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JST Chapter 216: Paranoia
🕑 Added 2025-03-14 10:37:42 +0000 UTCBlack Zetsu watched the silence that had fallen upon Madara and Obito, and for a moment, he felt relief.
Thank goodness...
They still had some common sense left.
But what made Black Zetsu feel a little unhappy was...
Obito, who had experienced Rin's death, who had had the audacity to challenge even a rejuvenated Madara, why was it enough to mention Kazuki for him to suddenly calm down, as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown over him?
This is not good!
Black Zetsu remembered this grudge.
Of course, he knew his thoughts were somewhat irrational, but still, the feeling of disgust did not go away.
Always cold and calculating, Black Zetsu couldn't help but be swept away by his emotions this time...
Madara and Obito stared at each other and, almost at the same time, let out a cold snort.
"Brat, you have a good pair of eyes. Let's talk."
"Dude, I didn't expect you to still be breathing. Okay, let's talk."
They both made a temporary truce because of Kazuki.
Madara, carrying the unconscious Nagato, headed for the cave.
Black Zetsu followed them closely but suddenly felt a chill run through his body.
For some reason, he had the feeling that Kazuki might be watching everything at that very moment...
But was that possible?
Kazuki didn't have thousands of White Zetsu clones at his disposal, so how could he keep an eye on every corner of the shinobi world?
Furthermore, before arriving here, Black Zetsu had used his Mayfly technique to scout the surroundings, circling countless times underground in search of enemies. He didn't think Kazuki could still track him.
Still, he couldn't help but feel the need to look back.
But a voice inside him warned him: If you turn around, it will mean that you have lost confidence in beating Kazuki...
You are the shadowy puppeteer behind the shinobi world, the savior of Kaguya's mother, the architect of Obito's destiny and that of humanity... Are you going to act paranoid?
Black Zetsu hesitated for a moment, his steps slowing.
It was then that Kazuki, hidden until then, slowly appeared with a smile, watching every one of Black Zetsu's movements.
Finally, Black Zetsu gave in and turned his head.
At that instant, Kazuki's eyes shone with a crimson glow, and an intense red light illuminated the shadows of the forest.
Black Zetsu looked back and saw Kazuki's Sharingan, which made him feel a chill run through his body.
But when he refocused his gaze, the light had disappeared.
Had it all been an illusion? Or was Kazuki really watching them from the shadows?
Black Zetsu could no longer be sure of anything.
Had it been a product of his anxiety and pent-up pressure? Or had Kazuki already gotten this far and was monitoring his every move?
His heart sank.
And then, from the cave, the shouts of an argument between Madara and Obito forced him to move on.
Those two were a constant headache.
Black Zetsu hurried over, tired. The only thing keeping him going was the warmth of having saved Kaguya's mother and Uchiha Obito...
At that moment, Black Zetsu missed the time before Uchiha Obito turned evil...
In those days, there was always someone who listened to his words, someone who, no matter what he said, always smiled at him patiently.
But now, he could only bear the entire burden by himself.
[From the target Black Zetsu: You gain a special talent: lonely soulmate]
[Lonely Soulmate]: You can set a goal, and depending on the level of closeness and trust you share, you can perceive their emotions and even hear their thoughts.
Kazuki blinked in surprise. His younger brother really was an inexhaustible treasure.
If he used it on Kaguya, wouldn't it become something like... [I, Uchiha Kazuki, at the beginning of the story, capture Empress Kaguya and listen to her secret thoughts?]
"Zetsu, keep working hard, big brother will be watching..."
Kazuki went underground and left temporarily.
In fact, Black Zetsu was overthinking things. Although Kazuki had many ways to conceal his presence, and he had mastered numerous secret techniques from the shinobi world, there would always be loopholes in the face of the absolute power of Uchiha Madara's Rinnegan.
This was not a question of the sophistication of ninjutsu, but a vast difference in power level.
Therefore, Kazuki couldn't directly listen to their conversations. If he got too close, he would be discovered.
