"Alright."
After a brief exchange of intelligence, the shinobi from the five villages split up, each returning to their respective homelands.
Madara setting his sights on Kushina was not good news.
Jiraiya found it odd—this should be something Takuya was most concerned about, so why had he been in such a rush to send Jiraiya back?
Doubts aside, Jiraiya chose to return to Konoha as quickly as possible.
A direct order was a direct order.
As for whether or not he had been lied to…
Jiraiya didn't think Tsunade would joke about something like this.
And Minato?
He was just a messenger.
That kid wouldn't dare deceive his teacher.
Jiraiya had full faith in Minato… though how much of that faith would remain once he got back to the village was another story.
The entire shinobi world had become eerily tense after Black Zetsu's interference.
The first to return home was Kitsuchi.
Upon arriving in Iwagakure, he immediately sought out his father, Ōnoki.
Ōnoki had some lingering guilt over losing the Rinnegan—he had underestimated the enemy's capabilities.
Thankfully, even though the Rinnegan was stolen, the village itself hadn't suffered too much damage. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to sleep at night.
"Father, this is the intelligence we gathered from Uchiha Madara's hideout."
"Hmm. Good work."
Ōnoki unrolled the scroll and studied it carefully, shaking his head before setting it aside.
"Not much value here."
Kitsuchi had expected that.
The Special Operations Squad's findings were… underwhelming.
Still, seeing his father remain indifferent made him anxious.
"Father, are we really not going to do anything?"
"How many times do I have to tell you—outside the village, address me as 'Lord Tsuchikage'!"
Ōnoki's mustache bristled as he glared at his son.
"And do what, exactly?"
"You think I should send our forces to help Kumogakure defend their village?"
"Even if I wanted to, they wouldn't accept it."
Faced with his father's scolding, Kitsuchi quickly shut up, plastering on an awkward smile.
"Hmph!"
Seeing his son fall silent, Ōnoki finally cooled down.
"Did A invite shinobi from other villages to Kumogakure?"
"Yes, Father."
Kitsuchi nodded.
Ōnoki shot him a sharp look but didn't say much, simply gesturing for him to continue.
"After receiving your message, I decided to bring our people back to Iwagakure. A extended invitations to the others, but Jiraiya didn't immediately accept."
"Then, when we were sharing intelligence, word arrived from Konoha—an urgent order for Jiraiya to return immediately."
"They claimed White Zetsu had been spotted near the village and that Uchiha Madara was targeting the Nine-Tails."
"Heh—yeah, right."
Ōnoki scoffed.
"With Kushina and the Nine-Tails together, any hidden White Zetsu would be exposed in minutes. And you're telling me Konoha is actually worried about them?"
"Please."
Besides, wasn't that little brat Takuya still in the village?
This was clearly just an excuse.
Kitsuchi blinked.
"Wait, Father… are you saying Konoha deliberately called Jiraiya back so he wouldn't go to Kumogakure?"
"Obviously."
Ōnoki sneered.
"You think Konoha's shinobi are that noble?"
"Kumogakure doesn't trust anyone, so why should Konoha risk their own people?"
"And who's to say whether Madara sent someone to steal the Rinnegan… or if he's planning to take it himself?"
If Madara sent someone, that was one thing.
But if he showed up personally?
Kumogakure was screwed.
Ōnoki had no doubt about that.
He still remembered that humiliating trip to Konoha, where he and his teacher had gotten wrecked.
Even now, Ōnoki couldn't say he was stronger than his old master.
The Third Raikage was supposedly the 'strongest spear and shield.'
Ōnoki acknowledged that much—he personally didn't want to face the guy in a direct fight.
But against Madara?
That title meant nothing.
If Madara personally went to Kumogakure, the village would be devastated.
Watching his father clench his fists with a mix of frustration and painful nostalgia, Kitsuchi swallowed hard.
Takuya's words from before suddenly rang in his ears—Ōnoki got his ass kicked by Madara.
"Father, did you really get beaten up by Uchiha Mada—AARGH!"
Before he could finish, he was launched out of the room.
Ōnoki's face turned beet red, his hair standing on end in rage.
"GET OUT!"
"Don't ask questions you already know the answer to!"
On a barren mountaintop, Uchiha Madara stood with his hands behind his back, gazing toward Konoha in silence, like an unmoving statue.
Black Zetsu knew this look.
Madara's old habits were acting up again.
Ever since leaving Konoha and learning that Hashirama had succumbed to illness, he had often stood like this.
So often, in fact, that Black Zetsu could practically narrate his thoughts with subtitles.
"Another day of reminiscing about Hashirama."
Of course, that was something Black Zetsu would never say out loud.
Instead, he respectfully reported, "Lord Madara, White Zetsu has gathered all available intelligence on Kumogakure."
Madara remained motionless, silent for a long time before finally turning around.
"The strongest spear and shield?"
"Foolish."
His expression was full of disinterest, as if the famous Third Raikage was nothing more than an insignificant speck.
"Too weak to even make me break a sweat."
"Not even worth dancing with."
Black Zetsu: "…"
What the hell?!
You had me collect all this intel, and now you don't even care?!
If he weren't worried about blowing his cover, Black Zetsu would have smacked Madara upside the head.
Madara had deemed the Third Raikage unworthy, so he had no intention of fighting him.
But the plan couldn't stop here.
It wasn't possible.
Black Zetsu considered his options before suggesting, "Lord Madara, should we have White Zetsu stir up trouble in Kumogakure while we search for the Rinnegan in secret?"
"Hmm."
Madara gave a faint nod, then returned to gazing into the distance.
It was clear—he had zero interest in personally involving himself.
What he wanted was a real opponent.
A battle that could get his blood pumping.
Fighting the Third Raikage?
Pointless.
As for the Rinnegan, Black Zetsu needed time to find it.
Madara didn't.
After all, it was his eye.
Unless it had been sealed away, he could easily retrieve it.
But just because he could didn't mean he would.
All the boring work?
That was Black Zetsu's problem now.
And Black Zetsu hated it.
"Another day of reminiscing about Hashirama."
Maybe I should take a trip to Konoha…
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(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read the rest of the Chapter at Patreon com/ Emik01.
DO NOT FORGET POWER STONE AND CHATTING