When Naruto opened his eyes again, flickering flames greeted him.
Above the flames, fish skewered on wooden sticks sizzled with hot oil.
Black Uncle sat beside him, watching him with a warm expression.
"Naruto, you're awake."
Naruto had yet to reconnect with reality, and his expression was somewhat dazed.
"Black... Uncle?"
His gaze wavered, and he was just about to say something... "Grrrrrrrr." His stomach spoke first.
"You must be starving... Here, have some fish I grilled for you."
Naruto dug in, happiness spreading through his entire body from his taste buds...
It had been so long... Though he had last eaten Black Uncle's grilled fish only a few months ago, it felt like a lifetime had passed.
He remembered.
Sasuke had wanted to kill him and Black Uncle. With no other choice, he had let Black Uncle control his body so they could escape for the time being!
"Black Uncle... Thank goodness! Thank goodness you're all right!!"
Tears spilled down his cheeks despite himself.
At the sight, Black Zetsu finally felt his anxiety ease.
Madara's will had fallen completely dormant, just as Naruto's had before.
To stop the Nine-Tails from spilling any secrets, Black Zetsu had tampered with the Sealing Jutsu while Naruto was unconscious, preventing the Nine-Tails from speaking to him.
As for Asura's consciousness, it could not manifest as long as Black Zetsu stayed beside Naruto.
Though everything seemed foolproof, Black Zetsu still worried that Naruto might retain memories of the time Madara had controlled his body.
After all... those memories contained a great deal that would seriously hinder his manipulation of Naruto.
Naruto's reaction now was exactly what Black Zetsu wanted.
"Don't worry, Naruto. Everything's all right now."
Black Zetsu smiled from the heart. Like bright sunlight suddenly breaking through the darkness, that smile warmed Naruto's