Bab 80: CH - 78.5 Ghost in the Studio!

Clearing his throat, Nagato began, "Thank you, Akihiko-sensei, for your unwavering support and mentorship throughout our time here. We are grateful for everything you've taught us, from knowledge and skills to the values that will guide us in the future."

The crowd listened attentively as Nagato continued, "As graduates of the Land of Grass Academy, we now carry the responsibility to contribute to our village and the entire ninja world. We must strive to protect our loved ones, our homes, and the ideals we hold dear. Together, we can create a world where peace and understanding prevail."

Nagato's words resonated with the audience, and some parents nodded with pride, seeing their children taking such a mature stance. Akihiko smiled warmly as he watched Nagato speak with conviction.

"We must be strong and compassionate," Nagato emphasized. "Strength is not just in physical prowess or ninjutsu, but also in the strength of our hearts and the decisions we make. Compassion reminds us to value life and to seek peaceful solutions whenever possible."

"We will continue the legacy of the Grass Shinobi Village and uphold the spirit of the New Grass," Nagato proclaimed. "We will become the symbol of hope, the protectors of the weak, and the defenders of justice!"

Nagato concluded his speech, "We will be the shinobi who bridge divides, foster understanding, and pave the way for a better future. Together, we shall prove that the Land of Grass is not just a place on the map, but a shining beacon of unity, progress, and peace in the ninja world!"

Zetsu smiled as he watched the graduation ceremony unfold on the video he had recorded earlier. "Hehehe~" he chuckled to himself, "Lord Madara's eyes became the representative of outstanding students."

He then exaggeratedly jumped and opened his hands, "Let me tell you, Lord Madara, it was very lively up there! But his way of speaking is a bit strange, Although the questions asked were very normal, he answered in a peculiar way."

Before he could continue, Madara, who had been frowning while watching, threw the signboard aside and expressed his disinterest, "Boring! A waste of time! I already said I'm not interested in this! Ninjas should focus on executing their missions. Why bother with so many tricks? After graduation, you should start performing missions and hone yourselves. This is just a waste of time!"

Zetsu couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated. "Lord Madara, you didn't say that last time!" he complained inwardly. Despite Madara's dismissive attitude, Zetsu decided to be considerate and respect his desire for rest.

"Alright, Lord Madara, please rest. I'll wake you up when it's time for class in the evening." Zetsu replied obediently.

Speaking of which, he decided to put back the borrowed camera and playback device and discreetly returned the items. He knew it would be troublesome if they were discovered missing. "Oh right, Lord Madara, do you want anything when you wake up?" he asked.

"I already told you not to buy such random things. How could I eat such random things?" Madara said annoyingly while keeping his eyes closed.

"Understood!" Zetsu nodded, acknowledging Madara's response. He then floated up and headed toward 'Grass Studio' to return the equipment he had borrowed.

Once Zetsu left, Madara slowly opened his eyes again and frowned at the discarded signboard on the floor. "I said the dumplings here are terrible," he muttered before closing his eyes once more, seemingly unbothered.

Meanwhile, Zetsu returned the borrowed equipment to 'Grass Studio' and adjusted everything back to its original state. "Done, It shouldn't be discovered now." he said to himself with satisfaction.

Afterward, he decided to continue with his daily activities, such as earning money to buy food for Lord Madara. However, he lamented that he couldn't set up his painting stall at the moment and lost his job at the factory.

Zetsu couldn't help but become frustrated at the thought of not being able to sell his paintings for money, "Really, why are those kids so curious? They even created an organization to find me. They're really bullying me!"

…

And at that moment, not long after Zetsu had left, the person in charge of managing 'Grass Studio' scratched his head, wearing a troubled expression, murmuring to himself, "Who could have taken the equipment without registering it? This is so unprofessional!"

Earlier, the leader had asked him if he had sent someone to the academy for an interview in the morning, but he hadn't! It didn't make sense to interview a group of graduating lower-level shinobi. After all, it was normal for ninja students to graduate and become low-ranking shinobi. Why would they need an interview?

However, upon arriving at the equipment room, he noticed that a shooting device was missing, and even the playback device seemed to have been taken. He wondered what someone could be doing with this equipment. Just playing around at home?

He questioned everyone at 'Grass Studio,' but they all denied taking the equipment. So, who could be responsible?

"It can't be some kind of haunting, can it?" The person in charge chuckled at his own silly thought. "As the leader said, don't believe in rumors and don't spread them! Besides, as a native of the Land of Grass, I'm pretty sure the academy isn't built on a graveyard!"

As he continued to speak, his tone grew more serious. "It looks like someone is up to no good! How dare they do something like this during such an important time? Have they forgotten about the spirit of the New Grass? Once I investigate and find out who did this, I'll..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he saw a camera sitting on the counter, and he blinked in disbelief. "Why is it back here again? I'm certain no one was supposed to have been in here during this time! Could it be that a ninja snuck in and returned it?"

As he spoke, he recalled something and turned to look at the shelf where the playback devices were kept. To his surprise, the playback device was back in its place as well.

However, in that brief moment, he thought he saw something vanishing into the ground nearby. Hands, perhaps? He rubbed his eyes to confirm what he was seeing, but the neatly arranged playback device was still there. Doubt crept into his mind, "Did I... Did I just see hands coming out from the ground?"

The memory of the mysterious events at the academy flashed through his mind again, and he shivered. In a panic, he rushed outside while shouting at the top of his voice, "G-g-ghosts!"

...

"I probably haven't been discovered, right?" Zetsu chuckled as he looked up and noticed the terrified person scrambling out. He shrugged and scratched his head.

With his face returning to a cheerful expression, he muttered nonchalantly, "Anyway, he's looking for ghosts. What does that have to do with me, Zetsu?"

He's not a ghost. Besides, the foolish Grass Shinobi leader would probably assume it was the work of a ninja from another village. He's such an idiot, Even more, foolish than the way Lord Madara refers to Hashirama Senju.

Thinking this way, he didn't care much and submerged into the ground again, continuing his journey towards the outside. He had to find a way to earn money to support Lord Madara.