Just as Nagato was preparing to set out, Zetsu came looking for Nagato's main body.
"Madara-sama won't make a move personally this time either, but he asked me to bring you something good." Zetsu said with a smug, punchable smile.
"At a time like this, he still won't make a move. Did something happen to Madara?" Nagato replied meaningfully.
Zetsu's heart tightened when he heard Nagato's words, and he was somewhat surprised. However, as a thousand-year-old schemer, although he was surprised inside, Zetsu's face did not reveal the slightest flaw. Instead, he said with a grin, "Of course not. After all, that is Uchiha Madara. Naturally, nothing could have happened to him. Everything is within his control."
Nagato inwardly scoffed. Everything was within his control? Your Madara had already defected, yet you still wanted to drag me along with him.
"So, what is the good thing?" Nagato asked indifferently, wanting to see what kind of trick Zetsu was planning.
"Of course, it is the final piece of the puzzle needed to perfect your bloodline." Zetsu smiled and took out a small bottle. Floating inside the bottle was a pure white eye.
"Byakugan." Nagato immediately recognized this extremely famous eye in the shinobi world.
"As long as you transplant the Byakugan, your strength should be able to advance another step. Maybe you can break through the limits of a ninja and reach the legendary level of the Sage of Six Paths." Zetsu said exaggeratedly.
Actually, this Byakugan had not been obtained by Zetsu from Konoha. Black Zetsu certainly did not dare to openly steal a Byakugan from Konoha.
This Byakugan had been obtained by him from the Hidden Mist Village, from a shinobi named Ao. That was why there was only one. If he had obtained it from Konoha, there would have been at least a pair.
"Why is there only one?" Nagato also noticed this problem.
"The effect of the Byakugan isn't important. What matters is the Byakugan itself, so one or two makes no difference."
Zetsu explained with a smile on the surface, while inwardly cursing. Did you think Byakugan were easy to obtain? There were already few members of the Hyuga main family, and they all stayed in Konoha without coming out. Being able to obtain even one from the shinobi world was already pretty good.
"Can the eye also be absorbed directly using the Chimera Technique? If I transplant it, wouldn't I have to remove one Rinnegan? Wouldn't that affect the power of the Rinnegan…" Nagato held the Byakugan in his hand, thinking about how he should deal with it.
Having reached the final step, it was impossible for Nagato to give up on this Byakugan. He also wanted to see whether gathering the powers of the Uzumaki, Uchiha, Hyuga, and Senju clans together could allow him to recreate the power of the legendary myth.
This was different from Hashirama, the God of Shinobi. This was true mythical power.
However, something like the Rinnegan needed a pair to display its true power, just like the Sharingan. No, it should be said that the Sharingan and Rinnegan were the same in this regard.
"The eye doesn't necessarily have to be transplanted into an eye socket. Can't you just transplant it into any part of your body?" Zetsu suggested.
Nagato thought about it and felt that although doing this was not very aesthetically pleasing, it was indeed practical.
Thus, Nagato transplanted the Byakugan onto the back of his left hand and activated the Chimera Technique.
After everything was completed, the Byakugan quickly reacted with Nagato's body. A terrifying aura erupted from his body, and his aura stirred up a tangible storm that blew everything around into a mess.
Nagato felt that his strength, which had originally stagnated, had once again begun to increase rapidly, and every aspect of it was increasing simultaneously.
As Nagato enjoyed the growth of his body, he suddenly felt an itch on his forehead, as if something had grown there. His vision also underwent a change.
Nagato pulled a mirror over with his power and looked into it, only to discover that a new Rinnegan had actually appeared on his forehead.
The new Rinnegan was purple, just like his original Rinnegan. The only difference was that the new Rinnegan did not only have circles, but also had six black tomoe within it.
Clearly, he had awakened a higher-level Rinnegan, the Six-Tomoe Rinnegan.
After successfully awakening the Six-Tomoe Rinnegan, Nagato instantly knew the abilities of this new Rinnegan.
All the abilities that his original Sharingan possessed were also possessed by the Six-Tomoe Rinnegan, and it also had a new unique ability—Kotoamatsukami.
The effect of Kotoamatsukami was extremely simple and crude. It could absorb ninjutsu and chakra. After absorbing the ninjutsu or chakra, he could choose to restore his own chakra with it, or he could choose to add it to his chakra, amplify its power, and release it back.
It seemed to have some overlap with the Preta Path's ability, but Nagato, who had used the Rinnegan for many years, knew very well that the Preta Path's absorption ability was not very strong. Against opponents of the same level, its usefulness was limited. It was only very comfortable when bullying weaker opponents.
The new ability, Kotoamatsukami, was different. Not only could it absorb much more powerful ninjutsu, but it could also amplify the power and return it to the opponent.
