Simultaneous Transmigration: From Douluo Continent to the Pinnacle

The chaos of the Konoha Chunin Exams, which shocked the ninja world, has finally come to a complete end.

That earth-shattering battle, those two colossal Buddhas standing tall and imposing, that cataclysmic collision, and the final scene of Uchiha Yao and Tsunade joining forces to suppress the legendary Edo Tensei warriors.

It has already been broadcast to every corner of the entire ninja world through the live crystal screen.

The five great nations, various smaller nations, and tens of thousands of ninjas and civilians all witnessed that legendary duel.

Everyone clearly recognized one fact: the era of Konoha had arrived.

Shortly afterward, the Five Kage Summit was officially held in the conference room of the Hokage Building in Konoha.

The conference room is located on the top floor of the Hokage Building. It is spacious and bright, with exquisite wood carvings inlaid on the four walls, depicting important historical moments of Konoha from its founding to the present day.

A huge oval conference table sits in the center of the room, its smooth surface reflecting the light of the crystal chandelier on the ceiling.

Five high-backed chairs were arranged around a round table, with the symbols of the five villages carved on their backs—fire, water, wind, earth, and thunder.

However, the atmosphere in the conference room was extremely oppressive at that moment.

It was as if even the air had frozen, and every breath carried a heavy pressure.

The other Kage-level and Jonin from the other ninja villages present had solemn expressions and shifty eyes.

Their gazes occasionally drifted toward the young figure in the main seat, Uchiha Yao.

His strength is truly terrifying.

Everyone saw the previous battle clearly.

The combined power of Uchiha Yao and Tsunade actually suppressed the reanimated Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara.

That's the legendary "God of Ninjas" and "Shura of the Ninja World"!

Moreover, Konoha, relying on its overall strength, quickly quelled the chaos caused by the Mizukage and Kazekage's personnel under the control of Shimura Danzo.

The whole process was clean and efficient, without any unnecessary delays.

This level of execution and profound understanding sent a chill down the spines of all onlookers.

However, A, the Fourth Raikage, who also harbored ambitions to conquer Konoha and dominate the entire ninja world, could only suppress the slight fear in his heart and take the initiative to attack.

He slammed his hand on the table, the resounding crash echoing like thunder in the quiet conference room. He stood up, his tall frame casting a commanding shadow, his gaze piercing Uchiha Yao like a blade, his voice filled with barely suppressed rage and accusation: "Uchiha Hokage! Konoha is using the former territory of the Land of Whirlpools as a forward fortress, extending its reach into the Land of Water—what does this mean? Do you intend to start the Fourth Shinobi World War?!"

His words carried a deliberately crafted air of anger and righteous indignation. As he spoke, his gaze unconsciously swept over the representatives of the other countries, attempting to draw them onto his side—only in this way could he bolster his own courage.

In reality, only half of Onoki in the meeting hall truly shared his sentiments. The rest were mostly just trying to survive or cooperate with the current Konoha. After all, Uchiha You possessed such terrifying strength, yet he hadn't directly launched a ninja world war for unification, suggesting he was a mild-mannered person. Representatives from many small countries, and even some from major powers, were secretly calculating: kneel down quickly and try to gain the greatest benefit.

However, they feared being purged later, feared being condemned by their descendants or by history, feared being called spineless and traitors. Therefore, they dared not show it, and could only lower their heads, pretending to be deep in thought, none of them willing to speak first.

Thus, a peculiar scene unfolded at the meeting.

The Mizukage's seat was empty, with only a straw hat, a symbol of the Mizukage's status, resting quietly on the chair, as if awaiting its owner. The Kazekage's seat was occupied by an elderly woman with white hair—Chiyo, an advisor and elder of Sunagakure.

Chiyo's feelings at this moment could be described as one of deep regret and helplessness. Originally, Sunagakure's plan was to take advantage of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa's visit to Konoha and participation in the Chunin Exams to secretly betray Danzo and forge an alliance with Konoha. In this way, Sunagakure could both get rid of Danzo's entanglement and gain Konoha's friendship, achieving two goals at once.

But they never expected Danzo to be so ruthless, striking first by assassinating Rasa and using the Impure World Reincarnation to control him. This completely shattered Sunagakure's plans; not only did they fail to form an alliance with Konoha, they were also branded as "participating in the attack on Konoha," leaving them utterly on the defensive.

