Everyone was aghast.
Lying sprawled on the ground, Obito struggled to turn his head toward Black Zetsu in the sky, his face full of confusion.
Obito had known for a long time that he was just a pawn.
Who could have guessed that Uchiha Madara, the one pulling the strings behind everything, was also just a pawn?
This endless chain of manipulation left Obito completely dumbfounded.
What surprised Obito even more was that Black Zetsu, whom Uchiha Madara had called the embodiment of his own will, was the true mastermind.
Had Madara not even understood his own will's embodiment?
Among those present, only Neji showed no surprise. He looked at Uchiha Madara with a hint of pity.
Black Zetsu continued, addressing Uchiha Madara. "Madara, although you failed to become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki and cast Infinite Tsukuyomi, Mother has already been freed. Your mission is complete."
Madara asked in confusion, "Zetsu, the Infinite Tsukuyomi was meant to bring peace to the Shinobi World, as the Sage of Six Paths intended."
Black Zetsu sneered. "Madara, why were you so certain of that?"
"The stone tablet left behind by the Sage of Six Paths spells it out clearly."
Uchiha Madara's expression was full of confusion.
The goal he had believed in without question for so long, and fought for all that time, had suddenly been revealed as a lie.
Madara found it difficult to accept.
Black Zetsu smiled. "Madara, I altered the stone tablet left behind by the Sage of Six Paths. Infinite Tsukuyomi can't bring peace to the Shinobi World. Its only purpose is to gather Mother's chakra."
At this explanation, Uchiha Madara's body trembled slightly.
No matter how unwilling he was to believe it, he had to accept reality.
Uchiha Madara muttered to himself, "Hashirama, was I really wrong?"
The Akatsuki