"The specific arrangements will follow the assigned steps. I assume none of you have objections, right?"
Minato sat at the head seat, his gaze serious as he looked around at several Kages or their representatives present.
Dodai was representing Kumogakure this time, seated in the Raikage's place, with a massive lightning emblem carved into the wall behind him.
The death of the Fourth Raikage had been sudden, and the village had not yet chosen a suitable successor since Darui, who was originally seen as a promising candidate, had also died alongside the Fourth Raikage during the Akatsuki attack.
After careful consideration from all sides, they had no choice but to let Dodai, an elder who had served the village for decades and possessed both strong abilities and great prestige, temporarily take over the duties of Raikage.
Once they got through this tough time, they could follow Mist's example and slowly choose a proper new Raikage, just like Mist did.
And by then, this temporary representative could gracefully step down after the war, having achieved honor and success.
Of course, these were just their own assumptions. From known intelligence, such plans didn't seem problematic.
"Iwagakure has no objection."
"Sunagakure also has no objection."
"Kirigakure agrees."
"There are no issues on Kumogakure's side either."
As Minato shifted his gaze, each person seated expressed their opinion in turn.
Then the Allied Forces' plan was as follows: using Amegakure as the center, all Hidden Villages would begin moving toward it and then launch a coordinated attack upon reaching their designated locations.
They went with an aggressive plan—it seemed surprising at first, but made perfect sense. Everyone agreed on it.
One reason that accelerated this move was that Amegakure had recently rejected the alliance's offer to surrender peacefully.
The Land of Rain had never held a favorable geographic position. Trapped between the Fire, Wind, and Earth Nations, it was small and vulnerable—a constant battleground for the great powers.
With such a strategy by the Allied Forces, once the war began, Amegakure would face attacks from multiple fronts simultaneously, creating a multifaceted offensive.
They knew full well that even Ame and a few key Akatsuki members together couldn't hold up against such a vast offensive.
Therefore, the final outcome would be a continuous tightening of the encirclement until they stormed straight into Amegakure and captured the true culprits responsible for instigating this war—the Akatsuki.
"All units must reach their designated positions within five days and await further instructions. Once we start, the enemy won't stand a chance against us, so this should be swift and decisive. Let's reunite quickly in Kumogakure!"
Minato stood upright, hands pressing against the table. His divine battle robe fluttered without wind, and his voice rang firm and powerful.
"Understood!"
Although this initial phase of operations appeared fragmented, with each unit acting independently, the Five Great Villages would maintain communication through prearranged covert techniques to maintain coordination among forces.
Moreover, the core members of the Akatsuki organization were all monstrous individuals—one could only confront them if all the Hidden Villages combined their strongest fighters.
As for the smaller villages joining the Alliance, they naturally integrated themselves into whichever of the Five Great Villages was closest, following all directives accordingly.
In this matter, they held practically no voice.
The respective ninja forces had already begun advancing toward the borders of the Land of Rain.
Kumogakure and Kirigakure, being the furthest away, had already made all necessary preparations. In another two or three days, their main forces would reach their designated positions and set up formations.
As for Konoha, reconstruction efforts had accelerated with support from the other allied villages. While it had not yet regained its former appearance, most of the basic infrastructure had been completed. Villagers no longer needed to live in tents, and daily life had become much more stable.
It was time to start this unavoidable war!
The longer this went on, the worse it got for the Allied Forces. The Akatsuki Organization, having captured eight Tailed Beasts, still held shocking power.
"Allow me to ask one question," Dodai spoke carefully, slightly turning toward Minato. "How does Konoha intend to handle the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"
All the Kage had considered this issue.
Akatsuki's goal was clearly to gather all the Tailed Beasts, so naturally, they would go after the last one—the Nine-Tails.
Once the battle began, the Nine-Tails might become the deciding factor on the battlefield.
Although this generation's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had never displayed her strength in real combat, no one could afford to ignore its existence simply because of the Nine-Tails' reputation as the strongest.
"I will personally keep Kushina by my side. Everyone in Konoha will protect her—and the Nine-Tails—with our lives if necessary."
Minato hesitated briefly before quickly responding firmly.
