Madara's Scheme, Barragan's Ambition

Inside the pitch-black cavern, only a faint sliver of light filtered in, far from enough to illuminate the entire space.

If one looked closely, they would see a hunched figure, whose features were obscured, sitting atop a protruding rock.

"Shasha—"

With a soft sound, a completely white figure slowly emerged from the ground behind him.

"Yes, their forces have now reached the outskirts of Konoha. I suspect they will launch an attack on the village very soon."

White Zetsu spoke softly, his tone casual, as if he were recounting some trivial, amusing matter.

Hearing this, the hunched figure slowly turned his head, revealing an aged face that looked like skin stretched over bone.

Yet, within that withered visage, a pair of incredibly profound eyes burned like the deep, dark night, impossible to ignore.

He stared silently at White Zetsu and rasped, "Notify Tokino. Take this opportunity to drag Kirigakure into this muddy water as well."

White Zetsu paused, looking at him with confusion, and whispered, "Didn't you say to keep Tokino hidden within Kirigakure to manipulate the village from the shadows? After all, we have already located Nagato; we only need to arrange a chance for Tokino to make contact with him."

The old man closed his eyes slightly and shook his head, his long white hair swaying with the movement.

His voice was hoarse. "Tokino mentioned before that the Third Mizukage is becoming increasingly uncontrollable. It is the perfect opportunity to let him die in this war..."

"Having Kirigakure participate in the war will not expose us. What we truly need is to find a more suitable replacement to control."

"The Third Mizukage's Jinchuriki has been arranged, hasn't he? Tokino mentioned him to me; it seems he is suspicious of our tracks. We shall turn him into our puppet