Chapter 76: Making a Choice

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Making a Choice

"Ghehehe~"

The Gengar that had been sent flying wasn’t angered at all; it just grinned and opened a black portal, slipping inside in an instant.

Seeing this, Gardevoir also Teleported away from the spot.

The forest returned to silence, leaving only scattered wood chips as evidence of the brief skirmish that had taken place.

........

"Huh~ That’s so weird. I think I just fell asleep~ But we don’t need to sleep, do we?"

Deep underground, the moment Black Zetsu released his control over White Zetsu, White Zetsu’s puzzled voice rang out.

He had no memory of being controlled by Black Zetsu just moments before.

Ignoring White Zetsu’s confusion, Black Zetsu’s mind raced. The sudden sense of crisis had momentarily thrown him off balance.

Why had that bizarre Summoning Beast suddenly attacked him? Whether it was his identity or White Zetsu... no one in the current Ninja World should have any knowledge of them.

And... why did that Summoning Beast’s power make him feel fear??

It didn’t carry the aura of Yin-Yang Release at all...

Senjutsu??

No... although Senjutsu can harm me, ordinary Senjutsu definitely wouldn’t give me such an intense sense of crisis...

The problem of Uchiha Xuan wasn’t even resolved yet, and now a new trouble had emerged...

Wait... such a Summoning Beast!!! That’s it—these two matters are actually one and the same. That strange Summoning Beast could only be Uchiha Xuan’s Summoning Beast.

So... Uchiha Xuan knows of our existence!??!

Moreover, why did he suddenly attack me? Based on the known information, given Uchiha Xuan’s personality, he shouldn’t act unless provoked by an enemy.

Damn it! Such a person truly is a variable...

Black Zetsu’s mind spun rapidly as he continuously pondered the flaws in his actions. He couldn’t understand where he had exposed his tracks.

"No!!! If he knows of my existence, then... damn it, Nagato is in his hands!"

As he pondered, Black Zetsu’s hollow eyes widened abruptly. He suddenly remembered that Uchiha Madara had tacitly allowed Uchiha Xuan to take Nagato back to Konohagakure!!

If Uchiha Xuan had known of his existence all along, then those eyes...

"Return, find Madara... sir."

Without the slightest hesitation, Black Zetsu immediately took control of White Zetsu’s body again and swiftly fled toward Uchiha Madara’s location.

Before this matter resulted in irreparable losses, he had to eliminate all unstable factors. He... couldn’t afford to wait another thousand years.

The Rinnegan must not be lost under any circumstances!!

......

Meanwhile.

In the newly built command room of the Konohagakure camp.

"Destroy the Hidden Sand!? Isn’t this decision a bit... a bit too hasty?"

Nara Shikanin, who had been forcibly recruited, looked with a headache at Uchiha Xuan sitting in the high position.

He never expected that, having just arrived at this battlefield, Uchiha Xuan, the newly appointed commander-in-chief, would give him such an abstract command.

Destroy the Hidden Sand—is that so easy?

Not to mention the barriers within the Hidden Sand Village and its location deep in the desert terrain, just the current combat strength of the Hidden Sand Village alone is far from something that can be easily wiped out.

Moreover, the Hidden Sand Village now has the Third Kazekage, known as the strongest Kazekage, holding the fort.

In the desert terrain, the Third Kazekage, who wields Magnet Release, can unleash astonishing power. And what’s more... there is another combat force in the Hidden Sand Village that absolutely cannot be ignored.

The Tailed Beast!!

"This is the result of careful deliberation by my Uchiha clan. If Konohagakure wants lasting peace, we must completely eradicate those who harbor hostility toward us.

Peace maintained by interests and agreements is nothing but a false peace. Such peace will one day vanish like bubbles.

And the most ridiculous part is that the ones who can freely decide whether to shatter these bubbles are the defeated... Isn’t that laughable?"

Uchiha Xuan looked at Nara Shikanin before him with a smile and spoke softly.

"But the Hokage’s order is to negotiate with the Hidden Sand Village... and form an alliance. Xuan, what you’re planning to do now is completely contrary to the Hokage’s command!"

Nara Shikanin frowned deeply. As the strategist of the battlefield, he was well aware of the policies Sarutobi Hiruzen had established earlier.

In Sarutobi Hiruzen’s view, with Konohagakure’s strength, defeating the Hidden Sand Village was a simple matter, so he had long ago drafted post-war strategies.

But now, it seemed the Hokage’s orders would not be carried out.

Given Uchiha Xuan’s current prestige on the battlefield and the hatred Konohagakure ninja hold toward the Hidden Sand Village... the Third Hokage’s unspoken orders are no different from the bubbles Uchiha Xuan mentioned.

"So what? Negotiations? An alliance? Since when do the defeated deserve so-called negotiations? And what’s more, forming an alliance with the defeated? Ha, what a joke.

Losing means losing. What does that prove? It proves that the Hidden Sand Village should kneel before Konohagakure, not engage in some so-called alliance!

Senior Shikanin, with your wisdom, you should be able to deduce the nature of the Hidden Sand Village, right? Located in the desert, unable to develop economically, and even basic water sources are a challenge for them.

Konohagakure, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. Do you think... how long will the peace brought by Sarutobi Hiruzen’s policies truly last?

Three years? Six years? Or... ten years? Twenty years? Under Sarutobi Hiruzen’s policies, it would only give the Hidden Sand Village enough time to recuperate.

Once they recover, the first thing they’ll think of is tearing into Konohagakure’s delicious piece of meat. And by then, who will be the ones sent to the battlefield from Konohagakure?"

It will only be our descendants, leaving behind a false peace for us, yet handing over the enemies we personally spared to the children of the future? How utterly laughable.

Senior Shikarin, make your choice... What our Uchiha clan needs, what we desire—you must have already guessed. Now, tell me your answer."

Uchiha Xuan spoke in a low, detached voice.

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