Chapter 224
The battle extended beyond the Land of Whirlpools. All nations faced assaults from countless White Zetsu and those resurrected through the Impure World Reincarnation (Edo Tensei). Unprepared countries were caught off guard, having dismissed Uchiha Madara's declaration of war as mere bravado.
By the time they sought to form alliances, it was too late. The White Zetsu were eliminated swiftly by Zixu and his allies, leaving little opportunity for others to engage. This led some to question whether these Zetsu differed from their previous iterations. However, they found reassurance among ordinary ninjas.
"Who are these beings? They perfectly mimic our comrades, even replicating their chakra!" a bewildered ninja exclaimed, having just witnessed a trusted companion transform into a White Zetsu and attack another teammate.
This infiltration rendered collective combat strategies ineffective. The inability to distinguish friend from foe sowed chaos, as attacking one's own was a constant risk.
More alarming was the resilience of these entities. They seemed impervious to pain, continuing to move even when dismembered, placing immense pressure on the ninjas.
"These creatures can read minds and blend seamlessly into groups. Sometimes, even the hosts are unaware they've been replaced... Wait, how do I know this?" a ninja pondered, fear overtaking him. His face began to melt like wax, revealing the black and white stripes of a White Zetsu beneath.
Despite their stealth, White Zetsu were not the most formidable adversaries. Their strength lay in numbers, not individual combat prowess. The true challenge came from those resurrected through Edo Tensei.
Kabuto Yakushi, ever cunning, summoned the spirits of fallen comrades. Some ninjas had even attended these individuals' funerals, making their reappearance all the more jarring.
Zixu, had he been present, would have been elated. These resurrected souls were like inexhaustible energy sources—clean and efficient. Any consumption affected only those who interacted with them, while Zixu remained an unaffected overseer.