Madara: You're Qualified to Be My Successor

A pale oddity with a giant Venus flytrap-like plant on his head was none other than White Zetsu.

White Zetsu emerged from the ground and said, "It's Obito Uchiha. I don't know how he found this place."

"How he found it doesn't matter. I'm very interested in him. Bring him in," Madara said in his aged voice.

"Okay." White Zetsu sank back into the ground.

Obito wandered around outside for ages, but couldn't find a way in. The place had to be protected by a barrier. He knew nothing about that sort of thing... Another subject he'd have to study.

"Obito Uchiha, Lord Madara wants you to come in." White Zetsu appeared without warning.

Obito looked at White Zetsu, once again marveling at the world's incredible power to create such things.

"Lead the way," Obito said, keeping his expression neutral.

White Zetsu formed Hand Seals, and a translucent membrane appeared. Once the two of them passed through, it closed again.

The underground base was enormous. In the empty space, the sound of their footsteps seemed to echo endlessly.

After winding through the passages, they reached a hall. The first thing that caught Obito's eye was the gigantic Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

Savage and anguished! Those were Obito's first impressions of the statue.

Several tubes connected the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to Uchiha Madara, who sat in a stone chair.

Old and feeble.

"I'm curious. You don't seem surprised at all by what you see before you. In fact, you seem quite familiar with it. Why?"

Madara opened his eyes and spoke. Though the lion had grown old, his authority remained. Madara's gaze was intensely oppressive. No wonder they called him Lord Madara.

"Don't you know I exist? And do you really trust the person beside you that much?" Obito said, unwilling to back down.

"He was created by me, though he's one of my inferior creations. Obito Uchiha, you're a true genius. You awakened your Sharingan even earlier than Izuna and I did. It's just a shame you were born in the wrong era. Otherwise, you would have grown as powerful as Hashirama and me!"

"To earn Uchiha Madara's approval is almost overwhelming. But you're only half right," Obito said.

"Oh? Tell me more."

"I am a genius, and I'm a man destined to become even stronger than you."

"Ambitious. I like ambitious people. Obito Uchiha, I've been watching you since you were four. You've surprised me more and more. You're the perfect successor heaven sent me! You'll take my place, change this world, and bring it eternal peace!" Uchiha Madara declared passionately.

"Become my successor, and you'll learn the truth about this world! You'll also gain all my power!"

Watching Madara's performance, Obito had to admit that Black Zetsu had thoroughly fooled him. Madara was too confident in himself; otherwise, he wouldn't have become Black Zetsu's pawn.

But that very confidence was what made Madara so charismatic. In his past life, Obito had loved Madara's presence in the anime, along with his Haki—the sense that no one else could compare.

"I originally wanted to make you stronger through a few little plans, both physically and mentally. But you've grown beyond my expectations. Obito Uchiha, come. Together, we'll create an entirely new world!"

"You really believe that once I have everything, I'll follow your plan?" Obito asked.

Of course, I don't.

But I'm old now, and my life is nearing its end. I can only find someone to carry on in my place. No one is more suitable than you. I'll pass all my secret techniques to Zetsu through my consciousness. He'll be the continuation of my will. Only by following my plan can you obtain my power! It's a fair deal, isn't it?

So Black Zetsu was finally going to show himself?

The old man had been fooled for so long already. It wouldn't hurt to fool him one more time, right?

"I'm not interested in your plan at all. I'm living just fine right now. Why would I create a New World?" Obito asked, feigning confusion.

"Heh. How naive. People grow old, get sick, and die. I know you're with Hashirama's granddaughter. She'll die someday. When that day comes, you'll understand how magnificent my plan is! A world where everyone can live happily forever, a world without conflict or killing, a world where everyone's dreams can come true!"

Madara scoffed at Obito's naive idea.

"What do I have to do?" Obito asked.

"All you need to do is revive the statue behind me, then use the Rinnegan to revive me at the proper time. That won't be difficult for you." Madara was slightly out of breath. He'd said too much today, and the excitement had left him feeling weak.

It made him realize that he truly didn't have much time left!

"Obito, you have a chance to change the world right in front of you. If you don't seize it, you'll regret it."

"...Honestly, I don't trust you," Obito said, shaking his head.

"If you agree, I can let you enter my mental world. I'll tell you the whole truth."

Obito felt he'd played his part well enough and nodded. "Fine. I agree, but I decide how it's done!"

"No problem. I knew I was right about you. You and I are alike."

Obito activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and entered Madara's mental world. Madara explained the history Black Zetsu had altered, the relationship between the Ten-Tails and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and the Eye of the Moon Plan. He also told Obito about Nagato's Rinnegan, explaining that it was essential to the Eye of the Moon Plan. Obito had to make sure he kept Nagato under control.

After dispelling the genjutsu, Madara laboriously lifted his withered hand and placed it on White Zetsu. Something as black as ink spread over half of White Zetsu's body. It was Black Zetsu, the mastermind behind everything.

After all this time, Black Zetsu had finally shown himself!

"This is the embodiment of my consciousness. I've stored the Uchiha Clan's forbidden techniques and Yin-Yang Release here. You can treat him as me. As for those inferior creations, you can use them as cannon fodder."

"My life is about to end. You will be reborn!" Madara said, rising from the stone chair.

Creak, creak, creak—the tubes connecting the statue behind him snapped one after another.

Uchiha Madara slumped back into the stone chair, gasping for breath.

Before long, he breathed his last. The mighty Uchiha Madara was dead, and he was destined never to be resurrected...

"Obito, call me Black Zetsu. I'm sure we can work well together," Zetsu said, his body half black and half white.

I'm sure you'll be very happy!

Kamui! Obito focused his left eye on Zetsu.

Obito had come here for Black Zetsu. He didn't care about Uchiha Madara's secret techniques. Killing this mastermind would put Obito's mind at ease!

"What are you doing?!"

"Obviously, I'm doing you in!" As space twisted, Obito pulled Zetsu into the Kamui Dimension!