Mizukage's Pokémon Ninja Scroll

Chapter 276 Not Madara, Just a Passerby

"So, Ao, do you want to be the Mizukage?"

The Third Mizukage's playful and seductive words silenced everyone present.

"Enough!" Jianchuan Ju's loud shout broke the eerie atmosphere.

"Come out, Madara! Are you still playing these boring tricks?"

As soon as Tachibana Kenkawa finished speaking, a very strange laugh came from behind the group of ANBU members led by Yagura Karatachi.

"Hehehe~ Don't get excited. I can vouch for it! Lord Yagura is telling the truth~"

As the voices spoke, a green-haired member of the Dark Guard appeared out of nowhere, hopping and skipping out of the crowd and standing between the two groups.

This guy is naturally not the legendary Uchiha Madara, but an Anbu codenamed "Madara", or rather, a White Zetsu.

Ignoring the strange-looking guy, Tachibana Kanagawa looked at Yagura Karatachi, whose expression was slowly returning to calm, with a disappointed expression, and said.

"So, Senior Goji Ju, is this what you mean by 'for the village'? Colluding with outsiders for the village'? Or harming your own people for the village's sake?"

The disappointment in Tachibana Kanagawa's eyes was not because of herself.

While Tachibana had some affection for Yagura Karatachi, who had once tried to recruit her but remained a gentleman even after her failed attempt, Tachibana's feelings for him weren't particularly deep.

At this moment, Tachibana Kanagawa was disappointed for Zabuza, who was still covering for Ao in the front-line camp.

Although perhaps because of the bond with the Ao team, Zabuza may not regard Yagura as his only and most important bond as he did at the beginning.

However, Zabuza still deeply admired Yagura Karatachi, regarding him as the sun of Kirigakure.

His greatest wish has never been to become the Mizukage, but to become one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, join the Anbu, and become a direct subordinate of the Kage.

Zabuza firmly believed from the beginning that Yagura Karatachi would eventually become the Fourth Mizukage.

Just before this mission was about to begin, Zabuza, who had participated in the pre-battle meeting, confidently told Tachibana Kenkawa.

"Jonin Karatachi must have been controlled by the enemy's genjutsu, just like the Third Mizukage!"

There was also a somewhat awkward and veiled suggestion that he could be taken along on this mission to help rescue Yagura.

"If Zabuza were here, he'd probably cry, wouldn't he?"

However, when faced with Tachibana's questioning, Yagura, who had regained his composure, simply spoke calmly.

"It's all about who wins. As long as I know that everything I've done is for the village, that's enough."

Standing between the two groups, Madara watched as the two men actually talked through him, and his body began to twist strangely.

"Ugh~ I'm so sad that Tachibana called me out here and then just left me hanging like this~"

"Ban's" strange appearance interrupted their conversation.

Tachibana Kanagawa also turned her gaze to the other person.

"This one, Madara."

However, before Tachibana could even open her mouth, Madara interrupted her.

"It's not Ban~ Ban is just a code name~ I have my own name~ and I'm not an outsider~"

As he spoke, 'Ban' slowly removed the mask from his face, revealing an ordinary-looking face, and tilted his head to look at Tachibana Kanagawa.

???

Jianchuan Ju had no idea what the other person was up to.

"What do you mean I'm not an outsider?"

Unexpectedly, after Madara removed his mask, he saw Tachibana's puzzled expression and showed a sad look.

"Huh? Tachibana doesn't recognize me anymore? I'm so sad~"

"What if that's the case?"

As he spoke, 'Spot's' green hair slowly turned black, and his tone changed, becoming arrogant and sarcastic.

"Hey, Tachibana Kanagawa! Stop with that fake smile."

Upon hearing this, Jianchuan Ju's pupils constricted sharply, and then she slowly said in disbelief.

"The Igarashi!!"

That's right! At this moment, this white Zetsu, apart from its height, is remarkable in every way, from its appearance and demeanor to its voice and tone!

It was Igarashi, a classmate of Tachibana Kenkyuu from the Ninja Academy, who should have died long ago during Zabuza's graduation exam!

"Hehehe~ That's right~ It's a reed man~"

The voice of the White Zetsu, or rather the Igarashi people, returned to its previous high-pitched and strange appearance.

At the same time, the body underwent another transformation. The skin lost its flesh color and turned pale. Large and small pale aloe vera-like thorns slowly grew on the torso, arms, and shoulder blades. The two arms were also strangely raised above the head, posing as aloe vera branches and leaves.

"How about it? Surprised?"

Looking at the white Zetsu wriggling and grinning, Tachibana Kanagawa suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.

It wasn't because of the other person's appearance, which caused the uncanny valley effect.

Rather, it was because Tachibana Kanagawa never imagined that she would have come into contact with such a terrifying being as White Zetsu at such an early point in time.

Furthermore, from a higher perspective, if the "Igarashi people" are all White Zetsu, then how many other people in Kirigakure, and how many seemingly insignificant beings, could actually be White Zetsu in disguise?

"System! This is the kind of battle you were talking about, like snatching a lollipop from a kid?!?!"

Seeing that Tachibana Kanagawa was pale, clutching her chest, and taking a half-step back in disbelief, the White Zetsu twisted around even more recklessly.

However, the next moment.

"Bang!"

A crisp, crackling sound rang out.

Air blasts and sparks flew everywhere.

Ao, Kisame Hoshigaki, and the others were all thrown several meters away by a violent wave of icy air.

This was because Tachibana Kenkawa, who had been standing next to everyone, suddenly launched an attack and appeared in front of Igarashi-jin as if by teleportation.

With white flames surging all over his body, Tachibana Kanakawa had entered "Flame White Mode" and, after accelerating his burst, unleashed a heavy punch.

"White Release: Ice Fist!"

The fist, wreathed in white flames, struck the Igarashi, bending it into a V-shape and slamming it into the ground. Sparks flew, and a layer of white frost quickly formed on the ground.

At the same time, white flames rapidly spread across the Igorus people's bodies, freezing most of their bodies into ice.

When Tachibana Kenkawa called out White Zetsu, and the latter dared to walk to the front without any precautions, Tachibana Kenkawa was already prepared to ambush him.

While I was indeed startled by the other party's identity as an "Igarashi," it wasn't to the point that I clutched my chest and backed away.

Jianchuan Ju was merely taking the opportunity to activate the speed boost of "Acupoint Striking" and adjust his starting posture.

Then, the instant White Zetsu twisted his body and shifted his gaze, he activated "Flame White Mode" and accelerated, aiming to finish off the guy who was controlling the Third Mizukage in one strike.

However, Igarashi, who was being pinned to the ground by Tachibana Kenkawa and whose neck was already covered in icy white flames, still wore a strange smile on his face.

"The genjutsu won't be broken~ I already said, I'm not Madara anymore~ I'm a Reed Man~"

(End of this chapter)