Chapter 24: The Vanishing Chibaku Tensei
"Konan, let's go. We'll head out now."
"Black Zetsu, remember to keep an eye on the ring's messages. Have Hidan use his technique when needed."
Shiromo, seeing that the argument wouldn't end anytime soon, decided to ignore it. After giving Black Zetsu his instructions, he and Konan left the cave where they had gathered.
"Understood."
Black Zetsu acknowledged and used his underground root system to transfer a scroll out.
This wasn't a collection of blood, but a catalog.
To achieve deterrence, it was necessary to accurately identify which vial of blood corresponded to which ninja. Otherwise, the so-called deterrence and threat would be meaningless. And to achieve accurate identification, each vial had to be recorded.
This task had been assigned to another White Zetsu, and it was now completed.
Just as Uchiha Madara had believed Black Zetsu was the embodiment of his will, Uchiha Obito also believed that the 100,000 White Zetsu were created by him using Hashirama's cells.
In reality, White Zetsu could only be created in one way: by transforming someone trapped in the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
The 100,000 White Zetsu were created by Otsutsuki Kaguya in ancient times. These White Zetsu had always obeyed only one person's orders: Otsutsuki Kaguya. With Kaguya sealed away, the second authority belonged to Black Zetsu. All of Madara and Obito's authority had essentially been a deliberate disguise by Black Zetsu, making the White Zetsu obey their commands.
Shiromo felt it was time to give Black Zetsu a hint.
As a fighting force, the 100,000 White Zetsu were actually quite weak; their only advantage was their stealth. But as mere tools, they didn't need to eat, drink, or relieve themselves. They didn't need wages. They worked day and night without rest…
How convenient would that be?
---
"Or maybe Pain and I should go. You can't fly…"
After leaving the cave, Konan spoke with a somewhat awkward expression.
Deidara was one of the harder members of Akatsuki to capture due to his air superiority. He couldn't fly himself, but the giant birds and dragons he created from clay could carry him.
Coincidentally, the Tsuchikage, Onoki, could also fly.
So, to rescue Deidara, it would be best to have anti-air or flight abilities.
Konan and Pain could both fly.
As for Shiromo…
He really couldn't.
This was exactly what Konan was worried about. What if Deidara was rescued, and Shiromo got lost in Iwagakure?
"Konan-nee, just take me with you. You can wrap my body in paper."
Shiromo grinned.
"That's for enemies; it freezes the gathering of chakra."
"Perfect. I don't need chakra."
"…Why didn't you just say to carry you?"
"Will you?"
"…."
"Fine. Since that's the case, take me to see the leader. I want to conduct an experiment."
Seeing that Konan still wouldn't budge, Shiromo's expression turned serious as he made his request.
"An experiment?" Konan asked, curiosity in her voice.
So, carrying Shiromo, they flew to the Amegakure Village tower, where they met Nagato again.
"Is there something you need?" Nagato inquired.
"Uh, Nagato, why don't you find a Jinchuriki? You could use the Preta Path to absorb some Tailed Beast chakra to replenish your strength. You look like you're about to collapse at any moment."
Shiromo glanced at Nagato's emaciated form; anyone who didn't know better might think he had been using some sort of "flying-to-sleep" technique every night.
"Thanks for your concern, but I know my body well. I'm far from dead, don't worry."
Nagato smiled.
However, with his sunken cheeks and frail appearance, it was somewhat unsettling.
"Nagato, Strategist told me he wants to see you, to help him with an experiment," Konan interjected, getting back to the point.
"Oh? What experiment?"
Nagato asked.
"Konan-neechan, actually, when I said 'see the leader,' I meant Pain," Shiromo smiled helplessly.
"It's all the same. How do you need Pain to cooperate with you?"
Nagato, controlling Pain's Deva Path, entered from outside.
"Indeed, it's all the same. What I need is for you to attack me with Shinra Tensei."
"What?!" Nagato was stunned.
Attack? He didn't understand what Shiromo was trying to do. Was he a masochist? Testing his physical limits? Or was it some bloodline limit that awakened after injury?
"My current ability awakened while traveling through time using the Otsutsuki clan's Karasuki," Shiromo explained, "I speculate that after contact with other things related to the Otsutsuki clan, I might awaken new powers."
As Shiromo spoke, his figure suddenly appeared at the other end of the room.
In fact, Nagato and Konan still hadn't figured out what Shiromo's strange ability was.
"Something related to the Otsutsuki clan?"
"That's right. Actually, the reason I was working with Itachi this time was to experiment on him. The Rinnegan and Sharingan are closely related to the Otsutsuki clan. However, almost all the natural energy in my body has been used to enhance my existing abilities, so I gave up on that idea. On the way back from the Land of Waves, I absorbed some more natural energy these past few days, so now I can try it out."
Shiromo explained earnestly.
"Understood. Let's go somewhere else then."
Nagato, in his wheelchair, led Shiromo and Konan to a large open area outside Amegakure.
Nagato raised his hand, looking at Shiromo, "Tell me when you're ready."
"Come on."
"Shinra Tensei!"
The Shinra Tensei, unleashed from Nagato's main body, sent Shiromo flying with a powerful repulsive force.
"Shiromo! Are you alright?"
Konan waved the paper, catching Shiromo like a pair of wings, and asked with concern.
"I'm fine. Natural energy has strengthened my body, and Nagato has also held back. I wouldn't be injured by an attack of this magnitude."
Shiromo steadied himself and stepped out from Konan's white paper.
"Did it work?" Nagato asked.
"No."
Shiromo shook his head.
"Was your speculation wrong, or is power not enough?" Nagato pressed.
Konan watched this scene, feeling as if the team had reunited, training ninjutsu together for a shared ideal…
"The speculation should be correct, at most with some deviations. When I gained my current abilities, I could feel how my body's power was activated and awakened. As for whether it's not enough… it probably is, but not that the power isn't enough."
Shiromo answered Nagato's question carefully.
"It's not that my power isn't enough…"
Having heard the first part, Nagato thought the failure was due to him holding back, but it seemed that wasn't the case.
"Never mind, let's leave it at that."
Shiromo smiled, turning to Konan. "I failed to awaken my ability. Konan-nee, can you carry me now?"
"Fine, then… Nagato, what are you doing?!"
Konan looked at Nagato behind Shiromo in shock.
Nagato clasped his hands together, and a trembling black sphere emerged from his palms.
The black sphere emitted an eerie glow.
"Konan, move aside."
"Shiromo, I believe in you, just like I believe in Yahiko."
"You will succeed!"
"Chibaku Tensei..."
Nagato pushed the black sphere, which struck Shiromo directly, carrying him slowly into the sky.
A terrifying gravitational field appeared.
The soil and trees on the ground began to tremble, gradually being attracted by the black sphere and converging towards it.
The gravity continued to strengthen.
Konan was extremely anxious.
For a moment, she didn't know whether to worry about Nagato, who was wasting his lifespan using Chibaku Tensei, or about Shiromo, who was caught in it.
However…
Thump.
Thud.
The earth that had cracked and been drawn into the air slowly returned to its original state. Everything attracted into the air fell back to the ground, including Shiromo.
The Chibaku Tensei's Black Sphere that had once been located in his abdomen had now vanished without a trace.
(End of this chapter)