The Land of Grass.
A black-and-white creature moves through here.
It is none other than Zetsu, the intelligence officer of the Akatsuki, who had once operated under the guise of a Grass Ninja. On its head are two halves of a face, known respectively as White Zetsu and Black Zetsu.
"Have you found any trace of Kisame?"
Black Zetsu's voice is eerie and hoarse.
"Yes, I have..."
White Zetsu's voice is more lively, responding cheerfully, "Not only did I find Kisame's whereabouts, but we also discovered where Itachi went. That traitor Itachi and his brother, Uchiha Sasuke, injured Kisame and returned to Konoha."
"As for Kisame..."
"To escape the pursuit of Konoha's ninjas, he's hiding in the Grass Village. We only found him by following the signals he left behind..."
"First, let's find out what really happened..."
Black Zetsu's tone seemed to grow even more ominous, clearly displeased, "If that traitor, Uchiha Itachi, has leaked the Akatsuki's plans to Konoha..."
The plan...
Might have to be expedited!
However, if the plan must be rushed, they cannot afford to lose manpower. Kisame's strength is ideal for capturing the tailed beasts!
The Land of Grass.
This is a small nation in the ninja world.
These small nations in the ninja world often cannot maintain long periods of peace like the larger ones, frequently erupting into wars over minor disputes. The only military force here is the Grass Village.
Recently, the Grass Village has been struggling, as they recently lost all their members who were sent to participate in the Chunin Exams in Konoha, including the leading Jonin. For a small ninja village, such a loss is devastating...
However...
Konoha explained it as suicide.
The leading Jonin of Grass Village had offended Konoha's ninjas and chose to commit suicide within Konoha as a form of atonement. All Konoha could do was express their apologies.
"Konoha went too far..."
"Is this how they think they can explain it to us..."
"They even forcibly kept Karin, that little kid, in Konoha..."
A group of Grass Ninjas voiced their discontent, filled with anger toward the large ninja village of Konoha, some even hoping to sever the alliance with them immediately.
But...
The leader of Grass Village didn't dare to do so.
The only thing he could do was calm the people in the village.
After all, Grass Village often goes to war with neighboring countries and even faces conflicts with powerful rogue ninjas. They can't afford to offend Konoha at this time.
Moreover, since the ninja world is not currently engulfed in war, the geographic location of Grass Village holds no strategic value for other large ninja villages.
"Leader."
As the Grass Ninjas were still expressing their anger, one of them hurriedly came forward to report an important matter: "Konoha's ninjas have arrived again! They appear to be members of Konoha's Anbu, and they're carrying Karin with them, as if they're returning her to us!"
"They dare to come here!"
"Let's kill them right now!"
"Silence!"
The leader of Grass Village immediately silenced everyone and spoke in a deep voice: "Do not say such things in front of Konoha's ninjas! We must maintain our alliance with Konoha, at least until our war with the neighboring countries is over!"
"Alright."
"I will personally go to meet them."
"Konoha's willingness to return Karin to us is beneficial..."
The leader of Grass Village personally led a team of guards to welcome Konoha's emissaries. He believed they were Konoha's emissaries, which is why he came in person.
However...
This time...
He was not welcoming Konoha's emissaries...
But a messenger from hell.
Outside Grass Village.
Uchiha Sasuke stood at the entrance with a trembling Karin.
Karin hid behind Uchiha Sasuke, looking at the fierce-looking Grass Ninjas in front of her, feeling an urge to retreat.
"Don't be afraid."
Uchiha Sasuke turned around and placed his hand on her head.
This black-haired boy, though seemingly not much different in age or height from her, comforted his peer like a little adult.
"From today on..."
Uchiha Sasuke ruffled Karin's red hair, letting out a long sigh in his heart as he looked at her hesitant expression, "Your nightmare is over."
"Sasuke..."
Karin still stubbornly clung to his side.
"This is a revenge for you."
Uchiha Sasuke slowly raised his hand as he watched a group of ninjas emerge from the gates of Grass Village, "It's also a grand performance for others to see..."
"..."
Karin didn't quite understand what Uchiha Sasuke meant.
"Welcome, emissaries from Konoha..."
The leader of Grass Village stepped out with a smile on his face. His eyes showed a hint of shock at the sight of the emissary's appearance, but he quickly suppressed it.
This little guy...
The one rumored to have forced the Grass Village's leading Jonin to commit suicide!
"So, it's you..."
The leader of Grass Village couldn't help but grit his teeth, his heart filled with rage. After a moment of intense internal conflict, he forced himself to maintain his composure as a leader: "Thank you for bringing our little one back..."
"I'm not here to return her."
Uchiha Sasuke's expression remained calm as he looked at the leader of Grass Village: "I'm here to help her kill... to kill everyone here..."
"..."
The leader of Grass Village's eyelid twitched.
Is this some kind of joke?
A little kid from Konoha dares to be so insolent?
The next moment!