Kotoamatsukami could also store multiple ninjutsu simultaneously. However, each stored ninjutsu could only be used once. After it was used, it had to be absorbed again before it could be used again.
Black Zetsu was also stunned when he saw the Six-Tomoe Rinnegan appear on Nagato's forehead.
This was beyond Black Zetsu's expectations. He had not expected that Nagato, who had already transplanted Madara's Rinnegan, could still awaken another Rinnegan, and one that appeared to be even more special—the Six-Tomoe Rinnegan.
Although Black Zetsu was a creation of Kaguya Otsutsuki, he also did not understand the affairs of the Otsutsuki clan. What he understood better was the shinobi world.
'Although this has increased Nagato's uncontrollability, it also gives him some more chances to defeat Fujiwara Nagasawa.' Black Zetsu thought silently.
Regarding the battle between Nagato and Nagasawa, Black Zetsu had always maintained a relatively pessimistic attitude. He did not think Nagato could defeat Nagasawa under normal circumstances, which was why he had tried every possible means to strengthen Nagato's power.
This made Black Zetsu somewhat miss Madara. Madara did not require him to go through so much trouble. He only needed to deceive Madara a few times, and Madara would reach the level Black Zetsu expected.
'What a pity, Madara. You were born in the wrong era.' Black Zetsu silently mourned Madara for 0.01 seconds.
Compared with Madara, Nagato's luck was undoubtedly much better. The results of Madara spending enormous amounts of effort cultivating Hashirama cells were inherited by Nagato, and he happened to encounter Hiruko, a genius who developed the Chimera Technique.
Konoha had also produced Fujiwara Nagasawa, a ruthless man who forced Zetsu to do everything possible to strengthen Nagato.
"Zetsu, what is your relationship with Madara?" Nagato suddenly asked Zetsu.
"Me? Of course, I'm Madara-sama's subordinate." Zetsu said with an unchanged expression, while inwardly feeling that Nagato's behavior was somewhat strange.
"But your Madara-sama has already left Akatsuki. Why do you keep creating the illusion that he is still here?" Nagato said indifferently.
Silence—
The underground chamber suddenly became quiet, and the smiling expression on Zetsu's face gradually froze.
"Do I need to repeat myself? Your relationship with Madara, and your purpose." Nagato asked indifferently.
Now that they had reached the final step of the plan, Nagato could no longer be bothered to keep pretending with Zetsu. In any case, Zetsu would no longer be that important from now on.
Compared with having one more source of intelligence, Nagato preferred having one fewer traitor with ulterior motives beside him.
"I don't understand what you mean, Nagato." Black Zetsu pretended to be confused while thinking about a countermeasure.
Black Zetsu was extremely anxious at this moment, frantically thinking about exactly how he had been exposed.
He thought he had not revealed any flaws in either his words or actions. Where could he find a second employee as diligent and hardworking as himself?
'Could it be because Obito hasn't appeared for too long, causing Nagato to become suspicious?' Black Zetsu speculated.
Nagato's chakra erupted at full power. Two faintly visible sharp little horns appeared on both sides of his forehead, while the Six-Tomoe Rinnegan in the center of his forehead released an immense pressure toward Black Zetsu.
This immense pressure even caused tangible destruction around them. Cracks appeared in the walls, and the ceiling split apart directly.
"Don't try to play dumb in front of me." Nagato said coldly. He no longer wanted to play along with Zetsu.
"How could Madara-sama possibly leave the organization he created himself? Nagato, did you misunderstand something?" Black Zetsu thought for a moment before saying.
He bet that Nagato was merely suspicious and did not have confirmation.
There was no other choice. If he admitted what Nagato had said, his identity would change from an underling with ulterior motives behind the scenes into one of the masterminds behind the scenes with ulterior motives.
Then Nagato definitely would not let him go. Black Zetsu knew how reckless this guy Nagato could be.
"Since you've said something like this, I'll go report to Madara-sama and have him come meet you." Black Zetsu continued, preparing to escape first.
Black Zetsu planned to stop staying beside Nagato. The risk was too great. He would wait for an opportunity to act from the shadows.
Unfortunately, Black Zetsu could never have imagined that Nagato was not merely guessing. He had fought Obito.
After all, in Black Zetsu's calculations, at most Obito would die and some information would be exposed.
"Shinra Tensei!" Facing Black Zetsu, whose mouth was filled with nothing but lies, Nagato chose not to waste words and attacked directly.
Terrifying repulsive force pressed toward Zetsu like a landslide, and the entire underground chamber erupted with terrifying rumbling sounds.
In the end, the entire underground chamber was destroyed and reduced to ruins, while Zetsu was turned into black and white fragments scattered everywhere.
Nagato sensed the surroundings. After discovering that he could no longer sense Zetsu's presence, he flew away, preparing to lead his forces in an attack on the Land of Earth.
