Mount Myoboku.
With a solemn expression, Fukasaku walked into the temple.
"How is the situation?"
The Great Toad Sage lowered its head and looked at him.
"They're all dead."
Fukasaku responded in a grave tone.
"Who killed them?"
The Great Toad Sage narrowed its eyes.
"The Aburame clan."
Fukasaku answered.
"…"
The Great Toad Sage fell silent.
Not long ago, the frogs and toads sent to monitor the Aburame clan had lost contact.
In response, it had sent Fukasaku to investigate.
But it hadn't expected such a result.
"During the war between Konoha and Kirigakure, Mount Myoboku and the Aburame clan once fought side by side."
Fukasaku's tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction. "Even if the Aburame clan discovered them, they shouldn't have killed them."
"Their hostility is clear."
The Great Toad Sage said slowly.
"The Grand Elder's prophecy is most likely coming true through the Kikaichu Insect Clan."
Fukasaku took a deep breath and asked, "What should we do? Are we just going to sit here and wait for doom?"
"Go contact the White Snake."
The Great Toad Sage pondered before speaking. "The Kikaichu Insect Clan is not a major threat; the troublesome one is Shinho Aburame. We need to first assess his strength."
"The White Snake Sage?"
Fukasaku hesitated. "Will it help us?"
"With the White Snake's nature, it would never willingly submit to another."
The Great Toad Sage chuckled. "Although I don't know what method Shinho used, the White Snake is most likely unwilling in their corporation."
"That makes sense."
Fukasaku recalled the brutality of Ryuchi Cave and nodded instinctively.
"Is there any progress on Jiraiya's side?"
The Great Toad Sage asked again.
"None."
Fukasaku shook his head. "But he previously told me that the Child of Prophecy might be Naruto."
"Naruto?"
The Great Toad Sage seemed thoughtful.
"Naruto has an exceptional talent for Sage Mode, and his personality is quite likable."
Fukasaku smiled slightly. "Plus, he's Jiraiya's student. That greatly increases his chances of being the Child of Prophecy."
Before the Akatsuki's attack on Konoha, Jiraiya had taken Naruto to Mount Myoboku to train in Sage Mode.
His learning speed had greatly surprised Fukasaku.
"Strengthen our ties with Naruto."
The Great Toad Sage said solemnly. "Perhaps only the Child of Prophecy can prevent another prophecy from coming true."
Fukasaku's eyes brightened.
He had always believed that the Great Toad Sage's prophecies were unchangeable.
But now, another possibility had arisen.
If the Child of Prophecy was involved…
The Child of Prophecy was the ninja destined to lead the shinobi world to peace.
If that was true, he would never allow Mount Myoboku to be destroyed.
"Go."
The Great Toad Sage closed its eyes.
Fukasaku turned and left.
He immediately sent toads to Ryuchi Cave.
Two days later, after receiving a reply, he returned to the deep temple of Mount Myoboku.
"Grand Elder."
Fukasaku bowed slightly. "The White Snake Sage said it needs time to consider."
"Consider?"
The Great Toad Sage was slightly puzzled. "That doesn't sound like the White Snake's nature."
"I remember that Konoha established a Summoning Division."
Fukasaku murmured before asking, "Could it be that Konoha is using the snakes of Ryuchi Cave as leverage?"
"The White Snake wouldn't care about those lesser snakes."
The Great Toad Sage felt an ominous premonition. "The only explanation is that it fears Shinho."
"Is he really that strong?"
Fukasaku had only heard of Shinho's strength but had never seen it firsthand.
"Let's wait for the White Snake's response."
The Great Toad Sage looked up at the sky.
It still had one last resort.
The Sage of Six Paths.
…
Land of Lightning capital;
Now renamed City of Lightning.
After two and a half days of travel, the ninja forces led by Uchiha Mikoto arrived successfully.
The Daimyo of Land of Lightning had set aside a designated living area for them.
It was only now that the Fourth Raikage, Mabui, and the others realized that Land of Lightning's capital had long been under Konoha's control.
This further solidified the truth, Land of Fire's Daimyo's death had not been an accident.
But now that Shinho and Konoha ruled the ninja world, knowing this truth was meaningless.
"Gyūki."
Killer Bee turned to look out the window.
Due to its massive size, the Eight-Tails couldn't enter the city.
It was currently lingering near the City of Lightning.
Killer Bee quickly retracted his gaze.
A meeting was taking place in the grand hall.
But rather than a meeting, it was more of a work briefing led by Uchiha Mikoto.
The attendees were Konoha's Jōnin and various departmental officials.
Since the meeting didn't involve Kumogakure, Killer Bee found it incredibly dull.
Not just dull, but painful.
Because among the crowd, many had once been Kumogakure Jōnin.
Now, they wore Konoha's headbands.
Time passed.
The meeting finally came to an end.
Mikoto looked toward the remaining Kumogakure ninjas.
According to Shinho's decree, only fifty of them were allowed to remain as Kumogakure Ninjas.
Among them, only five had come for today's meeting.
Fourth Raikage, Killer Bee, Mabui, Yugito Nii, and Samui.
Strictly speaking, only two of them were still Kumogakure ninjas.
Because the latter three had already become Konoha shinobi.
"Can we leave now?"
Yugito Nii asked bluntly.
She had long since lost her patience.
If not for Mabui and Samui dragging her, she wouldn't have even attended the meeting.
"You may."
Mikoto nodded.
"We're returning to Kumogakure."
