As Black Zetsu saw the Deva Path appear here, unease and agitation began stirring within him.
He hadn't expected Saitama would eventually ally with Nagato—it was the worst possible scenario.
He had assumed this move against him was merely Saitama's personal intention, but everything changed with the arrival of Deva Path Pain.
In Black Zetsu's mind, Saitama breaking off from him and Nagato allying with Saitama to oppose him were entirely different matters.
He'd considered the possibility of both pawns turning against him, yet when it actually happened, he found it hard to accept.
"Surprised?"
Saitama Uchiha could imagine how Black Zetsu felt right now, so his tone carried a teasing edge.
With a powerful throw, he sent the orb—Black Zetsu's current form—flying toward the Deva Path who was walking this way.
Slap!
The Deva Path raised a hand and caught the orb neatly. Then he lifted it close to his eyes, inspecting it with cold indifference.
This piercing gaze agitated Black Zetsu beyond words. However, due to the Sealing Jutsu Saitama Uchiha had just used on him, he couldn't move and could only accept it passively.
"Nagato, I never expected you would trust Saitama Uchiha," Saitama Uchiha continued, intentionally teasing him as he spoke. "He and I were allies—we approached you back then solely for our own purposes."
Nagato interrupted, raising his piercing gaze toward Black Zetsu without blinking. "Truthfully though, those things don't matter. At least he isn't an interfering pawn." His eyes flickered slightly as if evaluating something. "Still, I find myself wondering… are you really as powerful as Saitama claims?"
Holding Black Zetsu between three fingers like an object devoid of importance, the Deva Path lifted the orb into the sunlight and stared at it directly. The words came out harsh and unflinching.
Black Zetsu fell silent. He knew whatever he said now wouldn't change the outcome. Nagato had already resolved himself to take action against him.
Indeed, he shouldn't have chosen Saitama as Madara Uchiha's successor back then.
But now, it was too late to regret anything—the decision wasn't even his to make back then; it had been Madara Uchiha's own choice.
One wrong move can ruin everything! That was exactly how he felt now.
"You will pay for what you've done... I hate this!"
After a long pause, Black Zetsu's resentful voice rang out once more.
At Black Zetsu's final curse, Saitama Uchiha's expression remained completely unchanged.
The pathetic cries of a beaten dog were always so powerless.
Even a successful loser must learn to face reality and accept his downfall quietly.
Deva Path, listening to Black Zetsu's feeble roar, showed no hesitation either.
First, he glanced at Saitama Uchiha, who stood nearby with arms crossed, staring straight at him—as if asking for permission. Then, he threw Black Zetsu upward.
Glistening in the sunlight, the orb reflected faint rays of light, its countless talismans faintly visible beneath the surface.
"Heh!"
Black Zetsu soared high into the air. Meanwhile, the Deva Path raised both hands in a prayer-like gesture before his chest and uttered a deep, guttural sound.
Then, as he separated his palms, a dark violet-black energy sphere slowly formed between them. [Sphere of Divine Binding]
At first, it was no bigger than a grain of rice, but within an instant, it expanded to the size of a large exercise ball.
Deva Path's hands trembled slightly, struggling somewhat to control the "core," yet his movements remained remarkably fluid.
[Planetary Devastation!!]
As the descending Black Zetsu approached Deva Path, he released his restraint on the "core."
The Rinnegan emitted astonishing fluorescence, as if attempting to draw in a soul.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
The powerful pull first drew in Black Zetsu, the closest target.
Then the two black spheres merged, spiraling upward into the sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
The earth beneath their feet began trembling, cracks forming in many places.
And the tremors grew stronger, spreading across a wider area.
Saitama maintained his balance effortlessly, channeling a faint ripple of Chidori Current around him as he fixed his gaze on the Black Zetsu already soaring dozens of meters high.
"Goodbye, Mr. Black Zetsu!"
Standing beside Saitama, White Zetsu extended his right hand sideways past his face, waving it back and forth in a 'farewell' gesture, while wearing an expression of fake sorrow that made one want to punch him.
He felt absolutely nothing over Black Zetsu's failure.
Successful people always choose capable allies.
As for himself, White Zetsu had chosen appropriate allies at the right moment.
He still had strong ties to this world and plenty left to do, so he had no intention of falling into darkness with Black Zetsu.
Therefore, he could only ask Mr. Black Zetsu to bear with this situation.
