After the mud where Obito had fallen hardened, he had lost all hope of saving himself, but his isolation from the outside world gave Black Zetsu the time needed to act.
The cement-like rock block was inaccessible to others, but it was unusually easy for Black Zetsu!
Black Zetsu was even a little happy. Didn't this complete the first link of the plan?
'As expected of you, Obito!' Black Zetsu was still cheering for Uchiha Obito in his mind.
But to its surprise, Onoki's actions were faster and more cautious.
Suddenly, Onoki landed on the sealed swamp, smiling coldly as he condensed Dust Release in his hands.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
The semi-transparent field expanded, enveloping the swamp where Obito was trapped.
Onoki did not spare chakra, he unleashed his most powerful technique against Uchiha Obito, that young man who seemed to carry the aura of a new Uchiha Madara.
Kazuki narrowed his eyes and activated his sensory ninjutsu. After a moment, he smiled and lowered the hand he had raised to point at Onoki.
He could feel it clearly: Black Zetsu had entered the Dust Release barrier, transforming into a jet-black viscous substance that covered Obito's vital areas, quickly spreading throughout the rest of his body.
Twenty years before what happened in the original timeline, Black Zetsu fully fused with Obito ahead of schedule.
But unfortunately, before Black Zetsu's protection was fully completed, Onoki had already activated Dust Release.
[Buzz!]
Within the semi-transparent field, everything within was reduced to atoms, erased without a trace.
Onoki looked at the huge void left on the ground, laughed with genuine satisfaction and exclaimed: "With this, the great threat to the future of the shinobi world has been eradicated in advance! All is safe!"
Kazuki, relaxed, floated in the air, shook his head and formed the Dust Release ninjutsu in his hands.
The chakra fusion technique of fire, wind, and earth, as well as their exact proportion, appeared clearly in his mind thanks to the Eye of the Snake and the Ninjutsu Doctor talent.
"There is no doubt that the Kekkei Tota surpasses the Kekkei Genkai in power…" Kazuki muttered, fascinated by ninjutsu, not even regretting Obito's apparent disappearance.
Black Zetsu, created by Otsutsuki Kaguya, had proven to be so resilient that not even the black rods of Naruto's Six Paths Sage Mode managed to destroy it. How could a simple Dust Release possibly finish it off?
Black Zetsu may not have been the strongest fighter, but his endurance was unmatched.
"The real show is about to begin..." Kazuki whispered, throwing a glance at Onoki without intervening.
This wasn't the right time to appear on the scene. If he did, he would look like a certain yellow-haired ninja who was always late for action.
Compared to making Uchiha Obito feel extreme pain, there are many opportunities to kill Onoki.
Moreover, for this tough Tsuchikage with the will of stone...
Kazuki believes that if he is on the line with himself, then some valuable special talents will burst out...
Meanwhile, the war continued.
In the depths of the earth...
Black Zetsu, fused with a seriously injured and unconscious Obito after losing half his body, moved at full speed towards Uchiha Madara's base.
At the critical moment, although it was not so perfect, it still saved Uchiha Obito!
Black Zetsu's eyes flashed with hatred, feeling the burning pain left by the Dust Release on his body. "Onoki, I'll remember this vengeance!"
"If I don't take revenge, I will never forgive you!"
...
Mountains' Graveyard
Uchiha Madara's hiding place.
Black Zetsu, fused with a White Zetsu body, worked meticulously, inserting the Demonic Statue's tubes into Uchiha Obito's body. The statue's life energy held back the life that was escaping him and helped to close his wounds.
Although he managed to save Obito at the last moment, Onoki's surprise and merciless attack had taken away much of Obito's body.
"How's everything going?" Madara walked over, his expression unfazed as he looked at Obito. He then turned a cold gaze to Black Zetsu and said with disdain, "I'm not satisfied with your performance. This shouldn't have happened."
Black Zetsu felt a flash of anger, but his face did not reflect it. Instead, he bowed his head respectfully. "It was my mistake, Madara-sama."
Madara let out a dismissive snort. "Don't let it happen again."
After hearing Black Zetsu's detailed report, Madara curled his lips into a slight smile and commented excitedly, "That brat Onoki is interesting... His fear of the Uchiha clan's power has reached such a point that, already a Kage, he bothers to personally attack a mere youth..."
"That's right. After seeing my complete form of Susanoo, he should have such a mentality."
