Chapter 566: The Story of Raising a Virtuous Wife: Black Zetsu

Carrying Uchiha Madara on his back, Black Zetsu's mind was in a chaotic mess. The current situation had already spiraled beyond his control, but since things had reached this point, he could only take it one step at a time.

"Sigh~"

Letting out a deep sigh, Black Zetsu, possessing the body of Number Six, wore a look of helplessness as he carefully pulled out the black rods stuck in Uchiha Madara's back one by one.

"I didn't expect this guy to actually awaken Wood Release."

Watching Uchiha Madara's breathing gradually steady, he couldn't help but feel a sense of sentimentality toward his own feat.

Previously, while hiding in the battlefield to observe, Black Zetsu had intended to remain a bystander. But when he saw Uchiha Madara unleash Wood Release, this old schemer who had been lurking for thousands of years almost jumped up in excitement.

Indra's reincarnation had actually awakened Wood Release!

This was a sign of the fusion of the power of all things in nature; Mother could be saved!

However, with his own strength alone, he had no way to intervene in this overpowered battle. Fortunately, Uchiha Madara was impressive; even after discarding the power of the Tailed Beast, he was still able to defeat a crowd of enhanced clones.

Just when Black Zetsu thought things were stable, a sudden change occurred. A strange man forcefully inserted himself into the battlefield, instantly reversing the situation.

Not only did he trade blows evenly with Uchiha Madara, but after devouring a defeated clone, he evolved into a form that made Black Zetsu tremble with inexplicable fear, playing the incredibly powerful Uchiha Madara like a puppet.

After a few rounds, Uchiha Madara was beaten until he had no power to fight back, his sturdy back bristling with pitch-black rods, looking just like a large black hedgehog.

Black Zetsu was anxious.

Over the past millennium, Black Zetsu had witnessed the deaths of many of Indra's reincarnations, and each time he had chosen to remain indifferent.

In his view, a reincarnation who could not fuse the power of all things in nature had no utility value, but this time was different.

Uchiha Madara had proven with his outstanding performance that he was the reincarnation most likely to awaken the Rinnegan to date. Black Zetsu could not watch him die at the hands of Isshiki.

But he also knew clearly that he had only lived a few years longer in vain; his strength was insignificant before the people on the field. Not to mention saving Uchiha Madara from fire and water, he might be killed in an instant the moment he showed his face to that terrifying man.

Just as Black Zetsu was at his wit's end, he suddenly remembered that Uchiha Madara still had teammates. Although Senju Tobirama's strength was just average, he had many tricks up his sleeve and should be able to provide some help.

However, the situation on Senju Tobirama's side was no better. Having just exhausted all his strength to defeat one clone, another stronger one had dropped in, directly kicking the white-haired man around like a ball.

Seeing that the other party couldn't even protect himself, Black Zetsu's heart instantly turned cold. Now he couldn't count on anyone; did he really have to wait another few decades?

"Damn it, better to rely on oneself than others. I'll risk it!"

After much hesitation, Black Zetsu, not wanting to miss the chance to save his mother, finally decided to enter the fray himself. But before that, he needed to strengthen himself.

His first target was the exhausted and unconscious Mirror-boy. Acting on the idea of being familiar with the process, Black Zetsu wanted to possess an Uchiha again, but as soon as he saw the curly hair on the other's head, he subconsciously felt a sense of resistance.

He felt it would be very troublesome after possessing this Uchiha.

Just then, he discovered Number Six, who had been defeated by Senju Tobirama. Looking at the clone whose life was about to end, Black Zetsu didn't hesitate much and directly chose to hijack the account.

【Spirit Possession】

The entire possession process had no sense of obstruction. Black Zetsu quickly occupied Number Six's body and simultaneously discovered the defects in the clone's soul level.

"Such a fragile soul."

Clones born from technology did not have strong souls like normal humans. It was also possible that Jigen intentionally did not strengthen their souls so he could better manipulate these weapons.

Having learned the painful lesson from possessing Uchiha Tajima, Black Zetsu directly snuffed out Number Six's consciousness, which was like a candle in the wind, making him a true vegetable in every sense, while he himself logically became the new master of this body.

Without time to familiarize himself with his new body, Black Zetsu unleashed his signature skill, instantly merging into the ground and speeding toward Uchiha Madara's direction.

On the battlefield, Isshiki stood before Uchiha Madara, whose back was covered in black rods, and discovered that this tenacious man had fallen into a deep coma. Recalling the man's formidable combat power, he developed a small desire to collect him. The black rod held high in his hand slowly descended.

"This body also has collection value."

