As long as the body of Uchiha Madara is in possession...
The future direction of the ninja world will be completely in the hands of Akihara Kagura.
Because Black Zetsu needs Uchiha Madara to be resurrected to initiate the true Eye of the Moon Plan, a plan that neither Uchiha Obito nor Nagato can fully grasp.
Only Uchiha Madara can truly control it.
However, once Black Zetsu handed Uchiha Madara's body to Akihara Kagura, the control over the initiation of the Eye of the Moon Plan also fell into Kagura's hands.
If Akihara Kagura is unwilling to hand over Uchiha Madara's body, even Black Zetsu has no way to resurrect Madara.
Of course...
Black Zetsu believed that Akihara Kagura would definitely use Edo Tensei to resurrect Uchiha Madara.
But...
This time, Black Zetsu miscalculated.
Black Zetsu had not yet received any news about Uchiha Madara's resurrection.
Black Zetsu could communicate with Uchiha Madara remotely, and if Madara had been resurrected, he would surely have contacted Black Zetsu, the will of Madara. However, this remote contact never occurred.
To find out why Uchiha Madara had not yet been resurrected, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu rushed to the Root base, hoping to understand why Akihara Kagura had not quietly resurrected Uchiha Madara. Kagura gave them a nerve-wracking answer.
"I want to conduct some research on Uchiha Madara's body."
Kagura's answer caused Black Zetsu to panic inside.
No...
You...
What research are you doing at this critical moment of the Eye of the Moon Plan?
Black Zetsu could only remind Kagura, hoping Kagura would be more rational: "The Eye of the Moon Plan is about to succeed. We can't afford to lack Madara's power..."
This time...
It was the closest to success Black Zetsu had ever been!
Without Uchiha Madara's resurrection, even if the Ten-Tails were resurrected, what would be the point? Moreover, the resurrection of the Ten-Tails would likely draw the attention of the Sage of Six Paths, who constantly monitors the ninja world!
"There's no rush."
Kagura looked at Black Zetsu and White Zetsu and refused Black Zetsu's proposal: "I researched Uchiha Madara's body and discovered something surprising: the Rinnegan is the final evolution of the Sharingan. I want to further study how to obtain the Rinnegan..."
"..."
Black Zetsu fell silent immediately.
"I can tell you."
The creature, always claiming to be the will of Uchiha Madara, had to reveal a secret of the Uchiha clan: "The prerequisite for awakening the Rinnegan is the evolution of the Mangekyō Sharingan into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan..."
"The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan?"
Kagura seemed very curious about this term.
"Correct."
Black Zetsu nodded and explained the method: "Using the Mangekyō Sharingan too much will cause Uchiha to go blind. However, the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan can gain eternal eye power. To obtain the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, one must transplant another pair of Mangekyō Sharingan from a blood relative after awakening their own Mangekyō Sharingan..."
Black Zetsu even used Uchiha Sasuke from the Root as an example: "For instance, if Uchiha Sasuke awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, he could gain the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan by transplanting Uchiha Itachi's eyes. The same principle applies vice versa..."
"I want to verify this first."
Kagura's fingers tapped the table as he casually mentioned: "Uchiha Sasuke has always wanted to kill Uchiha Itachi..."
"Let those brothers kill each other..."
Black Zetsu did not oppose this idea and even advocated for it: "It just so happens that Uchiha Itachi has always wanted to kill his brother and take his eyes... Let Uchiha Sasuke awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan and have the brothers fight each other to verify our claims."
Whether Uchiha Itachi or Uchiha Sasuke awakens the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, it is possible that the ninja world could gain another pair of Rinnegan in the future.
This way...
They could also serve as a backup for the Eye of the Moon Plan.
"I hope what you said is true..."
Kagura squinted his eyes, revealing a curious look: "I hope this time, I can be amazed..."
"Of course."
Black Zetsu dared not reject Kagura's opinion.
"By the way."
