Konoha, reported by the Fourth Hokage at the start.

Chapter 203 White Zetsu's Helplessness

"Has this guy successfully developed a new ninjutsu?"

As soon as Li Yao left the village, the White Zetsu underground immediately emerged from the ground with a human face. Its expression turned slightly serious as it quickly used its mind to sense the fluctuations of will left in Li Yao's soul.

"Thankfully, it's still there."

"Then there's no need to worry."

Bai Jue smiled slightly, feeling relieved. As long as his will remained within Li Yao's soul, Li Yao could not escape the fate of being a pawn.

Over the past two months, Li Yao has captured dozens of wandering ninjas and taken them to the sky, but he has never seen these wandering ninjas come down, nor have he seen any of their bodies.

White Zetsu had already guessed that Li Yao might be experimenting with developing some ninjutsu.

He was worried about this for several days.

They believe that Li Yao is developing a ninjutsu that can break the control Madara left on him.

Now that Li Yao has suddenly stopped developing ninjutsu, White Zetsu thinks he has succeeded.

Fortunately, Li Yao was ultimately just an ordinary person, and everything was still under control.

bump bump!

After walking a few kilometers out of the village, Li Yao suddenly stopped and stomped his feet a few times, which was his secret signal to summon White Zetsu.

Bai Jue didn't have time to hesitate. As soon as Li Yao stomped his foot, he popped his head out from the ground in front of Li Yao.

In the past, White Zetsu would pretend for a while before showing themselves.

He's too lazy to even pretend anymore.

Because he knew that Li Yao knew he had been following Li Yao.

"Who were the people who recently attacked the Akatsuki?" Li Yao asked.

Yahiko and the others may not know who the attackers were, but White Zetsu certainly does. This guy cares so much about Nagato's Rinnegan; if someone attacked the Akatsuki, he must know who it was.

Li Yao was quite curious. Could it be that Hanzo had made a move?

"They are ninjas from the three major countries bordering the Land of Rain. They suspect that the Akatsuki are secretly supporting each other, so they came to investigate," White Zetsu replied.

"I see." Li Yao understood. The simplest way to investigate whether there was anyone behind the Akatsuki organization was to capture an Akatsuki member and search their memories.

The recent attack on Akatsuki members is likely due to this reason.

However, Li Yao felt it was too much of a coincidence that the ninjas from the three major countries were so in sync and suddenly launched an investigation into the Akatsuki organization at the same time.

Of course, it could also be a conspiracy theory by Li Yao.

It doesn't matter.

Let's go back and see what Yahiko decides.

Li Yao thought to himself.

Bai Jue continued to follow Li Yao, without sinking into the ground.

"What kind of ninjutsu have you been developing lately?" White Zetsu suddenly asked with an innocent look.

Li Yao rolled his eyes. Black Zetsu thought that if he showed White Zetsu's naive side, he would also become naive.

"An illusion!" Li Yao said casually.

"What kind of illusion technique requires so many wandering ninjas to experiment on?" White Zetsu clearly didn't believe it.

Li Yao shrugged, too lazy to reply, believe it or not.

Helpless, White Zetsu, seeing that Li Yao didn't want to talk and having no chance to get anything out of him, prepared to sink into the ground to continue following Li Yao. As long as Li Yao used the newly developed ninjutsu on the ground, he would definitely be able to sense it.

“Eh…”

Before White Zetsu had fully sunk to the ground, Li Yao suddenly stopped, turned to the left and looked into the distance, where a familiar chakra figure entered his chakra perception range.

"What's wrong?"

Bai Jue resurfaced and looked in that direction together with Li Yao.

However, since he hadn't completely sunk into the ground, he couldn't sense the ninja eight kilometers away.

"I ran into an old acquaintance, I'll go check on him."

Li Yao smiled and ran ahead. Bai Jue quickly followed. Upon hearing that Li Yao knew him, he immediately thought of the Five Kage. His expression changed slightly, and he quickly said, "Wait, Li Yao. Have you forgotten my instructions? Don't do anything reckless. Don't make too much of a commotion. Now is not the time for Nagato to step forward."

If one of the Five Kage were to come to the Land of Rain, and something were to happen, Nagato would certainly find it difficult to remain hidden any longer.