"It seems their purpose in capturing the Tailed Beasts isn't merely to control the Jinchuriki. Since the extracted beasts have never reappeared, Akatsuki's true intention remains unpredictable. Therefore, while we take the initiative, we must also ensure the safety of the Nine-Tails. At the very least, we cannot allow the enemy a chance to flank us."
Onoki looked toward Minato as he spoke, his white beard gently swaying with each word.
Though he appeared as nothing more than a small old man, an air of authority surrounded him, making others listen carefully whenever he spoke.
"While the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki happens to be the Hokage's wife, this is no longer just a matter concerning one individual or even Konoha alone. We all care deeply about the safety of the Nine-Tails. So Minato, please understand where we're coming from—we mean no offense."
Rasa was close in age to Minato, and thus better understood his current feelings.
"I understand," Minato nodded, his expression unchanged but his gaze growing even more serious.
He had anticipated these questions beforehand—such concerns were only natural.
Putting aside any personal feelings toward Kushina, if he stood in any of the other Kage's shoes, he too would think carefully about the final Tailed Beast.
In a battle where they were one against eight, that one could prove crucial—it might just be the Allied Forces' saving grace or their key strategy against the enemy's Tailed Beasts.
Certainly, based on the current situation analysis, the Alliance held a favorable position.
Even if the enemy unleashed all eight captured Tailed Beasts at once, the Allied Forces had already made thorough preparations. Thus, the enemy's chances of turning the tide were nearly nonexistent.
Nevertheless, as leaders, they had to consider every possibility, leaving nothing to chance.
"If the situation deteriorates unexpectedly, we will request assistance without hesitation. However, for now, the Nine-Tails remains safe within Konoha."
Minato spoke once more.
The others exchanged glances and chose not to press the matter further.
Everyone then stood up and exited through their respective doors.
At this moment, the great battle's prologue officially began.
...
"The Nine-Tails has already reached the border of the Land of Fire. With Konoha heavily fortified, it seems our enemy is making a desperate move. Reinforcements from the other Shinobi Coalition Forces are also continuing to gather—dense concentrations have already been deployed along the borders of Rivers, Wind, Fire, Grass, and Earth, forming a lineup even more formidable than during the Third Great Ninja War."
Zetsu stood atop high ground, his back facing a forest, the Akatsuki black cloak with red clouds wrapped around his plant-like body.
They were currently stationed near the Fire Country's border. Dark clouds loomed heavily in the sky, signaling an imminent downpour.
"Just one remaining target: the Nine-Tails. But going after it directly is nearly as difficult as defeating the entire coalition head-on. Unless the Nine-Tails foolishly separates from the main force and runs straight into either Nagato or Saitama."
Black Zetsu analyzed, his one eye pitch-black and hollow, showing absolutely no trace of human emotion.
"Anyway, we've got Saitama holding things down, and Nagato's determination will push him to go all-out for the Nine-Tails. We just need to reap the final reward, don't we?" White Zetsu said playfully, sounding completely unconcerned about how things would unfold.
What concerns me… is if they deviate from the plan…
Black Zetsu muttered inwardly but kept his face calm as always.
That Saitama fellow had always looked at him strangely, almost as if he saw right through everything—including his true nature.
Initially, he assumed it was merely because he carried "Madara's will," prompting vigilance.
But as time passed, he realized that wasn't the case.
Saitama seemed unusually wary of him, his eyes showing not a hint of trust—something he hadn't anticipated at all.
Even though he'd spent so much time avoiding interfering with Saitama's path, there still hadn't been any sign of trust in Saitama's gaze.
Though the plan continued progressing exactly as he envisioned, the atmosphere had now begun shifting into dangerous territory.
He foresaw Saitama turning against him the moment he was fully out of control.
Whether it was Madara's will or something else, he was nothing more than an obstacle standing in Saitama's way—an uncertainty blocking forward momentum.
Yet, should it truly reach that point, would he really be helpless? Could he do nothing at all?
"As *the embodiment of Madara's will*, you're actually afraid?"
White Zetsu picked up on Black Zetsu's subtle emotional shift and glanced sideways with curiosity.
Although he couldn't see Black Zetsu's face clearly, the probing attitude was unmistakable—one that slightly clashed with the established persona of "Madara's will."
