Chapter 67: White Zetsu, Your Thoughtfulness Is Creepy

Black Zetsu had much on his mind.

When necessary, even Obito wasn't that important.

When necessary, they didn't really need Madara Uchiha either.

If the original plan went off course, they could perfectly well use Hiroki Hyuga as Kaguya's backup vessel.

It was just... compared to Madara, that guy's talent and strength were somewhat too weak...

I understand now, Mother. You're thinking much further ahead than I imagined, Black Zetsu mused inwardly, believing he'd seen through Kaguya's intentions.

Yet, he also felt somewhat jealous.

"Mother obviously values chakra a lot—who needs to waste so much on him like that?"

As he pondered this thought, Obito cast a calm glance at him and remarked casually, "A member of the Hyuga Branch Family cannot truly sever ties with the Hyuga or Konoha. In my opinion, we should just kill him."

Black Zetsu: "..."

Seeing the stunned expression on his face, Obito suddenly burst into laughter.

Speechless, Black Zetsu followed him away.

Soon afterward, he summoned a White Zetsu to go assist Hiroki Hyuga.

Obito conveyed his instructions to Mizukage Yagura.

Quickly enough, Yagura issued an order.

"There's a ninja from the Hyuga Clan who has infiltrated Kiri. Hunt him down across the entire village. Kill him."

Then, Obito drifted off somewhere, lost in thought again.

Most of his time was spent brooding over past regrets. He often got lost in nostalgic memories, mixing both joy and sorrow.

As for the outcome of the assassination order? Who even cared? It had only been a fleeting impulse.

At Hiroki Hyuga's location, two Mist Anbu exchanged glances before making their move.

[Water Release: Hiding in Drizzle Technique] 

The air thickened with mist as Water Release: Hiding in Drizzle Technique took effect, reducing visibility to almost nothing.

Hiroki opened his eyes and shook his head helplessly.

"You think I don't really have the Byakugan?"

With heavy fog present, those two Mist ninjas used Body Replacement Technique, moving swiftly through the haze.

Rubbing his aching body, Hiroki showed no intention of yielding.

[Point Striking] 

After hitting an important pressure point on one Mist ninja, blocking his chakra flow and slowing him down, he kicked another approaching opponent away.

Then, while retreating and fighting back:

[Twin Palm Strike!] He blasted a powerful palm strike behind him and kept moving forward.

Spotting White Zetsu in one direction, he halted his steps.

Without saying anything else, White Zetsu led him out of Kiri.

Outside the Hidden Mist Village, looking toward the fog-covered settlement behind them, he spoke, "Where do the Kaguya live? Take me there."

"They're under constant surveillance by Mist ninjas. Are you really still going? Obito ordered your elimination; the Mist won't stop hunting you."

"I don't remember ever falling out with Obito."

"Who knows? He doesn't exactly think like regular people." White Zetsu chuckled playfully.

"You're right. I need a place to rest. My back and waist are killing me."

Hiroki settled down somewhere temporarily.

Throughout this, White Zetsu kept following him around, disguised as ordinary townspeople.

"What are you still doing here?"

"Black Zetsu said you might be injured and need someone to take care of you."

Although it seemed like he was serving Hiroki Hyuga, Black Zetsu actually wanted to prevent Kaguya from feeling even the slightest dissatisfaction.

In the room, Hiroki Hyuga looked at his current appearance—a bearded man—and fell silent.

If only I had a gentle female maid attending me instead of this...

Unfortunately, it was White Zetsu. That kind of feigned care just creeps me out.

"Can you change into another form? You should have collected plenty of chakra characteristics already."

"Who should I become?"

"Hold on," Hiroki Hyuga interrupted White Zetsu, who had entered a sort of blind box state, rapidly shifting through different faces.

"Kaguya, can you give me a bit of your chakra?"

Kaguya: "Why?"

Could it be...?

Though she had her suspicions, Kaguya still gave him some chakra.

Hiroki Hyuga transferred the chakra Kaguya had given him to White Zetsu's body.

"Try it now."

"This chakra is very special, but somehow..."

Before White Zetsu could finish speaking, Hiroki Hyuga heard Kaguya laugh coldly. Then his body acted against his will, slapping White Zetsu hard across the face.

A clear handprint appeared on White Zetsu's face. He looked stunned but continued with what he hadn't finished saying, "I can't transform."

"Kaguya, I just wanted to test how amazing his abilities really are. Why did you do that?"

"Hmph, really?" If Hiroki Hyuga were in Kaguya Palace right now, he would see her expression—half-smiling yet not quite smiling.

"..."

"I can clearly tell you, he's incapable. He and I belong to different levels of existence. Don't waste your chakra anymore."

"Oh." Hiroki Hyuga felt disappointed.

"Let White Zetsu supply you with chakra. That way, your body will recover faster."

Hiroki turned to the still-dazed White Zetsu and said, "With this mark, you're one of a kind. This is a blessing from Lady Kaguya—don't ever erase it."

White Zetsu went off to gather chakra, and Hiroki Hyuga lay down on the bed, picking up the Mist Village ninja profile left behind by White Zetsu—Emerald green eyes, reddish-brown curly hair… Terumi Mei.

"That's right, why should I go looking for a fight? Truthfully, I've never enjoyed fighting anyway."

Within Mount Myoboku.

Fukasaku used Reverse Summoning to bring back an extremely wounded Jiraiya.

Seeing Jiraiya in such a pitiful state, Naruto became deeply worried.

"Tsunade-sensei, are you okay?"

Jiraiya seemed dazed and didn't respond immediately.

Elder Fukasaku said, "Jiraiya, you couldn't defeat him."

"I really want to know whether all this was predicted in the prophecy. If you already knew I couldn't win, then why send me against them?"

Sighing, Elder Fukasaku replied, "According to Grandpa's words, he must've been mentally tainted, which allowed him to use part of Kaguya's power."

"Then there's no hope for him?" Naruto cut in.

"We've long been enemies with them, Naruto."

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Jiraiya half-supported himself and sat upright.

"Elder Sage Fukasaku, what should we do next?"

"This..." Fukasaku couldn't make up his mind either, and in the end, he could only give a cliché answer—"spiritual cultivation."

Jiraiya sighed.

Inside Kiri, ever since the Fourth Mizukage issued the order, the entire village sprang into action.

Many people rushed about hurriedly, and ninja with solemn expressions could be seen investigating in various locations.

A woman wearing a blue strapless dress stepped out of her house. Seeing the streets swarming with ninja, she couldn't help but feel startled.

"What's going on now?" She stopped someone and asked.

"A Konoha ninja has infiltrated our village. Mizukage-sama ordered us to capture him."

The man barely finished speaking before hurrying off.

Suddenly, she felt something strange.

"Hello."

At the sound of an unfamiliar voice, she looked around but saw no one deliberately greeting her.

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