A flash of lightning surged from Uchiha Sasuke's palm!
The lightning came so quickly that it pierced through the leader's chest in an instant. The leader of Grass Village stared in disbelief as a large hole appeared in his chest!
"Leader!"
"How dare you, Konoha's ninja!"
The other Grass Ninjas were instantly horrified, furiously surrounding Uchiha Sasuke and Karin, weapons in hand, ready to kill Uchiha Sasuke on the spot!
However...
A purple Susanoo rose up!
The majestic purple Susanoo descended upon the village, which had been filled with tragedy and bloodshed. The giant blade in its hand was unsheathed in an instant, and in the terrified eyes of the Grass Ninjas, a sharp, massive blade beam split the entire Grass Village in half!
Blood...
Immediately stained the streets of this small village.
At the same time.
In a narrow house within the Grass Village.
A tall figure sat wearily in a corner, his face concealed beneath a bamboo hat, tightly gripping a large sword.
It was Hoshigaki Kisame.
Zetsu emerged from the ground.
White Zetsu cautiously called out to Kisame, "Hey, Kisame, how's your injury? What exactly happened?"
"No problem."
Kisame's voice was cold as he lowered his head slightly, hiding his face beneath the bamboo hat: "Aren't you supposed to be able to gather all the intelligence in the ninja world?"
"We don't know about events that have already transpired."
Black Zetsu's voice carried a hint of dissatisfaction as he hoarsely questioned, "Tell us, what trouble did you encounter? Did that traitor, Uchiha Itachi, defect to Konoha again for the sake of his brother?"
"Are you sure you're alright?"
White Zetsu seemed a bit concerned about Kisame's injury, but also indifferent: "I've gathered new intel. It's said that Uchiha Sasuke, that kid, has also awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan and can use Susanoo. With both him and Uchiha Itachi capable of using Susanoo, how could you have escaped unscathed if they both fought against you..."
"..."
Kisame's voice was raspy, as if he wasn't quite used to speaking. He slowly reached up to remove his bamboo hat: "Your intelligence is wrong. Uchiha Sasuke is not a Mangekyo Sharingan user..."
"Impossible!"
White Zetsu immediately retorted loudly, even citing evidence: "I sent clones to Konoha and gathered plenty of intel. That kid was able to use Susanoo during the Chunin Exams. Only Mangekyo Sharingan users can use Susanoo!"
"No..."
"There's another type of person who can use Susanoo, isn't there?"
Kisame gently shook his head, his broad hand slowly lifting the bamboo hat from his head, revealing the eerie appearance and strange eyes hidden beneath it to both White Zetsu and Black Zetsu.
"!!!"
White Zetsu and Black Zetsu shuddered in unison!
Because Kisame's appearance was horrifying!
The man, who already resembled a menacing shark, now had a face devoid of color, with rows of black spots arranged in order, as if black nails had been driven into his face as decorations!
However...
Both White Zetsu and Black Zetsu knew…
Those black spots are not nails, nor are they facial decorations. They are all chakra receivers, just like the Black Rods used in Yin-Yang Release!
These chakra receivers...
can only be used by someone with the Rinnegan!
On Hoshigaki Kisame's body…
How could such things exist!
In this world, only Pain should possess such things!
And yet, Pain's movements have always been within their surveillance!
"Are you..."
"A puppet of the Rinnegan!"
White Zetsu and Black Zetsu were shocked to their core!
"Indeed."
Hoshigaki Kisame's eyes began to change. One eye was a crimson Mangekyō Sharingan, while the other slowly transformed into a purple Rinnegan.
"!!!"
Black Zetsu was filled with overwhelming terror!
This is absurd!
How could the Ninja World produce another Rinnegan?
Only descendants of the Sage of Six Paths, the Uchiha Clan, could possibly awaken the Rinnegan, and only when the chakras of Indra and Asura, the Sage's sons, merge together, along with the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, could the Rinnegan be born!
However...
Anyone capable of awakening the Rinnegan should be under Black Zetsu's surveillance, yet it had never imagined there could be another Rinnegan in the Ninja World!
No...
Something's wrong...
"Who on earth are you?"
Black Zetsu's heart was filled with infinite dread!
"You'll find out soon enough."
Hoshigaki Kisame's voice was chillingly cold.
Boom!
The entire Grass Village began to quake violently!
It was as if an earthquake had struck the village, causing all the buildings to collapse in an instant. Wails and cries echoed throughout this small village!
"What is that?"
"Is that a demon?"
"Everyone, hurry and run!"
"Everyone, get out as fast as you can!"
The ninjas of Grass Village shouted loudly, looking at the rampaging Susanoo in its complete form, while urging the villagers to flee immediately.
Crash!
The small house was also affected by the shockwaves of Susanoo's strikes!
White Zetsu and Black Zetsu instinctively looked up, and immediately saw the towering purple Susanoo rampaging through Grass Village like a giant mountain!
"Uchiha Sasuke…"
White Zetsu immediately recognized the name of the Susanoo's master.
