Near Mikazuki Island, the endless sea stretched in all directions.
With a whale-like cry, Samehada—over two hundred meters long—leaped from the depths and rolled joyfully on the ocean's surface, swimming freely.
From high above, one could see a smaller creature eagerly tagging along behind Samehada like a loyal sidekick.
This "small" follower was only small by comparison to Samehada's colossal size. In reality, it was a massive turtle dozens of meters long, covered in gray spines and sporting three tails.
Three-Tails Isobu.
Who would have thought?
Years ago, Samehada had been nothing more than a strange fish—back when it was still in its primitive form—following loyally behind the Three-Tails, surviving by eating the waste expelled from Isobu's body.
Now their roles were completely reversed.
The Three-Tails had been released into these waters by Heiyan and placed under Samehada's protection, with instructions for the shark-fish to guard its new companion well.
Samehada happily agreed. After years of coexistence and mutualism, their bond was actually quite strong. Having a companion again naturally filled Samehada with joy.
After settling Isobu safely, Heiyan immediately headed out, using the Seventy-Two Transformations to take on Obito Uchiha's appearance before vanishing into Kamui's space.
Hmm?
Heiyan discovered that Kamui's space was heading rapidly toward the Land of Water. Judging from the movement, it seemed Obito's destination was also Kirigakure.
Now this was getting interesting.
Heiyan sensed an upcoming spectacle unfolding in the Hidden Mist Village.
Thinking thus, he began trailing after Obito's tracks, silently pursuing him.
Outside Kirigakure.
The mountains surrounding the village were always cloaked in mist, with large areas left uninhabited. Inside a remote cave several kilometers from the village, Nagato and Konan were hiding there, planning their next moves.
"So according to the plan," Nagato confirmed, "we'll first infiltrate Kirigakure to gather intelligence, then find a way to control the Mizukage, and finally use this country's information network to locate Yahiko across the shinobi world."
After double-checking their strategy, Nagato and Konan summoned the Six Paths of Pain, preparing to send them forth on their missions.
Just then,
A vortex-like distortion rippled through the air beside them, and moments later, a masked figure appeared out of nowhere.
Nagato and Konan, long accustomed to Tobi's dramatic entrances, weren't particularly surprised.
But what did shock them was seeing Tobi in such a battered state—his clothes torn and soaked in blood, his body clearly weakened and trembling.
"Where have you been? What happened to leave you like this?" Konan asked, wrinkling her nose at the strong stench of blood.
In her memory, the man claiming to be Madara Uchiha had always played the role of an unfathomable shadow puppeteer since joining Akatsuki—an opponent even Nagato wasn't confident he could defeat.
And yet now, the mighty Uchiha Madara stood before them in this pitiful condition. How could they not be astonished?
Obito remained silent upon hearing this, naturally unwilling to admit that he had been stabbed through the back twice in one day. He simply grunted coldly and said,
"I just remembered I have something to take care of. Hurry up and open the space-time gate so I can return."
However, Nagato shook his head and replied,
"Sorry. Using the Dragon Vein to open a space-time gate consumes an enormous amount of chakra each time. Even for me, it cannot be activated again in the short term. The next time won't be until at least a month later."
"A whole month?"
The expression behind Obito's mask immediately darkened.
Although he knew Nagato's words were likely just an excuse, there was nothing he could do about it right now. After thinking it over, he had no choice but to wait here.
After all, he had no desire to go outside again—if he encountered some monster and got stabbed once more, he would truly be finished.
Thinking thus, Obito glanced around, then found a large rock nearby and sat down heavily on it.
"Then I'll just wait here. You two wouldn't mind, would you?"
Looking meaningfully at Nagato and Konan, Obito spoke with a teasing tone, turning back into Tobi.
As far as he knew, among Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko, Konan and Yahiko used to be an item back in the day. But since Yahiko had died so long ago, spending years together day after day, hadn't romantic feelings developed between Nagato and Konan?
Still, judging from Nagato's emaciated figure, sitting lifelessly in his wheelchair, probably... he might not have it in him anymore.
Obito darkly amused himself with the thought.
"Do whatever you want."
Nagato paid little attention to Obito and continued summoning the Six Paths of Pain, manipulating them to begin moving.