The Sand Village could no longer withstand the wrath of Konoha. Chiyo knew this, so she had no choice but to swallow her pride and quickly explain, "Hokage-sama... regarding the Fourth Kazekage being manipulated by Danzo, the Sand Village truly had no prior knowledge. We were victims too..."

Faced with the Raikage's anger and Chiyo's explanation, Uchiha You remained calm and composed. He didn't answer immediately, but instead picked up the teacup in front of him, took a small sip, and then put it down. His movements were unhurried, as if this meeting, which would determine the fate of the ninja world, was nothing more than an ordinary tea party.

Then, he looked at the Raikage, his gaze calm, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable power: "Does Konoha really dare to wage a full-scale war now?"

With just that simple sentence, the Raikage was rendered speechless.

Raikage A opened his mouth wide, wanting to say something, wanting to slam the table and roar, wanting to threaten to unite with the other four countries to attack Konoha—but when he met Uchiha Yao's eyes, which were as calm as a deep pool, all the words stuck in his throat and he couldn't utter them.

His heart was filled with anger and apprehension. He wanted to slam his fist on the table, storm off, and declare the start of the great battle. However, looking at Uchiha Yao's calm eyes, the image of those two towering Buddhas from that day involuntarily surfaced in his mind, along with the earth-shattering collision and the scene of Uchiha Yao single-handedly suppressing all the Edo Tensei powerhouses.

A flicker of fear crossed his mind.

He could only suppress his frustration, grit his teeth, sit back in his chair, and stop talking.

Ultimately, Konoha's overall strength is simply too great. So great that it inspires despair.

Seeing the Raikage's frustrated expression, Uchiha You ignored him. He turned to Chiyo, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "I understand your situation. I'll make arrangements later."

Chiyo breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing this. Although Uchiha Yao hadn't explicitly stated his opinion, at least he hadn't shown any intention of holding Sunagakure accountable. For Sunagakure at this point, this was already the best possible outcome.

Just as the stalemate was at hand, the meeting room door was pushed open.

A graceful figure walked into the conference room. All eyes were immediately drawn to her—long, brown, curly hair, emerald green eyes, a mature and alluring demeanor, and a composed smile playing at the corners of her lips.

Terumi Mei.

She walked straight to the empty seat for the Mizukage and sat down calmly. She reached out, picked up the straw hat that symbolized the Mizukage's identity, and gently placed it on her head. Then she raised her head, her gaze sweeping over the entire room, her voice clear and steady: "Everyone, I'm late. I apologize."

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

Mei Terumi ignored the crowd's shock and revealed the truth that had been buried for many years: "For many years, the Blood Mist Incident in Kirigakure and the various chaos within the village were all caused by Danzo Shimura, who used his Sharingan to manipulate the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura. The tragedy of Kirigakure was not of its own volition, but rather the result of being secretly manipulated."

Her voice carried a mixture of anger and relief that had been suppressed for many years: "Here, I want to express my gratitude to the Uchiha Hokage—it was he who set things right, cleared Kirigakure's name, and brought the truth to light. Kirigakure will forever remember this kindness."

Her words definitively confirmed Konoha's righteous cause of redeeming Kirigakure. Those who had previously harbored doubts about Konoha's intervention in the Land of Water's affairs were now speechless—they were going to rescue the manipulated village; it was a righteous act, so what reason did they have to criticize her?

Uchiha Yao then made the official announcement, his voice calm yet carrying an unquestionable authority: "Mei Terumi, from this day forward, you are officially appointed as the Fifth Mizukage of Kirigakure."

These words caused another uproar in the room.

However, before everyone could recover from the shock, Uchiha Yao dropped another bombshell: "Furthermore—Mei Terumi is also my wife."

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone was stunned. Onoki, suspended in mid-air, nearly lost his balance and sank slightly. Raikage A's eyes widened, his mouth agape. Chiyo also looked bewildered, clearly not expecting this connection.

Mei Terumi smiled slightly, turned to look at Uchiha You, a gentle light flashing in her eyes. The two exchanged a glance, everything understood without words.

However, Raikage A could no longer remain seated. He stood up again, his voice filled with an almost hysterical accusation: "Hokage Uchiha! First you controlled the Land of Water, and now you've declared the Mizukage your wife—what exactly are you trying to do?! Do you want to annex all the countries and dominate the entire ninja world?! Were all your previous peaceful actions just a facade? Now that your power is almost there, is it time to start a war of unification?!"

