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Leaving the Land of Rain's central battlefield behind, Shin, Kushina, and Mikoto did not immediately return to Suikagakure. Kushina and Mikoto both wanted Shin to take them on a bit of a scenic detour.
"Shin, you've been studying that Gentle Fist technique for the past few days. How's it going?" Kushina asked.
"Obviously, I've already mastered it. That kind of thing is simple for me," Shin replied casually.
He wasn't bragging—he was simply stating a fact.
Although the Hyūga's Gentle Fist style had multiple advanced techniques like Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, once he understood the logic, it was child's play.
"I'm still stuck on the Shadow Imitation Technique," Kushina muttered. "I think I'll just drop it entirely."
Indeed, the Nara Clan's shadow-style jutsu didn't mesh well with her fighting style. Kushina already had Adamantine Sealing Chains, which she felt were more convenient for restraining or sealing enemies.
Since Kushina had made up her mind, Shin didn't bother to argue. After all, this particular jutsu wouldn't improve her combat abilities much.
"Mikoto, you're still studying Yamanaka's techniques?" Kushina asked, glancing over.
Mikoto nodded. She felt the Mind Body Switch Technique could come in handy one day. Even if it was only a side project, diving into other clans' techniques was an interesting challenge.
Suddenly, Shin halted. A faint, icy gleam flickered in his eyes.
"White Zetsu, are you going to come out on your own, or should I drag you out?"
"Whoosh." From belowground, a strange pale figure emerged. White Zetsu gave Shin a respectful bow.
"As expected of Shin-sama. you always see right through me." White Zetsu emerged from the ground. It was no longer surprised by Shin's ability to detect it.
At first, White Zetsu had been astonished every time Shin discovered him. By now, it was almost routine.
"Gah, this creep again, Let's just kill him" Kushina growled, pulling out a kunai.
She poised to throw the kunai. White Zetsu panicked.
"Don't kill me! I'm only here because Lord Madara asked me to deliver a message. He wants to see you—he says it's urgent."
He babbled in desperation, terrified that if Shin gave the order, he'd be diced into pieces.
"Madara Uchiha wants to see me?" Shin narrowed his eyes. Was Madara planning his revival?
"Yes. If not for Lord Madara's orders, I wouldn't dare approach you, Shin-sama."
"Shin," Mikoto asked, "should we kill him now, or…?"
"No, let him go. Killing him is pointless," Shin said, glancing at White Zetsu. He knew there were countless White Zetsu; killing one wouldn't achieve anything.
White Zetsu was only too glad for permission. He vanished in a blur, not sticking around to risk any further confrontation.
"He ran fast. That White Zetsu thing is creepy," Kushina said.
Its ability to hide was unsettling. If Shin hadn't spoken, she wouldn't have even known it was there.
Though she had Kagura's Mind's Eye, a powerful sensory technique, she couldn't keep it active constantly.
"White Zetsu isn't that dangerous," Shin responded. "Black Zetsu is the real threat."
Shin wasn't sure about Black Zetsu's abilities. But considering the fact that it had manipulated events for over a thousand years—and even deceived Madara himself.
Definitely no pushover...
"Shin, are you going to see Madara Uchiha?" Mikoto asked.
Shin's curiosity had been piqued. He wanted to know why Madara wanted to see him.
Shin used Yomotsu Hirasaka to teleport to Madara's underground lair with Kushina and Mikoto.
Madara looked even older and more decrepit than before—practically a ghoul.
"Madara, I bet you used to be handsome in your prime. But now… You look like some half-dead ghoul. Not a pretty sight." Shin couldn't help but comment.
Kushina cracked a grin, but Madara merely stood there with that stoic face, saying nothing.
After a tense moment, he finally spoke, voice raspy:
"I called you here to discuss something important… Regarding the future."
"Future?" Shin raised an eyebrow. "So, you've finally realized your time is almost up?"
He gave Madara a once-over, noting the flickering life force still anchored by the Gedo Statue. Despite that life support, Madara was clearly on borrowed time.
"If I had to guess, you could probably last another four or five years," Shin estimated.
"It doesn't matter," Madara replied flatly. "It's meaningless to me now."
He recognized that his current body could never accomplish the grand plan. So, in his mind, better to set the stage for a future resurrection than to struggle on in vain.
"So you want me here just so you can share your will or something? Last words, maybe?" Shin teased lightly.
Madara ignored the sarcasm, his tone grave:
"For my eventual return, I will be searching for a pawn to revive me. I hope you won't interfere with him."
"Oh, come on," Shin said, stepping forward and clapping Madara on the shoulder (enough force that Madara nearly staggered). "You're so formal! Aren't we partners? I can handle your revival, old man."
Madara's eyes flared with annoyance, but he kept his voice calm.
"I'll handle my revival. Don't interfere."
Madara didn't trust Shin. He wouldn't entrust such an important task to him. He even suspected Shin might try to prevent his revival.
"Oh. So you've already picked your pawn?" Shin asked.
"No," Madara said curtly. "I haven't truly bound them to my will yet. One day, I'll let you know. Until then, I simply ask you to keep your distance."
He'd marked out potential pawns—Uchiha Obito among them—but no final choice had been made. It all depended on how things played out.
"So you're not going to tell me anything." Shin smiled. It didn't matter. He already knew everything.
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