"Even Madara himself encountered countless situations he couldn't fully comprehend. As only a fragmented version of his will, I naturally feel some restlessness toward unclear circumstances—it's only natural."
Black Zetsu realized his fleeting anxiety had been noticed by White Zetsu, so he offered an explanation.
"Is that so?" White Zetsu replied.
White Zetsu posed a counter-question, and they both fell into silence.
Black Zetsu couldn't be sure if he was overthinking, but there was something off about White Zetsu today. However, since White Zetsu had always been eccentric, for now he couldn't pinpoint exactly what caused this unusual feeling.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, his mind turning over the matters involving Saitama and Nagato.
"Perhaps I can give you the answer!"
Breaking the stillness was a cold, clear voice—although not particularly loud, it rapidly spread across the area at an incredible speed.
White Zetsu briefly showed an expression of surprise before quickly burying it deep within.
Black Zetsu's pupils also sharply contracted.
They swiftly turned their heads toward the direction where the voice came from.
An upright figure had unknowingly appeared not far behind them.
Saitama Uchiha!
They both recognized who the speaker was.
"What do you mean by that?" Black Zetsu finally spoke, sensing the change in atmosphere.
Moreover, Saitama—who had disappeared without a trace not long ago—had actually shown up here. Was he deliberately looking for him?
Black Zetsu couldn't help thinking further, and wariness grew stronger in his gaze.
"About your identity…don't you have something you should explain, Black Zetsu?"
Saitama Uchiha stood atop a large rock, gazing down at them.
He didn't answer Black Zetsu's question, instead countering with one of his own.
"Don't tell me you've completely forgotten Madara Uchiha's arrangements. So what exactly is happening now? Are you no longer going to honor the original agreement you made with Madara Uchiha?"
Black Zetsu's sinister gaze swept over Saitama's form, while his mind raced to decipher the meaning behind these words.
About his identity?
Wasn't he merely the embodiment of Madara Uchiha's will?
Although difficult to logically explain, even Madara himself seemed to agree with that interpretation.
So then, what exactly was Saitama Uchiha suspecting?
White Zetsu remained silent, maintaining his usual quietness, though a faint upward curve lifted his lips.
He had a stance—or perhaps none at all—which is why he chose to remain an observer for now.
"If you yourself aren't willing to speak, then I won't force you. Anyway, the final outcome will be the same either way."
Saitama's body began to sink downward, and the stone beneath his feet started to crackle loudly.
Boom—
In an instant, the rock underfoot exploded into a thousand shards, scattering in every direction as clouds of dust erupted from the ground.
And Saitama Uchiha, who had been standing there just moments ago, became a streak of lightning hurtling toward the Zetsu nearby.
"Let's go!"
The moment he noticed the shift in Saitama's tone, Black Zetsu immediately signaled to White Zetsu.
From his perspective, White Zetsu was a creation born from himself under Madara Uchiha's guidance. And currently, his identity was the fragmentary consciousness of Madara Uchiha himself—thus, White Zetsu naturally belonged on his side.
But right now, Saitama's attitude clearly indicated that he no longer followed the instructions left by Madara Uchiha back then, so they could only retreat temporarily.
With White Zetsu's abilities, escaping before Saitama should still be manageable.
Although he didn't know why the opponent had managed to break free from the cursed seal Madara once imposed—thus enabling direct attacks on its "companions"—this was definitely not the time to ponder such questions.
In a head-on fight, even combining his strength with White Zetsu's wouldn't be enough to defeat Saitama alone.
But if the enemy thought they could take them down that easily, they were sorely mistaken.
As an embodiment of Kaguya's will, he had fully mastered both survival and concealment—which explained why Six Paths and others hadn't found him in all these years.
Therefore, his first instinct was to leave immediately, leaving follow-up matters for later contemplation.
"I'm also quite interested in your identity. I think I'll stay."
Upon hearing Black Zetsu's words, White Zetsu didn't move an inch, remaining rooted to the spot. He said to the other half of himself.
When Black Zetsu heard White Zetsu's reply, alarms instantly rang in his mind.
WHOOSH—
Their connected bodies instantly separated, and he dove downward without hesitation.
He never expected White Zetsu would betray him at some unknown point—this was truly unexpected.
