Chapter 619: As Long as the Rinnegan Remains Unfound, Black Zetsu Will Keep Destroying

"Tobirama, should I go out there and beat these three little punks?"

Hiding in the shadows, Tobirama clenched his teeth in frustration.

Each one of them was the last of their respective clans, and yet they had the audacity to mock others?

Talk about hypocrisy.

"I think you should let it go," Hashirama said with a sigh. His gaze was slightly resentful—after all, the reason the Senju Clan had dwindled to this state was entirely because of Tobirama's policies.

"They're just young men joking around. No need to take it too seriously."

Seeing his brother's expression darken, Hashirama quickly corrected himself.

"But once Madara is dealt with, I'll personally make sure Nawaki expands the Senju bloodline!"

Now that was more like it.

Tobirama gave an approving nod.

He could stay single for eternity, but Nawaki had no such luxury.

The responsibility of preserving the clan rested entirely on his shoulders.

Double standards.

Hashirama mentally muttered those two words but wisely kept them to himself.

Unlike their previous mission to Iwagakure, this time, Takuya didn't take his time sightseeing—he headed straight for the Hidden Cloud Village.

"You know, you really shouldn't be traveling to the Land of Lightning," Takuya mused along the way, an amused smirk forming on his lips.

Nawaki gave him a confused look.

"What do you mean?"

Kushina and Minato perked up, eager for some gossip.

Even the two brothers in the shadows, Hashirama and Tobirama, secretly listened in.

"Back then, when Orochimaru found out about the Cloud Village's shady dealings, he personally took on the task of making their lives miserable. I just tagged along for the ride. I barely lifted a finger before he had already taken care of the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, causing a full-scale rampage. It was quite the spectacle."

Takuya chuckled, shaking his head.

"The best part? Your teacher even swiped one of the Eight-Tails' severed horns."

He let out a dramatic sigh.

"The Cloud Village turned the entire battlefield upside down looking for it, but of course, they never found a trace."

"You think if they ever find out, the Third Raikage will poke you to death with his fingers?"

Tobirama and Hashirama exchanged glances, momentarily stunned.

They had underestimated Orochimaru.

That snake really had no scruples.

"You cut that out!" Nawaki shot back, clearly irritated.

"You were involved too! If the Cloud wants revenge, they'll go after you and Orochimaru first, not me!"

He refused to take the blame for something he wasn't even part of.

Besides, it wasn't like villages went around publicly exposing their own humiliations.

If every dirty secret between the great nations were made public, the entire ninja world would be in chaos.

Meanwhile, the Cloud Village was still struggling with the aftermath of their recent crisis.

Unlike Iwagakure, they had requested aid much more swiftly.

But that came at a cost—Black Zetsu had already infiltrated their ranks, planting his pawns among them.

Tobirama could tell what the Third Raikage was trying to do.

He was stalling.

Keeping things steady until reinforcements arrived—specifically, until Konoha arrived.

Once Kushina was in the village, all of Black Zetsu's hidden White Zetsu spies would be exposed.

The Third Raikage was deeply worried about another wave of attacks, yet so far, the enemy had remained eerily silent.

Almost too silent.

Black Zetsu wasn't concerned about Konoha's involvement.

Even if they helped the Cloud, it didn't matter.

His primary goal was to spread his influence, infiltrate deeper, and find the Rinnegan.

The White Zetsu were disposable.

Losing them meant nothing.

As long as the Rinnegan remained missing, the attacks on the Cloud Village would never stop.

"Looks like the damage here is worse than what happened in Iwagakure," Nawaki noted as they approached the village.

Even from a distance, they could see countless collapsed buildings, clear signs of devastation.

He rubbed his face, relieved.

"Good thing we got rid of the Rinnegan when we did. If we'd kept it, Konoha would've been the one getting attacked right now."

Other villages saw the Rinnegan as a weapon.

Takuya?

He had seen it as a ticking time bomb.

The Hidden Stone and the Hidden Cloud were proof enough.

Even if Black Zetsu couldn't destroy Konoha outright, he would've made sure to harass them non-stop.

Takuya had no interest in playing that game.

If anyone wanted to deal with that mess, they were welcome to it.

The Stone and the Cloud had always been too aggressive, constantly starting wars.

Let's see how many more battles they could afford after this.

"The Rinnegan is a cursed object," he muttered.

"Whoever holds onto it is doomed."

Even though one Rinnegan was enough to summon the Ten-Tails, having both eyes would make Madara even stronger.

And there was no way he could keep relying on Edo Tensei forever.

Reviving himself and regaining his youth—that was what Madara truly wanted.

Minato tilted his head.

"Do you think the Cloud will get rid of the Rinnegan after this attack?"

"Doesn't matter," Takuya replied dismissively.

"That's not our problem. The First and Second Hokage will handle it."

Their mission was only to help stabilize the Cloud Village and root out the White Zetsu.

Everything else was someone else's problem.

Moments later, they reached the village perimeter.

Cloud patrols stopped them at the gates.

After confirming their identities, they were escorted inside.

"Konoha's reinforcements have arrived," a messenger informed the Third Raikage.

He exhaled in relief.

He had no fear of an open battle.

Massive casualties? Fine.

But stealth attacks?

Hidden enemies within his own ranks?

That was the real danger.

Those needed to be eliminated immediately.

"Bring our guests to my office," he ordered.

He intended to clear out the Hokage's representatives from his war room and discuss far more pressing matters with Takuya.

Takuya followed the escorting shinobi through the ruined streets, surveying the destruction.

"Damn," he muttered.

"This place is a mess."

Silence.

Minato and Nawaki visibly tensed.

Kushina nearly choked on air.

The Cloud ninja guiding them twitched.

Bro.

This is literally their village.

Could he not say something like that out loud?

If they weren't here as reinforcements—and if Takuya wasn't so dangerous—their guides might have jumped him on the spot.

Luckily, he didn't push it further.

Soon, they reached the Raikage's office and stepped inside.

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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