After his Zetsu clone used the mayfly technique, he quickly returned to the Land of Rain. He noticed that Kitsuchi hadn't sent him any messages, realizing that Iwagakure hadn't decided on a deal yet. So, he left the Kingdom of Rain and headed to the Kingdom of Waves.
He'd been inactive in the Kingdom of Waves, not bothering with the Gojo shin persona for a few days. While the vest wasn't crucial anymore, the Night Organization had expanded, and Gato's Bianhua Pharmaceutical Company was under their protection. He shrugged off losing it, although it was a bit of a waste.
"Oh, so he's here."
Controlling Zetsu's clone back to the wave house, Kirito sensed an unexpected presence — Yun, a key member of the Night Organization who usually roamed outside, was inside.
Meanwhile, in another room, Yun Yamanaka looked up from reading, excited that Kirito had returned. Since joining the Night Organization, Yun had been busy causing trouble for Danzo, their mutual enemy, and sharing spy techniques with promising members.
As a result, Yun is usually quite busy and tends to communicate with Kirito only through secret letters.
However, he decided to seek out Kirito in person this time because he recently acquired important information. Despite this, he wasn't in a rush to act upon it, anticipating that an invitation would come soon.
True to his expectations, the maid named Uzumaki Ryoko arrived.
Knocking on Yamanaka yun's door, Ryoko asked, "Mr. Yun, are you available?"
"Not yet. What's the matter, Miss Ryoko?" Yamanaka Yun replied patiently.
"My lord is back. " Ryoko informed him.
"Alright, I'll head there now," Yun promptly responded.
He opened the door and swiftly made his way to the lord room where Gojo was waiting. Ryoko followed closely behind, observing Yun intently.
Upon reaching Kirito's room, Yun observed Kirito playing with Gofune and noticed a significant improvement in Kirito's strength, particularly in his chakra levels.
Yun, who had honed his perception skills through secret yamanaka jutsu arts, could roughly gauge the chakra levels of a ninja. He realized that Kirito was concealing an immense amount of chakra.
"Who is he? His progress is monstreus ," Yun thought to himself, quietly maintaining vigilance.
Just like him joinging the roots with Danzo, Yun loyalty to the current Night Organization is shaky. He was given a cursed seal and manipulated into joining it by a mysterious figure, driven by vengeance against Danzo. This shadowy organization, known as Night, is growing rapidly and could potentially become a major force in the ninja world, possibly posing a threat to Konoha.
Although Yun has defected from Konoha, his loyalty still lies with the village deep down. He doesn't want Konoha to suffer harm, even if it means dealing with Danzo's faction separately.
At times, He considers using his abilities to uncover Kirito's true intentions. However, his lingering hatred and reliance on Kirito's assistance stop him from acting on this impulse. Additionally, he acknowledges Kirito's strength as a seal Master and fears potential countermeasures against his probing techniques.
"Mr. Yun, what brings you here today? It's not often you visit," Kirito inquired, unaware of Yun Yamanaka's internal struggles. He was more focused on the information Yun might have brought.
Driven by his quest for vengeance and burdened by crucial information about Danzo's faction, Yun sought Kirito's help. Despite having significant resources within the Night Organization, he felt that dealing with this threat required Kirito's unique abilities and combat prowess.
Certainly, here's the rewritten continuation of the story:
"Yes, my lord, not long ago, I received information from my sources indicating that the entire Skull Team from Root has been mobilized," Yun Yamanaka stated directly when Kirito inquired.
"Oh, Team Skull," Kirito's interest was immediately piqued upon hearing the name.
In the list of Root members provided by Homura Uchiha, the Skull Squad held a prominent position. However, their identities and capabilities remained shrouded in mystery. Kirito was aware only that it was a five-member team skilled in covert operations.
The current deployment of the Skull Squad indicated a significant weakening in Danzo's protective forces.
"Unfortunately..." Kirito's expression shifted as he reconsidered the idea of confronting Danzo immediately.
"Yes, the Skull Team is a crucial protective force for Danzo's faction. It's uncommon for them to be sent on missions. My lord, this presents an opportunity. By eliminating them, we can strike a blow to Danzo's influence over Root," Yun Yamanaka added eagerly, sensing Kirito's interest.
"That's true, but do we know their strength and mission?" Kirito delved into crucial details.
While the prospect of taking down the Skull Team seemed advantageous, Kirito was cautious. He acknowledged his current strength but understood the importance of intelligence and teamwork in ninja battles.
"The Skull Squad comprises five elite Jōnin-level members, each possessing unique secret techniques. Working together, they pose a formidable challenge even to a shadow-level powerhouse. Their current mission targets Masanari Hattori, a renowned renegade ninja in the Land of Rain, known for his invincibility against non-shadow-level opponents," Yun Yamanaka explained, elaborating on their capabilities and mission.
Kirito's mind raced with possibilities. Taking down the Skull Squad would disrupt Danzo's control over Root, but the risks were significant.
"I agree, but locating Hattori Masanari won't be easy. You lack the means to track them down personally," Kirito replied cautiously.
