Mountain Tomb.
The hiding place of Uchiha Madara.
Black Zetsu was attached to a White Zetsu body, carefully inserting the tubes of the Gedo Statue into Uchiha Obito's body to restrain his life from slipping away and mend his injuries with its powerful vitality.
Though it saved Uchiha Obito in the nick of time, Onoki's unexpected ambush and ruthless attack still took away most of Uchiha Obito's body with Dust Release.
"How is the treatment going?"
Uchiha Madara approached, looking indifferently at Uchiha Obito and coldly addressing Black Zetsu at the side: "You have disappointed me; this was an unexpected situation."
Black Zetsu felt a flicker of anger inside but maintained a calm expression, bowing respectfully: "My mistake, Lord Madara."
Uchiha Madara snorted coldly: "Don't let there be a next time..."
After listening to Black Zetsu's account of the events, Uchiha Madara curled his lips and remarked thoughtfully:
"That kid Onoki is quite interesting, fearing the power of the Uchiha Clan to such an extent, becoming the shadow of a village and specifically targeting youngsters..."
"Indeed, after witnessing my Complete Form of Susanoo, it's only natural for him to have such a mindset."
Black Zetsu listened numbly to the old man recounting his glorious deeds as it meticulously bandaged Uchiha Obito's wounds, adjusting its mentality, revealing a sinister smile:
"Lord Madara, soon it will be time for your performance."
Uchiha Madara nodded, holding a scythe as a cane, staring at Uchiha Obito intently:
"With his intelligence, merely explaining the filth and pain of the Ninja World isn't enough..."
"We'll proceed as planned; I anticipate he won't heed my words and will insist on returning to Konoha, so the next steps must be arranged correctly—this is crucial for him to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan."
As Uchiha Madara spoke, he raised the scythe and slashed open Uchiha Obito's chest!
Then, powerful Chakra ignited on Uchiha Madara's fingertip, leaping continuously as he etched a complex talisman onto Uchiha Obito's heart, sufficient to control his actions at a thought.
Black Zetsu's expression remained unchanged, but inside it was furious.
I just repaired Uchiha Obito's body, and you immediately slashed it open? Why didn't you do this earlier!
Black Zetsu could only smile as it continued bandaging Uchiha Obito, busy working.
No choice—in Uchiha Madara's mind, Black Zetsu and Uchiha Obito were merely valuable pawns, with no need to pay attention to those details.
Especially Uchiha Obito—his body was already so damaged that another cut on the chest didn't matter.
According to the current script...
Uchiha Obito's misfortune had nothing to do with Uchiha Madara—instead, it was Obito's own high-profile actions that brought disaster upon him; Uchiha Madara was actually the one who saved his life!
"With his mind and spirit, even if I tell him the world's ugliness and truth after awakening, he's unlikely to understand..."
Uchiha Madara observed Uchiha Obito coldly, saying slowly:
"Therefore, the second step of the plan must be prepared—to let him experience the heart-wrenching pain of losing a loved one, only then can his dull mind be stimulated enough to recognize my Eye of the Moon Plan."
"Think more, Black Zetsu, don't overlook ordinary ninja. Though people like Onoki have average fighting abilities, their resolve can be somewhat commendable..."
Black Zetsu bowed its head: "Understood, Lord Madara."
However, in its heart, Black Zetsu continually envisioned the moment Uchiha Madara became the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki and released the Infinite Tsukuyomi...
Black Zetsu resolved that after this arrogant fool became filled with Otsutsuki Kaguya's Chakra, smugly believing himself to be the world's Savior, it would mercilessly stab him in the back where he least expected it, piercing his heart!
By then, Black Zetsu would repay all its recent displeasures tenfold with the most biting and ruthless prophecies...
Thinking this way, Black Zetsu gradually relaxed.
"Let me teach you a lesson, Black Zetsu..."
Uchiha Madara curled his lips into a smile and said: "Aomi has many followers who profoundly believe in him surrounding him—do you think it's because of the Will of Fire?"
"No, the Will of Fire is just a primitive and crooked rhetoric, its core so hollow it'd make one laugh..."
Uchiha Madara mused to himself:
"It's because of Aomi's personal charisma; just like Izuna back in the day, he could always attract clan mates around him."
"Yet, compared to the warmth one person can bring, this cold and despair-filled Ninja World will shatter all beauty and illusions. Just as the damned Senju Tobirama severely injured Izuna, these brief splendors are merely like bubbles—beautiful yet fragile."
"Uchiha Obito seems very close to Aomi..."
Uchiha Madara revealed a hint of peculiar fighting spirit: "I will take him seriously, telling him the world's truths. He'll temporarily act as Aomi's substitute until I meet him."
"If I can't persuade even him, then naturally I cannot persuade Aomi, but that's impossible."
Black Zetsu nodded, sinking into the ground according to Uchiha Madara's orders, spectating this conversation.
Uchiha Madara glanced at Uchiha Obito, removing the Gedo Statue tube from his back, quietly awaiting his awakening.
Time passed slowly.
Uchiha Obito opened his eyes, suddenly startled!
What met his gaze was an entirely unfamiliar mountain peak and darkness; turning his head, he saw—
A gray-haired, knife-like gaze of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, calmly watching him.
Even under this gaze, Uchiha Obito felt a growing sense of looming danger from within, as if sealed in the earth, targeted again by Onoki's Dust Release...
Uchiha Obito turned his head, seeing the scythe in Uchiha Madara's hand; just about to exclaim, he was abruptly silenced.
He stared intently at Uchiha Madara's face, almost making this elderly Ninja World Asura misunderstand—was there something strange on his face?
"You are... Uchiha Madara!"
Uchiha Obito squeezed out his name from between gritted teeth, recalling the records and images Uchiha Setsuna had once shown him, matching this aged face...
"Oh, you actually recognize me?"
Uchiha Madara's lips curled: "But, you can just call me Madara; I am merely a ghost."
"A ghost longing for peace!"