The Conspiracy Planned for a Thousand Years Exposed

Upon hearing this, Black Zetsu's heart sank, and a wave of intense unease surged through it like a rising tide.

It realized with chilling clarity that the conspiracy it had so meticulously orchestrated had been laid bare.

Yet, Black Zetsu refused to accept defeat so easily. Like a beast cornered, it thrashed its body violently, desperate to break free from the restraints Shi Xiu had imposed upon it. Its frantic struggle seemed as if it would tear the very world asunder.

"You wretched brat, don't think you can do anything to me just like this! Even if you've seen through my entire plan, it's useless! You will never be able to stop my progress!"

Black Zetsu shrieked at the top of its lungs, its voice sharp and grating, enough to make one's skin crawl.

Meanwhile, Obito gazed silently at the pathetic, disheveled Black Zetsu pinned firmly beneath Shi Xiu's foot, a flicker of pity crossing his face.

He couldn't help but mutter to himself, "The Eye of the Moon Plan, the Infinite Tsukuyomi to create peace, the world where Rin exists... it turns out it was all just a lie..." His words were heavy with endless loss and despair.

Kushina and Rin stood quietly to the side. Seeing Obito so dejected, Rin slowly reached out and gently took hold of his hand.

Noticing Rin's gesture, Obito turned his head instinctively, and their eyes met.

In that instant, Obito caught a glimmer of warmth deep within Rin's gaze.

Minato and Kushina's eyes darted back and forth between Obito, Shi Xiu, and Black Zetsu like flashes of lightning.

Their hearts were shrouded in a thick fog of confusion and deep unease.

Obito quietly felt the gentle, firm encouragement from Rin, which washed over his shattered heart like a warm spring breeze.

He slowly raised his hand and wiped away the lingering tears on his cheeks.

At this very moment, a fierce, burning determination reignited in Obito's eyes.

Obito walked slowly to stand beside Shi Xiu. His gaze, sharp as a pair of blades, pierced straight into the Black Zetsu lying on the ground.

"Black Zetsu! I never imagined you were so cunning and insidious, playing us like puppets in the palm of your hand! But from this moment on, you will never have another chance to succeed!"

Obito's voice was low and filled with boundless rage, as if he intended to tear this hateful enemy to pieces.

Upon hearing this, Black Zetsu showed no fear; instead, the corners of its mouth curled into a sneer of utter disdain.

"Hmph, Obito, you truly are a fool! Isn't the death of your beloved teacher entirely due to your own incompetence? Hahahaha..."

Black Zetsu's grating, mocking laughter echoed through the air, chilling everyone to the bone.

However, before Black Zetsu could finish laughing, Shi Xiu suddenly raised his right foot and stomped down onto its body with all his might.

In an instant, Black Zetsu let out a howl of agony, its body rolling uncontrollably on the ground. It twisted and turned, desperate to find any opening to escape.

Yet, Shi Xiu's foot felt like a towering mountain, so heavy that it couldn't move even a fraction of an inch.

Black Zetsu slowly lifted its head, its gaze locking onto Shi Xiu. Its eyes burned with a chilling, venomous hatred, as if it wanted to devour Obito alive.

At the same time, it was filled with deep resentment, clearly enraged that Obito had discovered its plan.

Black Zetsu gritted its teeth and roared, "You wretched creature, do you really think that just because you've seen through my plan, I'm out of options?"

Black Zetsu gloated, "Hmph, what a pipe dream! To ensure the resurrection of the great Kaguya, the backup plans I've prepared are not limited to just a pawn like Obito!"

"There's a backup plan?" Shi Xiu, standing nearby, frowned in surprise. Clearly, this revelation was entirely beyond his expectations.

At that moment, Obito roared at Black Zetsu, "I won't let you succeed!"

However, facing Obito's rebuke, Black Zetsu merely offered a cold smile, a flash of mockery crossing its eyes: "Heh, you loud-mouthed brat! We shall see!"

