Hei Jue looked at the approaching figure and trembled inwardly: How could he be here! Why did the White Zetsu clones not report to me!
A gaunt figure, with crimson hair and partially visible spiral patterns in his eyes, it was Nagato.
"You're the 'old six' senior spoke of, the guy who's half white and half black!"
Nagato's face was grim, he didn't stop Black Zetsu from collecting the bodies of the Uchiha. He harbored no good feelings towards any Leaf ninja except Lin Yu and Jiraiya.
He had arrived when Black Zetsu was ambushing Uchiha Tianyi, but he hadn't intervened. For some reason, he felt a strong aversion to the Uchiha clan!
Nagato gazed at Black Zetsu with his Rinnegan, staring at the person Senior Lin Yu had warned him to be wary of. Apart from his unusual appearance, he didn't seem to possess any great abilities. Was Senior Lin Yu being overly cautious?
After Black Zetsu secured the bodies of the two Uchiha brothers, he subtly moved backward. He didn't believe he was Nagato's match; the Rinnegan's Chibaku Tensei was his nemesis. If he were sealed, it would be disastrous!
Black Zetsu smiled at Nagato, "May I ask for your esteemed name? And what is the meaning of 'old six'?"
Nagato ignored Black Zetsu's first question and replied, "Senior said your actions were 'old six' behavior, though I don't fully understand it myself."
"My actions..."
Black Zetsu was confused at this moment. What was wrong with his actions? Wasn't it just a common battlefield ambush? Why would it be called 'old six'?
Did 'old six' have some special meaning?
Perhaps I should go back and ask Uchiha Madara, after all, it's humans who understand humans best.
For now, the priority is to retreat safely. As for why Nagato appeared here, I'll have to ask White Zetsu later.
Black Zetsu said, "I am not acquainted with you, sir. You must have mistaken me for someone else. I merely hold a grudge against the Uchiha clan of the Leaf. My strength is insufficient, hence these methods."
Truth be told, he, Black Zetsu, did indeed have a grudge against the Uchiha clan, if one were to trace their lineage back to Indra's father, the Sage of Six Paths!
A black rod slid from Nagato's sleeve. Nagato gripped the rod and said calmly, "Whether we know each other or not, I will find out when I capture you."
"Heh heh, that's not certain," Black Zetsu chuckled.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Nagato's hand, gripping the black rod, exerted a powerful pull towards Black Zetsu. Without any resistance, Black Zetsu's body was like a dandelion in a storm, even the pitcher plants on his sides shattered.
With a "噗嗤" sound, the black rod pierced directly through Black Zetsu's body, yet Black Zetsu's face showed no sign of panic. Of course, not much expression could be discerned from his dark, featureless face.
"Heh heh heh, we will meet again, Nagato!"
*Bang!*
Black Zetsu, before Nagato's eyes, collapsed limply, transforming into a white, humanoid creature. Soon after, it turned into a tree, rooted to the ground.
"Hm? It wasn't the main body from the start? Or did it burrow underground before I even noticed its arrival?"
Nagato's brow furrowed beneath his crimson hair. He truly lived up to Senior Lin Yu's warning about him being quite the 'old six.'
However, running away so quickly suggested his strength was likely not that great, so there was no need to worry too much.
Nagato didn't linger. After a glance around the battlefield to confirm there were no civilians, he disappeared from the spot. He still needed to rendezvous with Yahiko.
...
Somewhere on the border of the Land of Fire.
"Whew, finally settled all the refugees here. This is exhausting!" a boy with orange hair complained.
However, satisfaction gleamed in his eyes. He truly enjoyed this feeling, it made him genuinely happy.
"Konan, have you seen Nagato? Has he returned?"
"No. Why? Are you that worried about him?"
Not far away, a beautiful girl stood on a large rock, gazing into the distance. Her blue-purple hair, unbound, fluttered in the spring breeze, framing her face like a holy angel.
Another spring, was he doing alright?
"I'm not worried about that guy Nagato! I'm just worried he's clumsy..."
"Yahiko... I'm not clumsy with anyone!"
Nagato's voice suddenly appeared behind Yahiko, startling him so much he almost climbed a tree.
Yahiko patted his chest and took a few steps back, "Nagato! Can you stop suddenly appearing behind me? You nearly scared me to death!"
Nagato walked forward with a pained expression, hesitating, "But I really wasn't clumsy with anyone! I..."
"Alright, alright! I believe you! I believe you! Stop explaining!"
Yahiko bumped into a tree behind him with a "嘭" sound, waving his hands at Nagato, hoping he would put an end to this rather peculiar topic!
The tree branches rustled, and a dark shadow suddenly fell from it, heading directly towards Yahiko's head.
Nagato shouted, "Be careful! Don't move!"
Nagato took several rapid steps, closing the distance to Yahiko to just half a meter. He reached out his hand towards Yahiko's head, catching the falling dark shadow and pinning it against the tree.
Yahiko was stunned by Nagato's shout, thinking an enemy had appeared. He stood frozen in place, obeying Nagato's command not to move.
But in the next second, he was mesmerized. Nagato's figure was getting closer, instantly filling his entire field of vision. His eyes were filled with Nagato's rather handsome face; he could even feel Nagato's breath.
In this moment, Yahiko felt as if the world had stopped, with only Nagato's fair, handsome face remaining in his sight.
Yahiko's head was spinning! What was happening?
"Phew, it was just a pear."
Nagato leaned forward slightly. Seeing that he had caught a pear, he relaxed. It seemed he had been too sensitive.
It wasn't entirely his fault; he had just encountered the 'old six' Senior Lin Yu had mentioned today, and the person seemed to know him and even called out his name.
Nagato's guard was now multiplied. He wouldn't allow any harm to come to his Yahiko!
Nagato snapped back to reality and looked at Yahiko, who was so close. He froze again. What an incredible view! He had forgotten to withdraw his outstretched hand, leaving it braced against the tree.
Wall slam!
Though he didn't know why, the word suddenly popped into Konan's mind. Even she found it strange. Was this a woman's innate intuition?
Konan looked at the two of them staring at each other, her face flushing. She suddenly thought of Lin Yu. If it were them two... No, no!
Konan felt it was better for her to leave now. She didn't want to interrupt Nagato and Yahiko's intimate moment!
Much later, as the sun began to set, a heart-wrenching roar echoed from the town,
"Nagato! What have you done! You've drooled all over my face!"
"Sorry, Yahiko... I couldn't help it for a moment. I promise I won't next time!"
Yahiko held his head, looking utterly despairing, "Good heavens! You're already planning for a next time? I'd rather the world end right now!"
Nagato said weakly, "Yahiko, our dream is world peace..."
Yahiko: With you around, my world will never be peaceful!