"Yes, thanks to them, I watched a good show." A somewhat lazy voice sounded. A figure slowly rose from a vacant spot next to the masked man. He wore a loose black robe with red clouds, two green leaves wrapped around his head, and had a half-black, half-white Yin-Yang face. The one speaking was White Zetsu.
"Ah, I never expected that after only a few years, that brat from back then would have grown to this extent. It's completely beyond my expectations.
Not only that, but he also obtained the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. This is troublesome. I should have found a way to eliminate him back then," the masked man said somewhat grimly, his heart filled with regret.
"Indeed, too careless. I didn't expect him to obtain the same eyes as that esteemed person. He will definitely become a huge obstacle to our plan in the future, as our plan is almost against everyone," Black Zetsu slowly spoke.
"However, even the secret of the Mangekyo Sharingan is known to only a very few people in the Uchiha clan. The fact that Uchiha Lin, someone not born into the Uchiha clan, also knows it, it seems his father, Uchiha Tajima, probably told him.
I didn't expect Uchiha Tajima could also activate the Mangekyo Sharingan, and even passed it on to his son. It seems both Konoha and the Uchiha clan greatly underestimated him," the masked man said calmly.
"We must try our best to obtain all the Tailed Beasts before anyone reacts. Only then can we minimize the risk to the greatest extent." The masked man muttered.
"But it's also thanks to Uchiha Lin severely wounding Konoha, greatly reducing Konoha's power. This is also very beneficial for us in capturing Tailed Beasts later." White Zetsu chuckled.
"Moreover, looking at the Tsuchikage and Uchiha Lin, this war doesn't seem to have ended yet," Black Zetsu's low, hoarse voice sounded.
"Oh, is there more? What did they say?" The masked man suddenly turned his head to look at Zetsu, asking somewhat curiously. He had just seen Lin and the Tsuchikage suddenly stop fighting, and then they seemed to have reached some kind of agreement.
"I don't know. I didn't dare to get too close. There were too many strong people there, and also powerful sensory ninjas." Zetsu slowly shook his head.
The masked man heard this and nodded, "Then Zetsu, you continue to pay attention. Report any situation to me immediately." As the masked man's words fell, a swirling spatial fluctuation immediately began to spread from his eye socket, and his entire body was absorbed into the vortex, disappearing.
"Sigh, he's really good at summoning." White Zetsu complained, then slowly sank into the ground, disappearing.
After two days of travel, Lin led everyone back to Sakura Ninja Village. Although they successfully repelled Hidden Cloud and Hidden Stone, the cost was the casualties of their comrades. The atmosphere of the entire large troop was very heavy.
"First, let's hold a funeral for our fallen comrades. They are all heroes of the village. This matter is the most important." Lin said in a low voice, a hint of sadness flashing in his jet-black pupils.
"I understand. The village will definitely give them a dignified final farewell." Lantian Gan also said in a low voice.
At this moment, Gotoh Yurika, as the Daimyō, had already brought envoys from the Daimyō's mansion and a group of important officials from the Land of Sakura, quietly waiting at the entrance of Sakura Ninja Village. Seeing Lin leading a large group of people back, she immediately went forward to greet him.
Gotoh Yurika walked gracefully to Lin, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes as she looked at Lin. However, after seeing the large group of people behind Lin, she immediately suppressed the tenderness in her eyes and asked seriously, "You're back?"
"Yes, we're back." Lin also looked at Gotoh Yurika with a complex expression. "Tomorrow, our Sakura Ninja Village will hold a funeral for the ninjas who sacrificed themselves in this war. I hope you can come and participate." Lin said softly.
"Yes, I will. They are all heroes of this country. As the Daimyō of the Land of Sakura, it is proper for me to participate." Gotoh Yurika said softly, looking at the many ninjas behind her carrying the corpses of the fallen ninjas. A hint of sadness flashed in her eyes.
At this moment, several ministers from the Land of Sakura also slowly walked up and came to Gotoh Yurika's side. One of them, an old man wearing a purple official robe and a black hat, looked at Lin with considerable displeasure. He said coldly, "Sakura Kage, shouldn't you give an explanation?"
Upon hearing this, Gotoh Yurika's face instantly changed. She looked at the old man with displeasure, and the many ninjas behind Lin also looked at him with unkind expressions.
"Yamada, what are you saying!!!?" Gotoh Yurika looked at him with displeasure and said coldly. But this old man still looked calm, staring fixedly at Lin's face. The two other old men behind him also stepped forward to stand by his side, making their stance clear.
Lin's face instantly turned cold. He slowly spoke, "I don't know what explanation Minister Yamada wants?" "Heh heh, isn't this very obvious? It's because of your selfish actions that provoked this meaningless war, which not only caused huge economic losses to the Land of Sakura, but also sacrificed so many ninjas. Isn't there even a single explanation?" Yamada said with a cold laugh.
"A war provoked by me?" Lin's brow slightly twitched, his face still expressionless. "If it wasn't for your personal desires to attack Konoha Village, causing the Land of Sand and Konoha's power to be greatly reduced, how could Hidden Cloud Village and Hidden Stone Village have used the Land of Water as a shortcut to attack the Land of Sakura?" Yamada said coldly.
"You fellow!!! Who do you think you're talking to, you..." Deidara behind him instantly grew furious, roaring in displeasure. Lin reached out and stopped Deidara's words. A hint of disdainful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
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