Chapter 222: I Really Do Want to Meet Him
Black Zetsu's clone noticed something was off about the reincarnated Uchiha Madara in front of him.
At this moment, the man looked very different from when he was alive — long black hair, a youthful face. Although he was indeed Uchiha Madara, his eyes seemed somewhat vacant.
What's more, he lacked the imposing presence a super-powerful warrior should have.
"Could it be… there's a flaw in this technique?"
That was the first possibility Black Zetsu's clone thought of.
He tried calling out to the man again. "It seems you don't remember who I am, Madara."
"You…"
Uchiha Madara turned his head to look at the clone.
"Zetsu."
His reaction was a bit sluggish, but he still called Black Zetsu by name.
"So, you haven't lost all your awareness."
"Why am I here?"
Madara stared blankly at his hands. Just as he spoke, he suddenly clutched his head and frowned. "It's as if my body is being restrained by some power… My strength — I can't bring it out."
He looked at his hands again, muttering to himself.
Hearing this, Black Zetsu's clone frowned.
Sure enough, it was just as he suspected — this Impure World Reincarnation technique had a flaw.
"So, your strength from when you were alive is being limited because of this technique? And you seem to be missing some memories as well…" the clone probed.
"My memory is fine. How is that plan going?"
"This is Senju Tobirama's technique, isn't it? It's not a big problem. Since you've brought me back, it seems you're ready."
Madara gradually regained some of his former presence — but only in his tone. His actual power still showed no sign of returning.
"You really didn't hear what I said earlier…"
With no choice, Black Zetsu's clone repeated everything he'd explained to Madara at the start.
After learning the truth, Madara stared at his hands and fell into thought.
"Uchiha Dali? Never heard that name."
"So that guy ruined our plan… That means Obito couldn't defeat him. Well, no surprise — that kid's talent was never much to speak of."
Madara first mocked Uchiha Obito, then calmly looked back at the clone. "This technique has restricted most of my power. I'll need a more complete version to restore it.
"If I'm resurrected like this, even if I can break the technique, my strength won't increase at all."
"Leave it to me. I'll figure out a way to improve the technique," the clone promised immediately.
"And my eyes?"
Of course, he meant the Rinnegan he had entrusted to Uzumaki Nagato.
The clone then told him how the entire Akatsuki — including Obito — had joined Uchiha Dali.
To Black Zetsu's surprise, Madara didn't erupt in fury. Instead, his interest was piqued.
"It seems this Uchiha Dali kid has some skill. To get all those people to submit to him… I really do want to meet him."
The clone's face instantly darkened.
"You're planning to see Uchiha Dali?"
Having seen Dali's strength firsthand, even as a clone, he felt deep apprehension toward the man.
Right now, Madara's power was far from fully restored. If he went looking for trouble and something unexpected happened, all of Black Zetsu's hopes would be crushed — and the plan to revive his mother, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, would be gone forever.
That was something he could never accept.
But Madara, unaware of the clone's true thoughts, only saw his tension as overreaction.
"A mere brat from later generations — how strong could he possibly be?
"Even if I can't use all my strength from when I was alive, you don't need to worry. He still can't do anything to me."
In Madara's eyes, only Senju Hashirama was a true opponent. Everyone else was just a child playing games.
Clearly, he didn't take Uchiha Dali seriously at all.
Seeing him underestimate the enemy, the clone hesitated before speaking up. "Madara, that kid is no ordinary person.
"He's the man who unified the entire shinobi world."
The moment those words left his mouth — crack! — the ground beneath Madara's feet split with jagged fissures.
Hearing about the unification of the shinobi world stirred an uncontrollable anger deep within him.
Back then, he had wanted the same thing. There was no need to ally with the other ninja nations — just conquer them directly.
But Hashirama had refused, insisting on allying with the other four great nations and even dividing the Nine Tailed Beasts among them.
That was one of the main reasons for their fierce battle.
Unfortunately, he had been one step short — unable to defeat Hashirama.
Otherwise, the shinobi world might already have achieved everlasting peace.
This was Madara's lifelong regret, and the core reason he had schemed for years to trigger another great upheaval.
"What is Uchiha Dali's purpose in unifying the shinobi world?"
Now he was suddenly curious.
The clone's eyes flickered slightly as he calmly shifted his gaze.
"He intends to conquer all the nations and make himself the ruler of the world."
Black Zetsu's clone was already thinking about how to make up a reason that would spark Madara's anger.
If Madara learned that Dali's true goal was to create everlasting peace — the very reason Black Zetsu had deceived him in the first place — that would be a disaster.
"To become ruler of the world, huh? Hmph…"
Madara scoffed at such a goal. "Just the thinking of a young brat — far too narrow.
"If you can unify the shinobi world, of course it should be to bring peace, not to rule over it."
"Now that you put it that way, I want to meet him even more."
With that, Madara ignored the clone and started heading toward the passage to the surface.
(Support me and read ahead on Patreøn: patreøn.com/craxxtranslations.
3 new chapters are released daily—thank you for your support!
Powerstone Event: For every 50 powerstones, 1 chapter will be unlocked.)