Chapter 191: Has the Village Emptied?

In front of the Sharingan, White Zetsu's movements seemed to be in slow motion.

Even now, Kakashi, with his heightened sensory abilities, could perceive everything around him.

Obito's body was flung away, and several White Zetsu clones rushed to embrace him. They couldn't believe that the once invincible Obito could be so easily defeated by Kakashi. It even seemed like Kakashi had completely mastered Kamui, Obito's eye technique.

This guy seemed like a different person, no longer acting like his former self. He showed no mercy, even towards his old comrades, like a ruthless executioner.

What had happened during the time Uchiha Raijin took him away? Kakashi had undergone such a drastic change!

"It seems you guys are just like that White Zetsu under Raijin's command—completely useless in battle," Kakashi remarked as a weak slash flew from his hand, slicing the charging White Zetsu in half. Kakashi found such defenseless opponents uninteresting. But there was something off about the black entity attached to White Zetsu. This guy seemed to carry a significant secret.

"Let's go. We can't get Obito's eye back," White Zetsu said as his clones, holding Obito's body, sank into the ground. They felt certain defeat against Kakashi, especially since their strength lay in intelligence gathering rather than combat. Even a Chunin could easily take them down.

"Let's focus on reviving Obito first," Black Zetsu added, feeling the situation becoming troublesome as he too sank into the ground.

"Lightning Slash!"

Before their bodies could fully disappear, a flash of lightning struck, creating a clean cut on Black and White Zetsu's forms. They stared at Kakashi in shock. He shouldn't be this fast—his speed was almost on par with the Flying Thunder God Technique. And the power he was using didn’t seem to be ninjutsu. The previous slash didn’t resemble a Wind Release technique either.

"It seems you two aren't just ordinary beings," Kakashi noted, "but this isn't something under my jurisdiction. I'll leave it to Raijin." Kakashi lifted Black and White Zetsu with one hand but noticed a tube extending into the ground. The black entity was attempting to escape! Just as Kakashi was about to act, the black entity had already disappeared underground.

"The shinobi world seems to be hiding many secrets," Kakashi mused, scratching his head as he activated his heightened sensory abilities to scan the surroundings. But Black Zetsu had already vanished, leaving the Hidden Leaf Village. His speed was indeed impressive, and even White Zetsu had fled the village.

However, Kakashi didn't walk away empty-handed. At the very least, he now had another Sharingan to complement his own, making his eyes complete. The Hidden Leaf really is a great place!

"Kakashi-san, did a battle just occur here?" Genma Shiranui approached Kakashi, observing the scene before him. Seeing White Zetsu's remains, he couldn't fathom what kind of enemy Kakashi had faced. But for someone to escape from Kakashi meant they weren't a simple opponent. He planned to report to Raijin before Kakashi could, to show his loyalty to the Uchiha.

After all, even the Nara Clan had become sycophants. Times were tough, and without clan support, Genma and others like him had to prove their loyalty wherever they could.

"It’s nothing, just a small thief! Have all the people been sent away?" Kakashi asked, waving his hand dismissively.

"I’ve already sent them to the underground base in the Land of Springs! We also managed to contact some relatives within the Nara Clan, although..." Genma hesitated. They had been exposed in the Hidden Leaf, and without taking some action, the revelation of their intelligence could result in the Leaf’s retribution against their families and friends. Although they had been captured by Raijin and weren’t entirely traitors, the disclosure of this information left no doubt about their betrayal. The Hidden Leaf was utterly ruthless, practically insane, and those who had once served as personal guards to the Fourth Hokage were relegated to mere gatekeepers. They never doubted the Leaf’s integrity, but now they imagined much worse—perhaps even more cruel punishments awaited their friends and family.

"If you can gather more people, that would be best, especially to counter the Hyuga Clan’s branch family members," Kakashi said. "The Hyuga Clan has too many members, and I doubt Raijin would be pleased. The Hyuga might even incite a rebellion."

Kakashi was particularly concerned about this. The Hyuga Clan, having tasted freedom, might not take kindly to being put back in chains. They could very well rebel.