Half an hour after Nagato left, a puddle of black sludge suddenly emerged from the ruins of the underground chamber. The black sludge rapidly took shape, finally becoming the form of Black Zetsu.
"Fortunately, I was cautious. I almost fell into Nagato's hands." Black Zetsu's expression was extremely unpleasant at this moment.
Black Zetsu, who could be considered Kaguya's third son, did not possess the powerful strength of Hagoromo and Hamura, but he had maxed out his ability to survive, and his concealment abilities were extremely strong.
When Black Zetsu sensed that something was wrong with Nagato, he had abandoned part of his body to protect the whole by transferring most of his body underground. He only dared to come out after Nagato had left for half an hour.
There was a hierarchy of contempt on Black Zetsu's side, with himself at the very top. He looked down on everyone except his own family.
Next were useful pawns like Uchiha Madara, followed by pawns like Obito, who could still be useful after some manipulation, and finally there was someone like Nagato.
Black Zetsu deceived Madara, Madara deceived Obito, and Obito deceived Nagato. Nagato was undoubtedly at the bottom of the hierarchy of contempt.
Having nearly been killed by the person at the bottom of the hierarchy he looked down upon, Black Zetsu was in a very bad mood.
"Fortunately, it wasn't a complete failure. As long as Nagato continues to act according to the plan, there is still a chance." Black Zetsu quickly calmed down.
Black Zetsu had always been very clear-headed. He had only one goal. It was neither to destroy the world nor to rule the shinobi world, but to resurrect his mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki.
There were two necessary conditions for resurrecting his mother: one was the Ten-Tails, and the other was the Rinnegan.
The Rinnegan not only existed now, there was even an extra one.
Next, as long as the Ten-Tails was resurrected, there was still a great chance to take advantage of the opportunity to resurrect his mother.
One of Nagato's plans was also to develop a super Tailed Beast weapon. If Nagato gathered all the Tailed Beasts, the Ten-Tails would definitely be born.
"Next, I need to make some proper preparations." Black Zetsu thought of something, sank into the ground, and left the ruins.
......
The war between the Land of Earth and the Land of Birds quickly spread throughout the shinobi world.
The result was simply too outrageous, so outrageous that everyone thought it was fake news.
The Land of Earth was not the weakest among the Five Great Nations. Its ninja forces were powerful, and even the Hidden Cloud Village, such a powerful ninja village, had suffered a major setback at the hands of Iwagakure.
And what level was the Land of Birds?
If not for this war, many people in the shinobi world would not even have known that there was a small country called the Land of Birds.
The Land of Birds had neither the distinctive hot springs of the Land of Hot Water nor the ninja strength of the Land of Grass. Even among the small countries, it was considered insignificant, and its ninja village had only just been established.
Looking at it this way, the gap between the Land of Earth and the Land of Birds was roughly equivalent to the gap between the permanent members of the UN Security Council and a small African country in Nagasawa's previous life.
This was no longer a matter of whether it was shocking or not. It was simply horrifying.
How could they possibly win? It made no sense. Yet that was precisely what had happened.
...
Hidden Cloud Village.
"This Onoki is really getting worse with age. He actually launched an attack and lost to some Land of Birds. It's absolutely hilarious, hahaha." The Fourth Raikage, who had always been at odds with Iwagakure, immediately began mocking them. The force with which he slapped the table was so great that the table trembled repeatedly, clearly about to give out.
"He has completely thrown away their dignity. Being one of the Five Great Ninja Villages alongside Iwagakure is lowering the standard too much."
...
Hidden Sand Village.
When Rasa saw that Iwagakure had actually lost to a small ninja village, a smile involuntarily appeared on his face.
"Although Onoki has seniority, he's no good either. Losing to Konoha is one thing, but he actually lost to a small ninja village as well. No one can lose after this." Rasa laughed.
He wanted to see who would dare say that the Hidden Sand Village was the shame of the Five Great Ninja Villages, the worst of the Five Great Ninja Villages. His Hidden Sand Village had never lost to a small ninja village.
...
Konoha.
When Nagasawa saw the headline, "Shocking the Shinobi World, Cowards Shouldn't Look, Iwagakure Was Actually Defeated by an Unknown Small Ninja Village…" he could not help but laugh out loud.
The others did not know what was going on, but Nagasawa, who had been secretly watching Nagato all along, knew the reason.
On the surface, it was a small country defeating the Iwagakure forces, but in reality, it was a victory for the Akatsuki Organization.
Nagato's actions were within Nagasawa's expectations.
Although Nagasawa had not taken action against Nagato, he still knew about Nagato's arrangements.
Where the members of the Akatsuki Organization were, which small ninja villages had allied themselves with Nagato, and how Nagato's forces were developing.
"It is almost time to close the net." Nagasawa drank his tea and gazed into the distance.