"Brat... why are you staring at me like that?!"

Madara watched as Hirofumi finished whatever he'd been mulling over and then shifted his gaze directly onto him. There was something distinctly off about that look.

"Sensei... if you want to go fishing, you need fresh, plump bait first. That's the only way the fish bites!

You've all gotten a sense of Black Zetsu by now. That scheming old creep has been laying groundwork across the Shinobi World for who knows how many hundreds of years, and every last bit of it was to rescue its mother!

To that end, it deceived you, Sensei.

It exploited your longing for peace, fed you the Eye of the Moon Plan, and all the while intended to make you its mother's vessel!"

The moment Hirofumi finished, a fit of coughing broke out beside him.

"Cough cough... cough cough..."

Hirofumi glanced over at Tobirama Senju with mild puzzlement.

"What are you coughing about, Second Hokage? Got a feather lodged in your throat?!"

"Cough cough... No, it's just, what you said a moment ago sounded strange. Why does it always feel like you're swearing? Can't you just say 'its mother' instead of tmd?!"

Hirofumi stared at Tobirama with an utterly baffled expression.

"Second Hokage, don't get hung up on the small details... Black Zetsu just wanted my sensei to become tmd — cough cough — to become its mother's vessel, so it could resurrect its mother!

So for that scheming old creep, my sensei is the top priority. The most critical piece of the entire plan.

Which means if we want to lure it out, my sensei is without a doubt the most irresistible bait. That thing will absolutely take the hook!"

Everyone heard Hirofumi out and found they couldn't argue with a word of it. Even Madara gave a nod.

"However... none of you have had dealings with Black Zetsu. I know this thing rather well. It used to claim to be my will. Its raw power is nothing remarkable, but its abilities are extremely strange.

Without a reliable method to restrain it, capturing it may accomplish nothing... sealing may be the only option."

After saying his piece, Madara briefly ran through Black Zetsu's abilities for everyone present. The Mayfly technique was genuinely unsettling, and they needed to understand what they were dealing with.

Hirofumi waved a hand, completely unbothered.

"You don't need to worry about that, Sensei. Think it through carefully, that scheming old creep is underhanded, sure, but strictly speaking, it may not actually be a bad person.

This thing spent hundreds, maybe thousands of years scheming across the entire Shinobi World, and all of it was simply to rescue its mother. Put yourself in its position, if I were Black Zetsu, I might do the same thing.

On one side is my mother. On the other is a world with no connection to me and a group of strangers who mean nothing to me. There's nothing to even think about.

Everything it has done was for the sake of resurrecting its mother. So as long as we help it rescue its mother, won't that settle the whole matter?!"

Everyone froze.

"Brat, are you saying you want to help Black Zetsu rescue its mother, that so-called kaguya otsutsuki? Don't forget, that being is of the Otsutsuki Clan! They are the future enemies of our Shinobi World!"

Hirofumi shook his head.

"Here's the thing, kaguya otsutsuki's situation is actually quite unique as far as the Shinobi World is concerned. Without kaguya otsutsuki, our Shinobi World might already be gone.

When the Otsutsuki Clan arrived in our Shinobi World, their intention was to plant the God Tree and reduce everything here into provisions for their clan.

But kaguya otsutsuki turned and struck down its own companions. That is what allowed the Shinobi World to survive. After that, kaguya otsutsuki became a traitor in the eyes of the Otsutsuki Clan.

Later, kaguya otsutsuki gave birth to two children, Hamura Otsutsuki and Hagoromo Otsutsuki. And Hagoromo is the legendary Sage of Six Paths, the founding ancestor of our Shinobi World.

Afterward, kaguya otsutsuki feared the Otsutsuki Clan would come seeking revenge, and so sought to plant the God Tree, turning every person in the Shinobi World into White Zetsu, an army under its command, to stand against the clan.

But its own two children stopped it. Both joined forces and sealed kaguya otsutsuki within the moon. Hagoromo Otsutsuki — the Sage of Six Paths, remained in the Shinobi World and became the so-called founding ancestor.

And Hamura Otsutsuki remained on the moon to guard the seal.

As for Black Zetsu, strictly speaking, it cannot be considered kaguya otsutsuki's child. Calling it kaguya otsutsuki's will is more accurate.