Kagura looked at Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, and suddenly asked: "I want to kill Uchiha Obito and Nagato and complete the Eye of the Moon Plan myself. What do you think?"
"!!!"
Both Black Zetsu and White Zetsu were shocked.
What is wrong with these people in the ninja world?
That Uchiha Obito has always been secretly trying to gain control over the Eye of the Moon Plan, and now even Akihara Kagura wants to lead it?
Akihara Kagura looked earnestly at Black Zetsu and White Zetsu and proposed, "Only I can lead the Eye of the Moon Plan to success..."
"..."
Black Zetsu and White Zetsu were skeptical.
However, they couldn't voice their true thoughts.
Judging by Akihara Kagura's capabilities, before the Ten-Tails' complete resurrection, he indeed could determine whether the Eye of the Moon Plan would succeed; but handing the plan over to him seemed somewhat unreliable...
"Forget it."
Akihara Kagura shook his head and lightly tapped his desk with his finger: "Let's table this discussion for now. First, let's prepare for the duel between Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke!"
"Alright."
Black Zetsu and White Zetsu nodded.
Yet, after they left, Akihara Kagura revealed a mysterious smile, which puzzled the nearby White Zetsu Awei.
"Young man, what's the matter?"
White Zetsu Awei looked at Akihara Kagura curiously.
"Awei..."
Akihara Kagura sighed deeply and asked a question: "How do you think one can make a person who is betrayed by everyone believe that another person is their comrade?"
"Hmm... make the other person also be betrayed by everyone?"
White Zetsu Awei pondered for a moment and caught up with Akihara Kagura's thought process.
"That makes sense."
Akihara Kagura praised White Zetsu Awei.
Just as Akihara Kagura and White Zetsu Awei were discussing, Karin came to deliver documents and brought news.
Jiraiya has left Konoha.
Jiraiya is still determined to go to the Land of Rain to investigate the whereabouts of Nagato and Konan, intending to prevent his disciples from making mistakes.
If Akihara Kagura were to evaluate this, he would wonder if this teacher had not seen the power of the Rinnegan last time and now plans to test it himself?
"..."
Akihara Kagura rubbed his forehead.
Even though he had previously informed Jiraiya about the Akatsuki's information, why does Jiraiya still think he can handle the Akatsuki's trouble? Does he really believe he can stop Nagato and Konan?
"Forget it."
"In that case..."
"Let's accelerate the plan!"
Akihara Kagura instructed Karin and outlined his plan: "You and Uchiha Sasuke will lead all the Root ninjas to track down Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito's whereabouts..."
"Awei, go assist Karin and inform Black Zetsu and Obito about this, drawing their attention to the fight between Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi..."
"Yes."
Karin nodded.
"Young man, what about you?"
White Zetsu Awei was somewhat confused and asked, "Aren't you going to watch the Uchiha brothers' fight?"
"I have more important things to do."
Akihara Kagura shook his head, not answering White Zetsu Awei's question: "Let everyone's attention be focused on this brotherly duel... Once they watch a good show, they will realize that the ninja world has undergone a drastic change."
"Change?"
Karin suddenly felt a bit uneasy.
The entire Root base quickly received Akihara Kagura's orders.
All the surviving members of the Uchiha clan cheered with joy; after many years, they could finally take revenge on Uchiha Itachi!
Root training ground.
Uchiha Sasuke was still here training in Lightning Release Chakra Mode with Hatake Kakashi when he received an order from the Root Division, instructing him to immediately lead the Root ninja to search for Uchiha Itachi's whereabouts and to hunt down Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito, who nearly wiped out the Uchiha clan years ago!
"Finally, I can kill that guy..."
A substantial mass of chakra appeared on Uchiha Sasuke's body, sparking with lightning as he entered Lightning Release Chakra Mode. Recalling the man he had longed to kill day and night, Sasuke angrily punched a wooden post, which shattered into countless pieces under his fist!
"I'll go with you."
Hatake Kakashi sighed.