But as the invisible force hiding behind the scenes for a thousand years, his ability to adapt was extremely strong.
Almost immediately, he recognized his current predicament.
"Haha!"
[Wood Release!]
The instant Black Zetsu broke away, White Zetsu thrust out his hand.
Numerous roots extended from his pale arm, entwining together as they lashed toward the black shadow now transforming into Black Zetsu.
Such a method naturally couldn't truly stop Black Zetsu's escape, yet it delayed his steps by about a second.
Then Saitama's attack arrived.
CRACKLE—CRACKLE—
A flash of blue-white light streaked past. Saitama thrust forward with his right hand, unleashing his Chidori directly onto Black Zetsu's body.
Boom!
Struck by the attack, Black Zetsu crashed into the nearby ground under overwhelming force. The dark mass scattered and reformed into human shape.
Saitama landed beside White Zetsu. His Mangekyou eyes were fully activated, crimson flooding his pupils, adding a touch more bloodthirsty aura to his presence.
"I underestimated you again—Saitama Uchiha!"
Black Zetsu knelt on one knee, wiping his mouth with one arm. Hatred and confusion flickered across his face, while faint black smoke continuously rose from his back where the previous attack struck.
Chidori Current still surged over his body, occasionally erupting in sharp sparks, making his movements stiffer.
Looking at the two standing united before him, Black Zetsu felt far from pleased inside.
"I'm definitely not Madara Uchiha. Creating personal consciousness through Yin-Yang Release holds absolutely no credibility for me. Don't you agree, Black Zetsu?"
Saitama made no move to attack again. He just stared at Black Zetsu—expression unreadable, eyes filled with a deep, dark intensity—before finally speaking.
Of course, if he hadn't already known Black Zetsu's true identity beforehand, like Madara Uchiha, suspicion would have been hard to arise.
"How much exactly have you figured out?!"
Black Zetsu sensed something deeper within Saitama's words, gritting out.
"Everything about you!"
"You know your thousand-year schemes, your identity, your goals... and everything else. That's why I won't let you keep hiding behind me and playing your tricks. This farce is definitely due for an end."
Saitama spoke in a calm yet serious voice.
A flicker of light passed through Black Zetsu's pitch-black eyes as they narrowed gradually.
The information Saitama possessed surprised him again. If his opponent truly knew all that had just been mentioned, then the current situation had genuinely slipped from his control.
Even Madara Uchiha had never made him feel something like this.
Was he really going to throw away all those years of meticulous planning?
A thought flashed through Black Zetsu's mind as his body slowly straightened up.
It seemed there was only one possible course of action to correct his mistakes.
Time meant nothing to him—just a number on the clock.
This failure certainly struck him hard, and future operations would become much more difficult.
Even worse, Six Paths at the realm of reincarnation might have already noticed his existence—the mysterious entity hiding underground all these years.
That was something he definitely didn't want to see.
But it seemed like there was no other choice now.
"What difference does it make if you know all this? You can't stop me. At worst, I'll simply retreat into hiding again until the right opportunity arises."
At this point, Black Zetsu no longer intended to conceal himself.
Saitama didn't seem to be bluffing, so he might as well tear off the mask completely.
"What can I do? Naturally, I'll deal with you directly and ensure our plan proceeds as expected."
Saitama raised his arm; the Chidori Current raged wildly, making the air restless.
Bang—
He squatted down, placing both hands on the ground.
Boom—
Massive amounts of lightning surged from his body onto the ground, then rushed toward where Black Zetsu stood.
From beneath the earth, an entire [Forest] erupted upward, shaking the land, complementing the Chidori Current's assault.
[Wood Release - First Eruption!]
After parting ways with Orochimaru, Saitama discovered that his Hashirama cells had become more active, so he directly employed Senju Hashirama's signature technique.
Although his [Wood Release - First Eruption!] couldn't compare to Hashirama's legendary feat of altering a nation's ecosystem, it had significantly improved compared to before.
The Wood Release covered nearly a hundred meters around Black Zetsu's position, which represented the optimal range he could precisely control.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Facing Saitama's attack, Black Zetsu's figure darted between countless trees, appearing somewhat disheveled.
Like White Zetsu, he wasn't particularly skilled in combat.
