Black Zetsu: Sealed!

"When... did you make that decision?"

Black Zetsu, with his single, almost blurred, eerie yellow eye, swirling with despair and rage, stared intently at Madara's sharply defined, cold, and arrogant face, and questioned him through gritted teeth:

"Even if you really have discovered that I do exist in the shadows of the Ninja World, what gives you the right to pin the label of 'mastermind' on me?"

You couldn't possibly have been certain from the beginning; otherwise, you could have easily won me over the moment I first appeared in front of you!

Am I right, Uchiha Madara?

"Really."

Ban nodded frankly, a hint of admiration even flashing in his eyes, and said playfully:

"You're absolutely right. At first, I didn't see you as the mastermind behind everything."

After all, I couldn't have imagined that someone who could hide in the shadows of this Ninja World for over a thousand years, instigating the millennia-long bloody war between the Senju Clan and Uchiha, and who once manipulated Uchiha Madara as a pawn, could be so weak.

He examined the remaining portion of Black Zetsu's body still clinging to the gourd and said coldly:

"In the early days after you first appeared, I truly only regarded you as a tool I created using Yin–Yang Release."

"Even in my initial plan to fake my death, the person truly responsible for transferring my true form to the shadows after I used Izanagi to escape should have been you, not Obito."

At this point, Madara turned his head to look at Obito, who stood silently with his arms Obito beside him, a rare hint of relief in his voice:

"However, after Obito successfully awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, I temporarily changed my plans."

After all, if we're talking about "hiding," what place could be more concealed than Obito's Kamui Dimension?

He shifted his gaze back to Black Zetsu's trembling face, chuckled softly, and the sound echoed through the dark cave:

"Looking back now, my decision to make that last-minute change was absolutely the right one."

After all, that was your closest and last chance to get to the truth.

"You--!!"

Madara, seeing the twisted look in Black Zetsu's eyes, grinned slightly, seemingly enjoying the scene, and continued:

"Actually, from the moment you first appeared as 'a creation I made,' and failed to immediately receive news of my feigned death and escape, you had already revealed enough flaws."

"When I was trying to create a being using Yin–Yang Release, I mixed an instruction into Yin–Yang Release."

The instructions contained the message that I would feign death using Izanagi to escape, as well as the coded message I left for the Creator and Obito to verify future communications.

He looked at Black Zetsu and said coldly:

"After I faked my death, Obito, as I instructed, sent those coded signals to you three times."

But you didn't react even once.

"That's when we started to suspect you."

Obito, understanding perfectly, spoke up and naturally took half a step forward:

"To confirm our suspicions, Madara and I decided to send you away with the mission of 'searching for suitable members to join the Moon Organization throughout the Ninja World '."

Then, while you're away, we'll secretly launch our own investigation, and at the same time...

He looked at the coffins displayed deep within the grotto and said meaningfully:

"We started intentionally training Kou, making him stronger and stronger."

It is powerful enough to become an "accident" that could truly threaten the Eye of the Moon Plan and deviate from all predetermined paths.

It forces you to focus most of your attention on him.

In this way, you won't have the extra energy to worry about my and Ban's actions in the shadows.

This also means that as we push you further, in your attempt to expedite the plan, you'll expose more weaknesses.

At this point, Obito stiffly tugged at the corner of his mouth, his Sharingan, still gleaming with a hint of coldness, fixed on Black Zetsu's fierce yellow eyes:

"And now is the time... to close the net!"

As Obito finished speaking, Madara smiled with satisfaction.

He said no more, but simply raised his hand slightly.

The towering Susanoo standing in the center of the cave had already moved, steadily pushing the Totsuka Blade in its hand towards the black body of Black Zetsu, which was still outside the gourd and trembling violently.

"Ughhhhhh--Stop! Stop!!!"

As the gourd, which was drawing ever closer to its last remaining fragment of body and was constantly emanating sealing power, came from within Black Zetsu roared in despair.

Black Zetsu desperately tried to break free of the irresistible pull on his severed body.

But no matter how much it struggled, its muddy half-body only moved closer and closer to the dark blue gourd opening.

Its struggles were utterly insignificant in the face of the Totsuka Blade.

"No, no! You can't, I... how could I fail!!"

Black Zetsu had completely lost the composure and coldness of a chess player; all that remained in his eyes was the most primal despair and an instinctive obsession to pry a glimmer of hope out of this desperate situation.

As if suddenly remembering something, its eyes lit up, and with its last bit of strength, it roared in Obito's direction.

"Rin! Rin Nohara!!"

That brat... there's more to Rin Nohara's death than meets the eye!

Uchiha Obito, that truth, Madara, Madara would never want you to know it!

Quick, save me! If you seal me away now, you'll never... never know the truth about the person you cherish most—"

Black Zetsu's scream abruptly stopped.

Its desperate cries for help did not elicit the response it hoped for.

All Black Zetsu saw was Obito's expressionless, extremely cold face.

"This, this is impossible..."

Black Zetsu's words froze on the tip of his tongue, and his gaze toward Obito was filled with unfamiliarity, as if he suddenly did not recognize the man in front of him.

How could he not react?

Wasn't it because of that brat's death that he awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, transforming himself from a naive, hot-blooded fool who made people laugh into the madman he is today?

How could Uchiha Obito be completely unmoved when he heard that "there were other hidden circumstances surrounding Rin's death"?

"Ha, your pathetic, stubborn way of clinging to life, refusing to admit defeat, is truly repulsive, Black Zetsu."

Madara gave a cold laugh, looking down at Black Zetsu's face, which was filled with disbelief, and slowly spoke in a tone that was almost pitying, yet extremely cold:

"Since that's the case, then I will mercifully resolve the last doubt in your life."

"Long before I lured him into the Genjutsu space under the pretense of teaching him Yin-Yang Release, and told him about Uchiha Kuro's true identity and the full picture of the plan, I had already told him the truth about Rin Nohara's death."

At this point, Madara's lips twitched slightly, and he reluctantly added:

He didn't react to what you said, but that's to be expected.

After all, that guy killed me nearly a thousand times in the Genjutsu space before he finally managed to calm down.

"I've already vented all my anger on myself."

"If you dare to continue..."

Obito looked at Madara with displeasure, his eyes narrowing slightly:

"I wouldn't mind killing you again in real life."

"Ha, you'd have to be able to do it first."

Madara retorted slowly, then the slight smile on his lips disappeared as he looked back at Black Zetsu's mangled body, which had been dragged to the edge of the gourd's mouth. His voice deepened once more.

"Don't worry, I'll give you that chance after all this is really over."

Having said that, Madara had a thought and released all the ancient and profound sealing power on the Totsuka Blade!

"Ughh...

Under the deep blue light emanating from the gourd's mouth, no matter how much Black Zetsu struggled, he was inevitably dragged inside and completely suppressed under the eternal seal.

As Black Zetsu's figure completely disappeared, the deep blue light gradually dissipated.

Silence finally returned to the dimly lit cave...