Chapter 142: Whirlpool-Faced White Zetsu! Obito's Existential Crisis! (8,000 Words)

“Wood Release! Zetsu… is this the legendary Wood Release?!”

Having abandoned the Execution Sword and deceived Obito and Zetsu with a Water Clone, Biwa Jūzō didn’t hesitate. He turned and fled without a second thought.

His eyes flickered with dread. Control over plants… only the Wood Release could do this. Could it be?

This was the power of the divine—the legendary strength of the Ninja World’s god. And now, someone from the Akatsuki Organization had mastered it?

The thought sent a chill through him. He remembered: Obito had been pretending to be Uchiha Sharingan.

So… was this pitcher plant pretending to be the First Hokage?

A Sharingan. A Wood Release.

Too perfect. Too close to the legendary duo of old.

“Huh?!”

Suddenly, Biwa Jūzō’s pupils contracted. He dropped low and rolled violently across the ground, barely avoiding a blur of white.

A pale, ghostly figure shot past him—its sharp limbs slicing through the air mere inches from his skin.

“Ah, quick reflexes! So fast you must be incredibly quick when it comes to… bowel movements, right? Speaking of which… why can’t I ever pass a stool? It’s agonizing!”

The bizarre voice rang out—odd, mocking, almost absurd.

Biwa Jūzō finally got a clear look at the figure.

“That’s…?”

“What is that thing?!”

He stared in shock at the humanoid silhouette—pale white, almost like a statue carved from plaster. Its face was smooth, featureless, unnervingly blank. And yet, faintly visible beneath the surface, was a swirling pattern—like a vortex. At the center of the spiral, a hollow eye socket, where the right eye should be, was now fixed on him.

Biwa Jūzō knew instantly: this was no human.

“Lord Madara ordered me to kill you,” the creature said, its voice dripping with amusement. “Will you wet yourself in fear before you die?”

It clapped its hands together.

Thwack!

In an instant, behind it, a colossal wooden giant erupted from the earth.

Over twenty meters tall, the figure wore a furious, wrathful expression—its single massive arm clenched into a fist, now swinging down at Biwa Jūzō with brutal force.

“Wood Release again?!”

Biwa Jūzō was stunned. The legendary Bloodline Limit—Wood Release—was supposed to be a myth. Now it was being mass-produced? Who in the Ninja World could pull off such a technique?

“Damn it!”

He leapt sideways, the giant’s fist tearing through the air where he’d stood. The impact slammed into the ground with a thunderous crack—a massive crater forming in the earth.

Biwa Jūzō glanced at the hole, his pulse racing. He gritted his teeth and began forming seals at lightning speed.

“Water Release: Mist Concealment Technique!”

He exhaled sharply. The already dark, murky air thickened into a dense, swirling fog. His body vanished into the mist, hidden behind layers of vapor.

“Water Release: Water Fang Fang!”

Another flurry of seals. Two serpentine streams of water erupted from his mouth—shaped like sharpened fangs—darting forward like drills, aiming straight for the Whirlpool-Faced White Zetsu.

“Hmm… not bad…”

The wooden giant raised its arms, blocking the assault. The water struck with force, gouging two deep dents into its hands. Cracks spiderwebbed across the wood.

But less than a second later—chakra stitched the wounds shut. The dents vanished. The cracks sealed. The hands were whole again.

Before the creature could strike again…

It paused.

“He ran?”

Biwa Jūzō never intended to stay. He knew two more pursuers were on his tail. Every second wasted meant facing three enemies at once. The mist and water fangs weren’t meant to defeat the creature—just to delay it. Even his desperate, all-or-nothing stance was a bluff.

And sure enough, less than two seconds after he fled—

Obito and Zetsu arrived.

“Where is he?” Obito demanded, voice sharp with fury.

“Ah… he’s clever,” the Whirlpool-Faced White Zetsu scratched its head sheepishly. “I thought he was ready to die fighting me. I even prepared to watch him lose control in terror. But he just… faked it with two jutsu, and ran.”

“Then what are you waiting for?!” Obito nearly snapped. “Move!”

---

“…What… is that?”

Neji, already several kilometers from the Leaf Village, stood frozen in shock, staring at the distant giant.

A wooden colossus—over twenty meters tall—towered in the forest beyond the village. It was taller than most trees nearby, its massive head clearly visible under the moonlight.

“That’s… the First Hokage’s Wood Release jutsu,” a deep, solemn voice spoke from behind him.

Neji spun around instantly, drawing his kunai. His face paled.

Someone had been following him—this whole time—and he hadn’t sensed a thing. Not until they spoke.

That meant… if this person had wanted to kill him… he might have already been dead.