Obito watched the Six Paths' figures leave the cave, his eyes flickering indecisively. In the end, he still chose not to share the intelligence in his possession with Nagato and Konan.
He couldn't possibly reveal that Madara Uchiha was currently in Kiri, having created an Edo Army. Or else, when they asked more questions later, his impersonation of Madara would be exposed for sure.
On the contrary, Obito would rather watch Nagato face setbacks and suffer defeats. Maybe then things could get back to the original timeline faster.
"Please move aside. Nagato needs a quiet environment while performing techniques, so he can concentrate."
At this moment, Konan approached with a cold expression and drove Obito away to the side.
"Hehehe."
Obito merely chuckled softly, waiting quietly and ready to see the pair make fools of themselves.
Currently, Kirigakure not only hosted Madara's Edo Army, but also included the powerful ice-release ninja Immortal Sage, plus another mysterious Obito who might chase him down at any moment.
Moreover, numerous experts from Leaf Village could also potentially launch a full-scale assault on Kiri.
None of these people were easy opponents.
In Obito's eyes, this parallel worlds was a mad place where powerful shinobi roamed everywhere and jonin ranked no higher than dogs.
Perhaps it was time for Nagato, a man who fancied himself a god, to receive a proper lesson.
Kiri, Mizukage building.
The wide underground chamber housed several top experts including Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Onoki, Gengetsu Hozuki, the Second Raikage, and King and Silver. Right now, all of them had their eyes closed and stood silently, as if deeply asleep.
In the center of the room, three freshly captured jinchuriki—Roshi, Han, and Burubi—were lying on the ground unconscious.
At this moment, the tailed beasts within them were being gradually devoured by a dragon-shaped projection extending from the mouth of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Presiding over the [Nine-Dragon Phantom Sealing Ritual] naturally was Madara Uchiha, seated on the stone chair.
After some time, Four-Tails and Five-Tails were completely extracted from their hosts' bodies and absorbed into the statue. The statue once again opened its second and third eyes in succession.
Just like when it devoured Shukaku earlier, both eyes remained half-open.
"It seems I was overthinking. This phenomenon must be normal after all."
Madara muttered to himself as he watched. What he didn't know was that all three tailed beasts had been plundered by Heiyan and infected with parasitic spores.
Only Gyuki remained now.
Even if the Nine Tails hadn't been gathered yet, it wouldn't matter.
Because as the Demonic Statue gradually revived, its life force would grow stronger and continue supplying Madara with more power to prolong his life further.
"Oh right, isn't the Genin Selection Exam about to begin?"
Suddenly, Madara turned his head and asked Zetsu.
"That's right, Lord Madara. As per your orders, Nagato will also participate in this exam. I've already made him ready."
The left half of White Zetsu's face spoke up, replying while pulling Nagato forward.
"Nagato, this is your first time going out for training since you started learning ninjutsu under me. My expectations for you extend far beyond simply becoming a Genin. You must eliminate every last student in this exam to pass my test. Understand?"
Madara looked down coldly at Nagato with a stern expression and icy tone.
"Grandpa Madara, I won't disappoint you."
Young Nagato was somewhat nervous, but after being encouraged by White Zetsu, he finally answered firmly.
"Good, take him away."
With a wave of Madara's hand, he signaled Zetsu to lead Nagato toward the outdoor training grounds outside the village.
Outside Kirigakure.
What arrived first wasn't Nagato's Six Paths of Pain, but rather Heiyan disguised as Obito.
Standing atop a hill, Heiyan glanced around carefully and touched the ground, using chakra to conduct a brief sensory sweep.
Obito had hidden nearby Kirigakure; there was no trace of him anywhere, whether in real space or Kamui's dimension.
Heiyan searched for a while without finding any sign of Obito, then gave up reluctantly.
Heiyan lifted his gaze toward the sky above Kirigakure.
There, dark clouds gathered continuously pouring fine drizzle solely covering the village itself. Outside its boundaries however, not a drop of rain fell.
[Rain Tiger at Will Jutsu]?
Frowning slightly, Heiyan speculated inwardly.
That Madara Uchiha sure was cautious indeed.
He realized that if he entered Kirigakure immediately now, he would certainly be detected and then attacked by the Edo Army.