"Don't worry, my lord. I'll handle Hattori's tracking. I promise to have his location within two days," Yun Yamanaka assured confidently.
"Then, I await your news," Kirito nodded, concealing his skepticism about the timeline.
As Yun Yamanaka left to organize the search, Kirito couldn't help but feel amused by his bold claims. He entertained the idea of letting the situation play out to test Yun Yamanaka's abilities.
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Meanwhile, in a vast underground cave, Uchiha Madara was stirred from his slumber by a peculiar half-black, half-white creature known as Black Zetsu. Despite not wanting to deal with Madara's antics, Black Zetsu was compelled to awaken him due to the urgent matter concerning the Reincarnation Eye's host and the Moon Eye Project.
The sudden disappearance of the five White Zetsu clones assigned to monitor Nagato was a serious concern. For a while, everything had been running smoothly in terms of monitoring Nagato, until today's unexpected incident.
Black Zetsu had always been meticulous in overseeing Nagato's activities, regularly receiving reports from the White Zetsu clones sent to monitor Nagato. However, today none of these White Zetsu clones returned, indicating that something grave had occurred.
As expected, when the new White Zetsu clone sent to monitor Nagato returned, Black Zetsu learned that all the previously dispatched White Zetsu clones had vanished. It was clear that they had been eliminated, most likely killed.
This development raised the unsettling question: had someone discovered the secret of Nagato's Reincarnation Eye?
With limited intelligence at hand, Black Zetsu knew that they couldn't afford to be as optimistic about Nagato's situation as before. They needed to take new measures to protect the host of the Reincarnation Eye and ensure smooth progress in line with its and Uchiha Madara's expectations.
As the special ninjutsu performed by Black Zetsu took effect, Uchiha Madara opened his eyes once more. He fixed a cold gaze on Black Zetsu and demanded, "What's happened?"
"Master Madara, I've just received word that all the White Zetsu clones we dispatched to monitor Nagato have disappeared," Black Zetsu reported immediately upon Uchiha Madara's awakening.
Upon hearing this, a chilling red light flickered in Uchiha Madara's Sharingan eyes, and an aura of intense killing intent radiated from him, causing tremors in the entire underground cave before he swiftly reined in his emotions.
A sneer crossed his aged face as he spoke slowly, "Have you identified the culprit?"
"We haven't pinpointed the culprit yet, but according to the information from Konoha's White Zetsu scouts, Jiraiya has returned to Konoha," Black Zetsu relayed the information it had gathered at lightning speed.
"And Nagato?" Uchiha Madara inquired immediately upon hearing about Jiraiya's return to Konoha.
At this moment, his focus was solely on the safety of the host of the Reincarnation Eye.
In Uchiha Madara's mind, Jiraiya had been Nagato's primary bodyguard during his formative years. With Jiraiya absent and the mysteriously vanished White Zetsu clones who were monitoring Nagato, the situation appeared perilous.
"Please be assured, Madara-sama. Nagato is safe now, and Jiraiya has rushed back overnight. As a precaution, I've dispatched a new White Zetsu clone to monitor and protect Nagato," Black Zetsu reassured.
Black Zetsu placed utmost importance on Nagato's safety, arranging for a new White Zetsu clone to monitor and protect Nagato early on. This time, it deliberately instructed the clone to disguise itself as a ninja from Amegakure and lurk around the house instead of staying underground.
"Good. Now, tell me about the latest information regarding Jiraiya," Uchiha Madara requested, visibly relaxing upon learning of Nagato's safety and shifting his focus to the mysteriously disappeared White Zetsu clones.
From what he knew, Uchiha Madara deduced that the assailant who attacked the White Zetsu clones was not targeting Jiraiya or Nagato. Instead, they likely came for Jiraiya and stumbled upon the White Zetsu clones by chance. If word got out, it could lead to their elimination.
Thus, the key to finding the mysterious assailant lay with Jiraiya.
"The last time Jiraiya left the premises was to meet with a ninja named Masanari Hattori. The purpose was Konoha's desire to exchange two elite puppet masters with Amegakure. The individual in contact with Jiraiya is likely this person," Black Zetsu shared recent information gathered about Jiraiya.
"A ninja from Amegakure?" Uchiha Madara questioned suspiciously.
"Yes, this Masanari Hattori hails from Amegakure. His true identity remains unclear. Initially dismissed as inconsequential, he surfaced prominently after the war between Konoha and Amegakure, demonstrating remarkable strength. He defeated Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin, and later captured the two elite puppet masters sent by Sunagakure to assassinate him," Black Zetsu elaborated on Masanari Hattori's recent exploits.
"Indeed, I hadn't expected Amegakure to produce such formidable ninjas. The parallels are intriguing," Uchiha Madara commented with interest upon hearing about Masanari Hattori's prowess.
Uchiha Madara saw similarities between himself and Masanari Hattori, both having parted ways with their respective villages due to ideological conflicts and rising as rebels. Recognizing Hattori's strong concealment abilities, he suspected Hattori to be responsible for the demise of the White Zetsu clones monitoring Nagato.
