Chapter 280: Capturing the Tailed Beasts
Because both the Four-Tails and Five-Tails were in Iwagakure, it was inevitable that upon arriving there, they would run into Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame, who had come to capture the Four-Tails.
"I already have the intel on the Four-Tails." Zetsu emerged from the ground, revealing just his head as he addressed Uchiha Itachi. Then, by chance, he spotted Boruto and Hanabi standing beside Itachi and Kisame. "Boruto, Hyūga Hanabi… I didn't expect to run into you two here."
"Zetsu, weren't you and Tobi supposed to be capturing the Three-Tails?"
Hanabi crouched down, looking at Zetsu's head sticking out of the ground.
"Yeah, it's fine. I can move pretty fast underground, and honestly, Tobi can handle the Three-Tails on his own."
Zetsu replied with an awkward smile, as Hanabi absentmindedly poked the pitcher plant on his head with her finger.
Even after three years, Hanabi still hadn't lost her childlike innocence.
"Eh? I thought Tobi was the one we should worry about the most in the Akatsuki…"
At that moment—
Somewhere in the Shinobi World—
The Three-Tails' jinchūriki lay unconscious on the ground, surrounded by towering trees. Tobi sat on a branch above, gazing at the unconscious jinchūriki below with a nostalgic expression.
Now that the plan to capture the Tailed Beasts had officially begun, Tobi found himself occasionally reminiscing about his time with Rin. But every time, those memories would inevitably be interrupted by the annoying Kakashi.
"Rin, don't worry… we'll see each other again…" His tone lacked its usual comical flair and was instead uncharacteristically gentle. Then, clenching his teeth, Tobi muttered, "And Kakashi…"
...
"Clearly you're the one we should worry about the most…"
Zetsu, of course, didn't say that out loud. Though he was chatting with Hanabi, he kept glancing secretly at Boruto beside her.
In the Akatsuki, only those with sufficient strength were considered true comrades—and Hanabi clearly didn't meet that standard.
Boruto.
Over the past three years, Zetsu had constantly gathered intel on this Boruto from the future.
That mysterious golden chakra mode, an enormous chakra reserve, the ability to use Sage Art, proficiency in Wind and Lightning Release, and he once possessed the ability to absorb ninjutsu. However, that power had vanished with the loss of his left arm.
"Since we've run into each other here, I won't need to make a second trip. Here's the intel on the Five-Tails' jinchūriki."
As he spoke, Zetsu extended an arm from the ground and tossed a scroll to Boruto.
"Zetsu, could you teach me that ninjutsu?"
Hanabi continued poking the pitcher plant on his head as she asked.
"Ah… that's not really ninjutsu. It's more like my Bloodline Limit, so sorry—I can't teach you."
White Zetsu scratched the side of his head in embarrassment.
For some reason, both the goofy Tobi and White Zetsu had always gotten along unusually well with Hanabi.
"Well then, I'm heading out. I'll take the chance to check on Tobi while I'm at it."
That was Black Zetsu speaking from within.
"Bye, Hanabi."
White Zetsu waved at her.
"Bye, Zetsu."
Hanabi smiled and waved back.
"Boruto, since we happened to meet, want to team up?"
Kisame offered.
"At this rate, we're moving way too slowly. I don't want Tobi to finish before us."
Hanabi said. Of course, she didn't know that Tobi had already completed his task of capturing the Three-Tails. He just hadn't returned yet, wanting to maintain his goofy image.
"Alright."
Kisame replied.
"Let's go, Kisame."
Itachi said to him.
"Yes, Itachi-san."
Once their silhouettes had completely disappeared, Hanabi turned to Boruto and said, "Boruto, when we capture the Five-Tails, don't interfere—let me handle it."
"You can handle it on your own?"
"I've made some real progress over the last three years."
Thanks to Boruto's guidance, Hanabi had completely mastered the portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra inside her, along with the Rasengan. That had given her a huge boost in confidence.
"Alright."
Boruto nodded in agreement.
The Five-Tails' Jinchūriki, Han.
A jōnin from the Land of Earth's Iwagakure. Tall in stature, he wore a hat-like umbrella atop his head, a brownish mask over his mouth, and a suit of yellow-brown armor. He was known for enhancing his taijutsu through the power of steam, earning him the title of "Steam Ninja."
Unlike the Four-Tails' jinchūriki, Rōshi, who had fallen out with the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki and left the village, Han was still in Iwagakure.
Iwagakure.
Surrounded by natural barriers, the village was known for its solid defenses. Built into a range of rocky mountains, it was a top-secret natural fortress that was extremely easy to defend.
Standing on the rocks outside the village, Boruto entered Sage Mode, silently sensing for the Five-Tails' presence inside.
"…Found him."
Boruto suddenly opened his eyes and spoke.
"So what's the plan?"
Hanabi asked eagerly. After three years of being carefully protected by Boruto, she was desperate for a battle worthy of her abilities.
"I'll draw their attention. You go deal with the Five-Tails' jinchūriki. Think you can handle it?"
"Leave it to me!"
Hanabi thumped her chest confidently.
Thanks to their natural defenses and the intimidating power of the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, Iwagakure had enjoyed a long stretch of peace since the end of the Third Great Ninja War.
"Sage Art: Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!"
A Rasengan large enough to engulf half of Iwagakure appeared in the sky above the village.
"Kurotsuchi, just in case, help evacuate the villagers."
Said Ōnoki's son and Kurotsuchi's father, Akatsuchi.
"Dad, what is that jutsu?"
Kurotsuchi pointed at the giant Rasengan in the air.
"If I'm not mistaken, that's the Rasengan created by Konoha's Fourth Hokage… but why is it so massive…"
Akatsuchi narrowed his eyes, staring at the colossal Rasengan in the sky.
"Dad, look! Grandpa!"
Prompted by her daughter, Akatsuchi looked over and saw a small figure charging toward the massive Rasengan.
"If Father's making a move, then things might not be that bad." Trusting in his father's strength, he added, "Kurotsuchi, help evacuate the villagers quickly."
"Yes, Father."