When the intercepted order reached the Other Dimension, the Masked Man was examining the original documents for the Moon's Eye Plan.
Black tendrils emerged from the edge of the stone platform, forming the blurred outlines of four witnesses before him.
Then the Heart Restriction's trigger seal slowly lit up.
The order did not say "must."
Because the seal itself was the mandate.
As long as the Masked Man accepted the connection to the black tendrils, the restriction would bind eliminating the witnesses to keeping his heart stable.
Complete the order, and the contractions would stop.
Refuse the order, and the repaired tissue on his right side would continue losing its blood supply.
The Masked Man did not touch the black tendrils.
He first summoned the six White Zetsu still in the Other Dimension and laid three versions of the tablet inscription before them.
The first was an old transcription from the village's founding years.
The second was the current layer visible to an ordinary Sharingan.
The third was the text revealed after awakening the Mangekyo, as recorded in Shisui's records.
"Which one came from Madara?"
Two White Zetsu pointed to the third.
They said Infinite Tsukuyomi was the only path Madara had personally chosen.
Three White Zetsu did not know the old transcription existed and merely kept repeating that the stone tablet could not be wrong.
The last remained silent for a long time, then pointed to the black transition between the second and third versions.
"When we woke up, it was already there."
"Who told you that was Madara's intent?"
"The black one."
The answer made the other White Zetsu retreat at once.
They were not afraid of the Masked Man.
They were afraid that voicing different memories would trigger a higher authority within their bodies.
The Masked Man