Cold sweat ran down Neji’s back.

“Who?” he stammered.

A smirk spread across the figure’s face.

“Who else? The legendary Sannin of the Leaf Village—Jiraiya, the Great Sage!”

Clang, clang, clang! Jiraiya even added a dramatic sound effect.

Neji: “….”

“Little Jiraiya,” said a voice from the side—Shima Sage, perched on Jiraiya’s shoulder, “this child is staring at you like you’re an idiot.”

Neji turned to see the green toad.

Shin’zaku Sage added, “You shouldn’t go there, kid. If little Jiraiya hadn’t stopped you, you’d be dead.”

Neji blinked. “You… were following me the whole time?”

Shin’zaku Sage nodded. “Yes. I used genjutsu on the patrols. Otherwise, you’d’ve been caught within two hundred meters.”

Neji tightened his grip on the kunai. He knew these were powerful Leaf ninja—possibly even elders. But he didn’t relax.

“What do you want?”

“We’re observing you,” Shima Sage said calmly. “We mean no harm. We just want to know… are you the one we’re looking for?”

Neji wasn’t convinced.

Jiraiya sighed, dropping his pose. “Regardless of how you see me, you can’t go forward. It’s too dangerous.”

He turned serious. “Go back. Find the old man—the Third Hokage—and tell him everything. This is no longer a child’s affair. It’s the adults’ turn.”

“Shima Sage,” Jiraiya said, “keep an eye on him.”

“Little Jiraiya, you sure you can handle this alone?” Shima Sage asked.

Shin’zaku Sage replied, “Don’t worry. I’m with him.”

“Fine,” Shima Sage said. “Kid’s dad, don’t push yourself too hard. You’re old.”

With that, he leapt onto Neji’s shoulder.

Neji instinctively tried to swat him off.

“Hey!” the toad snapped. “Show some respect to a being over eight hundred years old!”

Neji froze.

Jiraiya, meanwhile, had already sprinted past him, heading straight toward the giant.

For Jiraiya, finding the Chosen One was important.

But so was stopping anything that threatened the Leaf Village.

---

“Huff… huff…”

Biwa Jūzō panted, pushing himself to the limit. He was almost at the village. Just a little more time…

Then—heat surged from behind.

A massive fireball roared toward him.

“Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!”

He spun, hands flashing through seals.

“Water Release: Water Surge Wave!”

A torrent of water shot from his mouth—colliding with the fireball in a violent explosion. The shockwave flung him backward.

“Wow, you’re fast for someone with so much waste in your gut! If you pooped it all out, wouldn’t you run even faster?”

The voice—that same absurd tone—echoed again.

Biwa Jūzō’s eyes widened.

The Whirlpool-Faced White Zetsu had caught up.

He saw a pale, wooden arm—now sharpened into a spear—plunge toward him.

Too fast. Too close.

He twisted, barely avoiding the fatal strike. The tip grazed his shoulder, tearing fabric and skin.

“Meow~! So much fun!”

A new voice—even weirder—suddenly rang out.

“Can I join the party? It’s such a festive night!”

Everyone froze.

Biwa Jūzō seized the chance—a perfect roll—and dodged the wooden spear.

He scrambled back, heart pounding, sweat pouring down his face.

“Someone’s coming?” Obito narrowed his eyes, scanning the trees.

His expression froze.

It wasn’t a person.

It was a cat.

A fat, round, very plump Ninja Cat—sitting on a tree branch, its weight bending the limb dangerously.

“…That orange cat…” Biwa Jūzō gasped. “That’s Tachibana Jiro—the one Uchiha Iizumi owns! The one who dared to insult Jiraiya!”

Zetsu—its body split between black and white—arrived, eyes narrowing.

“Tachibana Jiro is Uchiha Iizumi’s Summon Beast,” it said. “That means Uchiha Iizumi is nearby. He’s been watching everything.”

Obito’s face darkened. “He’s using Biwa Jūzō as bait… to lure us in. He knew we were coming?”

Zetsu replied, “He probably guessed our intent. Remember when you met him before? He looked at you with pure hatred. It wasn’t fake. He really wants you dead. Why? Maybe for his ‘Absolute Justice.’ Or maybe… just because.”

It paused.

“…Back then, Madara should’ve chosen Uchiha Iizumi as his successor. Not you—a reckless, impulsive child who keeps making messes.”

“Lord Madara,” Zetsu added, “we should retreat.”

“Why?” Obito snapped.

“Because he knows we’re coming. He’s prepared to trap us. But we’re not ready. We were targeting his subordinate. Now, we’re the ones at a disadvantage.”

Obito opened his mouth—then froze.

A soft footstep.

