
The blast of Shinra Tensei leveled the entire forest.
Nagato had no time to check the state of the Konoha shinobi he'd just wiped out. He immediately began controlling the Animal Pain still inside Konoha, preparing to summon himself via summoning jutsu.
At the Konoha battlefield...
Only the Animal Pain, hidden within the chameleon, had avoided immediate defeat. The rest of the Six Paths had fallen.
Though the chameleon could turn invisible, it was no match for the Byakugan. But even before the Hyūga could locate it, the chameleon revealed itself.
Its googly eyes spun wildly. Under the wary gaze of many Konoha ninja, it opened its mouth wide, revealing two figures inside.
"Two people?" Minato's face shifted slightly, his sharp gaze locking onto the one who leapt out.
Aside from the Animal Pain, a young man stepped forward. He had red hair, the same color as Kushina's. His complexion was pale, and he wore the cloak marked with the Akatsuki symbol. But most of all…
He had the Rinnegan.
"So this is the mastermind? Then what about the Third Hokage's team…" Minato looked into the young man's eyes, concern flashing briefly across his own. The Flying Thunder God mark allowed him to sense positions, but not detailed battle status.
He didn't know how the Third Hokage's side was doing. But if the man before him was indeed the true controller behind the Six Pains…
There were seven wielders of the Rinnegan. But this young man was different, he was clearly not a puppet.
That wasn't just instinct. From his appearance alone, subtle details revealed the truth.
The Six Pains previously encountered had always lacked any sign of emotion. But this person had no black chakra rods, no markings on his face, and though his expression was calm and cold, he felt like a person.
Nagato jumped out from the chameleon's mouth, while the Animal Pain remained inside. The chameleon then shut its mouth again and vanished from sight.
Even if the Hyūga clan could find it again, the moment Nagato attacked, they'd have no time to worry about it. Once invisible, the chameleon could continue feeding visual intel to Nagato.
Nagato's Rinnegan eyes scanned the surroundings, taking everything in.
"You're worried about your five hundred comrades, aren't you?" He'd caught the flicker of concern in Minato's eyes and spoke coolly.
Minato's gaze hardened at those words but said nothing in response.
Five hundred, that was indeed the approximate size of the Third Hokage's team.
Mentioning their numbers might not shake Minato's resolve before battle, but it was enough to affect some of the surrounding Konoha shinobi.
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Currently on Chapter 592 - A World Dyed Black