White Zetsu wasn't much of a thinker.
To be precise, he could only process things based on what had already occurred.
Whatever thoughts the Infinite Tsukuyomi had planted in him, he never questioned them.
So he never questioned where he came from—it just wasn't in his nature.
At this moment, he felt an instinctive unease toward what Madara Uchiha was about to do, sensing that it might somehow threaten him—though he couldn't pinpoint why.
But for Black Zetsu, who knew everything from beginning to end, figuring out Madara's intentions didn't take long.
What Madara wanted was simple—he intended to overwrite the White Zetsu's consciousness again using the power of Tsukuyomi.
Only then could he fully trust them.
Come to think of it, it was actually Black Zetsu himself who had guided Madara into manipulating memories and perception through Tsukuyomi.
Black Zetsu felt conflicted.
If Madara truly went ahead with this, wouldn't that erase any chance of betrayal?
He had personally caused Mother to stand against the entire world. If she ever found out, she would surely fly into a rage!
Would she ever forgive him…?
And what if something unexpected happened…?
"Black Zetsu, is there something wrong?" Madara's voice rang out as he noticed the other's prolonged silence.
"Lord Madara, if you have tactical instructions, there's no need to summon all the White Zetsu. Just let us know," Black Zetsu replied.
"You disagree?" Madara gave a cold chuckle.
"If you recall all of them now, it may cause unnecessary unrest."
"Irrelevant!" Madara responded firmly.
"I understand, Lord Madara. Then may I ask for command authority over the White Zetsu?"
As long as Madara didn't obtain the full chakra of the Ten-Tails…
No matter what happened, he'd always stand by Mother's side.
She'll understand.
Black Zetsu thought inwardly.
In just a few words, the White Zetsu—who barely understood anything—had already had their fates sealed.
Giving a couple of half-hearted replies, Black Zetsu quickly got to spreading the message to the others.
Within a few breaths, every White Zetsu received the message. One by one, they emerged from the ground and stood there.
They were countless, turning the entire area white.
"Have they all arrived?" Madara asked indifferently.
Zetsu nodded. "Everyone has come…"
Before he even finished speaking, Madara soared into the sky and spread his arms wide.
[Descend! The Light of a Glorious Age!]
In broad daylight, a crimson moon suddenly appeared in the sky.
An eerie glow bathed everyone below.
The White Zetsu, dazed and confused, instantly had their perceptions overwritten.
Madara landed back on the ground and observed everyone's reactions.
After a moment, one of the White Zetsu spoke up curiously, "Lord Madara, huh… What are you doing here?"
"Yeah, Lord Madara, why did you suddenly gather everyone here?"
They had completely forgotten what had just happened and paid no attention whatsoever to the crimson moon above.
"A major battle is approaching. All of you must prepare yourselves at all times. Conceal your identities and avoid being discovered."
Madara made up an excuse and dismissed them.
Everyone, back to your original positions. Keep playing the roles you were pretending to be.
"Lord Madara, after the war... do you plan to proceed with the [Infinite Tsukuyomi], or just maintain our rule as it is?"
Black Zetsu asked a question.
"Oh? Black Zetsu, you really haven't changed..."
Madara Uchiha said indifferently, without actually answering Black Zetsu's question.
Regardless of which outcome occurred, it was all the same to him.
All were living within the illusion he created.
A slight smirk tugged at Madara's lips.
His lifelong friend and ultimate rival, Hashirama Senju, had always held an optimistic view of human nature.
Hashirama believed people would eventually understand each other, let go of hatred, and achieve permanent peace.
Now, this ideal of Hashirama's would finally be fulfilled through his hands.
He unified everyone's thoughts, making them worship him and live under his rule with an iron fist.
Isn't that a kind of understanding, in its own twisted way?
As for the White Zetsus, they could serve as tools for monitoring the population afterward.
Anyone showing disloyalty would simply be eliminated.
"Black Zetsu, I'll go ahead first. You lead them along slowly. Tell them to hide outside Konoha Village and wait for my orders."
With that, Madara Uchiha left first.
"Today, Mount Myoboku must be erased. Kaguya, you intercept the Sage of Six Paths."
Kaguya flew to the Sage of Six Paths' front, watching him coldly.
"And you two, if you keep loafing around here, I'll blast you away too — along with your Ryuchi Cave!"
Hearing Hiroki's threat, Taiko Hime became somewhat panicked. "White Snake Sage, what should we do?"
The White Snake Sage quietly sighed and approached Gamamaru.
"I'm sorry about this, Gamamaru."
Taiko Hime was right on his heels.
Faced with these two serpents flanking him from both sides, Gamamaru showed no reaction as he looked toward his giant kin nearby.
"Go reestablish the barrier..."
"It's too late!"
Hiroki sneered coldly. He soared into the sky, raising his hand.
"Maximum chakra output!"
At his command, all clone consciousnesses separated from his body, causing his physical form to instantly collapse while transmitting instructions to 'Toneri'.
"What maximum output? Do you think I'm a robot..." grumbling inwardly, 'Toneri' stood behind the attack trajectory, extending his hand to caress the giant yellow Tenseigan.
Activate!
Maximum attack range!
Full chakra release—now!
Release!
The yellow light condensed into something tangible, turning the desolate moon surface completely yellow.
Standing on a wooden plank, 'Toneri' observed carefully.
This enormous Tenseigan originally had been constructed by attaching numerous white eyes together with flesh. Now though, those connections weren't quite as tightly interwoven anymore, threatening to disintegrate at any moment.
Innumerable white eyes dripped strange viscous fluid.
"It looks like it's reached its breaking point. Then why should I remain here..." mumbled 'Toneri.'
"That thing—the yellow glowing sphere..."
The ground beneath his feet rapidly passed by, tree shadows flying backward behind him as he rushed toward Konoha. Once again, Madara Uchiha halted his steps, wearing a solemn expression.
"Don't tell me... this is another form of [Infinite Tsukuyomi]?"
Realizing this in an instant, Madara Uchiha's mood darkened. Instinctively, his Rinnegan lit up as he channeled the Ten-Tails' chakra within his body.
"That fucking Black Zetsu has been hiding way too much. Once he's no longer useful, I'll definitely kill him."
Whoosh!
In an instant, that yellow orb fell like a meteor, crashing somewhere and covering the original landscape, blurring out its details.
Immediately after, all that brilliant yellow light vanished in an instant.
Rumble...
The ground seemed to tremble slightly.
"It disappeared... Where did it go?"
Madara muttered, staring off into the distance.
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