Chapter 199: A Step Ahead
After successfully drawing the attention of Nagato Uzumaki and Konan with his words, Black Zetsu continued, "Uchiha Dali and Madara are currently engaged in battle."
"But it seems Madara has already fallen into a disadvantage..."
As soon as those words left his mouth, Konan's expression changed noticeably.
At the same time, the chakra Nagato used to control the Deva Path Pain fluctuated slightly.
However, having trained with the Rinnegan for many years, he quickly regained his composure. While continuing to manipulate the Deva Path to fight Killer Bee and the Fourth Raikage, he split his focus to question Black Zetsu: "So, Madara is going to lose to Uchiha Dali?"
"All I can say is that it's highly likely. That's why I came here to find you, Nagato."
Black Zetsu immediately followed up in response.
This stirred a sense of unease in Nagato's heart.
Though at this moment, he still had no idea what he was about to face.
"Madara asked me to inform you that he'll hold off Uchiha Dali for as long as he can, to give you a chance. He hopes you can recapture the Eight-Tails."
"This is a prerequisite for continuing our great plan. If the Eight-Tails also falls into the hands of the Hidden Leaf Village, then our plan will be completely ruined. Even if we have the Three-Tails and the Seven-Tails, the number of tailed beasts we control would be far fewer than what Uchiha Dali has."
Black Zetsu began persuading Nagato in a calm, coaxing tone.
Sure enough, Nagato's expression grew increasingly serious.
Creating the Akatsuki and bringing eternal peace to the world—
That was Yahiko's greatest wish during his lifetime.
And it was also the dream Nagato most wanted to fulfill on Yahiko's behalf.
Now, if someone was trying to destroy that plan, he couldn't allow it.
"I'll bring back the Eight-Tails."
As soon as he said it, Nagato unleashed all the chakra in his body.
Seeing this, Konan hurriedly warned, "But Nagato, your body—"
"Don't worry, I'm not dead yet, Konan."
Black Zetsu silently watched this unfold, inwardly sneering.
He wanted Nagato to exhaust himself completely—the weaker he became, the better.
Only when the other party was extremely weak would Black Zetsu be able to make his move.
What he didn't know, however, was that at that very moment, just outside the area, Uchiha Dali and Uchiha Obito had also arrived.
They had heard every word exchanged between Black Zetsu and Nagato just now.
Without needing Dali to explain anything, Obito immediately understood that Black Zetsu was lying.
Because he had never instructed Black Zetsu to find Nagato—let alone told him to ensure the Eight-Tails was captured.
Still, Obito remained silent.
Even though he had heard everything, it didn't prove much.
It simply showed that Black Zetsu had kept some things from Nagato in order to serve Akatsuki's overarching goal.
The two of them continued to watch quietly.
After using a large amount of chakra to control the Deva Path Pain in battle against the Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee, Nagato's body had become more weakened than ever.
Now, he once again transferred all of his chakra to the Deva Path.
Suddenly, a violent tremor shook Kumogakure.
The disturbance was so intense that it even reached their location. Curious, Uchiha Obito turned his head to look and saw a small orb forming in the sky.
As the tremors continued, the black orb in the sky steadily grew larger.
He also saw the Fourth Raikage get drawn up toward the strange black sphere, then buried beneath layers of earth and rock.
Next, an enormous figure was also suspended in midair, bound and unable to escape.
That creature looked a bit like an octopus, yet also resembled a bull.
It was a monster with a bull's head and the body of an octopus, and it had exactly eight tails. No doubt—it was the true form of the Eight-Tails.
This was Killer Bee's fully transformed tailed beast form, a complete fusion with the Eight-Tails that made him even more powerful.
However, it was clear that the Deva Path Pain still had the upper hand.
Once the Eight-Tails was drawn into the sky, more and more rocks and debris were pulled upward, compacting around the black sphere.
In just a few moments, Killer Bee and the Fourth Raikage, along with others, were all sealed inside.
A supermassive sphere with a diameter over a kilometer now floated eerily in the sky, emanating a strange and unsettling aura.
"Looks like he won," Obito said.
"That guy's about to make his move," Uchiha Dali warned.
The former understood exactly what he meant—he had already guessed what Black Zetsu was planning.
It was all part of Uchiha Madara's plan.
Before his death, Madara had told Obito that when the time came, Nagato's Rinnegan would be used to resurrect him.
After all, that pair of Rinnegan didn't belong to Nagato in the first place; Madara had transplanted them into him when he was just a child.
If Black Zetsu was truly the embodiment of Madara's will, then of course he would know this secret too.
Obito said nothing.
Sure enough, with Nagato left in an extremely weakened state after using Chibaku Tensei, Black Zetsu finally took action.
He seized control of Nagato's body.
"Zetsu, what are you doing?!"
Seeing this, Konan pulled out a kunai in alarm.
But she was blocked by Black Zetsu and White Zetsu.
"Why are you doing this?!"
Nagato asked calmly.
Black Zetsu grinned menacingly. "I suppose it's about time I told you—I'm going to use your ocular power to bring someone back."
"A man who can truly change this world."
As he spoke, he forced Nagato's body to perform hand seals.
Konan's pupils shrank sharply at the sight. "That's... You're planning to make Nagato use that jutsu? He'll die!!"
"If it's to resurrect that man, then any price is worth it. Only he can lead Akatsuki to fulfill our ultimate goal."
Black Zetsu sneered.
"Who is it?" Nagato asked with difficulty.
He could feel his movements and consciousness slipping further from his control.
"Uchiha Madara."
"Uchiha Madara?!"
Konan and Nagato were both stunned.
"Heh... That masked man was nothing more than Madara's stand-in. But it doesn't matter anymore—Uchiha Dali's appearance has completely thrown our plans into disarray. I have to resurrect Madara ahead of schedule."
"So I'm afraid you'll have to make a little sacrifice, Nagato."
"Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique!"
Black Zetsu's voice and Nagato's voice overlapped.
It was both Black Zetsu's will and Nagato's own.
Using the power of Nagato's Rinnegan, they cast the jutsu to resurrect Uchiha Madara.
That man—
Was about to return to the living world.
(Support me and read ahead on Patreøn: patreøn.com/craxxtranslations.
3 new chapters are released daily—thank you for your support!
Powerstone Event: For every 50 powerstones, 1 chapter will be unlocked.)