The Third Raikage was adamant about keeping the location of Turtle Island a secret, while Ōnoki refused to back down. The two argued relentlessly, to the point where even Senju Hashirama found it difficult to step in and mediate.
"The Third Raikage wants to keep Turtle Island hidden, but Yagura's death has shaken Ōnoki badly, and Rasa also has his complaints."
Tsunade's expression was grim.
It was understandable that the Hidden Cloud wanted to safeguard its secrets.
But the problem was that they had already lost their Tailed Beasts. Their Jinchūriki were either dead or missing. And among them, one had been a particularly sensitive case.
This opened the door for countless disputes.
Originally, Hashirama could have used his influence to suppress the conflict.
But now?
Now, even he was hesitant to get involved.
If he pushed too hard, Ōnoki and the Third Raikage could easily turn the argument around—
"If we have to share all our secrets, then why doesn't Konoha do the same?"
And at that moment, even the legendary Hashirama Senju would be left speechless.
It wasn't that he was unwilling to share.
But Konoha wasn't his to command.
If he revealed something that wasn't meant to be disclosed, Tsunade would skin him alive.
The Third Raikage firmly believed that as long as Turtle Island remained unsearched, it would remain the safest place possible.
If the Allied Shinobi Forces kept visiting it, then how could it stay hidden?
The high-ranking officials of the Hidden Cloud agreed.
But secrets were only as strong as those keeping them.
For beings like Black Zetsu and Uchiha Madara—
It didn't matter if the island drifted across the vast seas.
It didn't matter if its location constantly changed.
If they wanted to find it, they would find it.
At most, it was just a matter of time.
Meanwhile…
A powerful sealing barrier shattered.
As Madara inserted his second Rinnegan into his eye socket, a faint green glow flickered before it fully connected with his nervous system.
It was effortless.
To him, it wasn't even a medical procedure—just a minor adjustment.
"Black Zetsu, is the substitute for the Nine-Tails prepared?"
Now, all he lacked was a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra.
A substitute would have to suffice.
He had no interest in wasting time fighting Takuya over the real thing.
Madara was well aware—
Takuya was guarding Kushina too closely.
There was no opening to exploit.
Trying to force the issue now would only complicate his plans.
It wasn't rational.
But what puzzled Madara the most was why Takuya even had the Rinnegan.
Madara had suffered through countless hardships to awaken his own.
And yet…
That brat had possessed them at such a young age.
Madara wasn't the only one annoyed by this.
Even Black Zetsu was beginning to worry—
Could Takuya have been some contingency left behind by the Sage of Six Paths?
For now, he had chosen not to interfere.
As long as Takuya didn't try to seize control of the Gedo Mazo, things would proceed as planned.
Having discarded Obito entirely, Black Zetsu merged with White Zetsu.
With a sinister grin, he pulled out the Six Paths' treasured tools—
The ones sealing the Gold and Silver Brothers.
The fate of the Gold and Silver Brothers was truly pitiful.
Even in death, they couldn't escape being used.
Summoned back via Edo Tensei, they were immediately imprisoned and stripped of their autonomy.
Tools.
Nothing more, nothing less.
"Let's begin."
Madara didn't care how the Nine-Tails' substitute had been acquired.
So long as it allowed the Ten-Tails to be reborn, that was enough.
As for the missing portion?
Madara had no doubt that he could compensate for it.
Right now, fighting Takuya for the real Nine-Tails would be too risky.
But once he became the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki?
Takuya would be powerless to stop him.
Black Zetsu, suppressing his own excitement, tossed the Six Paths' tools into the air.
The Gedo Mazo, as if starving beyond belief, opened its massive maw and swallowed them whole.
With that—
The chakra of all Nine Tailed Beasts was gathered.
"ROOOOOOAAAAARRRR!!!"
The Gedo Mazo trembled violently.
A deafening roar erupted, shaking the island to its very core.
An overwhelming surge of chakra shot skyward.
Back at the Hidden Cloud…
Numerous sensory-type shinobi turned their heads toward the sea in shock.
An unprecedented chakra signature had erupted over the ocean.
"What… What is that?!"
Both Hashirama and Tobirama looked grim.
Tobirama, with his keen sensory abilities, could tell just how terrifying that chakra was.
Meanwhile, Hashirama—
He could simply feel it.
This thing's chakra dwarfed even his own.
"What the hell is out there?"
Takuya narrowed his eyes in the direction of the sea.
"This chakra… is the Ten-Tails?"
Madara moved faster than expected.
Here they were, still arguing about Turtle Island—
While Turtle Island had already been raided.
Some things weren't meant to be hoarded.
Try too hard to protect them, and you might end up losing even more.
The birth of the Ten-Tails meant one thing:
Turtle Island had been breached.
The Eight-Tails had already been extracted.
Inside Kushina's mind…
Kurama stirred uneasily.
"This is bad, Kushina."
His massive body trembled.
"The Ten-Tails has been born."
Kushina gasped.
"The Ten-Tails?! That's impossible! You're still sealed inside me—where would Madara have gotten your chakra?!"
Kurama lay on the ground, looking thoroughly miserable.
He was just as confused.
Takuya had never left Kushina's side.
So where did Madara get Nine-Tails chakra?
Not wasting another second, Kushina exited the seal and rushed to Takuya's side.
"Takuya, something's wrong. The Big Fox says the Ten-Tails has been born!"
"What?!"
Tsunade, who had been sitting nearby, instantly shot to her feet.
Her mind had been preoccupied with the unknown chakra on the ocean—
But now?
Now she knew what it was.
The Ten-Tails.
"It's awakening," Takuya muttered.
"And it's got the foulest chakra I've ever felt."
Snowy suddenly leaped onto his shoulder.
The little fox curled up, looking thoroughly disgusted.
"I thought the Nine-Tails was bad… but this thing is even worse."
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(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read the rest of the Chapter at Patreon com/ Emik01.
DO NOT FORGET POWER STONE AND CHATTING