"Floating Technique—"
Deciding to use the ring as bait to track the White Zetsu base, Uchiha Fugaku used the Mayfly Technique and drilled into a nearby tree, lurking secretly.
A few hours later, when Uchiha Fugaku was getting impatient, a pale figure slowly poked his head out of the soil.
This pale figure was a White Zetsu clone.
After appearing, he carefully observed the surroundings, just like sticking his head out of a mouse hole to observe whether there were any dangerous threats outside.
After confirming that there was no danger, he emerged fully from the ground, walked to the ring, and picked it up.
"Sure enough, something happened!"
According to the rules of the Akatsuki organization, each team must use their ring to report their situation periodically.
After a few hours without any updates from Shennong and Hidan, Nagato keenly sensed something was wrong and sent the nearest White Zetsu clone to investigate.
Now the ring was discarded here, but its owner was nowhere in sight—clearly, an incident had occurred.
"The traces of battle around confirm it."
The White Zetsu clone scanned the area, his gaze passing over the deep scars etched into the terrain.
It was not hard to tell from the surrounding destruction that a fierce battle had taken place here.
And the losers were most likely Hidan and Shennong, since both had lost contact.
While searching, the White Zetsu clone found the place where Uchiha Fugaku initially fought with Shennong and Hidan.
He discovered Hidan's severed scythe and recovered Hidan's ring.
Finding no more clues, the White Zetsu clone took the two rings and left through the ground.
He failed to notice the silent figure shadowing him closely.
More than ten hours later, the White Zetsu clone arrived in a seaside area, with Uchiha Fugaku discreetly following.
Upon arrival, the White Zetsu clone stopped and waited.
"He's meeting someone," Fugaku guessed.
The White Zetsu clone must be waiting to hand over the two rings.
Although disappointed the clone didn't return to the Zetsu base, Fugaku believed that whoever retrieved the rings might lead him there.
He hid behind a rock and watched silently.
About half an hour passed.
Whoosh—
A figure descended from the sky holding an unconscious boy in his arms.
The figure wore a black cloak with red clouds. He was thin, with orange-red hair and ripple-patterned Rinnegan eyes.
His aura was like an endless abyss.
"Nagato!"
Fugaku immediately recognized him. This was not a clone—this was the real Nagato.
"And his legs are healed."
No wheelchair, no crutches. Nagato stood firmly on the ground, no signs of frailty.
Not just his legs—his entire body seemed restored.
Fugaku's expression grew serious.
A fully healed Nagato, wielding the power of the Six Paths, was significantly more dangerous than his previous puppet clones.
Fugaku's eyes shifted to the unconscious figure in Nagato's arms.
A green-haired young man with a stitched scar under his left eye.
"The Fourth Mizukage!"
Though he looked like a boy, he was the Fourth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village.
Thanks to Fugaku's earlier tip, the Mizukage had broken free from Uchiha Obito's control and survived—until now.
Targeted for being the Three-Tails' Jinchūriki, he had fallen into Nagato's hands and was now close to death.
"What's the status of Shennong and Hidan?"
Nagato asked the White Zetsu clone.
"There are signs of battle, but no bodies—only their rings were left behind."
"That means they were either killed or captured. The rings were discarded due to their tracking function."
The White Zetsu clone handed over the rings.
"Any signs of who did it?"
"None. The assailant erased all clues before leaving."
The clone paused, then added, "But it's likely Konoha. They likely knew about the forest operation."
"Then the Five-Tails may have fallen into Konoha's hands?"
Nagato's brows furrowed.
He was far more concerned about the Tailed Beast than the lives of Hidan or Shennong.
"It's uncertain. No Zetsu clones saw the Five-Tails being taken. But it's possible Konoha used a sealing tool to transport it."
"Investigate whether the Five-Tails is in Konoha."
"Understood."
The White Zetsu clone vanished underground, leaving only Nagato and the unconscious Mizukage.
And Fugaku, hidden nearby.
He was torn—should he ambush Nagato now?
He wasn't confident in a victory, especially against a fully powered Nagato.
"Come out."
Nagato suddenly turned toward Fugaku's hiding place, his voice cold.
"You've spotted me?"
Realizing Nagato wasn't bluffing, Fugaku stepped from behind the rock.
It was the first time he had been discovered since acquiring the Floating Technique.
But on reflection, it wasn't surprising.
If he could detect Zetsu using the same technique, someone as powerful as Nagato surely could too.
"The Floating Technique hides your chakra, but not from my perception."
Nagato said coolly.
When he saw Fugaku, he momentarily looked surprised—then understood.
Nagato assumed Fugaku had used his eye power to replicate the White Zetsu's kekkei genkai.
"You followed the Zetsu clone, didn't you? So Shennong and Hidan were killed by you?"
"Yes. They both fell into my hands and were killed."
Fugaku didn't bother denying it. There was no point.
His relationship with Akatsuki was already one of mutual hostility.
"You were the one controlling the Six Paths clones that fought me last time. What's the Akatsuki's goal in collecting the Tailed Beasts?"
As he spoke, Fugaku attacked.
"Susanoo—!"
A colossal black hand crashed down toward Nagato.
"Sealing Technique: Absorption Seal—"
Nagato raised his hand. An invisible barrier formed, catching Susanoo's attack mid-air.
The massive arm was sucked into the barrier and disintegrated completely.
Even the Susanoo around Fugaku vanished into the vortex, dissolved by the seal.
"That's the Absorption Seal!"
Recognizing it, Fugaku dashed forward, pulling out a kunai.
Susanoo was chakra-based—completely suppressed by the Absorption Seal.
Close-quarters combat was the best option.
Swish—
With Shisui's Body Flicker speed, Fugaku appeared behind Nagato and thrust the kunai at his back.
"Shinra Tensei—!"
A massive repulsive wave blasted outward from Nagato.
Fugaku's kunai shattered. His body was thrown backward, scraping across the ground over a hundred meters.
If he hadn't used Susanoo to guard at the last second, he would have been injured.
Even so, the hastily formed third stage Susanoo was smashed apart by the force.
"He really is troublesome."
Fugaku steadied himself. This brief exchange revealed just how difficult Nagato was to deal with.
Fighting a single clone, he could counter accordingly. But against Nagato himself, with all Six Paths abilities, it was unpredictable.
"Uchiha Fugaku, you are no longer my match. Today is the day you die."
Nagato said coldly, eyes gleaming with murderous intent.
(End of this chapter)
***
If any of y'all want to read more than 60 chapters then take a look at my patreon.
https://www.patreon.com/John_smith_