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The scene was silent.
Uchiha Madara looked indifferently at Black Zetsu.
Black Zetsu returned Uchiha Madara's gaze with unease.
Black Zetsu had always been worried that the bark of the Senju clan would record the detailed history of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. He was constantly pondering whether the records on the bark would cause Uchiha Madara to doubt the Eye of the Moon plan, and he had even thought of how to persuade Madara to forget about it.
However!
Who could have imagined…
This piece of bark was not targeting Kaguya…
This piece of bark was clearly targeting him!
Black Zetsu's heart was now quite in turmoil.
Which bastard from the Senju clan left behind this historical record, and why does it contain his name?
It even portrays him as the will of the Sage of the Six Paths!
Where did this history come from?
Who wrote this history?
Where on earth did this history come from? Who wrote it, and why is it here?
The content recorded on this bark overlapped too much with the history of the ninja world, even including many people's names and some real historical events. And since this bark was a legacy of the Senju clan…
No!
He didn't have time to think about this!
Black Zetsu realized he couldn't dwell on these thoughts.
What was most important for Black Zetsu was to find a way to dispel Uchiha Madara's suspicion. All his hopes were pinned on Madara.
Now…
How was he going to explain…
That he was not the will of the Sage of the Six Paths?
"Black Zetsu…"
Uchiha Madara raised the bark in his hand, showing a strange smile: "The content on this bark seems quite interesting!"
"Could it be that in ancient times…"
Black Zetsu's mouth twisted into a sinister smile, chuckling softly: "Did another Black Zetsu like me also emerge from the Sage of the Six Paths?"
"It's not impossible…"
Uchiha Madara also smiled, seemingly dispelling his doubts: "The legendary Sage of the Six Paths, with his immense power, creating a Black Zetsu wouldn't be unusual, especially since I was able to create you…"
"I am your creation through Yin-Yang Release."
Black Zetsu quickly calmed himself and nodded along with Uchiha Madara: "The Sage of the Six Paths also possessed the Rinnegan; it's not surprising that his will and soul could create another Black Zetsu using Yin-Yang Release…"
Black Zetsu immediately thought of an explanation, taking the opportunity to discredit the Sage of the Six Paths: "The Sage of the Six Paths' desire for immortality gave rise to that Black Zetsu, and I was born from your strong will to bring peace to the ninja world…"
"Hmm…"
Uchiha Madara nodded noncommittally, his gaze returning to the bark, seemingly letting the matter drop lightly: "However, this bark also records some stories about the Black Zetsu that split from the soul of the Sage of the Six Paths…"
"Oh?"
Black Zetsu's body trembled again.
He had to keep thinking about how to convince Uchiha Madara that this bark was fake, lest it contain more information unfavorable to him.
However…
The rest of the bark was full of information detrimental to Black Zetsu.
Uchiha Madara's face grew darker as he read the information on the bark, his expression becoming increasingly grim: "Black Zetsu… is the dark side of the Sage of the Six Paths' heart… inherently possessing the power of immortality… but… it seeks to become the ruler of this world…"
"So…"
"Since Black Zetsu's birth…"
"Its goal has been to revive the Ten-Tails and its daughter, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, to control Kaguya and harness the power of the Ten-Tails…"
"…"
Black Zetsu's body shook violently.
Although the information here was strange—Kaguya Ōtsutsuki was not a so-called daughter but his creator—he did indeed aim to revive the Ten-Tails…
"Black Zetsu…"
As Uchiha Madara continued reading the content on the bark, he smiled sardonically: "It seems our plan overlaps with that of this Black Zetsu from the Sage of the Six Paths' legend… By the way, where could that immortal Black Zetsu be hiding?"
"Perhaps… in places we cannot see…"
Black Zetsu's mind raced as he suddenly thought of a line of reasoning and quickly said: "Could it be that Black Zetsu is controlling Akihara Kagura from behind the scenes? That's why Akihara Kagura knows so much information, and to prevent others from discovering its whereabouts, it manipulated the Reincarnated to try to seize this bark…"
What on earth is going on with this bark!
Why is there so much half-true content recorded, and how could these half-true contents cause me such trouble at this moment?
If Uchiha Madara becomes suspicious of me...
How can the Eye of the Moon Plan proceed?
However, Uchiha Madara did begin to have doubts about this matter. He pondered the information mentioned on the bark: "If we truly revive the Ten-Tails as the bark says, will we really revive Kaguya Otsutsuki, the youngest daughter of Hagoromo Otsutsuki?"
"..."
Kaguya is not the youngest daughter of Hagoromo Otsutsuki!
Kaguya is the mother of Hagoromo Otsutsuki!
You descendants of rebellious children dare to slander your ancestors here!
Black Zetsu inwardly cursed Hagoromo Otsutsuki and Uchiha Madara, but had to explain, "I am not very sure... However, once we find the other Black Zetsu, we will know... Nonetheless, the Infinite Tsukuyomi should still be able to save the ninja world, right?"
Now...
I need to clear this suspicion from myself!
Uchiha Madara seemed to be pondering Black Zetsu's words. It appeared he did not want to believe his plan was fake, possibly because there was more information on the bark.
"..."
Black Zetsu breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing that Uchiha Madara seemed temporarily deceived and continued to read the content on the bark, Black Zetsu felt slightly relieved again.
However...
Black Zetsu relaxed too soon.
As Uchiha Madara thoughtfully nodded while continuing to look at the information on the bark, he suddenly spoke: "This bark records matters related to our Uchiha clan, and the Sage of the Six Paths also recorded information about the other Black Zetsu on the stone tablet, even assigning the task of sealing him to our ancestor Indra..."
