"Come out. I know you can hear me," Uzumaki Mito called toward Isamu.
At her words, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru all tensed, their eyes locked onto Isamu's unconscious body. Anyone who could enter him without being noticed was not someone ordinary.
Several minutes passed—nothing happened.
A hint of doubt flickered across their faces. Had Mito been mistaken?
Then her expression hardened.
"If you don't come out on your own, do you want me to drag you out?"
A voice suddenly echoed through the room.
"As expected of Uzumaki Mito. To think you actually discovered us."
The air distorted.
Isamu's body began to squirm unnaturally. White matter seeped out, stretching and reshaping—until ten pale humanoid figures fully emerged.
They formed a circle around Isamu, each raising a hand and continuously channeling life force into him.
The room fell silent.
Mito's eyes narrowed. "Who are you—and why are you helping him?"
One of the white figures chuckled. "There's no need for introductions. Just know that we're here to keep Isamu alive. As for anything else… don't bother asking."
"Hmph. There's no such thing as help without a price," Mito replied coldly. "Speak your purpose. Otherwise, none of you are leaving Konoha."
At once, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru moved—forming a tight triangle around the ten figures.
The pressure in the room spiked.
The White Zetsu exchanged glances.
They weren't strong enough to fight their way out.
So they chose words instead.
"You don't need to threaten us," one said calmly. "If we leave… your chances of saving Isamu drop sharply. I suggest we all calm down."
That hit its mark.
The trio hesitated—and lowered their guard.
Mito clicked her tongue inwardly. Clever.
She shifted tactics. "Fine. Then give me something I can trust. If you interfere during treatment, the consequences will be severe."
The White Zetsu nodded slightly.
"That won't happen. We act strictly under our lord's orders. And our lord… holds Isamu in very high regard. He would never harm him."
"Your lord?" Mito frowned.
So there really was someone behind them.
And not just someone—an organization.
"When did something like this appear in the Ninja World…" she muttered.
The White Zetsu continued, "Our lord sent us. And he's already given new instructions—if you cannot save Isamu, we will take him away."
That instantly set Tsunade on edge.
"Take him away? You mean your lord can cure him?"
"Of course," the White Zetsu said smugly. "To our lord, this is nothing. A minor injury at most."
Mito's eyes turned cold.
"Minor injury? His very foundation is damaged. Even I can barely preserve his life. And you claim it's nothing?" She scoffed. "Do you take me for a fool?"
The White Zetsu didn't back down.
"If you don't believe us, let us take him. You'll see for yourself."
"Not a chance," Mito said immediately. "You're not taking him anywhere. Stay here and maintain his life force. That's all."
The White Zetsu shrugged. "Suit yourself. We're not in a hurry."
But Tsunade was.
She grabbed Mito's sleeve, lowering her voice. "Grandma… why refuse? If they really can save him—"
Mito flicked her forehead sharply.
"You're letting fear control you," she said firmly. "We don't even know who they are. Handing him over would be reckless."
Then her tone softened slightly.
"…Don't worry. I have a way to keep him alive."
Hope flashed across Tsunade's face.
"Then hurry! Please!"
Mito sighed. "I need to prepare first. I'll begin immediately."
She closed her eyes.
Her consciousness sank inward—into her mental space.
A moment later, she stood before a massive iron cage.
Inside it…
The Nine-Tailed Fox opened its eyes.
Just as Mito was about to speak—
"You don't need to ask," the Nine-Tails said coldly. "I will not help you humans."