While Obito and the others were busy planning their next moves, in Konohagakure, Kitagawa Gen and the others had already finished their gathering.
One glance at the silent Sasuke and Naruto was enough to tell that both had been mentally shaken by Kitagawa Gen.
And not just those two—even Chōji wore a bitter expression.
Because of Kitagawa Gen's words, he felt as if his brain could no longer keep up.
"Um, Senpai…"
Just as everyone was about to part ways, Chōji couldn't help but rub his face awkwardly before speaking.
"The secret technique of my clan… it's not something to be taught to outsiders."
"Huh?"
Kitagawa Gen tilted his head slightly, then broke into a mischievous grin.
"What are you thinking?"
"Ah? Wait—are you talking about his medicine?"
Hearing his future superior's words, Shikamaru froze for a moment, then blurted out instinctively.
"I don't think I've ever heard that it has that kind of effect…"
"Sigh… what's going on with Konoha's education these days?"
Kitagawa Gen gave Shikamaru a strange look before finally shaking his head helplessly.
"What exactly have you all been studying? How did you turn out like this?"
"..."
Shikamaru fell silent. Suddenly, he somewhat understood why his old man had once told him that taking over in the future would be tough.
Wait—wasn't it you who led the conversation this way? How did it end up turning against me?
"Besides, if we're talking about that, wouldn't your clan's deer antler be even better?"
"..."
"Why don't you give them a bit to test the effect?"
"..."
"Or maybe… save some for me?"
Listening to Kitagawa Gen's words, Shikamaru truly didn't want to say another word.
He just felt that his future superior was a bit outrageous—how could anyone even come up with something like that?
"All right, everyone get ready to head back. I'll be leaving as well."
Kitagawa Gen glanced at the group, shrugged, and said with a smile, "It seems we'll all be busy soon enough, so get some rest early."
Kitagawa Gen had matters of his own to attend to—he had already decided to work on the White Zetsu project, and of course, he intended to put that plan into action.
Besides, he was genuinely curious about what would happen—what kind of result would come from cultivating a White Zetsu infused with the powers of both Uchiha and Senju?
'Would it end up as something even more absurd than the current White Zetsu?'
He wasn't planning to mass-produce such things—he merely wanted to see what the optimal result would be.
And with the number of missing-nin in the shinobi world, all he had to do was capture one utterly depraved criminal, and he could run some rather interesting experiments!
"Gen."
Just as everyone was about to part ways, Ino suddenly spoke softly.
"Could you walk me home?"
"..."
Kitagawa Gen came back to his senses, blinking slightly before his expression turned a little strange.
This flower… was truly about to take a step toward the sky, huh?
He turned back to glance at the others—only to see that Neji had already left with Hinata, and Hanabi, still pouting, kept glancing his way.
Shikamaru had pulled Chōji away without looking back, while Kiba and Shino followed along, tugging Karin and Sakura as they turned to leave.
Only Naruto raised his brows at him with a mischievous grin, and Sasuke occasionally cast curious looks in his direction.
Kitagawa Gen scratched his head helplessly. After a moment, he smiled and said, "Sure—after all, the wind tonight is rather lively."
"Let's go. I'll take you back."
Everyone else had already left. Kitagawa Gen glanced at Ino beside him, thought for a moment, then spoke.
"It's getting late."
"Then I'll trouble you, Senpai."
Ino blinked her pale-blue eyes and said with a smile.
The silver moonlight fell upon the ends of her hair—its blend of gold and silver carried a beauty of its own.
Her gaze remained fixed upon Kitagawa Gen, which made him feel somewhat ill at ease for a moment.
Fortunately, Ino was exceedingly skilled at reading people's moods. After all, she was a child of a great clan—and what's more, she was on a team with someone like Shikamaru.
Many matters in their squad relied on her to communicate and coordinate. Otherwise, with just Shikamaru and Chōji, there were many things that probably couldn't get done.
"Senpai, I really didn't expect your dream to be so simple."
"Isn't it normal for dreams to be simple? Everyone has their own thoughts."
Kitagawa Gen shrugged. Bathed in moonlight and the gently blowing night breeze, he strolled forward with a faint smile.
"I'm not the type to say things like 'I want to save the world' or 'I must become Hokage.' Not that such dreams are bad, but for me—there's just no need."
"Too grand a dream, then?"
"No. Every dream is worth supporting. But when people look back later, many realize that 'a calm and simple life is the truest one.'"
"A calm and simple life is the truest one?"