White Zetsu's eyes carried mockery as he slowly lowered his arm.
Crack! Crack!
Under gravitational pull, the earth began crumbling, entire patches of rocks along with trees flying straight into the sky.
Deva Path tilted his head up, watching the growing shadow overhead with calm eyes, as though finishing something minor.
When everything finally calmed down, the "meteor" hanging in the sky had already reached a size comparable to the previous one that threatened Konoha.
Hundreds of meters in diameter, this deathly shadow hovering overhead made people feel breathless suffocation and oppressive anxiety upon seeing it.
This time, Nagato held nothing back—he unleashed the full power of the Rinnegan without risking any harm to his body.
After all, their opponent was the Invisible Force that had operated from the shadows for a thousand years—one careless move could have unforeseen consequences.
"Turn into a brilliant star within the sky."
Deva Path aimed his index finger at the "meteor" above, then flicked forcefully, while a faint glow flashed again through his Rinnegan.
Boom!!
The massive shadow engulfing Black Zetsu ascended further, roaring winds and sonic booms continuously raining from the heavens.
Soon enough, the shadow diminished gradually until becoming just a speck of brightness deep in the sky before vanishing completely.
Thanks.
Saitama withdrew his gaze from the sky and turned toward Deva Path.
A smile spread across his face, since eliminating Black Zetsu essentially removed future threats—what remained now were issues concerning Akatsuki and the Allied Ninja Forces.
Good work.
Controlling Deva Path, Nagato allowed a slight smile, silently accepting Saitama's goodwill.
This was the beginning of their formal alliance.
It was also a moment that made their mutual trust openly visible.
"The next target is the Allied Ninja Forces. Once we defeat them, everything will be within our grasp."
Saitama's gaze was unwavering. The recent sealing of Black Zetsu had already become history; it was time to shift their focus forward.
"Yes, now you can tell us about those hidden tricks you've prepared. Relying solely on Orochimaru still won't be enough for us to go head-to-head with the entire Allied Forces. Our enemies won't let us freely eliminate their troops either. Even though the strong ninja across the Shinobi World are scattered, once gathered, they do become a real headache."
Deva Path met Saitama's gaze with his usual calm expression.
"This question can be answered by White Zetsu."
Saitama wasn't surprised by Nagato's curiosity and simply gestured for White Zetsu to speak.
"Oh?"
Deva Path shifted his gaze toward White Zetsu, a faint look of surprise flickering in his Rinnegan eyes.
White Zetsu actually possessed something this crucial aside from intelligence gathering?
That truly was unexpected.
They originally thought Saitama kept White Zetsu around only for information collection, but apparently, there were still hidden strategies at play.
But what exactly that might be remained unknown.
"Cough... cough..."
Under Deva Path's mildly intimidating gaze, White Zetsu theatrically coughed twice, then offered a strangely bashful smile from his pale face.
"Previously, we used the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to create nearly eighty thousand White Zetsu Clones. Although they aren't as strong as me, their overall strength generally matches that of Chunin-ranked ninja. These clones will serve as our first major asset against the Allied Forces, directly eliminating the numerical advantage held by the enemy!"
"Hmm? So that's how it is."
A flicker of doubt briefly appeared in Deva Path's eyes.
He wasn't surprised merely at the number of clones White Zetsu mentioned, but rather at the surprising possibility that Saitama could control the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
Wasn't that something controllable only by the Rinnegan?
Even he himself found manipulating the Demonic Statue somewhat difficult—it even required him to pay with his own life force.
"As you know, Madara Uchiha saved me. And it was also Madara who originally left behind your Rinnegan," Saitama explained calmly. "Therefore, he prepared certain countermeasures that allow me to forcefully activate the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path even while in the Sharingan state."
Pausing here, Saitama observed Deva Path's reaction before continuing, "Of course, my use of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path is limited strictly to creating clones—I can't wield it the way you do unless I also had the Rinnegan."
"Then where are these clones right now?"
Though Nagato hadn't fully believed everything Saitama explained, he didn't pursue further inquiries.
There was no need to spell everything out—sometimes it's better if things are just left understood without explanation.
Besides, Saitama had already told him the full story before, so Nagato reluctantly accepted it.
"They're located at the border between Grass Village and Iwagakure. That's where we stored all the clones."
White Zetsu eagerly jumped in to answer, smiling as he pointed toward the location while speaking.
