— — — — — —
"Enough!"
Black Zetsu scolded sharply before speaking with a serious expression: "That Lightning Release... it's terrifying. Even though they've tried their best to erase traces of the battle..."
"I can still piece together just how horrifying that Lightning Release was!"
"One strike killed over a thousand Rain shinobi, and two strikes wiped out more than 2,000!"
"And that Uchiha Kaito also mastered Senju Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Technique. Not just mastered it—he's pretty proficient! Even Hanzō was instant-killed by him!"
"I couldn't see everything clearly because I was too far away before, but there's no doubt about this guy's strength!"
"He's absolutely at the peak Kage level."
"And the most troubling part? This brat is just 10 years old!"
Previously, Black Zetsu and Uchiha Madara had been debating whether to consider him as a candidate for the 'Proxy' as Madara's substitute.
After all, Kaito had exceptional talent, a lot of close friends and family around him, and clearly valued bonds—a hallmark of the Uchiha clan.
With the right manipulations and a few emotional triggers, they thought he'd easily fall to extremes and could be brainwashed.
But now? It seemed they'd miscalculated.
He was indeed outstanding, but too outstanding. That level of talent made him unsuitable to act as Madara's proxy.
Moving on, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu conducted further investigations at Konoha's frontline camp.
They discovered that Uchiha Kaito had exposed the crimes of Danzo and the Third Hokage.
Alarmed by the news, they immediately headed to Konoha to investigate further.
They noticed a shift in public opinion within Konoha, as well as unusual movements among the Uchiha, Senju, and Uzumaki clans.
By the next morning, they witnessed an incredible scene: Uzumaki Mito and Uchiha Naori unleashed terrifying power, displaying Fourth Stage Susanoo and the strength of the Nine-Tails.
They saw them suppress the Sarutobi and three other clans, cutting through opposition with incredible speed to complete a swift political coup within Konoha.
"So much has happened... this is critical information!"
At once, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu fused and rushed back to the Mountain Graveyard to report to Madara Uchiha. They started by briefing him on Kaito's situation.
— — —
"Terrifying Lightning Release? Killing 1,000 Rain shinobi with one strike, and 2,000 with two? Seriously?"
Madara's eyes widened in disbelief as he listened.
At that age, with that kind of strength? Even for him, such a feat wasn't easy—it'd require a technique like Tengai Shinsei, an ultra-S-class jutsu.
And at 10 years old?
Ha! At that age, he was probably still competing with Hashirama over skipping stones or seeing who could pee farther!
How could someone so young possess such terrifying power?
"It's true! White Zetsu and I saw it with our own eyes. Even though we were watching from a distance due to the barrier, there's no doubt about it!"
"It seemed like he transformed into lightning itself and entered the storm clouds, using the natural lightning to his advantage."
"It was likely thanks to the Rain Country's geography, but when he killed Hanzo of the Salamander, he used Flying Thunder God and swordsmanship. There's no doubt his power is genuine!" Black Zetsu added.
Hearing this, Madara's brows furrowed deeply. "If that's the case, this kid is a serious threat! Forget making him the proxy; I might need to find a way to eliminate him!"
"Not just him—Uchiha Naori must be dealt with too!"
"Because of her, the Uchiha clan is growing stronger and stronger. Their situation in Konoha has dramatically improved!"
"They've even allied with the Senju and Uzumaki clans through marriages. What a mess!"
"If Tobirama Senju knew about this, he'd probably come back to life out of sheer anger!"
"Hashirama, on the other hand, would probably be thrilled!"
Madara's expression turned complicated as he clicked his tongue. "If Hashirama and Tobirama had shown this kind of boldness back then, maybe the situation in Konoha—and the entire shinobi world—would've turned out completely differently."
"Maybe... I wouldn't have ended up opposing Hashirama and breaking ties with him."
"It's all Tobirama's fault! That damn dog of a man!"
Clearly, Madara still harbored immense resentment and hatred for Tobirama.
"And Uzumaki Mito... what a remarkable woman. At her age, she still has this kind of boldness and the strength to step up."
Madara's feelings about Hashirama's wife were complicated, but he had to admit she deserved respect now.
"Uh..."
One of the White Zetsu raised his hand awkwardly. "Um, about Uzumaki Mito being old—that might not be accurate, Lord Madara."
"From what we've recently gathered, Uzumaki Mito looks very young!"
"Not just her—Uchiha Naori too! And the power and aura they displayed were absolutely terrifying."