Yugito Nii immediately stood up.
Mikoto wasn't bothered by her attitude.
After all, everyone knew she was left alive only because of Shinho.
"Sasuke."
After they left, Mikoto instructed, "Keep an eye on the Eight-Tails in the coming days to prevent its escape."
"Understood."
Sasuke answered calmly.
Although the ninja army had five thousand members, only he could handle the Eight-Tails with ease.
"I'll go now."
Sasuke stepped out without hesitation.
Apart from fighting, he wasn't interested in anything else.
City-building? That wasn't his thing.
Now that he had an excuse, he immediately left.
Sasuke arrived outside the city.
At that moment, he suddenly gripped his Lightning-Fire Sword and turned to look at a tree in the distance.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes as the ground suddenly bulged.
From the shifting earth, a figure emerged.
White Zetsu.
"As expected of an Uchiha," White Zetsu said with a smirk.
"You dare appear before me?"
Sasuke immediately recognized him. His voice was cold, filled with killing intent.
He had seen Akatsuki's records from Shinho. And White Zetsu was among them.
"Wait!"
Sensing Sasuke's overwhelming murderous aura, White Zetsu quickly raised his hands in a defensive gesture.
"I'm here to discuss cooperation!"
"Cooperation?"
Sasuke unsheathed his Lightning-Fire Sword with a sharp sound. "There's no possibility of any cooperation between us."
"Don't you want to know how to advance your Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan?"
White Zetsu didn't waste any more words and went straight to the point.
"What did you say?"
Sasuke's movements halted.
"Madara was the strongest clan leader in Uchiha history."
White Zetsu grinned. "And since he was once a member of Akatsuki, we know certain secrets of his."
"…"
Sasuke fell silent.
That reasoning did make sense.
"Talk?"
Sasuke asked in a low voice.
"The next stage of Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan is the Rinnegan."
White Zetsu said after a pause.
"The Rinnegan?"
Sasuke's heart trembled. "Then what about Nagato?"
"Haven't you figured it out yet?"
White Zetsu countered with a question.
"Was it Madara's Rinnegan?"
Sasuke asked in disbelief.
"Exactly."
White Zetsu nodded.
"Then why was it in Nagato's possession?"
Sasuke quickly spotted the inconsistency.
"That's a secret."
White Zetsu said mysteriously. "Once we finalize our cooperation, you'll naturally learn the answer."
"You're not afraid I'll just capture you?"
Sasuke sneered.
"I'm merely a clone."
White Zetsu said indifferently.
"What does this cooperation entail?"
After a brief silence, Sasuke retracted his Lightning-Fire Sword and asked.
"We help you awaken the Rinnegan, and in return, you'll help us gather all the Nine-Tailed Beasts."
White Zetsu laid out the deal.
"That's impossible!"
Sasuke rejected it immediately. "Shinho would never agree."
"Are you really content with being under someone else's shadow forever?"
White Zetsu's voice was full of temptation.
"Once the Nine-Tailed Beasts are combined, you can become the Jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails, as powerful as the Sage of Six Paths!"
"What?!"
Sasuke was utterly shaken.
The Sage of Six Paths….that was a legendary existence in the shinobi world!
"Akatsuki's goal was to create a second Sage of Six Paths," White Zetsu sighed, mixing truth with lies.
"But we were obstructed by Shinho Aburame."
Hearing this, Sasuke suddenly understood.
No wonder Akatsuki had been hunting the Tailed Beasts.
"Madara failed, and now you've set your hopes on me?"
Sasuke asked, seeing through the intention.
"Exactly."
White Zetsu answered seriously.
"Your talent isn't inferior to Madara's, in fact, you might even surpass him. You have the potential to become the next Sage of Six Paths."
Sasuke slightly lifted his chin, feeling a sense of pride.
He really was a genius!
The Rinnegan was not enough to surpress Shinho, but what about the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki?
For the first time, Sasuke was tempted.
But the difficulty was immense.
Wait…
Why not just tell Shinho directly?
That way, there wouldn't be any obstacles.
With Shinho's abilities, capturing White Zetsu and extracting the method to evolve the Rinnegan wouldn't be an issue.
Nagato might even know something about it.
"I need time to consider."
Sasuke said solemnly.
"No problem."
White Zetsu chuckled.
"This isn't something you should decide rashly."
Then, it slowly sank into the ground.
Just before it disappeared, it caught a glimpse of Sasuke's changing expression.
For so long, Sasuke had been suppressed by Shinho.
Now that the opportunity was right in front of him, based on what White Zetsu knew of the Uchiha clan, it was highly likely Sasuke wouldn't refuse their corporation.
…
A knock sounded at the door.
Shinho opened his eyes.
He turned his gaze toward the door.
The door creaked slightly open, revealing a narrow gap.
Through it, Tsunade could be seen standing outside.
She wore a loose, casual sleep robe, appearing completely at ease.
"Can I come in?"
Tsunade blinked playfully.
She didn't know exactly what Shinho was working on in his secluded training, but she trusted this "brat" and let him do as he pleased.
"Come in."
Shinho lowered his legs and reached out his hand.
Tsunade's lips curved into a smile as she stepped forward.
When she reached him, Shinho wrapped his arm around her waist, buried his face in her chest, and took a deep breath.
"These two documents are for you."
Tsunade gently stroked his head.
"I'll take a look at them later."
Shinho said, taking in a whiff of the abyss.
"They were brought by your 'beautiful secretary' Konan."
Tsunade huffed softly.
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