Chapter 78: Arrival – Black Zetsu's Schemes
The next morning, Kitagawa Gen rose early. After a quick wash, he made sure to yell loudly at Naruto's window before leaving.
"Hey, Naruto! I'm heading out on a mission—don't forget to water my plants!"
"Damn it, it's barely morning!"
Naruto was jolted awake by the shout. When he opened his window, Gen was already gone.
"Seriously…"
Naruto rubbed his bleary eyes and sighed helplessly.
"That idiot… But man, he's already on another mission? So jealous…"
While Naruto grumbled to himself, Gen had already made his way to Konoha's flower shop. Despite the early hour, he had arranged this stop the day before.
Sure enough, when he arrived, he saw Ino waiting for him at the entrance.
"Morning, Ino."
"Good morning, Gen-senpai."
Ino greeted him cheerfully.
"Sorry for dragging you out this early."
Gen smiled as he approached. Ino just returned his smile and handed him a bundle of flowers.
"It's no trouble. I've got the chrysanthemums you requested—all prepared."
"Thanks."
Gen accepted them with a nod. He didn't know much about flower meanings, but chrysanthemums were a traditional symbol of mourning and respect. Especially the yellow ones—they were often associated with remembrance.
At the very least, he knew this choice wouldn't go wrong.
"Senpai, are you… going to honor someone's memory?" Ino asked curiously, watching him examine the bouquet. But then she quickly added, "Sorry if that's rude—just ignore me if it is."
"No worries. They're not for me."
He shook his head, pulled out a scroll, and sealed the flowers inside with a practiced hand.
"They're for a senior of mine—he wants to pay respects to his former students. I personally don't think it's necessary, but since he asked, I figured I'd be prepared."
Jiraiya's words from the day before still lingered in his mind. Even though Gen knew that Nagato and Konan were still alive, Yahiko was truly gone.
So, it wouldn't hurt to help Jiraiya prepare some flowers for the occasion.
Still, he couldn't help but wonder—if Kakashi had insisted on taking the route through the Land of Grass yesterday, would that have changed his exclusive side quest?
"Why does everyone I meet feel like some kind of war widow…?"
He muttered internally, then paused. "Wait… that term doesn't even apply here…"
Shaking his head, Gen tucked away the scroll and turned to Ino.
"Thanks again, Ino. I'll be off now."
In the next instant, he vanished.
"Ah—wait! The flowers need to be properly cared for!" Ino called out, flustered, but he was already gone.
"Geez… just wait a second…"
Then, with a curious glint in her eyes, she mumbled to herself.
"He's surprisingly kind and... kinda cool. Doesn't seem like the guy who supposedly hospitalized all his teammates... huh."
---
At the Konoha village gates
By the time Gen arrived, Jiraiya and Kakashi were already there waiting. He was the last one to show up.
"Took you long enough," Jiraiya grumbled with a smirk, while Kakashi chuckled beside him.
"It's still early enough," Kakashi said. "Let's head out."
"Agreed."
The three of them promptly departed the village. As they traveled, Jiraiya offered a word of caution.
"We're heading into the Land of Rain, so keep your guard up. Hanzo the Salamander isn't someone to take lightly."
"Hasn't he been in hiding for years?" Gen asked, though he already had a good idea of what had happened.
From what he remembered, Hanzo was one of Nagato's first targets for revenge. The Land of Rain was so isolated that news rarely escaped its borders.
"Still, better to be cautious," Jiraiya said, noticing Gen's contemplative expression.
"The Land of Rain, like the Land of Fire, keeps its secrets in its hidden village. As long as we stay clear of Amegakure, we shouldn't have any problems. I've got no interest in stirring up trouble. Besides, when I trained those three kids years ago, we stayed far away from the main village."
"I understand."
Gen nodded. That matched what he remembered—Jiraiya had only been discovered in Amegakure when he used infiltration techniques, like the Rain Tiger at Will.
As long as they didn't act recklessly, things should go smoothly.
The trio moved swiftly and comfortably, exchanging banter along the way.
The climate in the Land of Fire was pleasantly mild, and at a glance, the scenery looked peaceful and harmonious.
But a few days later, as they entered the borders of the Land of Rain, everything changed.
"Does it ever stop raining in this place?"
Dressed in a full cloak and straw hat, Gen looked up at the gloomy sky and couldn't help but shake his head.
"And there's barely a soul around. It's so… oppressive."
"That's not just a feeling. It's a fact," Jiraiya, walking ahead and leading the way, sighed when he heard Gen's comment. "The Land of Rain seems cursed—forever crying. Years of rebellion and war have taken their toll. Everyone here lives under a constant cloud of pressure."
"The only place here that's even remotely livable is probably Amegakure, thanks to Hanzō's control. But the rest of the country?" He shrugged. "Not everywhere can be like the Land of Fire."
Even Kakashi had put his book away, not wanting to risk it getting soaked. Walking beside Gen, he added, "In the entire shinobi world, aside from the Five Great Nations, peace is a rare luxury."
Gen nodded. He already understood this before crossing over into this world. After all, every Great Ninja War started in these smaller nations.
Konoha versus Iwagakure in the Land of Grass.
Konoha versus Kirigakure in the Land of Whirlpools.
Konoha versus Kumogakure in the Land of Hot Water.
When the world was in chaos, it was always these smaller countries that paid the price.
The Land of Rain might've been a bit of an exception—with Amegakure and Hanzō—but its geography and political position meant it would never rise beyond a certain point.
It was a war between Amegakure and Konoha that ignited the Second Great Ninja War.
Victory might've meant expansion and opportunity, but defeat left a scar far worse than simply going back to square one.
Clearly, the Land of Rain had chosen the wrong gamble.
"We're here."
