Outside, four team members were waiting for him to come out of the room.
"How is the pacification?"
"They're already in. Getting out won't be an easy task. The organization's favors aren't so easily repaid, not to mention..."
The Leader is still a research fanatic.
Once the meat is in your mouth, how could you spit it out?
They detected the underlying meaning in Insect Man's words and exchanged knowing smiles.
"However, these people are likely still hiding something from us."
Insect Man stood there, pondering.
"Hiding?"
"These scattered Uzumaki Clan survivors across the Ninja Realm might still have ways to contact each other. Through these people, we might be able to find more Uzumaki Clan survivors to absorb into the organization."
"Giving them a long line to catch the big fish?"
"That's also the Leader's intention. For now, let's pacify them. Once they see our sincerity, even if we don't bring it up, they will come to us, informing us of the locations of other Uzumaki Clan survivors and ask us to rescue their clansmen from misery."
If it were ordinary people, Insect Man wouldn't be this invested, but Uzumaki Clan survivors are a different matter.
Therefore, mutual trust is the key.
Directly asking them about the whereabouts of other Uzumaki clansmen could easily rouse their resentment, depleting the fragile trust we've painstakingly built.
◎
The dark, damp cave appeared astonishingly vast.
The entire space was sealed; there was no so-called exit.
An elderly man, weak and frail, sat on a wooden chair made from trees, his face covered in wrinkles, hair snow-white, and even sitting on the chair, his posture was hunched.
His long white hair covered his right eye; only his tightly shut left eye was exposed, sitting peacefully on the chair at rest.
Behind him was attached a white strip-like object, which extended into the endless darkness behind, faintly revealing the outlines of giant trees and fruits.
Soon, the ground in front of the old man quivered slightly, and two pale humanoid figures emerged from it.
Without opening his eyes, the old man seemed aware of the presence before him and asked,
"Still no concrete news?"
The old man's voice was exceedingly hoarse.
Yet when this hoarse voice sounded, everything around seemed to freeze, becoming the sole loud thing in the darkness.
"No, the White Zetsu monitoring Nagato, we don't know how, suddenly vanished. The other White Zetsus searched for a long time but couldn't find that White Zetsu's whereabouts."
One of the two pale humanoid figures replied to the old man.
"Lord Madara, could Nagato have discovered the White Zetsu's trace and dealt with him?"
The other white humanoid figure took it upon himself to speculate wildly, reporting to the old man.
"Fool, judging from the information we have, Nagato's use of the Rinnegan is still very immature. With Nagato's current power, he wouldn't be able to detect the trace of White Zetsu."
"But besides Nagato, none of his insignificant companions is a Perception Ninja, so there's no way they could detect White Zetsu's trace."
The white humanoid figure said with a look of confusion.
Moreover, even a Perception Ninja might not be able to detect White Zetsu's trace unless it's a special Perception Ninjutsu.
Or pupil techniques like the Byakugan with very strong perception capabilities would actually be much more troublesome for them than Perception Ninjas.
"Continue to monitor Nagato and have Tobi join in. Also, send a few White Zetsus to Konoha."
The old man's voice sounded again, issuing clear instructions.
"Konoha? Does Lord Madara suspect those people from Konoha?"
"It's not just because of the disappearance of the White Zetsu. My days are numbered. Just relying on Nagato alone isn't enough to push forward the 'Eye of the Moon' plan. I still need someone who can act as my proxy... Go."
The old man's tone remained gentle, yet it exuded an undeniable authoritative force.
"Yes, Lord Madara."
After the two pale humanoid figures retreated, the old man opened his tightly closed left eye, a scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan, strikingly conspicuous in the dim environment.
"Hashirama... The future you entrusted, has no place for peace... This time, I have won..."
In the darkness, there came the old man's wistful sigh.
But saying so can't prove anything to anyone.
For the man he cherished all his life, both rival and close friend, was no longer in this world.
He slowly raised his hand and gently touched his chest.
The wound that man inflicted seemed as painful as if it had happened yesterday, his aged face showing a hint of nostalgia.
Hashirama...