"That location..." Deva Path revealed a thoughtful expression.
"That should make for a nice surprise for the Allied Forces, wouldn't you say?"
Saitama looked toward the distance with deepened eyes, thinking along the same lines as Nagato.
As Iwagakure and Kumogakure—having arrived from the direction of the Grass Village—launched their major offensive into the Land of Rain, could they have possibly anticipated a massive enemy force emerging right behind them?
That scene was surely going to be quite interesting.
"Great idea, but we still need to plan carefully."
Nagato stopped his thoughts, showing caution.
Even with all his strength, in this great war he couldn't ignore the condition of his troops.
Take Amegakure for instance—the younger ninja indeed had strong fighting desire, yet overall combat effectiveness wasn't that high.
At the very least, they couldn't stand against Iwa, Kumo, or Konoha.
Then sending the Ame ninja to the battlefield closer to Sunagakure would be a good choice.
Although they still wouldn't be a match for their opponents, by using terrain advantage they could adopt a delaying tactic, buying time until other battle zones achieved victories, then turning back here to provide assistance.
"Let's go back first, and also compile all the intelligence we've gathered."
Saitama looked at White Zetsu, then spoke to Deva Path.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Hoo--
A gust of wind blew past, and the three figures standing originally there instantly vanished.
Because of Nagato's jutsu, the entire mountainous area had collapsed inward, revealing raw soil and exposed rock beneath.
This place wasn't far from the border of the Land of Fire, so such unusual activity had long been detected by Konoha scouts.
At an unknown location, four people were crouching behind some rocks.
Standing at the front of everyone was a Hyūga ninja.
Right now he had activated [Byakugan], with fierce-looking blue veins bulging around his eyes.
"Hayato, how does it look?"
As reconnaissance vanguard unit, every member of this squad was a jonin of considerable strength.
"The chakra fluctuations have disappeared—it seems they've already left."
Hayato remained apprehensive, yet still kept his [Byakugan] active without relaxing even slightly.
The purpose of their small team here was to prepare for a follow-up attack.
But when approaching this area earlier, everyone had been shocked by an immense chakra surge, quickly finding cover nearby.
"The enemies ahead are the ones who attacked Konoha last time!"
One ninja who had experienced Pain's invasion on Konoha before wore a fearful expression, glancing at the spherical object that had already vanished into the sky.
Hayato himself hadn't witnessed Pain's invasion—he'd returned later from the Land of Iron.
Yet with his [Byakugan], he could see the massive chakra reserves within those enemies' bodies, making his expression equally grave.
"My bugs are frightened too—they're restless and chirping frantically."
A ninja wearing sunglasses extended a finger, on the tip of which a bug continuously buzzed frantically.
It almost looked like they were trying to communicate something urgent.
"Should we go check it out now?"
Finally, the last ninja—who hadn't spoken yet—asked, unconsciously swallowing hard while speaking.
Clearly, making this decision wasn't easy.
"Wait a bit longer. If it's really that same Pain from last time, we must maintain sufficient vigilance. However, who is it that he's fighting now? The Joint Alliance hasn't even issued orders to attack yet, which seems rather unusual."
Hayato stared straight ahead. Although the enemy's chakra had completely disappeared, he remained patiently motionless.
"I'll send some insects forward first to check the situation."
One of the Aburame clan ninja spoke in a hushed tone. Soon afterward, a dense swarm of insects flew out from his sleeves and disappeared from sight.
Everyone agreed it was best to stay cautious when facing such a powerful and unknown enemy.
No one wanted to waste their lives in battle—unless they were fools.
...
When Hayato and others' intelligence reached Minato's hands, it was already nighttime that day.
Minato sat at the head of the table, with Shikaku and Jiraiya seated beside him.
"Sensei, what's your opinion? We've basically confirmed it was Pain's doing, but then who could his opponent be? Anyone capable of forcing him to use Planetary Devastation certainly isn't an easy opponent."
"It's hard to say. At this particular time, how do other Hidden Villages respond? Have they deployed any forces?"
Jiraiya held the teacup before him, displaying a thoughtful expression. This question wasn't easy for them to figure out.
"We've verified with other battlefronts—they haven't dispatched any units at all. Therefore, this individual battling Pain remains quite puzzling."
Shikaku looked serious as he considered the implications.
