At the edge of the barren crater.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Footsteps echoed softly.
Yagyu walked out leisurely from behind a giant tree that had only been half-destroyed by the explosion.
Looking at the enormous wasteland-like crater before him,
he casually wiped sweat that didn't even exist from his forehead.
"What a dangerous and thrilling battle that was."
Even as he said that the real Yagyu didn't even have a strand of hair out of place, let alone any trace of battle on his body.
If the Sound Five could hear those words, they would probably crawl out of hell just to curse him for being shameless.
After glancing once more at the giant crater Yagyu withdrew his gaze.
Then, he slowly turned his head toward the opposite side of the wasteland, his eyes locking onto the roots of a shattered tree.
He stared there silently for several seconds.
After that, his gaze shifted once more toward a distant hilltop.
Again, he watched quietly for a few seconds before finally withdrawing his eyes.
Then, turning around in an utterly carefree manner, Yagyu leisurely began walking back toward the Land of Fire and Konohagakure.
More than ten minutes after Yagyu had left from the roots of the tree he had stared at earlier, a strange pitcher-plant-like growth slowly emerged.
Once it opened a face split evenly into black and white halves appeared from within.
If Yagyu had still been here he would immediately have recognized the identity of this figure.
The so-called greatest filial son in the ninja world.
Black Zetsu and White Zetsu.
After emerging from the roots, Zetsu stared blankly at the massive crater left behind by the explosion.
"So powerful…"
A hoarse voice sounded out as Black Zetsu spoke,
"Has Yagyu Sōsuke's strength already become this terrifying?"
The moment Black Zetsu finished speaking, White Zetsu immediately replied from the other half,
"How terrifying can it be? That explosion just now was caused by explosive tags, wasn't it?"
Faced with White Zetsu's blunt response, Black Zetsu didn't get angry and simply continued calmly:
"Idiot. Strength isn't measured by raw combat power alone. Battle experience, intelligence, strategy… all of those count as well."
"Take Itachi Uchiha for example. His combat ability is terrifying, yes but what truly makes people fear him is his intelligence in battle."
Hearing that explanation.
White Zetsu didn't argue further and instead asked,
"Did Yagyu Sōsuke notice us… and the other observer just now?"
Hearing the question,
Black Zetsu nodded in agreement.
"It probably did notice us."
Black Zetsu spoke in a low voice,
"But he must have some concerns, otherwise he wouldn't have chosen not to attack further."
"Let's go. We need to bring the latest information about Yagyu Sōsuke back to the Akatsuki. This man will become a major obstacle to our plans."
As he spoke the bodies of Black and White Zetsu slowly sank into the ground and disappeared completely.
However until the very end they never realized that not far away, hidden atop a dense tree,
Yagyu, who had already entered Sage Mode, had been watching them the entire time.
"Interesting…"
After watching the two Zetsu leave, Yagyu's face showed a thoughtful expression.
"So the great filial son Black Zetsu was here… and on the hill over there, Kabuto Yakushi only left after the battle ended."
Crossing his arms casually, Yagyu couldn't help but sigh speechlessly,
"How many people are paying attention to me after just one fight?"
"Looks like in the future, I'll have to reveal as few trump cards as possible when I fight."
Standing up from the tree branch, Yagyu carefully confirmed one last time that no one else remained nearby.
Then, after estimating the time, he arrived at a rough conclusion in his mind,
"By now, Shikamaru Nara and the others should already have returned to the village. The amount of time I delayed here should be enough as well."
"Time to head back."
The moment his words fell.
Whoosh
Amid a gust of wind and drifting leaves, Yagyu's figure vanished instantly.
And with Yagyu's departure the battle in the Land of Rivers finally came to an end.
Inside one of Orochimaru's underground hideouts.
Seated in a chair having already performed another body transfer and obtained a new vessel, Orochimaru listened silently as Kabuto reported the entire sequence of events.
He remained quiet for a long time.
"Is that so…"
Only after a long pause did Orochimaru finally speak with emotion,
"It seems there's no way to bring Sasuke-kun back anytime soon."
"Forget it… let Sasuke-kun continue growing beside Yagyu-kun for now."
A cold smile appeared on his face as he continued,
"Once I take Sasuke-kun's body in the future and obtain everything he possesses…"
"Using the disciple practically raised by Yagyu-kun himself to kill Yagyu-kun…"
"That sounds rather entertaining, doesn't it?"
Hearing Orochimaru's words kabuto asked hesitantly,
"But Orochimaru-sama… if Sasuke-kun becomes too powerful under Yagyu Sōsuke's guidance, then your reincarnation transfer might…"
"Heh heh heh…"
Orochimaru let out a cold laugh before replying meaningfully,
"It's fine. That's not a problem."
"After all, Sasuke-kun seeks power for a certain purpose. As long as I arrange things properly when the time comes…"
"His body will definitely become mine."
As he spoke, Orochimaru's mind recalled the figure of Itachi Uchiha.
"And that day… isn't far away anymore."
"Before long, I'll finally possess the power of the Sharingan."
"How truly exciting."
Hearing that, Kabuto wisely chose not to say anything else.
He understood one thing very clearly the more one spoke the easier it was to make mistakes.
Land of Rivers.
Inside one of the hidden bases of the Akatsuki.
Black and White Zetsu stood before an enormous statue.
Beside them the phantom projection of Pain's Deva Path, possessing the ripple-patterned Rinnegan, appeared silently in the darkness.
Aside from the Deva Path only Konan and the man currently acting under the identity of Madara Uchiha actually Obito Uchiha were present.
The other members were absent.
"Zetsu, did you discover anything?"
Looking at Black and White Zetsu.
Pain asked calmly,
"You should have gone to observe Yagyu Sōsuke's battle just now, correct?"
Hearing Pain's question.
Black Zetsu remained silent.
White Zetsu, however, immediately replied with excitement,
"We sure did!"
"It was quite an astonishing battle. The opponents were weak, but even so, it was enough to reveal just how terrifying Yagyu Sōsuke's strength really is."
As he spoke, White Zetsu described the entire battle in detail including the fact that Yagyu had discovered them.
After White Zetsu finished speaking everyone present wore grave expressions.
"He's already grown to this extent…"
After a moment of silence, Obito's low voice echoed out,
"That brat's growth speed is absurd… It almost feels comparable to Itachi Uchiha."
They had all known about Yagyu's existence before this.
But no matter what none of them had expected his growth speed to be so terrifyingly fast.
It was practically like riding a rocket upward.
The atmosphere remained silent for quite some time.
Only then did the Deva Path finally speak again,
"Inform the other members about Yagyu Sōsuke's information."
"For the time being, there is no need for us to clash with him directly."
"Our top priority right now is recruiting enough members."
"Other operations will temporarily be halted."
After pausing briefly.
Pain continued,
"We'll deal with everything after our preparations are complete."
"Yagyu Sōsuke is merely an ordinary genius. His growth limit is basically already here."
The meaning behind his words was simple.
Yagyu…was someone they believed they could kill.
----------
Patreon Advance Chapters: patreon .com/OneFic