Start with a Zanpakuto and build the strongest Mist Village.

Without a doubt, that person was Uchiha Madara!

……

"leader!"

Minazuki Yoru, who was standing in front of him, suddenly paused. Suddenly, a voice rang in Nagato's ear.

The next moment, two figures, one black and one white, appeared simultaneously. Black Zetsu stared at the night, while White Zetsu's body seemed to soften, and he became like a slime monster, directly attaching himself to Nagato from behind.

"Jue, what are you doing?!"

Nagato belatedly realized what was happening and growled.

"Don't worry, Chief, I'm here to help you."

White Zetsu's voice emanated from the pure white fluid: "Leader, your physical condition must have reached its limit. I know you're about to give up. But this clone of mine possesses extremely powerful vitality. Let me attach myself to your body, and you can regain your energy. I can even grant you master the power of Wood Release!"

"Chief, I'm here, don't be afraid!"

"you!"

Nagato's face turned cold.

This wasn't the first time White Zetsu had shown Nagato his healing abilities. After Obito and Zetsu cooperated with Nagato, Zetsu repeatedly tried to use his power to help Nagato recover his legs and make up for the losses caused by summoning the Gedo Mazo.

But Nagato rejected all of them.

The reason is simple: a lack of trust.

Because of Minazuki Yoru's interference in the Land of Rain, the relationship between Obito and Nagato did not proceed as smoothly as in the original story.

It's important to know that Nagato in the original work harbored resentment towards Obito and Zetsu, let alone in this world.

But right now...

"Leader, you can't fall here! The Akatsuki still needs you to lead them, not to mention the angel is still down there. If you fall here, Mizuki Yoru and the other two Kage won't let the angel get away with it!"

"..."

Nagato's expression stiffened, but he finally didn't refuse. This allowed Shiro to begin his fusion process even faster.

White Zetsu moved with remarkable speed, quickly merging into Nagato's body. As the fusion progressed, Nagato suddenly felt the emptiness within his body; his previously nearly depleted physical form was now greatly replenished.

Just like a shriveled sponge being soaked in water again, Nagato's thin and withered body was becoming plump again at a visible speed, and even the injuries on his legs were beginning to heal rapidly.

……

"Interesting, an illusionary eye technique, huh?"

Night's gaze swept over Madara Uchiha, who was in the form of the Complete Susanoo. With a thought, the entire image of his eye technique shattered like a water mirror.

But where were Black and White Zetsu, and Nagato, now?

"He ran pretty fast."

Ye chuckled softly, but countless images flashed through his mind.

Those were the blurry figures of the bushes that kept moving backward. Among them were Nagato, whose body looked like he had 'albinism', Konan with a worried expression, and Zetsu with pitcher plants on his head.

This is exactly what it means to monitor bacteria!

During the battle just now, Yoru had already placed the surveillance bacteria on Nagato and Konan.

The monitoring bacteria are activated using spiritual power. Although they may not be able to escape the detection of the Rinnegan, Yoru made double preparations, placing them on both Konan and Nagato. However, it seems that Nagato and the others were only focused on escaping and did not notice the existence of the monitoring bacteria at all.

With the presence of surveillance bacteria, where can you possibly escape to?

Ye's lips curled slightly upward, preparing to give chase, but Nagato, Konan, and the others suddenly stopped in their tracks.

"We can't just leave like this."

Black Zetsu's hoarse voice rang out, his expression unreadable on his dark face: "Madara has already infiltrated Konoha. We must buy him time here and draw the Fourth Hokage's attention."

"So that guy has finally started making his move..."

Xiao Nan gave a low snort, her tone clearly displeased.

Nagato traveled all the way from the Land of Rain to fight the Three Kage, just to help Madara draw attention away from the enemy.

Unexpectedly, Minazuki Yoru's strength was so great that she was beyond the capabilities of ordinary people.

"Minazukiyo's strength is too formidable. Nagato is still recovering from his injuries after a fierce battle with her, so it will be difficult for him to hold out."

