Black Zetsu's Backup Plan and a Withered Madara

Black Zetsu was afraid. The Ninja World still had someone this powerful? Even with the Rinnegan, Obito Uchiha possessed strength that rivaled the two warriors who had once brought the Sengoku era to an end. Yet he still had no hope of winning.

Once Chibaku Tensei was unleashed, no one in the Ninja World could withstand its power.

From a safe distance, Black Zetsu watched the immense pull lift even Susanoo off the ground. Terror filled his eyes, and his pitch-black face seemed to darken further. "No. If this goes on, all my plans and all my waiting will have been for nothing. Uchiha Jobu cannot get the Nine-Tails. Absolutely not!"

"Good thing I prepared for this..."

Black Zetsu gave himself a smug mental pat on the back. He had originally made these preparations in case Obito Uchiha turned against him. Now they would serve against a powerful enemy.

He formed Hand Seals and summoned Uchiha Madara's corpse. Turning into a pool of black liquid, Black Zetsu slithered into the withered body and used the Yin–Yang Release energy within himself to restore its vitality.

He had not revived Uchiha Madara. He had merely moved into the withered corpse.

Within minutes, Uchiha Madara shot upright and opened a pair of black, pupil-less eyes. He looked toward Obito Uchiha, who was struggling to shatter the core of Chibaku Tensei with Kamui Shuriken.

"The Rinnegan should return to where it truly belongs."

"Obito, your mission ends here!"

Black Zetsu sent Uchiha Madara's lifeless corpse running toward the battlefield. The lack of bright eyes did nothing to hinder his sense of direction.

After all, the figure that looked like Uchiha Madara was actually Black Zetsu. He had only used the unusual energy of Yin–Yang Release to restore vitality to a corpse that had been