"They gave off a vibe similar to yours, Lord Madara!"
"Hmm?"
Madara's brows furrowed as he glanced at White Zetsu, then turned to Black Zetsu. "Is this true? Are you sure Uzumaki Mito isn't just using her special sealing techniques to keep her appearance young?"
"And what's this about power comparable to mine? Since when could they stand on my level?"
Had the world changed too much while he was in hiding, or had White Zetsu lost his mind?
"Uh…"
Black Zetsu hesitated under Madara Uchiha's piercing gaze before replying, "Actually, White Zetsu isn't wrong!"
"At least based on my observations, Uzumaki Mito and Uchiha Naori both look surprisingly youthful."
"And their vitality is off the charts, full of energy—not even the slightest hint of old age!"
"Their presence may not quite match yours before you awakened the Rinnegan, but it's far beyond the average Kage-level shinobi. They're at least on the same tier as you!"
Even Black Zetsu couldn't understand why Uzumaki Mito and Uchiha Naori had suddenly regained their youth and surpassed their natural limits, reaching heights they shouldn't have been able to achieve.
And it wasn't just them. Over the past few years, many ninja from the Uchiha, Senju, and Uzumaki clans—like Uchiha Kaito and even Tsunade—had seen absurd leaps in power.
"What?"
Madara was stunned by Black Zetsu's confirmation, his brows knitting together. "Are you certain?"
"Absolutely."
Black Zetsu nodded firmly.
"This... is strange. Have you figured out why?" Madara asked in a low, serious tone.
This development was far from what he wanted.
In Madara's eyes, the best-case scenario was for the Five Great Shinobi Villages to grow weaker and more fragmented while he prepared to die, select a proxy, and eventually be revived.
The last thing he needed was for unpredictable powerhouses to emerge.
How could he rest easy under these circumstances?
"Hmm... it's likely tied to that 'nutritional pill' the Uchiha clan developed," Black Zetsu speculated.
"But beyond that, we couldn't uncover much. Ever since Uchiha Naori and Uzumaki Mito created that special barrier—one that blocks both my perception and White Zetsu's—and set it up around the Uchiha, Senju, and Uzumaki clan territories, we've been unable to investigate their secrets."
"But one thing is certain: it all ties back to the Uchiha."
Black Zetsu paused before adding this conclusion.
Privately, Black Zetsu was also very curious about the Uchiha's apparent ability to extend lifespans.
However, he didn't actually want Madara to get his hands on it.
Because if Madara could restore his youth and extend his life, he wouldn't need to die and be revived as part of the plan.
That would mean Black Zetsu wouldn't have the chance to secretly plant his trap inside Madara's body to ensure he could control him during the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
If that happened, his plan to revive his mother, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, would likely fail.
Despite pretending to be the manifestation of Madara's will, Black Zetsu knew better than anyone that Madara wasn't easily manipulated.
The only reason he had succeeded in manipulating Madara initially was because of the man's extreme temperament.
Madara, as the true heir of the Uchiha, was prone to radical decisions. The establishment of Konoha had turned out completely different from his vision, leaving him bitter and frustrated.
And then there was the Six Paths Stone Tablet, with its awe-inspiring reputation.
Madara had no idea it had been tampered with.
After all, only the Sharingan could decipher the tablet's message, and the higher the level of the Sharingan, the more one could understand.
This seemingly divine revelation convinced Madara it was the authentic work of the Sage of Six Paths.
Especially after awakening the Rinnegan as the tablet instructed—Madara's faith in it became unshakable.
But even with all this trust, Madara wouldn't give Black Zetsu a chance to plant his traps while he was still alive.
Only after his death would that become possible.
In fact, Black Zetsu thought it might be better to nurture a less intelligent proxy for Madara—a simpler mind would be easier to control, ensuring Kaguya's resurrection went smoothly.
So, he couldn't let Madara obtain the Uchiha's method of youth restoration and longevity.
Of course, he couldn't directly stop Madara, but he would scheme in secret.
Unaware of Black Zetsu's internal plotting, Madara narrowed his eyes and said, "It seems I'll have to step in personally and deal with Uchiha Naori, Uzumaki Mito, and even that Uchiha Kaito brat myself!"
"If I can't uncover their secrets, I'll at least eliminate these uncontrollable variables."
"That way, I can lay the groundwork for selecting a new proxy and executing my plan."
"The only question is, will my Wood Clone be enough for this task?"
Even Madara didn't feel entirely confident about this.
.
.
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