"Then let's find that other Black Zetsu and seal him!"
Black Zetsu immediately became energized, expressing his loyalty to Uchiha Madara as if embodying his will: "This is our plan!"
"You are right..."
Uchiha Madara slightly turned his body, letting Black Zetsu stand beside him, but doubts had already sprouted in his heart!
Before uncovering the truth and finding the other Black Zetsu in the ninja world, Uchiha Madara had already become wary, realizing he could no longer fully trust the Black Zetsu he created!
"Hmm?"
Uchiha Madara lowered his head and continued looking at the bark in his hand, a look of displeasure flashing in his eyes: "It finally mentions the matter of the successor. The Sage of the Six Paths actually passed the responsibility to his elder son Indra and the succession to his younger son Asura!"
"No wonder..."
Uchiha Madara's gaze fell on Hashirama, sneering and sarcastically saying, "No wonder it ended in ruin. Now that the Senju clan rules Konoha as Hokage, it will eventually face the same!"
"..."
Hashirama frowned deeply.
Isn't this purely a general attack?
Can the demise be attributed to the succession by their Senju ancestor Asura?
Could it not be due to other reasons?
"..."
Black Zetsu felt more relaxed.
According to the information recorded on this bark and his memory of history, the next part should be about the battle between the brothers Indra and Asura...
Next...
There should be nothing about himself.
"Hmm?"
"What's next for the Ninja world?"
"Only a few sentences about Asura succeeding the Ninja world?"
Uchiha Madara was somewhat dissatisfied as he flipped through the bark. He wanted to glean more secrets from it, but it only mentioned the matter briefly.
The next section...
Once again mentioned Black Zetsu!
It even mentioned the Uchiha clan's stone tablet again!
[Black Zetsu... learned that Hagoromo Otsutsuki left a stone tablet about his own birth secrets, and quietly modified its content...]
Uchiha Madara's face changed dramatically, his gaze suddenly becoming extremely dangerous!
That stone tablet...
Is a treasure passed down through the generations of the Uchiha clan!
That stone tablet...
Was actually modified by Black Zetsu!
Uchiha Madara's eyes narrowed, and his voice turned cold, even exuding an unspeakable chill: "The history recorded on the Uchiha clan's stone tablet... The information I obtained from the tablet... Was actually altered by a Black Zetsu?"
"!!!"
Black Zetsu was deeply shocked!
How could this piece of bark even know about such a thing!
The fact that it had modified the stone tablet was actually recorded on this piece of bark!
What the hell...
What should it do now?
Uchiha Madara would definitely suspect the stone tablet of the Uchiha clan. What could it do now? How could it prove that the content on the Uchiha clan's stone tablet had not been altered?
What should it do?
What on earth should it do?
Should it claim that this piece of bark was fake? That all the content on it was false?
However, it was clear that Uchiha Madara already believed much of the information recorded on this piece of bark.
Because the information on the bark was more complete than the records of the Uchiha clan, especially since this piece of bark recorded a lot of enlightening information!
For instance, the relationship between the Senju clan and the Uchiha clan. Because the Senju and Uchiha were brothers, their powers could merge...
Moreover...
It could not question the bark.
Because Black Zetsu dared not reveal that it was not the Black Zetsu from a thousand years ago; it had always posed as Uchiha Madara's will. How could it question the authenticity of the content left from ancient times on this piece of bark?
This identity...
Had actually become a shackle!
Despair had already started to well up in Black Zetsu's heart. The content on this piece of bark was a huge pit, rendering all its years of hard work futile!
However...
Black Zetsu's despair was still a bit premature.
Just as Black Zetsu was pondering how to lure Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Madara had already seen the next section, which completely shattered his mindset!
[Black Zetsu... claimed to be a will that emerged after Indra's power grew... lured Indra to attack Asura... Indra attempted to capture all the tailed beasts in the ninja world to revive the Ten-Tails...]
"This kind of thing..."
"Is indeed familiar..."
Uchiha Madara's fist suddenly clenched, his eyes turned fierce and dangerous, and he didn't even want to look at the rest of the content behind the bark!
"What is it... Madara..."
Black Zetsu's mood suddenly became tense.
"Black Zetsu..."
Uchiha Madara laughed in extreme anger. He lightly tapped his arm with his fingers and said with a smile: "This piece of bark records that a Black Zetsu had once lured the Uchiha ancestor, Indra..."
"!!!"
Black Zetsu's heart filled with panic.
This kind of thing...
Had also been recorded!
It had indeed lured Indra to attack Asura!
"That Black Zetsu had even done such a thing?"
Black Zetsu calmed itself and responded with a light laugh.
"Indeed..."
Uchiha Madara looked at Black Zetsu's still calm smile, unable to help but smile and nod, not exposing Black Zetsu's disguise, but instead continued to watch it with a smile.
"That Black Zetsu's approach is quite interesting..."
"Because it only has the ability of immortality and no combat power, it chose to impersonate the will born after Uchiha's ancestor Indra became strong, luring Indra to help it collect the tailed beasts to revive the Ten-Tails..."
"..."
Black Zetsu's expression suddenly stiffened.
Because this story was too suggestive.
Moreover...
Uchiha Madara was not a fool.
"The story of Uchiha's ancestor Indra..."
Uchiha Madara seemed unperturbed by Black Zetsu and even smiled: "Black Zetsu, this is indeed a familiar story!"
"Familiar enough to feel like..."
When Uchiha Madara spoke here, he frowned, as if in thought: "How should I put it, it feels like..."
Uchiha Madara seemed to have finally thought of something, his frown suddenly relaxed, and a murderous intent appeared on his face, his chakra erupting instantly!
"Like..."
"This story happened to me…"