The depths of the cave were damp and dark. Water droplets slowly gathered and fell from the tips of the stalactites.
In the deepest part of the cave, which resembled an underground labyrinth, an old man sat on a massive natural stone throne.
Despite his advanced age, Madara's physique remained upright. The ravages of time were deeply etched into his body.
Wrinkles covered his face, and the eyes that once intimidated the Ninja World were now tightly shut.
A shadow seeped from the rock wall, coalescing into form like ink spreading in water.
Black Zetsu's movements were silent. As Black Zetsu's figure emerged, Madara's fingers on the stone throne twitched.
"Madara-sama." Black Zetsu's voice was hoarse, causing a slight echo in the cave.
"Everything has been arranged. Haruki accepted Aoki as expected." Black Zetsu's lips curved slightly.
What a naive person!
Madara's eyes remained closed, his lips twitching slightly. "How did Haruki perform?"
"Exactly as you predicted."
Black Zetsu replied, with a hint of admiration in his tone, "He showed strong sympathy for Aoki's plight, unhesitatingly inviting him to join the Akatsuki, and Aoki gained his trust effortlessly."
Madara let out a low chuckle and sighed. "Kindness is always the easiest tool to exploit."
Black Zetsu moved forward, a curious glint in his eyes, staring at Madara on the stone throne, and asked, "Why choose Haruki? Compared to him, there seem to be many more ninjas with potential in the Ninja World to choose from, he is not irreplaceable."
Hearing Black Zetsu's question, Madara finally opened his eyes. Despite his twilight years, those eyes were still as sharp as an eagle's. In his crimson pupils, black tomoe slowly rotated.
Madara slowly said, "Indeed, Haruki is not the strongest ninja nor is he clever, and he even lacks vigilance. But it is precisely these 'flaws' that make him the most suitable candidate."
Black Zetsu remained silent.
"Too clever, we cannot utilize. Too strong, he will not be used by us."
Madara slowly rose from the stone throne and walked towards a smooth rock wall, his fingers gently brushing the cold stone surface.
"This world is full of ambitious people and idealists."
"Ambitious people are difficult to control, they always have their own schemes."
"And idealists..."
Madara's lips curved into a sarcastic arc.
"Idealists are the easiest to exploit, because they will willingly put on shackles for so-called noble goals."
He turned around, his sharingan appearing particularly profound in the dim light.
Black Zetsu stared at Madara, slowly curving his lips.
"You are very right." Black Zetsu nodded in agreement.
Madara, as if he hadn't heard Black Zetsu's words, continued, "Haruki is precisely such an idealist. He has naive fantasies about a peaceful world, yearns to save everyone, and believes that the essence of human nature is good. This way of thinking makes him extremely easy to guide and manipulate."
Black Zetsu nodded slightly. He stared at the moving Madara and asked, "He will believe us more easily?"
"Precisely so."
Madara looked down at his reflection in the water. He was old.
Unable to defy the laws of birth, aging, sickness, and death, he had to entrust the Eye of the Moon Plan to someone he could trust.
And Haruki, who had risen to prominence in the Ninja World in the past two years, was the successor he had chosen.
Haruki's age and personality made him the optimal candidate to continue the Eye of the Moon Plan.
"Haruki has witnessed the brutality of war firsthand, he deeply understands the fragility of life. This experience makes him intensely crave peace, to the point where he is willing to believe any method that promises to end war."
Madara raised his hand, palm up, as if holding something invisible.
"Give him a reason, and he will willingly walk the path we design for him."
"He will not question, will not betray, because he genuinely believes he is doing the right thing."
Black Zetsu let out a laugh that was almost admiring. "How wonderful!"
A cold glint flashed in Madara's eyes. "The best puppet are those who do not know they are being manipulated. Haruki will never suspect he is a chosen pawn, because all his actions align with his own moral principles and ideals."
Water droplets fell from the cave ceiling, sounding exceptionally clear in the silence.
Madara slowly walked back to the stone throne, letting out a slight sigh as he sat down.
"Nagato has begun to show signs of independent thought."
"He needs someone by his side, someone he trusts, to subtly reinforce his belief in the Eye of the Moon Plan. Haruki perfectly fits this role."
Black Zetsu mused, "Nagato will suspect anyone, but he will not suspect Haruki."
A red light flashed in Madara's eyes as he said, "Haruki doesn't even need to deliberately persuade Nagato. As long as Haruki believes in the Eye of the Moon Plan, Nagato will believe in the Eye of the Moon Plan."
Black Zetsu let out a low chuckle. "Aoki joined the Akatsuki. He will be by Haruki's side, repeatedly mentioning the Eye of the Moon Plan, slowly making Haruki believe that only the Eye of the Moon Plan can achieve the Akatsuki's dream."
Madara closed his eyes again, lost in thought. "If Aoki fails to do so, then that overly naive child will simply have to realize the cruelty of the world prematurely, to make him realize that by using his methods to achieve peace, he will only lose one comrade after another."
Nagato cannot be touched, but he remembered that Haruki had two other children by his side named Yahiko and Konan.
Awakening always comes with bloodshed and sacrifice. He hoped Haruki would not reach that point.
Black Zetsu nodded. "As you wish, I will ensure everything proceeds according to plan."
Madara waved his hand.
Black Zetsu disappeared into the cave.
Madara sat on the stone throne, muttering to himself, "Naive idealists are always the easiest to exploit, and also the easiest to destroy."
His gaze became profound, as if recalling some distant past event.