Chapter 89: White Zetsu.
Sunagakure — Hidden Sand Village
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, stared at the report in his hands with a heavy expression.
Pakura—a threat to his position—was dead. Chiyo and Ebizo, who kept him in check, were gone too.
By all accounts, this should have been a time of celebration.
But it wasn't.
His gaze hardened on a single name in the report: Zenkichi.
Everything had gone wrong because of this man.
Rasa gritted his teeth. He wanted to kill Zenkichi with his own hands.
But the man's overwhelming power left him feeling helpless.
Direct confrontation? Out of the question.
Still… any method would do, as long as Zenkichi died.
He'd heard that sealing techniques could restrain Zenkichi. Fortunately, he had already begun training a team specialized in fūinjutsu.
Just then, a voice echoed in the room.
"Fourth Kazekage Rasa…"
A white humanoid figure rose from the ground beside him.
"What are you?" Rasa demanded, startled but not shaken.
The figure was White Zetsu, sent under Black Zetsu's orders. Though Rasa couldn't fully grasp what the being was, he didn't sense any immediate threat.
And Rasa, despite his flaws, was still a proud Kage.
"I'm an enemy of Zenkichi—just like you. That makes us allies."
"You're troubled, aren't you?" White Zetsu continued. "Both Kirigakure and Konohagakure have fallen under Zenkichi's control. And now, he's set his sights on unifying the ninja world."
"You villages are his next targets. Even if you surrender, there's no guarantee he'll accept it."
"You only have one option—fight him to the end."
Rasa narrowed his eyes, golden sand beginning to float in the air around him.
"Did you come here just to spout nonsense?" he asked coldly.
Seeing the situation getting tense, White Zetsu quickly shifted focus.
"I'm offering something useful," he said quickly. "I can serve as a liaison. I can help you connect with the other major villages."
"Zenkichi's power is overwhelming. One village alone can't stop him. But united, you might have a chance."
Rasa paused, considering the offer.
"I've already begun reaching out to the others," he replied.
"And I can make it easier," Zetsu said. "My clones are linked through a shared consciousness, and my travel speed is unmatched."
Rasa gave a small, calculating smile.
"Fine. I'll give you a chance."
---
Iwagakure — Hidden Stone Village
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, hovered in the air, eyes heavy with worry.
He might've clashed often with Rōshi, but he couldn't deny the man's importance to Iwa.
Now that Rōshi was dead, his heart carried a weight he didn't show on his face.
"Zenkichi…"
Just thinking of the man who killed Rōshi—and crippled his own son—filled him with bitterness.
"My Dust Release should be able to finish him."
He muttered to himself, clinging to that hope.
Suddenly, a voice rose from below:
"Zenkichi isn't that easy to deal with, Tsuchikage-sama."
White Zetsu emerged from the ground.
"You need help."
Ōnoki turned with narrowed eyes.
"Cooperation? I'm listening."
He was cunning enough to entertain any strategy that offered a chance at victory.
---
Kumogakure — Hidden Cloud Village
The newly appointed Fourth Raikage slammed his fist through yet another desk.
His top subordinate Burui had died in Konoha. The Eight-Tails was gone. The Amber Purification Jar, a national treasure, stolen.
The losses were staggering.
All because of that one man—Zenkichi.
"Lord Raikage, please calm down."
A calm voice drifted up from the ground as White Zetsu emerged.
"Anger won't fix anything. Let's talk about how to eliminate Zenkichi."
"Who the hell are you?"
The Raikage's body flickered. In the blink of an eye, he had White Zetsu by the throat, hoisting him into the air.
"I'm here to help you destroy Zenkichi," Zetsu answered, unbothered.
"You?" the Raikage sneered. "You think you can deal with him?"
"Then how about these eyes?"
A second White Zetsu figure rose from the earth—this one with a single eye, rimmed in black and glowing purple.
The Rinnegan.
The Raikage's face froze.
"That eye… the Rinnegan?"
Even he had heard of its terrifying reputation.
Seeing that the Raikage hesitated, Black Zetsu, hidden within Tobi, let out a silent breath of relief.
He knew the Raikage was a hothead, so he'd brought both Tobi and Nagato to assist in convincing him.
---
Amegakure — Hidden Rain Village
Hanzo the Salamander, the so-called Demigod, sat in silence, eyes cold as a White Zetsu emerged from the ground before him.
The silent entrance put Hanzo on edge.
If such infiltration were used for assassination, even he would be in danger.
"Demigod Hanzo," Zetsu said calmly. "Don't be alarmed. I came to negotiate."
"Your mastery of poison is unmatched. We need your help to defeat Zenkichi."
Hanzo scoffed.
"Why should I fight Zenkichi? I hold no grudge against him."
White Zetsu's grin widened.
"You may not know this yet, but Zenkichi is forming a vast ninja organization to control the entire shinobi world."
"And people like you—those who stand alone—will be his first targets."
"He won't ask. He'll simply remove you to make room for his order."
"Unless, of course, you're willing to swallow your pride… and serve him."
Hanzo went quiet.
There was a time when he might have considered joining Zenkichi to pursue peace.
But power changes people.
Years of ruling the Land of Rain had corroded his ideals.
And Hanzo was no longer the man he used to be.