Black Zetsu 

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Chapter 44: Black Zetsu 

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"It's very cold," Isaac muttered as he rubbed his hands together, providing himself with some warmth, and letting out a dense breath of air.

It was indeed cold. It was after all winter. It wasn't raining right now, but it was bound to rain very soon, the cloudy dark sky told as much.

The wet vegetation around also told him that it hadn't been long since it last rained. 

"Oh! I know how to solve that! I saw that people use fire to warm up!" White Zetsu by his side said with a proud grin, "So if you just set yourself on fire, you'll always be warm!"

"Are you stupid?" Black Zetsu's mouth couldn't help but twitch at the idiot's words.

The two's conversation seemed very odd considering the two were merged together.

The two Zetsu were easily distinguished by the two Venus flytrap-like extensions that emerged from their sides, enveloping their head and upper body as a shell, which they are able to open and close. 

Beneath these extensions, White Zetsu had short green hair and a single yellow eye. 

The right half of his body was covered by Black Zetsu, whose leg was originally White Zetsu's own right leg. Under their black cloak, they wore blue pants and sandals and had both legs wrapped in bandages.

"I am not stupid! I am retarded!" White Zetsu proclaimed proudly.

"Do you even know what that means?" Black Zetsu questioned with a confused look.

"Of course, Madara told me that it means being a genius, the smartest! I agree with him! I am retarded!" White Zetsu smugly replied.

"Indeed you are," Black Zetsu was in full support of his friend though he had to turn his attention to Isaac at some point, seeing the latter just eyeing the surroundings.

Isaac had been underground with Madara for months, never seeing the light of day or feeling the gentle cold breeze, so when he finally got to feel it, he had to savor the feeling.

"Are we heading directly to the first target of our plan?" Black Zetsu questioned. 

The plan was something Madara and Isaac discussed many times, and it starts with reaching out to Nagato, their first target.

It's a plan that Isaac perfected with Madara, making him much more satisfied with it, but it was a plan Isaac wasn't willing to start just yet.

"No," Isaac shook his head as he looked in a certain direction, the direction of Konoha, his cosmic eye shining in brilliance, "Let's go to Konoha."

Isaac's words didn't surprise Black Zetsu one bit. Isaac was told a while ago by Madara that the proof of the existence of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, the very basis of their plan; lies in Konoha.

It seemed that Isaac had never fully believed Madara, and now, it was time to check. It would've been suspicious if Isaac didn't want to check.

Isaac fixed his long wet hair, tying it up a bit before covering it with his cloak's hood, then he put on a white mask that covered most of his face, leaving only his cosmic eye for all to see.

While the consumption of keeping Mangekyo Sharingan open at all times would normally be too demanding for anyone, it's no longer demanding for him.

That's thanks to Madara who transplanted Hashirama's cells to him, which gave a ridiculous amount of regeneration capabilities, allowing endless sustain of the passive Eternal Refinement.

The depression of war lasts long for even months after the end of the Third Shinobi War, Konoha still reeked of an air of sorrow.

It was even more depressing today as it started to rain, heavily so. The drops of rain fell on Konoha's roads, drop by drop until eventually, Konoha's streets became empty.

Everyone hid in the comfort of their own home, lit up the stove fire, and made themselves a hot drink, seeking some warmth.

It was the same for the Uchiha Clan. Today, there would be no Uchiha secret meeting, spending their time with their families.

Therefore, the place where they usually conducted their secret meetings was empty, the Naka Shrine.

The Naka Shrine, a shrine that the Uchiha clan originated from. It's located in Konohagakure's Uchiha District and is the home to the clan's patron deity. 

In the main hall, beneath the seventh tatami mat from the far right, is a secret meeting place of the Uchiha clan. 

There stood a stone monument which contains the clan's secrets and can only be read with specific dōjutsu.

Isaac found himself standing before the Stone Tablet, eyeing it with his Mangekyo Sharingan, the cosmic vortex within his eyes rotating slowly as he eyed it closely.

"When someone who possesses the power of Saṃsāra approaches the moon, an eye will open that is reflected on the moon to grant the eternal dream," Isaac murmured.

The Stone Tablet spoke of many things, but he specifically focused on that because it seems to verify Madara's words.

And that seemed to have brought Isaac endless relief as he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before letting out a smile, "He didn't lie," Isaac muttered under his breath.

Isaac then turned around and he said, "Let's go," Then he dove underground, White and Black Zetsu following right behind.

'The smartest are often the easiest to deceive, for they believe things to be under their control when they are in fact walking the path I prepared for them,' Black Zetsu mused in his mind.

He was, however, relieved. Isaac was under control, and it wasn't just due to the seal in his heart, now he believes in Madara's cause.

'It would've been too dangerous if Madara didn't choose him, someone like him would've definitely awakened Mangekyo Sharingan on his own eventually,' That possibility almost made Black Zetsu feel horrified.

'He had eyes that allows him to grow infinitely, always perfecting himself or anything he wants to perfect. He's already a genius, so given enough time with that ability, he would've become the biggest obstacle against my plans... Fortunately, Madara pulled him into our camp.'

Hmm, Isaac didn't seem to have told them the whole picture regarding his ability.

They know it's named Eternal Refinement, but they seem to have a misconception in regards to its functions.

Eternal Refinement in their mind is his only unique Mangekyo ability whereas usually one awakens two abilities, one in the left eye while the other in the right eye.

Isaac, on the other hand, had awakened only one ability, except that it's divided into passive and active.

The passive is always making him grow and improve without much consumption while the active can allow him to perfect the things around him, although its consumption is extremely heavy.

That's what they believe his ability to be. After all, if Black Zetsu had known that Isaac could see the flaws in everything, he would never have allowed him to live even a second further.

If Isaac could see through him, then... Then he would see the truth and realize that Black Zetsu is not the manifestation of Madara's will.

Black Zetsu is after all the physical manifestation of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's will. 

Having been created to secure its creator's revival, it secretly instigated many events that shaped the shinobi world and finally posed as Madara Uchiha's manifested will.

'I just need to guide him to the right path, then... Then, I can bring you back, Mother. My hard work of thousand years is about to pay off,' Black Zetsu's loyalty was always to his mother, his creator, Kaguya.

Uchiha Madara was always not its master but its tool, and now Isaac seemed to have joined Black Zetsu's list of tools.