With problems arising on this battlefield, they couldn't afford to be careless. Someone able to attract Nagato's personal involvement as Akatsuki's Leader made the enemy even more formidable.
"Could it possibly be internal conflict within Akatsuki?"
Minato supported his chin with both hands as he speculated.
It was a sudden idea that flashed across his mind.
The current information available indeed couldn't confirm who the other side in this battle was, considering the environment itself had been completely destroyed.
Whoever forced Nagato to use such a major technique and wasn't connected with any Hidden Village might only belong to one group—Akatsuki itself.
"There's definitely that possibility, although it still can't be determined easily. But there's one certainty: Akatsuki emerged victorious in the end."
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes; his thoughts weren't much different from Minato's.
Plus, he strongly believed everything was closely tied to Saitama Uchiha.
He just hadn't figured out whether Saitama stood alongside Nagato against the unknown enemy or had become Nagato's opponent instead.
As for why he held this belief, it was because he had just returned from Mount Myoboku, bringing back instructions from the Great Toad Sage.
"A few Sage descendants shall soon bring unprecedented change to this world. Whether it will be good or bad remains shrouded in mystery. Yet it's certain—the world will be drenched in blood and chaos before these changes come to pass."
Jiraiya combined Elder Fukasaku's words with the current circumstances, almost directly understanding their meaning clearly.
Both Saitama Uchiha and Nagato were among those prophesied Sage descendants.
Everyone understood perfectly well that both Rinnegan and Sharingan originated from the Sages themselves.
"This matter can be put aside for now. Pursuing this further wouldn't be very meaningful. Based on Hayato's account, the person who fought Nagato was already sent soaring into the sky? You can guess what happened in the end."
Minato rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of responsibility as the Alliance's overall commander. With the great battle approaching, all matters heavily pressed upon him, so it was understandable he felt somewhat exhausted.
"We should focus our energy on the enemy instead. However, this incident does remind us that there might still be unknown enemies within Akatsuki. If that's the case, we could potentially recruit them."
Shikaku stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming with sharp insight.
"I hope that's true."
Jiraiya took a sip of tea and didn't elaborate further. If such people really existed, they would've come to join forces with them already instead of waiting until now.
So, those guys in that fight? Probably just infighting.
And ultimately, without evidence or leads, this remained only a matter for speculation, completely lacking practical reference value.
"Then let's quietly await the commencement of the great battle. Everything will eventually reveal itself."
At that moment, all three exchanged solemn glances.
According to the available intelligence analysis, the Allied Ninja Forces clearly held an overwhelming advantage. Yet, as high-ranking personnel, they couldn't suppress a growing sense of unease in their hearts.
Akatsuki's trump cards seemingly had already been revealed, but generally speaking, what could be displayed wasn't truly hidden.
It was just like how only mad dogs would keep a diary.
"How is Kushina doing?"
When talking about the upcoming war, Jiraiya instinctively thought of Kushina, Akatsuki's target, and asked about her involuntarily.
"She's inside the camp, under heavy security protection. Obito and others are also there, so there shouldn't be any problems."
Minato looked at his teacher, his blue eyes filled with determination.
This time, it was not only for the sake of justice throughout the Shinobi World, but also to protect the one he loved. No matter what, he absolutely could not fail.
"That's good."
Konoha's camp was located near a town close to the border.
The original residents had already been evacuated. Those remaining here were all combat personnel and support staff, which made every position heavily guarded, with fully equipped ninja visible everywhere.
As the war drew closer, the atmosphere grew even more oppressive.
Though everyone felt optimistic about the coming battle—the enemy, after all, was just the Amegakure Village—war was unpredictable; tomorrow could bring life-or-death danger to anyone.
Even if losses seemed minimal, there would still be some losses, and anyone could fall victim to that "small loss."
Shizune walked along the road, her eyebrows knitted together, lost in deep thoughts.
Bang!
Too preoccupied looking down at her feet while thinking, she slammed heavily into a ninja ahead of her.
The ninja wore a mask, and although Shizune's collision caused him to take a single step backward, the items in his hands did not drop.
"I'm sorry!"
Shizune quickly apologized and reached out to grab the ninja's arm, trying to steady him.
However, the ninja said nothing. He shrugged off Shizune's hand, sidestepped, and continued forward without showing any signs of blame or forgiveness.
Shizune felt somewhat perplexed and stood frozen in place, her eyes fixed on the figure's retreating back.
"What a strange person. And their body temperature is unusually low."
