Black Zetsu is actually a very cautious guy.
After extensive investigations, Black Zetsu finally confirmed that Orochimaru had completely disappeared, and it also noticed that Yakushi Kabuto continued with his grave-robbing activities.
Black Zetsu still took no action until it witnessed Yakushi Kabuto using the Reanimation Jutsu to bring a dead ninja back to their prime state; only then did it decide to let Yakushi Kabuto discover the remains of Uchiha Madara.
The only thing that left Black Zetsu speechless was Yakushi Kabuto's ability to resist the temptation to control Uchiha Madara; instead of resurrecting him, Yakushi Kabuto took Madara's corpse for research.
Black Zetsu could only continue to observe Yakushi Kabuto in secret because the most opportune moment had yet to arrive, and Black Zetsu was not particularly anxious about it.
Yet time waits for no one.
Two years passed by in a flash.
The gears of fate turned slowly.
A lot happened in those two years.
For instance, Uehara Naraku turned twenty and was still single.
For example, Hozuki Suigetsu from The Hidden Mist Village had honed his skills, carrying a broken sword while searching for news about Hozuki Mangetsu but always coming up short.
Uchiha Sasuke, for instance, repeatedly attempted to stealthily assassinate Uchiha Itachi but was easily beaten down by Hoshigaki Kisame.
Or Uzumaki Naruto and Jiraiya finally completed their training and returned to Konoha Village, led by Hatake Kakashi, with the addition of a ninja named Sai, reforming a new Seventh Class.
In another instance, Orochimaru died in his laboratory, which brought satisfaction to many Konoha ninjas, yet the higher-ups were still skeptical as they couldn't verify the truth, although Orochimaru had indeed vanished.
The most important event was undoubtedly the rebirth of the Three-tailed Isobu in the Land of Water.
This also meant that all nine Tailed Beasts in the Ninja World were now alive.
The Akatsuki organization would soon launch their action to collect the Tailed Beasts, the only trouble being that the Four-tailed Jinchuriki Roshi was still in the hands of Uchiha Obito.
This was the biggest headache for Black Zetsu, after all, nobody knew Uchiha Obito's whereabouts.
Moreover, what if, during the Akatsuki members' capture of the Tailed Beasts, Uchiha Obito continued to trail and snatch the beasts away?
The only one who could deal with Uchiha Obito was Uchiha Madara.
However, Uchiha Madara's resurrection would entirely depend on Yakushi Kabuto.
Left with no choice, Black Zetsu finally decided to temporarily conceal the information about the Three-tailed's rebirth from the Akatsuki and hurriedly approached the still-single twenty-year-old Uehara Naraku.
After all, he was the only one they could trust.
Of course, Black Zetsu wasn't there to introduce a girlfriend to Uehara Naraku, but to recruit Yakushi Kabuto: "Uehara, we need someone to assist with the Eye of the Moon Plan, Orochimaru's former assistant, Yakushi Kabuto."
"Yakushi Kabuto?"
Uehara Naraku fittingly displayed a hint of curiosity and surprise: "Does that guy have any special abilities? As far as I remember, his strength seemed unimpressive..."
Black Zetsu spoke in a deep voice: "Yakushi Kabuto has now learned the Reanimation Jutsu, able to provide us with some powerful combat forces, like some once-powerful deceased individuals."
"Reanimation Jutsu, huh?"
Uehara Naraku frowned and held his temple: "If Yakushi Kabuto has indeed learned the Reanimation Jutsu like Orochimaru, then he has the ambition as strong as Orochimaru's; he may not be willing to help us."
While chatting with Black Zetsu, Uehara Naraku was inwardly cursing.
Black Zetsu, this cunning old fellow, didn't want to tell him everything and even tried to secretly resurrect Uchiha Madara!
After all, Yakushi Kabuto strangely discovered Uchiha Madara's remains and immediately informed Uehara Naraku of this; Uehara Naraku was well aware of this matter.
Damn it, what about the trust?
What about the trust between them?
Black Zetsu didn't trust him anymore!
Well, two years had passed after all, and feelings can fade, it's normal.
And of course, given the special relationship between Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu, Black Zetsu hiding it from Uehara Naraku was understandable.
However, if Black Zetsu had told Uehara, would he really have stopped him?
On the surface, Uehara Naraku would certainly not have stopped it, he would even loudly support Black Zetsu's actions, but in secret, he would definitely instruct Yakushi Kabuto not to take action.
Uehara Naraku looked at Black Zetsu and sighed lightly; once it involved Uchiha Madara, Black Zetsu instinctively wanted to conceal it?
Heh, still hiding!
Who are you trying to fool, old guy!
Objectively speaking, among all the antagonists in the Ninja World, apart from Black Zetsu himself, they were basically all Uehara Naraku's people!
Black Zetsu, observing the somewhat regretful expression on Uehara Naraku's face, was unaware of his complex feelings, just smirked and reassured him: "Don't worry about Yakushi Kabuto's ambition, just try to force him into a corner, I'm confident he will choose to join us."
As long as Uehara Naraku could back Yakushi Kabuto into a corner, Yakushi Kabuto would definitely choose to use the Reanimation Jutsu to revive the peak-era Uchiha Madara!