Faint. But unmistakable.

His body tensed.

All eyes turned.

And then—a figure stepped into view.

A man, blade in hand—Uchiha Iizumi.

“Uchiha…” Obito growled.

“Iizumi!”

Each word was dragged from between clenched teeth.

This man knew everything. And Obito had no love for him—only hate.

“Izumi,” the Whirlpool-Faced White Zetsu mused, circling Obito, “he’s cute, isn’t he? Better-looking than you, Lord Madara. Speaking of which… how long does you take to poop? Twenty minutes? What about him? Same bloodline. Same clan. How long?”

It counted on its fingers—ten fingers, one by one.

Obito’s mask didn’t move. But beneath it, his expression was frozen in fury.

Zetsu stared at Iizumi.

Does he know my secret?

Does he know about the Six Paths Sage? About Mother?

“Uchiha Obito,” Iizumi said, voice calm, icy. “Long time no see. Every time I see a monster like you… I can’t help but want to kill you.”

He glanced at the two strange creatures.

“Find one monster… and get two more as a bonus? Is this Absolute Justice’s lucky day?”

Zetsu and Afei said nothing.

Obito’s forehead twitched. Veins bulged.

He’d faced terrible enemies before. But no one had ever called him a monster.

“Lucky day… hah…” Obito’s voice was a whisper, sharp as a blade. “You’re wrong, little Uchiha. Today isn’t your lucky day. It’s your last. Those who believe in Justice… will remember you.”

Zetsu looked at Obito. “Lord Madara…”

“Shut up,” Obito snapped. “I know what I’m doing.”

Zetsu: “….”

---

“Phew…”

Inside the Leaf Village, Uchiha Izumi exhaled, clapping her hands.

“Alright, you two,” she said to Naruto and Sasuke, “don’t be discouraged just because we didn’t catch any murderous evil offenders. That kind of reaction is wrong.”

She poked Sasuke’s forehead. Then ruffled Naruto’s hair.

“Tell me—which is better? Daily encounters with killers… or a whole night of patrolling, catching only two petty thieves?”

Naruto and Sasuke exchanged glances.

Sasuke frowned. “If we don’t meet murderers… how can we practice Absolute Justice? That’s what we believe in, right?”

Naruto shot back, “Justice is about punishing evil! Using Zetsu’s method—total eradication—to stop killers!”

They were locked in a silent rivalry—each determined not to fall behind.

“Both of you,” Anko said, arms crossed, “are wrong. True Justice isn’t about hunting monsters. It’s about making the world better. If we always found evil offenders… then what’s the point of Justice?”

She turned to them. “Tonight, we caught two thieves. That means Izumi’s Absolute Justice is working. The village is safer.”

Seven-year-old Naruto and Sasuke still didn’t fully grasp morality.

But one thing stuck: if we never meet murderers… the world is truly peaceful.

“Then…” Naruto whispered, “if we just… kill every murderer we meet… won’t that mean there are no more murderers?”

Anko stared. Then grabbed him by the ears.

“You little idiot! Read more books! Did you even listen to a word I said?!”

She twisted his ears—hard.

“Yowww! Owwww!”

Izumi looked up at the moon, her voice soft.

“Since we split at the Investigation Corps Building… I haven’t seen Iizumi-san or Tachibana Jiro-san…”

---

Outside the Leaf Village.

Uchiha Iizumi no longer wasted breath on Obito’s fake Sharingan. His free hand flew through seals.

“Fire Release: Fire Dragon Magma Bomb!”

He exhaled.

A massive wave of molten lava burst from his mouth—shaping midair into a roaring, fiery dragon. It lunged at Obito.

Obito, Zetsu, and Afei all reacted instantly—diving in different directions.

BOOM!

The dragon slammed into the ground. The impact melted the earth into a crater—over ten meters wide. Flames spiraled from the edges. Molten rock oozed from the pit, glowing orange-red.

“Two idiots,” Zetsu muttered—referring to both Iizumi and Obito.

It slammed its hands into the ground.

“Wood Release!”

Beneath the soil, roots burst upward—thousands of them, writhing like serpents. They coiled, tangled, sought to swallow Iizumi whole.

On the other side, the Whirlpool-Faced White Zetsu laughed.

“Let’s play!”

The giant wooden figure clenched its fist and punched.

Obito’s mask twisted. His right eye flared—Mangekyō Sharingan activated. The space around him warped. Hundreds of giant shuriken shot from the Spiral Space, aimed at Iizumi.

And Obito charged forward—unafraid.

“C’mon, I’ll help—” Biwa Jūzō started.

Then—a shadow fell from above.

He looked up.

