They're promoting the "Konoha threat" theory, and spouting nonsense about the Hidden

Chapter 180 Black Zetsu Returns & Impure World Reincarnation Technique Acquired

"Oh, right, there's one more thing about Zhengxin..."

Akiba Masanobu took the new document on the reform of the Ninja Academy from Hozuki Shingetsu's hand. Noticing that Hozuki Shingetsu wanted to say something, he lowered his head, but suddenly found that the person in front of him had become serious.

"...Make sure to close the door when you leave."

Masanobu Akiba was certain that Shingetsu Hozuki's original intention was definitely not to say this.

Having served as Hozuki Shingetsu's secretary for so many years, Akiba Masanobu naturally knew when to see and when to pretend to be blind.

Just like he had deliberately ignored the "plop plop" sound in the Mizukage's office a few days ago, he pretended not to have noticed anything, respectfully bowed to Hozuki Shingetsu, and left the Mizukage's office.

They even thoughtfully hung a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door.

"I didn't expect the planetary will to have the interest in eavesdropping on other people's conversations?"

Upon hearing Akiba Masanobu's departing voice, Hozuki Shingetsu's eyes narrowed, and he looked down at the ground, speaking calmly.

Since an agreement has been reached with Black Zetsu, and the Hidden Mist Village possesses the chakra cannon that Black Zetsu has long coveted, it is destined that Black Zetsu will frequently visit the Hidden Mist Village.

In this situation, the Mizukage's office, which serves as Hozuki Shingetsu's daily workspace and an important confidential location, would naturally need to be equipped with a detection array targeting Black Zetsu.

After their encounter with Black Zetsu at the warehouse, the Uzumaki clan redesigned and arranged a new sealing array based on Hozuki Shingetsu's description.

This time, they sacrificed sealing abilities in favor of enhancing detection capabilities, all in order to detect Black Zetsu the moment he arrived in Kirigakure.

It was precisely because of this magic array that Hozuki Shingetsu was able to discover Black Zetsu's whereabouts without activating Sage Mode.

"Heh, I have no interest in the affairs between you humans. It just so happens that you were discussing those issues when I arrived."

Black Zetsu, clad in a black robe, slowly rose from beneath the floor and spoke calmly.

In truth, it was also shocked. It had just arrived at the basement of the Mizukage's office and hadn't even had a chance to hear anything before it was discovered. This meant that Kirigakure had already mastered the method of detecting its whereabouts.

Although this was accomplished through sealing techniques, and we can only wait and watch to catch it, it also means that Black Zetsu can no longer invade Kirigakure with impunity as before.

"The Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques... We really should have put in more effort back then and persuaded Sunagakure to join the attack..."

Regardless of what he was thinking, Black Zetsu outwardly appeared calm and told Hozuki Shingetsu about his gains over the past period.

"...I don't quite understand your human methods of calculating money. But I do know the locations of some gold and silver mines, which are marked on this map. Considering the risks you would face when mining them, the mines are all located near the Land of Water."

Hozuki Shingetsu took it and saw that there were indeed three red markers on the map near the Land of Water, one of which was even in the sea near the Land of Water.

However, whether it was intentional on Black Zetsu's part or an oversight, the Eastern Continent was not located on this map of the ninja world.

"In addition, I also used the power of the planet's will to 'find' some silver notes from various places on the continent, and I'll give them to you as well! Use this money for now, and we'll talk about it if it's not enough."

As Black Zetsu spoke, he flicked his sleeve and pulled out a sealing scroll from his robes with great flair.

Meanwhile, in the distant land of craftsmen, a handsome young man, his clothes tattered and covered in black lines, with four masks sewn onto his back, stared at the empty safe in front of him and let out a desperate wail.

"No……"

Meanwhile, Hozuki Shingetsu, unaware of the story from afar, happily accepted all of the old man's belongings.

"Very good. With this funding, the development of the Chakra Cannon can proceed normally. I believe we are one step closer to the day when we shatter the moon and release your Six Paths Sage incarnation."

Hozuki Shingetsu deliberately brought up the fact that this chakra cannon could shatter the moon at any time, hoping to further squeeze out Black Zetsu's potential and stimulate it to complete its predetermined goal as soon as possible.

As expected, spurred on by his words, Black Zetsu, in order to prove that he hadn't been slacking off, quickly revealed the information about the "Grell Stone".

"By the way, I've also made a preliminary discovery about the 'Greel Stone' that you mentioned you needed to find. It should be within the Land of Wind... I estimate that we'll be able to pinpoint the exact location of the ore in less than a month."

"The Land of Wind..."

Hozuki Shingetsu wasn't too shocked by the news, since judging from the movie, the enemy from the Eastern Continent was the first to attack the Sunagakure territory.

In that case, it's quite possible that the "Grell Stone" is in the Land of Wind.

"Then what about the Impure World Reincarnation technique?"

Hozuki Shingetsu calmly inquired about the matter that was currently of most concern to him, the key to whether he could achieve normalized cultivation in Sage Mode.

"Without the help of those deceased masters summoned by the Impure World Reincarnation technique, we would have to develop the key technologies for this chakra cannon ourselves. And there is a crucial problem that needs to be solved now, otherwise the research and development cannot proceed."

"And who can say for sure about things like inspiration? It might be another ten or even several decades..."

"The sooner we get this ninjutsu, the sooner we can summon those people, the sooner we can finish our work and save the world..."

While deliberately exaggerating the importance of the Impure World Reincarnation technique, Hozuki Shingetsu secretly observed Black Zetsu's expression.

In his view, if Black Zetsu was able to find the general location of the Grell Stone from scratch, how could he not obtain the Impure World Reincarnation technique hidden in Konoha?

Moreover, even if it weren't taken from Konoha, Madara Uchiha still possessed this ninjutsu.

Hozuki Shingetsu refused to believe that Black Zetsu had no way of tricking Madara Uchiha into giving him this ninjutsu.

According to his thinking, Black Zetsu had probably already obtained the ninjutsu by now, but perhaps it also realized that Hozuki Shingetsu had other ideas about the ninjutsu, so it was deliberately using it to keep him in suspense!

And just as Hozuki Shingetsu had predicted, Black Zetsu was indeed hiding the scroll of the Impure World Reincarnation technique in his arms.

During their last conversation, it had vaguely sensed that Hozuki Shingetsu had ulterior motives regarding the Impure World Reincarnation technique, but it was rebuffed by Hozuki Shingetsu's retort, "What do you know about scientific research?"

Back home, Black Zetsu grew angrier the more it thought about it. In addition, it felt that it was in an extremely passive position in this transaction, so it thought of using this thing to stall Hozuki Shingetsu.

But it never expected that instead of being the one to block Hozuki Crescent Moon, it would be the one to block it first.

Originally about to lash out, it then thought of its mother trapped on the moon, and so, with no other choice, it tossed the ninjutsu scroll from its bosom towards Hozuki Shingetsu, offering a self-deceiving explanation:

"I was just about to tell you... I just got this scroll a few days ago."

The only response to Black Zetsu's explanation was Hozuki Shingetsu's smiling face.

"Thank you, boss. You're very generous."

There will be another chapter around 10:30.

(End of this chapter)