But that wasn't a problem. Given Black Zetsu's current state of mind, it was likely he imagined Kazuki possessed some mysterious secret technique...
It is a smart person, and smart people think like this, always thinking too much.
...
In the cave.
Under the mediation of Black Zetsu, Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Obito finally stopped arguing and sat on stone benches.
They stared at each other, their eyes reflecting mutual distrust.
"Madara-sama, if you allow me, I will explain the Eye of the Moon Plan to Uchiha Obito again."
Black Zetsu looked at Madara, who nodded before turning to Obito and beginning to detail the plan.
Madara looked approvingly at Black Zetsu, who was able to communicate with Obito without friction.
This servant created by Yin-Yang Release is still useful...
At least it can be used as a communication platform. If it were only him and Uchiha Obito today, they might have to fight later.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the cave, Nagato, who had been carried away by Uchiha Madara, began to wake up. He frowned and, with a cry of indignation, exclaimed, "Is this what you call world peace? This is destroying the world! You're completely crazy!"
"Peace can only be achieved through mutual understanding, never through violence."
Despite the emptiness in his eye sockets, his voice sounded firm and determined.
Yahiko's philosophy remained his unwavering faith...
Uchiha Obito gave him a disdainful look and a mocking laugh, but then his expression changed. He narrowed his eyes, thinking.
Madara had obtained a pair of Rinnegan... and this man was eyeless. There was something very suspicious about all this.
Wasting no time, Uchiha Madara lunged, striking Nagato, knocking him unconscious instantly. "Too naive," he muttered coldly.
Then, without taking his eyes off Obito, he continued, "Obito, you already know about the Eye of the Moon Plan. Black Zetsu has explained all the details to you."
Madara paused before continuing thoughtfully: "Let's work together. We both want the same thing: peace in the shinobi world."
"With our combined forces, the Five Great Shinobi Villages wouldn't be a real threat. However... there is someone who is troublesome."
Obito slowly raised his head and, with a sharp look, replied, "You're not talking about Kazuki, are you?"
Uchiha Madara was silent.
How did this kid know?
Oh, right...
Kazuki has a good relationship with the Uchiha clan.
"That's right, it's Kazuki." Madara pondered for a moment, adjusted his tone, and spoke: "I've observed him for a long time. Brat, do you really think I rescued you from the battlefield because you were the ideal candidate to execute the Moon's Eye Plan?"
"It's not like that. Uchiha Kazuki was my ideal choice."
"It's just..."
Madara paused, shaking his head ruefully. Then he scanned Obito's expression and let out a contemptuous laugh.
A trace of annoyance flashed in Black Zetsu's eyes.
No wonder Uchiha Madara was unpopular in Konoha back then!
The Uchiha clan was as powerful as the Senju, yet they failed to even reach the position of Second Hokage. Their troubling lack of social skills played a key role in this.
Shouldn't you be trying to join forces with Obito instead of praising Kazuki right now?
Black Zetsu opened his mouth to try to smooth things over, but Obito, to his surprise, nodded naturally.
"On this, I agree with you..."
"If Kazuki were in charge of the Eye of the Moon Plan, he would do it much better than me."
Madara started, and then heard Obito continue in a cold tone: "And better than you too."
To Obito's surprise, Madara wasn't bothered by his words. In fact, he nodded slightly.
The atmosphere fell into a strange silence.
Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Obito looked at each other, with a hint of doubt in their eyes...
Black Zetsu was almost irritated by these two people.
Two idiots, are you still thinking about him?
That guy's dojutsu has already marked Obito! He even stole his Kamui!
The same is true for Uchiha Madara, the old man. Black Zetsu even suspects that Kazuki may have locked onto him in some way, quietly absorbing the power of Uchiha Madara's emotional fluctuations!
Although it sounded outrageous, since Madara was hiding in a cave this whole time, Black Zetsu couldn't help but think that Kazuki was capable of doing it.
That man had unfathomable methods. No matter how much distrust or suspicion one harbored toward him, they always proved insufficient.
