Chapter 12

Amidst the confusion, Kurama remained still, his piercing gaze sweeping the destroyed forest. The quietude of nature had been brutally interrupted, but now, a new silence was setting in — a silence laden with unanswered questions. The system message was an enigma; the Kyuubi had not seen the enemy, but something inside told him that Black Zetsu was involved. After all, who else could sneak so close without being detected?

Far from there, hidden beneath the earth in a dark and damp cave, Black Zetsu and his white half emerged from the shadows. The white half breathed a sigh of relief, words spilling from his bifurcated mouth with a mix of mockery and relief.

"That was close, huh?" mocked White Zetsu, his eyes dancing with malice. "I thought you claimed to be invisible, Black Zetsu. What happened to all that confidence of yours?"

Black Zetsu just grunted in response, his eyes narrow reflecting cold calculation. The Kyuubi had sensed his presence, that was a fact. But how? He, who moved through the shadows, who merged with the earth itself, had been perceived by a creature that should not have that ability. It was a disturbing development, and he knew he needed to understand why.

"It doesn't matter," he finally replied, his deep voice echoing through the cave. "What matters is that we escaped. But I am curious... How did the Kyuubi perceive us? That should not be possible."

White Zetsu just laughed, the lightness of his tone contrasting with the seriousness of his counterpart. "Well, who knows? Maybe the big fox has learned some new tricks. Or maybe you're losing your touch, Black Zetsu."

White Zetsu tilted his head, a mischievous smile forming on his pale lips. "So, what shall we do now? Run back to Obito and tell him everything? I bet he'd love to hear about our little adventure."

Black Zetsu maintained his imposing stance, not letting the mockery of his other self affect his concentration. "Yes, we will inform Obito about the progress of the mission," he said with his deep and controlled voice. "But there is no need to mention the incident with the Kyuubi. I will take care of that at the appropriate time."

A glint of amusement appeared in White Zetsu's eyes. "Oh, it seems someone is afraid of the repercussions. I fear Black Zetsu's confidence has taken a hit today, huh?"

Black Zetsu fixed his gaze on the other, cold and unflappable. "It's not fear," he corrected, "it's strategy. We should not provide information that may cause unnecessary distrust or panic. Our mission is greater than our egos, White Zetsu. Never forget that."

White Zetsu laughed, the lightness of his tone forming an almost comical contrast to the seriousness of Black Zetsu. "Sure, sure, strategy... it's always about strategy with you. But don't worry, your secret is safe with me. Let's then report only the essentials and keep the rest between us. After all, it's not every day that we see the great and powerful Kyuubi in action, right?"

Black Zetsu simply nodded, turning his back and beginning to move in the shadows once more, without a smile or a hint of amusement. The seriousness of his mission weighed on him like a cloak, and he knew that every step had to be calculated with precision. There was no room for mistakes, and even an unexpected adversary like the Kyuubi would not sway his plans.

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On the border between the Village of Stone and the Village of Leaf, the two Jinchurikis, Roshi and Han, watched with a mix of surprise and skepticism as the clouds of dust and energy dissipated on the horizon. The blast from a Bijudama was unmistakable, and the magnitude of that particular one suggested formidable power.

Roshi had a serious expression and an unwavering countenance of someone who had seen many battles. "I thought it was a lie," he said, his firm voice revealing just a trace of surprise. "Even coming from someone trustworthy, I didn't expect the Kyuubi to actually unleash its power like that, unchecked."

Beside him, Han, the Jinchuriki of the Gobi, agreed with a nod. His gravelly voice, like rocks rolling down a mountain, broke the silence that followed. "Roshi, how do you think we should proceed? If the Kyuubi is really on the loose, we need to act. Two Jinchurikis against the Nine-Tails... what are our chances?"

Roshi looked up at the sky, where the dust was still settling, and then back at Han. "We go in with brute force," he said, simply and directly. "There's not much to plan when it comes to raw power. The Nine-Tails is strong, but I refuse to believe that it's more powerful than the two of us together."

Han looked at his companion, an eyebrow raised in doubt. "Do you think that's going to work? The Kyuubi's reputation is not exaggerated. Its power is legendary."

Roshi shrugged, a gesture that conveyed confidence and determination. "Even if it's the Nine-Tails, it has its limits. And we are trained and experienced Jinchurikis. Our beasts are powerful, and together, they should be able to match its strength. Don't underestimate the power of the Yonbi and the Gobi."

Han set his gaze in the distance, where the marks of battle were still visible on the horizon. "I'm not underestimating the situation," he finally replied, his voice heavy and deep as the fall of a large boulder. "I'm just considering the variables. We have to be cautious when facing a beast of such magnitude."

Roshi turned to face him, a flicker of surprise passing through his battle-hardened eyes. "I didn't expect to hear words of doubt from someone like you, Han. Are you afraid?" he teased, though the mutual respect between the two Jinchurikis was evident.

Han shook his head, almost imperceptibly. "Fear, no," he stated. "But caution is key, especially when facing a beast of such magnitude."

Inside Roshi, a cavernous and mocking voice reverberated, the presence of Son Goku undeniable. "You won't defeat it," said the Yonbi, its voice booming like the roar of a volcano. "I sense it's really him... you'll die before you even win. If it were up to me, I wouldn't ask for help, but what can a mere human do, even with my power?"

Roshi smiled, a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Come on, don't take it to heart, old monkey. But you are old indeed. I'm surprised, you never took the initiative to talk to me."

Son Goku fell into silence, a silence that spoke volumes about the complex relationship between the beast and its host. It was a silence that Roshi knew well, a silence filled with unspoken contemplation.

Han observed the subtle change in Roshi's expression and questioned, "What's up?"

Roshi shook his head slightly, as if dispelling unwanted thoughts. "Nothing," he said, turning to face the direction of the destruction once more. "Let's go."

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