His words carried a deep sense of apprehension and fear. If that were truly the case, the Land of Lightning must be prepared and not allow Konoha to easily swallow up their century-old foundation.

However, before Uchiha Yao could speak, Konan stepped forward from the side. She carried a thick stack of documents and calmly distributed them to each attendee. These documents detailed Shimura Danzo's numerous crimes over the years—colluding with a mysterious figure, wreaking havoc in multiple countries, manipulating Kage-level ninjas, secretly conducting human experiments, and attempting to overthrow the ninja world's order.

Konan's voice was clear and cold as she meticulously listed Danzo's crimes: "Shimura Danzo, an S-rank rogue ninja of Konoha, has been secretly manipulating the internal affairs of many countries for years, attempting to overthrow the ninja world's order. The reason Konoha sent its forces to the Land of Water was to purge Konoha's rogue ninja and restore peace to the ninja world. As for Mei Terumi's marriage to the Hokage—that's a private matter and has nothing to do with politics."

Her explanation was flawless and watertight. In reality, after several years of governance, Konoha's strength had indeed reached its zenith. Uchiha You also genuinely believed it was time to accelerate expansion—to gain greater strategic depth and a wider area of ​​influence, thereby expanding Konoha's power and laying the foundation for future unification.

But of course, this kind of thing can't be said outright. So, Konan's official reason was "to eliminate rogue ninja and maintain peace in the ninja world."

The members of Iwagakure and Kumogakure remained silent. They weren't fools; they knew, of course, that Konoha's explanation was just an excuse. However, none of them dared to confront Konoha's unparalleled fighting strength and perfect rhetoric. Faced with absolute power, all protests were futile.

Before everyone could calm down, another unexpected event occurred in the Sand Village camp.

The conference room door opened again, and two figures walked in side by side. Yekura and Temari.

Yekura stepped forward, looking directly at Chiyo, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable firmness: "Elder Chiyo, from this day forward, I will represent Sunagakure at this meeting."

Chiyo looked at Pakura and remained silent for a moment. She knew that Konoha's fate was irreversible, and Sunagakure was already powerless to resist. In addition, she had already chosen to submit, and now, with the reappearance of the former Sunagakure hero—Pakura, and the Fourth Kazekage's daughter—Temari, this was a perfect opportunity for a handover.

Chiyo acted decisively, stood up, and presented the straw hat that symbolized her status as the Kazekage to Yekura with both hands: "From this day forward, you will be the Fifth Kazekage of Sunagakure."

Yecang took the straw hat, put it on his head, and calmly sat down in the Kazekage's seat.

Temari stood behind her, her emotions a complex mix. While she was saddened by the death of her father, Rasa, at the hands of Danzo, she understood that this outcome was the best possible result—it spared Sunagakure from the turmoil of war and allowed her two younger brothers, Kankuro and Gaara, to live peacefully from now on. Moreover, if they could receive training from the Hokage of Konoha, it might be even better for them.

Thinking about this made her feel much better.

Sunagakure has completely sided with Konoha.

After taking his seat, Yekura immediately began her accusations: "Danzo and that mysterious masked man conspired to frame the Fourth Kazekage and wreak havoc in Sunagakure. Their crimes are too numerous to count. Moreover, judging from Shimura Danzo's previous actions, it is clear that a mysterious force is orchestrating a grand scheme, attempting to create chaos among the major powers and profit from it."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the room, her voice carrying an unwavering determination: "Therefore, Sunagakure has decided to forge a strategic alliance with Konoha and Kirigakure to jointly resist the mysterious forces behind Shimura Danzo."

Uchiha Yao agreed. He nodded slightly, his voice calm yet carrying a convincing power: "My wish is for the ninja world to be at peace."

Upon hearing Uchiha Yao's words, Tsunade, Kakashi, and the others present gleamed with admiration. They believed these were the Hokage's true thoughts. Words can deceive, but Uchiha Yao's previous actions had consistently strived for peace. Since he took office, Konoha had indeed become much friendlier. The vices of the Third Hokage's era—factional strife, suppression of dissidents, and the sacrifice of the weak—had significantly improved. Everyone in the village was progressing, and a positive value system centered on friendship had been formed.

Therefore, they trusted Uchiha Yao.

