Suddenly, Black Zetsu casually remarked, "To enhance our combat power and complete the plan, we should reanimate Lord Madara as well."
Black Zetsu had no other choice. The Rinne Tensei no Jutsu wasn't something just anyone could learn, and the Rinnegan wasn't something just anyone could control.
Obito Uchiha's laughter stopped abruptly, and he fell silent...
"Heh heh... Obito, I know you're wary of Lord Madara, but there's no need to be afraid."
"Lord Madara can check you with the curse mark, but you can also check him with the Impure World Reincarnation seal."
"With mutual checks and balances, and mutual wariness, you can actually cooperate fully."
"Besides, White Zetsu and I can't use the Impure World Reincarnation technique. The army of reanimated corpses can only be controlled by you. In a way, you hold the advantage."
"To hold the advantage and still be afraid, lacking any courage—how can you achieve the great plan of peace for the ninja world?"
Obito Uchiha thought for a while before saying, "Alright. Just make sure the Impure World Reincarnation technique doesn't disappoint us."
"Don't worry. With your ninjutsu skills, plus the help of White Zetsu and me, we will definitely be able to perfect the Impure World Reincarnation. It's just a matter of time," Black Zetsu said in a deep voice.
Obito Uchiha nodded and said no more.
As for whether they could steal the information related to the Impure World Reincarnation technique, neither of them mentioned it, because it was a foregone conclusion.
As long as Orochimaru didn't carry it with him, finding and stealing it was only a matter of time.
The probability of Orochimaru carrying it with him was low, and since he didn't have his own space-time storage, it wouldn't be difficult to get it from a sealing scroll.
Even if he did carry it with him, they would find a way to get it. If there was no other way, they would just take it by force.
The matter was of grave importance, so they would stop at nothing!
...
As time passed, the major powers of the ninja world received the news one after another.
Takigakure received the news and Konoha's explanatory letter almost simultaneously. They were furious, but dared not do anything and had to treat the Konoha envoy with utmost courtesy.
If the Third Hokage were in power, Takigakure might have dared to bristle and demand an explanation, but facing the ruthless man who had dealt so harshly with Sunagakure, they didn't dare.
Although Sunagakure didn't believe that Konoha's undercover agents knew nothing, and were thus dissatisfied, they also dared not do or say anything.
The Akatsuki members who attacked Sunagakure were not the undercover agents, and the body of the acting Fifth Kazekage was even retrieved by Konoha ninja.
Not only did they not dare to express dissatisfaction, but they also had to deal carefully with Konoha's envoy who came to demand an explanation. Sunagakure truly had no capital to fall out with Konoha now.
Only after much pleading and expressions of loyalty did they manage to gloss over the matter of the Third Great Ninja War's trigger, eliminating Konoha's plan to use the opportunity for blackmail.
While extremely relieved, their dissatisfaction was greatly diminished.
Kirigakure, Mizukage Tower, Mizukage's Office.
The Fifth Mizukage, Terumī Mei, slammed the scroll in her hand onto the desk, her face extremely dark, like the calm before a storm.
"Damn Akatsuki, damn Konoha! This is bullying! They don't respect our Kirigakure at all!"
Chōjūrō and Zabuza stood on either side of the desk, looking at each other. What had made the Mizukage so angry?
"You two take a look as well. After reading it, we must work hard to become stronger!"
As the senior, Zabuza took it first, read it, and then passed it to Chōjūrō.
After reading it, their faces were also very dark, their eyes burning with anger, unable to suppress their killing intent...
A statement was just a statement, but why did it have to end with the sentence, "This is how we do things. If you're not convinced, come and fight"?
It was too arrogant! They didn't respect Kirigakure, no, the three great... no, the four great ninja villages at all!
The four great ninja villages Zabuza and Chōjūrō were referring to were Sunagakure, Kirigakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure.
Although Kirigakure's strength had declined severely, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse. The two of them didn't even consider Takigakure.
Kageyama Kogetsu had deliberately instructed this. Anyway, no matter what, the four great ninja villages coveted the Land of Fire's territory, so they might as well be domineering and arrogant.
"Lord Mizukage, we must make Konoha suffer a little!" Zabuza said viciously.
