Chapter Thirteen
Gato's eyes snapped open, and he froze at the sight of the figure looming in the shadows of his room, a small dark silhouette against the faint glimmer of moonlight. All could be seen is a lone red eye shimmering in the darkness.
"W-who are you?" Gato stammered, his voice trembling as his gaze fixed on the stranger's shadowed face. He figured that he was an assassin out to kill him due to him being a powerful shipping magnate but most don't know his shipping company was actually a front for much shadier activities, such as smuggling contraband and trafficking drugs.
He took control of the Land of Waves' shipping routes and created a monopoly by isolating the country from the outside world, preventing free sea-freighting and turning it into an impoverished, hunger-stricken country in the process.
The figure didn't answer as he stepped forward, his eye still gleaming dangerously. Soon the soft dim of moonlight revealed much to his surprise a small child with a tanto. His right hand stained red from what he can gather his men.
"We really should talk, Gato..." Naruto drawled out with no emotion but finished his sentence with a bit of sarcasm which wasn't missed by the man before him.
Gato eyes widen in surprise at seeing a child, then snarled in anger at the thought a mere brat can take down his legion of bandits. A ludicrous thought to say the least, suddenly he slammed his hand on the red intercom next to his bed screaming desperately.
"A child? You're no assassin.." Gato's eyes flared with anger as he slammed the intercom repeatedly, his sweaty palm leaving smudges on the device. "Guards! Get in here now! Aoi! Waraji! Zōri! Where the hell are you?!" His voice cracked with desperation, echoing through the large room. The women who had been beside him scrambled away, clutching at discarded robes and shrinking into the shadows in terror.
But no one came.
Naruto remained still, standing in the center of the room like a shadow given form, his crimson-stained hand holding the gleaming tanto. His single red eye glowed with a cold, almost inhuman light. Gato's frantic movements seemed futile against the suffocating aura that had overtaken the room.
"You truly did it now, boy!" Gato growled, trying to summon courage as he turned back to face the young intruder. "You have no idea who you're dealing with! A mere brat dares to challenge me? You think you've won? My men will—"
"How many?" Naruto's voice cut through Gato's tirade like a blade through silk. It was quiet yet sharp, carrying a weight that froze the words in Gato's throat.
"What?" Gato stammered, confusion clouding his face as he tried to process the question.
"How many people have you hurt," Naruto repeated, his tone cold and deliberate, "In your march for power? How many lives have you destroyed? How many families have you torn apart? And for what? To stroke your own ego?"
Gato took a step back, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly like a fish gasping for air. The sweat rolling down his face glistened in the faint moonlight as he struggled to regain control of the situation.
"You dare lecture me?" Gato barked, attempting to mask his fear with bravado. "You think you're some righteous avenger, coming to pass judgment on me? Let me tell you something, brat. This world is about power. It's about who can take and who can hold. If you're weak, you're nothing! I built an empire—"
"And you destroyed an entire nation to do it." Naruto's voice was low but filled with a quiet fury that made Gato flinch. "The Land of Waves is starving. Its people are broken. All because of you."
Gato sneered, his fear giving way to anger. "Spare me your moral drivel! The weak exist to serve the strong. That's the way it's always been. You think you're going to change that? You're just a child—"
Before Gato could finish, Naruto vanished. One moment he was standing still, and the next, he was inches away, his tanto raised. The blade's edge pressed against Gato's throat, forcing him to freeze mid-sentence.
"I've heard enough," Naruto said, his voice colder than the steel in his hand. "You've taken lives, crushed dreams, and turned an entire nation into your personal playground of misery. And yet, you feel no guilt. No remorse."
Gato's eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape, but he found none. The oppressive weight of Naruto's presence left him paralyzed.
"Power isn't about crushing the weak," Naruto continued, his voice unwavering. "It's about protecting those who can't protect themselves. It's about building, not destroying. But people like you… you're nothing more than a parasite, feeding off the suffering of others."
The silence that followed was deafening. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Gato, for the first time in years, felt utterly powerless.
"Show empathy?" Gato muttered weakly, his voice trembling as he looked into Naruto's unyielding red eye. "You want to lecture me about morals? Then show me mercy."
Naruto's eye narrowed, and the room seemed to grow colder. "Mercy?" he echoed, his voice devoid of emotion. "Did you show mercy to the people of this land? Did you show mercy to the families you destroyed? To the children you left orphaned?"
