Chapter 77: I'll Be Back Later (Part 2)
Half a day later.
Outside Konoha, deep within the forest.
Black Zetsu, having rushed back from Sunagakure without stopping to rest, found Spiral Zetsu squatting behind a bush...
Busy relieving itself.
"..."
Black Zetsu stared silently for a moment before asking,
"Where is he?"
"Did he die in Konoha?"
Spiral Zetsu calmly stood up.
It glanced down at the masterpiece it had just finished, comparing it with the sketch it had drawn in the dirt.
After deciding the resemblance was at least eighty or ninety percent...
It nodded in satisfaction.
Then it looked at Black Zetsu.
"Lord Madara?"
Hearing the anxiety in Black Zetsu's voice, Spiral Zetsu casually tossed away the stick in its hand and grinned.
"Lord Madara's obsession with Senju Hashirama has become even stronger lately."
"Nowadays..."
"Just hearing Hashirama's name is enough to make him stand there in a daze for quite a while."
"So?"
Black Zetsu stepped closer.
A puzzled look appeared in its eyes.
"...Did you bury him next to Hashirama?"
"No."
"Lord Madara is still alive."
Spiral Zetsu spread both arms dramatically.
"He originally intended to leave today."
"But while passing through the Uchiha district plaza..."
"He overheard someone discussing the Will of Fire."
"And..."
"They happened to mention Senju Hashirama."
Black Zetsu narrowed its eyes.
"...Then what?"
"Lord Madara stopped without thinking."
"He listened for a while."
Spiral Zetsu scratched its head before continuing.
"Later..."
"Someone in the square said something like..."
"'It's not becoming Hokage that earns everyone's recognition."
"'Only those already recognized by everyone can become Hokage.'"
Black Zetsu silently nodded.
That was indeed Hashirama's interpretation of the Will of Fire.
Treat every villager as family.
Only someone who genuinely loved everyone equally could earn universal recognition.
Spiral Zetsu continued excitedly,
"They also criticized Hashirama."
"They said the First Hokage hadn't ended the Warring States Era through overwhelming strength."
"They claimed he ended it by lowering himself."
"They even said..."
"When the tailed beasts were divided..."
"The First Hokage bowed so many times that his forehead practically banged against the ground."
Black Zetsu nodded again.
It had witnessed that scene personally.
Hashirama truly had humbled himself for peace.
But...
What did any of this have to do with Madara?
Seeing the confusion on Black Zetsu's face, Spiral Zetsu laughed.
"At first..."
"Lord Madara remained completely expressionless."
"He didn't say a single word."
"When that fellow secretly added his own opinions..."
"And began criticizing the flaws in Hashirama's Will of Fire..."
"Lord Madara merely frowned a little."
"He still stayed silent."
"But..."
The grin on Spiral Zetsu's face widened.
"The moment that person claimed..."
"'Hashirama didn't end the war through strength.'"
"Lord Madara couldn't hold himself back anymore."
"He immediately argued with him."
"..."
"..."
Black Zetsu froze.
A terrible premonition surged through its mind.
Surely...
Madara didn't...?
"Sigh..."
Spiral Zetsu looked at the expensive watch on its wrist and sighed.
"Lord Madara has always been an extremely proud man."
"He never believed himself inferior to anyone."
"Not even Senju Hashirama."
"He would never tolerate hearing someone belittle Hashirama like that."
Black Zetsu's expression gradually darkened.
The ominous feeling in its heart grew stronger.
Then Spiral Zetsu cheerfully added,
"By now..."
"Lord Madara has probably already finished teaching that fellow a proper lesson."
"...?"
Black Zetsu stared blankly.
Teaching...?
He actually started lecturing someone?
For a brief moment...
It wanted to curse out loud.
The old man had already enjoyed retirement far longer than expected.
Why...
Why had he suddenly decided to become someone else's teacher?
If this continued...
The Eye of the Moon Plan would end before it ever truly began.
