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Minato's eyes narrowed slightly. His hands maintained their hand seal positions. A strange chakra began to gather around him.
Gojo Kaigetsu was somewhat surprised. "Is this—Sage Mode chakra? It's my first time seeing it. It's certainly dangerous~"
Sage Mode chakra could only be trained by those with vast chakra reserves.
Those with insufficient chakra were easily consumed by natural energy. Even those with immense chakra faced this risk. If consumed by natural energy, they would become part of nature, i.e... turn into a stone statue!
Gojo Kaigetsu clearly lacked the aptitude for Sage Mode.
Through Tsunade, he could contact Shikkotsu Forest; through Minato, Mount Myōboku; through Orochimaru, Ryūchi Cave—He possessed the most luxurious learning resources, yet still couldn't master Sage Mode.
Even a prodigy like Minato had privately admitted to Gojo Kaigetsu that he wasn't skilled in Sage Mode.
But gradually, a horizontal bar, the mark of a Sage, appeared in the depths of Minato's pupils.
To capture Black Zetsu, Minato was also going all out, unreservedly enhancing his sensory abilities to their peak.
Swoosh
In the next second, before everyone's eyes, Minato's figure vanished.
Just as Gojo Kaigetsu had told Nara Shikaku in the Hokage office, "rushing to a more dangerous battlefield," Minato too, now, rushed towards a more distant battlefield.
"That inherently evil Black Zetsu brat, I'll have Minato seal you away!"
Gojo Kaigetsu breathed a sigh of relief.
Not because he thought Minato's departure offered an opportunity to make a move on Kushina, but because he was glad Minato hadn't set any more flags, saying something like, "When I return to the village, I'll divorce you first, then marry you."
Kushina could no longer contain herself. "Kaigetsu-kun, what on earth is happening?"
"The ten Edo Tensei Kage who attacked you earlier—were released by Black Zetsu, the mastermind who has been lurking in the shadows, instigating conflict in the Shinobi World."
"That entity—possesses an undetectable stealth ability. Unless it reveals itself willingly—neither my eyes, nor Tsunade's, can locate it..."
Gojo Kaigetsu roughly recounted his plan to Kushina, then clapped his hands. "Alright, story time is over. Now, pack up. We're returning to the village!"
"Konoha needs us!"
Gojo Kaigetsu, without hesitation, knelt down and hoisted the unconscious Fugaku, who lay on the ground like a passed-out good girl in front of a bar, onto his shoulder.
As Konoha's weightlifting champion, this was nothing for Gojo Kaigetsu. He couldn't possibly treat Fugaku like Pain, stepping on him all the way back to Konoha.
Approaching the Falls of Truth, Mikoto-san radiated maternal warmth. Clearly, she had finished—feeding.
Gojo Kaigetsu couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
He would definitely treat the Uchiha well in the future.
For example—letting Itachi Uchiha awaken the Mangekyō, then taking Fugaku's eyes to fuse and upgrade to an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
The debts of gratitude the father couldn't repay, the son would continue to bear!
Generation after generation, endlessly!
Probably—no risk, right?
Gojo Kaigetsu reviewed his plan. He found no flaws.
The only crucial point was to wait until Black Zetsu entered Nagato's hiding place before sealing it. Otherwise, if it sensed anything amiss, Black Zetsu, with its caution, would likely flee a thousand miles without looking back.
In that case, even if they seized Uchiha Madara's Rinnegan, currently residing in Nagato's eye sockets, it would still be a failure for Konoha.
If Black Zetsu wasn't sealed, the threat would remain forever!
Wait—Edo Tensei!
Gojo Kaigetsu's body stiffened. He'd overlooked something.
Black Zetsu clearly couldn't be the actual manipulator of the Edo Tensei. But just now, those Edo Tensei Kage were fighting Tsunade and Kushina, meaning Black Zetsu and Kabuto had reached some kind of agreement.
For example, Black Zetsu carried the Edo Tensei Kage around the Shinobi World in sealing scrolls. The moment Kabuto, the caster, sensed the Edo Tensei Kage being released, he would take control of the battle.
If that was the case...
The risk increased significantly!
Nagato's true body was in Amegakure.
Kabuto, the caster, was also at Akatsuki's hideout in Amegakure. If Kabuto sensed Edo Tensei Shinobi appearing in Amegakure—Minato and Hiruzen Sarutobi would face four Kage-level Shinobi.
This wasn't the Allied Shinobi Forces versus Akatsuki. Four Edo Tensei Kage, seeing Konoha's Hokage, without their own village's Shinobi behind them—Even if Kabuto didn't micromanage, they would likely fight with all their might.
With this lineup, could Minato and the Third Hokage hold them off?
Gojo Kaigetsu sensed trouble. He quickly turned to Kushina, who had taken Naruto. "Kushina, did you tell Minato about the enemy having Edo Tensei Shinobi?"
"Eh..." Kushina's expression froze. She stammered, "That—I forgot."
"Not good."
Gojo Kaigetsu clenched his fists. Even the best-laid plans could have oversights.
He hadn't anticipated Black Zetsu carrying Edo Tensei Kage around as a trump card for self-preservation.
He made a decisive call. "There's no time to worry about Konoha! I believe the Konoha Shinobi, illuminated by the Will of Fire, can hold out until the end..."
"Eh? We're not going back to Konoha?"
"No time! Compared to Konoha, Minato and the Third Hokage need us more right now!"
"Tsunade, summon Katsuyu! We'll each take one! We leave for Amegakure immediately!"
Swoosh—
In the twilight, the silhouette of the Falls of Truth battlefield vanished from Minato's sight.
In its place, a small, rain-swept city appeared, seemingly isolated from the world.
At first glance, amplified by Sage Mode and Nine-Tails chakra, Minato sensed a residual chakra within the raindrops, likely used for surveillance.
However, that chakra was rapidly dissipating, like a kite with a severed string, its master's life force fading.
Following this was an intense wave of dizziness. Minato staggered, leaning against a nearby rock wall, gasping for breath, on the verge of collapse.
Teleporting across nearly half the Shinobi World with the Flying Thunder God Technique had almost completely drained his chakra.
"Minato, are you alright?" Hiruzen Sarutobi rushed forward, concern etched on his face, supporting Minato.
According to the plan, Hiruzen, as the sole remaining Avenger, would await Minato's arrival outside Amegakure. Two generations of Hokage, united to seal the mastermind.
Now, with Minato's arrival, the second phase of the mission was triggered.
"This chakra—Kushina sealed the Nine-Tails' power within you?"
"Third Hokage..." After a moment, Minato recovered. "I'm fine. The operation at the Falls of Truth is complete. We enter Amegakure now. Apprehend the mastermind!"
"The mastermind, indeed~" Hiruzen Sarutobi gripped his Adamantine Staff, his eyes filled with a mixture of excitement and resentment.
Gojo Kaigetsu had privately promised him this day, a chance for vengeance. After so long, he could finally avenge his old friend, Danzo.
No words were needed. This wasn't about the Hokage title. When Gojo Kaigetsu had informed him that Danzo's killer was hiding within the sealed Amegakure, Hiruzen Sarutobi, wielding his staff, had charged out alone.
"Let's go!"
Minato, recovered, guided by the chakra in his eyes, led Hiruzen Sarutobi through the labyrinthine, low-rise buildings of Amegakure.
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