So from a certain angle, the ninja of our Shinobi World, the people who cultivate Chakra, can be considered, to a degree, descendants of kaguya otsutsuki.

And the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

The Otsutsuki Clan regards kaguya otsutsuki as a traitor. They will not let it go. And the Otsutsuki Clan is also the future enemy of our Shinobi World. So strictly speaking, we and kaguya otsutsuki are comrades in the same trench.

Capture Black Zetsu, use some other means to help it resurrect its mother, and that thing will fall in line and cooperate without a word of complaint."

Everyone's eyes lit up.

They turned it over carefully and found they couldn't poke a hole in any of it.

A feeling rose in the room, Black Zetsu actually seemed like the devoted one here. Meanwhile the Sage of Six Paths and his sibling, by comparison, were a pair of complete ingrates!

For a moment, everyone inexplicably found themselves warming up to Black Zetsu.

And when they really thought about it, that wasn't wrong. Yes, this thing had spent a millennium as a hidden hand scheming across the Shinobi World, but at the root of every single move, all it was ever trying to do was rescue its mother.

Could you really say that was wrong?

Because in Black Zetsu's eyes, every last person in the Shinobi World was just a stranger.

Madara nodded.

"Brat... in that case, let's do it your way. We capture Black Zetsu first. Whether that thing is willing to cooperate with us afterward, that's a problem for afterward."

Hirofumi stood up.

"Then it's settled, Operation Capture Black Zetsu: Initiate!"

The assembled powerhouses of the Hidden Leaf Village moved as one. Madara would serve as the bait, drawing Black Zetsu onto the hook, while everyone else melted into concealment at various positions throughout the area.

What followed was Madara unleashing the Flying Thunder God Technique at a relentless pace. Once clear of the Hidden Leaf Village, Madara began wandering from place to place with apparent leisure, arriving somewhere, then deliberately releasing a pulse of Chakra into the open air.

➤ Next: Lord Madara Seems Like He Can't Take a Dump

Chapter 214 - Lord Madara Seems Like He Can't Take a Dump

At that moment, Madara Uchiha was leaning against a large tree, idly letting his Chakra drift outward out of sheer boredom.

Then something pale, unclothed, and deeply unsettling burst out from the branches, White Zetsu.

"Madara Uchiha, sir?! Is it really you?! Aren't you dead?!"

White Zetsu stared at him in total disbelief.

The instant Madara Uchiha saw White Zetsu, he knew, it wouldn't be long before that creature Black Zetsu showed up.

Black Zetsu had deceived him, claiming to be his will. But White Zetsu was something he had created himself, using Hashirama Senju's cells, and he understood White Zetsu's abilities completely.

In some strict sense, maybe White Zetsu was actually his will. Though thinking about it that way didn't seem right either, because White Zetsu felt more like the will of that simpleton Hashirama.

Then again, that didn't seem right either.

After all, this thing had been created from his own cells and that simpleton's cells combined. Which meant, could this thing actually be considered his and Hashirama Senju's son?!

The hell!

What even is this?!

White Zetsu kept staring at Madara Uchiha, waiting for a response that never came, and grew visibly confused.

"Madara Uchiha, sir... what exactly is going on with you right now?! Aren't you dead? How did you suddenly come back to life?! And your body looks completely perfect? Obito Uchiha clearly hasn't succeeded yet...

Madara Uchiha, sir, why aren't you saying anything?

How did you just come back to life like that?

Did something go wrong with the resurrection?

Oh, right... Madara Uchiha, sir, now that you've actually been resurrected — can you tell me what it feels like to take a dump?

I heard someone say that taking a dump is this urge that surges out from your rear end...

Is it really like that?

But why have I never felt that urge?!"

Madara Uchiha's eyelid twitched. Then it twitched again. Then it wouldn't stop.

Confirmed.

This thing was absolutely the will of that simpleton Hashirama Senju, it had nothing to do with him whatsoever.

How could his own will possibly ask something this brain-dead?!

Only the will of that fool could sink this low!

"Ahem... White Zetsu. I have indeed been resurrected. How it happened is none of your concern. Now go notify that fellow Black Zetsu — tell him to come see me."

"Yes, sir! I'll go notify Black Zetsu right away. But, what does taking a dump actually feel like?"

"Shut your mouth, you idiot!"

"How strange... why has Lord Madara gotten angry? Could it be that Lord Madara really can't take a dump either? Just like me?!"