Chōjūrō opened his mouth but swallowed his words.
"Chōjūrō, what do you want to say?" Terumī Mei forced a smile onto her beautiful face.
"Although I'm very unwilling, I think... we should endure."
"How can we endure this?"
"Konoha is riding on our necks and slapping our faces." Zabuza glared at Chōjūrō, furious.
Chōjūrō explained seriously, "Senior Zabuza, calm down."
"Our Kirigakure is far weaker than Konoha, and we have adopted a policy of recuperation. We cannot easily interrupt it."
"Even if we want to teach Konoha a lesson, our Kirigakure cannot be the first to stick its neck out. There's still Iwagakure and Kumogakure."
Zabuza was silent for a moment before saying, "You have a point. But while war is not suitable, we can still make some small moves."
"This..." Chōjūrō was thoughtful, somewhat tempted.
Terumī Mei said seriously, "We can't even make small moves. The Sixth Hokage of Konoha, Kageyama Kogetsu, is an ambitious man."
"If he catches us making small moves, he will have an excuse to attack our Kirigakure."
"He can attack even without evidence. Does the strong need evidence to attack the weak?"
"Of course, it's a different story if we don't get caught. But for the sake of the bigger picture, we cannot take this risk."
Chōjūrō nodded in agreement.
Zabuza was also persuaded, but he was still unwilling.
"It's too humiliating. Are we going to do nothing?"
Terumī Mei sighed, "Sigh... I know it's humiliating too. That's why I want you to work hard, why the entire Kirigakure needs to work hard."
"But there are still some things we can do, just not in the way you think."
"What things?" Zabuza asked with interest.
Chōjūrō was also interested. He was young too, and unless absolutely necessary, he didn't want to endure!
"Kisame Hoshigaki and Jūzō Biwa, mentioned in the statement, were once Kirigakure ninja, and they wield Samehada and the Executioner's Blade."
"Send a large number of ninja to investigate their whereabouts in the ninja world and try to recruit them back."
"As long as they are willing to return, any position other than mine and Lord Gen's is open for negotiation."
Chōjūrō and Zabuza were shocked. Although the Mizukage was a woman, she was truly bold. This was a chance to reach the sky in a single step!
"Besides negotiating positions, the people sent out should also promote the changes in Kirigakure and point out the bright future of the village."
"Oh, and check if the two have any relatives or friends in Kirigakure. Any connection will do."
"Bring letters of persuasion from them. Play the emotional card. Although it might be better than nothing, it's still better than nothing."
There was no helping it. Given the system and atmosphere of the old Kirigakure, what kind of feelings could there be between ninja?
Perhaps there were once feelings, but they were probably all dead.
Besides, if they had relatives, the two probably wouldn't have defected so easily.
"Finally, mention things unique to Kirigakure and the Land of Water, hoping to evoke their homesickness."
"Like special food, special scenery, special customs, and so on."
"Our Kirigakure is severely lacking in high-end combat power."
Seeing Terumī Mei's worried expression, Zabuza quickly stepped forward to share the burden.
"Leave this matter to me. I will definitely find them and do my best to persuade them."
Terumī Mei smiled. "I'm very pleased that you are so proactive, but you are not suitable for this matter."
"You grew up during the Bloody Mist era. Although you were once the same kind of person as them, now Chōjūrō might be more trustworthy than you."
"Chōjūrō will be responsible for this matter. It will also be a good opportunity for him to gain experience on the continent."
Chōjūrō smiled apologetically at Zabuza, then said seriously, "Yes, Lord Mizukage!"
It had to be said that Terumī Mei's ideas and strategies were good. Being able to become the Mizukage meant she really had something.
However, Terumī Mei had miscalculated one thing: Kisame and Jūzō had a new faith that transcended personal, family, and village loyalties.
Even in the original story, Kisame, who believed in Obito Uchiha's ideology, was hard to persuade.
How resolute was Kisame in completing the mission given by Obito Uchiha?
He completely disregarded his own life, summoning sharks to eat himself!
In this life, Kisame would only be more resolute, and Jūzō wouldn't be far behind.
So even if Kirigakure found the two, it would only be a futile effort...
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