Mountain Prison, a dark underground cavern.
It was completely silent, with only the echoing drip-drip of water.
Sunlight never reached this underground area, and the air was chilly, with a cold, dampness that seeped into one's bones.
After navigating through complex passages, they reached the deepest part, where the internal space became wide and regular, showing signs of artificial excavation.
On a strange seat in the center sat an old man on the verge of death.
Several long white tubes connected to his back, extending to a thick, Root-like object in the distance.
This "Root" extended many branches, from which dozens of human-shaped bundles hung; or rather, these were the bodies of people who had been sucked dry into mummies.
In the open space before the old man, a completely black "monster" slowly rose.
"What's the result, Black Zetsu?"
Despite his withered body, the old man's voice was full of vigor, not at all like someone about to die.
"Just as you planned, Lord Madara," the monster called "Black Zetsu" replied in a low voice, "but the final evolution was cut short by Tsunade, otherwise it would have definitely become a Mangekyo Sharingan."
"Hmph, he still has one person he cares about, anyway."
The old man sneered, his expression tugging at his stiff facial muscles, and his white hair slightly swayed, revealing the Sharingan within his eye sockets.
No one would have imagined that Uchiha Madara, who had died long ago in the Valley of the End, was actually clinging to life in this inconspicuous underground cavern.
Seeing that Madara wasn't concerned about this failure, Black Zetsu began to report its series of operations in Konoha Village last night... When Black Zetsu discovered a nine-year-old Uchiha genius in Konoha who had awakened the Two-Tomoe Sharingan, it was ecstatic.
As Indra's reincarnation, Uchiha Madara's days were numbered, and it urgently needed a Plan B to continue collecting Tailed Beasts and carry out the Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan after his death. Now, there was a chosen one with rich emotions and many bonds, which made it so excited that it felt like a windfall from heaven.
As long as everything Uchiha Naraku cared about was destroyed, making him despair of the world, a perfect tool would be obtained.
What made it even happier was that before it even acted, Konoha itself dealt a blow, forcing Uchiha Naraku, who already had little sense of belonging to Konoha, to awaken the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and even contract a terminal illness like bloodline limit sickness.
But later it realized that as long as Sakumo Hatake and Kakashi Hatake were around, Naraku probably wouldn't hate the world, let alone execute the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
So, these two people had to be killed, preferably disguised as Konoha's doing. In that case, this kid should no longer have any attachment to the world, right?... Hmm?
Does that guy from Konoha named Danzo Shimura read minds?
Otherwise, how could he do exactly what I was thinking?
Black Zetsu was bewildered.
It hadn't even exerted itself yet, and Konoha had already dealt itself another blow. Wasn't that a bit too considerate?
After several days of continuous lurking, on an ordinary dusk, Konoha finally pushed Sakumo Hatake to his limit.
Just as he was about to seek death, Black Zetsu was happy for two seconds, only to see that Uchiha Naraku kid knock him down with a powerful genjutsu, then demand to go to Root himself.
No, is Sakumo Hatake that useless, to fall so easily?
The precious Plan B couldn't be jeopardized!
Black Zetsu quickly leaned over to try and dispel the Kyoka Suigetsu on him, only then realizing that it wasn't Sakumo Hatake who was weak, but that this genjutsu was truly beyond comprehension.
All of Sakumo's Chakra was suppressed tightly; no matter how hard it tried, it couldn't budge it even a little. In the end, it consumed a large amount of its own Chakra to barely break through.
Although the loss was a bit significant, watching Sakumo Hatake rush into Root and slaughter relentlessly, it again chuckled coldly with glee.
If he didn't die from this, then Black Zetsu would write its name backward, alright?
...Danzo Shimura, you useless fool! How could a hundred and eighty people be completely wiped out, I ask you!
Black Zetsu could only risk exposure by intervening and using a contingency it had left to trip up Sakumo Hatake at a critical moment, finally putting him at a disadvantage.
It had originally intended for Danzo Shimura to finish off Sakumo Hatake, but the former was truly too useless, turning a perfectly good situation into a mutual defeat.
No choice, it found another opportunity to possess Danzo.
Now, as long as Sakumo Hatake was killed, the plan would be a great success... Hmm?
Pfft, cough, cough!
Danzo, controlled by Black Zetsu, had just raised his sword when he was kicked away by Uchiha Naraku, who had rushed to the scene. Immediately after, a long sword plunged into his chest, shattering several of his internal organs.
Oh my god—
Forget it, forget it. This is the precious Plan B, I won't stoop to his level.
Just in case, let's keep this Danzo Shimura alive; don't let him die.
As long as he's around, how can my Black Zetsu's great plan fail?
After leaving Danzo's body, Black Zetsu continued to rush to the front line without stopping.
It found a White Zetsu to disguise as a Konoha Anbu, then possessed it, and before Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders arrived, it first announced a false message of "hunting down Sakumo Hatake."
With so many Anbu, and Uchiha Naraku in an exhausted state, it didn't believe Sakumo Hatake wouldn't die this time?
...I'm really fed up! How are all you Konoha Anbu so weak? Or are you just slacking off? Are you being outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant?
Black Zetsu went crazy once again.
Finally, seeing Naraku send Sakumo to the Hospital entrance, but Tsunade's hemophobia acting up, preventing her from performing emergency rescue, it thought this time it should be stable.
As a result, Uchiha Naraku cast a genjutsu, and lo and behold, Tsunade was fine again!
Why is this damned brat's talent so strong, ah ah ah ah ah!
Black Zetsu screamed silently.
Fortunately, it seemed even Tsunade's intervention couldn't save him.
Now, it should be time for the Mangekyo Sharingan, right?
Black Zetsu rubbed its hands in anticipation from the shadows, watching the tomoe in Naraku's eyes spin rapidly, the patterns beginning to change, about to transform into a Man—
Ah ah ah ah!!
What the hell is that dirty thing!!
Black Zetsu watched with a dislocated jaw and a blank stare as sealing runes spread across Naraku's face, and Tsunade's Shadow Clone came to reinforce, ultimately interrupting the evolution of the Sharingan.
Even worse, Sakumo Hatake's life had also been saved.
Listening to the beeping of that instrument, Black Zetsu felt this was the greatest mockery of itself... This was truly bizarre!
...Time returned to the present.
Black Zetsu diligently played the role of a competent subordinate.
"Lord Madara, Tsunade has not yet reapplied the seal on Uchiha Naraku. During this time, we still have a chance."
Madara narrowed his eyes, contemplating how to force Uchiha Naraku to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan again.
Sakumo Hatake had been rescued but remained unconscious. Even if he were to die again later, the stimulation for Uchiha Naraku might not be enough.
It would be best to find a way to target Kakashi Hatake, kill him, or make him betray Uchiha Naraku.
As the "consciousness" split from Madara, Black Zetsu seemed to read his thoughts and proactively said, "Lord Madara, if Kakashi Hatake..."
After hearing Black Zetsu's idea, Madara couldn't help but admire the insidious nature of his own "consciousness," thinking to himself, 'Could I really be this despicable?'
But all of this was for the Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan, so he nodded.
"I leave it to you."
"Yes, Lord Madara."
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