"Since we can't find Orochimaru anymore, what about his subordinates?"
Obito Uchiha took off his somewhat damaged mask, set it aside, and fastened a new one over his face as he asked in a gloomy voice.
"We'll need to look into that."
Black Zetsu thought for a moment. The only one of Orochimaru's subordinates who had left an impression on him was the fellow named Kabuto Yakushi.
He had never thought anything of the others.
If anyone was qualified to inherit everything Orochimaru had left behind, Kabuto Yakushi was the most likely candidate.
Of course, just to be safe, Black Zetsu had no intention of overlooking the subordinates Orochimaru had treated as expendable materials, either.
If any of them had mastered the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, they might be overlooked without an investigation.
The focus, of course, was Kabuto Yakushi!
"Then I'll go look for traces of Orochimaru's subordinates first, and have White Zetsu search Orochimaru's bases as well."
"Mm."
Black Zetsu had been about to leave, but he still offered a warning. "Although the Fire Temple is some distance from Konoha, the entire village is on edge after Nagato's attack."
"You need to tell Sasuke to be careful. If he draws Konoha's attention, it might bring out the Konoha ninja led by Shihōin Naraku!"
"We can't set Konoha off right now. They're seething with anger!"
Black Zetsu did not assume that because he had allied with Shihōin Naraku, and Naraku himself had given him the information about the Fire Temple, Obito could send Sasuke there without meeting any opposition.
Shihōin Naraku was the Sixth Hokage. He could cooperate with Black Zetsu in secret, but in public, he would certainly act in his capacity as Hokage.
So if Sasuke caused too much of a disturbance at the Fire Temple, he