Moreover, what confronted him wasn't just Wood Release techniques, but also massive amounts of lightning intertwined with them.
Though he was 'immortal', he still experienced pain. Each lightning strike sent thick plumes of black smoke spiraling from his body, deepening the anger in his eyes.
Tap! Tap!
Stepping onto a rolling tree root, Saitama rapidly advanced toward Black Zetsu, who kept dodging his attacks.
As for White Zetsu, he simply stepped back and watched with a detached air about him.
He had no intention of interfering in this battle, so he folded his arms and observed casually, like someone idly snacking on seeds.
And compared to Black Zetsu, he was even more inferior.
"You can't stop me, Saitama Uchiha!"
Black Zetsu leapt upward from his perch above the forest, glaring hatefully at Saitama chasing after him, then shouted loudly.
[Wood Release – Strangling Bind!]
Aiming directly at Saitama, Black Zetsu clenched his five fingers and immediately launched the attack.
As Kaguya's third son, though he had no skills at birth, after so many years had passed, he gradually acquired various abilities, with Wood Release being just one of them.
Swoosh—
Thick, twisting wooden tendrils coiled tightly like serpents, encircling Saitama in a crushing grip.
Slithering like snakes, they writhed through the air and converged around Saitama, wrapping him tightly.
Zzzt—
Saitama swept his right hand forward, a huge surge of Chidori Current condensing onto his arm. Upon contact with the Wood Release, it exploded violently, carving an arc around his body.
Black Zetsu's jutsu was easily dismantled by Saitama, turning into countless fragments falling toward the ground.
Meanwhile, Saitama himself didn't slow his pace, and in the blink of an eye had already arrived right in front of Black Zetsu.
"Damn it!"
As Saitama appeared directly before him, Black Zetsu saw mockery and amusement deep within his opponent's eyes—the same expressions he once always wore when regarding Saitama, and even Madara Uchiha.
And now... those very expressions were staring back from Saitama's face.
At this moment, even Black Zetsu, whose disposition hadn't changed for a thousand years, broke through his usual composure in an instant.
Though his expression couldn't clearly be seen on his black face, Saitama could distinctly sense Black Zetsu's anger.
It made sense—he'd expected it.
After all, his millennium-long scheming had completely lost all effect before this man.
Yet the more furious his opponent became, the less mercy he could afford to give.
Choosing today to make his move was also because he'd prepared thoroughly, having considered everything carefully.
White Zetsu's betrayal was just one minor setback among many.
Saitama understood clearly that Black Zetsu was Kaguya's will incarnate—just like Kaguya herself, an existence nearly impossible to kill.
The only effective way was to use a Sealing Technique.
For this reason, Saitama had been training in Sealing Techniques for quite some time now—specifically to deal with Black Zetsu.
Zzzt—
Meeting Black Zetsu's gaze head-on, the Chidori Current in Saitama's hand solidified into a short blade about half a meter long, smoothly slicing through Black Zetsu's body.
Cut in two!
He hadn't expected his attack to succeed so effortlessly.
Originally, this slash was meant simply to force his opponent to block up close—to exchange minor injury for greater damage, laying the groundwork for subsequent sealing.
However, Black Zetsu's lack of resistance left him puzzled and perplexed.
But the next second, Saitama's expression slightly changed.
Because the severed halves of Black Zetsu suddenly flew apart in two different directions the moment they separated.
Swish swish—
The two black shadows darted away fast, catching Saitama completely off guard for a split second.
Soon, grayish-yellow Wood Releases emerged from both sides of Saitama's body. In an instant, they transformed into copies identical to his original form, then pursued the escaping two black shadows.
Under the piercing gaze of the Sharingan, Saitama Uchiha couldn't tell which one was Black Zetsu.
Or were both of them?
In a flash, the two Wood Release Clones had already closed in on Black Zetsu.
Crash! Crash!
The Wood Release Clones, empowered by Chidori Current, moved faster than their opponent by more than one level. They cut off his escape route and then used Wood Release techniques to halt his movements.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The Wood Release Clone stretched out its arms, both instantly transforming into pillars that formed a cage-like prison around Black Zetsu.
And Black Zetsu had no power to resist.
"I told you," Saitama Uchiha said as he swiftly appeared before a glob of writhing black liquid, pressing his hand against it.
