The Hokage's office.
Itachi Uchiha told Hiruzen Sarutobi everything about his meeting with Obito.
He emphasized that the Nine-Tails' rampage was instigated by him and had nothing to do with the Uchiha clan.
Given the gravity of the matter, Hiruzen Sarutobi was unable to make a decision on his own.
So, he summoned Shimura Danzo and his two advisors again.
After discussing it for a long time, the four of them finally came to a conclusion.
"Itachi, I believe what you say is true," Hiruzen Sarutobi said. "The village is also willing to reconcile with the Uchiha clan, so I'll leave this matter to you to handle. If the conflict between the two sides can be resolved, it will be a good thing for both the village and the Uchiha."
Hiruzen Sarutobi paused slightly at this point, then continued. "However, that 'Uchiha Madara' you mentioned is far too dangerous. I hope you can go undercover by his side, monitor his every move, and report back to the village."
Upon hearing this, Itachi Uchiha nodded in agreement without hesitation.
Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't mentioned it, he still had this thought.
...
Root!
"Is it time to begin?" Black Zetsu wondered.
Naruto Uzumaki had already fallen asleep, while Black Zetsu, through Danzo Shimura's corrupted right hand, knew everything.
However, now that he was imprisoned here, unless he unleashed another rampage using the Nine-Tails' chakra, it would be difficult for him to take Naruto Uzumaki with him.
However, if he simply went outside and didn't let Naruto see the stone tablet with his own eyes, how could he convince him of the Eye of the Moon Plan?
"Black Zetsu, it's been a long time. How are you doing in Konoha?"
Just as Black Zetsu was having a headache, the space in front of him rippled and turned into a uzumaki shape, and Obito Uchiha slowly appeared in front of him.
However, the words of greeting were chilling, sending shivers down one's spine.
Although they were all backup plans left by Madara Uchiha, they never truly connected.
Obito Uchiha always believed that Black Zetsu was responsible for monitoring him.
Needless to say, Black Zetsu was only thinking about saving his mother. As for Obito Uchiha, he was just a pawn in a game and didn't matter at all.
However, his arrival had come at just the right time.
"Obito, what are you doing here?" Black Zetsu asked, feigning ignorance.
"Hmph, you don't need to worry about that," Obito Uchiha snorted coldly. "The person you're possessing is Minato-sensei's child, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, right?"
His gaze fell on the sleeping Naruto Uzumaki.
To this day, he still had no idea what Black Zetsu was planning.
However, since this guy was Madara Uchiha's will, there must have been a deeper meaning behind this move.
If he hadn't been busy recruiting people all these years, he wouldn't have let Black Zetsu be alone outside for so many years.
"That's right, this is your teacher's child, Naruto Uzumaki," Black Zetsu said with a smile. "You even held him when he was born!"
Obito Uchiha: "..."
I not only hugged him, I also slapped him!
"Why did you possess the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?" Obito Uchiha narrowed his eyes. "I hope you can give me an explanation."
"The Nine-Tails is a major variable in order to complete the Eye of the Moon Plan," Black Zetsu explained. "The power of the Nine-Tails is too great. Once Naruto becomes the perfect Jinchuriki, even if the other eight tailed beasts are combined, they will never be his match. My purpose in possessing him is to prevent him from becoming the perfect Jinchuriki and to guide him into our plan at the appropriate time."
Black Zetsu did not hide anything from Obito Uchiha, even though the two had parted on bad terms and had not been in contact for several years.
However, they still shared a common goal, and cooperation between them was indispensable.
"The Nine-Tails' power is great?" Obito Uchiha scoffed. "That's not funny at all. I turned him into a loyal dog with just one look, and that was the complete Nine-Tails. Now that only half of the Nine-Tails remains, what is there to fear?"
Obito Uchiha's words were by no means arrogant; he did indeed possess some skill.
Whether it was the Nine-Tails or the perfect Jinchuriki, they were all just playthings in his hands.
Manipulating the Nine-Tails was nothing more than a matter of lifting an eyelid for him. As for the perfect Jinchuriki, wasn't the Fourth Mizukage a living example?
He was the perfect Jinchuriki, yet he still couldn't escape his own control.
"You damned Uchiha!" Kurama roared in Naruto's mind. "Release the seal immediately! I'm going to kill this arrogant bastard!"
Being humiliated to one's face, the Nine-Tails, who valued his pride above all else, could not possibly tolerate it.
"Quiet down," Black Zetsu scolded. "What he said isn't wrong. Controlling you is really just a matter of lifting an eyelid. With that energy, you'd be better off gathering more chakra. Be careful you don't run out when you need it later."
"Joke!" Kurama retorted. "Even if I, Kurama, only have half a body left, my chakra reserves still exceed those of all the ninjas in the ninja world combined. How could my chakra be insufficient? It's the Nine-Tails," it said haughtily.
Black Zetsu didn't pay much attention to this arrogant fox.
"I'm not in the mood to argue with you right now," Black Zetsu said to Kurama. "Take me away from here first. I want Naruto to experience pain."
Black Zetsu was too lazy to argue with a pawn; since he was destined to die anyway, there was no need for him to waste too much effort on him.
"Black Zetsu, are you ordering me around?" Obito Uchiha's eyes turned slightly cold. "I am the one who will carry out the Eye of the Moon Plan, not you. You have no right to order me around."
"Enough, Obito!" Seeing Obito's stubbornness, Black Zetsu didn't tolerate him. "I am Madara's will!"
Upon hearing this, Obito Uchiha felt an urge to kill Black Zetsu immediately.
That bastard!
He was using Madara Uchiha to intimidate him again!
The key issue was that he was still threatened by it.
This was because there was a cursed seal left by Madara Uchiha on his heart.
He didn't know if Black Zetsu could control the cursed seal, but this guy kept saying it was Madara's will, and Madara Uchiha had said the same thing when he was alive.
This meant that he had a very high chance of controlling this object, which was equivalent to his life and death being in his hands.
"Black Zetsu, you'll regret this!" Obito Uchiha warned, his face beneath his mask incredibly grim, and his gaze towards Black Zetsu filled with murderous intent.
Wait a little longer!
Once I acquire enough spare Sharingan, I can use Izanagi to save my life.
When the time comes, he'll show Black Zetsu who the real father is!
Suppressing his anger, Obito Uchiha carried Naruto Uzumaki and used Kamui to leave the area.
...
Outside the Hokage Building.
Just as Itachi Uchiha was about to return to his clan's territory, Danzo Shimura suddenly stopped him.
"Lord Danzo, do you have any instructions?" Itachi Uchiha asked, a hint of wariness in his eyes.
He would never forget that it was Danzo who stole one of Shisui's Sharingan eyes.
"Itachi, don't take Hiruzen's words too seriously," Danzo Shimura said. "The conflict between the village and the Uchiha clan is irreconcilable. I hope you can take the initiative to share the burden for the village and annihilate the Uchiha clan!"
...
If you're enjoying the ride, please drop a Powerstone and a quick Review!