Only a faint sliver of light filtered into the pitch-black cave, far too weak to illuminate the entire cavern.
But if one looked closely, they would see a hunched figure, its features indistinct, seated atop a protruding rock.
"Rustle, rustle..."
At a soft rustling sound, a figure whose entire body was mottled white slowly emerged from the ground behind him.
"Yes. Their forces have reached the outskirts of Konoha. I'm afraid they'll attack Konoha very soon."
White Zetsu spoke softly, his tone casual, as if recounting an amusing little anecdote.
At his words, the hunched figure slowly turned. An ancient face, with skin stretched over bone, came into view.
Yet set in that aged face was a pair of eyes so deep and dark they were impossible to ignore, like the dead of night.
He watched White Zetsu in silence, then rasped,
"Send word to Tokino. Take this opportunity to drag Kirigakure into the fray as well."
White Zetsu paused, looking at him in confusion, then asked softly,
"Didn't you say Tokino should remain hidden in Kirigakure and manipulate the village from the shadows? After all, we've already found Nagato. We only need to arrange an opportunity for Tokino to meet him."
The old man slowly closed his eyes and shook his head, his long white hair swaying with the movement.
His voice was hoarse as he said,
"Tokino mentioned before that the Third Mizukage was becoming increasingly difficult to control, didn't he? This war is the perfect opportunity to have him die..."
"Bringing Kirigakure into the war won't expose us. What we really need to do is find the best possible replacement to control."
"The Third Mizukage's Jinchuriki has already been taken care of, right? Tokino mentioned him to me. It seems he has some suspicions about our whereabouts,