"As expected of Zetsu-senpai." Naruto immediately flattered. "With your strength, you could probably handle this organization alone."
Upon hearing this, Black Zetsu instantly deflated and explained, "My physical body has long since vanished into the river of history. All that remains of me now is this will."
"Combat is no longer my forte."
"The future must be entrusted to you young people."
Naruto fell completely silent.
'Tch, failed to sucker in the second piece of cannon fodder. Way too timid.'
"Then leave it to me."
After a while, having settled on a time and place with Naruto, Black Zetsu submerged into the ground, thoroughly satisfied.
Once sure the entity had truly left, Sasuke quickly asked, "Naruto, was everything he said true?"
The important thing was this 'Indra's Will' business. Could Black Zetsu really be the incarnation of his own will from a past life?
Strength was one thing, but he looked way too pathetic.
"90% true and 10% false. He altered the crucial information, the rest you can just listen to," Naruto replied calmly, while internally mulling over the several ancient secrets he'd heard from Black Zetsu.
Neji nodded and asked, "Is this organization's strength truly significant?"
"Hmm." Naruto pondered for a moment, Neji's question stumped him. For the first time, he sounded a bit uncertain. "They shouldn't be weak, right?"
Based on the Fourth Raikage's description, this group should either be the precursor to Kara or the Kara organization itself.
However, it was genuinely difficult to compare their overall strength. After all, it involved the Boruto era, a timeline where the entire ninja world's intellect and power levels got severely nerfed across the board.
It was hard to say whether Baryon Mode or Six Paths Naruto was stronger.
Personally, Naruto leaned more towards Six Paths Naruto, that temporary power boost was simply greater.
If Kara was truly as strong as their reputation suggested, they wouldn't need to wait until the Boruto era to make their appearance. They could have caused havoc during the Shippuden period with no one able to stop them.
Moreover, in terms of sheer impact, they fell far short of the suffocating pressure exerted by the main villains of the Shippuden era.
One could even describe their performance as extremely lacking.
But they probably weren't too weak either. They did manage to forcibly break into Kumogakure and kidnap the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, so they must be somewhat capable. Hmm, at least equivalent to one of the major villages from the original timeline?
"The Hyuga clan volunteers to take the lead in this expedition," Neji proactively offered.
Excluding a few outliers with cheats, Neji's raw power currently placed him at the top tier of the ninja world. His every move already carried the distinct demeanor of a great general.
"That's unnecessary. There's a more suitable candidate for this vanguard," Naruto said lightly. "Isn't a certain village, which has had all its jinchuriki captured, quite anxious? Let them scout the path first."
"Don't forget our shared objective."
--**--**
A week later, an urgent intelligence letter arrived on Ay's desk.
"Everyone, look." After reading the contents, Ay immediately summoned Kumo's leadership and made the letter public.
It contained vital information about the organization that had kidnapped the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.
With Black Zetsu and one hundred thousand White Zetsu clones conducting a full-scale search, unless they could completely erase their tracks, they were bound to be detected.
Mabui, who served as the Raikage's secretary and was also one of Kumogakure's top strategists, spoke up. "I do not advise Lord Raikage to lead the expedition personally."
"If this isn't a trap, then someone clearly intends to use our village as a tool for reconnaissance."
Mabui's tactical analysis was correct, that was indeed the exact reality of the matter.
"No, I must go personally to investigate," Ay refused outright without a second thought.
Every day delayed increased his brother's danger.
Having said that, Ay waved his hand dismissively, leaving Mabui no room for refusal.
"Notify all the village's Jonin to assemble immediately. They will accompany me on this expedition."
Seeing Ay's stubborn expression, Mabui could only nod and accept the order. "Yes!"
The Land of Birds, a place where migratory birds rested, was filled with numerous lakeshores. A glance across the land revealed endless green, a beautiful and deeply peaceful nation.
And deep underground, somewhere within the Land of Birds...
A massive circular cavern, as if the entire underground had been hollowed out, was home to clusters of buildings completely different in style from the shinobi world. From the depths of a huge altar at the very center, thunderous rumbles echoed intermittently.
A slug-like monster with countless tentacles and a single eye slept soundly. A giant transparent bubble expanded and contracted with his breath, the thunderous noise was merely his heavy breathing.
"No matter how many times I see him, he remains such a cute little thing," a clear, echoing voice sounded directly above the beast. A man resembling a monk, with a long braid hanging down the back of his head, spoke softly. Notably, the Roman numeral IV was tattooed below his left eye.
He looked at the creature with a gaze carrying a hint of fatherly indulgence.
'No matter how you look at it, this kind of monster has absolutely nothing to do with being cute.'
Beside the monk stood a stooped, gray-haired researcher. The man glanced fearfully at the sleeping beast below, terrified that making too much noise might wake him.
*Pop!*
The giant snot bubble burst instantly, and Ten-Tails slowly opened his enormous single eye that took up half his face. Within that giant eye were six concentric circles, identical to Nagato's Rinnegan.
No, it would be more accurate to say he also possessed the Rinnegan, but with many more tomoe than Nagato's.
A Ten-Tails, yet not entirely Ten-Tails.
His size was significantly smaller than the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path Gedo Mazo that Nagato had summoned.
This was another Ten-Tails.
Upon waking, he immediately roared at Isshiki. The tremendous roar shook the entire underground world, frightening the researcher beside Isshiki so much he clutched Isshiki's clothes tightly, afraid the beast might eat him in one bite.
However, countless massive black rods were embedded in Ten-Tails' body. These black rods were identical to the ones previously seen on Nagato's back, creations of Yin-Yang Release. These giant black rods restrained the creature's movements.
"I know, I know, you're hungry."
In Isshiki's eyes, Ten-Tails' roar was merely a hungry tantrum. After soothing him with a few words, Isshiki turned to the researcher. "He's hungry. He needs more chakra."
"Hurry and capture more Tailed Beasts."
"But capturing the Eight-Tails was already our absolute limit. Our technology isn't perfected enough yet," the researcher said trembling. "Kumogakure isn't easy to deal with either. Even Kashin Koji was severely injured during the capture. If-"
"Silence! That disposable tool's death is inconsequential. I said I need more chakra." As Isshiki spoke, he stared intensely. "Are you questioning me?"
"I wouldn't dare, sir!"
The researcher looked on the verge of tears, his body trembling.
"You have one week. If you fail to capture Tailed Beasts, you will have outlived your usefulness."
"Get out of my sight."
The researcher scurried away, immensely relieved.
"I can feel the power within me beginning to stir," Isshiki spread his arms as if to embrace Ten-Tails, but then paused slightly and frowned. "Hm? A few little mice have snuck in."
Just as Isshiki finished speaking, a loud crash sounded. The ceiling above shattered, and numerous dark-skinned ninja dropped down from above.
"Found it! It really is here."
"Return my brother to me!" The leader was none other than the Fourth Raikage. He let out a furious shout, his body transforming into a bolt of lightning as he charged straight at Isshiki.
"Lightning Release: Guillotine Drop!"
===============
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