Black Zetsu took a deep breath, forcing itself to remain calm.
"...Where is he now?"
Spiral Zetsu pointed toward Konoha.
"Still inside the village."
"I left because you called me back."
"Before I left..."
"Lord Madara was still arguing with that man."
Black Zetsu's eyelid twitched violently.
"...Arguing?"
"Yes."
Spiral Zetsu nodded matter-of-factly.
"That fellow insisted Hashirama's greatness came from his humility."
"So Lord Madara immediately refuted him."
"He said Hashirama ended the Warring States Era because he was powerful enough to force everyone to sit down and negotiate."
"If Hashirama hadn't possessed overwhelming strength..."
"Who would've listened to him?"
"The discussion became more and more intense."
"And eventually..."
"They started debating the entire history of the ninja world."
Black Zetsu fell silent.
That... sounded exactly like something Madara would do.
His pride would never allow anyone to slander Hashirama in front of him.
Especially not with such shallow arguments.
After a long pause, Black Zetsu asked,
"...Did anyone recognize him?"
"I don't think so."
Spiral Zetsu scratched its head.
"After all..."
"Who would believe an old man sitting in the square is Uchiha Madara?"
"They probably just thought he was another stubborn elder."
Black Zetsu's expression relaxed slightly.
As long as Madara's identity remained hidden...
There was still room to salvage the situation.
"Let's go."
It turned toward Konoha.
"We're bringing him back."
Spiral Zetsu tilted its head.
"But..."
"Lord Madara looked like he was enjoying himself."
Black Zetsu stopped walking.
"...Enjoying himself?"
"Mm."
Spiral Zetsu nodded repeatedly.
"He hasn't talked to anyone like that in years."
"Although they kept arguing..."
"He actually looked happier than usual."
Black Zetsu closed its eyes.
For decades...
Madara had lived alone in darkness.
The only voices surrounding him had belonged to White Zetsu and itself.
Perhaps...
Arguing with ordinary people...
Reminded him of a time long gone.
But...
None of that mattered.
The Eye of the Moon Plan came first.
Everything else was meaningless.
"Let's go."
Its tone left no room for discussion.
"We're bringing him back."
Spiral Zetsu shrugged.
"Alright."
Just as the two were about to leave...
A low, familiar voice suddenly drifted through the forest.
"No need."
Black Zetsu froze.
Slowly...
It turned around.
An elderly figure emerged from between the trees.
His back was slightly bent.
His white hair swayed gently in the breeze.
His expression remained calm, as though nothing in the world could disturb him.
It was...
Uchiha Madara.
Black Zetsu immediately stepped forward.
"Lord Madara."
"I thought..."
Madara raised a hand, interrupting it.
"I'll go back later."
His voice was quiet.
Yet it carried unquestionable authority.
Black Zetsu frowned.
"...Back later?"
Madara lifted his head and looked toward the distant outline of Konoha.
"There are still a few interesting things..."
"...I want to see."
For a brief moment...
Neither Black Zetsu nor Spiral Zetsu spoke.
The forest fell completely silent.
Only the wind rustled through the leaves.
Black Zetsu looked at the aging man before it.
Then at the village in the distance.
Something felt...
Different.
Madara had returned to Konoha.
Yet he showed no hatred.
No desire for revenge.
No intention of reclaiming anything.
Instead...
He simply wished to observe.
To watch.
To understand how the world had changed after so many years.
After a long silence, Black Zetsu lowered its head.
"...As you wish, Lord Madara."
Madara gave a faint nod.
Without another word...
He walked deeper into the forest, disappearing among the trees.
Black Zetsu watched his departing figure for a long time.
Then, almost to itself, it muttered,
"...I only hope nothing unexpected happens."
Spiral Zetsu scratched its head.
"It'll probably be fine."
"...Probably."
Neither of them noticed...
That those two words would soon prove to be spectacularly wrong.