Both time-traveled characters ended up as villainous henchmen.

Without much hesitation, Izumi Nen Shimei's eyes flashed with electricity, and she struck the White Zetsu who was trying to attack the little boy more than ten times.

The activity stopped only after a strong smell of burning wafted out.

This White Zetsu, which suddenly went mad, has completely lost its ability to move, but due to its special nature, Izumi Nen can still sense its life force.

Having learned his lesson from his earlier rash absorption of eye power, Izumi Nen did not choose to directly absorb the special chakra within this White Zetsu. Instead, he took out a specially made sealing scroll and carefully sealed the White Zetsu away.

Aside from the special chakra within them, White Zetsu is also a good research subject, so we can't let it go since we've come across it.

However, White Zetsu also has a hidden danger.

The White Zetsu currently in Konoha Village were most likely sent by Madara Uchiha, who was hiding underground. Now that Izumi Nen has captured them, Madara will definitely react.

Of course, Madara wouldn't be able to directly storm into Konoha to capture him now; it's more likely he'd send a new White Zetsu to gather intelligence.

What he needs to be wary of is the possibility of encountering combat-type White Zetsu.

Currently, the only combat-type White Zetsu around Madara is the guy who survived since the Kaguya era, and he doesn't want to get involved in the Black and White Zetsu's plan to save his mother too early.

Therefore, he needs to hide.

So here's the question: how did this white Zetsu manage to find him so precisely?

"Why did the White Zetsu attack me? What is it about me that could attract the White Zetsu?"

After carefully putting away the scroll sealed with White Zetsu, Izumi Nen began to ponder this question.

The answer didn't take long to come up with; Izumi quickly pinpointed the most unique power within him: the Sage Art Yin-Yang Release Chakra.

Although his method of synthesizing Sage Art Yin-Yang Release chakra is different from the ninja world tradition, it is clear that this power is very attractive to White Zetsu.

He didn't know where this attraction came from, but isolating it would be simple: just use the Yin-Yang seal.

To put it bluntly, it means that you will no longer be able to freely activate Sage Mode within the territory of Konoha Village.

There are limitations, but it's not a big problem.

Izumi Nen doesn't really need to engage in high-intensity battles in Konoha now. The fact that he doesn't use Sage Mode only prevents him from quickly accumulating natural energy using natural water bodies.

In contrast, he obtained the White Zetsu as a special research subject.

"Ah, I really want to have my own independent research institute," Izumi thought to himself. He was accumulating more and more secrets, and the limitations of continuing to stay by Orochimaru's side were becoming increasingly severe.

So next, he will follow Orochimaru's example and rebuild a secret research institute outside Konoha.

……

Just as Izumi was preparing to build a private structure outside the village.

Meanwhile, Madara Uchiha, who was hiding underground, also discovered the disappearance of the White Zetsu, the Uchiha clan member from Konoha who was monitoring the area.

"Dead? No, sealed away..."

After hearing the report from the White Zetsu beside him, Madara Uchiha frowned. He began to recall who in Konoha today could have discovered the hidden White Zetsu and sealed it away.

The Hokage is incompetent, and the Uchiha clan is full of idiots. Could it be the Byakugan side...?

After much deliberation, Madara Uchiha couldn't reach a conclusion, so he could only send another ordinary White Zetsu to Konoha to continue gathering intelligence.

At the same time, along with the ordinary White Zetsu, he also went with the only remaining Whirlpool-faced Fighting White Zetsu beside him.

"Be careful not to reveal your identity, don't do anything unnecessary, keep a close eye on that ordinary white Zetsu, and don't let it disappear inexplicably again."

"Okay, I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

Bai Jue, with his swirling face, responded with exaggerated movements and tone.

"If there's no news within five days, come back first."

Finally, Madara Uchiha said one more thing.

In his current state, he definitely needs a high-level combatant by his side to assist him in dealing with unexpected situations.

If he can't find out the reason for the White Zetsu's unexpected disappearance in a short time, he can only swallow this loss in silence. At worst, he can send out a few more ordinary White Zetsu so that they can look out for each other in Konoha.

The only problem is the cost of producing these ordinary White Zetsu.

……

Meanwhile, inside Konoha Village.

On a road leading to the Uchiha clan's territory, Kenji Uchiha and Tomoya Uchiha had just returned from the village's commercial street.

The two chatted and laughed on the way, preparing to undergo further training upon returning to their clan territory in preparation for the upcoming Chunin Exams.

As a result, several villagers who were chatting by the roadside showed resentment and hatred on their faces after seeing the two of them and the fan pattern on their clothes.

Kenji Uchiha and Tomoya Uchiha were already used to this, since the Uchiha clan was in charge of the village's guards and it was common for them to be resented and hated by the villagers.

This applies even to members of the tribe who are not part of the guard.

The two didn't intend to pay any more attention and quickened their pace.

But the villagers' next discussion made the two stop in their tracks.

"The so-called Uchiha are nothing special. I heard everything about the Chunin Exams from my child."

"What happened?"

"The two Uchiha in front were basically the last to reach the second stage, and they are no match for the others."

These two even provoked another civilian ninja, resulting in them falling completely behind him in the second stage.

"Oh, who is this commoner ninja? He managed to defeat the Uchiha even after being provoked by them."

"It's that orphan from the Izumi family, Izumi Nen. I've always thought that little guy was clever..."

……

Kenji Uchiha didn't hear the rest of the conversation clearly because his heart was filled with rage.

Although Uchiha Tomoya, who was standing next to him, was also angry, he wasn't as agitated as Kenji.

"Don't be angry, they're just a few civilians, what do they know?"

"That's right, they really don't understand anything."

Kenji Uchiha spoke in a low voice, but his expression revealed that he was not as indifferent as he claimed.

The two did not say much, but silently returned to their clan's territory.

However, the matter did not end there.

In the days that followed, this group of Konoha scoundrels would secretly mock and ridicule Uchiha Kenji and Uchiha Tomoya whenever they passed by.

The anger that had subsided in their hearts began to boil over again.

Attacking civilians is a serious crime, so the two had no choice but to suppress their anger and turn their anger towards Izumi Nen, whom the troublemakers often mentioned.

If things go smoothly after advancing to the next round, Kenji Uchiha will have a chance to fight Nen Izumi.

Kenji Uchiha vowed that he would win this match to uphold the honor of the Uchiha clan in front of the public.

Let these damned civilians understand the true strength of the Uchiha clan.

In the final moments, Kenji Uchiha gave up going out, both to avoid the unwarranted ridicule from the common people and to prepare for the upcoming battle.

He not only wants to win, but he wants to win beautifully.

Time flew by, and soon the Chunin Exams were in their final stage.