White Zetsu kept muttering to itself. Even so, the notification had already gone out, because White Zetsu possessed a special ability: no matter where each of its clones happened to be, they could all share information instantly.

Every single White Zetsu functioned as both a signal receiver and a transmitter.

....................................

"What did you say?! Madara Uchiha has come back to life?! Impossible, absolutely impossible! The Eye of the Moon Plan hasn't been activated yet, Obito Uchiha hasn't become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, Madara Uchiha... ahem... how could Madara Uchiha, sir, possibly be resurrected?!"

Black Zetsu stared at the White Zetsu in front of it with pure disbelief. The news made no sense, none of it.

"But it's true... if you don't believe it, just go see for yourself. Madara Uchiha, sir, is right there at this location, waiting for you."

Black Zetsu was genuinely at a loss.

How could Madara Uchiha just inexplicably come back to life?!

This was directly tied to the grand plan, to resurrect Black Zetsu's mother. It could not afford to take this lightly.

Who was to say this wasn't something that damned Hagoromo Otsutsuki had arranged to lure it into a trap?!

Black Zetsu turned toward White Zetsu.

"White Zetsu..."

"What?"

"Has anything happened in the Shinobi World recently?"

"Happened? Not really... There were two big battles over at the Hidden Leaf Village, but I don't know the details since there's a barrier around that area.

There are also these two strange ninja who showed up in the Shinobi World lately and have been robbing people of quite a lot of money.

Their names are really strange too, one's called Dahuang and one's called Xiaohei. I wonder if those two can take a dump..."

Black Zetsu went silent for a long moment.

"Alright, stop. I ask you to go gather information and this is what you bring back?! What does Dahuang or Xiaohei have to do with me?! And the Hidden Leaf Village? Let them fight, what business is it of mine!"

"Then... Black Zetsu... can you tell me what it feels like to take a dump? It seemed like Lord Madara couldn't take one either..."

"Shut your mouth, you idiot!"

"Black Zetsu... why are you telling me to shut up too? Could it be that you can't take a dump either?!"

Black Zetsu had no desire to deal with this any further. It turned and followed the coordinates White Zetsu had provided, heading off to find Madara Uchiha.

There he was, still leaning against the same large tree. Black Zetsu rose up out of the soil.

"Madara Uchiha, sir... I never imagined you would actually be resurrected!

This means we can finally set the Eye of the Moon Plan in motion!

With you here... those so-called Tailed Beasts are nothing but easy pickings!

Obito Uchiha and Nagato won't be of much use anymore!

Madara Uchiha, sir, I, as your will, have been waiting so long for this day!

Let it be you who personally brings true peace to the Shinobi World!

Kehehehehehehehe..."

Madara Uchiha looked at Black Zetsu with an utterly calm expression.

"I've suddenly lost interest in the Eye of the Moon Plan. I don't think it's worth much."

The corner of his mouth curled into a half-smile as he said it.

"HUH?!"

Black Zetsu hadn't expected that at all.

"Madara Uchiha, sir? Are you giving up on bringing true peace to the Shinobi World?! Have you forgotten that this was your dream?! As your will, I have not dared to forget it for even a single moment all these years!

Didn't you also say this was your promise with that fellow Hashirama Senju...

That once you brought true peace to the Shinobi World, after you died I could go mock him to his face!

Those were your own words from back then...

Why have you suddenly changed the plan?!"

Madara Uchiha let out a cold laugh.

"Heh... Didn't you say you were my will? How interesting. As my will, could it be that you've now developed ideas of your own?!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the Rinnegan ignited in both his eyes.

And from all four directions at once, four voices rang out:

"Ninja Art: Four Red Yang Formation!"

Tobirama Senju, Hashirama Senju, Minato Namikaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi, all four activated the barrier simultaneously, a ninjutsu that required four Hokage-level shinobi acting in concert to deploy.

Black Zetsu froze.

Then, in an instant, it understood. It had walked straight into a trap.

Madara Uchiha had come back to life for reasons unknown, and had very likely already learned everything that had transpired. Had very likely already learned that it had been deceiving him.

Because even Hashirama Senju was standing there.

DAMN IT!

"What the hell — Madara Uchiha?! You set me up?!"

➤ Next: The Idiot in Black Zetsu's Eyes