Although Sasuke intended to hunt down Itachi, he obviously wouldn't spare Obito either. Kakashi planned to act alongside the Root members.
This sort of thing...
Naturally couldn't be hidden from Tsunade.
Tsunade, a bit uneasy after seeing Jiraiya off, heard Kakashi's report and request. The large-scale mobilization of the Root Division was bound to cause a commotion.
However...
For Jiraiya, this was good news.
Because Sasuke and the Root's actions would definitely attract the attention of the Akatsuki members, making Jiraiya's journey to find the Akatsuki base in the Land of Rain potentially safer.
"Team 7, move out together."
While commanding Kakashi to lead Team 7, Tsunade calculated Konoha's deployable forces: "I'll send Team 3, Team 8, and Team 10 as well. We absolutely cannot let Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito escape!"
Root Base.
The most secretive place within the entire Root Base.
Undoubtedly, it was Orochimaru and Yakushi Kabuto's laboratory.
Akihara Kagura opened the door to the lab, finding Orochimaru and Kabuto still busy inside. The two were somewhat surprised to see Kagura.
Orochimaru, while recording experimental data, teased Kagura: "Kagura-kun, since I came to Konoha, you haven't visited me here. Is there something important?"
"Lord Orochimaru."
Kagura's attitude towards Orochimaru remained respectful. He asked with interest: "Are you interested in making a trip to the Akatsuki base?"
"There's nothing there to care about..."
Orochimaru shook his head, uninterested in the Akatsuki base: "After all, the Akatsuki members aren't your match. You can eliminate them and bring back their hidden secrets, giving me more excellent experimental materials..."
"Jiraiya-sensei is going."
Kagura mentioned a name, continuing slowly: "I heard Jiraiya-sensei plans to stop the Akatsuki's actions alone, intending to persuade Nagato and Konan to halt their tailed beast capture plan..."
"..."
Orochimaru paused his pen, then resumed recording data, a sinister smile playing on his lips: "He's really courting death. A disciple who wants to pave his own path just needs his teacher's life to prove he's on the right track..."
"Will you go?"
Kagura asked again.
"I'm not interested in the Akatsuki."
Orochimaru repeated, though his expression turned somewhat grim: "You and Kabuto have exhumed the corpses of the strong from the ninja World. Even if I went, what could I do? I'm no longer a match for that Nagato kid..."
"I will go too."
Kagura's statement immediately gave Orochimaru confidence.
"Though I'm not interested in the Akatsuki..."
Orochimaru looked up at Kagura, smiling slyly: "I've always been intrigued by the secrets hidden in the Akatsuki's Rinnegan and Gedo Statue..."
Kagura smiled at Orochimaru and nodded slowly: "The secrets the Akatsuki hide are far more than Lord Orochimaru imagines... How about you go ahead first, to prevent Jiraiya-sensei from encountering any accidents?"
"You're quite considerate of Jiraiya..."
Orochimaru chuckled, taking off his white robe: "Kagura-kun, aren't you worried I'll divulge all your and the Root's secrets once I leave? Any one of these secrets could ruin your reputation in the ninja World..."
"It doesn't matter."
Kagura smiled, spreading his hands: "When the real big event happens, all of this will be insignificant."
"..."
Orochimaru squinted his eyes slightly and strode out of the lab.
Only Kagura and Kabuto remained in the lab.
"Do you need me to go?"
Kabuto looked at Kagura curiously.
"Protect the director."
Kagura gave Kabuto a task, taking out a bark-like item from his pocket and tossing it to him: "If you hear I've become the enemy of the entire ninja World, give this bark to the Fifth Hokage..."
"Hmm?"
Kabuto glanced at Kagura in surprise, catching the bark but showing no interest in its origin: "Kagura, why become a rogue ninja? What happened?"
"Something is about to happen."
Kagura pointed to the bark, softly reminding: "This records the history of the ninja World. It can only be read with Wood Release chakra. Don't say I gave it to you, just say you found it hidden in the orphanage from when I was young…"
~~~
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