Days off always flew by.
Thanks to Haruki's hard work, the pregnancy preparations were successful.
When he received the news, he began planning how to deal with Zetsu.
After all, many hands make light work.
Haruki gathered his teammates for the upcoming group battle.
Tsunade, of course, wasn't invited.
Although her strength was formidable, they could manage without her.
If Tsunade got into trouble, it would cause serious complications.
Still, as Hokage, she participated in this meeting.
Minato Namikaze, Mikoto Uchiha, and Kushina Uzumaki.
Haruki's three apprentices—also teammates on the same squad. They were powerful and worked seamlessly as a team.
Minato's [Flying Thunder God Technique] allowed him to both attack and escape, so safety wasn't a concern.
Kushina's sealing techniques were considered the strongest in the shinobi world. Considering Zetsu might not die easily, sealing became the best option.
Needless to say, Mikoto—her [Mangekyo Sharingan] was always the strongest tool at their disposal.
As for others like Sakumo Hatake, Hiashi Hyuga, and Fugaku Uchiha—they weren't attending.
Sakumo was strong enough, but unsuitable for fighting Zetsu.
The rest simply lacked sufficient strength.
From the Akatsuki Organization, Nagato and Obito arrived.
But not their true bodies—just Shadow Clones.
The meeting officially began.
If anyone understood Zetsu best, it wasn't Obito—who had been with Zetsu day and night—but Haruki.
After all, he was a man who had seen the script.
Zetsu had two forms: White Zetsu and Black Zetsu.
White Zetsu mainly used transformation and stealth techniques, while Black Zetsu specialized in mind control.
Additionally, Zetsu could pierce through the body of Madara Uchiha—the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki—and deliver a sincere message straight from the heart, proving he possessed extraordinary attack methods.
This demanded special attention.
Besides that, Zetsu hadn't shown any spatial abilities yet.
"Zetsu's escape skills are exceptional," Haruki coughed slightly, beginning his analysis. "So we need to set up a space where he can't possibly escape."
After he finished speaking, many eyes turned toward Obito.
"He trusts me now—I can pull him into Kamui's space."
Obito wasn't stupid—he immediately understood Haruki's intent and confidently thumped his chest. "Once inside Kamui Space, there's absolutely no way he'll escape without my permission."
The others exchanged glances and raised no objections.
Compared to other ideas, this plan seemed quite reliable.
After all, it involved leaving the planet itself and entering another dimension.
Minato fell silent for a moment before asking, "There is one slight issue. I recall you mentioned that someone must physically touch you to enter Kamui Space. If you and Zetsu enter Kamui first, how do the rest of us get in?"
Before Obito could answer, Mikoto spoke, "[Transcription Seal]. I'll seal Obito's Kamui within my Mangekyo Sharingan."
[Transcription Seal] was a unique sealing technique exclusive to the Uchiha Clan.
With Mikoto's reminder, Minato's question found its solution.
"Now, let's discuss how to draw Zetsu out?"
Tsunade leaned on Haruki's shoulder and said, "Zetsu is extremely vigilant. Simple tactics could arouse his suspicion. We need something more complicated and coincidental."
"Kurama."
Haruki mentioned an idea he had considered earlier. "Kurama is central to Zetsu's plan, yet also the hardest Tailed Beast to catch. As long as Kushina remains in Konoha, Zetsu won't dare make a direct move."
"That's right."
Obito, as the executor of this plan, understood Zetsu's thinking quite well.
"His plan is to build up strength, take control of nations and ninja villages beyond the Summer Country, use them as tools in future confrontations, and exploit the ensuing chaos."
"Mm, so Kurama presents a fatal temptation to Zetsu," Haruki said slowly. "If we want to draw him out, we must start with Kurama."
Silence filled the room for a moment.
After a while, Kushina suddenly said, "I'll use my marriage to Minato as an excuse to return to the Uzumaki Clan ruins for ancestral worship."
Hearing this, Haruki felt somewhat surprised.
It was actually a solid plan.
Still, there was no reason to tie that event to Zetsu.
Before Haruki could object, Minato spoke up, "I support Kushina's approach."
Looking at the determined expressions on the two of them, Haruki couldn't bring himself to refuse further.
"It would be best if Kushina went alone," Mikoto suggested. "If Minato or Teacher Haruki accompanied her, with the Flying Thunder God Technique, Zetsu probably wouldn't fall for it."
A contemplative expression appeared on Tsunade's face.
