"Orochimaru, before joining the Akatsuki, was already researching a forbidden jutsu of Konoha."
"That jutsu is one that can pull the dead back from the Pure Land!"
"Uchiha Madara also knew about that forbidden jutsu. It just wasn't fully perfected—but the Impure World Reincarnation in Orochimaru's hands has very likely already been completed!"
Uchiha Obito's thinking was simple—since his own brain wasn't enough, then he'd just bring out someone whose brain was.
And unfortunately, Obito felt that Uchiha Madara's brain was more than sufficient.
"Bring Madara-sama back using Impure World Reincarnation?"
The White Zetsu clone thought Obito's idea was brilliant. He was just a White Zetsu who understood nothing—why should he be the one helping Obito come up with plans? He didn't even have brain cells—what kind of good ideas could he possibly produce?
"That's right. For the next period of time, have the White Zetsu army search for Orochimaru's research bases."
"Oh right—I remember Orochimaru had an assistant named Kabuto, didn't he?"
"Look for him as well. I suspect the Impure World Reincarnation technique in his hands is even more refined. If it's still incomplete, then have him continue perfecting it!"
"When the time is right, I'll bring Madara back through Impure World Reincarnation."
Obito's eyes began to take on a look of "wisdom." Right now, he felt like a complete genius!
"They say you, Uchiha Keizumi, can stand shoulder to shoulder with Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama—but Uchiha Madara has never acknowledged that claim."
"If you really want to stand on their level, at the very least, you need to clash with one of them first!"
A sharp glint flashed through Obito's eyes. It was true he didn't dare appear in front of Uchiha Keizumi again—the fate of Black Zetsu had already left him with a psychological shadow.
But he refused to believe that Keizumi could apply that bizarre ability of his to a dead person!
At this moment, Obito still didn't know that when Shimura Danzō had been brought back with Impure World Reincarnation, his body had still been burning with the flames of judgment. If Obito knew…
He'd probably still choose to let Uchiha Madara go and test Uchiha Keizumi.
After all, even if someone got hurt, it wouldn't be him, right?
Moreover, regarding the Eye of the Moon Plan, Obito wanted to personally control everything—to create a world with Rin in it. That was what he cared about most. If it were handed over to Uchiha Madara, what if Madara thought his ideas were childish?
"Hah… n-no… don't disturb Madara-sama!"
"The plan… hasn't reached that stage yet!"
Unexpectedly, Black Zetsu—who had been struggling and wailing within the flames of judgment—actually spoke up!
Even though the flames of judgment were still burning on his body, and even Obito could tell he was enduring unimaginable pain, he still managed to speak!
It could only be said that Black Zetsu was a true filial son—at the very least, he deserved to be crowned as the most devoted son in the ninja world.
He hadn't escaped the torment of the flames of judgment. On top of that, as a creation of Yin–Yang Release, he fundamentally had no concept of death—making even death itself a luxury he could not attain.
After realizing this, Black Zetsu, driven by sheer filial devotion, forcibly adapted to the agony brought by the flames of judgment!
"Black Zetsu, you…"
Obito looked at the figure engulfed in flames and couldn't help but marvel at the strength of his will.
Even at a time like this, Black Zetsu was still worrying about Uchiha Madara. Obito genuinely felt a bit envious—what had Madara done to deserve such a subordinate?
"I'm fine!"
Black Zetsu practically squeezed those words out through clenched teeth—if he even had teeth…
"Don't pay attention to Uchiha Keizumi. Let him do whatever he wants, because everything he does will ultimately be in vain!"
"Remember, our only goal is the Eye of the Moon Plan!"
"Only the Eye of the Moon can bring true peace to the ninja world, and only the Eye of the Moon can create the world you desire!"
Enduring the searing pain across his body, Black Zetsu spoke in heavy gasps as he instructed Obito.
He admitted that the ability of Uchiha Keizumi's Sharingan was somewhat strange—but so what?
Over the thousand-year history of the ninja world, the Uchiha clan had produced countless bizarre Sharingan abilities. Those abilities could also threaten Black Zetsu, yet in the end, didn't all their users still die?
Black Zetsu had absolute confidence in his mother, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya. As long as she was revived, no matter how strange an ability was, it would be useless in front of her!
Did you even understand the weight behind being the progenitor of chakra?
"But what if Uchiha Keizumi sets his sights on the Tailed Beasts?"
Obito respected Black Zetsu's will, but he was still worried that one day Keizumi might target the Tailed Beasts.
After all, in Obito's eyes, that guy was insane—a madman waving the banner of justice!
Even Senju Hashirama could pin the Nine-Tails down with one hand and declare it too dangerous. If Keizumi went crazy, what if he just killed the Tailed Beasts outright, claiming their existence interfered with justice?
"As long as he shows any intention of acting against the Tailed Beasts, we'll immediately bring Madara-sama back through Impure World Reincarnation!"
Black Zetsu felt somewhat relieved—relieved that during the time he had been suffering, Obito had finally learned to use his brain, to actually think.
"Then doesn't that still mean we have to go find Orochimaru's legacy—and Kabuto too?"
Obito let out a disdainful sneer. He had thought Black Zetsu had some brilliant insight, but in the end, it still came down to relying on Uchiha Madara. Looking at it that way, their intelligence wasn't so different after all!
…
Ryūchi Cave.
Ever since Ryūchi Cave had been ravaged once by a certain "champion of justice," the White Snake Sage had not returned even a single time.
After all, its location had already been exposed to Uchiha Keizumi. If Keizumi ever got a whim and came back again, wouldn't the White Snake Sage be dead for sure?
To be safe, the White Snake Sage dug a new cave some distance away from Ryūchi Cave.
But Kabuto wasn't so lucky.
Ever since he had been taken away by the White Snake Sage, he had been thrown directly into Ryūchi Cave. Under the pretense of "testing his potential," he was actually being forced to try mastering Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode.
If Kabuto really succeeded in cultivating Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode, then even if he couldn't defeat Uchiha Keizumi, when Keizumi came knocking again, at the very least, Kabuto could buy him enough time to strategically retreat.
"White Snake Sage, I believe there's someone who may be more worthy of your attention than me!"
Kabuto, somewhat helpless, used Reverse Summoning to arrive at the White Snake Sage's new cave.
After confirming Orochimaru's death, Kabuto's first thought had been to inherit Orochimaru's legacy—but unfortunately, his luck was poor, and he just happened to run into the White Snake Sage.
As his attempts to comprehend Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode continued to yield no results, Kabuto felt that he should first secure Orochimaru's legacy!