Jiraiya's voice broke the silence as they arrived at an abandoned wooden cabin. Looking at the structure, a wave of nostalgia swept over him.
"I can't believe how many years have passed... and yet, it all feels like yesterday. The place is the same, but the people..."
"Jiraiya-sama, here."
Gen stepped forward, handing him a bouquet. Jiraiya blinked in surprise.
"You…?"
"I remember you mentioned it once," Gen said with a casual smile. "So I prepared ahead of time. I figured if we're coming to pay respects, we shouldn't come empty-handed."
"You little brat…"
Jiraiya rubbed his face, then tilted his head back to let the rain fall freely onto it. After a moment, he exhaled and looked down again.
"…Tch. You didn't have to go through the trouble. But… thanks, Gen."
He gently placed the flowers at the door and stood in silence for a while before finally turning around.
"Alright, let's go."
"You sure you don't want a little more time?" Kakashi asked quietly.
"No need. I'll come again when the time's right. We've got more pressing things to handle."
"…Alright."
They didn't speak much as they left the cabin. A somber silence followed them, heavy with the weight of memories.
"Hey, kid."
Perhaps not fond of the silence, Jiraiya suddenly patted Gen on the shoulder with a grin.
"When we get back to Konoha, I'll treat you to something good."
"Just food?"
Gen looked unimpressed, which made Jiraiya raise an eyebrow.
"Alright, fine. Name it—so long as it's not outrageous."
"Really?"
Gen tilted his head, clearly understanding what Jiraiya was implying. With a smile, he said, "Well, I've been to the Land of Hot Water twice now, but I've never actually tried their famous hot springs. How about we go next time?"
"H-Hey! What did you just say?!"
Kakashi, who had just been reminiscing about the old days in the Land of Grass, instantly choked.
Those hot springs… he knew exactly what Gen meant.
"The Land of Hot Water, huh?"
Jiraiya stroked his chin thoughtfully, then, to Kakashi's horror, replied, "Sure. But only if your Transformation Jutsu is flawless—otherwise I can't bring you."
"Really?!"
"Of course!"
"You two—can you knock it off already?!"
Kakashi groaned.
But just like that, the heavy mood lightened. In the gentle rainfall, the three of them bantered and laughed, slowly vanishing into the mist.
Rain continued to fall in a quiet drizzle. No one knew how much time passed, but eventually a soft breeze stirred the white chrysanthemum left at the cabin's doorstep.
Just as the wind was about to blow its petals away, a figure with blue hair stepped forward, shielding the flower.
She stood there in silence, gazing down at the bouquet.
---
Meanwhile, at the border of the Land of Earth…
Black Zetsu stood quietly, waiting. At last, the white half of his face spoke up.
"Hey, Blacky. I've tracked down those Leaf guys."
"They've crossed through the Land of Rain and are nearing Iwagakure's border."
"The Land of Rain?"
Black Zetsu frowned for a moment, then calmed himself.
They probably just took a convenient route—they couldn't possibly know the real secret of the Rain. As long as they didn't barge into Amegakure itself, Nagato wouldn't act. He wasn't Obito. Even if he noticed them, he likely wouldn't interfere.
Not yet. The timing wasn't right.
"Who's with them? That kid still there?"
"Yep."
White Zetsu nodded. "Same crew as the Mist incident—Kitagawa Gen, Kakashi Hatake, and Jiraiya."
Mist, huh?
At the mention, Black Zetsu couldn't help but compare Nagato and Obito again.
Both tried controlling a village. One stabilized it. The other nearly destroyed his.
That comparison never failed to irritate him.
"Alright, I got it. What about Sasori, Itachi, and Kisame? Have they regrouped yet?"
"They have."
White Zetsu seemed cheerful as ever.
"Though Kisame and Itachi don't seem to get along. They keep going on about killing comrades and family. Almost came to blows."
"…Hmph."
Black Zetsu didn't care. They were both Obito's pawns, after all—and two of the bloodiest among them.
Pairing them up made sense. As long as they didn't kill each other, he had no complaints.
"Sasori doesn't seem to care much. Anyway, I've arranged things so they'll likely encounter the Konoha group."
"Good."
Black Zetsu finally looked a bit satisfied. White Zetsu might be a moron, but at least he got things done.
That's what mattered. That was his value—well, besides being a spare body part…
"But say," White Zetsu piped up, "you're not gonna tell Obito about this?"
"I told you—no. He doesn't need to know."
Black Zetsu shook his head.
He still had to play Madara's ghost, pretend to follow Obito's orders, but that didn't mean he had to report everything.
Especially something this important. Even with a cover story in place, he wanted to observe a little longer.
This was his chance—he wasn't going to waste it.
The intel Root got? That was his doing. White Zetsu had delivered it on his orders.
"Trust me. Not telling him is for the best—for everyone."
"…Okay."
White Zetsu nodded slowly, still a little confused but willing to go along.
"Anyway, Obito's busy cataloging all that stuff I stole for him. But hey, I've got a weird question."
"What now?"
"That Hot Water place—what's so great about it? That Gen kid won't shut up about their hot springs."
"...Can you just stop talking?"
"Oh, also—Hidan was asking who's dead last in the whole organization. Do you know?"
"…Tch."
Black Zetsu nearly snapped. He really wanted to strangle this half of himself.
After a long pause, he muttered, "Fine. I'll tell you. But shut up after that."
"Mmhm!"
White Zetsu nodded rapidly.
"…If I remember right, it's Uchiha Obito."
"Huh?!"
White Zetsu's eyes widened.
"No way! So he really is an idiot like me?!"
"…Hah."
So you are aware of yourself after all.
---
Elsewhere, Kitagawa Gen and the others finally arrived at a village on the border of the Land of Earth.