Chapter 36: Nagato
Yagura below had also finished his assessment of Kurare Kushimaru and Munashi Jinpachi and returned to Kiyoshi's side at this time.
"Let's go, those three are it. I'll go find the Commander later to issue the transfer orders. Kagami, I've already found the last member your Team 6 is missing. He'll go to the First Training Ground to report to you tomorrow," Kiyoshi said, then turned and left. He needed to return to his station to quickly familiarize himself with the work of the entire First Division and make mission arrangements for everyone.
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Land of Frost, Graveyard of Mountains, Madara Uchiha's underground base.
Madara Uchiha sat silently beneath the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, devoid of any vitality. At this moment, a white humanoid creature slowly emerged from the ground. It was White Zetsu, whom Madara believed he had cultivated using the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and Hashirama cells.
When White Zetsu was successfully cultivated (actually awakened by Black Zetsu, who took the opportunity to appear), Madara was delighted to discover that this artificial being, filled with Hashirama cells, possessed an ability called the Mayfly Technique, which allowed it to merge with the earth and vegetation and move quickly. Moreover, it could use the network of plant roots and underground water flow to move at high speed to any location, and most importantly, it could completely cut off all traces of its presence during the activation of the White Zetsu ninjutsu, something even Madara Uchiha couldn't detect.
In addition to this, Madara also discovered that White Zetsu could create a large number of clones. Although they were weak, they were excellent tools for reconnaissance and gathering intelligence.
Therefore, after acquiring White Zetsu, Madara had hardly ever left this base. He had given White Zetsu the task of having his clones spread out across the ninja world to gather intelligence, and Madara spent most of his time in slumber.
"Madara-sama! I have returned," White Zetsu woke Madara Uchiha from his slumber.
This was White Zetsu's main body, and he brought Madara news he had been waiting for a long time.
"Speak!" Madara Uchiha's aged but imposing voice came, tinged with a hint of weariness, after all, he was already an old man nearing 80.
"We have discovered an excellent vessel of about five years old in the Land of Rain," White Zetsu said.
"He has bright red hair, you know!" At this moment, a slightly frivolous voice came, and a White Zetsu with a swirling face appeared beside White Zetsu's main body. This strange White Zetsu clone might have had some kind of issue, as it was clearly different from other White Zetsu clones, and it had even given itself a name: Tobi.
"Red hair, from the Uzumaki clan? Excellent, the Uzumaki clan, whose life force is unparalleled in the ninja world, can perfectly bear my Rinnegan," Madara muttered to himself, not knowing whether he was thinking of Hashirama Senju or his rival in love, Mito Uzumaki.
"This little brat is called Nagato. According to our observations, he should have excellent ninja talent. His parents are both physicians in the Hidden Rain Village, but they don't usually live in the village. His mother also has red hair," White Zetsu introduced Nagato's basic information to Madara.
Hearing this, Madara suddenly reached out and removed his own eyes, then replaced them with the prepared spare Sharingan. He then handed his original eyes to White Zetsu's main body. "Go, give my eyes to this brat and let him temporarily nurture them for me!"
*Instant eye swap.jpg!*
"Yes! Then we shall go now!" White Zetsu's main body replied and immediately prepared to leave with the swirling-faced White Zetsu, Tobi. He knew this guy too well.
But White Zetsu still couldn't stop him, and ultimately allowed the swirling-faced Tobi to ask his question.
"Madara-sama, could I ask you one last question? What does it feel like to have the urge to go, you know, take a dump?" Tobi asked a provocative question in a provocative voice.
"Get lost!" A terrifying Chakra storm instantly erupted, filling the entire underground base.
Black Zetsu, who had been watching from the shadows, immediately followed White Zetsu after he left. Transplanting the Rinnegan was a major event, and he had to ensure that the Rinnegan suffered no damage.
"Hashirama, watch! I will create a peaceful ninja world!" Madara whispered before slowly falling back into slumber.
White Zetsu, carrying Tobi, quickly met up with Black Zetsu outside. The three beings, who were uncertain if they could even be considered human, quickly headed towards the Land of Rain. They needed to transplant Madara's Rinnegan into the young Nagato as soon as possible so that he could contribute his strength to the plan at an early date.
Not long after, they arrived at Nagato's home. His father, Ise, and mother, Fuso, had both gone to work in the Hidden Rain Village, leaving Nagato alone at home.
Black Zetsu used Spiritual Body Possession to attach himself to a Rain ninja he encountered on the road, then used Spiritual Fusion to control him. Since Nagato's parents were not ninjas, and there were no ninja training methods in Nagato's home, Black Zetsu easily used genjutsu to knock Nagato unconscious.
Under White Zetsu's manipulation, Madara Uchiha's eyes replaced Nagato's original eyes. However, after the Rinnegan entered Nagato's eye sockets, it degenerated into ordinary eyes due to the prolonged loss of Madara Uchiha's Chakra support.
After a long time, Nagato woke up from his unconsciousness. Nagato, who had no idea he had been subjected to genjutsu, only thought he had fallen asleep due to exhaustion. He was even more unaware that his eyes had been switched during this time.
The gears of fate had begun to turn.
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