Therefore, Heiyan remained patient.
Through the surveillance feed transmitted by the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, he decided it was better to wait until Madara placed the Eight-Tails into the statue's mouth.
Once those six parasitic spores entered the statue, Heiyan would quickly gain total control over it. Even if Madara had the Rinnegan, there would be nothing he could do to reverse this.
Meanwhile, Heiyan also learned that Nagato was about to participate in the Genin Selection Exam.
I'll go see for myself.
He vanished from his spot and reappeared at a forest outside Mist Village.
At the forest entrance, the examiner overseeing this test was a young Jonin in his early twenties with long bluish-gray hair spiked upward, wearing sealing tags around both ears as protective charms.
*Ao?*
Heiyan watched quietly, recognizing the face immediately.
In the original timeline, this man was a capable right-hand man to Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi. He'd even landed on Konoha's A-ranked wanted list before—an undeniable master-level ninja.
Before Ao stood dozens of children participating in the exam, lining up in rows according to his commands, awaiting Nagato's arrival.
In recent years among the great ninja villages, Mist was in the worst condition.
Once a mighty ninja village, ever since suffering heavy losses during the battle with Uzugakure, it had never recovered fully. On top of that, Madara's oppressive rule over Mist caused many ninja casualties and defections.
Despite expanding recruitment within the Land of Water like other villages in recent years, reality remained harsh—nobody wanted to come to this so-called "Bloody Mist Village," now infamous for bloodshed.
Now, Mist Village faced talent shortages worse than ever before; ninja numbers weren't just stagnant, they were plummeting. Every department and position lacked personnel badly.
As a result, the average age of Mist's new Genin had dropped significantly—from previously twelve or thirteen years old down to mere five or six-year-old children attending these exams now.
These kids often received only one or two years of training at the ninja academy, already hardened by violence and eager to prove themselves through ruthless combat before they could graduate.
Madara had absolutely destroyed this place.
After a while, just when the group of children began growing impatient, Zetsu finally arrived late—with Nagato beside him.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Instantly, dozens of not-so-friendly gazes all locked onto Nagato.
"Is this guy the reason we've all been waiting here? Who does he think he is?"
"Doesn't look all that strong. With hair that red, looks like a tomato—so ridiculous."
"Once the exam starts, let's gang up and bring him down first, what do you say?"
"..."
A bunch of brats bickered among themselves, eyeing Nagato with ill intent like a pack of starving wolves circling a lost lamb.
Suddenly targeted by so many hostile glances, Nagato couldn't help clenching his fists tightly, heart pounding with anger and anxiety.
"Quiet down!"
Seeing this, Ao sternly shouted at the group. Then he walked toward Zetsu, bowed respectfully, and reported relevant details about this examination.
"Mm-hmm,"
Zetsu nodded repeatedly while listening.
His status in Mist was as Madara's representative, wielding power equal to the Mizukage. Nobody dared show him disrespect.
After listening to Ao's report, White Zetsu crouched down and whispered to Nagato:
"Nagato, don't be afraid. Your opponents this time are only three people. They're around your age—Kisame Hoshigaki, Zabuza Momochi, and Mei Terumi."
As he spoke, White Zetsu pointed out their positions within the crowd—two males and one female.
Kisame Hoshigaki, whose face resembled a shark's, stared at Nagato with obvious interest.
Zabuza Momochi, sporting short black hair, was casually picking his sharp teeth with a toothpick, wearing an indifferent and aloof expression.
Mei Terumi stood confidently among the crowd, arms crossed and her long red hair flowing like Nagato's. She smiled warmly, clearly full of self-assurance about the trial ahead.
Your mission is simple—eliminate these three and use them as test subjects to gain combat experience. As for the others, they're all mediocre in strength. Feel free to unleash yourself and enjoy the pleasure of indiscriminate slaughter.
White Zetsu whispered these thoughts into Nagato's ear, skillfully guiding him along.
"I understand, Uncle White Zetsu," Nagato replied with excitement, his eyes darting eagerly between the three targets, memorizing every detail of their appearances.
Nagato also became excited, visibly eager, his gaze switching back and forth between the three targets, committing every detail of their appearances to memory.
"Begin," White Zetsu stood up and commanded Ao.
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