Chapter 813: There’s an Impostor Among Us!
On the other side.
Southwest of Konoha, over a hundred li away.
Six figures moved swiftly. They were Chiyo and her team, who had successfully retreated from Konoha under the pretense of pursuing enemies.
They had been away from Konoha for nearly half an hour.
During that time, they kept moving quickly, constantly speeding up their journey. They had no intention of chasing enemies, which confused some of Sunagakure’s elite ninja.
"Kazekage-sama, are we...?"
"Returning to the village!"
"Huh? Not pursuing the enemy anymore? Then the Rinnegan..."
"It’s fine. The Rinnegan I handed over was fake."
"What?!"
Several Sunagakure ninja were shocked, then overjoyed.
"Kazekage-sama, did you predict this? You prepared a fake in advance?"
"Yes."
"Great, great! Truly worthy of Kazekage-sama! Your plan was brilliant! You fooled so many people. Amazing!"
The Sunagakure ninja praised endlessly.
Previously, they had felt unhappy and regretful that their Kazekage gave the precious Rinnegan for a male lover.
But now, all dissatisfaction vanished, leaving only deep admiration.
"Long live Kazekage-sama!"
"Hahaha, so Konoha and all those opportunists were tricked?"
"That should be the case!"
"They’re all a bunch of idiots!"
"But it seems we have some pursuers behind us."
"They’re just ninja from insignificant small villages. Probably still not giving up. No need to worry..."
These elite Sunagakure ninja were quite powerful. Naturally, they could sense others tracking them from behind.
But they estimated these were just opportunistic stragglers who hadn’t given up.
Most had low strength, unable to match their speed.
For Chiyo and her team, as long as they weren’t being watched or chased by Konoha, ninja from small nations weren’t a concern.
"Don’t let your guard down!"
"Even though Konoha’s main forces have gone after the attacker, they won’t completely let us go. There must still be some Anbu ninja trailing us. They might be hiding among the pursuers behind us. We’re not completely safe yet!"
"Besides, it’s not just Konoha that could threaten us..."
Chiyo warned cautiously.
Having just witnessed the sudden appearance of the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki and Konoha’s terrifying strength, which could subdue a Bijū in seconds, Chiyo’s confidence—gained from winning the Ninja Championship—shattered.
The outside world was still too dangerous and terrifying!
It was better to hurry back home and develop quietly.
"What Kazekage-sama says makes sense!"
"By the way, isn’t Head Instructor Danzō still a hostage? What about him...?"
One Suna ninja remembered Danzō and hurriedly asked.
If they had truly lost the Rinnegan because of Danzō, the Sunagakure ninja wouldn’t have been kind to him.
But now, he had voluntarily entered the game, risking his life as a hostage. This successfully diverted many pursuers and attention.
This was a great merit!
Was it right to just abandon him?
"I know, but we have no choice!"
"Most of Konoha’s main forces are chasing him. They’ll do everything to protect Danzō’s safety. There’s no point in us following."
"Besides, Danzō has prepared measures in his body to ensure he has the strength to resist."
"If, if he’s truly in danger, I swear I’ll kill everyone who plotted against him!"
Chiyo swore through gritted teeth.
She was also emotional, but not foolish.
She knew the best choice. Naturally, she wouldn’t do anything stupid. This was also a decision she had discussed with Danzō beforehand.
"Makes sense! Head Instructor Danzō will surely be safe."
"Right! His sacrifice is huge!"
"As long as he returns to the village alive, he’ll be my brother for life!"
"After this, anyone who badmouths him in the village, I’ll be the first to object!"
The five Sunagakure ninja were excited and moved. After all, they had witnessed Danzō’s sacrifices and contributions along the way.
It could be said that without Danzō’s sacrifice, let alone winning the Ninja Championship, they might have been relegated to the children’s table with other small villages.
Hearing this, Chiyo smiled.
She was genuinely pleased that everyone was slowly accepting Danzō.
The priority now was to return to Sunagakure as quickly as possible, avoiding becoming prey for others along the way.
"But there’s one more thing we need to confirm."
Chiyo changed the topic and abruptly stopped on a tree branch.
The other five Sunagakure ninja also stopped, looking at their Kazekage in confusion.
"Kazekage-sama, what’s wrong?"
"All five of you, use a kunai to make a cut on the back of your hand. It doesn’t need to be big, just enough to draw a little blood."
"Kazekage-sama, what’s this for?"
"Do it now!"
The Sunagakure ninja were surprised but obeyed.
Four of them quickly drew kunai and made small cuts on the back of their hands. Dark red blood flowed out.