She hesitated before saying, "The only credible reason for Minato and Haruki to stay openly in Konoha is the Hokage succession process. I can announce my pregnancy now, step down early, and pass the position of Hokage to the next generation. Since Minato is a Hokage candidate, he obviously cannot leave, while Haruki stays behind both to care for me and handle matters related to the Hokage election."
"Hokage-sama, this seems inappropriate. According to the rules, you still have two more years left in your term," Minato asked hesitantly.
"Can't you just let me retire early?"
Tsunade clenched her fist in anger. "Whoever wants this Hokage seat can have it!"
...
Minato and the others were momentarily speechless.
She made it sound like the Hokage title was worthless.
It was a role many had dreamed of attaining.
"I think it works."
Haruki gently pressed down Tsunade's fist and held it in his hand, smiling. "Konoha isn't lacking in capable ninjas who qualify for the Hokage role. Besides, after Tsunade becomes pregnant, she really should rest properly."
No one voiced objection.
Among those present,
except for Nagato, who didn't belong to Konoha, the rest probably all harbored some desire to become Hokage themselves.
Yet everyone knew Minato was the strongest contender.
"Let's proceed exactly as Tsunade suggested."
Haruki looked at Minato and the others, saying, "Of course, we mustn't let this news reach Zetsu directly. It needs to be discovered by himself, making it seem perfectly foolproof."
"Teacher."
Obito recalled the elite cell he had formed and asked, "Capturing Kurama would justify several Akatsuki members acting together. Should I send Tarui and others on this mission? And eliminate them at the same time."
Well then.
When did Obito become so devious but just?
Haruki thought about it. The suggestion wasn't bad.
Although Darui's group was strong, compared to Nagato and others, they were nothing to fear.
He doubted whether they were even capable of defeating Nagato in his Six Paths form.
"It's up to you."
Haruki waved his hand indifferently.
Nagato and Obito vanished.
The rest of the attendees dispersed.
Tsunade immediately summoned her two secretaries, Shizune and Fuling, to spread the news.
Though both women were shocked, they didn't ask questions.
Half an hour later, with the help of TV, the internet, and outdoor advertisements, the entire Konoha Village and New Leaf Village learned about the upcoming Hokage election.
The explanation made perfect sense—Tsunade was pregnant and needed to prioritize her health.
Due to Konoha's overwhelming threat compared to other ninja villages, White Zetsu had deployed numerous clones here.
Especially after the construction of the new metropolis, the large population masked his presence.
With his ghost-like stealth techniques, he was confident that even Haruki wouldn't be able to detect him.
Today, White Zetsu once again appeared in the Residential District.
If there was one place he truly liked, it was this one.
Commercial zones, financial districts, entertainment areas—he couldn't make sense of them at all.
A thousand years later, Konoha had gone far beyond what he could comprehend.
Many things no longer suited him.
Only the Residential District remained simple and unpretentious.
Before even getting close, White Zetsu learned about Tsunade's pregnancy and decision to resign.
After all, the message was displayed plainly on both sides of the outdoor billboards.
A new Hokage election was about to begin.
Unfortunately for Konoha, unlike Kiri, where you could control everything with a Mangekyo Sharingan alone,
he would've seriously considered letting Obito give it a try.
White Zetsu never quite figured out—
Where exactly had Haruki come from?
He and Black Zetsu exchanged intelligence and knew many ancient secrets.
Hashirama Senju was called the God of the Shinobi World mainly because of his bloodline inherited from the Otsutsuki Clan and Asura Chakra.
But how about Haruki?
How did he possess strength comparable to Hashirama Senju? Where exactly did his bloodline originate?
This question remained a mystery that baffled both of them.
Could it be that their mother Kaguya had more than just two sons back then?
Otherwise, how could they explain Haruki's power beyond reason?
Everything has a cause and an effect.
And the origin of the entire ninja world lay in their mother Kaguya as well as the God Tree.
Haruki was naturally no exception.
Unless he was an alien.
But that was too absurd.
Actually investigating Haruki's background should be very simple.
He was just a civilian from the Land of Fire.
Someone who didn't even deserve a surname.
Lost in thought, White Zetsu arrived near Minato's home.
Yet he dared not investigate Haruki directly.
Though he was confident in his unmatched stealth skills, Haruki's power had nearly reached Six Paths-level.
To avoid any mishap, he generally avoided provoking him.
Carefully, White Zetsu crept closer to the room.
He suddenly overheard a conversation between Minato and Kushina.
The main topic was about the upcoming Hokage election.
Minato planned to run for Hokage, and his first action after becoming Hokage would be getting married.