"Our target is not Minazuki Yoru, but the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze," Black Zetsu said in a deep voice, then looked at the silent Nagato: "Moreover, Nagato has already fused with White Zetsu, and his condition will recover quickly. Even the injuries he sustained when summoning the Gedo Mazo will be healed as a result. His strength is definitely not a problem."

"If Madara's operation succeeds, we will not only get rid of a major enemy like Konoha, but we will also be able to directly retrieve the Nine-Tails, the most powerful of the tailed beasts. This will definitely be a good start for our future plans."

"..." Konan didn't continue speaking. She knew she couldn't win an argument with Black Zetsu, but the initiative was still in Nagato's hands.

Feeling the gazes of both men, Nagato finally snapped out of his daze and turned his attention to Black Zetsu.

"The Fourth Hokage has the Flying Thunder God Technique. If he wants to leave, I can't stop him."

“You don’t need to stop him, the Land of Iron will stop him.” Black Zetsu said in a deep voice, “Your battle with Mizuki Yoru was quite a commotion, and with the damage Pain caused to the Land of Iron earlier… all you need to do is add fuel to the fire, and out of self-blame and guilt, the Fourth Hokage will stay in the Land of Iron.”

The misfortunes and suffering of the people of Iron Castle, coupled with Minato Namikaze's self-blame and guilt.

This plan caused Nagato and Konan to frown repeatedly.

“We just need to buy Madara time.” Black Zetsu’s tone became more serious: “Nagato, everything is for the greater good, for the plan, for true peace!”

"……I see."

……

Chaos continues to escalate within the Land of Iron, while in Konoha, a long-brewing conspiracy is quietly unfolding.

Time passed unnoticed and October arrived, bringing with it an incredibly important event for Konoha.

Kushina Uzumaki, the wife of the Fourth Hokage and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, is due to give birth soon.

This matter is not just about Minato Namikaze's family, but also concerns the entire Hidden Leaf Village!

As a result, almost all of Konoha's high-ranking officials, including the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Torifu Aburame, became busy.

Kushina Uzumaki was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of Konoha, but during childbirth, the Jinchuriki was at their weakest, and if things went wrong, the Nine-Tails would break free of its seal!

To prevent such an accident from happening, the entire Hidden Leaf Village became extremely secure.

In this solemn environment, a figure shrouded in black robes appeared in the Konoha graveyard at some unknown time.

He stood there silently in front of a tombstone, gazing at it...

Chapter 155 The Nine-Tailed Fox's Tribulations!

Konoha.

Seemingly sensing the approaching storm and the sorrow in someone's heart, dark clouds gradually gathered over Konoha, and rain began to fall in a drizzle.

At this sensitive time, with the entire Hidden Leaf Village under extreme martial law, a figure in black robes stood silently before a tombstone.

The rain fell, but he remained unmoved, letting it soak him.

It was as if he was using the rain from the sky to extinguish the almost overflowing pain in his heart.

"Kakashi."

Looking at Kakashi Hatake's name and photo on the tombstone, Obito Uchiha felt incredibly conflicted.

In the battle of Kannabi Bridge, he sacrificed himself to redeem his best friend and the person he loved most.

But the Battle of Dongsongshan shattered all of that.

That day, he lost his best friend and the woman he loved most. Everything he cherished most was erased before his very eyes by the very teacher he respected most…

Obito's gaze shifted from Kakashi's tombstone to the side.

To the left of Kakashi's grave, there is a small tomb, a 'grave' without a tombstone, without a name, and without even bones.

As the Jinchuriki of the Three-Tails who destroyed Konoha's defenses, Rin Nohara doesn't even deserve a proper grave with a name, even though she is the disciple of the Yellow Flash and even though she was a victim in this incident.

But reality is cruel.

Konoha could not tolerate a fellow countryman whose remains had caused Konoha to completely lose the initiative on Mount Higashimatsu having a tombstone like the other victims. That would be an insult to the other victims.

But Minato still erected a grave for her, right next to Kakashi's grave... and also next to Obito's grave.

"Lin..."

Obito closed his eyes in agony, his heart heavy with pain as if a thousand silver needles were piercing him, making it hard for him to breathe.

