Chapter 176 : Konoha’s Proud Blue Beast
Black Zetsu was the creation and will of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya. Unlike her sons, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo and Ōtsutsuki Hamura, it did not inherit her god-like power. If only it had such strength—things would have been different. Kaguya's resurrection wouldn't have taken centuries. It wouldn't have needed to manipulate generations of shinobi like puppets, bending even the arrogant Uchiha Madara to its will.
Now, the moment had finally arrived. The tailed beasts had been gathered. The plan was nearing completion. Everything was about to unfold.
Deep within the dense forests of the Land of Fire, a lone figure moved silently. Sasori of the Red Sand walked unhurriedly, controlling a complex network of chakra strings within his body. His cold, calculating gaze scanned the land ahead.
"The Land of Fire... Such a fertile country," he murmured. "It puts the Wind Country to shame."
The contrast was staggering—like comparing heaven to earth. Konoha was barely a hundred kilometers ahead. His mind, however, was preoccupied with something else.
Sunagakure had vanished.
As a missing-nin, what happened to the village should have meant nothing to him. And yet, he was drawn back, if only to confirm what he had heard.
He had expected some catastrophe, some ruins at least—but what he found shook him to the core.
Nothing.
Just an endless desert.
Not a trace of Sunagakure remained. Not a single broken building. Not even corpses. The entire village had been erased from existence.