Gato opened his mouth to respond, but no words came. The weight of his actions hung in the air, suffocating him.
Naruto's tanto glinted in the moonlight as he withdrew it slightly, just enough for Gato to gasp in relief. Suddenly, Naruto's sharp eyes locked onto Gato as the man flailed and shouted, his voice laced with desperation and fury.
The cries of the merchant echoed in the now eerily silent room. Ignoring the man's pleas and protests, Naruto stepped forward, gripping Gato by the scruff of his shirt with a strength that seemed unfathomable for a boy his size.
"No. You don't deserve mercy," Naruto muttered, his voice cold, almost detached. "But it's not for me to decide your fate."
Before Gato could comprehend the words, Naruto delivered a swift strike with the back of his hand, knocking the man almost unconscious. Gato crumpled to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut. Naruto then heaved the struggling man off the ground, the older man's arms flailing as he was dragged toward the doorway. Gato, who had spent his life preying on the weak and helpless, now found himself at the mercy of a child. Cold irony.
With that, he heaved the struggling Gato off the ground, the older man's arms flailing as he was dragged toward the doorway. Gato, who had spent his life preying on the weak and helpless, now found himself at the mercy of a child.
Naruto's mind was set. He wouldn't end Gato's life here—no, the people of the Land of Waves deserved something he didn't get... justice. They deserved to have their pound of flesh for the suffering this man had inflicted on them. His actions had crushed families, stolen livelihoods, and turned hope into despair. It was their right to decide his fate.
As Naruto exited the lavish room into the dimly lit hallway, the faint glow of flickering torches illuminated his path.
His grip on Gato remained firm, the man groaning in half-consciousness as he was dragged like a sack of rice.
Then, a presence stopped Naruto in his tracks.
Three men emerged from the shadows of the hallway, their ominous smiles belying the danger they posed. Each of them exuded confidence, their weapons gleaming faintly in the low light.
At the center stood Aoi Rokushö, a rogue shinobi from the Hidden Rain.
His long, ethereal blade glowed bright yellow blade rested lazily on his shoulder as his predatory eyes locked onto Naruto. "Well, well," Aoi drawled, his voice laced with mock amusement. "Seems like we've got ourselves a little hero. Didn't anyone ever teach you to stay out of grown-up matters, brat?"
Flanking him were Waraji and Zori, mercenaries notorious for their cruelty.
Waraji twirled a pair of gleaming swords with practiced ease, while Zori cracked his knuckles, his grin widening at the sight of Naruto. "This one's got guts," Waraji sneered. "Let's see if we can cut them out."
Naruto's eyes narrowed, his grip on Gato tightening. He gently set the unconscious man against the wall before stepping forward. The moonlight streaming through a nearby window caught the glint of his bloodstained tanto. He raised his head, revealing the scar across his eye and the crimson gleam of his Sharingan.
"You're in my way," Naruto said simply, his voice low and deadly.
The three men exchanged amused glances before stepping into battle stances, their smiles unwavering.
"You've got no idea what you've just stepped into, kid," Aoi said, his now electrical blade gleaming menacingly. "But don't worry-we'll make this quick."
Naruto's expression didn't change, his Sharingan spinning slowly as he analyzed his opponents. "I wasn't planning on taking my time, either," he replied, his voice as cold as the night around them.
The tension in the air grew thick as the hallway seemed to shrink, the space between them becoming an arena for the inevitable clash.
Naruto stared the men, his expression unreadable. His cloak billowing in the faint breeze. It was completely silent, the only sound left in the hallway was the faint rustle of the wind—and the ominous presence in the air. And then, the silence broke.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive inferno roared through the blown-up hallway as Naruto leapt out, the light of the flames casting long, flickering shadows. As the fire died down, he found himself surrounded by the remaining bandits, led by Waraji and Zori.
Naruto's lone Sharingan spun hypnotically as he surveyed the group with cold, calculating eyes. He shook his head, his disappointment evident.
"I only wanted Gato. The fact that you'd risk your lives for that pathetic man makes you all idiots." His tone was laced with contempt, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.
The bandits laughed, their sinister grins spreading as they closed ranks.
"What's wrong, little boy? Scared?" Zöri sneered, drawing his blade.
Naruto didn't bother with a response.
