"I haven't gone looking for you, yet you've come seeking me. Guess you're tired with your life after centuries of scheming," Hui muttered to himself.
From the memories of the captured ninjas, he had already pieced together the entire situation.
A brief moment of thought was all it took for him to discern the purpose of this plot.
The mysterious figure behind this scheme? No doubt, it was Black Zetsu.
As for luring him to a specific location, it was undoubtedly Uchiha Madara's hideout.
Why not the lair of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki? That was simple—Black Zetsu wasn't even aware that Isshiki had been hiding in the shinobi world all along.
The goal of the scheme was clear: lure Hui to Madara's hideout so that Madara could eliminate him.
It was the same ploy Black Zetsu had used before—having Kakuzu kill Lightning to draw out Hui and lead him to Madara's location.
No, it wasn't just similar; it was the exact same plan.
Previously, that scheme hadn't completely failed—it was thwarted midway by Hatake Sakumo.
This time, Black Zetsu didn't even need to lure Hui out of Konoha. All he had to do was guide him to Madara's location.
Unfortunately for Black Zetsu, he underestimated Hui's strength.
Now, watching Hui survey his surroundings, Black Zetsu's form slowly faded into the shadows.
Once again, his plan seemed to have failed.
But Black Zetsu wasn't worried. He still believed everything was within his control.
Even Hui learned of a "mysterious figure," it didn't matter. Unless Black Zetsu wished it, Hui would never uncover his true identity.
This confidence stemmed from Black Zetsu's thousand-year lifespan.
In all those years, no one—not even Uchiha Madara—had guessed his true nature.
Moreover, Black Zetsu didn't consider this plan a complete failure yet.
There was a significant chance that Hui, having learned of a mysterious figure and a specific task, would take the initiative to visit Madara's hideout.
Why? Because strong individuals without equals are often supremely confident.
If others wanted to lure them to a location, they might go by themselves, driven by curiosity, to uncover the truth.
Thus, the plan was still in play.
"Don't disappoint me, Mochizuki Hui," Black Zetsu murmured before vanishing completely into the shadows. Even with his full sensory abilities, Hui wouldn't detect him.
From the darkness, Black Zetsu would watch, waiting for Hui to walk into his own demise.
To be fair, a normal person likely would investigate further. The situation concerned them directly, and human nature is inherently curious.
But Black Zetsu couldn't fathom just how much Hui already knew.
Not only was Hui aware of the mysterious figure being Black Zetsu, but he also understood Black Zetsu's origins.
Hui even knew that Madara was alive and in hiding, and that Ōtsutsuki Isshiki was concealed within the shinobi world.
The disparity in information between them was immense. Under these conditions, Black Zetsu's scheme was doomed to fail.
Every thought and motive of Black Zetsu was laid bare before Hui, his plot completely transparent.
Despite scanning his surroundings,Hui wasn't surprised to find no trace of Black Zetsu.
If Black Zetsu were so easily caught, he would've been eliminated long ago and wouldn't have managed to stir up chaos for over a millennium.
What preoccupied Hui was not capturing Black Zetsu—it was the fact that his sealing techniques were still insufficient to handle Black Zetsu.
Could he seal him? Perhaps, but the cost would be enormous; he would have to use something like the Reaper Death Seal.
Sacrificing his own life just to deal with Black Zetsu? That was a terrible trade in Hui's eyes.
Although Black Zetsu's schemes disgusted him, Hui decided to endure for now.
A few more years of growth, and he would ensure Black Zetsu disappeared from this world entirely.
In the meantime, however, Hui didn't intend to make things easy for Black Zetsu.
Yet making things difficult for Black Zetsu wasn't simple either.
Hui considered a plan but hesitated, as it involved Uchiha Madara.
Currently, his dilemma was whether to go to Madara's hideout.
Truthfully, Madara was neither entirely evil nor virtuous, especially in the early stages of his life.
Before Black Zetsu targeted him, Madara had been an idealistic man, longing for peace and driven to protect what he held dear.
While his personality was somewhat extreme—a common trait among the Uchiha—it was understandable.
After Black Zetsu appeared as his will, Madara's middle years remained morally ambiguous. However, in his later years, Madara had undeniably changed, losing the charisma of his youth.
The once-proud warrior who conquered everything head-on had become a shadow of his former self, resorting to manipulation and deceit under Black Zetsu's influence.
As years went by, he became one off the end game bosses of the Shinobi world.
Counting the time, by now, Madara would be around 56 or 57.
Now this made Hui hesitate. Madara was at the twilight of his middle ages, after being manipulated by black zetsu all these years, who knew what his mental state was at the moment.
If they met, Hui's identity as a successor to Tobirama Senju would inevitably provoke Madara, given his hatred for Tobirama.
A fight was almost certain.
And to be honest, Hui wasn't confident in defeating Madara.
The Uchiha Clan's abilities were notoriously overpowered, practically cheats in their own right.
Techniques like Izanagi, which rewrites destiny, or Izanami, which forces self-reflection, were undeniably broken.
And then there was Madara's Rinnegan.
At this stage, Madara likely had already evolved his Sharingan into Rinnegan.
A dual-Rinnegan Madara's strength was well-known to anyone familiar with the shinobi world.
Defeating him now was beyond Hui's capabilities.
Even in his middle-aged state, Madara was not someone to underestimate.
Faced with this, Hui found himself at a crossroads.
Ultimately, after careful consideration, Hui made his decision.
He would go.
What was there to fear? It was just Uchiha Madara. Besides, he didn't have to go in person—a shadow avatar would suffice.
Moreover, meeting Madara could bring significant benefits.
First, it offered a chance to discuss ideals. With Hui's persuasive skills, he might not completely change Madara's mindset but could sway him slightly.
Second, he could direct Madara's animosity toward Black Zetsu, turning them against each other.
Who knows? Madara might even eliminate Black Zetsu before Hui had the chance to grow stronger.
Of course, if Madara fell entirely into Black Zetsu's schemes despite Hui's efforts, then he wasn't worth considering further.
Having made up his mind, Hui's eyes lit with anticipation.
After all, this was Uchiha Madara—the ultimate villain, a behind-the-scenes mastermind, and a shinobi who had reached the Six Paths level.
For someone like Hui, encountering such a legendary figure was thrilling.
"Uchiha Madara… I look forward to our meeting."
Hui murmured, his gaze piercing through the forest toward the distant horizon, where Madara's hideout awaited.
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