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[NTU] [ARC-21] Chapter : 290
🕑 Added 2025-04-09 12:08:08 +0000 UTCThe capital of the Land of Iron stood silent and dignified, blanketed by snow and brushed by a biting wind. The cold had turned the city into a silver world—serene, still, and timeless.
At the outskirts, a solitary figure emerged against the frosty backdrop.
Clad in heavy armor and a hooded cloak, a lone samurai stood guard, waiting patiently for the arrival of a distinguished guest. The chill reddened his cheeks, but his eyes remained steady—deep pools of resolve untouched by the frigid air.
At his waist hung a finely crafted katana, its sheath adorned with intricate patterns.
Behind him, the ancient capital slumbered under the snow. Weathered stone walls and traditional wooden structures whispered tales of an age-old history, rich with mystery. A tall cherry tree stood nearby, its branches dusted with snowflakes that resembled delicate blossoms—softening the harshness of winter with a quiet grace.
Creak… Creak…
The sound of hurried footsteps broke the stillness.
“Master Shidao! Hokage-sama has already reached the village ahead. He’ll arrive at the capital shortly!”
Upon hearing the report, the samurai—Shidao—nodded solemnly, turned, and swiftly made his way back into the city.
Moments later, a company of armored samurai assembled, forming ranks around a stern-looking man with a bandaged head and cold, calculating eyes.
Then, at the far end of the snowy path, three figures gradually came into view.
“It’s the Hokage.”
Narrowing his eyes to better make out the distant figures, Mifune—the general of the Land of Iron—wasted no time and approached with his entourage.
“I didn’t expect the Hokage to arrive so lightly accompanied. I apologize for the lack of a proper welcome,” he said, surprised to see Toshiro flanked by only two guards.
“The Mizukage and Raikage have already arrived. According to our latest reports, the Kazekage and Tsuchikage—being further away—are expected to reach the capital by tomorrow at the latest. Once they arrive, the Five Kage Summit proposed by Konoha can officially commence.”
“You're too kind, General Mifune,” Toshiro replied calmly. “If anything, we owe thanks to the Land of Iron for graciously offering a neutral venue for this gathering of shinobi leaders.”
He paid little mind to the samurai’s formalities. Though Mifune had once earned recognition for defeating the reanimated Hanzo of the Salamander, Toshiro, with his current power, saw such opponents as little more than capable footnotes in history.
As for Mifune—honorable though he was—he represented a fading way of the warrior.
“I am curious, however,” Toshiro continued, his tone steady. “How are the security arrangements for the summit?”
Despite their participation, the major villages still held deep mistrust toward one another. While Konoha had initiated this Five Kage Summit, the decision to hold it in the Land of Iron had come after careful negotiation—spearheaded by Jiraiya—in order to maintain neutrality and ensure safety for all parties involved.
Responsibility for security had also been entrusted to the Land of Iron.
“Please rest assured, Hokage,” Mifune said firmly. “Though the way of the samurai may be fading, I stake my life on ensuring the safety of this summit. There will be no issues.”
Both Mifune and the daimyo of the Land of Iron had fully endorsed the Five Kage Summit. Not only did this elevate the nation’s standing on the global stage, but it also reinforced its image as a neutral power amid the ongoing political tensions.
To support the summit, the entire Land of Iron had mobilized its resources. Mifune himself took command of the arrangements, and the meeting venue was none other than a newly constructed villa—originally intended for the daimyo’s use—repurposed specifically for this historic event.
“In that case, thank you for your efforts, General,” Toshiro said with a slight nod.
“The honor is ours,” Mifune replied sincerely, clearly relieved at having safely welcomed the most pivotal guest of the summit.
“Please, this way. We've prepared special accommodations for each of the Five Kage.”
With that, Mifune turned and began to lead Toshiro toward the heart of the city.
However, just as Toshiro was about to follow, he abruptly halted. His expression sharpened as he turned and glanced over his shoulder, eyes narrowing.
“…It seems…” he murmured.
From the direction they had come, he could feel it—someone was watching them.
“Hokage-sama?” Mifune called back, pausing as well. Though he was seasoned and sharp, he hadn't sensed anything unusual. Still, he followed Toshiro’s gaze with a flicker of concern in his eyes.
Yet all Toshiro saw was the vast expanse of white snow and the quiet, snow-laden forests beyond the city.
“Forgive me, General Mifune. Perhaps I’m being overly cautious,” he said with a slight shake of his head.
A moment ago, Toshiro hadn’t activated his sensory perception, but he had felt a fleeting presence—someone watching him, and not with friendly intent.
But now, as he turned and scanned the area, he could detect nothing out of place.
Maybe it was nothing. Just nerves.
With a faint, self-deprecating smile, he dismissed the thought.
Ever since integrating the chakra of the Ten Tails into his body, subtle changes had begun to occur—not just to his vision, but to his entire being. His body seemed to be evolving, inching closer to what legends called the Sage Body... or perhaps even something akin to the Divine Tree.
This transformation had made him increasingly attuned to the world around him. He could now sense intent—hostility, malice, even a lingering gaze.
Still, he let it go.
“Shito,” Mifune called to a nearby officer, “take a team and search that area thoroughly. Don’t overlook anything.”
While Toshiro might have brushed it off, Mifune remained vigilant. Though he respected the Hokage’s instincts and believed the tension could have been imagined, his responsibility as host demanded nothing less than absolute caution.
