Naruto: Growing Stronger Through Healing

"Hirakawa Aoshi truly has awakened the Rinnegan."

Watching Rinne Path–Orochimaru remain locked in combat with Rasa, Black Zetsu spoke in a cold, heavy tone.

At first, it had still clung to a faint sliver of hope—but now, that final thread of expectation was completely severed. The uneasy weight that had been hanging in its heart finally crashed down.

Black Zetsu understood the Rinnegan far too well.

Naturally, it also knew that Hirakawa Aoshi—the true mastermind behind everything—could share Orochimaru's vision in real time through the Rinnegan.

Because of this, Black Zetsu absolutely would not reveal itself anywhere near the battlefield.

What it didn't know, however, was that Aoshi had been aware of Black Zetsu's existence from the very beginning.

Not only that—Aoshi knew everything about it.

Black Zetsu's extreme caution could no longer even be called merely ineffective. At this point, it was utterly meaningless.

"Then… aren't you afraid Danzo will just die here?" White Zetsu asked, its tone tinged with confusion.

From its perspective, the battlefield situation looked extremely unfavorable for Danzo's side.

Although Rasa was injured, he was still capable of firmly holding back Orochimaru.

As for Danzo's battle with Kitsuchi, neither side could overpower the other in a short time. The outcome was difficult to determine.

In the past, such a situation could be described as a stalemate. But right now, it was profoundly disadvantageous for Danzo.

Because Danzo and Orochimaru were rogue ninja.

Once they were delayed for too long, more and more pursuers would inevitably converge on this place. By then, escape would become nothing more than a distant luxury.

"If he dies here," Black Zetsu replied gloomily, "then it simply means Danzo is not qualified to cooperate with us. We'll just find someone else."

Hearing this, White Zetsu said nothing more.

Although both of them bore the name Zetsu, and from the outside seemed to hold equal status, the reality was very different.

Black Zetsu was the one who truly made the decisions. White Zetsu merely followed orders.

On the battlefield—

Kitsuchi slammed his hands onto the ground, forming seals in one fluid motion. Instantly, the earth shattered into countless fine grains, surging toward Danzo like a roaring tide.

Once trapped, Danzo would be swallowed whole, sinking like quicksand, unable to break free.

Wind Release: Cutting Wind Technique!

Danzo completed his hand seals rapidly and unleashed an incredibly sharp, violent wind blade.

With his level of mastery and strength, the Cutting Wind Technique he used was naturally terrifying.

Not only did it carve straight through the incoming sand, but its momentum remained unabated, continuing directly toward Kitsuchi himself.

However, Kitsuchi was, after all, an elite Jonin of Iwagakure.

He would not be driven into desperation by a single technique.

Seeing his opponent handle the attack with such ease, Danzo couldn't help but shift his gaze toward Orochimaru's side of the battlefield.

There, he saw Rasa hovering in mid-air, manipulating Magnet Release to condense Gold Dust into several massive pillars, smashing them down relentlessly toward Orochimaru.

Faced with this barrage, Orochimaru could only continue evading.

From time to time, he launched counterattacks with ninjutsu, but Rasa deftly dodged every one of them.

"Orochimaru, we can't keep dragging this out!"

As Orochimaru's partner of many years, Danzo could tell at a glance—Orochimaru wasn't using his full strength.

Hearing this, Rinne Path–Orochimaru did not refute him. Indeed, he had been holding back.

His primary goal had been to test whether intense combat could accelerate the cultivation of the Zero-Tails.

But now, it seemed the effect was minimal.

With a trace of disappointment, he simultaneously formed hand seals and activated a forbidden technique.

Just as Danzo had said, they could not afford to stall any longer.

Two coffins burst up from the ground. From within them stepped the figures of the First Hokage and the Second Hokage.

Although the Second Hokage had once been sealed by Aoshi—

After Orochimaru's death and his conversion into one of the Rinne Paths, that seal had naturally been lifted.

"What… is that?" Floating in mid-air, Rasa saw this sight and his pupils contracted violently.

There was no way he wouldn't recognize Konoha's two former Hokage. And precisely because he recognized them, terror surged through his heart.

What kind of technique could resurrect the dead?

While shock seized him, Rinne Path–Orochimaru had already manipulated Senju Hashirama into action.

Wood Release!

Countless massive trees erupted from the ground, surging upward and instantly binding Rasa, who was unable to evade in time.

"This is bad!" Rasa's expression changed drastically.

Not only was he restrained by the Wood Release, but he could also clearly feel his chakra being rapidly drained away.

At the same time, Reanimated Tobirama used the Body Flicker Technique, appearing directly in front of Rasa.

The ninja sword in his hand flashed downward in a single, merciless arc.

Rasa's head was severed cleanly. Yet no blood spilled.

In the next instant, the falling head and body transformed into Gold Dust.

At the critical moment, Rasa had forcibly activated Gold Dust Substitution, regardless of the cost.

His figure reappeared at a distant location. Having narrowly escaped death, Rasa's face was pale with lingering fear.

He had truly been only a breath away from dying.

With most of his chakra drained by Wood Release, Rasa no longer possessed the strength to continue fighting—and he had no intention of forcing it.

He roared at the Sand ninja. "Everyone, retreat immediately!"

Before the final syllable left his mouth, Rasa had already fled first.

Seeing this, the remaining Sunagakure ninja quickly disengaged from the Root forces and followed after him at full speed.

Watching them retreat without pursuit, Rinne Path–Orochimaru couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

As expected, to maintain control over the two Hokage, their combat strength had been greatly restricted.

Otherwise, Rasa would never have escaped the Wood Release's restraint just now.

On the other side—

Danzo and Kitsuchi were also drawn by the massive disturbance caused by Wood Release and subconsciously looked over.

When he saw Rasa flee without hesitation, Kitsuchi's expression turned extremely ugly.

He cursed inwardly, but his mind remained clear.

He knew that once Rasa withdrew, facing Danzo and Orochimaru alone would place him at a serious disadvantage.

Thus, he made a swift decision.

"We retreat!"

And just like that—

A battle that had raged in stalemate ended abruptly in less than a minute.

"Orochimaru… you certainly have impressive methods."

Danzo glanced at the First and Second Hokage as they returned to their coffins and couldn't help but comment.

It wasn't condemnation—it was envy.

Even weakened by Edo Tensei, those two were still stronger than ninety-nine percent of shinobi in existence.

With a faint smile, Rinne Path–Orochimaru replied calmly. "We should leave quickly. Otherwise, someone else will arrive soon."

Danzo had no objections.

Although the thought of seizing the Edo Tensei technique from Orochimaru briefly crossed his mind, he knew better than to act now.

At this moment, he still needed the other man's help.

The group departed at once, continuing their rapid advance toward the Land of Rice Fields.

Some time after they left—

Another group of ninja arrived at the battlefield.

Every one of them wore Konoha forehead protectors. They were the squad led by Hatake Sakumo.

"Damn it… We're too late. Danzo and Orochimaru escaped." After inspecting the battlefield, Sakumo spoke grimly.

They had been tracking Danzo's group for days.

But as a creature of the Ninja World's darkness, Danzo was never someone who would allow his whereabouts to be discovered easily.

His mastery of anti-tracking methods had caused them to come up empty again and again.

"I sensed chakra disturbances to the north," one ninja reported quickly. "There's a high chance it was Danzo and his group."

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