White Zetsu frowned internally.
It was pointless.
He couldn't even touch Kushina or Minato.
Even though he had learned from Obito that Kushina was the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki.
But they had no viable path forward.
Because Kushina hardly ever left Konoha—no, scratch that—the Metropolis.
Even when she did go out, it was always with Minato or Haruki.
[The Flying Thunder God Technique]—with just one second, they could teleport Kushina away.
Therefore, Konoha was their biggest obstacle to enacting the Moon's Eye Plan.
At this moment, Kushina proposed returning to the Uzumaki Clan for a ritual; it was a special tradition before marriage.
As an orphan, she had been sent to Konoha as a child.
Yet her parents were buried in the Uzumaki Clan's land.
So returning for their wedding made complete sense.
Minato, however, couldn't accompany her because of the Hokage election.
After all, it might take one or two days.
Kushina then proposed that Mikoto join her.
When White Zetsu heard this, his body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Tsunade was pregnant, Haruki couldn't leave.
The Hokage election ensured strong contenders like Minato wouldn't leave either.
Everyone White Zetsu feared was unavailable.
Though there would certainly come other chances in the future, he still needed to consider whether this might be his only opportunity.
Without thinking further, he immediately burrowed underground.
Shortly after White Zetsu left, Minato stopped chatting with Kushina.
He glanced up at the radar display on the monitor.
Hundreds of white dots—nearly a hundred—were scattered across the metropolis.
They were all White Zetsu's clones.
[Chakra Sensor].
Originally designed to detect potential external threats,
but Haruki thought of White Zetsu's unique chakra signature.
Its origin traced back to the God Tree.
Possessing plant-like traits.
After obtaining samples of White Zetsu's clone cells, they finally created the White Zetsu Radar.
In short, everything White Zetsu overheard earlier had been staged.
Of course, the information itself was real.
Minato stood up, gently tousling Kushina's crimson hair, smiling warmly. "I'll go report this to my Teacher."
Back at the base.
White Zetsu, who rushed straight home, appeared at Akatsuki Organization's base.
After gaining control of the Land of Rain, the Akatsuki shifted from covert operations to open warfare. They still kept the name Akatsuki, but most members now served openly as shinobi of Amegakure.
What remained was naturally the elite cell group formed by Obito.
Nagato had built luxurious homes for them, finally freeing them from mountain cave dwellings.
"Big intelligence!"
An excited White Zetsu shouted, rushing in with several clones.
Pushing open the door, he found only Obito and Black Zetsu within the chamber.
"What intelligence?"
Black Zetsu asked, curious.
"About the Nine-Tails."
The White Zetsu clone explained everything he had heard to both of them.
"Tobi... What do you think?"
Black Zetsu almost called him by his real name again.
Obito narrowed his eyes slightly.
He had no reason to doubt intelligence from his own clone.
Yet unease stirred within him.
Haruki's strength was nothing short of terrifying to them.
They had no real confidence until Nagato fully awakened the Rinnegan and resurrected Madara Uchiha.
"If what White Zetsu says is true, this really is a good opportunity," Obito remarked expressionlessly. "Although Mikoto Uchiha's strength is decent enough, at most she's on par with me. There's no way she could defeat the Akatsuki Organization."
His personality was completely different from that of Tobi in the original story.
He had grown far more aligned with Madara Uchiha.
According to his own explanation, he was already rehearsing for the role of impersonating Madara.
"There might be Flying Thunder God markings on Kushina Uzumaki," Zetsu tapped on the table as he spoke. "Unless you can pull her into Kamui Space instantly, Haruki or Minato will arrive soon."
A chill ran through Obito.
What was this?
Walking headfirst into a trap?
"Let's bring Nagato along with us," Obito suggested after some contemplation. "Nagato and Kushina are former master and apprentice. She definitely wouldn't suspect anything, and we can test Nagato's loyalty at the same time."
"Interesting."
Zetsu raised his eyebrows upon hearing this. "I must admit, your idea interests me quite a bit. Even if we fail, it's no big deal. As long as you have your Kamui Space, they can't touch us anyway."
"In that case, go inform Nagato then."
Obito waved his hand, sending White Zetsu's clone away.
"Although I initially used peace as justification to make Nagato suspicious of Konoha, he actually ran off to study in the Land of Summer. I'm no longer sure about his true intentions, so this time we can push him into a full break with Konoha."
"It seems Lord Madara was right to choose you as the executor of this plan."
Zetsu looked at this version of Obito—who always kept their interests in mind—and couldn't help but comment thoughtfully.