Before the Umino unit even reached the Land of Rain, troubling news arrived—Hanzo of the Salamander, as if fueled by some unnatural fervor, was launching relentless assaults against Konoha's forces, pushing them into retreat.
By the time the Umino unit entered Rain Country, they encountered scattered Konoha deserters.
"Tobi, round up all the Konoha shinobi in this village."
"Understood!"
With his Byakugan active, Hyuga Tobi witnessed the deserters looting Rain Country civilians—a blatant violation of Konoha's military code, punishable by imprisonment.
The deserters were mere Chunin and Genin, no match for Tobi's taijutsu squad. They were swiftly subdued.
"This can't be a coincidence… That red-haired kid is Uzumaki Nagato."
Yoru's mind raced. Beyond Nagato, he detected two faint chakra signatures hidden in nearby trees—matching the deserters' chakra patterns.
"White Zetsu.* Surveillance units, no doubt."*
A chilling realization struck him.
"Were Nagato's parents killed by 'deserters' under White Zetsu's control? Was this entire tragedy scripted by Madara Uchiha?"
The scene was too suspicious. Though tempted to take Nagato under his wing, Yoru knew the risks.
"If Madara isn't nearby, Black Zetsu certainly is."
This was the pivotal moment—Nagato's parents' deaths would awaken the Rinnegan implanted in him. Black Zetsu wouldn't miss this.
With millennia of experience, Black Zetsu's strength surpassed even most Kage-level shinobi. Provoking him was suicide.
After detaining the deserters, the Umino unit hastily left the village.
Days later, more "deserters" arrived—and the script played out as intended.
Nagato's parents were killed. In his grief, the boy unleashed the Rinnegan's power, slaughtering the attackers before vanishing into the wilderness, trailed by White Zetsu.
A Prize Worth the Risk
White Zetsu were rare specimens—too valuable to ignore.
Disguised as a fleeing Konoha deserter, Yoru stumbled through the forest until—
"Rasengan!"
A sudden strike obliterated a tree, sending a White Zetsu corpse crashing down.
He swiftly sealed the body, erased all traces, and fled.
Ten miles later, he activated the Cooperative Flying Thunder God, teleporting to his Wave Country lab—a facility even Orochimaru might envy.
Funded by Gato's antique trade, it housed cutting-edge equipment.
Yet, without Orochimaru's expertise, progress was slow.
A severed Zetsu arm, infused with chakra, sprouted a rapidly growing sapling—one that thrived without further energy input.
More bizarrely, during Wind Breathing training, Yoru sensed an unknown energy clinging to the tree.
"Natural energy?"
Testing a theory, he plucked a leaf and used Transformation Jutsu to merge with it.
A warm, euphoric sensation enveloped him—like a fetus in the womb.
Hours passed.
His shadow clones at the frontline dispersed from exhaustion, yet Yoru remained trapped, his consciousness melding with the tree and Zetsu flesh.
He was being assimilated.
A Narrow Escape
Samehada, sensing his fading chakra, flooded him with energy—shattering the equilibrium.
Like waking from the Infinite Tsukuyomi, Yoru jolted free in a puff of smoke.
"Damn…"
He shuddered. Legends warned of Transformation Jutsu's dangers—some shinobi never reverted.
But merging with Zetsu-spawned flora? That was a new level of recklessness.
Without Samehada, he'd have been lost forever.
Unexpected Gains
Though he failed to awaken Wood Release, the ordeal bore fruit:
Earth-nature chakra—unlocked unexpectedly. Zetsu's Spore Technique—a top-tier escape ability.
A smirk tugged his lips.
"Not bad for a near-death experience."
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