Seeing Ino's puzzled look, Kitagawa Gen smiled and nodded, as a very old song suddenly came to mind.
It was one his parents had loved listening to when he was a child. Later, when he became an adult, he also found it quite meaningful.
Perhaps… he had just gone through a breakup back then?
But in any case, that song had stayed with him—and even made it onto his playlist. Sadly, now he could no longer hear it.
"So, Senpai, you're actually like the flowers you raise—always the simplest kind?"
Ino blinked, but Kitagawa Gen just smiled and shook his head.
"Not exactly. Who doesn't hope to shine the brightest? But for me, it just doesn't seem necessary to fight for that."
After all, the Hokage was destined for him.
After all, he was the one who had declared: 'From this day forth, I shall stand at the summit.'
With such a "reality" and such a "dream" in place, he found he had no need to pursue anything else.
It was better to just idle away the days—that was, for now, his greatest joy.
"I see."
Ino smiled, the breeze stirring her hair as she lifted a hand to tuck it back.
"Senpai, you're like a flower blooming on the edge of a cliff, taking a step toward the sky—naturally, you have few other thoughts."
"Hm?"
"So, would you rather grow within the forest, mingling among other plants?"
"…"
"Am I right?"
"Your interpretation…"
Kitagawa Gen was momentarily speechless. Ino had, it seemed, actually guessed at some of his thoughts—but in the end, he made no comment.
"Don't say it like that. Naruto and Sasuke—aren't they flowers of the same kind?"
"They're different from you, Senpai. They're flowers reaching toward the sky… whereas you—"
Ino's smile was radiant, but before she could finish her words, Kitagawa Gen interrupted her.
"I'm the same as all of you. Attending classes at the academy, getting knocked down by the sensei's punches, graduating to become a shinobi—no matter what else happens, we're all the same."
This was not the kind of conversation he wanted to continue; if it went on any longer, even he would get a headache.
"So, don't overthink it. I've always been right here."
"Yes, Senpai!"
Ino stuck out her tongue playfully—she seemed to have gotten the answer she wanted.
Lifting her head to look up at the sky, she saw the silver moonlight filtering through the lush treetops, the scattered starlight falling upon them.
She truly wished this road could be walked a little more slowly.
...
"Impure World Reincarnation Technique!"
In a desolate field within the Land of Rain, Orochimaru's hands rapidly formed seals.
As the pattern of the summoning formation spread outward at high speed, a coffin rose abruptly from the ground.
'Tch, so he had prepared this long ago.'
Seeing this, Obito didn't speak, but he couldn't help cursing inwardly.
Orochimaru had already used the Impure World Reincarnation Technique so many times that Obito naturally understood what was going on.
Still, he said nothing more for the moment—he had more than enough confidence in himself!
[Bang—]
As he pondered, the coffin's wooden lid was suddenly shattered by a single punch, and a figure stepped out from within.
When they saw the man's face, everyone present felt their breathing quicken in astonishment.
That man was—Uchiha Madara!
Uchiha Madara sensed the power within his body, then extended both hands before him.
'It seems everything went rather smoothly. At last, I've returned to this world.'
However, only a moment later, he seemed to notice something—and raised his head toward the people nearby.
But as soon as he looked, his brows furrowed deeply.
He realized something was off: his own conscious body, Obito, and even Nagato were all there!
Moreover, he faintly sensed that his chakra seemed subtly connected to that overly pale-skinned fellow standing to the side.
Most importantly, he could not feel that genuine sensation of being alive!
'Impure World Reincarnation, is it?'
After a moment's contemplation, Uchiha Madara seemed to understand his current situation. He turned his head toward Obito and the others.
"Would you mind explaining to me exactly what's going on here?"
"We encountered some unforeseen circumstances, so at this point, this was our only option."
Black Zetsu helplessly shook his head as he calmly explained.
"With your power, and with Obito and Nagato—this wielder of the Rinnegan—I believe we can advance our plans smoothly."
"Obito, Nagato…"
Uchiha Madara silently repeated their names in his heart; from the emphasis in Black Zetsu's words, he understood what those two names implied.
Obito had likely made some progress—though he could not yet tell in what way—and as for Nagato…
'He's fully awakened the power of the Rinnegan, and his body has become even stronger. It seems quite a lot has happened since my death.'
Uchiha Madara thought inwardly. Though he found it strange that they would summon him before Nagato himself, he understood there must be a reason.
After all, to him, Nagato was nothing more than a pawn for his own resurrection—and Black Zetsu, being his will incarnate, would not have done this without purpose.
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