At the very moment he hesitated, the quietly lurking Black Zetsu seized the opportunity and erupted, breaking out from the ground, grabbing the unconscious Uchiha Madara, and dragging him into the earth.

"Huh?"

Seeing this scene, Isshiki immediately regained his focus and threw the black rod in his hand violently, but it was already too late. Black Zetsu, having unleashed the Mayfly Technique, had long since carried Uchiha Madara a hundred meters away.

"What a bizarre stealth ability."

Isshiki frowned. The sensory ability the Otsutsuki clan prided themselves on had actually failed.

Having someone taken away right in front of him was something he could not accept; he had to make the other party pay the price.

Thinking of this, Isshiki flew into the sky, his Byakugan locking onto the fleeing Black Zetsu, and his profound ocular power poured out.

【Shinra Tensei】

"Pfft!"

A chill ran down the back of the fleeing Black Zetsu, and the next second, he felt a heavy pressure land on his body, as if he had been smashed hard in the back by a thousand-pound hammer. A stream of blood instantly sprayed from his mouth.

Seeing the repulsive force hit the target accurately, Isshiki prepared to use gravitational force to pull the fleeing Black Zetsu back.

But as soon as he raised his hand, an unhealthy flush appeared on his face, his pale skin rapidly faded, and the horn on his head began to wither.

"Tsk! Is the time up?"

A few seconds later, the high-and-mighty Otsutsuki turned back into a plain-looking monk.

The pill refined from clones could only temporarily allow Isshiki to regain his vigor. Feeling a sense of loss, he, having turned back into Jigen, no longer had the heart to continue the pursuit.

After all, Uchiha Madara had already discarded his Tailed Beast card and lost the qualification to become nourishment for the fruit; he could only be counted as a human with collection value.

"Tap~!"

Just then, Number Nine, who had successfully planted the God Tree spore inside Senju Tobirama, returned in triumph, which eased Jigen's originally terrible mood quite a bit.

Leaving an order for him to clean up the battlefield and recover the damaged clones one by one, he opened a portal and continued to savor the red wine from the Land of Waves.

"That was just now... Mother's power. Damn it, who exactly is he!?"

Taking a direct hit from the authentic Shinra Tensei, Black Zetsu endured the pain of his internal organs shifting and ran wildly underground without looking back, recalling the skill Isshiki had just unleashed while he ran.

As the living wedge left by Otsutsuki Kaguya just before she was sealed, Black Zetsu possessed information on all of Kaguya's abilities.

Regarding the hit he had just taken, he naturally knew better than anyone that it was a Rinnegan skill that only Mother and that rebellious son, Otsutsuki Hagoromo, could unleash.

Shinra Tensei.

A thick haze covered Black Zetsu's heart. The appearance of this man had broken the layout he had managed for many years.

Thinking that Isshiki was also secretly collecting the power of the Tailed Beasts, Black Zetsu panicked.

Possessing Rinnegan abilities + collecting Tailed Beasts,

Was that man trying to compete with him for Mother?

"Must eliminate this unstable factor."

Holding this thought, Black Zetsu sprinted all the way with the unconscious Uchiha Madara on his back, not stopping until he reached the most remote corner of the ninja world.

"What should I say when this guy wakes up?"

After resting for a while, the fatigue from the journey was swept away by the sturdy physique of Senju Hashirama. Black Zetsu stroked his chin, pondering how he should trick this reincarnation who had fused the power of all things in nature once Uchiha Madara woke up.

Having witnessed Isshiki's terrifying methods, Black Zetsu no longer had the heart to continue being the mastermind behind the scenes.

In his heart, the suddenly appearing Isshiki had firmly become an existence competing with him for Mother. As the number one filial son of the ninja world, how could Black Zetsu let others lay a finger on his mother?

Only the Rinnegan can contend with the Rinnegan.

Thinking of this, Black Zetsu's gaze involuntarily fell on the unconscious Uchiha Madara before him, his eyes full of determination.

He must keep him in his hands.

Uchiha Madara, who was about to awaken the Rinnegan, was Black Zetsu's greatest trump card.

Mental control?

Black Zetsu wanted to use the old method, but the experience of past failures stuck in his throat. He immediately dismissed the idea of forcibly controlling Uchiha Madara.

"Looks like I can only use deception."

Stroking his chin, Black Zetsu prepared to weave a grand lie to make Uchiha Madara willingly become the blade in his hand.

"But before that, let's build a secret base first."

Looking up at the desolate environment around him, Black Zetsu decided to get himself a nest first, and incidentally provide a relatively comfortable environment for the severely injured Uchiha Madara.

