At the bottom of the rift, Naruto lay quietly on a patch of sand. Not a trace of aura leaked from him; he seemed to have become one with the surrounding nature.
Naruto merely gazed up at the sky. The constant explosions and sounds of fighting from outside seemed unable to reach his ears.
Suddenly, a pitcher plant sprouted from the sand beside him. Black Zetsu's clone emerged from it and respectfully said to Naruto, "Father, it seems Toneri has exhausted too much chakra and is hiding now. Aren't you going to make a move? This is the perfect chance to capture the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails."
"Once those two Tailed Beasts fall into our hands, Father, you can revive the Ten-Tails and become its Jinchuriki!"
Naruto's gaze refocused. He turned his head and looked at Black Zetsu's clone with a smile. "If I remember correctly, there's still one Five-Tails we haven't captured, right?"
Black Zetsu hurriedly explained, "No need to worry, Father. The Five-Tails has already been captured by Akatsuki's trainee member, Obito. He also brought back the Mangekyō Sharingan of Sasuke Uchiha, which you have always wanted. Now only the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails remain. Once we have them, the plan can officially begin, and Mother can be saved."
Black Zetsu did not actually understand why Naruto had always fixated on Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan. But in his view, it was precisely the best card to persuade Naruto to act personally.
He had always believed that Naruto's Rinnegan had been awakened through Itachi Uchiha's Eternal Eye. Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan should logically be incapable of granting Naruto much further power, which was why Black Zetsu had unhesitatingly told Obito to find a way to help Sasuke awaken his eyes, then seek an opportunity to deliver them to Naruto.
Of course, Naruto had