Black Zetsu Sweet-Talks "Madara"

In a hidden base, the masked Obito stood with his head tilted toward the sky, striking a pose.

Black Zetsu suddenly emerged from a tree and spoke with a faint, inscrutable smile.

"Madara, I helped you deal with another problem."

"?" Obito slowly turned his head at that, unable to recall doing anything recently that required Zetsu's help.

"The White Zetsu you sent two days ago to deal with that Uchiha who escaped from Konoha failed.

The target was very strong, and the White Zetsu carrying out the mission nearly got captured.

Fortunately, other White Zetsu were nearby and sent me a signal.

Hehe, you were far too careless. This time, we nearly exposed ourselves to the world ahead of schedule."

The old schemer Black Zetsu began spinning lies for Obito.

"So..."

Ever since the day he began playing Madara, the chatterbox Obito had become the aloof "Madara" of today, speaking very little.

The White Zetsu he had sent after Uchiha Feng was no weakling, and it could even use the mutually destructive Wood Release: Root Burial Explosion.

Thus, he found Black Zetsu's claims of capture and exposure impossible.

"Uchiha Feng has mastered the forbidden technique Impure World Reincarnation. He used it to reincarnate the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and the former Nine-Tails jinchūriki, Kushina Uzumaki."

Black Zetsu spoke unhurriedly.

Even when deceiving someone, he could not make everything a lie. Truth and falsehood had to be mixed together to fool people.

"Hm?! Impure World Reincarnation!

It seems I truly underestimated this junior of the clan.

Still, he has only delayed his death by a few days. I will deal with him personally."

Obito was briefly surprised, but quickly regained his composure.

Every Uchiha who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan became arrogant and conceited due to their sudden surge in power and negative emotions.

When Obito awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, he had gained the nearly invincible Kamui, making him even more conceited than ordinary Uchiha.

As long as his opponent had not awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and some special ocular technique, he considered them nothing more than chickens and dogs.

Therefore, in Obito's eyes, since a mere Uchiha Feng who had mastered Impure World Reincarnation could defeat White Zetsu, then if he went himself, capturing the man would be effortless.

"Hehe, I just said I helped you deal with another problem.

So, there is no need for you to act. I have already dealt with that fellow."

Black Zetsu continued talking nonsense, fooling Obito.

As for whether Obito would discover the lie and become dissatisfied with him—

Black Zetsu did not care at all. After all, the true controller of the White Zetsu used for reconnaissance, infiltration, and intelligence gathering was him.

Obito could only control the White Zetsu because of his command.

And it had been the White Zetsu who investigated Uchiha Feng in the early stages. Other than knowing the man's name, Obito did not even know what he looked like.

Under such circumstances, unless Obito personally investigated from the beginning, so long as Black Zetsu wished it, Uchiha Feng could stand right in front of Obito and Obito would not know who he was.

As for what if Uchiha Feng really encountered Obito in the future and Obito discovered the truth?

Black Zetsu considered it a minor issue. With Obito's intelligence, he could simply say that the one dealt with now was Uchiha Wind, while the one encountered in the future was Uchiha Feng.

Mixed them up? Obito must have heard wrong.

"Hmph, meddlesome fool."

The aloof "Madara" merely snorted and resumed staring at the sky in his pose.

As for whether Black Zetsu had deceived him in this matter, the thought never even crossed his mind.

After all, he was the successor personally chosen by Madara Uchiha to carry out the Eye of the Moon Plan, while Black Zetsu was the embodiment of Madara's will.

Perhaps Black Zetsu might hide things from him in other matters, but when it came to something as important as exposing their identities and affecting Madara's Eye of the Moon Plan, how could the embodiment of Madara's will possibly sabotage it?

Black Zetsu should be even more worried than him about affecting the Eye of the Moon Plan, so it was perfectly reasonable for him to personally handle the hidden danger. Besides, this was not the first time such a thing had happened.

"Yes, yes, I am a meddlesome fool.

But I can only meddle in trivial matters like this.

As for Akatsuki, you need to handle that personally.

Nagato and the others have recruited Kakuzu and Sasori, both quite capable. You should hurry and recruit a few people as well.

Otherwise, we will have no say at all within Akatsuki in the future, and using Nagato will become very difficult."

Following Obito's words, Black Zetsu shifted the subject.

"Hm, I already have a few targets.