But the last one, a Sunagakure ninja named Taisaburō, didn’t move.
"Taisaburō? Why you?"
His teammate, Tsuchigi, was puzzled. The others also turned their gazes to Taisaburō.
*SWOOSH!*
This Taisaburō suddenly attacked. His right hand turned into wooden spikes, thrusting swiftly toward his teammate on the left, Tsuchigi.
But someone moved faster.
Chiyo, already prepared, raised her hand and launched a restraining puppet. It hit the fake Taisaburō, sending him flying.
The puppet quickly expanded, locking his body.
He was successfully restrained and captured.
"Taisaburō... Kazekage-sama! You guys..."
"He’s not Taisaburō. This person is an enemy in disguise!"
Chiyo shouted angrily, exposing the impostor.
Danzō had told her about White Zetsu’s characteristics and abilities, including their flawless disguise, which ordinary methods couldn’t detect.
The best way was to have everyone injure themselves. If the blood wasn’t human, that person was definitely fake!
So Chiyo deliberately tested them.
This was to check if there was a White Zetsu impostor among her five subordinates.
After all, due to the urgent situation, Chiyo had randomly selected five Sunagakure ninja to return with her. She wasn’t sure if there was an impostor among them.
The other four had made cuts to prove their identity. The last one was definitely problematic!
Moreover, he even tried to attack his teammate, Tsuchigi.
"Tch! That Danzō is really dishonest. He told you everything!"
The restrained impostor looked at Chiyo, smiling as he spoke.
Since his identity was exposed, he stopped pretending.
He thought Danzō would keep it secret, but he didn’t expect Danzō to share his information with Chiyo!
This couple indeed had an unusual relationship!
"Kazekage-sama, wait! How could Taisaburō be an enemy in disguise? That’s impossible..."
Tsuchigi, his friend, tried to plead.
Chiyo didn’t want to waste time. She pulled the chakra strings in her hand, making a cut on the impostor’s face. Pale white liquid, unlike human blood, flowed from his cheek.
Seeing this, the other four Sunagakure ninja immediately became alert.
They weren’t so foolish as to not recognize normal human blood!
This was indeed a disguised monster!
"Who are you really? Who’s behind you? Why did you disguise yourself as a Sunagakure ninja? Where’s the real Taisaburō?"
Chiyo glared at White Zetsu, asking angrily.
Before returning to the village, she had to eliminate this White Zetsu threat!
At the same time, she increasingly realized how troublesome these strange enemies were.
Not because of their extraordinary strength, but because of their terrifying disguise abilities, which were nearly impossible to guard against.
Without causing physical harm, there was almost no way to distinguish them.
So who could be sure their relatives weren’t replaced?
Even when she met Danzō again, she’d have to worry if he’d been infiltrated by an enemy.
As long as they weren’t exposed, every word from these impostors’ mouths could be devilish whispers inciting others.
The major events in Konoha tonight were likely caused by someone incited by such an impostor, right?
Even for Konoha, with the power to crush the entire world, such infiltration and betrayal were hard to prevent.
If their Sunagakure became a target, Chiyo didn’t dare imagine how she’d manage the village afterward.
For any nation, force, or organization, enemies like these were a major threat and destabilizing factor. They had to find their weaknesses and eliminate them all!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Who am I? I’m your father!"
"Attack!"
The captured White Zetsu wasn’t afraid at all. He shouted loudly.
*BANG!*
The large tree where Chiyo stood shattered and collapsed.
At the same time, wooden spikes suddenly emerged from the ground, thrusting toward Chiyo and the others.
Chiyo and her team quickly deployed puppets and used ninjutsu to defend, forming a circle.
Over a hundred White Zetsu emerged from the ground!
Clearly, the White Zetsu infiltrating Chiyo’s team had been sending coordinates, allowing more forces to gather here, preparing to defeat Chiyo and her team!
Taking advantage of Chiyo and her team’s distraction, the main White Zetsu escaped the restraining puppet and leaped to a distant tree to observe. He began ordering the many White Zetsu to surround and kill Chiyo and her team.
"Are they all enemies?"
"Why are there so many?"
"How could they ambush us here? Why no aura at all? And how did they know we’d pass through here?"
"The impostor told them!"
"Damn, we’ve been trapped!"
The four trapped Sunagakure ninja looked pale. But they were Suna’s elite ninja, all elite Jōnin. They wouldn’t panic in this situation.
"These guys aren’t too strong, just numerous."
"Don’t engage them directly; there are still pursuers behind us."