His Sharingan glinted, the tomoe spinning faster, its crimson glow stark against the darkness. His voice dropped, chilling and deliberate.
"Looks like I don't have a choice. This time, I'll show no mercy."
Waraji lunged first, his twin blades glinting as he closed the gap with terrifying speed. Behind him, the other bandits formed ranks-swordsmen in the front, spearmen just behind.
"Let's make this quick," Naruto muttered, sidestepping Waraji's initial slash with ease. Their blades clashed, sparks flying as Naruto deflected the attack, forcing Waraji to retreat momentarily.
Zöri took advantage of the opening, swinging his sword in a brutal arc aimed at Naruto's neck. But Naruto ducked smoothly, twisting his tanto upward in a single, precise motion.
Zori's eyes widened in horror as the blade sliced clean through his midsection, soon his internal organs to spilled out, right after his body crumpled to the ground in a gruesome heap. Blood and guts pooled around the corpse, glistening in the moonlight as if the ground itself bled.
Naruto rose to his feet, blood dripping down his face like crimson rain. The sight froze the remaining bandits in their tracks, but Waraji snarled, unwilling to back down.
"Whoever kills him will get double-no, triple! His death will be your path to wealth and power!" Waraji roared, his voice filled with desperation and fury.
The promise of riches spurred the bandits into action. Breaking formation, they surged forward in a chaotic rush.
A swordsman lunged at Naruto, their blades locking in a fierce clash. From behind, a spearman thrust his weapon toward Naruto's back. Reacting instantly, Naruto kicked the swordsman backward into the oncoming spear. The weapon drove through its unintended target, pinning the swordsman in place and leaving the spearman vulnerable. With a single fluid motion, Naruto's tanto swept out, decapitating both men in a single, brutal strike.
The gruesome sight should have sent the remaining bandits running, but instead, it only seemed to harden their resolve. They saw Naruto as less of a boy and more of a demon, a force to be conquered rather than feared.
Even outnumbered, Naruto moved with lethal efficiency. His Sharingan guided him flawlessly through the chaos, every strike precise and devastating. Bandits fell one after another, their weapons useless against the boy who seemed to predict their every move.
As Naruto plunged his blade into the chest of another attacker, a sharp pain shot through his arm. He glanced down to see an arrow embedded just below his shoulder.
Looking up, he spotted the archer perched in a tree, preparing to fire another arrow. Naruto's eyes narrowed, his rage palpable. "You shouldn't have done that," he snarled.
The archer froze, caught in the paralyzing grip of Naruto's killing intent. His hands trembled as he notched another arrow, but when he looked again, Naruto was gone.
A moment later, the archer let out a strangled gasp as Naruto appeared before him, his tanto gleaming in the moonlight. Without hesitation, Naruto drove the blade into the man's neck, the force of the strike sending them both tumbling to the ground below.
As the archer's lifeless body hit the dirt with a sickening thud, Naruto stood over him, his breathing heavy but steady. Suddenly his Sharringan began pulsing in pain like earlier but he ignored it thinking he still needs to get use to the eye. Blood dripped from his tanto, pooling beneath his feet as he surveyed the carnage around him.
Before he could catch his breath, a slow clap echoed through the clearing.
Naruto turned sharply, his Sharingan spinning as three figures emerged from the shadows.
At the front stood Waraji, his twin blades glinting ominously, his earlier desperation replaced by a sinister grin.
Flanking him were two men-Aoi Rokusho, his sword resting casually on his shoulder, and another figure Naruto recognized from earlier skirmishes, his face twisted with malice.
"Well, kid," Waraji drawled, his voice dripping with mockery, "you've done quite the number on my men. But playtime's over. Let's see how you handle the real fight."
Naruto tightened his grip on his tanto, his Sharingan burning with determination as he faced the new threat.
Unknown
In the dimly lit underground chamber, Danzo sat silently, his thoughts still circling the recent conversation earlier with Orochimaru. Seeking help from that snake had been a bitter pill to swallow, but necessity had forced his hand. Orochimaru's parting words, though, clung to his mind like a festering wound.
"You might want to be cautious, Danzo," Orochimaru had said with that infuriating smile. "Naruto isn't the child he once was. He'll be heading to the Land of Water, no doubt, but whether you can handle what he'll become… well, that's another matter entirely."