Seeing Konoha instantly win over the powerful forces of Kirigakure and Sunagakure, Onoki and Raikage A's expressions turned extremely grim. Although the leaders of the latter two—Pakura and Mei Terumi—had not yet fully grasped the power of these two countries, their alignment with Konoha would significantly strengthen the village.

In this way, Konoha, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure formed a pincer movement against Iwagakure and Kumogakure. Onoki and Raikage A both felt extremely dangerous, but they were helpless—they had no way to intervene.

Besides flipping the table.

However, they lacked the power to overturn the table. This wasn't the era of Hiruzen Sarutobi anymore; the Uchiha brat before them was far too difficult to deal with. They had initially thought Uchiha You was gradually strengthening the village, but they hadn't expected him to devour so much power so quickly from the start. Before, they had thought Uchiha You was too cowardly and timid, but now it seemed—they had underestimated this kid.

He is not a meteor who rose to prominence merely by relying on the power of his bloodline limit, but a truly intelligent and powerful person who can leverage his strengths and knows how to accumulate resources.

Such an opponent would make Onoki and Raikage A prefer facing Hashirama Senju rather than Yo Uchiha. However, they had no choice; Yo Uchiha was from the same era as the current Yo, and they hadn't been able to eliminate him in time, so they had to endure it.

Subsequently, Uchiha Yao abandoned his balancing act.

He looked at Yekura, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable air of authority: "Konoha will send two thousand ninjas to Sunagakure to assist in maintaining stability. At the same time—under the guise of special training, Gaara, the Jinchuriki of the One-Tailed Beast, will be left in Konoha."

He paused, a slight smile curving his lips: "I believe that with Sasuke and Naruto's charisma, Gaara will soon integrate into the atmosphere of Konoha and become one of us."

Ye Cang remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded. She knew that this was both help and a hostage situation.

But she also understood that this was the most lenient condition Konoha could offer.

The talks have now concluded.

On their return journey, the Raikage and Onoki were filled with resentment and apprehension. They secretly met at the border and formed an alliance, attempting to jointly contain Konoha. At the same time, they placed their hopes on the mysterious figure behind the scenes—they hoped that this figure could weaken both Konoha and Iwagakure, buying Iwagakure and Kumogakure a chance to recover.

Meanwhile, the cunning Onoki secretly laid a trap. He left his granddaughter, Kurotsuchi, in Konoha. Ostensibly, this was to have her study under Uchiha Yo, but in reality, he was planting a seed for future action: if Konoha's unification became inevitable, he would use Kurotsuchi's bond and bloodline to ensure the survival of Iwagakure.

Although Kurotsuchi was somewhat shy and reserved, she understood her grandfather's intentions. Having witnessed Uchiha You's strength and demeanor up close, she had come to realize Konoha's insurmountable power. She sighed inwardly, but did not resist—because she knew that this might be the best choice.

Inside the Hokage's office.

Uchiha Yao stood by the window, watching the crowds coming and going on the street below. Among them were ninjas from Konoha, as well as those from Kirigakure and Sunagakure. Although they were still wearing their respective village uniforms, there was no longer any hostility between them; some were even chatting and laughing together at the street stalls.

He withdrew his gaze, turned to look at Konan sitting on the sofa, and said, "You will take over teaching Kurotsuchi. Let her familiarize herself with the administrative operations of Konoha."

Xiao Nan nodded: "Understood."

Just then, the office door was pushed open. Tsunade strode in, closed the door behind her, then leaned against the doorframe, crossed her arms, looked at Uchiha You, and asked the question that had been lingering in her mind for a long time: "You, I've never understood—you clearly possess unparalleled fighting power, why don't you just unify the ninja world and end the war? With your current strength, you could easily do it."

Uchiha Yao didn't answer immediately. He walked behind his desk, sat down, picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and then put it down. He looked up at Tsunade, his gaze calm and profound: "Tsunade, what do you think is the biggest problem in the ninja world right now?"

Tsunade paused slightly, thought for a moment, and replied, "Is it war? Is it hatred? Is it unequal distribution of resources?"

Uchiha Yao shook his head, then nodded: "These are all superficial. The root cause lies in—the system."

"The daimyo and nobles have ruled this world for far too long. They control the land, resources, and power, yet they are not accountable to anyone. They can levy taxes, conscript soldiers, and wage wars at will. The common people and ninjas at the bottom of society can only passively endure all of this."

