Outside World
Black Zetsu, clinging to the shattered remnants of trees swirling within the hurricane, stared at the two figures in the distance with an expression of utter terror.
Just a second ago, Pain had fallen prey to Danzo's dōjutsu, leaving both sides momentarily vulnerable—an opportune moment gifted by fate itself.
Yet, just as he was about to make his move, Pain's body suddenly twisted and shriveled.
In the blink of an eye, his entire form aged rapidly, withering into a dried husk before being swept away by the raging winds.
Only the Rinnegan, detached from its sockets, remained floating in the air, staring fixedly at Danzo.
Had the Rinnegan… come to life?
And the aura it exuded—it was all too familiar.
"How is he still alive? Impossible... This has to be an illusion..."
Black Zetsu's entire face contorted in disbelief, his dark visage overcome with horror.
At that moment, Danzo's Mangekyō Sharingan, which had been oozing blood, began to change.
The intricate kaleidoscope pattern slowly faded, the pupils turning completely white and emitting a faint blue glow.
"The eyes of... Hamura..."
The once-radiant Rinnegan suddenly dimmed, as though it had sustained severe damage.
The space around them warped, and the Rinnegan vanished along with it, leaving Danzo standing there, stunned.
Black Zetsu was at a loss, unable to fully process what had just happened.
The presence he had just sensed from the Rinnegan... it was unmistakably that of Ōtsutsuki Hamura.
But he had been dead for centuries. That was Madara's Rinnegan—how could this be happening?
And this Danzo... why did he possess the eyes of Ōtsutsuki Hamura?
No, there was no mistake. It was undoubtedly the presence of those two brothers.
Memories flooded back—of the times he had hidden in the shadows under the Sage of Six Paths' watchful gaze, and of trembling in fear when Hamura's gaze swept over the ninja world from the moon after the Sage's passing.
That feeling was seared into his very being.
There was no mistaking it.
Why? Why was this happening? This wasn't part of the plan.
Nagato...
The Eye of the Moon Plan...
Mother...
Would he have to wait another thousand years?
No...
Staring at Danzo, whose eyes were now bleeding profusely, a flicker of madness and greed flashed through Black Zetsu's gaze.
Whoosh!
A mass of viscous black substance shot forward, piercing directly through Danzo's chest and striking his heart in an instant.
Success.
This body... ha... ha ha... there's actually a fragment of my consciousness inside it...
Mother, wait for me.
I'll free you soon.
Danzo's shattered heart was quickly engulfed by the black tendrils, which spread through his blood vessels and spine, taking root deep within him.
His external wound closed rapidly, as if nothing had happened at all.
...
As the hurricane slowly subsided, countless debris rained down from the sky.
A green-glowing figure stepped lightly across the falling wreckage, catching the unconscious Danzo mid-air.
"I've found Lord Danzo. He needs medical attention. No enemy presence detected for now."
"Guy, protect him. Backup will arrive soon."
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
In no time, several figures gathered around Guy, standing on high alert.
Simultaneously, Yakushi Nonō and two Root medical-nin extended their hands, releasing a soft green glow.
"No physical injuries. Chakra levels are stable. His cells are even more active than usual..."
"It seems like the damage was to his soul and psyche, which caused him to lose consciousness..."
Within seconds, Pakura, and the others also arrived, their expressions filled with concern as they looked at the still-unconscious Danzo receiving treatment.
Yakushi Nonō sighed in relief and stood up. "Guy, help me escort Lord Danzo back. Pakura, you stay here..."
She cast a glance at the lifeless husk of the Ten-Tails in the distance, motionless.
"Understood." Pakura hesitated but eventually nodded.
...
Shortly after they left, Jiraiya approached with a grim expression, cradling a dried corpse in his arms. The red clouds on its black cloak made its identity unmistakable.
"So this is Pain...?"
"Poor guy..."
"Something's off."
The atmosphere grew tense instantly.
"Stay alert. There may still be Akatsuki members nearby..."
"Konan..."
A figure with wings descended slowly from above, her gaze locked onto the lifeless body in Jiraiya's arms.
"Wait..." Jiraiya raised a hand, stopping the others from attacking. He stepped forward, his face heavy, his eyes filled with sorrow.
"Konan... why did you all end up like this?"
He simply couldn't understand how the three kind-hearted children he once knew had led to such devastation.
"Isn't war always like this? You kill me, I kill you. The strong always rule over the weak."
Her icy gaze met that of her former teacher, carrying an air of resignation and finality.
"Jiraiya-sensei, can you grant me one last request? If possible, bury us at the little hut where we once lived..."
Jiraiya's body trembled, his voice growing heavier.
"Until everything is clear, you'll have to stay in Konoha..."
With a swift motion, he slammed a hand onto the ground.
A massive toad erupted from the earth like a ravenous serpent, swallowing Konan whole without warning.
Its body then began to petrify, sealing inscriptions covering its surface.
With a bang, the toad disappeared, transported to Mount Myōboku.
"Now... we need to discuss how to deal with that thing..." she murmured, eyes lingering on the colossal husk of the Ten-Tails, still exuding an ominous presence.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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