I, who just wanted to be lazy, was forced to become the Hokage.

Chapter 548 The Bewildered Black Zetsu!

Why did Ashura's chakra appear in Konoha?

Black Zetsu didn't know.

Why was it only Ashura's chakra that appeared in Konoha?

Black Zetsu is even less clear about it.

Based on its past experience, the chakra of Indra and Asura should be "entangled" with each other.

Basically, if one Indra dies, another Asura will soon follow.

At the same time, once an Indra is born, another Asura will soon follow.

For the past thousand years, the leaders of the Uchiha and Senju clans have mostly been in this state.

A true love-hate relationship.

In the words that ninjas like to use—bonds.

However, the previous generation's Indra/Asura reincarnation went wrong.

To be fair...

Black Zetsu had no idea where Hashirama Senju had come from.

Compared to previous Ashura reincarnations, Hashirama Senju's strength was almost two levels higher!

This was no big deal in Black Zetsu's eyes.

However, within the realm of ninjas, this difference is terrifying!

Back in the battle at the Valley of the End.

Black Zetsu also witnessed the battle between Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha up close.

That guy, that scene, Madara Uchiha got beaten up terribly...

Despite having a nine-tailed fox, he was completely overwhelmed by Hashirama Senju, which is a disgrace to all the reincarnations of Indra!

Even though decades have passed, Black Zetsu still remembers that rainy night.

In the pitch-black night, a solitary moon hangs in the sky, and no stars can be seen. The torrential rain washes away the hatred and entanglements accumulated over thousands of years.

The moment Hashirama Senju used his long sword to launch a sneak attack from behind, piercing Madara Uchiha's body.

Black Zetsu genuinely believed that this generation's Ashura reincarnation was about to rise to power and kill Indra's reincarnation.

A particularly crucial point is that after the battle at the Valley of the End, Madara Uchiha's body was buried by Tobirama Senju in a remote mountain laboratory in Konoha.

Yes.

Black Zetsu had also secretly infiltrated that secret laboratory and witnessed Madara Uchiha's corpse.

Then it was discovered that this guy had secretly used Izanagi...

Ok.

And then.

Madara Uchiha lived a long and unremarkable life, while Hashirama Senju died young.

It wasn't until late in his life that Madara Uchiha successfully absorbed and fused Ashura's chakra by fusing with Hashirama Senju's cell tissue, thus "awakening" the Rinnegan.

Let's leave those trivial matters aside.

If we only consider the time of death...

Madara Uchiha died much later than Hashirama Senju.

When the old man with age spots was killed by Nara Rinka, it was already late in World War III!

(Historically, Madara Uchiha orchestrated Rin Nohara's death before dying in front of Obito Uchiha.)

This doesn't quite fit the typical "chakra entanglement state" between Indra and Asura.

It can only be said that if Madara Uchiha had really died in the battle at the Valley of the End, it would have been consistent with the life cycle characteristics of the reincarnations of Indra and Ashura.

Originally, according to Black Zetsu's prediction...

Madara Uchiha will die in the battle at the Valley of the End, and Hashirama Senju will also die soon after this battle.

The chakra of Indra and Asura will be reincarnated again.

however.

Madara Uchiha did not die.

They even managed to survive until the Third Shinobi World War.

In other words.

From the battle at the Valley of the End to the Third Shinobi World War, such a long period of time.

In the ninja world, only Indra's chakra exists, but there is no reincarnation of Ashura's chakra.

Black couldn't understand this special case because there was no precedent for it.

But what's done is done, and all it can do is accept it.

Madara Uchiha died in the Mountain Graveyard.

Black Zetsu believes that the chakra reincarnations of Indra and Ashura will be reborn once again.

Upon arriving in Konoha, Black Zetsu made an unexpected discovery that greatly exceeded his expectations.

There is already a reincarnation of Ashura in Konoha!

And he's a vibrant young man!

With golden hair, a beard, and a vast amount of chakra, this young ninja seemed to exude a different kind of chakra aura besides Ashura's.

That is……

"The Nine-Tails' chakra!"

Deep underground in the Namikaze family apartment building.

Black Zetsu and White Zetsu silently infiltrated this place, secretly sensing the situation above them.

"It's not incomprehensible that Ashura and Kurama (the Nine-Tails) would get together. Ashura's past reincarnations always needed Kurama's help to contend with Indra's reincarnations."

But why...?

The more Black Zetsu perceived, the more confused he became.

Why is this reincarnation of Asura so old?

"How long has it been since Madara Uchiha died? Indra's reincarnation needs at least fifteen or sixteen years to grow and develop, not even considering the gestation period!"

"Could it be that the age difference between this generation's Asura reincarnation and Indra reincarnation is so great?"

"But when I secretly came to Konoha before, I didn't find this reincarnation of Ashura!"

"Could this... be a conspiracy by Hagoromo?"

What Black Zetsu found most puzzling was not the existence of Ashura's reincarnation, but the Nine-Tails' chakra within Ashura's body!

Even if they are not familiar with other ninjas.

Black Zetsu couldn't possibly be unfamiliar with the "current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki"!

Kushina Uzumaki is in her prime, with her physical strength and mental fortitude at their peak, showing no sign of going berserk.

Moreover, there is the case of Mito Uzumaki (the previous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of Konoha).

Black Zetsu predicted that Kushina Uzumaki would also have a very long lifespan.

So here's the question.

Kushina Uzumaki is still alive.

This suddenly appearing reincarnation of Ashura and Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—

What on earth happened?!

In the pitch-black darkness, where one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face, Hei Jue suddenly looked up at the sky.

But it doesn't see the mud or buildings above its head; it sees a much more distant space.

Yu Yi, you're watching me, aren't you!

Was all of this part of your calculations?

It is unclear whether the Sage of Six Paths in the Pure Land paid attention to Black Zetsu.

However, the couple from the Namikaze family truly felt the sense of being spied on from underground.

Minato Namikaze was a ninja with exceptionally keen sensory abilities.

Not to mention Kushina Uzumaki.

Whether it's the Uzumaki clan's secret technique, "Kagura's Mind's Eye," or the Nine-Tails' ability to sense malice.

All of this gave Kushina Uzumaki a perception far beyond that of ordinary people.

Black Zetsu believed its covert surveillance was sufficiently secretive.

Actually.

The malice emanating from its spying can no longer be concealed!

The atmosphere at the Namikaze family, which was harmonious just a moment ago, suddenly changed the next second.

Naruto Uzumaki was a little confused when he saw his "Mom and Dad" suddenly become serious.

"Minato, have you noticed?"

"underground."

"root?"

"It can't be the root; the root is gone."

"Naruto?"

"...That probably isn't it. I'll have Kosuke deliver a message to the Hokage Building!"

Minato Namikaze shook his head; he didn't think Nara Rinkazu would be spying on their family from underground.

As far as he knew, the Hokage possessed a special "telescope technique" that allowed him to observe the overall situation of Konoha.

Yes, this ninjutsu was taught to Minato Namikaze by Jiraiya.

"Wait! That thing's starting to move!"

Kushina Uzumaki suddenly called out to Minato Namikaze.

"He's incredibly fast; he bypassed the village's perception barrier entirely—who is this guy?"

Second update.

Goodnight everybody.

(End of this chapter)