"Could this Masanari Hattori have set his sights on the Reincarnation Eye?" Uchiha Madara speculated to himself.
he now viewed Hattori Masanari as a similar spirit as him, he also noted that Masanari's strength, influence, and rank were inferior. Despite this, Uchiha Madara understood the significance of the Reincarnation Eye and speculated that Hattori might be eyeing it. However, with Nagato under Jiraiya's protection, Hattori likely refrained from hasty actions.
Uchiha Madara felt no immediate concern, confident that the Reincarnation Eye was secure, albeit under temporary ownership. He even entertained the idea that Hattori might be a more suitable bearer than Nagato.
"What are Hattori Masanari's philosophical beliefs? Do we have any insights?" Uchiha Madara inquired, curious about Masanari Hattori's motivations and ideals.
There was limited information available about Hattori Masanari, and White Zetsu hadn't previously gathered detailed intel on him. Thus, when Uchiha Madara inquired about Masanari's philosophical beliefs, White Zetsu felt a bit perplexed.
"Philosophy is quite personal. Hattori Masanari's beliefs haven't been publicized, so it's challenging to ascertain," White Zetsu admitted.
However, based on Masanari's opposition to Hanzo's war initiatives in the past, White Zetsu surmised, "He likely leans towards peace. He has consistently opposed Hanzo's aggressive stances before."
"Peace-loving?" Uchiha Madara responded with slight dissatisfaction at the vague response.
"I apologize, Madara-sama. Masanari has only recently emerged in the ninja world after becoming a rebel. His movements are enigmatic, and he seems to embrace a mystical approach. Gathering detailed information about him has been challenging for White Zetsu and others," White Zetsu explained honestly.
"Hmph," Uchiha Madara grunted coldly, expressing his discontent. However, he didn't press further, understanding the limitations in gathering information on Masanari Hattori.
Uchiha Madara was aware of White Zetsu's abilities. While skilled in covert surveillance, White Zetsu wasn't adept at combat. Given Masanari's strength, engaging him directly was impractical. So, they decided on an indirect approach.
"I want White Zetsu to infiltrate Amegakure disguised as an Amenin and gather intel on Masanari Hattori from other Amenin. Since Masanari grew up in Amegakure, there should be more insights available. I need comprehensive details about him," Uchiha Madara commanded.
"As you wish, Madara-sama," White Zetsu replied respectfully.
Uchiha Madara had already speculated about Masanari's potential value as an ally. If Masanari harbored ambitions akin to his own, he could be a valuable asset in furthering their goals, including the Moon Eye plan.
"Hehehe~, if Masanari truly cares for Amegakure deeply, the village's rise might lead to conflicts with neighboring villages. Hatred often sways people," White Zetsu chuckled inwardly, confident in its ability to manipulate people's desires.
While the direct approach failed, White Zetsu believed it could still exert influence over Masanari, eventually making him a pawn in their grand scheme.
"Master Madara, what about Nagato? If Masanari is the mysterious assailant, Nagato could be at risk," White Zetsu reminded.
"Nagato will continue as usual. However, I want White Zetsu to pose as an Amenin to monitor and protect Nagato. Since the Kingdom of Rain falls under Amegakure's domain, innocents like Jiraiya wouldn't expel Amenin operatives. Besides, as fellow Amegakure individuals, there's no reason for Masanari to target them," Uchiha Madara strategized.
Despite discovering a potentially valuable pawn, Uchiha Madara emphasized maintaining vigilance over Nagato's safety. The Reincarnation Eye was a critical asset, and he couldn't afford to lose it.
"As expected of Madara-sama's foresight. I'll follow your orders," White Zetsu responded dutifully.
"Enough pleasantries. What's happening in Konoha?" Uchiha Madara redirected the conversation, uninterested in flattery.
"Konoha's situation has improved somewhat. During the Nine Tails' transfer, the Third Hokage inexplicably allowed significant the Uchiha clan involvement, reducing border pressures. With the Nine Tails resealed, Iwa and Kumo might withdraw troops soon," White Zetsu relayed.
"he allowed the uchiha clan to participate ? i wonder what gave him the guts to risk it all. "
"The only positive development is that you, Madara-sama, successfully eliminated Uzumaki Mito. Currently, Konoha is preparing a grand funeral in her honor," White Zetsu organized its words before responding.
The revelation of Mito's survival remained highly classified. Upon discovery by the Third Hokage, stringent measures were taken to conceal the truth, including memory-sealing techniques applied to individuals aware of the news.
Consequently, only a select few individuals knew about Mito's survival. The prevailing belief, rooted in the understanding that a Jinchuriki perishes upon losing their tailed beast, led most to assume Mito had passed away after Kurama's transfer to the second Jinchuriki. This misconception became widely accepted within Konoha.
Had it not been for Kirito's system prompt and Tsunade's accurate information, even he might have remained unaware of Mito's continued existence.
Zetsu therefore remained unaware of Mito's survival, affirming Uchiha Madara's confidence in her demise. He remained convinced of his success in eliminating her, firmly believing that Mito was deceased.