Once Uchiha Madara was revived, his strength would undoubtedly free him from Kabuto's control, and at that moment, the Ninja World would be at his and Uchiha Madara's mercy!
The emergence of the Reanimation Jutsu is practically a savior for the Eye of the Moon Plan. Should Uchiha Madara be resurrected at his peak, there's no one in the Ninja World who could stop him!
It's evident that Uehara Naraku knows this as well.
If Yakushi Kabuto truly is his enemy, he might really be forced to resurrect Uchiha Madara in a desperate situation…
However…
Yakushi Kabuto is truly one of his own.
Uehara Naraku gazed at Black Zetsu, calmly nodded, and said, "Alright, I'll go ask Teacher Konan for time off now."
Black Zetsu nodded satisfactorily, saying, "You must hurry because the Three-tailed Isobu has already been reborn in the Land of Water, and the Eye of the Moon Plan is about to begin!"
Before the plan starts, Uchiha Obito, this potential threat, must be eliminated.
No, if Uchiha Madara can truly be resurrected, any hidden threat to the Eye of the Moon Plan could be resolved by him.
Uehara Naraku raised an eyebrow and asked in bewilderment, "Has the Three-tailed Isobu already been resurrected in the Land of Water?"
"Hmm."
Black Zetsu nodded, his voice increasingly somber, "The One-tailed, Two-tailed, and Three-tailed are easily captured Tailed Beasts, but the Four-tailed Jinchuriki is still in Uchiha Obito's hands. We need Yakushi Kabuto's power to deal with Uchiha Obito!"
"..."
Uehara Naraku couldn't help but blink.
He probably understood why Black Zetsu wanted to resurrect Uchiha Madara.
Without the Four-tailed Son Goku, the Akatsuki capturing eight Tailed Beasts would be useless. They would only be able to let the Gedo Statue absorb the One-tailed, Two-tailed, and Three-tailed Chakra, forcing the plan to halt. Over time, they might even face enemy crusades.
After Black Zetsu left.
Uehara Naraku gently curled his finger, sighed, and said, "Sigh, asking me to win over Yakushi Kabuto… Is this really how to do it? Isn't it too flawed?"
To be honest, he's a bit worried.
After contemplating for a long time, Uehara Naraku still decided to contact Yakushi Kabuto in advance and ask for his opinion.
After all, the subordinates within the Akatsuki, Hoshigaki Kisame, Ringo Ameyuri, and Hozuki Mangetsu, were unreliable. Outside of combat, they were almost brainless.
"Ninpo: Summoning Jutsu!"
Uehara Naraku summoned two coffins, one containing Uchiha Obito and the other containing Namikaze Minato.
Once the coffin lids opened, two figures emerged.
Namikaze Minato still had that serious expression when facing Uehara Naraku, while Uchiha Obito's face remained awkward.
Uehara Naraku waved his hand, ignoring their complex relationship, saying, "Obito-senpai, tomorrow morning, please quietly throw the Four-tailed Jinchuriki at the Akatsuki hideout, and write a few words on the ground as well…"
"What words?"
Uchiha Obito's focus was a bit different.
Normal ninjas would usually focus on more important matters, like why he'd have to drop off the Four-tailed Jinchuriki at the Akatsuki hideout instead of questioning what words to write…
Uehara Naraku teased his own lips, looked at Uchiha Obito, and said, "Just write… 'I'll always be watching you!'"
"Bastard! That's what Rin used to say…"
Anger instantly flashed across Uchiha Obito's face.
[I'll always be watching you] was a phrase Nohara Rin would say to him since they were young. Uehara Naraku making him write these words was undoubtedly using Rin's matter to threaten him again.
Uehara Naraku smiled and said, "I just think this phrase fits the situation. I'm sure Obito-senpai will perform this task perfectly, right?"
"I understand."
Uchiha Obito gritted his teeth and was about to vanish in a space-time vortex before Uehara Naraku.
"Obito…"
Namikaze Minato instinctively grabbed his arm, seemingly wanting to stop his disciple from continuing down the wrong path.
Uchiha Obito clenched his fist, broke free from his teacher's grasp, and quietly said, "I'm sorry, Sensei, I have my reasons."
"Fourth Hokage-sama, it's better not to interfere too much."
Uehara Naraku watched Uchiha Obito disappear and turned to Namikaze Minato with a smile, "I've heard your Instantaneous Jutsu is incredibly fast, so I'd like you to take the trouble of finding Kabuto and conveying my order to him."
"..."
Under the control of the Reanimation, Namikaze Minato couldn't refuse.
The next second, his figure vanished before Uehara Naraku. The infinite chakra of the reanimation body meant he could continually use Flying Thunder God to rush to Yakushi Kabuto's hideout in no time.
Uehara Naraku kept away the two coffins, touched his chin, and muttered to himself, "Seems like I can leave Namikaze Minato by Kabuto's side in the future… Besides helping him, they can also exchange information anytime."
As the technique user of the Reanimation, Uehara Naraku could fully project his will onto Namikaze Minato, speaking through his body.