In the minds of all the White Zetsu, Madara is such a figure.
Always acting profound in dark environments, scheming this and scheming that, while they, the White Zetsu, do the legwork without complaint.
As the conversation progressed, suddenly a White Zetsu on patrol outside emerged from the wall, catching the attention of the White Zetsu and Tobi.
"What's up? Did you find new poop?"
Tobi asked.
The White Zetsu replied, "No new poop found, but a troublesome enemy has appeared. Prepare to face them."
Upon hearing this, both the White Zetsu and Tobi tensed up seriously.
They hadn't expected that the enemy would come again so soon.
Exactly as their Madara-sama had predicted before, the enemy's actions seemed to be continuously probing their details and strength, and once the probing was complete, they would deliver a fatal strike.
◎
Boom!
As the ground split open, from the crevice, a White Zetsu was directly exposed.
The White Zetsu hadn't even reacted when a massive shadow loomed over.
A giant, fat orange cat pressed down in the manner of a collapsing mountain.
With another rumble, the White Zetsu was instantly flattened into a pancake, its white body smashed flat between the rock crevices without even a chance to scream before death.
"Ubi, where are the rest?"
Ruri asked from the other side.
"Ruri-sama, the remaining two are at three o'clock, about twenty meters away."
After Ubi reported the number and position of the enemies, Ruri directly vanished from the spot, appearing twenty meters away at the three o'clock position.
Gathering Sage Art Chakra in her fist, she violently struck the ground.
A large amount of stone shattered and flew into the air, startling the two White Zetsu, who as reconnaissance personnel, had extremely limited combat power, and once exposed, it was their end.
Casually slashing the throats of the two White Zetsu with a Kunai, she killed them on the spot.
After dealing with the White Zetsu lurking outside, Ruri continued walking forward, followed closely by Ubi's massive orange body, his eyes blazing brightly like a flame.
"Wood Style: Tree Realm Descent!"
Sturdy and robust trees burst out from the ground as if uprooted entirely, quickly forming a dense forest across the mountain terrain.
The trees wound towards Ruri's body like ropes, but before they could touch her, Ubi jumped in front, opening his mouth to spit out a huge Fireball, turning the attacking trees to ashes.
"Who's there?"
"Last time it was a mud puppet and a giant water snake, this time it's a woman and a cat combo? Oh my, they both seem like troublesome guys, and they're from the Uchiha Race too."
Tobi emerged from behind a tree, naturally posing with a goofy stance while speaking in a troubled tone.
Seeing the Uchiha Race emblem embroidered on Ruri's clothes, he knew this battle wouldn't be easy.
"That 'great one' sure knows how to keep us busy. I just want to figure out how to pass stool. That's way more important than fighting, you know."
Tobi sighed helplessly while shaking his head.
"That 'great one'?"
Ruri raised an eyebrow, seemingly interested in the 'great one' Tobi mentioned.
Someone with the Sharingan, perhaps? Or another powerful Ninja in this mysterious force?
"Forget it, it looks like you won't tell me what it's like to pass stool. In that case—"
Tobi was suddenly startled.
Ruri had already disappeared from his sight.
Crack!
A white arm was plucked off.
Tobi backed away drenched in cold sweat, maintaining a safe distance from Ruri.
If I'd been any slower, I'd have lost my head. This woman's Instantaneous Body Jutsu is incredibly fast! Tobi swallowed hard, realizing that Ruri was fundamentally different from the enemies encountered before.
"Did it dodge?"
Ruri stared at the retreating Tobi, holding in her right hand the left arm she'd removed from Tobi's body.
Pale skin, no blood, not even a bone visible.
What kind of creature supports its movement like this?
The power of the Divine Tree?
The First Hokage's Wood Style might also be a manifestation of the Divine Tree's power, Ruri speculated to herself.
The Uchiha and Senju are both descendants of Otsutsuki Kaguya, and Otsutsuki Kaguya is the Divine Tree Ten-tailed, the Immortal's body and eyes originated from this.
But if that's the case, why is it that only Senju Hashirama among the Senju Clan mastered the Wood Style?
Ruri believed there must still be some unknown secrets in this.
"To think you dodged Ruri-sama's Instantaneous Body Jutsu, it seems I have to get serious too."
Ubi knew just how quick Ruri's Instantaneous Body Jutsu could be, and her excellent neural reflexes allowed her to launch an attack immediately after using the jutsu.
"How about this move?"
After widening the distance, Tobi began manipulating his Chakra, causing a multitude of long, barbed wooden spikes to grow from his arm, surging like a long snake and stabbing toward Ruri's body.
The spike passed through Ruri's body... no, it was just an afterimage.
Tobi withdrew without hesitation, abandoning the use of Wood Style Ninjutsu.
Grabbing a thick tree branch and swinging his body to stand on another large tree, he swiftly jumped deeper into the forest he created.