Black Zetsu listened with an impassive expression as he finished bandaging Obito's wounds. He adjusted his mindset and finally let out a sinister smile. "Madara-sama, it will soon be your time to act."
Madara nodded slightly. With a scythe in hand, he used it as a staff as he coldly stared at Obito. "With his intelligence... Words won't be enough to make him understand the corruption and pain of the shinobi world."
"Let's continue with the plan. I reckon he won't listen to my words and will still be determined to return to Konoha. That's why you must make sure everything is well prepared. This will be the key moment to awaken his Mangekyo Sharingan."
As he spoke, Uchiha Madara raised his scythe and plunged it into Uchiha Obito's chest.
Instantly, powerful chakra began to burn at the tips of his fingers. With surgical precision, Madara traced intricate seals over Obito's heart, etching a mark that would allow him to control it with a single thought.
Black Zetsu kept his expression impassive, but inside he was furious. 'I just repaired Obito's body and the first thing you do is cut open his chest! Couldn't you have done it before?!'
With no other choice, Black Zetsu forced a smile and hurriedly bandaged Obito again.
There was no way. In Uchiha Madara's mind, Black Zetsu and Uchiha Obito were at best valuable chess pieces, and there was no need to care about those details.
Especially Uchiha Obito, his body was already so damaged, so what if he got another cut on his chest?
According to the current scenario...
The murder of Uchiha Obito really had nothing to do with Uchiha Madara. It was his own high profile that brought him death. Uchiha Madara was the one who saved his life!
"With his intelligence and insight, even if I were to explain the true nature of this world to him after he wakes up, it's very likely that he won't understand it…"
With a cold gaze, Madara looked at Obito and continued, "That is why the second phase of the plan must be executed with precision. Only when he experiences the heart-wrenching pain of losing someone he loves will his mind open enough to understand and accept my Eye of the Moon Plan."
"Think carefully, Black Zetsu. Don't underestimate ordinary shinobi. Someone like Onoki may not be much of a deal and his fighting skills may be only average, but his determination is worthy of recognition…"
Black Zetsu lowered his head. "I understand, Madara-sama."
But in his mind, Black Zetsu kept imagining the scene where Uchiha Madara released the Infinite Tsukuyomi after becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki...
Black Zetsu decided that after this arrogant bastard filled himself with his mother's chakra and thought he was the savior of the world, he must pierce his heart through the back to avenge all his hatred!
When that day came, it would pay back all the humiliation and inconvenience he had suffered.
Thinking about it helped him calm down.
Madara curved his lips into a smile and said calmly, "Let me show you something, Black Zetsu…"
"That boy, Kazuki, has already gathered several followers who believe in him. Do you think it's thanks to the Will of Fire?"
"No. The Will of Fire is just cheap, simplistic talk, so empty it's laughable."
Madara muttered to himself, "It's his charisma that surrounds him with allies. He's like Izuna in his time, able to draw people to his side."
"But no matter how much warmth a single person can offer, this cold and cruel shinobi world will destroy all beauty and hope. Just like when that damned Tobirama gravely injured Izuna... These ephemeral illusions are nothing more than bubbles that burst at the slightest touch."
"Obito seems to be very close to Kazuki…" A flash of competitiveness crossed Madara's eyes. "I will show him the truth of this world. For now, he will be a substitute for Kazuki until I meet him in person."
"If I can't even convince Obito, then I can't convince Kazuki either… But that's impossible."
Black Zetsu nodded and, understanding Madara's intention, slipped underground to observe the events unfold.
Madara gave Obito one last look before removing the Demonic Statue's tubes connected to his head.
And he waited in silence for him to wake up.
...
Time passed slowly.
Finally, Uchiha Obito opened his eyes suddenly.
The first thing he saw was an unfamiliar roof, shrouded in shadows.
He turned quickly and, before him, found the cold gaze of a man with gray hair and sharp eyes, in which the Sharingan shone.
Feeling his gaze, a chill ran down Obito's spine.
A sense of danger arose from deep within him, as if he were trapped underground and about to be pulverized again by Onoki's Dust Release.
Obito looked away at the scythe in the old man's hands. He opened his mouth to scream, but the words got stuck in his throat.
In his mind, images from ancient texts and portraits he had seen over and over again in Uchiha Setsuna's books began to fit together with the face in front of him.
His body tensed and, with effort, he said: "You are... Uchiha Madara!"
Madara smiled. "Wow, you recognized me?"
"Just call me Madara. I'm nothing but a ghost…"
"A ghost who still seeks peace."
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