A massive, gigantic cat—Tachibana Jiro—had appeared, standing atop the wooden fist.

CRACK!

The cat’s head met the fist—a thunderous impact. It was shoved back, sliding across the ground for meters—but it held.

“Don’t you dare underestimate the Ninja Cat!” Tachibana Jiro snarled, fur on end.

Biwa Jūzō realized: This was Iizumi’s summon.

The cat had used a Size Increase Technique—similar to the Akimichi Clan’s.

“Wood Release Bloodline Limit…” Iizumi murmured, eyes locked on the writhing roots beneath him.

He ignored the shuriken flying toward him. Instead, he crouched—placed a hand on a surging root.

“Funny. So am I.”

Zetsu froze. It felt a loss of control.

Suddenly, a section of roots detached—ripped upward, stretching over ten meters—then curved around and lashed at Iizumi’s back.

The roots collided with the shuriken—explosions of chakra.

“Wood Release?!” Zetsu gasped. “Iizumi has the Bloodline Limit?!”

Obito hesitated—just for a split second.

But the roots passed through him—like mist. They didn’t touch him.

“Hmph!”

Obito closed the distance in an instant—reaching for Iizumi’s back, Sharingan glowing with murderous intent.

Then—Iizumi turned.

With a single, fluid motion—his sword sliced.

Pfft!

Obito’s right hand fell to the ground.

His eyes widened.

He stared at Iizumi—cold, expressionless.

His Kamui ability… had been seen.

Obito had planned to touch Iizumi—pull him into Spiral Space. Even if Iizumi could melt, phase, become mist—Kamui could still trap him.

But only if he extended his hand.

And Iizumi had known that.

He knew Kamui required physical contact.

How?!

How could he know?

Obito’s mind reeled. It felt like a bomb had exploded inside his skull.

But his face remained hidden—no sign of panic. If anyone saw… they’d think Uchiha pride was unshaken.

Then—Iizumi’s eyes met his.

Obito’s pupils shrank.

“Izumi…” he whispered.

“Mangekyō Sharingan.”

“Judgment.”

The word slipped from Iizumi’s lips. His left eye bled—blood trickling down his cheek.

Obito flinched—despite being in phase. He dodged—backpedaling fast.

“…Useless,” Iizumi said, his face expressionless. His skin glistened—lava flowing beneath the surface. The blood evaporated instantly.

He saw: his Mangekyō couldn’t affect a fully phased Obito.

But he expected that.

It was just a test.

Success? Profit.

Failure? No loss.

For him, losing vision—even permanently—wasn’t a cost.

He’d earned rewards for “enhanced eyesight” during past justice missions.

“…Huff…”

Obito, now several meters away, exhaled—his body soaked in sweat.

He’d almost been caught in the Mangekyō.

How?

When did I lose confidence in my own power?

It’s because of Iizumi. He knows too much. He knows my secrets.

“Hmph.”

Obito forced a smirk. “So… the Uchiha heir… still thinks his eyes are superior?”

“Then why were you running?” Iizumi asked—calm, quiet.

Obito’s jaw clenched.

His mind raced.

Iizumi knew Kamui’s weakness.

If he wasn’t a fool, he’d never give him a chance.

And without Kamui… Obito had no way to counter Iizumi’s molten form.

And now—that Wood Release ability?

It made him unpredictable.

“Hah… We’re at a stalemate,” Obito said, voice cold. “You can’t beat me. I can’t catch you. You’re the only one who comes close to me… and that little brat.”

“That little brat is you,” Iizumi said.

Obito: “….”

Damn it. Just like Zetsu. Always tearing me down.

“Lord Madara,” Zetsu whispered, appearing beside him. “He’s calculating your time limit. He knows exactly how long your ability lasts. It won’t work on him while it’s active. But in two minutes… you’ll be defenseless.”

“Told you,” Zetsu added. “We weren’t ready. Killing Iizumi was last on the list. The plan’s impossible.”

Obito’s face twisted. “How… does he know this?”

Back then—the Night of the Nine-Tails—even Minato had only guessed at Kamui’s flaw.

But Iizumi… knew.

Zetsu shook its head. “I don’t know.”

It paused.

“And it wasn’t me.”

Because Obito’s eyes—full of suspicion—were already on it.

“Huh?”

Zetsu’s ears twitched.

“Lord Madara… we must leave. A White Zetsu just warned me… Jiraiya is coming. He’ll be here in under thirty seconds. He’s got a toad on his shoulder—probably from Mount Myōgaku.”

Obito’s world felt like it was collapsing.

Every day since meeting Iizumi had been a nightmare.

He was beginning to… question reality.

“…Retreat.”

He bit out the word.

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end