"How could this be?"
Black Zetsu looked at the phantom behind Orochimaru, feeling completely unsettled.
The Reaper Death Seal—how could it not know about this?
It's just that it never really considered this technique as a serious threat.
After all, its ability to remain hidden is unmatched in the world, making it extremely difficult to catch.
Furthermore, using this technique requires sacrificing the life of the caster. There are very few people in the entire ninja world who can perform it.
With both factors combined, Black Zetsu never really worried about it.
Moreover, it always had doubts—could the Shinigami summoned by Reaper Death Seal really kill it?
It's the third child of Kaguya, the progenitor of chakra.
Calling it a Shinigami is really just the physical manifestation of chakra.
This thing would definitely have no problem dealing with ordinary ninjas, but using it to deal with someone of Kaguya's level probably wouldn't be much use.
Black Zetsu hasn't reached Kaguya's level, but it certainly isn't an ordinary human.
If you looked at it from the outside, no one would believe it was a human.
So, whether Reaper Death Seal would actually work on it, Black Zetsu wasn't sure until now.
But now, it was certain—this technique really does work on it.
When the phantom appeared, it felt an inexplicable pressure.
This pressure suppressed it completely; it couldn't move at all.
No matter how hard it tried, it couldn't break free from the Third Hokage.
This situation filled it with extreme fear.
"No, I haven't rescued my mother yet. I can't die like this."
"If I die, what will happen to my mother?"
"Orochimaru, spare me. I promise you, once I rescue my mother, you will be the king who rules the ninja world."
"I can also help raise your life level, make you reach the level of Hagoromo or Hamura."
Under the fear of death, Black Zetsu began desperately tempting Orochimaru.
He had to tempt Orochimaru. The Shinigami's shadow had already begun to raise the scythe. If he didn't make Orochimaru give up now, in just a moment, it would be over for him.
"I'm sorry, Zetsu, but I'm not interested in the conditions you're offering."
Saying that he wasn't interested would definitely be a lie.
If nothing else, Orochimaru was very interested in improving his life level.
But he also understood that with Black Zetsu's LYB-like way of doing things, if he really helped him rescue Kaguya, the first one to be killed would be himself.
Black Zetsu was just giving him empty promises.
"Reaper Death Seal~"
"No!!!"
The negotiation broke down. Orochimaru screamed, and the Shinigami's hand with the scythe slashed at the Third Hokage's and Black Zetsu's souls.
With the Third Hokage's stinky expression, and Black Zetsu's soul-piercing scream, their souls were swallowed up by the Shinigami.
Of course, the Shinigami didn't spare Orochimaru's soul either. It opened its mouth and swallowed him as well.
With the deaths of Orochimaru, the Third Hokage, and Black Zetsu, the crisis of Kaguya in the Third Era was completely resolved.
Without Black Zetsu, Kaguya would remain sealed on the moon.
"Gai, Black Zetsu is dead. Are you still not surrendering?"
On the side of the Four Violet Flames Formation, hearing Nagato's words, Kisame didn't respond. He remained silent.
His silence made Danzo want to curse.
Among the four maintaining the barrier, he was the weakest, with the least chakra.
It was already difficult enough for him to maintain the Four Violet Flames Formation, and now seeing Kisame's indifference, he was really starting to struggle. His chakra was almost depleted.
Fortunately, at that moment, someone staggered from the distance and approached.
The arrival of this person stirred a strange emotion in Kisame.
"Itachi, are you here to persuade me to surrender as well?"
Yes, the person who arrived was none other than Uchiha Itachi.
At this moment, Itachi's face was unusually pale, and just walking a few steps caused him to gasp for breath. Compared to the old Itachi, he was like a completely different person.
"Kisame, long time no see."
Taking a deep breath, Itachi calmly continued, "I know you think this world is fake, but the truth is, this world is the real one. No matter how hard you deny it, you can't change that."
Seeing Kisame still not cooperating, Itachi had no choice but to continue, "The Infinite Tsukuyomi has already been proven to be a lie. Are you really going to keep believing in this lie and refuse to face reality? Admit it, Kisame. You're just disappointed with this world and want to escape. You don't really want to go to that illusionary world."
After hearing these words, Kisame finally reacted.
He stared at Itachi, his face full of despair, and asked, "Then what am I supposed to do? I was born in the Hidden Mist Village. Ever since I became a ninja, it's been nothing but killing. Not only did I have to kill enemies, but for the sake of secrecy, I also had to kill comrades. This torment continued until I joined the Akatsuki, and things finally started to improve.
I placed all my hopes on that real world. For that, I even started killing again. And now you come to tell me that world is fake, and the world we live in is real? If it were you, wouldn't you want to escape reality too?"
To be honest, Itachi actually understood Kisame quite well.
Compared to Kisame's experiences, his own weren't much better.
The only difference was that he had his younger brother, Sasuke, a light that kept him from losing his way.
Although that light had now turned as dark as night, it didn't really matter.
The important thing is, he didn't lose himself on the path of life. That's enough.
Seeing Itachi fall silent, Kisame relaxed.
He smiled again and said to Danzo, who was maintaining the barrier, "Cancel the barrier. I won't resist. Seeing you all sweaty and holding your breath like this, I'm honestly afraid you might pass out."
"Idiot~ I can hold on."
Among the four of them, Danzo's situation was the most obvious.
As for the other three, Naruto Uzumaki needed no introduction; she was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Then there was Uchiha Kagami and Sarutobi Hiruzen, whose strength, though not as high as Mito's, had definitely reached the level of the Kage.
But Danzo, on the other hand, was just shy of Kage-level strength.
Maintaining the Four Violet Flames Formation was the hardest for him.
"I know Kisame. If he says he won't resist, he definitely won't."
When Uchiha Itachi said this, everyone looked at him first, then turned their gaze to Sasuke.
"I trust Itachi."
With Sasuke and Itachi's backing, things went smoothly.
After a look from Mito to Hiruzen, Kagami, and Danzo, the four of them simultaneously canceled the Four Violet Flames Formation.
"Ha~"
As soon as the barrier was canceled, Danzo collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
Hiruzen and Kagami weren't as disheveled as him, but they also wiped the sweat from their foreheads.
Only Mito remained unaffected, as calm and composed as ever.
"Come with me, Kisame. We'll discuss your matters after Lord Hokage returns to the village."
"Alright, Itachi-san."
Kisame nodded, and under everyone's gaze, the two began walking toward the Uchiha residence, one after the other.
On the way, Kisame asked Itachi, "I'm quite curious, Itachi-san, how did you live in Konoha?"
As soon as the question was asked, Itachi stiffened for a moment.
He forced a rather unpleasant smile and said, "I'll let you see for yourself."
"Really? That sounds great."
"Yeah... having you share the burden of firepower, it's really great."
A person like Kisame, with his naturally large chakra reserve and excellent genes, surely the village wouldn't turn him away, right?
*********
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