On the center of his palm, a faintly glowing red seal marked 'Sealing Technique: Four Symbols Seal' shimmered with power.
The half of Black Zetsu held by the Wood Release Clone sensed something wrong. Its solidified form suddenly exploded, turning into countless droplets of dark liquid that scattered through the air. In an instant, before the Wood Release Clone could react, it escaped from the technique.
Thud!
The other half of Black Zetsu also used the same method to break free from the Wood Release's grasp. The two halves met midair and merged once again into a complete humanoid figure.
"Saitama Uchiha, don't push too far!"
Fully reformed, Black Zetsu's expression became even darker. He gritted his teeth, his voice dripping with venom.
The sealing technique glowing on Saitama Uchiha's palm just now was a pre-carved Four Symbols Seal.
If he had been struck by it, it wouldn't have sealed him completely, but it would certainly have hindered his movement for a short time.
Facing Saitama Uchiha, he couldn't afford to be caught off guard even slightly; otherwise, an unpredictable future awaited him.
Even knowledge hidden from others, Saitama somehow knew. There was even a chance he might fall at this guy's hands.
"I haven't done anything unreasonable. I'm simply unwilling to remain a mere pawn, so I've shattered the game you were playing."
Three Saitamas stood side by side. The middle one—the real body—spoke with a calm voice.
At those words, Black Zetsu fell silent.
He scanned the area with what little vision he had left, finally settling his gaze on White Zetsu, who was watching nearby like a spectator.
If it had been anyone else today, he would've been confident of escape.
Due to his own unique nature, he could freely travel underground.
But both Saitama and White Zetsu possessed similar abilities, making that approach completely ineffective.
So, was there really no choice left but death?
Black Zetsu refused to accept that fate!
His mission to rescue his mother wasn't over yet. How could he fall here so easily?
Just one Saitama Uchiha had proven more persistent than Madara Uchiha himself, completely disrupting his plans and reducing everything to nothingness.
Damn it!
Black Zetsu clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, his face twisting into a grimace.
"There's absolutely no room for negotiation?"
Although defiant inside, he knew talking would do nothing against Saitama.
Helplessly, he asked again.
"What do you think?"
Saitama Uchiha suddenly found Black Zetsu somewhat amusing. Even now, he still clung to hope?
Even so, he remained on high alert. His Mangekyo Sharingan locked onto Black Zetsu without letting up, giving the opponent not the slightest chance to escape.
In some ways, Black Zetsu was even more troublesome than White Zetsu—his ability to escape and conceal his presence was nothing short of exceptional.
"Let me go and I won't interfere with whatever you do next."
Black Zetsu hadn't yet completely abandoned this last hope.
If he couldn't fight or run, then he could only try talking his way out.
Compared to sparing you, I'd rather just get rid of you permanently.
Saitama gave a cold smile, his tone icy as he spoke.
Since he could eliminate the enemy directly anyway, why bother negotiating?
Besides, Black Zetsu's track record of deceit was too well-known to gamble on.
"Then let's both die!"
Upon hearing Saitama's final reply, Black Zetsu roared furiously. He formed a pair of rapid hand seals and instantly unleashed his ninjutsu.
Pitch-black tentacles, like ink, erupted from the ground around him, lunging swiftly toward Saitama.
[Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!]
Saitama and the Wood Release Clone moved simultaneously, dodging sideways.
Glancing at the dark tendrils extending from under Black Zetsu's feet, Saitama recognized their resemblance to the Nara Clan's Shadow Imitation Technique.
Only these were thicker, longer, and possessed physical substance.
[Boom—]
Jumping halfway into the air, both Wood Clones unleashed their Wood Release techniques at once.
Roots extended from their arms, slamming downward toward the upward-reaching black tentacles.
[Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!]
The Wood Release and dark tendrils collided violently, twisting and entwining with bone-crushing force, neither willing to give an inch.
[Clack—]
Stepping onto one of the Wood Release constructs, Saitama suddenly accelerated.
[Chidori Current!] The crackling current surged across his entire body.
Diving down from midair, he hurtled like a falling meteor, an unstoppable force ready to strike.
[Swish! Swish!]
Black Zetsu leaped backward, but how could his speed compare to Saitama's?