Muttering to herself, Shizune gradually shifted her gaze away. Although puzzled by that person's behavior just now, she didn't dwell on it much. She figured they were probably in a rush with something important. No time for small talk. After all, it wasn't a big deal. They were from the same ninja village, so there was no need to be particular about such things.
As for their abnormally low body temperature, maybe it was because this area was close to the Land of Rain, causing temporary discomfort.
With these thoughts, she continued walking forward. Currently without any mission, she casually strolled around the encampment to familiarize herself with the surroundings.
Unbeknownst to her, in a corner she failed to notice, the ninja who had bumped into her earlier stood expressionless. He watched her fading figure through a narrow gap.
Soon, the ninja stretched his mouth beneath his mask into a grin, revealing sharp teeth and an amused smile.
As one of the White Zetsu infiltrating the Konoha encampment, although he wasn't particularly intelligent, minimizing contact could reduce chances of being discovered.
This was already his third day hiding within the Konoha encampment. According to his perception, many others like him had already infiltrated the area without being noticed by the local ninjas.
His original body had instructed him to wait patiently for the right moment, then strike the enemy with full brutality when needed.
However, as imperfect copies, despite White Zetsu's Transformation Jutsu making them indistinguishable to ordinary people, their inherently low intelligence made conversations and interactions difficult, often raising suspicions among those familiar with impersonation techniques.
Therefore, the longer they stayed hidden, the closer they approached exposure.
Fortunately, the major battle was approaching soon, meaning limited time remained for continued concealment.
After withdrawing his gaze, this White Zetsu resumed walking forward holding something in his hand. He remembered the ninja who'd collided with him—she was a highly regarded medical ninja from Konoha.
Following the original body's instructions, once the signal came, their primary targets within the enemy encampment would be these medical ninjas.
Firstly, medical ninjas typically possessed weaker individual combat abilities; secondly, they were critical assets in warfare—targeting them provided an easily identifiable breakthrough point for defeating the enemy.
Moving on, the White Zetsu quickly blended in with the other ninjas at the Konoha encampment, indistinguishable even under Byakugan scrutiny.
This was merely one routine experience among numerous White Zetsus infiltrating the Joint Alliance camp. Moreover, the collision with Shizune moments ago hadn't been accidental at all.
"Obito, is Kushina still inside?"
As Shizune passed by a tent where fewer people gathered, she spotted a Uchiha ninja standing at its entrance. She stopped and waved a greeting.
She knew that Obito Uchiha was one of the shinobi directly responsible for Kushina's personal protection. With nothing urgent to do at the moment, she thought she might chat with Kushina for a while.
Estimating that the other party must be frustrated inside, restricted by various limitations on movement.
"It's Shizune, right? Kushina-sama is inside. Do you need something from her?"
Obito recognized the familiar figure of Shizune. A flash of crimson briefly flickered within his eyes before returning to normal.
It wasn't a Transformation Jutsu.
This was what his eyes truly saw.
As one of Kushina's bodyguards, even in this dangerous frontline camp, vigilance remained crucial.
"Is that Shizune? Hurry in, I've been so bored sitting here alone."
A somewhat excited voice came from inside, followed by the tent flap being lifted open, revealing a red-haired figure.
Shizune gave Obito a slight nod before stepping into the tent.
And around the tent, Shizune had already been identified by many hidden lookouts positioned around it, including the Hyuga clan's Byakugan, the Aburame clan's insects, and the Inuzuka clan's noses.
All were part of the standard protective force assigned to Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Kushina.
"This is where Kushina-sama resides? It's quite spacious."
Stepping into the tent, Shizune observed the interior.
It was a large space with minimal furnishings—just a bed, along with a table and chairs.
Given this was the frontline, such an environment was already quite decent, so Kushina never asked for anything more.
Still, what troubled her most was the restriction.
Of course, she understood it was all for her own safety.
Yet for someone as lively and energetic as herself, it felt rather stifling.
Back in Konoha Village, although leaving wasn't easy, at least she could wander freely throughout the village; now, it was incomparable.
"Yeah, there's literally no one to talk to at all."
Kushina took Shizune's hand, both sitting on the edge of the bed.
Though there was a ten-year age gap between them, they shared many similar interests and compatible personalities.
"After the war ends, Kushina-sama will be free to speak with whomever she wishes. For now, though, just hang in there a little longer, okay?"
