Ripples spread through space, and Obito stepped out of a vortex. Black Zetsu, who had been waiting there for some time, said, "Obito, Nagato may be starting to question whether you're Madara."
Obito shook his head. "He isn't questioning it. He's already confirmed that I'm not Madara-at least, not the Madara who fought Hashirama Senju. Orochimaru actually revived the First and Second. That was an unforeseen development."
Of course, what worried Obito most wasn't the revival of the First and Second, but the resurrection of the real Madara.
Despite all the preparations Madara had made before his death, not one of them-Nagato, Obito, or even Black Zetsu-truly wanted to bring him back.
In the original timeline, if Kabuto Yakushi hadn't appeared, Madara would probably have remained buried in his coffin forever.
Still, they had to guard against Orochimaru reviving powerful shinobi of the past. Reanimated bodies might be vulnerable to sealing jutsu, but enough ants could kill an elephant, let alone dead shinobi who had once shaken the world.
"Zetsu, go collect the bodies of powerful shinobi across the shinobi world. We can't let Orochimaru keep doing as he pleases."
Black Zetsu paused, then nodded. Compared with Obito, his thoughts ran deeper and further ahead. If Orochimaru could perform that jutsu, why couldn't he?
Just then, a White Zetsu emerged from the earth and reported to them, "The Five Kage Summit will soon be held in the Land of Iron. The Five Great Shinobi Villages have already sent delegations."
At the news, Obito and Black Zetsu exchanged a glance, then nodded.
Since the Five Great Shinobi Villages were holding a Five Kage Summit, the Akatsuki ought to do something in response.
Within the Land of Iron.
Trudging through the thick snow, Zou Hyuga rubbed his hands together and breathed