Naruto knew this scene well. Even the smell had barely changed.
Black Zetsu stared with his two little round eyes, transformed into a child, and cried miserably.
Naruto raised a hand and rubbed his head, his face full of grief.
"Little Blackie, Dad has let you down. We couldn't save your mother, and Dad feels terrible too."
"But this time is different." Naruto's tone shifted as he spoke seriously. "Dad went through countless hardships to return to the past. This time, I'm going to change history with my own hands."
"After learning from the future, I took Madara Uchiha's damn Rinnegan ahead of time. Without those eyes, he won't be able to cause us any more trouble."
As Naruto spoke, his expression grew increasingly solemn.
"Next, Dad needs to collect the Tailed Beasts. As for when I can return to the future, even I can't say. So I'm leaving the task of helping Uchiha Sasuke awaken his eyes to you."
"You know better than Dad how to awaken the Sharingan. Whether that future Second Pillar can successfully awaken his eyes depends entirely on you. Remember, no matter when Dad returns, you have to get this done."
Black Zetsu had still been crying, but after hearing that, he immediately perked up and nodded excitedly.
"Rest assured, Father! I will definitely complete the task you assigned me!"
Naruto patted his shoulder in satisfaction.
"Then get moving. If we delay any longer, that stupid mutt Madara Uchiha will notice something's wrong. As for the Rinnegan, just tell him the people from Kirigakure took it. When the time comes, he'll naturally go turn Kirigakure upside down."
Black Zetsu's eyes nearly welled up again.
Father really did care about him.
He did not dare waste any time. Obediently, he burrowed into the ground and vanished