Obito hasn't completed his transformation yet, and White Zetsu doesn't want the Rinnegan to fall into the sights of the Five Great Nations too early.

"Don't worry, he's just a nobody, his identity won't be exposed."

Li Yao smiled, ignored Bai Jue's words, and continued to move forward quickly.

Upon hearing this, Bai Jue's expression suddenly changed, and he looked at Li Yao with a shocked expression.

"You...aren't you afraid of dying?"

The Li Yao of the past would never have dared to refuse him, but the Li Yao of now gives him the feeling that he is not afraid of death at all, or rather, not afraid of Madara's control over him.

Thinking of this, Bai Jue quickly sensed again the forbidden spell in Li Yao's heart and the fluctuations of will in his soul.

Still there!

But why?

Bai Jue looked at Li Yao with some confusion, wondering where this guy got the courage from. Was he really not afraid that Madara would kill him?

Could it be…? Bai Jue suddenly looked at Li Yao with a shocked expression and said, “You have perfected and eliminated the possession side effect of the Spirit Transformation Technique!!”

Only this explanation can clarify Li Yao's current behavior.

This guy must have thought that by possessing someone else's body, he could get rid of the curse that Ban had placed on him.

Little did they know that even if his soul possessed another, the fluctuations of will left in his soul could still allow Madara to use the Six Paths Secret Technique to kill him when facing him.

"Li Yao..." Bai Jue wanted to remind Li Yao not to court death, but he was afraid that Li Yao would notice the fluctuations of his and Madara's will in his soul, so he opened his mouth but did not say everything.

Li Yao was unaware of the various thoughts flashing through Bai Zetsu's mind at that moment. He smiled and said, "Madara's mission for me is to infiltrate Nagato's side and protect Nagato's Rinnegan for a long time."

"I'm not disobeying Madara's orders; I'm merely checking as a member of Akatsuki to see who's attacking them."

In the past, with his life and death controlled by Madara, Li Yao could only obediently listen to him even if he was unhappy.

But now that he has broken free from Madara's control over his life and death, it is impossible for him to always do as Madara pleases.

Although he wanted to continue watching the show from Madara's side, he knew that if he were to live like a grandson, being bossed around by Madara and White Zetsu just to watch the show, it would be pure self-torture and just making himself miserable. Li Yao had no intention of doing that.

Moreover, he had a reason to go this time.

Of course, he wouldn't directly turn against Madara; he did offer some explanation.

Seeing this, Bai Jue believed that Li Yao genuinely thought he could break free from Madara's control.

"Alright, but I still warn you, don't do anything reckless." Bai Jue could only warn Li Yao again in the end.

White Zetsu quickly sank into the ground, no longer acting with Li Yao.

All he hopes for now is that Obito Uchiha, the little brat in Konoha chosen by Madara, will awaken his Sharingan soon.

Over the past two years, Obito has fulfilled Madara's wish, not only finding someone to whom he can pour all his love, but also forming a good bond with a child named Kakashi.

Once Obito awakens his Sharingan, the plan can be implemented, guiding him into darkness to awaken his Mangekyou Sharingan.

At that point, Li Yao can give up.

White Zetsu doesn't need to worry about anyone continuing Madara's Eye of the Moon plan after his death.

Unfortunately, Obito's talent was too poor.

As one of Madara's chosen ones, he was already eight or nine years old and still hadn't awakened his Sharingan.

Even if Obito were guided into darkness and the special chakra secreted in his brain was extremely strong, it would be impossible for him to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan without having activated it.

We need to get Obito to awaken his Sharingan first.

Even a single tomoe Sharingan would be fine.

pity!

Bai Jue sighed inwardly. Now he could only hope that Li Yao wouldn't do anything reckless, otherwise no one could save him.

"Watch out, Miss Gray Earth! Enemies are coming!"

When they were about a kilometer apart, Shi Yan suddenly appeared in front of Hui Tu, staring at the front with a serious expression and giving a warning.

"Yes, it's very fast."

Even without Shi Yan's reminder, Hui Tu had already noticed that the enemy made no attempt to conceal their movements and was rushing straight towards them.

(End of this chapter)