Madara did not go looking for Nagato right away. Instead, he first contacted Black Zetsu.
"Lord Madara!" Black Zetsu shouted excitedly.
Madara looked at Black Zetsu before him, a trace of relief appearing on his face. "Long time no see, Black Zetsu."
Black Zetsu was extremely excited. The frustration that had built up in him during the long wait disappeared completely the moment he saw Madara.
"Lord Madara, you've finally returned!"
Madara nodded slightly before asking, "How are things now?"
Black Zetsu told Madara everything that had happened during this period.
After hearing Black Zetsu's account, Madara's expression darkened.
"That's more or less the situation," Black Zetsu said.
When he heard that Obito had died and Nagato had taken it upon himself to make Hashirama the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, Madara's face turned deathly pale.
"That Nagato..." Madara said in a low voice.
"Does he not know who gave him the Rinnegan?"
Black Zetsu hurriedly consoled him. "Please calm down, Lord Madara. Nagato... he's always believed that his eyes were naturally bestowed by the heavens."
Madara fell silent for a moment before sighing. "Forget it. Since things have come to this, let them continue their foolishness."
"None of it matters anymore."
With that, Madara turned and approached the Rain Village.
Black Zetsu hurried after him and cautiously asked, "Lord Madara, what should we do next?"
Madara stopped and slowly said, "Wait. I'll take control of Nagato. You do this first..."
Madara then gave Black Zetsu a series of instructions.
Black Zetsu nodded repeatedly to show that he understood.
"Don't worry, Lord Madara. I'll definitely complete the mission."
Madara nodded. After making sure everything was in order, he looked at Black Zetsu again.
"What do you think of the Empire?"
Black Zetsu swallowed, and his gaze immediately turned resolute.
"Lord Madara... that Empire