It then looked at Shi Xiu, its tone dripping with venom: "Although I don't know how you learned so much, even if you know everything, you cannot stop my path!"

As soon as it finished speaking, Black Zetsu turned its gaze back to Obito, attempting to manipulate his mind with silver-tongued lies: "Obito, oh Obito, when the time is ripe, I will have Mother resurrect the real Rin with her own hands! Not like this cheap, shoddy imitation created by some crude ninjutsu!"

When Rin heard her name spoken by Black Zetsu, her body trembled violently, and a surge of anxiety gripped her heart.

She couldn't help but turn to look at Obito, her beautiful eyes filled with worry and anticipation, whispering softly, "Obito..."

Shi Xiu watched Obito quietly, like a silent statue, without uttering a sound.

There was no ripple in Shi Xiu's deep, ocean-like eyes; he simply observed Obito, as if waiting to see what choice he would make.

However, Obito did not respond as quickly as one might have expected.

He seemed to have fallen into a bottomless abyss, his thoughts churning like a turbulent tide.

The past, the painful memories, and the emotions buried deep in his heart all surged forward like a bursting dam.

He couldn't help but see the image of Rin lying in a pool of blood, her once sweet and lovely face pale and twisted. At that moment, Obito had felt his entire world collapse, consumed by endless despair and rage.

Then, he recalled the days he spent wandering alone in the darkness, his heart filled with resentment toward the unfairness of fate.

But just now, Minato-sensei's warm smile and gentle words, along with Rin's silent encouragement, had acted like a beam of light illuminating the darkest corner of his heart.

In that instant, it was as if Obito had been struck by enlightenment, suddenly understanding so much.

"Black Zetsu." Obito slowly raised his head, his gaze locked firmly onto the shadow before him. His voice was low and powerful, carrying an unprecedented sense of resolve.

"You have severely underestimated me. From today on, I will not continue down this wrong path. I am going back to Konoha, and I will spend the rest of my life making amends for the sins I have committed."

As he spoke, Obito lowered his head, staring coldly at Black Zetsu beneath Shi Xiu's foot. He suddenly raised the long blade gripped in his hand, the edge flashing with a chilling, hair-raising light.

"And the first step of my atonement is to personally eliminate you, the mastermind!" Obito roared through gritted teeth, his eyes burning with a raging fire.

Upon hearing this, Black Zetsu's expression turned incredibly grim. A flicker of undisguised fury flashed in its eyes. Clearly, Obito had completely broken free from its control.

Shi Xiu looked at Obito and nodded. Then, he raised his foot, stomped down hard on Black Zetsu once more, and looked down at it with cold, indifferent eyes.

"Black Zetsu, your plan ends here. I will seal you away."

As he spoke, Shi Xiu began to mobilize the chakra within his body, preparing to cast a sealing jutsu.

However, just at that moment, Black Zetsu suddenly let out a shrill, miserable scream, and its body began to shrink rapidly, eventually turning into a pool of water-like liquid that vanished into the cracks in the ground.

!!!

Shi Xiu's expression shifted slightly. "It escaped!"

Hearing this, Obito and the others felt their hearts tighten. Although Black Zetsu had fled, the threat it posed had not been eliminated. It could return at any moment to continue executing its terrifying plan.

"We must find it and seal it away for good!" Obito clenched his fists, a resolute light flickering in his eyes.

Shi Xiu raised a hand to stop Obito and the others, who were about to give chase, and said, "How do you intend to find it? That thing has been hiding in the shadows for over a thousand years; do you really think you can track it down?"

Shi Xiu looked up at the sky and said in a flat tone, "Let's return to Konoha first. When the time comes, I will stop it myself."

Obito and the others sighed, and Minato prepared to use the Flying Thunder God to take them back to Konoha.

Just then, Shi Xiu glanced back toward a patch of shadows, where a virtual arrow appeared before his eyes, pointing directly at that spot.