Inside Uzumaki village, Shūya was leading Team One's four members on a casual tour around the area.
As for that certain hardworking guy and Haku, they'd already been locked up long ago.
The architectural style of this Uzumaki village, which resembled Konoha's, gave Team One a comforting feeling of familiarity—like returning home.
"Cousin Shūya," Nawaki—who hadn't attended many classes at school—immediately expressed his confusion, "Why does the layout here look so much like Konoha?"
"That's because your great-grandfather, my father Ashina Uzumaki, and your grandfather Hashirama Senju signed a friendship agreement. Konoha and Uzumaki village were both established around the same time, so naturally their layouts are similar."
Shūya began explaining to this underachieving student: "To demonstrate our generations-long friendship, even your Konoha jonin uniforms bear the seals of the Uzumaki clan, while our Uzumaki village provides some barrier techniques and sealing techniques to Konoha. Like last year when your Hokage wrote asking for an especially strong protective barrier for the Chunin Exams."
"Cough cough cough!" Shen started coughing violently as he recalled how that headache monster had prepared for the Chunin Exams.
At the time, he'd even suspected whether Konoha's Barrier Unit had been cheating.
"Is something wrong with you, young Uchiha?" Shūya, who didn't particularly dislike the Uchiha boy, asked. "Are you feeling unwell?"
Shen shook his head to indicate everything was fine. "I'm perfectly fine. I just finally realized it wasn't that my Meteor Shower lacked power—it's that the Uzumaki clan's barriers are too strong."
This piqued Shūya's interest. "Meteor Shower? You mean that Palm Technique Striking from the Heavens the Hokage mentioned?"
"Yes." A faint smile tugged at Shen's lips as he silently grumbled about that annoying figure. "That old Hokage isn't doing his job right—he's spreading rumors across countries now."
Seeing him smile so awkwardly, Nayou and Orochimaru immediately knew he was thinking ill of someone again—though they couldn't guess who the target was this time.
As sunset approached, Shūya led Team One to accommodation near the village center of Uzumaki village. "Don't worry, tonight all protective barriers outside the village will be activated, plus there are many seals inside the building holding those two people captive."
"Of course, I have full confidence in the Uzumaki clan's strength," reassured Orochimaru, who was about to gain freedom.
"In that case, I won't disturb your rest any further."
After Shūya left, Team One took time examining their temporary residence for the next few days—this place was only secured thanks to Drama King Shen giving his absolute best acting performance.
"The first step entering Uzumaki village has succeeded. Next we simply wait for representatives from the five villages to arrive," Shen mentally arranged his plan.
He believed that since White Zetsu had brought him here at just this moment, the Uzumaki clan's destruction must be imminent.
"My S-rank mission reward…" Nawaki's eyes sparkled as he stared fixedly at the Sword of Kusanagi on the table.
Shen's train of thought got interrupted by his companion's redneck behavior, so he immediately snapped back, "That's a sword, not money! You really don't get it, do you? Have you even *been* anywhere outside your little bubble?"
"You're one to talk! If it weren't for you wanting to see what Black Zetsu was after, we'd already be halfway back to the village!"
"You're only saying that because you think the Uzumaki clan's barrier is impressive. Earlier when I mentioned investigating the black-clothed ninja's conspiracy, you didn't talk like this."
"What's wrong with you? Want to fight me one-on-one?" Nawaki felt his heart exposed and immediately flushed red with embarrassment.
"Sweet dreams, pal," Shen said suddenly before entering a room where he could easily observe what was happening outside.
"I'm so mad!" Nawaki stomped angrily into a random room since he couldn't vent his frustration elsewhere.
Nayou and Orochimaru exchanged glances before each choosing separate rooms for rest.
Neither thought such daily matters were worth any special attention.
At 2 a.m., inside his room, Shen stared helplessly at the scroll in his hand.
"I shouldn't have planted so many bombs in Sunagakure village back then. If I had saved just dozens more, those people definitely would've entered standing up and left lying down." Dora-A Shen smiled bitterly while checking his supplies.
However, even if given another choice, he'd still leave all the bombs behind in Sunagakure village without hesitation.
"Not many supplies left. There are only seven chakra scrolls remaining, and I'll also need some materials from the Uzumaki clan for creating more. Time is pressing; as a Jonin, no matter how carefully I hide my tracks, five days should be the maximum. Let me dispatch a Shadow Clone using Earth Penetration to scout around." Shen created a clone who immediately burrowed underground before settling himself comfortably for a good rest.
From this point on, he had to beat the clock.
As for whether the Uzumaki clan might ask for an exorbitant price, he truly didn't care the least bit. After all, he had brought nearly a year's worth of dividends from the commercial street earnings with him when leaving the village.
Shen, who carried plenty of cash, showed absolutely no anxiety whatsoever.
Yep, being loaded really did let you do whatever the hell you wanted.
In the southern forest of the Land of Fire, scattered Rain ninja units gathered together reporting their statuses.
"Squad Twenty is complete!"
"Great, so how is it going?"
"Konoha hasn't detected our presence yet."
After hearing this, the Rain Captain showed a slight smile: "Excellent! We should reach the territory of Uzugakure before noon today, and by nightfall, we can infiltrate the Uzumaki village."
"Yes, Captain, but are you certain we don't wait for shinobi from other villages?" The third squad leader questioned cautiously.
The Rain Captain answered disdainfully, "Should we wait for them to come compete for the prize? Hanzo is too naive. Although they may outnumber us, do you honestly think they'll fairly contend with us?"
"They are important figures; perhaps they wouldn't dare take underhanded actions against us?"
Regarding this, the Captain simply smiled without providing further explanation.
"I understand, Captain."
Meanwhile inside the detention chamber of Uzumaki village, White Zetsu curiously observed the White Lab Mouse that had remained unconscious for quite some time in the opposite room.
"What's special about this person? Is something wrong with his brain, requiring him to be knocked out and taken away? Or maybe that child holds particular interest toward humans whose intelligence isn't functioning properly?" Gathering courage, White Zetsu began mentally grumbling about someone extensively.
"Whatever, I'll just ask him later when we meet face-to-face. The Rain Village ninjas will launch their initial assault tomorrow night. Should I sneak away then?" The strongest among the weary souls stuck in this world stared blankly at the ceiling, starting to feel lost.
Born from the God Tree created by Kaguya Otsutsuki, White Zetsu was as pure as a blank sheet of paper — especially when it came to betraying his own kin.
If Madara claimed to be his creator, he would believe it.
If Madara said the Moon's Eye Plan was the path toward peace in the shinobi world, he would still believe it.
Otsutsuki Takako — or rather, Black Zetsu — was different.
He had been born for one purpose alone: to resurrect his mother, Kaguya. As such, he possessed absolutely no moral boundaries.
He manipulated Indra into rebelling against his own father, leading generations of Uchiha to believe that power was the only thing that mattered.
He distorted ninja history, reducing the Sage of Six Paths' existence to mere legend.
He provoked thousands of years of chaos across the shinobi world, driving the tailed beasts to complete despair toward humanity.
He forged stone tablets originally left behind by the Sage of Six Paths, allowing Madara — one of the most gifted Uchiha who possessed the Rinnegan — to discover the Moon's Eye Plan.
Black Zetsu had committed countless immoral and unethical acts. In contrast, White Zetsu and his darker half were natural opposites.
Yet the original White Zetsu had been completely brainwashed by Madara. Now, serving under Shen and gaining broader insight, his mindset had undeniably shifted from what it once was.
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