He understood that clearly himself.
Therefore, while jumping back, he sharply raised both hands—immediately severing contact with the Wood Clones—and instantly extended many thicker black tentacles from his feet, whipping upward toward airborne Saitama.
Gazing at Black Zetsu, Saitama formed a hand seal with one hand, pointing his fingers downward before parting his lips slightly.
[Fire Release – Great Fireball!]
With a brief pause, an astonishingly wide fireball immediately condensed from chakra expelled through his mouth, rapidly accelerating forward under inertia's influence straight toward its target.
[Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!]
Black Zetsu's numerous black tendrils writhed like countless snakes dancing wildly.
As scorching heat approached, the dark tendrils scattered outward, then abruptly converged during the arrival of the fireball, completely engulfing the massive flaming sphere within.
[Boom—]
Saitama narrowed his eyes slightly. Those tentacles had retracted tightly, squeezing his technique apart into countless fragments—transforming into sparks of flame raining across the sky.
After neutralizing Saitama's jutsu, the black tentacles under Black Zetsu's control continued surging violently toward their opponent, seemingly unharmed.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Flames rained down across hundreds of meters, instantly igniting nearby debris.
This was a forested area. Due to the season, the ground was covered with decaying dry leaves, allowing the fire to spread rapidly.
Neither of the fighters paid the slightest attention to such trivialities.
Saitama continued his descent, quickly colliding with those tentacles.
Smack!
Each tentacle was almost as thick as Saitama's waist, crashing into him with tremendous force.
But Saitama had both Chidori Current and Wood Release shielding him—it was like an impenetrable fortress, making one question life itself just by being hit.
There were so many tentacles that they created visual chaos. Soon, they surrounded Saitama completely and even attacked from behind.
It didn't matter.
[Chidori Current — Current Surge!]
Remaining calm within the encirclement, Saitama's chakra surged dramatically, generating an even more exaggerated Chidori Current emerging from his body.
"Damn it to hell!"
Black Zetsu glared intensely at the center of the dark ball formed by the tentacles, then continued manipulating them to intensify their crushing pressure against Saitama inside.
A serious expression appeared on his pitch-black face.
He had already done everything possible, but—
Zzzzt!
A white flash pierced out from where the lightning had penetrated through the tightly entwined mass of tentacles.
Once the first opened, others followed—one became two, then countless more…
The Chidori current flowed outward through those punctures, coursing along the sphere's surface.
BOOM!
The ball exploded, the connected tentacles caught in the blast—some shattered into pieces, others snapped off near their base and recoiled back toward Black Zetsu.
His ultimate trump card easily broken, Black Zetsu turned and fled immediately.
He felt like it was all over for him today!
If sealed by Saitama again, it would mean decades or centuries of boring isolation.
Unlike Saitama, whose life seemed practically endless, Black Zetsu could only use such thoughts to calm his agitated mind.
Even if trapped by a complex sealing technique like the Four Symbols Seal, he believed that with enough time, he could still escape.
Meanwhile, Saitama had already escaped Black Zetsu's restraint and resumed chasing after him.
In an instant, he reached right behind Black Zetsu.
Zzzzt!
His right hand, surrounded by Chidori Current, grabbed toward the fleeing figure.
Unexpectedly, however, his hand passed straight through Black Zetsu's body, grasping empty space over the latter's chest.
[Yin-Yang Release — Spiritual Fusion!]
Instantly, Black Zetsu halted abruptly—the wound on his chest rapidly closed—and then his body lost human form, spreading out along Saitama's arm toward other parts of his body.
As soon as he realized this grab missed its mark, Saitama tried pulling his arm away—but Black Zetsu reacted quickly, ignoring the damaging Chidori Current on Saitama's hand, forcibly activating a ninjutsu to possess Saitama at this moment.
Yet Saitama remained expressionless, seemingly having anticipated this.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two Wood Release Clones also arrived from that direction—they took positions in front and behind Saitama, placing their hands on his shoulders at the same time.
Chakra surged continuously, sealing Black Zetsu who had already consumed one arm.
A black portion of the arm gradually formed into a face—the very face of Black Zetsu.
He had expected that his sudden ambush would bring considerable gains, but before he could even feel satisfied, his movements were already restrained, leaving him in a tight spot with no easy escape.