"They should have some sense of self-preservation," Genma replied, puzzled by Kakashi's concerns. The Hyuga seemed docile enough—they shouldn't cause trouble, right? But he decided to stay quiet in the end. He had no friends in the Hyuga Clan, so there was no need to speak on their behalf. He had his own problems to deal with.

"The upcoming battles aren’t something we should be involved in. Once you're done, leave the Hidden Leaf immediately. Don’t leave any loose ends—I’ll be leaving the village too," Kakashi said, glancing at the horizon where the sky seemed to crack. The situation in the Hidden Leaf was likely getting worse; Whitebeard’s wrath was not something ordinary people could withstand. The old man’s power on the seas was unmatched.

What a pity!

Kakashi had only one regret now: that Might Guy didn’t want to leave the village with him. Even now, Guy was intent on protecting the Leaf.

The Hidden Leaf is in a terrible state—what's there left to protect?

Never mind!

Since he didn't plan to leave with him, so be it.

After all, Might Guy’s strength is formidable. If he opens the Eight Gates, there are few in the ninja world who can stop him. Even if there is danger, he can handle it with ease.

“Yes!”

Genma Shiranui nodded and quickly formed a hand seal, disappearing in an instant.

Boom!

The air in front of Whitebeard exploded, and cracks spread in all directions. Several ninjas who were charging at him were instantly blown away. A massive fireball aimed at the back of Might Guy's head was intercepted by Newgate, who flipped his naginata and pierced through the fireball in an instant.

“Gurararara, bring out everything you’ve got!”

“These little tricks aren’t even making me sweat,” Whitebeard taunted as he twisted his massive body, smashing it sideways. A ninja who had slipped into the void to launch a sneak attack was instantly blown to pieces by the terrifying shockwave.

This incredible power left the ninjas too terrified to engage Whitebeard in close combat. Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a wave of helplessness, as if he were facing the Third Raikage. Such a terrifying physique was beyond human capabilities. Even ninjutsu didn’t seem to harm him.

“Where are the Akimichi Clan’s ninjas?”

Sarutobi Hiruzen covered his face, unable to watch as Leaf ninjas rushed to their deaths. The only way to stop Whitebeard now was through sheer numbers.

“The Nara Clan has rebelled! Hatake Kakashi has returned to the Leaf and contacted the Nara Clan. Using an unknown space-time ninjutsu, he evacuated all the Nara Clan ninjas! The Akimichi Clan, the Yamanaka Clan, the Inuzuka Clan, the Aburame Clan, and even the Hyuga Clan were involved!”

A figure quickly approached Sarutobi Hiruzen, his face filled with grief and anger. He was a member of the Yamanaka Clan, and he couldn’t believe they had left without him.

Did they not trust him?

If they didn’t, they could have just sealed him. He didn’t want to stay in the Leaf anymore—he wanted them to take him too. He now desperately wanted to defect, but it seemed Kakashi didn’t see him as worth taking. Without a word, Kakashi had attacked them, and if he had been slower, he might have lost his life.

“What?”

Sarutobi Hiruzen thought he must have misheard. He felt like he had just heard something unbelievable. It seemed like everyone in the village had left. The famous clans in the village were now all gone. This left Sarutobi Hiruzen feeling a bit lost.

The village’s original top forces were the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan.

The Senju Clan were founding members of the village, with immense prestige. Even the appearance of a Wood Release user could threaten his position. So, the clan had to be removed—or at least dealt with internally within the Leaf.

The Uchiha Clan, on the other hand, was like an uncontrollable sword. The Second Hokage had been able to use them effectively, striking fear into the hearts of other villages.

But once Sarutobi took power, he found the Uchiha Clan difficult to control. The Second Hokage’s prejudice had left a deep impression on him, so Sarutobi always saw the Uchiha as a thorn in his side.

Now, these two top forces in the Leaf had disappeared under his watch. These were the Leaf’s strongest assets, and yet both had vanished because of him.