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"Revenge against Konoha? Could it be that he knows the secret behind the Uchiha Clan's massacre?" The masked man spoke with a hint of surprise.
"He shouldn't know. That boy is about the same age as Itachi. How old was he when the Uchiha Clan was wiped out? Besides, he isn't from Konoha. Such a top-secret matter is known only to a handful of people in the village—how could he possibly know?" Black Zetsu interjected.
"It's probably because of his parents. His birth outside of Konoha says a lot. His parents were likely connected to Konoha and may have even been killed by them," White Zetsu added with a grin.
"Mm, very possible," the masked man nodded, then continued, "In any case, that guy hasn't reached a point of irreconcilable conflict with our organization. If there's a chance to bring him into the fold, we should try contacting him. After all, he's a genius who has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Understood. I'll inform Pain," Black Zetsu replied.
"By the way, are we really abandoning the Land of Water? We've invested so much effort into it—it's such a shame," White Zetsu said regretfully.
"There's no other choice. My manipulation of the Fourth Mizukage has been exposed. Although the Mist Village's strength isn't inferior to the rebels, the Fourth Mizukage will inevitably fall sooner or later. Even within the village, many have begun to suspect him. It's unfortunate, but I didn't anticipate someone in the Mist Village possessing the Byakugan of the Hyūga Clan—a miscalculation on my part. Now that the secret is out, the Mist Village no longer holds any value for us," the masked man explained coldly.
"I heard the rebel forces plan to gather all their troops to launch an attack on the Mist Village. What will you do, Tobi? Will you abandon it outright?" White Zetsu asked curiously.
"Of course not. We'll fight with everything we've got. This is the perfect opportunity to further weaken the Mist Village," the masked man responded emotionlessly, his crimson Sharingan glowing eerily.
"Ho ho, looks like you're still holding a grudge against the Mist Village for your little girlfriend's death. Is this your chance for revenge?" White Zetsu teased with a smirk.
"Hmph!" The masked man's scarlet Sharingan shifted slightly as he shot a chilling glare at White Zetsu. Then, ripples began to form in his eye socket, distorting space, and his figure vanished without a trace.
"Ah, truly terrifying. Tobi's ocular power has grown even stronger than before," White Zetsu said, shivering slightly. "You talk too much. Stop saying unnecessary things!" Black Zetsu scolded, giving White Zetsu an irritated look. "Let's go." With that, Zetsu's body slowly sank into the ground and disappeared. The dimly lit chamber remained silent, as if no one had ever been there.
Thus, time passed swiftly like a white horse crossing a crevice. A month quickly went by. During this period, the allied forces gathered supplies, adjusted their states, and prepared themselves fully for battle.
All towns under the control of the allied forces, except for those guarded by a small number of ninja, saw the entirety of the allied forces converge at the base located beneath the sprawling mountain range.
Chōmei Mei stood atop a wooden platform, gazing down at the dense throng of Water Country's allied forces. Gone was her usual seductive charm; her expression now bore only seriousness.
As she surveyed the seemingly endless ranks below, a flicker of satisfaction crossed her beautiful face. She then spoke in a deep, commanding voice: "I believe everyone gathered here already knows our purpose. I won't waste words. For the sake of granting the Land of Water true hope and a future, today marks the beginning of overthrowing the Fourth Mizukage's tyrannical rule! Our goal is to capture the Hidden Mist Village and liberate the Land of Water!"
"Capture the Hidden Mist Village! Liberate the Land of Water! Capture the Hidden Mist Village! Liberate the Land of Water!" The countless soldiers below erupted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens with immense morale.
Mizuto and Deidara stood in an inconspicuous corner at the rear of the allied forces, watching the commanding presence of Chōmei Mei atop the platform with a sense of surprise.
"I never expected this woman to change her demeanor so quickly! Just a month ago, during our negotiations, she didn't look anything like this," Deidara remarked in astonishment.
"If they manage to capture the Hidden Mist Village, this woman will likely become the Fifth Mizukage. Her aura certainly qualifies her for the position," Mizuto commented calmly, his gaze fixed on Chōmei Mei above.
"A female Mizukage?" Deidara exclaimed in mild shock. He had never heard of a kunoichi becoming the leader of a major hidden village.
"The kind of kunoichi you're thinking of refers to ordinary women. But this woman is no ordinary individual. Both her strength and intellect are more than enough to inherit the title of Mizukage. You should be able to sense that, right?" Mizuto stated flatly.
At that moment, Chōmei Mei raised her hand and commanded sternly, "Advance!"
Boom! As soon as her words echoed, the army trembled momentarily before splitting into countless squads according to the prearranged strategy. These squads regrouped into larger units and advanced toward the Hidden Mist Village from different directions.
Due to their unique status and formidable abilities, Mizuto and Deidara were classified as high-tier combatants within the allied forces. From Ao's accounts, the two had effortlessly defeated elite ninja from the Mist Village. Additionally, Mizuto's possession of the Sharingan made him invaluable in dealing with the Fourth Mizukage. However, their inclusion also carried a degree of surveillance, as Chōmei Mei couldn't fully trust them. Thus, Mizuto and Deidara accompanied Chōmei Mei, Ao, and other elite forces in their operations.