The white sphere of light gradually faded, and the white tentacles condensed into a human form.
The limbs slowly took shape, and the internal organs formed by the white light became clearer. Zixu stood in awe, as if witnessing the accelerated evolution of a life form with his own eyes.
Finally, the light and tentacles completely dissipated, revealing a blonde-haired man lying naked on the ground. Zixu stared at the familiar yet unfamiliar face, feeling a mix of emotions.
From this moment on, the clone was no longer just a manifestation of energy—it had become a fully physical entity, capable of performing far more complex tasks. However, Zixu wondered if this lazy slacker would simply continue to loaf around despite his new form.
As he waited, Zixu noticed Rosinante deliberately remaining still, feigning unconsciousness. His lips curled into a cold smirk.
"Stop faking it. Get up and get to work. Do you really think you can fool me?" Zixu sneered.
Without hesitation, he delivered a sharp kick to Rosinante's lower back, making the clone wince in pain.
"!!!"
Rosinante shot Zixu a glare, rubbing his back as he staggered to his feet. His eyes were filled with resentment.
"Fine, fine... I get it. I'll work already. Now give me some clothes," he grumbled.
Though Rosinante agreed, his expression remained as lazy and indifferent as ever. It was just his nature—no matter the circumstances, he would always find a way to slack off.
Zixu was left speechless. With a sigh, he tossed a set of clothes toward him and relayed the necessary instructions.
Initially, Zixu intended to send Rosinante to Konoha while he visited another village. However, he was concerned that Rosinante's new body had not yet fully adapted.
Moreover, the chakra in Rosinante's body was linked to the heart that had formed during the separation process. The heart Zixu implanted in him was attuned to the wind attribute, making it his core element.
Zixu had a fleeting thought—if he implanted the heart of a shinobi with a Kekkei Genkai, would Rosinante be able to use bloodline-limit techniques as well?
That was something he would have to test later. For now, he still needed to head to Konoha himself.
Although Rosinante had a decent understanding of ninjutsu, he lacked the physical prowess Zixu possessed, making him incapable of utilizing certain techniques to their full potential.
Still, the clone's fruit ability was already well developed. During combat, he could silence his opponent's chakra flow, effectively rendering them unable to use jutsu. Though the effect was temporary, it was still a formidable ability that made him an unpredictable and dangerous foe.
"Come on, we're going to Konoha. You have a body now, so you better start moving. Let's see how you slack off this time," Zixu taunted.
"Yeah, yeah… let's just go," Rosinante replied with a groan. He was clearly unenthusiastic about the unavoidable task but still complied, eager to get it over with.
Zixu smirked. He knew exactly what Rosinante was thinking. The bond between them had long since surpassed that of a master and clone—they were more like brothers, two sides of the same coin.
Without further delay, Zixu and Rosinante sprinted forward. Their figures—one clad in red, the other in yellow—vanished into the dense forest.
---
Meanwhile, Karin had successfully purchased herbs and the necessary supplies in Konoha Village. However, she didn't forget her original mission—gathering intelligence for Zixu.
While voluntarily treating civilians, she picked up scattered pieces of information—some credible, others dubious.
For instance:
"The Hyuga clan is becoming increasingly isolationist, and many villagers have grown resentful of their elitism."
"The Fifth Hokage, Jiraiya, is the most unreliable Hokage in history. He frequently disappears from the village, leaving Tsunade, the granddaughter of the First Hokage, to handle his duties."
"A man with a cross-shaped scar on his chin has been secretly making contributions to Konoha. Rumor has it that he is the next Hokage."
Karin was baffled by the bizarre rumors.
A mysterious scarred man? A brothel owner? The strange news was getting more ridiculous by the second.
Just then, she felt an abrupt chakra fluctuation. Her rabbit-shaped backpack trembled slightly in her hands.
"This chakra… Zixu?!" Her eyes widened in shock.
There was another familiar presence with him. She couldn't identify it at first, but her intuition confirmed it—it was definitely Zixu.
"Zixu is here already?!" Karin's eyes sparkled with excitement.
She had been considering ways to inform Zixu of the situation, but fate seemed to be on her side—he was already approaching.
"Looks like even God is helping me! Heh, victory is mine!" she chuckled softly, ignoring the strange stares from passersby as she happily skipped away.
---
At the same time, Zixu and Rosinante sensed the same fluctuation Karin had. Though they didn't fully understand it, they were just as shocked.
As they neared the village, they couldn't help but notice the influx of hot spring casinos and entertainment establishments around Konoha.
"Heh… with Orochimaru out of the picture, Jiraiya and Tsunade are practically the King and Queen of Konoha," Zixu muttered dryly. Their reign certainly lived up to the title.
At first, Zixu was taken aback by the sheer boldness of Konoha's new "industries." However, after some consideration, he realized the economic benefits they brought.
"Well, it makes sense. These kinds of establishments boost capital circulation and employment. It's just… not the most elegant way to do it," he mused.
"How does this compare to the last time you were in Konoha?" Rosinante asked casually.
"There are more people," Zixu replied curtly.
The two chatted casually until they finally reached the outskirts of Konoha.
"Stop. State your business," one of the gate guards ordered firmly.
"Merchant. Seller. This is the pass to Kumogakure," Zixu replied, calmly handing over the forged pass.
The guard carefully examined the document before finally waving them through.
"Go in."
In today's Konoha, security had clearly tightened. No longer could people come and go as they pleased.
---
As they walked through the village, Rosinante's expression darkened.
"Wait… casinos, gambling… oh no…" His gut clenched with dread.
The soul of a man even more unlucky than Zixu screamed in his mind.
"This isn't a casino—it's a damn graveyard where suckers like me get cleaned out!"
"Stop standing around. Let's go," Zixu nudged him forward impatiently. He was eager to reach his destination.
After all, he had sensed a familiar chakra nearby.
Karin, Sasuke, Rock Lee, Gouda Takeshi…
He recognized them all. Everything about Konoha felt familiar, yet at the same time strangely different. It was a village that had changed yet somehow remained the same.
Zixu kept himself hidden beneath his robe, though he knew it was a half-hearted disguise. Anyone paying close enough attention could still recognize him.
"You're getting emotional," Rosinante teased in a low voice.
"No. Mind your own business," Zixu retorted, annoyed at the interruption. He was in the middle of reminiscing, only to have Rosinante ruin the moment with his sarcastic comment.
Rosinante smirked under his hood, spreading his hands in a mock display of helplessness.
"So… what's my task?" Rosinante asked, feigning nonchalance.
"Easy. Go find Jiraiya. I need to discuss something with him," Zixu ordered firmly.
"What about you?" Rosinante asked with narrowed eyes.
"Me? I've got more important things to do. …And don't look at me like that. I'm serious. I hate slacking off," Zixu added defensively.
Without another word, he quickly sent Rosinante off and made his way toward Karin alone.
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