Chapter 193: CH - 188 Obito: Black Zetsu, You are useless.
Black Zetsu, the offspring of the Chakra progenitor, couldn't help but sigh inwardly at the absurdity of his situation. Enduring for thousands of years in the ninja world, all for the purpose of saving his mother and unleashing the Infinite Tsukuyomi onto the world.
Yet, due to unforeseen circumstances, he found himself treated as stupid and then was enrolled into an academy to learn trivial knowledge that held no relevance to his ultimate goals. After all, Could any of these mundane teachings aid him in saving his mother or unlocking the seal? Absolutely not. They were utterly useless.
Moreover, Now, on a freezing day, he was dragged out by Obito to squat on the street – a situation that felt downright outrageous. Originally he anticipated that the chaos caused by the Nine-Tails in Konoha might incite change in Obito, perhaps leading to a war that could benefit his cause.
However, much to his dismay, Obito's actions only resulted in bringing back his sensei's wife. Even after arriving at Grass Village, revenge seemed far from Obito's mind, as he only pondered ways to make money.
Black Zetsu couldn't fathom how a ninja, especially one wielding the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, could be clueless about money-making. Nevertheless, as a 'new guy,' he bided his time, planning to settle scores when the opportunity arose. The grudge from today would be repaid when his mother emerged, and the academy that dared to criticize him… he vowed to blow it up when his time arrives.
Black Zetsu's sarcasm cut through the air, "Go on, rob something then!"
Obito shot back, seemingly regarding Black Zetsu as a complete fool, "Do you know the shinobi laws, Black Zetsu? Robbery will land you in jail."
Frustrated with Obito's hesitation, Black Zetsu blinked and pointed at a nearby poster depicting someone in protective gear with a screwdriver and wrench. In an expressionless tone, he suggested, "How about getting a job in a factory? They are recruiting."
Obito, unveiling a hint of irritation, retorted, "Do you know how I got that pile of unfinished exam papers under my bed?"
Black Zetsu fell silent, understanding what he meant… If Obito diverted his time to a factory job, the repercussions would be swift from 'that swindler'.
After a moment's hesitation, Black Zetsu proposed, "Or let's return to studying. The final exams are nearing. Besides, you don't need to worry about expenses; Lord Akihiko promised to support your education and daily needs, didn't he?"
Obito was left speechless by Black Zetsu's unexpected suggestion to focus on studying. 'Is he serious about studying now?' Obito wondered incredulously.
Obito glared at Black Zetsu, his irritation was evident, "Clearly, only Zetsu knows how to work. You and that white idiot are just lazy and worthless. Unlike Zetsu, who put effort into supporting everyone by picking up garbage."
Letting out a resigned sigh, he continued, "What about you two? You contribute nothing. Always scheming to gain something for nothing."
He regretted not going to Minato-sensei's house and taking some money, even if it meant enduring a beating. Of course, His intentions were solely based on concern for Minato-sensei's child, worrying that inheriting too much property at a young age might be detrimental to his mental and physical development. What if he worked too hard and didn't know how to handle it?
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. What had Zetsu been up to lately? He seemed quite busy.
As Obito expressed his thoughts, a sudden lively commotion erupted not far away. Both he and Black Zetsu instinctively raised their heads, turning towards the village gate.
Upon spotting the Grass Shinobi advisor and the Uzumaki elder, they promptly stood up, abandoning their squatting position on the street. It wasn't fear of these two figures, but rather, the looming presence of the Grass Shinobi leader approaching the group that concerned them. Being caught squatting on the street might result in receiving several more boxes of exam papers.
Obito rubbed his chin, muttering to himself, "Seems like they've returned from Konoha. I wonder how that idiot Kakashi is doing."
He assumed there shouldn't be any issues. Despite rumors surrounding Minato-sensei, he had fallen in battle as a Hokage and a hero. Therefore, those in Konoha shouldn't still view him as a traitor, right?
But reconsidering, he sighed and shook his head, "Never mind. Let's focus on studying. Failing again this time would really disappoint Madara-sensei's expectations. Besides..."
Determination flashed in his eyes. "I've made up my mind. I'll strive for a scholarship. That jerk won't dare turn my scholarship into exam papers, will he?"
As he finished, Black Zetsu sneered at Obito. The idea of Obito aiming for a scholarship seemed like wishful thinking, given his academic performance. Did he not grasp the reality of his grades?
Nevertheless, with a sigh, observing the Grass Shinobi leader nearby, 'This grudge... I'll settle it. I'll surely tell my mother about it. Making this jerk write countless exam papers is the least I'll ask.'
…
"Achoo!" Akihiko suddenly sneezed.
"What's wrong?" asked Pakura who was standing beside him.
"Nothing much, probably just someone cursing me," Akihiko casually brushed it off. Someone Cursing him was not an uncommon occurrence.
Pakura and Nono exchanged puzzled glances. Akihiko's indifference towards being cursed surprised them. Pakura, with a hint of irritation, remarked, "Aren't you concerned about your reputation? As the leader of Grass Village, shouldn't you care about such matters?"
Akihiko paused for a moment, furrowing his brow slightly, and replied, "I suppose I don't prioritize traditional ninja values."
The two could only stare at Akihiko, lost for words at his nonchalant response.
At that moment, The delegation returning from Konoha entered the village. Mubuki's confident demeanor made it evident that the mission had gone exceptionally well. He strode over, handed the contract to Kakuzu with a flourish, and proclaimed, "From now on, it's Lord Mubuki to you, Kakuzu!"
Kakuzu, initially considering seizing this arrogant fellow's inheritance, paused. He lowered his head, glanced at the contract impassively, then raised his gaze to Mubuki, nodding in agreement, "Lord Mubuki."
The bystanders were left stunned. It seems… order was of substantial amount.
Yoshinori, standing nearby, shook his head with a mix of amusement and exasperation. He stepped forward, approached Akihiko, and reported earnestly, "Mission accomplished!"
"Great work!" Akihiko acknowledged. Then he eyed Mubuki, who continued his haughty demeanor with Kakuzu.
This guy's audacity might backfire. Wasn't he concerned about being taken down by Kakuzu later? Akihiko's tone held a hint of annoyance, "Seems like you had quite the time in Konoha."
"No, no... It was Konoha being overly enthusiastic!" Mubuki snapped back to reality, ceasing his conversation with Kakuzu. He sighed and shook his head, "As we departed, a multitude of Konoha shinobi saw us off. We had to bolt; otherwise, we might not have made it back."
"I see. It truly speaks volumes about the deep-seated bond between Grass and Konoha." Akihiko nodded, feeling moved, "That's the kinship of family, siblings, and friends. It appears... Konoha hasn't forgotten our bond."
They both delved into discussing the historical friendship between Grass and Konoha, tracing it back to the inception of the ninja villages or even to the Warring States era, exchanging profound sentiments.
Pakura and Nono exchanged glances, both struggling to contain their discomfort, while even Yoshinori found it hard to endure and excused himself from the conversation.
To an outsider, it might even seem as though Grass and Konoha had an unparalleled bond. However, They all know that It seems they needed to bolster their forces at the Fire Country border to prevent a potential direct assault from Konoha.
However, as they exchanged sentiments... A Grass Shinobi hurried over, respectfully informing, "Leader, she has awakened!"
Akihiko was taken aback. 'Already... awake?'
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