Black Zetsu answered in a low voice, "Nagato never trusted us much to begin with. After Obito's accident, he grew even more suspicious. He even tried to grab me and use the Rinnegan's ability to read my memories."
In his view, Obito had been too badly injured in Konoha and hadn't shown up in front of Nagato for too long, which made Nagato bold enough to try something.
Uchiha Madara frowned, "Is the Akatsuki still collecting the tailed beasts?"
Black Zetsu nodded, "Right now the Akatsuki has already captured the Four-Tails and the Five-Tails. But during the attempt to capture the Eight-Tails, something unexpected happened and they failed."
"That's fine. The plan hasn't gone too far off course."
Madara once again showed his look of superiority.
"But the priority now is for me to be fully revived and reclaim my eyes."
Black Zetsu made a suggestion, "The Akatsuki failed to capture the Eight-Tails last time. Nagato might personally head to Kumogakure. We can take that chance to make a move on him."
"At that time, I'll control Nagato to use Rinne Tensei and revive you."
"That works… hm?"
Madara's brows furrowed again as he looked toward Kabuto, who was making hand signs.
"?"
Kabuto also stared back wide-eyed, staring at Madara like a deer in headlights.
He had just used the technique that should control an Edo Tensei body, but it didn't seem to affect Madara at all.
He had thought that with Madara as his enforcer, he'd be unbeatable in the shinobi world. Unifying the world wouldn't even be a problem.
But now… he felt a little dead inside.
"You want to control me?", Madara crossed his arms, looking at Kabuto with amusement.
"N… no… I wouldn't dare…", Kabuto swallowed hard, eyes full of fear.
Even with only thirty percent of his strength, Madara's gaze alone scared him stiff.
This was a figure spoken of only in legend.
"Looks like you don't understand the risks in Edo Tensei as a forbidden technique that calls back the dead."
"Risks?"
"As long as they know the hand signs, the resurrected can break the Edo Tensei control contract on their own."
"What?", Kabuto stared, stunned, 'How do I not know about this backdoor?'
He had secretly read the original Edo Tensei document.
It never mentioned this.
'Did Senju Tobirama deliberately leave that part out?'
Before he could recover, Madara had already formed the hand signs and instantly broke Kabuto's control over him.
Kabuto could only stand there blankly, staring at Madara.
Madara frowned a little, arms still folded, and said lightly, "Your head is raised too high."
'What?'
He didn't give Kabuto time to react.
BOOM!
A massive shockwave burst out from Madara as the center and spread rapidly in all directions.
Kabuto was blasted straight into the wall by the terrifying impact.
He was deeply embedded into it.
The shockwave kept rolling, and Black Zetsu quickly tried to persuade him.
"Lord Madara, please spare him. We still need his power later."
"Hmm?", Madara looked at Black Zetsu, waiting for an explanation.
Black Zetsu hurried, worried that Kabuto would die if he was too slow.
"Konoha is very strong right now, and they already hold several tailed beasts including the Nine-Tails. The village also has many powerful shinobi. We need Kabuto's Edo Tensei."
Madara could release Edo Tensei, but he didn't know how to use it.
He disdained learning that technique.
After thinking for a moment, Madara stopped the repulsive force pressing on Kabuto.
He wasn't fond of alliances, but using someone as a tool was acceptable.
Even though he'd stopped attacking, Kabuto was still embedded in the wall, already unconscious.
"In that case, go watch Nagato. When he makes a move, come inform me."
"Lord Madara, I discovered a seal between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning…", Black Zetsu hesitated, then decided to say it.
"Someone from the Uchiha clan's ancestors seems to be sealed inside."
He had considered undoing that seal back then, but after thinking about his own strength… he had given up.
No need to go looking for death.
Madara narrowed his eyes. As the former leader of the Uchiha clan, of course he knew who that was.
Black Zetsu continued, "Now that Obito is gone, we might use that ancestor to replace him as your tool. It would also make our future operations smoother."
"If it's you, you can definitely persuade him."
He was now down to a last gamble. Nagato, because of Konan, seemed to get along rather well with Aoba, and still hadn't moved against the tailed beasts on Konoha's side.
If they brought out that Uchiha ancestor, the plan's success rate would undoubtedly rise.
Madara thought for a long while. He would never doubt Black Zetsu, who he saw as the embodiment of his own will.
"In that case, let's go take a look."
He never thought himself weaker than anyone, even at only thirty percent power.
———
Moon set and sun rose.
A new day arrived again.
It was now autumn. Morning temperatures were the lowest of the day, with a distinct chill.
But Aoba didn't feel cold at all, sleeping quite comfortably.
Then suddenly he felt empty on both sides.
When he opened his eyes, he saw only Uzuki Yugao beside him.
Shizune and Konan were already up and getting dressed.
The stockings on their legs were completely ruined, but they hadn't taken them off until just now.
"Konan-nee, Shizune-nee, you're up this early?", Aoba asked sleepily.
Konan poked his nose and said irritably, "Still half-asleep? We have to go to work in a bit."
"Mm," Maybe because she heard them talking, Yugao let out a cute little nasal sound and poked her head out of the blanket, still groggy.
The two women glanced at each other, and last night's scene flooded their minds again.
Both usually had cool, aloof personalities. Being seen in such an embarrassing state made their faces heat up now.
"You two sleep a bit more. We're heading out first."
"Konan-nee, I'll come find you later. Let's go to Amegakure together."
Aoba said quickly.
Konan paused, then nodded.
"I'll tell Lady Tsunade later."
Just as they finished talking, Yugao crawled out from the blankets too.
"Yugao-nee, you're not going to sleep a bit longer?"
Aoba asked, surprised.
Yugao shot him a glance, smoothed her hair, and tied it up casually for now.
"You're planning to go on a date with Konan. Of course I'm not wasting this time."
"Eh?"
Aoba was confused.
Yugao pulled him up too, "You're not sleeping either. You're coming out with me this morning."
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