Saitama had a sense of familiarity with Black Zetsu's technique and had remained vigilant against it.
Yet to perform a sealing technique, he needed direct contact with Black Zetsu. And upon contact, there was a chance that Black Zetsu could activate the same move he once used to manipulate Obito—reviving Madara Uchiha via the [Rinnegan Life-Reincarnation Jutsu].
But danger here came hand-in-hand with opportunity.
[Still got caught. But it's not a big deal.]
Two clones had already pinned down Black Zetsu, restricting him within the area of the arm. For Saitama, this was now an opportunity.
After exchanging glances with his clones, Saitama crouched down and pressed his palms flat onto the ground.
Black Zetsu sensed something wrong and attempted to detach himself from Saitama's body. However, with two clones suppressing him on-site, although he kept struggling, his only remaining vessel seemed to be the arm—he couldn't break free at all.
Shoosh! Shoosh! Shoosh!
The two clones and the original all formed ninja seals with their free hands at the same time. They then struck each other mid-air before slamming their hands onto the darkened section of the arm together.
Chakra flowed through the air, intensifying the pressure to its peak.
[Four Symbols Seal!]
This Four Symbols Seal was originally a secret art of the Uzumaki Clan, later falling into Konoha's possession after their homeland was destroyed.
Saitama had learned everything about this technique from the Scroll of Seals stored within Konoha.
With three hands pressing directly onto Black Zetsu, countless glowing runes spread outward. As they did, Black Zetsu's resistance weakened steadily.
When the runes extending from those three hands formed a complete configuration, Black Zetsu stopped moving altogether.
The dark mass that had covered Saitama's entire arm began retracting until it condensed into a small black sphere covered in intricate, mysterious markings.
[Done!]
Saitama clenched the ball tightly in one hand, exhaling deeply in relief as his Wood Release Clone subsequently withered into dry timber.
After an intense battle, he had successfully captured Black Zetsu.
It turned out to be smoother sailing than Saitama had expected.
But now that Black Zetsu was captured, either he wasn't as fearsome as expected—or Saitama was simply overwhelmingly powerful.
[Already finished?]
At this moment, White Zetsu strolled over with a smirk curling at the corner of his lips.
Earlier, when Saitama had revealed Black Zetsu's true identity, White admitted he'd been somewhat startled.
Still, for him personally, it didn't really matter much.
For some reason though, he had impulsively decided to side with Saitama.
[White Zetsu, you damned bastard!]
Suddenly, the black sphere in Saitama's hand spoke, its surface forming a pair of eyes that glared intensely at White Zetsu standing so close.
Exactly like the familiar voice of Black Zetsu.
[Oh, still able to talk?]
White Zetsu wasn't frightened at all—in fact, he found it amusing, leaning his face even closer.
Thus, their gazes locked.
After exchanging only a few initial words, Black Zetsu showed no intention of further communication with White Zetsu.
He knew deep inside—White Zetsu simply didn't care, neither in body nor in mind.
"Saitama Uchiha, you win!"
After a moment of locked stares, White Zetsu finally averted his gaze, while the latter continued speaking, his tone laced with resignation.
A plan woven over a thousand years—who could've predicted its downfall?
But it wasn't a big deal. As long as he still existed in the Shinobi World, opportunities would remain.
Once he broke free from this sealing technique, he would once again be that tireless "instrument," devoted entirely to serving Mother.
"I guess that's unavoidable, Black Zetsu. Still, I feel somewhat uneasy about you. So, how should I handle your arrangement?" Saitama Uchiha said, tossing the spherical sealed form of Black Zetsu up and catching it repeatedly in his palm, a thoughtful smile on his face.
Black Zetsu remained silent. He didn't care what Saitama Uchiha intended to do with him—it would just take a little more time to escape again.
Time was the one thing he had in abundance!
"Allow me to try."
A voice came from the side, prompting both Saitama and White Zetsu to slightly turn their heads.
It was Deva Path Pain.
Saitama Uchiha stopped tossing Black Zetsu into the air, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
He had already informed Nagato beforehand of his plan against Black Zetsu, and the other was also one of his contingency measures.
Hmm, this seems interesting!
Reunion between mother and son in the sky?
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