Jūzō Biwa, one of the former Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist from Kirigakure, is quite strong. I will recruit him personally and make him our informant.

As for Orochimaru, one of Konoha's former Three Ninja, Black Zetsu, find a way to let Nagato learn his whereabouts. Let Nagato recruit that cold, ambitious venomous snake into Akatsuki himself."

Without noticing anything at all, Obito had completely cast the matter of Uchiha Feng from his mind.

"Is that so? Good. I will take care of Orochimaru immediately."

Black Zetsu agreed.

After speaking, he swiftly sank underground. Then, somewhere completely out of Obito's sight, he summoned a White Zetsu.

"You! Go watch the Fire Temple in the Land of Fire and see whether there is someone inside who resembles a jinchūriki.

If there is, come straight back and find me. Do not tell Madara, understand?!"

"Yes!"

The newly appeared White Zetsu accepted the order and departed.

Only then did Black Zetsu slowly head toward the place where Orochimaru had been found.

For several consecutive days, Uchiha Feng had deliberately had the Yin Nine-Tails in his spiritual space, as well as the reincarnated Rin Nohara, keep watch at night.

Yet every day, he slept peacefully until he woke naturally.

He could more or less conclude that he had successfully fooled Black Zetsu, and Black Zetsu had likely succeeded in fooling Obito as well.

Otherwise, Obito would not have let him sleep so peacefully.

Seeing that he was unlikely to be exposed anytime soon, Feng temporarily put his mind at ease. He abandoned his plans to flee, hide away, and start anew in another country, resuming the intense training he had paused for several days.

After fighting White Zetsu and Black Zetsu in actual combat, Feng had also gained further ideas for his training.

First was the Modified Great Fireball: Blazing Fireball Technique, whose effects had far exceeded his expectations. He therefore increased his study of the technique.

Second was naturally the Flying Thunder God, worthy of being one of the finest ninjutsu in the ninja world.

Even though Feng was limited by his physical talent and could not perform it as dazzlingly as Minato Namikaze despite having received all of Minato's techniques for using the Flying Thunder God,

it was still more than enough for traveling, keeping enemies at bay, saving his life, and occasionally showing off. Its usefulness surpassed that of ninety-nine percent of ninjutsu.

Therefore, the Flying Thunder God was also the ninjutsu he invested the most effort into.

Lastly came swordsmanship. Although it had not displayed anything particularly brilliant during his battles with White Zetsu and Black Zetsu, neither had it put him at a disadvantage.

Moreover, many of his future enemies—especially the Ōtsutsuki Clan—were immune to ordinary ninjutsu, which only strengthened his resolve to train his swordsmanship diligently.

Training in other areas was naturally important as well, but all of it would come after these three.

However, just as Feng was preparing to resume his intense training, the arrival of a White Zetsu forced him to stop again.

"Mr. Feng, Lord Zetsu asked me to give you these three items and relay a few words.

He has already verified what you said and stabilized Madara.

Therefore, as you requested, neither side will interfere with the other. He also hopes that you can uphold your end of the agreement.

Otherwise, you will bear consequences you cannot endure."

Imitating Black Zetsu's tone, White Zetsu spoke in an eerie voice.

At the same time, it tossed Feng a bundle containing three wooden boxes.

Barring any surprises, the boxes contained body parts from the Second Tsuchikage, the Third Raikage, and Might Duy.

"Hehe, now that it has been confirmed, doesn't Zetsu still owe me one thing?"

Feng accepted the bundle and looked at White Zetsu with a smile.

"Mr. Feng, regarding luring Yashiro Uchiha or Tekka Uchiha out of Konoha,

Lord Zetsu has already begun making arrangements. There will be results within a month at most."

White Zetsu replied.

"Is that so? Then I will await your good news.

Also, tell Black Zetsu this: from now on, neither side will interfere with the other.

Otherwise, I will bring consequences even more severe than being unable to cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi."

Feng spoke again, this time with a cold threat in his voice.

He was not bluffing this time. If Black Zetsu truly irritated him enough, he would not mind drawing out Ōtsutsuki Isshiki ahead of time and taking the entire ninja world down with him.

"I will truthfully relay your words to Lord Zetsu. Then, Mr. Feng, farewell."

White Zetsu did not respond to Feng's threat.

After all, it was only a tool. How to respond was not for it to decide.