Under the tower, rain continued to drip incessantly. The fallen shinobi's blood mingled with the water, creating a steady stream flowing toward the drains below.
The Demon Beast (Summoned Creature) looked on in shock at Nagato's combat prowess. Just two paths of his power—and in only three minutes—he had slaughtered so many elite shinobi.
Even as a demon, the summoner was afraid. Its eyes turned to Tō, now filled with respect. This master had the guts to negotiate with such a powerful shinobi: truly reckless, but commendable.
Once Nagato had finished dealing with the shinobi, he turned and looked toward the tower. Tō gave a helpless smirk, climbed onto the Demon Beast's back, and landed facing Nagato.
"I must say, you surprised me. Given your strength... You truly hadn't matured yet, but your power is already on par with Akatsuki," Nagato said quietly. Because the body of the one he wore—Yahiko—was already a corpse, he remained expressionless, grave.
Tō slowly slid off the Demon Beast's back, thoughtful. Indeed, joining Akatsuki now would be safer... and help protect her mother. After all, Nagato wasn't the only threat; Obito (Tobi) certainly was.
Obito's strength was undeniable. His mastery of space–time ninjutsu was already at an advanced level—perhaps even beyond the Fourth Hokage. If Obito threatened her mother…
Tō shook her head helplessly. "Could you reserve a place for me? If things ever go south in Konoha… Even though you sealed me… You can't imprison my spirit."
Nagato chuckled softly and nodded. "Always. If you ever need to contact us, just send this one." He pointed at the Demon Beast. Meanwhile, Konan landed nearby. Pikachu seemed reluctant to approach, fearing Nagato might strike its owner.
Unlike typical summons, Tō's beasts share her fate: if she dies, they die. The Demon Beast could only obey Tō.
Tō smiled, nodding. "Rest assured. I will report everything I learn in Konoha. Now… I have to go." She approached the fallen bodies and sealed them into a scroll.
In an instant, she vanished in a puff of smoke—just an illusion. The Demon Beast gave a strange laugh before vanishing too.
Outside the forest, Kakashi stood after a quick first aid. He drew a scroll, sealing the bodies of Gita and the other shinobi, so foreign ninjas couldn't acquire them. Tō hadn't wanted soldiers' blood spilling across borders, but Nagato considered their kekkei genkai worthless—faces without Sharingan or unique bloodlines might as well not exist.
Once Kakashi sealed the bodies, he sighed. "We must return to Konoha. And it seems there's no need to pursue the Rain Village—it was all Danzo's doing."
Tō's illusion returned to full chakra, her face regaining color. She nodded with a smile. "Indeed—the Rain ninjas were all wiped out by the Rain—they honored their promise to hand over the bodies!"
Kakashi nodded, trusting her logic. Without Tō's intel, he and Guy might have died long ago.
Guy sat silently, his face full of anger and agony.
Kakashi rested a hand on Guy's shoulder. "Silence, Guy. We head back and report to the Third. At least we can say this… it was Danzo, not the Uchiha."
Silently, Kakashi used substitution to vanish, Tō and Guy following with heavy hearts.
Night deepened, as thick and black as cloth, enveloping the sky. In the blood-splattered forest, space warped, and two figures appeared—a white-masked man and another figure emerging from the earth itself.
"They've got skill… only nine, and already this strong. He took out those dozen ninjas Nagato used," remarked one voice—White Zetsu.
"Hmph, and I noticed he traded with Nagato… he holds a vendetta against Konoha. Especially for someone with Sharingan, having the name Uzumaki…" added Black Zetsu.
Their conversation didn't reach the masked man. He appeared deep in thought, silent for a long moment before speaking. "He must be brought into the organization."
"How certain are you?" asked Black Zetsu with cold skepticism. Konoha still had strength: Jiraiya, Danzo, and sometimes Kakashi. If they attacked en masse, they might still kill Obito and Nagato.
The masked man smiled coldly. "Given the losses, do you think Danzo will allow that child to live? Kakashi has the Hokage's protection; he's trusted in Anbu and with jinchūriki. But Uzumaki Tō… who protects him?"
Black and White Zetsu exchanged looks, then laughed. Indeed, the Uchiha influence had waned, and now, during this crisis, a betrayal from Danzo could annihilate the clan. And the Third was no elder anymore—he was in his prime.
The masked man laughed once more. "Uzumaki Tō… hm, interesting. Let's see how powerful you can become."
With that, he vanished in a swirling vortex. Black and White Zetsu watched the bloodstains, sighing. Why didn't he leave any bodies behind?