Black Zetsu's arm was still churning inside Madara's chest.
"Mother... resurrected?" Madara's pupils trembled violently, his scarlet Sharingan filled with absurdity. He desperately urged the Ten-Tails' chakra within him, trying to use the Truth-Seeking Orbs to sever that black arm.
But nothing happened.
The Six Paths Power that had once obeyed his every command had become a leaden quagmire, completely severing its connection with his soul. Not only that, but the Nine-Tomoe Rinne Sharingan that had just opened on his forehead began spinning wildly, completely beyond his control.
"You bastard..." Madara ground his teeth to pieces, forcing the words from his throat. "I created you! You represent my will!"
"Stop flattering yourself, Madara." Half of Black Zetsu's face twisted into a mocking smile. "You and Obito are both self-righteous blind fools. I've lived for over a thousand years. I guided Indra into rebellion, altered the Uchiha Stone Tablet, and schemed tirelessly—all for this day. You were nothing more than a vessel I used to accumulate chakra."
Black Zetsu's body transformed into viscous black sludge. Following the arm that pierced through Madara's chest, it crawled over his entire body like a mad dog.
"Argh—!"
The peerless warlord who had dominated the Shinobi World and beaten the Five Kage like punching bags let out a shrill scream.
The earth began to tremble violently.
In the distance, the towering Divine Tree suddenly withered. The tens of thousands of "cocoons" hanging from its branches were forcibly drained of vast amounts of Pure Yang Chakra. They became dozens of chakra waterfalls, each a hundred meters wide, surging upward and pouring entirely into Madara's body.
Inside Susanoo, the dead silence was shattered by the terrifying commotion.
"What happened outside?" Sakura collapsed onto the ground, her face pale.
The veins around Hinata's eyes bulged as she pushed