The words gnawed at Danzo's mind. How had Orochimaru known where Naruto was going? Could it be that Orochimaru had placed a tracking seal on the boy, or can it be a cursed seal that would corrupt his body and soul? If so, the world was facing something far worse than any rogue shinobi or village skirmish. An Uzumaki under Orochimaru's influence, twisted by that sinister power, was a force that could upend everything.
Danzo stood, his eyes narrowing as a plan began to form. "Fuu," he called out, his voice echoing in the dark chamber.
A shadow shifted, and Fuu appeared from the darkness, kneeling before him in silence, awaiting orders.
Danzo pulled a photograph from his cloak, handing it to Fuu. The image of Naruto, his red hair wild and his scarred face stared back at him. "You are to follow the tracking squad led by Kakashi. They're pursuing this boy. Your task is to observe."
Fuu glanced at the photograph, then back to Danzo. "What should I be looking for, Lord Danzo?"
Danzo's fingers drummed against the armrest of his chair. "Signs of a cursed seal. If Orochimaru indeed placed a Juinjutsu on him, it will corrode his mind, making him violent. Watch for unusual behavior—violent outbursts, chakra corruption. If you confirm it, report back immediately."
Fuu nodded once, understanding the gravity of the mission. "And if the seal is confirmed?"
Danzo's gaze darkened. "If it's confirmed, the boy is no longer an asset. He becomes a threat. We'll handle him accordingly."
Fuu bowed once more and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Danzo alone with his thoughts.
The weight of the decision hung heavy in the air. Danzo had once seen Naruto as a potential weapon, an asset for Konoha's future. But if Orochimaru had tainted the boy with his cursed power, then Naruto's fate was sealed. Danzo's hand hovered over the map of the Great Nations, his fingers brushing against the Land of Water. The civil war there made it the perfect hiding place for someone like Orochimaru and his cursed creations.
Danzo clenched his jaw, steeling his resolve. If Naruto was too far gone, he wouldn't hesitate to end him before the boy became a danger beyond anyone's control.
"Damned Orochimaru," Danzo muttered under his breath. "Now I have to—"
"Have to what?" a cold, familiar voice cut through the chamber like a blade.
Danzo froze, his eyes widening as Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped out of the shadows, fully clad in his battle gear, the faint glow of determination in his eyes.
"You think I wouldn't notice your scheming, old friend?" Hiruzen said, his voice sharp and unwavering. "Now, tell me what you're planning before it's too late."
Danzo stared at him, his mind racing as the realization of his predicament settled in.
A dangerous silence filled the room.
Land of Waves
"Well, kid," Waraji drawled, his voice dripping with mockery, "you've done quite the number on my men. But playtime's over. Let's see how you handle the real fight."
Naruto tightened his grip on his tanto, his lone Sharingan spinning ominously.
His focus was sharp, prepared for Waraji's next move—but what happened next caught even him off guard.
The distinct crackle of lightning rang out, followed by a sickening squelch.
Waraji froze, his eyes wide in disbelief as a blade of golden lightning pierced through his chest from behind. Blood dripped down the glowing blade as Waraji weakly turned his head to see his assailant.
"A-Aoi... you trai-" Waraji's words were cut off as he collapsed to the ground, lifeless. The remaining bandits froze in terror, their weapons trembling in their hands. Aoi Rokusho stepped forward, his lightning blade sizzling in the night air. With a devious grin, he casually swung his blade, its arc cutting down the nearest bandits in a flash of light. Their bodies fell limp to the ground, and Aoi turned his attention to Naruto.
Naruto's eyes narrowed, Sharingan focused intently on the blade of Lightning and man before him. The battlefield was now silent, save for the faint hum of Aoi's blade. The ground was littered with bodies, and the metallic tang of blood hung heavy in the air.
"So, what now?" Naruto said, his voice low and steady. "You betrayed Gato, killed your own men, and now you stand here like some self-proclaimed executioner. Why? What's your angle?"
Aoi chuckled darkly, his Ame headband now prominently tied around his forehead. "I was never loyal to these fools, men like them and Gato are pawns, tools for my true purpose. I never cared for his schemes. I am Aoi Rokusho Joūnin of Ame and and allegiance lies with Lord Pain—the one true god who will bring salvation to this cursed world."
