Outside the nest, after a fierce battle aided by the reanimated Yamato, Itachi and the others finally overcame the copies created by the Mirror Attacker Technique.
By then, Black Zetsu had already fled with Naruto in tow.
Kabuto leaned against the cliff wall, fingers digging into his hair, his expression full of bitter frustration. "If only I were stronger… this situation wouldn't have happened!"
Itachi walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Kabuto. I'd like to say this isn't your fault. But that would sound like I'm just trying to console you. And I don't think that's the kind of child-like comfort you need right now."
Kabuto adjusted his cracked glasses. "Ah, Itachi. I have a request. Please… punch me. Hard. Only then can I keep from drowning in this self-blame and regret."
The hand on Kabuto's shoulder tightened its grip. "Will a single punch really be enough?"
Under Kabuto's questioning gaze, Itachi's tone was heavy with understanding. "The feeling you have right now… I understand it better than anyone. 'If only I'd been more careful back then.' Regrets like that. But a person's growth isn't something that happens overnight. Too many lessons… have to be paid for in blood. Kabuto, at least you should be thankful. You still have a chance to make things right. I… don't have that anymore."
Itachi clenched a fist and gently tapped it against Kabuto's chest. "I'll keep this punch on hold. On the day you rescue Naruto… that's when I'll give you a good, solid one."
A genuine smile finally touched Kabuto's lips. "Being with you is never boring. With a friend like this by your side… what is there to fear in death?"
Itachi started to smile, ready to reply—but his expression suddenly changed. He clapped a hand over his mouth, coughing, harsh and ragged.
Kabuto was on his feet instantly. "Are you alright?!"
"…I'm fine."
But Kabuto's eyes were fixed on the blood in Itachi's palm, his face serious. "You've been running yourself ragged this past month. Your condition has worsened. Special medicine won't cut it anymore, Itachi. You need to go to Ryūchi Cave. Now. Seek the 'sage medicine' from the White Snake Sage."
Itachi didn't answer, his gaze shifting to Jiraiya, who sat further along the cliff base.
"Itachi, don't worry about me."
Jiraiya's face was somber.
"At this point… I've accepted it. This ordeal… it seems to be Naruto's fate in this life. Perhaps not something mere human effort can change. If rescuing Naruto means delaying your treatment… I'd only feel worse. Besides…"
Jiraiya himself was badly injured from the earlier fight. He tried to stand, wooden sandals scraping the ground as he pushed off the wall. Yamato moved to help, but Jiraiya waved him off.
He looked at Itachi. "I know what you're worried about. You're afraid I'll charge into danger alone again, like in the previous world."
The one truly shocked was Kabuto. "Lord Jiraiya… you mean you…?"
A hearty laugh escaped Jiraiya. "To judge a person's character, you just need to fight alongside them once. After a month of working together, if I couldn't tell you were all acting in good faith… I'd be a sorry excuse for a Sage!"
"So, go. Go where you need to go. I won't act recklessly! We'll plan Naruto's rescue properly, after you return."
Just then, Karin emerged from the cave where Black Zetsu and Naruto had stayed. "There are signs of habitation," she said, pushing up her glasses. "It's certain Black Zetsu and the boy—the one named Naruto—were here for a long time. As Orochimaru said, Naruto likely isn't in any immediate danger."
Itachi nodded. "Orochimaru analyzed that Black Zetsu probably wants Naruto to fulfill the role Madara did in the previous world. That won't be something accomplished in a day…"
The one with the most complicated feelings among them was Captain Yamato.
He'd been sent by the Hokage to assist Naruto with his new jutsu training in the Land of Whirlpools. Then he'd been brutally killed by this 'Black Zetsu' they spoke of. Then revived by Orochimaru's Impure World Reincarnation. And then… he'd been dragged along on this journey to find Black Zetsu and Naruto.
Jiraiya had given him a rough explanation along the way, but Yamato was still lost in a fog. The only things that felt real right now were this body—that never felt hunger or the need to relieve itself, that could reassemble from dust no matter how many times it was shattered.
Oh. And his chakra. It seemed fixed at a constant level. Using any jutsu within that limit caused no real depletion.
"Heh… Even creating a multi-story building has no strain. What a strange feeling. I might even be stronger than Kakashi-senpai now. But… how would I explain this body if I returned to the village? And… I don't have normal sensations anymore. No hunger. No pain. Not even… the physiological reactions a man should have. I'm acutely aware I'm dead… yet I'm walking this world. The Impure World Reincarnation… no wonder it's classified as the foremost forbidden technique."
Kabuto took out a Flying Thunder God kunai and channeled chakra into it.
Across vast distances, a resonance was felt. Orochimaru, with Sasuke in tow, warped to their location.
"Orochimaru-sama, the situation is…"
After hearing Kabuto's report, Orochimaru nodded. Sasuke's expression was grim.
Kabuto asked, "Sasuke… your Sixth Battle? How did it go?"
Sasuke replied, "It went smoothly. But Nagato was ambushed by Obito at the end. Suigetsu and Jūgo are awake and have made arrangements. Hopefully, they can save him."
Observing Kabuto's blinded right eye and Itachi's haggard appearance, Orochimaru declared, "Naruto's matter will have to wait. The urgent priority is the plan we made before the Fifth Battle: curing Itachi's illness. So, we set out for Ryūchi Cave. This journey has two purposes. First, to obtain the sage medicine for Itachi. Second, Kabuto… you will learn the Sage Art: Ryūchi Cave's Drastic Change."
Sasuke stated firmly, "I'll be the one to get the medicine."
Orochimaru turned to him. "Sasuke, once you fully master the power of the White Cursed Seal, you too will eventually delve into Sage Arts. On the way to Ryūchi Cave, I'll tell you the secret of Lord Hashirama's Sage Mode…"
Sasuke frowned. "Sending me… You're not coming?"
"We cannot predict when the Akatsuki will locate Killer B, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki. I must stay behind, ready to assist Suigetsu and Jūgo at any moment. And also…"
Orochimaru's gaze fell on Kabuto's pale, sightless right eye.
"To restore sight to Kabuto's crucial eye as soon as possible… I must begin the search for 'Kāśyapa.'"
"Karin, Yamato, you will accompany me. As for you, Jiraiya…"
Jiraiya cut in, "I received a summons from Mount Myōboku. The Great Toad Sage has awakened. He says there is a new… prophecy."
He rubbed the left arm, forcibly transplanted with Hashirama's cells by Orochimaru. "The prophecy is secondary. If prophecies were truly omnipotent, the previous world wouldn't have been destroyed. I'll use this chance to refine my Sage Mode. Orochimaru… with this power you've bestowed upon me, I think I can achieve it this time."
Orochimaru smiled slightly and nodded. "Very well. Then let us proceed with our respective tasks."
…
Deep night. An unnamed minor country.
Black Zetsu led Naruto to a desolate, forgotten temple.
Whoosh!
As the sealing talisman was removed, the temple's heavy, dust-choked doors slowly creaked open. Inside, resting in the gloom, was an ancient coffin.
In the eerie atmosphere, Naruto couldn't hide his nervousness. "B-Black Uncle… w-what is this place?"
Black Zetsu grinned, a wide, unsettling smile. "Don't be afraid, Naruto. I brought you here… to give you a gift. A special gift just for you!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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