Shizune smiled warmly, her clear eyes sparkling reassuringly as she comforted Kushina.
"I know, I just don't know when that'll actually happen."
Letting out a sigh, Kushina roughly ruffled her own hair, venting her frustration—an image that didn't seem very motherly for someone whose child had already fallen into puppy love.
"Probably soon enough."
At that thought, Shizune's expression turned slightly complex.
"Forget that topic—anything unusual happen to you today?"
Suddenly serious, Kushina spoke in a focused tone, completely different from her childish manner seconds ago.
"Huh?"
Shizune asked while slightly lowering her gaze to inspect her own body.
She had just walked straight from Tsunade-sama's place here—nothing unusual happened along the way.
"Don't move."
Kushina suddenly extended her hand midair toward Shizune's chest.
Several golden chains extended outward from her palm and arms, creeping forward like living snakes, their heads darting about as if searching for something.
The chains didn't actually bind Shizune. They kept swinging above her body as light yellow chakra gradually settled onto her.
Hiss hiss hiss—
It sounded exactly like the evaporation sound made when water droplets met high heat. A series of these sounds now arose from Shizune's body.
And soon, she finally saw exactly what was appearing on herself.
Tiny particles invisible to the naked eye slowly floated into the air, wrapped in Kushina's orange chakra, then hovered within the chains' enclosed area.
"Again with this thing!"
Kushina seemed no stranger to encountering this substance.
She flicked her wrist and retracted her [Adamantine Chains], while those extracted substances from Shizune's surface also vanished simultaneously.
"What was that?"
Shizune had no clue what was going on.
All she saw was Kushina suddenly getting serious and doing something that made those weird particles appear?
"I don't understand either, but recently everyone I've come into contact with had this stuff on them. If it weren't for my natural Sensor sensitivity plus the influence of the Nine-Tails, I wouldn't have detected these dust-like micro particles."
Hearing this explanation, Shizune fell into thought.
She couldn't remember when exactly that substance had attached to her body, so she tried recalling everything from today without finding anything unusual.
"Don't underestimate that stuff just now. Though it looks tiny, under certain people's observation it serves as a marker. As for other potential functions, I haven't figured them out yet."
"This..."
Shizune immediately understood and tensed up—the battle wasn't far off.
Such tactics definitely indicated enemies rather than allies, leaving only one possibility.
Enemy presence had infiltrated the camp!
This speculation left Shizune astonished and uncertain, making her gaze toward Kushina increasingly grave.
"You've figured it out too, right? Don't worry though, I've already warned Minato. The enemies hidden inside our camp will be exposed soon enough."
Kushina patted Shizune's shoulder, easing the latter's expression somewhat.
"What about Tsunade-sama? Even though the battle hasn't started yet, she must be extremely busy too."
This time Tsunade chose not to retreat. Understanding her responsibilities as one of the Sannin, she accepted the role of chief medical commander for Konoha—the Joint Alliance's First Division—overseeing all Field Medics here.
"Yes, there's much preparation work before combat even begins. Rin is helping too."
Shizune nodded slightly, her hand unconsciously gripping the hem of her clothing.
"Then I'll visit her sometime later. But these few days, if you have free time, come chat with me more often. I usually won't leave this door, or else I'd cause unnecessary trouble for Obito and others again."
Kushina looked somewhat helpless, even showing traces of distress.
"Sure, no problem."
Shizune softly replied, her face regaining its previous relaxed expression upon entering the tent.
Leave big responsibilities to the big names. She was just a plain Field Medic—ordinary in every way, inside and out.
Drip-
A droplet slid down the sharp tip of a stalactite. It fell to the ground, splashing into a puddle below and sending ripples outward.
The sound rang hollow, echoing endlessly through this place.
This was a natural limestone cave, buried deep underground, hidden from the world.
The surroundings—strange natural formations—made the atmosphere eerily oppressive.
Green and red... it resembled the netherworld from Saitama's memories.
Deep within the cave, a pale figure lay flat on a platform.
With eyes tightly shut, it showed no trace of breath or life—like a corpse.
It was a White Zetsu—no one knew why it had appeared here.
As dozens more droplets fell from the stalactite, time passed unnoticed, until finally the White Zetsu began to change.
Its pale body started to convulse unnaturally, as invisible energy gathered from the air and began flowing inward.
Tszz! Tszz! Tszz!—
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