"How is this possible…"
Black Zetsu couldn't believe its eyes as it gazed at the young boy with black hair and the girl with red hair inside the crystalline structure of the fully formed Susanoo, its heart felt like it had been struck by a heavy hammer!
"Just wait a little longer…"
Hoshigaki Kisame's voice echoed in Black Zetsu and White Zetsu's ears, though it was Uchiha Sasuke's words that emerged from his mouth: "It will be over soon…"
"..."
White Zetsu and Black Zetsu were left speechless.
Indeed.
This devastation would soon be over.
After all, even the Five Great Ninja Villages were powerless before the fully-formed Susanoo, let alone a small and insignificant village like Grass Village…
When the entire Grass Village was utterly destroyed, it no longer even resembled a village. Deep fissures appeared in the ground, filled with blood and dismembered limbs, the only evidence that people had once died here…
This village.
There were only two places left to stand.
One was the small house where Hoshigaki Kisame and Zetsu were, and the other was the village cemetery.
Uchiha Sasuke dispersed his Susanoo with a wave, and with the still-terrified Karin, he walked towards the small house, ignoring all the mutilated bodies along the way.
"..."
Karin's body trembled with fear.
Even she hadn't imagined that one day this village, which had once brought her nightmares, would be so easily destroyed. Those Grass ninjas who once bullied, beat, and tormented her and her mother were slaughtered like weeds…
"..."
Black Zetsu's heart was heavy.
Because…
It couldn't understand why Uchiha Sasuke had a Rinnegan!
No…
Not just the Rinnegan…
Even the fully-formed Susanoo shouldn't be something that someone of Uchiha Sasuke's age could use, as even the most talented Uchiha, Madara, couldn't achieve that!
"Do you want to visit your mother?"
Uchiha Sasuke softly asked Karin.
"Okay…"
Karin lowered her head slightly.
This matter…
should indeed be told to her mother…
But her mother's grave should have been destroyed as well, right?
Unexpectedly, the cemetery of Grass Village had remained largely untouched, perhaps because there were no living people here, or perhaps because someone deliberately spared this place.
After dismissing Karin, Uchiha Sasuke walked step by step towards Zetsu, a mocking, arrogant smile appearing on his lips.
"..."
Black Zetsu's heart tightened.
Because that smile was full of Uchiha arrogance, it even vaguely felt that Uchiha Sasuke's smile resembled Madara Uchiha's!
"Hmph…"
"A thousand years…"
"And you're still here…"
Uchiha Sasuke's first words made Black Zetsu's heart pound wildly.
"!!!"
Black Zetsu was filled with infinite fear.
This kid…
Those words…
What do they mean!
What does he mean by saying that I, someone over a thousand years old, am still here? How could Uchiha Sasuke, this kid, know that I've lived for over a thousand years!
This is Black Zetsu's deepest secret…
Yet in this moment, it was exposed by Uchiha Sasuke's words!
"You… just who…"
Black Zetsu's body began to tremble.
Its mind spun in circles, listing all the people it had encountered over the past thousand years, one by one!
"Are you… Indra?"
Black Zetsu could only think of this possibility, stammering out the name of the first descendant of the Sage of Six Paths it had ever manipulated, its first action since its creation.
"Just his chakra…"
Uchiha Sasuke's lips curled into a cold smile, seemingly mocking Black Zetsu's naivety: "You should've known this long ago."
"..."
Black Zetsu breathed a sigh of relief, feeling like it had narrowly escaped death.
No…
Wait…
This is absurd!
How could Indra's reincarnation know these things, know who I am, and understand what a reincarnation is!
Unless Indra secretly did something, allowing his reincarnations to access his memories, Black Zetsu's heart couldn't help but tremble with fear!
It shouldn't…
Be possible…
No matter how exceptional Indra was, he was ultimately not a true member of the Ōtsutsuki clan. His chakra was only a portion of the Sage of Six Paths' chakra…
"Are you wondering how I have his memories?"
Uchiha Sasuke's lips curled into a mocking smile, as if he were laughing at Black Zetsu: "Because the previous reincarnation was exceptional, after obtaining a portion of Asura's chakra, he could sense Indra's lingering will, which allowed Asura's chakra and Indra's chakra to reincarnate together in me…"
"Oh…"
"By the way…"
Uchiha Sasuke's mocking smile deepened, as if he were laughing at both Black Zetsu and someone else: "Are you Indra's helper, left for us reincarnations?"
"..."
Black Zetsu's eye twitched.
Wait…
Does this mean…
No!
It seems like I've been deceived!
When Uchiha Madara awakened the Rinnegan, he also awakened Indra's will and learned some of Indra's memories!
This means…
Uchiha Madara knew I was a thousand-year-old Black Zetsu!
But when I pretended to be Madara's will, that man didn't expose me. Instead, he used me, this thousand-year-old monster, making me obediently serve as his dog to help him resurrect!