"Lord Pain?" Naruto's voice carried a sharp edge of curiosity and disdain reminding him of Danzo and Orochimaru. "Sounds like another man trying to play God."
Aoi's expression twisted into fury.
"Blasphemer! You dare mock the name of God? You, a demon who reeks of chaos, will meet your end here. I shall cut you down and return to Ame with your head as an offering!"
Naruto's gaze hardened, his tanto raised defensively. "Big words. Let's see if you can back them up."
With a roar, Aoi charged forward, his blade glowing brighter "Lightning Release: Thunderclap Gate!" The sky split open as bolts of lightning rained down, obliterating everything in their path.
BOOM!
Smoke and debris filled the air. Naruto gritted his teeth as the force of the attack sent him flying back. His body ached, and the once-pristine cloak Shisui had previously worn was now tattered and scorched. Despite the pain, he rose to his feet, his Sharingan blazing. He pulled his tanto to eye level on guard when he felt a heavy wave of killer intent emanating from the man.
"You're tougher than you look, kid," Aoi sneered, stepping through the smoke with an air of confidence. "But this is where your story end!" he roared like a madman dashing towards Naruto.
Naruto snarled, matching his speed dashing forward with chakra surging into his tanto. Their blades clashed with a deafening ring, the impact of metal and lightning creating shockwaves that cracked the earth beneath them. The two shinobi moved in a blur, exchanging blows at a speed that made the surviving bandits cower in fear.
"You can't block me forever, brat!" Aoi taunted, pressing his assault. His strikes were wild yet precise, his blade carving arcs of destruction through the air. Naruto ducked under a horizontal slash and retaliated with a kick to Aoi's midsection, sending him skidding back.
Aoi wiped a trickle of blood from his mouth, an animalistic grin spreading across his face. "Impressive. You've got guts, boy. But that alone won't save you." Raising his blade skyward, he bellowed, "Lighting Release : Fangs of Lightning"
By drawing the electrical essence in the clouds in the stormy sky above, bolts of electricity in the shape of jagged teeth converged on Naruto's location. Thinking quickly, Naruto deflected the attack with his tanto, but the force of the explosion sent him crashing into the ground. Dust and smoke clouded the air as Naruto struggled to rise, his body battered but his resolve unbroken.
"This... is nothing," Naruto muttered to himself, his breath ragged. He tightened his grip on his tanto, his mind racing for an opening. "Just wait for your chance.."
Aoi sneered, his blade crackling with energy. "What's wrong? Is that all the demon can muster? You're pathetic."
Ignoring the taunt, Naruto's lone Sharingan spun fiercely, his vision tunneling on Aoi. With a battle cry, he charged at his adversary, his footsteps reverberating through the devastated battlefield. The sound of steel and lightning clashing against against each other, echoed in the air as Naruto fought like a furious maelstrom, his movements blending agility and precision. With each strike, he poured his fury into the blows, seeking to overcome his opponent but suddenly Naruto Sharingan pulsed in pain. Causing him to stop momentarily gripping the eye Shisui gave him. He was confused at the pain.
Aoi smiled at him, "I'm going to kill you boy!"
With a swift motion, Aoi launched a relentless onslaught of attacks, his blade dancing through the air with deadly precision. Naruto with now one eye, fought with all his might, his tanto clashing against the onslaught, but he soon realized that victory was slipping away.
Aoi's movements were swift and precise, his lightning-infused blade leaving destructive trails in the air. Naruto fought bravely, but he lacked the experience and finesse of his opponent. Despite his best efforts, he found himself gradually being pushed back, and the pain of his eye only fueled his desperation. He needed a plan... He needed an opening.
With all his might, Naruto summoned his shadow clones, creating a dozen identical copies that surrounded his opponent.
Aoi's grin faltered for a moment before he swung his blade, dispelling the clones with a single sweep.
But the distraction was enough.
Naruto surged forward, his trump card glowing brightly in his hand. "I got you! Take this, Rasengan!" he roared, slamming the spiraling sphere of chakra into Aoi's blade. The impact sent shockwaves rippling across the battlefield, and Aoi was launched backward into the wreckage.
As the dust settled, Naruto's chest heaved with exhaustion. For a moment, it seemed like the fight was over. But then, from the rubble, Aoi emerged-grinning, bloodied, but very much alive.
"Foolish boy," he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Your tricks are meaningless against me. No one can stand against the might of Raijin no Ken."