“Yes, sir!”
Without hesitation, the samurai named Shito gathered several men and set off toward the distant snow-covered forest, their footsteps crunching through the icy silence, ready to investigate the unknown.
Unfortunately, the samurai found nothing out of the ordinary—not even a trace of life in the forest, let alone anything suspicious.
After his brief investigation, he swiftly returned to report his findings.
Moments later, in the same forest that now seemed completely deserted, two shadowy figures emerged—Obito and Zetsu.
“This guy... he’s too dangerous to leave unchecked,” Black Zetsu muttered, unease evident in his voice. His eyes lingered in the direction where Toshiro had disappeared, a trace of fear flickering behind them.
“Honestly, I think we need to be more cautious,” added White Zetsu, who was sharing the same body. “There’s something different about him… It feels like he’s gotten even stronger.”
With keen sensory abilities, White Zetsu had sensed a significant change in Uchiha Toshiro’s aura—more refined, more intense—despite observing from afar.
“Stronger again...?” Obito echoed, his lone eye narrowing with a mix of frustration and disbelief. “Is this guy still in the middle of a power surge?”
The implication was troubling. Just when they thought they had a grasp on Toshiro’s limits, he continued to evolve—becoming even more of a threat.
Before the age of twenty, a person’s strength often undergoes dramatic transformation due to natural growth and development.
Even prodigies aren't exempt from this universal truth.
If memory serves, Uchiha Toshiro is two years older than Obito—already twenty-four this year. Yet, his power continues to grow at an astonishing rate, defying all conventional understanding.
“Obito… Do you think there’s a chance Nagato won’t be able to defeat him?”
Black Zetsu’s voice carried an uncharacteristic hint of concern. Obito’s prolonged silence only deepened his unease. Was it really wise to send Nagato to confront Uchiha Toshiro? What if things didn’t go as planned? If the Rinnegan were lost in the process, it would unravel the plan that had taken decades to orchestrate.
“There’s nothing we can do except warn him,” Obito replied grimly.
Nagato and Konan didn’t fully trust him or Zetsu. Worse still, under the influence of the Rinnegan, Nagato had grown increasingly dogmatic and stubborn. He wouldn’t retreat—not unless he faced undeniable defeat.
“Then what about you, Obito?” Black Zetsu pressed. “If Nagato ends up being no match for Uchiha Toshiro… Will you step in? At least to ensure his escape?”
Just moments ago, White Zetsu sensed a significant change in Toshiro—and Black Zetsu had felt it too.
What had once been a mere suspicion, a lingering doubt about whether Nagato could defeat Toshiro, had now solidified into a grim certainty. In Black Zetsu’s estimation, Nagato's chances of victory had dropped to less than thirty percent.
Still, with Obito present, there was confidence they could at least ensure a safe retreat for Nagato if needed.
"You might also consider persuading Konan—have her convince Nagato to bring additional support," Black Zetsu suggested.
After some thought, Obito agreed. Konan might not fully support their long-term objectives, but her concern for Nagato's well-being was undeniable. If anyone could talk Nagato into being more cautious, it was her.
With reinforcements and Obito himself operating in the shadows, the situation might remain manageable.
“Let’s go. We’re done here,” Obito muttered, his form gradually pulled into the swirling vortex of space.
He chose not to dwell any further on Toshiro’s growing strength. Regardless of what he felt, the problem had to be dealt with. Leaving Toshiro unchecked—especially now that the man knew his identity—could lead to serious complications later on.
Still rooted in place, Zetsu remained silent, staring off into the distance where Obito had vanished.
“…What exactly is going on?” he murmured to himself, unease creeping into his voice.
White Zetsu appeared somewhat puzzled by the situation.
"Nothing," Black Zetsu replied curtly. "Let’s go."
But despite his words, his mind was in turmoil, disturbed by an unsettling possibility.
Could Toshiro be on the verge of awakening the Rinnegan?
The distance earlier had been too great to sense anything with clarity, but for a fleeting moment, Toshiro’s aura had felt strangely familiar—uncannily so. It was brief, almost imperceptible, like a phantom breath of energy that vanished as quickly as it came. Perhaps it had been nothing more than an illusion.
Still, the feeling lingered.
Black Zetsu reasoned that Toshiro wasn’t a reincarnation of Indra, nor was he connected to Ashura in any meaningful way. So he dismissed the thought.
But then another, far more terrifying idea surfaced.
Could it be... his "beloved older brother"? Had Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, the one who always played the humble sage, secretly reincarnated once again—this time as Uchiha Toshiro?
That mere possibility sent a wave of fear crashing through Black Zetsu.
And all of this—the unease, the suspicion, the fear—unfolded outside the capital of the Iron Country. Unaware of it all, Toshiro himself remained calm and undisturbed.
At that very moment, he had just moved into the daimyo’s newly constructed villa when Mei Terumi arrived, her Mizukage hat hanging casually at her side.
"Mei, you’re as elegant as ever. Time hasn’t dimmed your beauty," Toshiro said with a warm smile.
Mei Terumi, newly appointed as the Fifth Mizukage, radiated confidence and poise. Her commanding presence, accentuated by a graceful figure and flowing brown hair, gave her an unmistakable allure.
But it was her sharp green eyes, gleaming with determination and pride, that left the strongest impression.
There was no doubt—she carried herself like a queen.
