Zetsu's strangeness put Ōnoki on high alert.
A technique just like the legendary Wood Release, a figure that didn't look human at first glance, with no Chakra leaking out, and wearing the Akatsuki Organization's attire.
When all of this combined and appeared, it gave Ōnoki an indescribable sense of eeriness.
"Who are you? What is your purpose? Why do you falsely accuse me of wanting to deal with Konoha?"
Before distinguishing friend from foe, Ōnoki was extremely cautious and directly denied any intention of harming Konoha.
"That's quite a few questions. I'll answer them one by one, and I believe afterward, we'll reach a consensus."
Ōnoki showed no reaction; he wouldn't let his guard down just because of Black Zetsu's attitude.
Black Zetsu didn't care and immediately introduced himself.
"Tsuchikage-sama can call me Zetsu."
After the self-introduction, Zetsu's other half also spoke.
"I am White Zetsu."
"I am Black Zetsu."
Then Black Zetsu continued the explanation.
"As you can see, I am one of the core members of the Akatsuki Organization, responsible for gathering intelligence on the entire Ninja World for the Akatsuki Organization."
Black Zetsu briefly introduced his identity.
"Next is the second question: my purpose is naturally to seek Tsuchikage-sama's cooperation to deal with Konoha together. Tsuchikage-sama doesn't need to rush to deny it; every rustle in the Ninja World is under White Zetsu's surveillance."
As he spoke, he specifically demonstrated White Zetsu's ability to hide and infiltrate.
Ōnoki was also shocked, his eyes wide as he watched the more than ten White Zetsu emerging from all directions.
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Ōnoki would never have believed that someone could conceal their presence to such an extent.
The guy in front of him, who called himself Zetsu, judging by his completely relaxed demeanor, seemed to be telling the truth.
Perhaps he really did have the ability to monitor the entire Ninja World!
However, this only confirmed Zetsu's intelligence gathering capabilities; for everything else, Ōnoki still reserved judgment.
"If I remember correctly, your Akatsuki Organization just rejected me, and it was your leader who personally gave the order."
Ōnoki wanted to see how the other party would explain, while also harboring a vague suspicion.
After all, he had more or less indirectly learned about the Akatsuki Organization's strength. If so many rogue ninja were united and worked together, it was likely that a Sixth Great Shinobi Village would appear in the Ninja World.
In Ōnoki's eyes, Zetsu became an opportunist who defied his leader and sought to usurp power.
But Zetsu's subsequent answer completely overturned Ōnoki's suspicions.
"Leader? That's just a pawn!"
A rare hint of disdain could be heard in Black Zetsu's tone.
First, throw out a bombshell, then slowly explain, to deepen the credibility of his words.
Black Zetsu was not a transmigrator like Yuuki, but he clearly understood communication strategies.
"The Akatsuki Organization is merely a visible target set by a certain powerful figure, and its leader is also a chosen puppet. The true controller is someone else."
"On the surface, I am the Akatsuki Organization's intelligence officer, reporting to the leader, but in reality, I obey the behind-the-scenes controller."
Whether Ōnoki believed it or not, he was shocked once again.
In Ōnoki's view, the Akatsuki Organization, which could rival or even surpass some of the Five Great Ninja Villages in high-end combat power with just a few tricks and unified members, actually had a deeper controller behind it!
Ōnoki frantically pondered, trying to guess the person behind it from various clues.
His own Iwagakure was immediately ruled out, and Sunagakure and Hidden Mist could also be excluded; it wasn't Ōnoki's arrogance, but he genuinely looked down on those two Villages.
Konoha and Kumogakure remained, and while Ōnoki saw a slight possibility for both, there were also aspects that didn't make sense for either.
And besides the Five Great Ninja Villages, Ōnoki truly couldn't think of anyone else who could control the Akatsuki Organization from behind the scenes.
None of it made sense!
Precisely because it didn't make sense, Ōnoki, to some extent, began to trust Black Zetsu's words.
If everything had been natural and logical, Ōnoki would only have thought that the other party, using his intelligence capabilities, had thoroughly understood his own intelligence and was now trying to trick him.
"So you mean to say that there's someone else behind your Akatsuki Organization, that the Akatsuki Organization rejected me, but the person behind it wants to cooperate with me?"
Black Zetsu nodded slightly upon hearing Ōnoki's question.
"That's right, exactly."
"Hmph!"
Ōnoki immediately snorted coldly, his face turning furious.
"You think you can fool this old man with words that wouldn't even trick a child? I'm not senile yet!"
"I have things to do, so I'll let you off for now. If you dare to stop me again, then be prepared to pay the price with your life!"
After saying that, Ōnoki waved his hand, intending to leave directly.
Of course, all of this was just a test, with a deeper purpose.
After all, if an unknown person suddenly appears and says they want to cooperate with you, no one would believe them.
Ōnoki, who now believed some of it, only wanted to know more information and to gauge the other party's need for this cooperation.
"Tsuchikage, please wait!"
Ōnoki, who had just turned around and hadn't gone far, was called back. He immediately turned around, glaring angrily at Zetsu, his entire body erupting with Chakra, ready to attack at any moment.
But in the next instant, he froze.
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