Raising his blade to the sky, Aoi unleashed his final attack. "NOW FEEL THE MIGHT OF THE THUNDER GOD!!! LIGHTNING REALEASE : THUNDER GOD WRATH" A combination of the two previous jutsu came together, the explosiveness of Thunderclap Gate and the precision of Fangs of Lightning formed a massive dragon in the sky, its roar echoing like thunder as it descended toward Naruto.
Naruto's Sharingan burned with intensity, and the pain wracked his body as his vision began blurred. "No... not now," he muttered, clutching his eye as it pulsed with a searing heat. The dragon drew closer, its immense power shaking the ground beneath him.
"I'm sorry Shisui... It's over.." Naruto whispered, his body frozen in the face of the oncoming destruction.
BOOOOOOMMMMM
A deafening explosion engulfed the battlefield, and everything was consumed by light.
XXX
Amegakure
"Gone!? What do you mean gone!?"
The masked man's voice boomed, laced with fury, his Sharingan spinning wildly beneath the orange spiral mask. He loomed over Nagato, who stood unfazed, his Rinnegan eyes as emotionless as ever.
"It's exactly as I said," Nagato replied, his voice steady and cold. "The Nine-Tails has vanished without a trace. I suspect it has somehow returned to a jinchūriki, but that should be impossible."
The weight of his words lingered in the air, thick and foreboding. The concept defied all known logic—bijuu did not simply vanish, let alone reform into a host that was long dead. The masked man clenched his fists so tightly that the sound of his leather gloves creaking filled the silence.
"Impossible, you say…" The masked man's voice dropped dangerously low, brimming with disdain. "I leave you in charge for one week, and you've already managed to ruin everything."
Konan, standing protectively by Nagato's side, took a step forward, her fury barely concealed. "Watch your tone—Nagato is no pawn of yours!"
Nagato raised a hand, stopping her before the tension could escalate further. The masked man, unfazed, dismissed them both with a wave of his hand. "Get out of my sight. I need to think."
Konan's glare burned through the mask, but Nagato turned and began to walk away. She hesitated for a moment before following, casting one last seething glance over her shoulder.
As the pair disappeared into the shadows, the ground rippled and two figures emerged—White and Black Zetsu, polar opposites in every way.
White Zetsu's grin widened as he turned to his counterpart, his voice dripping with mockery. "Hey, Zetsu! What do you think Susie did when the bombs dropped?"
Black Zetsu's deadpan stare hardened, not even entertaining the fool.
But White Zetsu wasn't deterred. "She went everywhere! Get it? Ahahahaha!" He erupted into laughter, his voice grating against the silence.
"SHUT UP, YOU IDIOT!" Black Zetsu snapped, his patience fraying.
"Aw, come on," White Zetsu pouted, his tone lighthearted. "Don't be such a stick in the mud."
Ignoring his counterpart entirely, Black Zetsu turned to the masked man. "What's the plan now? The Nine-Tails is a crucial piece of the puzzle."
The masked man's Sharingan glowed as he turned to Zetsu, his voice calm yet chilling. "The plan does not change. Like he said, In this world, where there is light, there will always be darkness. As long as there are winners, there will always be losers. That is the nature of cause and effect, inseparable and eternal. But…" He paused, his voice darkening. "Imagine a world that knows only peace. A world that I will create."
The air around him warped and twisted as he began to disappear. "Once I reclaim the Nine-Tails, everything will fall into place. The true power of the Sharingan will be mine, and the cycle of this cursed world will be broken."
With that, he vanished, leaving the Zetsus alone in the eerie silence.
White Zetsu tilted his head. "Man, that guy really leans into his whole 'Madara' act, huh?" He chuckled, but his laughter faded as a strange energy rippled through the air. His grin faltered.
A sudden surge of chakra, overwhelming and ancient, tore through the atmosphere. The oppressive power could be felt across the nations.
Black Zetsu's eyes widened in sheer disbelief, a rare crack in his stoic demeanor. His voice trembled as he stared into the distance, where a massive tower of chakra spiraled into the sky. "N-No… This chakra… It can't be… him."
For a moment, the world seemed to still as realization dawned. Black Zetsu's voice dropped to a whisper, laced with dread.
"Have you really returned… Yhwach?"
The winds howled in response, carrying the ominous promise of a reckoning yet to come.