Uchiha Madara liked how calm Black Zetsu was acting.
Poor old Madara didn't know that from beginning to end, the real mastermind behind all calculations… had always been Black Zetsu.
After taking the scroll Black Zetsu handed over, Madara's expression brightened.
His smile grew wider and wider.
"Hahaha! Yes… this boy is very suitable!"
As expected of someone personally selected by Black Zetsu...
The candidate matched exactly what Uchiha Madara envisioned.
White Zetsu, confused as always, peeked at the scroll after Madara finished reading.
But the moment he skimmed its contents, he froze.
"Huh!? Are you two seeing something different than I am? All I see is an introduction to some dead-last loser!"
White Zetsu scratched his head repeatedly, looking more and more bewildered.
Black Zetsu clicked his tongue.
"Idiot."
What the scroll recorded was Uchiha Obito's profile...
His academy scores, his childhood behavior, even the tiny details of his early missions.
"Eh!? Are you really choosing the academy's loser!? This feels… seriously unreliable!"
"…"
Both Black Zetsu and Madara looked at White Zetsu flatly.
The most unreliable one here is clearly you… why are you calling others unreliable?
But after all these years, they were already used to White Zetsu's brain-cell deficiency.
Madara didn't bother arguing. His tone was full of confidence.
"For the Uchiha… pure emotion is their greatest talent."
And Uchiha Obito possessed that emotion—
A pure, wholehearted love for Nohara Rin.
"When the love in an Uchiha's heart is shattered, all so-called 'love' transforms into power. That is the essence of our clan."
The Sharingan truly was cursed.
What drove an Uchiha's rapid growth wasn't just natural talent...
It was obsession.
And Obito's obsession began and ended with one person: Nohara Rin.
With that, Madara stopped hesitating. He looked toward Black and White Zetsu.
"Go observe this Uchiha Obito. Find an opportunity… bring him to me."
"Understood."
White Zetsu prepared to slip away immediately but Black Zetsu didn't move.
"Huh? What's wrong? Why aren't you coming? Let's go, let's go."
White Zetsu blinked cluelessly.
The other half of him staying behind meant he couldn't leave either.
"Idiot."
Black Zetsu glared.
Of course he wasn't leaving yet.
"Madara-sama, I encountered a very interesting person today… He noticed me and White Zetsu hiding."
Madara's eyes narrowed.
"Oh?"
Black and White Zetsu's concealment ability was something Madara himself knew well.
Someone being able to detect them was no small matter.
"Which clan is he from? Uchiha? Senju? Uzumaki?"
"Uhh… no, he's none of those, but—"
Before Black Zetsu could finish, Madara immediately cut him off.
"A person without special bloodline… no matter how strong they are, their ceiling is limited. Not worth caring about."
"Ugh…"
Black Zetsu wanted to be cautious—
After all, he had been planning for a thousand years.
One unexpected anomaly could ruin everything.
But as if seeing right through Black Zetsu's worries, Madara gave him a calm, expressionless glance.
"I don't have much time left. Don't get distracted."
"…I understand."
With nothing more to say, Black and White Zetsu sank back into the ground.
If Madara were still in his prime, he would definitely keep an eye on that mysterious "Shiki."
But now… with his remaining lifespan shrinking fast, he had to accelerate the plan.
Seeing this, Black Zetsu wisely dropped the topic.
--
Shiki, who had reached the battlefront near the Land of Lightning, had no idea he'd just been dismissed by the legendary Uchiha Madara like some insignificant bug.
Even if he knew, Shiki would probably just laugh.
Ignore me if you want… but when we eventually meet in person, I'm still gonna beat your ancient ass.
"Lord Shiki! We've reached the border of the Land of Fire. The Third Raikage's forces are only a few kilometers from here!"
"Hmm. Then we'll make camp here."
Shiki nodded.
Officially, this was his first time acting as commander-in-chief.
When they fought Sunagakure previously, Tsunade handled all command duties.
So naturally, Shiki waved his hand and passed all logistical complications to Nara Shikaku.
"Shikaku, all the camp details… I'll leave them to you."
"...Fine."
Shikaku could only sigh internally.
With a commander like this… he had no choice but to shoulder the work.
While the others set up camp, Shiki wandered off—planning to look for Kurenai.
Just like the other kunoichi, Kurenai was busy helping with camp setup.
Even if she acted like a shy good girl in front of Shiki… Kurenai had a firm heart.
She didn't want others thinking she only came because of him.
She refused to be underestimated.
"Could you—please—stay away from me?"
"Kurenai-chan, we haven't seen each other for so long! I missed you so much!"
"Sorry, but I didn't miss you at all."
Shiki had barely arrived when he heard the argument.
He tilted his head and vanished.
Right now, Kurenai was staring speechlessly at the young ninja in front of her—Sarutobi Asuma.
Originally, Hiruzen had forbidden Asuma from attending the Academy.
But now that the Shinobi World War was underway, Asuma finally had a chance to leave home.
"Kurenai! I've gotten stronger. In this war, I'll definitely protect you!"
Asuma spoke with absolute confidence.
Even without the Academy, he'd been trained properly within the Sarutobi clan.
His current level was comparable to a chunin.
After so many years, Asuma thought he'd forgotten Kurenai.
But the moment he saw her again—
the feeling came back stronger than ever.
Unfortunately for him, Kurenai was unimpressed.
"I don't need your protection. Just protect yourself. I have Shiki-nii to protect me."
So annoying!
Why are you saying you'll protect me?
Do we even know each other like that!?
"Hmph! Kurenai, you only say that because you haven't seen how strong I've become. But once you see my strength, you'll—"
"What will she do?"
Shiki's voice cut in lazily as he dropped down from a tree, eyeing Asuma with amusement.
The eldest son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, was like this.
And the younger son, Sarutobi Asuma, was like this too.
Hiruzen was a hypocrite to the bone…
Yet neither of his sons inherited that scheming talent.
"Shiki-nii!"
The moment Shiki appeared, Kurenai forgot all her irritation and ran toward him happily.
"Shiki…"
Asuma's face instantly darkened.
His glare sharpened with hatred.
Shiki cut off his older brother's arm.
He forced Asuma out of the Academy.
And now… he even took away Kurenai's attention.
For Asuma—
This man standing before him…
was the source of everything he hated.
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