"What if I, like my great-grandfather, forcibly unified the ninja world with absolute force and then established a central government centered on Konoha—what would the result be?"

Tsunade thought for a moment and replied, "Peace should be achieved in the short term."

"And then?" Uchiha Yao pressed. "After I die, or after I leave this world, will those suppressed conflicts erupt again? Will those daimyo and nobles who have lost power secretly collude and attempt to restore their rule? Will those ninja villages that are used to autonomy outwardly comply but inwardly accumulate power, waiting for their opportunity?"

Tsunade remained silent.

Uchiha Yao continued, his voice calm yet carrying a deep sense of contemplation: "Right now, the Akatsuki and Obito are not to be feared. The real threats are Black Zetsu, the Sage of Six Paths, and the Ōtsutsuki clan hiding in seclusion. Those are the ones who can truly threaten this world."

"Currently, Konoha has too few forces capable of reaching the grassroots level. The entire ninja world is governed mostly by the power of the daimyo and nobles. I don't want it to be like that."

"Starting a war rashly will only make the ninja world more chaotic, allowing all sorts of demons and monsters to emerge. What I want is—to truly control the entire ninja world. To completely abolish the rule of the daimyo and nobles, and to make Konoha a truly unified government that brings peace to the whole world."

"This requires the development of productivity and a deeper understanding of the power of chakra. If we can utilize it at a deeper level, we can even achieve a friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with the tailed beasts when subduing them, making them an indispensable strategic research partner of Konoha—instead of just becoming a so-called 'Ten-Tails.' That would be too inefficient."

"Anyway, I now possess absolute power, and I'm improving every single second. I prefer to approach building my own ruling empire with a business-like mindset."

Tsunade listened quietly, a bright light gradually shining in her eyes. For the first time, she truly understood that the boy she liked harbored such a grand vision in his heart.

The rule of daimyo and nobles began over a thousand years ago. Even before the five great states existed, daimyo and nobles, as the ruling class, had existed for a long time. They controlled land, resources, and armies, enacted laws favorable to themselves, levied heavy taxes, and enjoyed privileged lives. Meanwhile, the common people at the bottom toiled generation after generation, barely managing to survive, with no path to upward mobility.

Unexpectedly, what Yao Jun wanted to end was this kind of rule.

Perhaps in that way, peace and more benefits could be provided to the underprivileged.

Yao-kun, you're really amazing.

He possesses the absolute strength to quell chaos, just like his great-grandfather, yet he manages to set his sights so far ahead. No wonder…

Tsunade walked to Uchiha Yao's side, reached out, and gently took his hand. She didn't speak, but the warm touch conveyed all her support and trust.

Uchiha Yao raised his head, looked at her, and smiled slightly.

From then on, the ninja world entered a strange period of peaceful transition.

Under Mei Terumi's reforms, Kirigakure completely abolished the bloody "Bloody Mist Policy." Those who had participated in the brutal policy were purged one by one, and the village's atmosphere was transformed. Konoha and Kirigakure fully cooperated, with deep integration of their military, education, medical, mission, and research systems. Exchange student programs were implemented, and the joint team model began to be promoted at all levels.

This approach of shaping a worldview starting with ninjas and ninja geniuses is the most effective way to bridge the gap between the two villages. It's actually quite similar to Konoha's previous concept of "bonds"—but the previous Konoha leadership focused more on personal gain, using it as a means of control. Uchiha You, on the other hand, genuinely delegated power, truly granting these young people status and benefits.

Secondly, there's the increase in scientific research capabilities. Especially in research on chakra and natural forces, although it was difficult at first, with increasing resources and the addition of more and more talent, the surprises are growing. The ninja world already had a certain scientific foundation, but it was previously suppressed by the immense power of chakra and couldn't be fully developed. Now, under Uchiha Yao's leadership, with so many forces concentrated on this area, how could things be simple?

In Sunagakure, after Pakura took power, she ruthlessly purged the traitorous former subordinates, quelling internal strife. Meanwhile, thanks to the exchange of resources between Konoha and Kirigakure, the Land of Wind's resource-scarce situation was greatly alleviated. Food, medicine, cloth, tools—these once scarce resources flowed into Sunagakure steadily, winning the hearts of the villagers.

