"Not good! Not good! The plan to bring Nagato here has failed, Lord Madara!"
In the dark depths of the underground, only a few faint flames flickered weakly on the candelabras.
A humanoid creature with a black-and-white body, its head resembling a pitcher plant, emerged from the ground as if rising from water.
As soon as it appeared, the white half of its face began yelling in panic.
The cold, dark space remained silent, the faint candlelight casting shadows across the vast emptiness. The flickering shadows moved like ghostly figures in the darkness.
One of the candles swayed abruptly, as though it were floating in midair, gradually approaching the black-and-white creature. Accompanying the light was an old, wrinkled face, etched with the marks of time.
"Hanzō is dead! The people from Kirigakure are also dead. Nagato is still in that place," White Zetsu said, his previously cheerful tone becoming more solemn at the sight of the old man.
A mass of pitch-black substance separated from the humanoid creature, transforming into a liquid that flowed along the ground into the old man's shadow.
"Has Nagato already mastered the Rinnegan to this extent?"
Leaning on a cane and holding a small oil lamp in one hand, the hunched old man looked up at the half-buried White Zetsu. His gray-white hair fell over one eye, leaving the other exposed—a Sharingan with three tomoe spinning slowly within the socket.
Uchiha Madara's tone was calm and even, as if he were merely stating a fact.
"No, it wasn't Nagato. It was Uchiha Shisui who did it," White Zetsu said with a half-smiling expression visible on his face. "That Hanzō was personally killed by Uchiha Shisui. But Nagato is impressive too; he took care of Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage candidate of Kirigakure."
"An Uchiha descendant capable of taking down Hanzō?"
"Not just that! That Uchiha Shisui has awakened the same eyes as yours," Black Zetsu reported, emerging halfway from Madara's shadow.
Unlike the lively and eccentric White Zetsu, Black Zetsu gave off an impression of stability and composure.
For some specific reasons, his words naturally carried more weight in Uchiha Madara's eyes, earning his trust.
"So that's how it is. Another pair of Mangekyō Sharingan has appeared in this world," Uchiha Madara murmured after hearing Black Zetsu's report.
For the first time, his demeanor shifted, breaking away from the cold and lifeless state of a man on the brink of death. A hint of interest flickered across his face.
Although Mangekyō Sharingan no longer held much significance for him, any Uchiha capable of awakening such eyes was at least not mediocre.
Possessing the Mangekyō Sharingan made eliminating a ninja who had lost his conviction and merely cowered in his own lair awaiting decay an easier task.
"Do not resist me!"
The three tomoe in Uchiha Madara's Sharingan spun rapidly as he cast a genjutsu, delving into White Zetsu's consciousness. Despite his frail condition, Madara avoided using any unnecessary power whenever possible.
To him, exerting energy or even engaging in slightly strenuous activity placed an immense burden on his deteriorating body. The consequence was a further reduction of his already limited lifespan.
This was precisely why Madara remained hidden in the underground cavern, relying on White Zetsu and Black Zetsu as his eyes and tools to execute his plans.
Unless absolutely necessary, he endured White Zetsu's chatter to gather the intelligence they collected.
However, when something piqued his interest or drew his concern, he would use his Sharingan's genjutsu to directly read White Zetsu's memories.
Just like now!
Hanzo of the Salamander.
Susano'o.
Nagato and Yagura Karatachi.
Everything that had transpired at Ancor Vantian unfolded before Uchiha Madara's eyes like a fast-forwarded movie.
He saw Nagato using the Preta Path to completely absorb Yagura's chakra and a single arrow piercing Hanzo's heart.
Madara leaned back slightly, and soon, a White Zetsu with a swirling face enveloped him with agility akin to blooming petals.
The White Zetsu encased Madara entirely within its hollow interior before closing up, resembling white armor with only a single Sharingan exposed.
Tobi.
One of White Zetsu's special clones. It can wrap itself around a person like armor, allowing the user to utilize the abilities of the one it encases while enhancing their overall capabilities.
Even if you're gravely injured or missing limbs, once Tobi merges with you, you'll regain mobility and significant combat power.
Under the flickering candlelight, the old man slowly retreated, eventually stopping in front of a wooden seat.
When Uchiha Madara turned, several cumbersome and redundant tubes connected to his back were revealed.
One end of the tubes was attached to Madara, while the other end, under the dim light, faintly illuminated the shadowy figure of a giant—indistinct and shrouded in darkness.
"Your body grows weaker by the day, Lord Madara," Black Zetsu said with a worried tone, his gaze fixed on the frail Uchiha Madara.
"I know," Madara replied, his voice betraying the frailty of a life nearing its end. "That's why I need someone to carry on my will and execute my plan. Nagato was the best candidate, but he remains lost in the false, naive games of camaraderie. He cannot comprehend my ideals."
"The Land of Rain was supposed to teach him the harsh realities of the world..."
"Since Nagato has failed, then go to Konoha! Find me a child among the new Uchiha generation—someone passionate and stubborn enough to fulfill my vision.
Also, seek out Danzo! He desires the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, and I can help him achieve it."
"Konoha?" White Zetsu said with a troubled tone. "But many of my clones have gone missing inside Konoha."
White Zetsu's concealment abilities were formidable. Using his Mayfly technique, he could merge his body with the earth, plants, and other organic matter, traveling swiftly through underground networks of roots and streams.
He could also sever all traces of his presence while performing this technique.
Logically, unless he exposed himself, it should be nearly impossible for the current shinobi of the ninja world to detect him.
In the past, the five great shinobi villages were like his playground. As long as he bypassed their barriers, he could move as freely as a ghost, unnoticed and unhindered.
But Konoha was no longer the same.
Every now and then, some of his clones would abruptly vanish, as if going offline, cutting off all network connections, never to be contacted again.
Zetsu suspected that some of his clones had been exposed to Konoha's shinobi. However, he still couldn't figure out how they were able to track and capture his clones.
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