CH - 170 Little Zetsu?!

Before long, Black Zetsu found himself expelled from the room, with strict instructions not to disturb Obito's study. Gazing at the Land of Grass sky, he pondered the peculiar nature of the questions posed. Were these the typical queries a regular ninja should be acquainted with? Did ordinary ninjas grapple with such complexities? And why was he being addressed as 'Little'?

Contemplating his current predicament, Black Zetsu experienced a bitter sensation. He, the third son of Kaguya Otsutsuki, on par with the Sage of Six Paths, was now being addressed as... 'Little Zetsu'?!

Originally, his plan involved becoming Madara's will, securing Madara's identity as a guarantee, and guiding Madara's successor toward the path of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

However, the reality was starkly different. He almost couldn't make an appearance as planned, and now he found himself entangled in a web of intricate questions.

Black Zetsu, being the enigmatic entity that he was, never attended school, how could he possibly know the answers to such mundane queries? Yet, if he couldn't respond, he faced the scrutiny of that impertinent young shinobi, all while being dubbed 'Little Zetsu.'

It was almost unbearable. Nevertheless, these trivialities weren't a significant concern for him, he could endure the humiliation. As the embodiment of his Mother's will, enduring such challenges was a small price to pay if it meant rescuing his mother.

Regrettably, Black Zetsu now found himself not as the embodiment of Madara's will but rather a creation from the book Madara poured his heart and soul into. His status had experienced a sudden and significant decline, especially when dealing with the once seemingly naive Uchiha boy who had now grown shrewd. In the past, a few flattering words could easily deceive Uchiha individuals, but the situation had drastically changed. Now, It seems he can't deceive anyone.

It felt as though a mocking voice whispered in his ear, taunting him as 'Little Zetsu, times have changed.'

Yet, what could he do? The Uchiha youth had become challenging to dupe, consistently questioning him. The leader of the Grass Ninja was even more astute, making deception increasingly difficult.

And those eyes—Madara's eyes—were right beside him. Originally, he thought he'd have time to wait until Madara chose a substitute and guide him in using his power. However, circumstances had changed now, It was impossible for someone like Obito now to lead the container for Madara's eyes into darkness.

As for himself and White Zetsu, it seemed like a lost cause. There was no way they could outsmart or fight anyone. Moreover, The main Problem is that even if Madara were to be resurrected, he might deviate from the original Infinite Tsukuyomi plan.

Feeling the weight of the situation, Black Zetsu clenched his fist and stared ahead. "Mother is still waiting for me. I can't continue like this, We absolutely can't go on like this."

As soon as the words left Black Zetsu's mouth, a familiar voice emerged from underground, questioning, "What do you mean, can't go on like this? Huh, have you finished tutoring Obito?"

Black Zetsu, frustrated by the situation, turned back toward White Zetsu, expressing his agitation. "Tutoring? I can't make heads or tails of that material. Do you understand any of it?"

White Zetsu shook his head in agreement. "Nope, it's incomprehensible. Who in their right mind could get this?"

Realizing his slip of the tongue, Black Zetsu corrected himself. "No, no... That's not the point. For Mother's sake, we need to find a way."

"A way?" The primary form of White Zetsu emerged further, looking at Black Zetsu with confusion. "A way for 'what' exactly?"

"You're aware of our predicament," Black Zetsu sighed, hands resting on his hips, wearing a solemn expression. "Initially, in our strategy, once we identified Madara's successor, the plan was to guide them into steering Madara's eyes toward darkness, utilizing them to corral the tailed beasts and initiate the Infinite Tsukuyomi. However, now..."

With a helpless exhale, he continued, "We find ourselves in an unexpected turn of events."

"That... Black Zetsu, it's not just a bit unexpected now, it's a considerably substantial unexpected development," White Zetsu remarked with a sigh.

"Ignore that, and listen!" Black Zetsu shot a stern look at White Zetsu before proceeding. "Madara has undergone significant changes. Haphazardly resurrecting him might trigger suspicion, making matters worse. Therefore, We can't continue like this, we must devise a solution."

As his words resonated, "What solution?" White Zetsu inquired, perplexed. "Do you already have a plan in mind?"

"Well~" White Zetsu's words prompted Black Zetsu to sink into deep contemplation once again. However, he found himself devoid of any optimal solutions. The plan involving Hashirama and Madara, serving as a means to break Mother's seal, had been anticipated for millennia, awaiting the most opportune moment.

Should he persist in searching for an opportunity to immerse Madara in darkness once more after resurrecting him, enlightening him about the flaws in his current pursuit of peace for the ninja world, asserting that only the Infinite Tsukuyomi offered salvation? Or... should they endure, awaiting the next potential opening? Yet, the uncertainty loomed—how long must they endure before the next chance arrives?

In the midst of Black Zetsu's furrowed brows of contemplation, White Zetsu laid back on the ground, gazing placidly at the ceiling. "In truth... let's not dwell too much on it. We might have already achieved more than half of our goals," he remarked calmly. "Madara's successor has been identified, the eyes are within reach, a tailed beast is in our possession, and the Grass Ninjas' leader is formidable. Perhaps, in time, we can truly gather all nine-tailed beasts. There's no need to rush. After all, we've waited for so long, a few more years won't make a difference. Let's just continue observing, shall we? Taking a break is not a bad idea." He gestured to the space beside him, "Lying down is rather comfortable."

"Enough of this laziness! When did you become so indolent? Remember, this is our mission," Black Zetsu glared at the reclining White Zetsu, questioning with suspicion, "And Zetsu? Where has that whirlpool-faced guy been during this time? Since Madara left, is he still occupied with menial tasks? And the other White Zetsus? Summon them for a meeting, and let's pool our thoughts."

"Well... that guy, I'm not sure where he went. He seemed busy lately, and I don't think he'll be back until later," White Zetsu responded uncertainly.

Black Zetsu paused, then furrowed his brow again, expressing doubt, "Forget about that guy for now. What about the other White Zetsu's? Bring them together for a meeting."

"This... " White Zetsu hesitated, unsure how to convey the situation regarding the other clones.

"What's the issue?" Black Zetsu asked, puzzled by White Zetsu's hesitation.

"Black Zetsu, you might have forgotten? They are all at work right now." White Zetsu sighed as he recalled the current engagements of the other clones.

As the words sank in, Black Zetsu's expression soured. He'd nearly overlooked this crucial detail, what an utter disaster. Now... all their 'tools' had gone to waste.

His determination reignited as he declared, "Just you wait, Bastard. I will certainly voice my grievances to Mother."

…

In the Land of Rain, the steady rain continued to fall. Before the onlookers, a team of ninjas donning vibrant green construction helmets, marked with the Grass Village emblem, stood with purpose, their expressions grave and focused.

Not long ago, Hanzo had sought approval from the Grass Village for the installation of a water system, and swiftly thereafter, personnel from the Grass Village had arrived. It was a pivotal moment, success would mean a significant reduction in future flood disasters for the Land of Rain.

Aso couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement witnessing the unusual yet proficient workers from the Grass Village. Their remarkable resemblance to each other did raise some curiosity, though.

His amazement only grew as he observed the team's incredible efficiency, their digging speed surpassing even Earth-style specialists. Internally marveling at their expertise, he murmured, "Truly the experts sent by Leader Akihiko. Their speed is nothing short of remarkable."