Chiyo and Ebizo saw through the tide of events and stopped struggling against it, focusing all their efforts on supporting Pakura. They established the succession plan for Temari as the Sixth Kazekage, hoping to preserve the status of the five great ninja villages of Sunagakure through this method and by relying on Konoha's protection.

Gaara was left in Konoha and joined Kakashi's team, training alongside Naruto and Sasuke. Initially, he remained aloof and cold, unwilling to interact with others, always staying alone in a corner. But Naruto's tireless enthusiasm, like sunshine, Sasuke's seemingly indifferent yet caring attitude, and Kakashi's laid-back yet reliable teaching style gradually melted the ice in his heart.

He gradually shed his aloofness and violence, began to integrate with his companions, and gained new bonds.

The atmosphere within Konoha Village was also changing rapidly. On the streets, ninja from Sunagakure and Kirigakure were everywhere. Some were shopping, some were discussing missions in front of the mission board, and some were sparring and exchanging techniques on the training grounds. Those who were former associates of the Third Hokage, watching these scenes, couldn't help but marvel at how quickly the times had changed.

Jiraiya and Minato drank and chatted. After a few drinks, Jiraiya's cheeks flushed slightly. He put down his cup and sighed, "Minato... I have to admit, I was wrong."

Minato paused slightly, "Jiraiya-sensei?"

Jiraiya waved his hand, his gaze somewhat unfocused, yet carrying a clear seriousness: "I always thought that Uchiha kid was too powerful, too domineering, and would eventually lead Konoha to war. But now it seems—my vision was too narrow."

"The path he took was the most moderate and effective one. He didn't conquer with force, but rather integrated through systems and shared interests. He didn't eliminate hatred, but dissolved it. This is the true path to peace."

He paused, poured himself another glass of wine, and downed it in one gulp: "The First Hokage's methods were still too crude. First, he subdued them all, and then he distributed dangerous creatures like the Tailed Beasts to everyone—this only made the war more chaotic. But Yo's approach... that's truly brilliant."

Minato smiled, raised his glass, and clinked it against Jiraiya's: "Yes. We should all believe him."

In the training ground, the new generation of ninjas are full of vigor and training side by side.

Sasuke, Naruto, Gaara, and Suigetsu teamed up for training, their teamwork becoming increasingly seamless. Sasuke's Sharingan provided all-around vision, Naruto's Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu facilitated frontal attacks, Gaara's sand provided defense and control, and Suigetsu's water transformation technique and Executioner's Blade provided flank support and finishing blows. The four's cooperation had formed a complete tactical system.

Kankuro, Lee, Guy, and other juniors have all integrated into the atmosphere of Konoha. Although Kankuro still occasionally makes a few sarcastic remarks, he has learned to keep quiet in appropriate situations; Lee continues to chant the slogan of "youth" and undergo grueling training every day; and Guy continues to infect everyone around him with his enthusiasm as always.

Itachi Uchiha served as a mentor jonin, overseeing the training of the new generation. He always wore a gentle smile, patiently answering each junior's questions, and quietly nurturing these young people's growth in his own way.

Konoha's inclusive attitude has shown everyone a brighter future.

Meanwhile, in the Land of Rain, in a dark corner.

Black Zetsu and Obito were observing the changing landscape of the ninja world through a distorted spatial rift.

They witnessed Konoha gradually annexing Kirigakure and winning over Sunagakure, saw Uchiha Yo systematically expanding his influence, and saw the ninja world moving towards unification in an unprecedented way.

"He clearly possessed absolute power, yet he didn't directly unify the ninja world." Obito's voice carried a hint of disdain. "He was still too cowardly. He wasn't like an Uchiha at all."

Black Zetsu didn't answer immediately. His yellow eyes gleamed eerily in the darkness. After a moment, he spoke slowly, his voice hoarse and low: "That's for the best. A unified ninja world is too much of a threat to both of us. We can't afford to make any underhanded moves."

"This strange balance we're in now gives us plenty of time to prepare."

Obito was silent for a moment, then nodded: "You're right. Let them do what they want. Once our plan is complete, the entire ninja world will be ours."

Black Zetsu remained silent. He simply stood there quietly, his gaze piercing through the rain, looking towards the brightly lit Konoha Village in the distance.

Deep within his heart lay a lingering longing.

Everything continued to unfold slowly, following the trajectory he had laid out.

Mother... I will definitely rescue you.

……