Chapter 52: Black Zetsu

"Paper Release – Paper Shuriken!" "Wind Style – Gale Palm!" "Fire Style – Fire Bullet!" Just as Jiraiya launched his attack against Zenkichi, the three Yahikos also acted in unison. All three were Jiraiya's disciples and had been together for years. Their teamwork in battle was seamless. Densely packed paper shuriken flew toward Zenkichi, followed closely by fire bullets—whose flames were intensified by the wind release. "It's useless." Zenkichi said casually as all three attacks passed harmlessly through his body. Jiraiya appeared next to Zenkichi in an instant, his palm and aimed at Zenkichi with a cursed seal strike. Zenkichi smiled with disdain. His body turned into particles of light, vanishing and reappearing behind Jiraiya in the blink of an eye. Golden light glinted off his brown sunglasses. Zenkichi casually raised his long leg, moving slowly to Jiraiya's side. "Jiraiya, have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?" "Sorry—have I kicked you before? I forgot." Zenkichi said lazily as a golden cross-shaped light flared at his heel. Boom! His long leg swung out in a blur. Zenkichi sent Jiraiya flying with a single light-speed kick. Even though Jiraiya had summoned Gamaken to guard himself, it did little against the sheer force of Zenkichi's speed. "Jiraiya-sensei!" Yahiko and the others were shocked and immediately attacked again. One ninjutsu after another was hurled toward Zenkichi. Zenkichi strolled toward them, voice calm: "Don't waste your energy. You should know it's pointless by now." Nagato stepped in front of Yahiko and Konan and shouted, "Take the Rinnegan, but don't hurt us." Zenkichi nodded in approval. "A wise choice." At that moment, his expression shifted slightly. He sensed a strange presence. "Uchiha Madara's backup plan?" "An unexpected variable." Zenkichi muttered to himself, but didn't immediately move to take Nagato's eyes. Instead, he seemed intrigued—curious to see what other tricks Madara had left behind. A mass of black sludge rose from the ground, forming directly beneath Nagato's feet, quickly engulfing his body. Black Zetsu. "What?!" Nagato shouted in horror. He could no longer move—his body slipping from his control. Black Zetsu invaded his form, beginning to forcibly take over. "Nagato! Don't be afraid—I'm here to help you." "Relax. Let us take control. We'll save you." A hoarse, eerie voice echoed. Black Zetsu was bewitching Nagato with lies. "Nagato?!" Yahiko and Konan were alarmed. They wanted to help, but didn't know how. "Is this your plan?" Zenkichi watched with growing interest. "I've known for a long time that the Rinnegan wouldn't end up in an Uzumaki orphan by chance." "What exactly are you? There must be some deeper connection between you and the Rinnegan." He said casually, choosing not to reveal Madara or Black Zetsu's involvement. There was no point in creating unnecessary complications. "Hmph... My identity is more complex than you think—and you're in serious trouble." Black Zetsu responded ominously, seizing control of Nagato and leaping away from the building. A White Zetsu emerged beneath Nagato, opening its hollow body and swallowing him whole. This White Zetsu was none other than Tobi—the eccentric clone who could wear his body like a suit. "There's a problem with Nagato. Madara-sama is going to be furious!" "Oh, by the way—now that I've possessed Nagato, I finally understand what it means to... relieve yourself." "Is this that 'weird feeling' humans always talk about?" Tobi's voice echoed comically as he began dancing. "Shut up!" "Tobi, behave yourself!" Black Zetsu growled in irritation, fully taking control over Nagato's body. 'Black Zetsu and White Zetsu... Has Black Zetsu already revealed himself to Uchiha Madara by this time?' 'Did Madara create Black Zetsu earlier than expected—because of me? How fascinating.' Zenkichi's body shimmered, transforming into light particles and instantly reappearing in front of Nagato. By now, Nagato was completely engulfed by Black Zetsu and Tobi. Only a single eye—the Rinnegan—remained visible, glowing with immense power. Together, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu coordinated their control, wielding even the Rinnegan's power effortlessly. "Feel the might of the Rinnegan!" "These are the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths—unrivaled and supreme!" "Almighty Pull!" Nagato extended his palm, releasing a powerful gravitational force aimed at Zenkichi. "It's useless." "Your gravity is far too weak to affect me." "If you want to pull in light, your gravity would have to rival a black hole." Zenkichi shook his head, allowing his light-based body to disperse and easily evade the gravitational pull. From his raised finger, a blinding golden beam ignited. The cross-shaped light began to rotate. Zap! The laser fired. Calmly, Nagato extended his hand and caught the beam. Preta Path! Nagato tried to absorb the laser as chakra using the Rinnegan's preta path. Unfortunately, he was doomed to fail. The golden laser wasn't made of chakra. Sizzle! The beam pierced through his hand, searing a burn around the hole it left. "Ahhh!" "It hurts—it burns!" "This light—it's scorching!" Tobi screamed and flailed, hopping around in pain. "Shut up!" "Tobi! Help me suppress him!" Feeling Nagato's resistance due to the pain, Black Zetsu was beginning to lose patience. "Trouble within?" The golden cross on Zenkichi's fingertip spun again, charging up another devastating laser shot. --- Caught up? There's 70 more chapters on Patreon (≧〈≦) [email protected]/Zphyr_ Change @ to a.