"Why……"

"Teacher, why...?"

Obito was deeply grieved. Even if it was a scheme by Kirigakure, Minato Namikaze had a million ways to deal with Rin, such as using the 'Contract Seal' or other techniques. Why did Minato Namikaze have to kill Rin directly like that?

His body trembled uncontrollably, and his proud Sharingan clearly saw every moment when Minato Namikaze used the Flying Thunder God Technique to pierce Rin Nohara's heart.

His gaze fell upon the three graves in front of him.

He was on the left, Kakashi on the right, and Rin in the middle.

Minato Namikaze, standing behind the three with a gentle smile on his face, suddenly raised his sword, slowly dissecting and crushing the scene...

Obito Uchiha stood there, standing before the grave, until the sun set and darkness fell.

Endless pain transformed into darkness, completely engulfing and surrounding him.

After a long while, he slowly stood up, turned around without a word, and walked into the bushes behind him...

at the same time.

Inside the Fourth Hokage's residence, Kushina Uzumaki, who was preparing dinner, suddenly clutched her prominently protruding belly.

The motherly face, gradually revealing a newfound maternal love, showed a mixture of pain and joy. The secret agents, who had been waiting nearby, noticed the situation immediately and quickly took action.

The Anbu members summoned by the Third Hokage were all medical ninjas.

After noticing that something was wrong with Kushina, several Anbu members immediately appeared to check on her condition. At the same time, they reported the news that the Fourth Hokage's wife was about to give birth to all the Konoha officials who were paying attention to the incident.

The Konoha leaders, who were well-prepared, rushed over immediately.

After gathering all the ninjas, including those with Konoha's barriers, the barriers of the birthing site, and various sensory and defensive abilities, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, even had his wife, Biwako, serve as the midwife for this delivery.

Everything they did was to ensure Kushina Uzumaki's successful childbirth.

Or.

The safety of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!

The seal within a Jinchuriki is at its weakest at the time of a child's birth, a fact clearly documented in Konoha's history.

When the First Hokage's wife, Mito Uzumaki, gave birth to their child, the seal on the Nine-Tails was nearly broken.

If the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi, and Madara Uchiha, the Asura of Shinobi, hadn't both been in Konoha at that time, there's a very high probability that a tragedy would have occurred. (Yeah, he got beaten up by Wood Release and Susanoo after just one trip out~)

……

"Ah...ah...it really hurts..."

Kushina's screams echoed from inside the cave, clearly audible to the several ANBU ninjas guarding the entrance. Yet, none of them showed the slightest sign of distraction, faithfully watching the slightest movement outside.

The sound was blocked after touching the barrier and did not reach the outside world, but everyone outside understood what was happening in the secret room at that moment.

"Has Shuimen not returned yet?"

The Third Hokage asked the toad sage Fukasaku beside him in a low voice. Fukasaku shook his head: "A special situation has occurred in the Land of Iron. The Kage meeting was attacked by the Akatsuki. Everyone, including the three Kage, was attacked. Iron Castle was almost destroyed, and the Fourth Hokage was forced to stay there."

"The Akatsuki?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned deeply.

When he held the Kage Conference with the Third Mizukage and Mizuki Yoru, the Land of Iron hired the Akatsuki organization to act as their bodyguards, and the results were quite good.

Unexpectedly, at this Three Kage Summit, the Akatsuki organization went from being the guardians to the destroyers, something that Hiruzen Sarutobi never anticipated.

However, does the Akatsuki organization have the power to disrupt the Three Kage Summit?

The Three Shadows Meeting not only represents the supreme rulers of the three great nations of Water, Fire, and Wind, and the three hidden villages, but also the highest combat power of the three forces.

The intrusion into a Shadow Council of this caliber caused immense destruction, forcing Minato to remain in Iron Castle...

"The intruder is the leader of the Akatsuki organization."

The toad-like sage, Fukasaku, said in a deep voice, "I don't have much detailed information either. This information was all sent over by Minato through that kid Bunta. But there's one thing I think you'll be interested in."