Next Bonus, 100PS!!
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"Kaze, Yama, Rei. You three go after him!" Uchiha Sa gave the order at once.
Three trusted retainers in fitted battle gear, each marked with the Uchiha crest, stepped forward.
"UNDERSTOOD!"
As soon as they spoke, the three dashed off after Senju Tsuru, moving so fast they looked like black arrows.
Uchiha Sa lowered her gaze and watched them go until they disappeared on the horizon.
To her, the young man was just a distraction. Even with the strange black mist around him, he was not strong enough to face her directly. There was no reason for her to chase him herself.
What mattered more was finishing the plan to attack the Senju with the Hagoromo clan head.
From her Sharingan, her experience in battle, and the way he fought, Uchiha Sa had already guessed the young man was from the Hatake Clan.
Just then, hurried footsteps approached.
Dust filled the air as the Hagoromo army and the main Uchiha force arrived together.
The Hagoromo clan head, with his white hair and beard, still wore a calm smile as he walked slowly up to Uchiha Sa.
"Looks like I'm late..." The Hagoromo clan head let out an awkward laugh.
"..." Uchiha Sa frowned at the older clan head, her voice openly displeased. "Clan Head Hagoromo, you certainly arrived quickly."
"Haha..."
The Hagoromo clan head gave a dry laugh, stroked his white beard, and smiled warmly at her. He did not seem offended. "This old man is getting old. How can I compare to your speed? You truly live up to your reputation as the fastest Body Flicker user in the Shinobi world. I'm impressed."
"Heh..."
Seeing how easily he handled the situation, Uchiha Sa let her irritation fade a little. They were at a key point in the joint attack on the Senju, so there was no reason to argue with the old clan head.
"Let's talk about the attack on the Senju right away. The Senju Clan always reacts fast. If they notice our army moving, the battle will get much harder."
"Exactly!" The Hagoromo clan head nodded several times.
..............
Somewhere else, on a mountain road, a horse covered in black matter raced ahead, its hooves flying as it streaked down the path like a dark flash.
It was Black Zetsu.
Right now, he was clinging to the horse and forcing it to obey him.
He got the horse from a trader, offering Senju Tsuru's armor as collateral.
Clinging to the horse, Black Zetsu kept pouring chakra into it. The ordinary warhorse now ran much faster than any normal steed. Trees and rocks blurred past, and even the wind seemed left behind.
It was even faster than a shinobi.
I need to get to Kikyō Mountain and give this information to the Senju Clan, Black Zetsu thought.
Just as he focused on the road ahead, a teasing voice suddenly came from behind and to the side. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Senior Black Zetsu."
"Ah!"
Black Zetsu jumped in surprise, and the horse almost stumbled.
He was usually alert enough to notice anything, but he had missed someone coming up behind him. He felt a jolt of shock, but when he saw who it was, he relaxed right away.
Tobi jumped down from an old tree, carrying a strange square machine over his shoulder. Its lens pointed right at Black Zetsu, and Tobi looked full of mischief.
"YOU SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME!"
Black Zetsu sounded annoyed as he urged the horse forward, not wanting to deal with Tobi.
"Hehe, I just came down from Mount Myōboku!" Tobi grinned, lifting the machine and pointing its lens at Black Zetsu. "Senior Shima told me to use this gadget to record the Shinobi world. Later, the pictures will go into the historical records."
With that, Tobi began snapping picture after picture of Black Zetsu. Then he leaned closer, letting the lens sweep over the unconscious Senju Tsuru on the horse. "Oh, so the one behind you is this generation's Asura reincarnation? He looks pretty rough~ Come to think of it, Senior, you look rough too. What are you running from?"
"You don't usually look this miserable, Senior!"
As soon as he finished, Tobi pressed the shutter again and captured an ugly photo of Black Zetsu and Tsuru on the horse.
Black Zetsu did not bother dodging the camera. He was too busy escaping to waste time on Tobi, and besides, he had no idea what the machine was.
It was probably another clever gadget Gamamaru had come up with...
"Move it. Stop bothering me!" Black Zetsu snapped, urging the horse to go faster.
"I'm only passing by." Tobi shrugged.
"Then pass by faster!" Black Zetsu said with a dark expression.
Tobi pouted, looking reluctant as he shook the camera. "Fine, fine, I'm leaving~ I still need to photograph more Shinobi world scenery and make the records look better!"
With that, he jumped toward another tree. After a few leaps, he disappeared down the mountain road.
Black Zetsu ignored the hyperactive fool and kept urging the horse forward, racing toward Kikyō Mountain.
..............
Senju Tsuru's eyelids trembled.
Finally, he opened his eyes. Pain rushed through his body, and he felt the empty ache of lost chakra. He stared up at the dark sky, where only a few faint stars shone.
A campfire burned beside him.
Black Zetsu crouched near the flames, holding a freshly cut piece of horse meat.
The horse that had carried them to safety had already been killed and prepared.
When Tsuru woke up, Black Zetsu gave a small smile and handed him a piece of meat, still warm from the fire. "Awake? Eat."
"Sage, you..."
Tsuru stared at the horse meat in Black Zetsu's hand. He remembered being surrounded by Uchiha pursuers, trapped with no escape. If Black Zetsu had not helped, he would have died under an Uchiha blade.
Otherwise, how could he be lying here now, safe after what felt like just a nap?
His eyes filled with heat, his nose stung, and tears blurred his vision.
"Sage! It's all thanks to you! You saved me again!"
Tsuru sat up and bowed deeply to Black Zetsu, his voice thick with gratitude.
"..." Black Zetsu froze in place.
The boy's tearful thanks left him stiff. After so many years scheming in the shadows and watching people with cold eyes, no one had ever thanked him so openly. For a moment, he just stood there.
In his long life, he had seen betrayal and the tangled webs of power, but never someone so openly grateful to him.
"Eat, child. This is Kikyō Mountain."
Black Zetsu finally pulled himself together and pressed the horse meat into Tsuru's hand. His voice softened as he gave instructions. "When you finish eating, go up the mountain right away and find your father. Tell him the Uchiha and Hagoromo have joined forces and plan to attack the Senju from behind. That news will earn you real merit. Your standing in the clan should rise after this."
"Mm!"
Tsuru wiped his tears and nodded eagerly. He gripped the horse meat in both hands and ate in big bites, his relief and trust in Black Zetsu clear on his face.
Black Zetsu stood next to him, absentmindedly scratching the back of his head. He felt something unfamiliar stir in his heart.
He had only acted for his own plans and done what he thought was necessary. Yet this boy was so honestly grateful. It sent a ripple through a heart that had been full of nothing but schemes for so long.
After eating his fill, Tsuru thanked Black Zetsu over and over. Then, not wanting to waste any more time, he ran toward the Senju camp at the top of Kikyō Mountain.
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