"Let me think... this is it!"

Walking to the center of the clearing, Black Zetsu tried hard to recall his rich knowledge base and soon found the relevant ninjutsu. Manipulating the clone's hands, he slapped the ground, and the entire ground began to rumble.

【Earth Release: Earth Core】

Accompanied by a tremor, the ground beneath Black Zetsu's feet slowly opened a pitch-black entrance.

"Whew."

After withdrawing his hands, a look of realization appeared on Black Zetsu's face. This was the first time he had performed such a large-scale ninjutsu.

As a living wedge, he had no physical body. Only after possessing the clone did he experience for the first time what it felt like to be a human.

Without time to continue feeling, Black Zetsu carried the unconscious Uchiha Madara into the underground base. Beneath the ground was a very spacious cavity. Under the construction of the Earth Release Black Zetsu performed, the rooms were distributed in an orderly fashion.

Not only was there a huge training ground, an exquisite conference room, a cozy lounge, but also a huge secret chamber large enough to accommodate the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

After placing Uchiha Madara in the lounge, Black Zetsu began to check his physical condition, but the results made him frown deeply.

Uchiha Madara's body was already in tatters under the ravages of Isshiki's chakra rods; all the meridians in his body were destroyed, and various organs had varying degrees of damage.

"With such heavy injuries, he's actually still alive."

Moving his hand away from Uchiha Madara's beating heart, Black Zetsu's face was full of confusion.

Such injuries, let alone an ordinary person, even Senju Hashirama would find it hard to escape death.

"Huh? What is this?"

Suddenly, a faint light glowing from Uchiha Madara's chest caught Black Zetsu's attention. Looking closely, it turned out to be a blue pendant shaped like a claw.

Reaching out to touch this glowing pendant, a trace of surprise appeared on Black Zetsu's face.

"Such a rich life force; no wonder he didn't die from this."

He could clearly perceive the terrifying life force contained within this inconspicuous pendant. The reason Uchiha Madara had managed to survive was found.

"Truly a good thing."

Black Zetsu couldn't help but nod, but he didn't have much interest in such life-extending props.

As a product of Yin-Yang Release, he was an immortal existence.

"Then now, I just need to wait."

Under the effect of this item, Madara Uchiha's injuries would recover quickly within a few days, and the heart of Black Zetsu, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled.

For the next period of time, Black Zetsu began to tidy up the secret base he had newly established, adding quite a few furnishings, as well as some daily necessities essential for humans.

"Gurgle~ Gurgle~"

Following the thunderous sound echoing from his stomach, Black Zetsu, who was holding a pile of clothes emitting a pungent odor, frowned.

"What a bother, time to cook again."

His previous form did not require eating, but now that he was possessing this clone body, he could not skip a single one of the human needs for eating, drinking, and excreting.

For this reason, he had specifically added a restroom and a kitchen to the base to provide for the body's daily requirements.

"Clatter~ Clatter~"

In the kitchen, Black Zetsu was very clumsily tossing an iron wok; only after he had stir-fried a pot of vegetables into half a pot of charred black mess did he scoop it into a plate and begin to chew it expressionlessly.

"Crunch~ Crunch~"

"Gulp~"

"So disgusting."

Even though he had never tasted human food before, after possessing a body, Black Zetsu had also awakened taste buds and had his own judgment regarding the quality of food.

"That food called hot pot seemed to taste quite good."

Eating the unpalatable food in his mouth, Black Zetsu endured the protests of his stomach and recalled that night many years ago, when he crouched beside Uchiha Gin and Tian Dao, watching the two of them eat steaming hot pot with great relish.

That flavor still remained in his memory to this day; relying on this memory, he forcibly stuffed a basin of pig slop into his stomach, wiped his mouth, and stood up.

"Hiccup~ Time to go change his pants."

Inside the lounge, Madara Uchiha, who had undergone a period of self-repair, lay on the bed covered by a thin quilt; his face already had a bit more color, his bodily functions had returned to a normal level, and he could wake up at any moment.

After Black Zetsu walked in, he first performed a basic check, and after confirming that Madara Uchiha's body had not suffered any accidents, he reached out and flipped away the thin quilt covering the other person.

Under the quilt, Madara Uchiha was wearing a plain hospital gown; Black Zetsu skillfully turned him over.

"As expected."

Touching the slightly damp bed sheet, Black Zetsu frowned slightly, then raised his hand toward Madara Uchiha's waistband.

"Sigh~ I should have just inserted a tube for him."

I'll take this as a lesson learned; next time, I will definitely insert a few tubes into this guy, and they will have to be the large-sized ones. (End of chapter)