After Uchiha Yuan eliminated a nearby White Zetsu clone hidden underground, he summoned Shadiao to fly into the Hidden Mist Village and deliver a message to Qing, asking her to come meet him. A few minutes later, Qing left the Hidden Mist Village and headed straight to Uchiha Yuan's location.
Meanwhile, Obito learned about Qing and Uchiha Yuan's meeting through White Zetsu inside the Hidden Mist Village.
"So, the Mist high-ranking figure connected with Uchiha Yuan is the clan leader of the Yuki clan. Obito, what should we do? Another purge?" asked Black Zetsu.
"The purge will have to wait until this is over. We're not even sure we can continue controlling the Mist Village," Obito replied, then released his control over Yagura.
At that moment inside the Hidden Mist Village, the previously expressionless Yagura's eyes suddenly regained clarity.
He shook his head, still a bit confused about the situation.
Suddenly, Yagura sensed an enormous amount of chakra within his body. His expression changed slightly as he hurried to inspect it, only to find that the Three-Tails had been sealed within him.
"Am I under genjutsu again? Is it that guy with the spiral mask this time too? Is it the same one who controlled me before?" Yagura wondered internally.
At the same time, outside the Mist Village, Uchiha Yuan and Qing met face to face.
Upon seeing Uchiha Yuan, Qing's originally calm expression instantly turned fervent. She knelt on both knees and bowed to him, calling out "Master."
"I told you, don't kneel when you see me, and don't call me Master. Get up," Uchiha Yuan said.
Upon hearing this, Qing immediately scrambled to her feet and respectfully asked, "Lord Yuan, what do you need from me?"
"The Fourth Mizukage of your Mist Village was controlled by a genjutsu," Uchiha Yuan said directly.
"What? That's impos—" Qing reflexively tried to argue but stopped halfway. Because the one telling her this was Uchiha Yuan.
After her will was modified, she had only one thought in her mind: Uchiha Yuan was always right.
"Lord Yuan, could you tell us more about this matter?" Qing quickly asked.
Uchiha Yuan nodded and told her everything he knew.
After listening, Qing's expression grew solemn. She had already found it strange that the Hozuki and Kaguya clans had suddenly gone berserk and attacked Yagura.
And Yagura didn't even allow them to defend themselves—he swiftly annihilated the two major clans of the Mist Village.
Turns out someone had been pulling the strings from behind.
"Lord Yuan, what should I do? Should I join other high-level members of the Mist Village to expose this?" Qing asked again.
"Expose it? Ha! By the time you left the village, they had likely already lifted the genjutsu on Yagura. They're betting on the fact that Yagura won't reveal he was being controlled.
A village's Kage being controlled, and carrying out a massacre within his own village—if that gets out, it would be devastating for the village, for the Mist, and for Yagura himself. It could even shake the very foundation of the Mist Village.
Yagura is still a Kage after all, and he surely cares for his village. He would never voluntarily reveal this.
So even if you go back and try to expose it, it would be pointless. The genjutsu's already been removed, and going to confront Yagura would achieve nothing."
"Then what should I do, Lord Yuan?" Qing pressed.
"Simple—attack me. Let's have a fight."
"Lord Yuan…"
"You need to act like you don't trust me. Fight me seriously. After returning to the village, don't try to expose the Fourth Mizukage.
Wait until the Fourth Mizukage does something unusual—then seize the opportunity to gather others and expose the truth.
If you discover he intends to take action against you, release this crow immediately. I'll come to help you," said Uchiha Yuan as he handed her a ninja crow trained by Shisui.
Qing accepted the crow and thanked Uchiha Yuan.
"Let's go to a different location. I've removed all surveillance near here. Let's fight in a place where their watchers are still active. As soon as I stop, you start attacking," Uchiha Yuan said, then ran ahead.
Qing followed closely behind.
After running for two minutes, Uchiha Yuan faintly sensed the presence of a White Zetsu underground and came to a halt.
In the next moment, hundreds of ice senbon shot toward Uchiha Yuan.
Seeing this, Uchiha Yuan quickly formed hand signs: "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball instantly engulfed the ice senbon. Uchiha Yuan put on an exasperated look and said, "Qing, I'm not lying. Your Mizukage has been controlled by a group of mysterious people. You can go back and check if you don't believe me."
"Nonsense. Lord Mizukage is incredibly powerful and a perfect Jinchuriki. Everyone knows a perfect Jinchuriki can't be controlled. Uchiha Yuan, your claim doesn't hold water," Qing said coldly.
"Perfect Jinchuriki? Nonsense! Both the Three-Tails and Yagura were being controlled!"
"That's impossible! Uchiha Yuan, I think you're trying to sow discord among the Mist leadership to create an opportunity for Konoha to invade!" Qing snapped and resumed attacking Uchiha Yuan.
Their conversation and battle were being relayed by a White Zetsu clone underground, who then reported everything back to the main body—and the main body told Obito.
After hearing the report, the first thing Obito asked was, "White Zetsu, based on how Uchiha Yuan keeps detecting your hidden clones, what would you estimate is the range of his sensory abilities?"
"Roughly 400 to 500 meters, definitely no more than 500," White Zetsu replied after thinking for a moment.
"How far is the clone currently feeding us intel from Yuan and Qing?" Obito continued.
"About 500 meters."
"That's a very delicate distance," said Black Zetsu.
"Exactly. Very delicate. Could Uchiha Yuan and Qing be putting on an act? And with Yuan's strength, he wouldn't need to run from Qing," Obito said with a frown.
"Maybe Yuan just doesn't want to fight her?" White Zetsu added.
"Forget it. There's no point guessing. Let's wait and see what Qing does when she returns to the Mist Village. If she really is acting with Yuan, she'll surely try to test Yagura as soon as she's back.
If not, she'll likely do nothing—and might even try to cover up her trip to meet Uchiha Yuan," said Black Zetsu.
Obito nodded in agreement. For now, they had no way of determining whether Qing was faking it—they could only wait to see what she did next.
(To Be Continued...)