"If we get stuck here too long, it’ll be more troublesome."
"Kazekage-sama, we’ll clear a path for you. We’ll protect you to escape first!"
"Alright!"
Chiyo gritted her teeth and agreed.
She erupted, unleashing over ten puppets, leading the charge to break through.
The other four followed closely, fighting fearlessly, killing attacking White Zetsu, aiming to clear a path for their Kazekage.
They all knew that as long as their Kazekage escaped and brought the Rinnegan back to the village, all their sacrifices would be worth it!
Not everyone in Sunagakure was loyal, but these elites Chiyo brought were undoubtedly devoted to their village.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t fight so desperately.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The battle continued, fiercely intense.
In less than a minute, Chiyo’s five-man team had killed dozens of White Zetsu.
One Kage-level ninja and four elite Jōnin weren’t easily defeated by ordinary White Zetsu.
But despite their significant advantage, the situation remained grim.
Because more White Zetsu kept appearing!
From a hundred to two hundred, three hundred, four hundred...
Now nearly eight hundred White Zetsu had emerged!
And it didn’t seem to be the end...
Though these White Zetsu were only Chūnin-level, their sheer numbers were highly troublesome!
They were fearless of death, hiding underground and in trees, making them extremely difficult to handle.
Nearly a thousand White Zetsu formed a massive, swirling net, holding Chiyo and her team with numbers and lives.
Escaping quickly was difficult.
Of course, if Chiyo could use Sōen: Hitomi Zukai again, she might escape swiftly.
But unfortunately, in the Ninja Championship finals, she had destroyed over 90% of her puppets. Now she only had about twenty battle-ready puppets, unable to unleash her full power.
If this continued, their situation would only grow more dangerous.
"Kazekage, hand over the real Rinnegan!"
"If you surrender it, I promise to let you all go!"
The main White Zetsu stood on a distant tree, starting psychological warfare.
Though he knew it was unlikely to work, unsettling the enemy’s mind was still beneficial.
Chiyo didn’t respond, continuing to slaughter enemies furiously.
Seeing this, the main White Zetsu ordered an intensified attack, preparing to teach Chiyo a lesson.
Under the increasing assault of White Zetsu, a gap finally opened for one Sunagakure ninja. A White Zetsu used wooden spikes to pierce his chest, killing him instantly.
"No!"
"Kananrō!"
"Damn! You beasts! You all must die!"
The three remaining Sunagakure ninja were furious, fighting even more desperately.
Seeing her comrade die, Chiyo’s eyes reddened, her anger exploding.
She had to fight with all she had!
*SHUA!*
Chiyo erupted. Pink Bijū chakra surged from her body, enveloping her in a translucent chakra layer.
This wasn’t a half-Bijū form. Chiyo retained her consciousness, but her emotions became slightly brutal and aggressive.
This Bijū power boost gave Chiyo extraordinary Kage-level strength.
With one attack, she obliterated over ten White Zetsu.
Almost all White Zetsu attacks couldn’t penetrate her defenses...
For any ninja, manifesting Bijū chakra was a terrifying boost, like cheating.
"..."
In less than a breath, Chiyo killed nearly a hundred White Zetsu. Her killing efficiency was astounding.
This made the main White Zetsu in the distance dizzy.
He wasn’t saddened by the other White Zetsu’s deaths. After all, they had no emotions.
But he worried if Chiyo, in this explosive state, could escape directly.
After all, no matter how many ordinary White Zetsu there were, they might not stop a Bijū-empowered Chiyo.
If she escaped, all this would be for nothing!
Unless... he had to play his trump card?
But playing the trump card now was too risky. They hadn’t confirmed Senju Tobirama’s location. That man was the greatest threat!
As the main White Zetsu hesitated...
An ordinary White Zetsu suddenly emerged from a tree beside him, bringing the latest news.
"There’s news. Senju Tobirama has appeared on the other side. He’s fallen into the trap!"
"Great, great, great! Then we must end this here too!"
The main White Zetsu was overjoyed, immediately ordering the battle’s conclusion.
Chiyo, rampaging below, suddenly felt a massive threat!
She looked up. Five figures charged into the battlefield, surrounding her, blocking all escape routes.
Two real Jinchūriki from Kirigakure (Three-Tails and Six-Tails), two from Iwagakure (Four-Tails and Five-Tails), and one from Kumogakure (Two-Tails).
The three ninja villages destroyed by Konoha, and five Jinchūriki filled with hatred.
They all appeared at this moment, surrounding Chiyo!
Without a doubt, this was Black Zetsu’s trump card and deadly plan!
