Lying in bed, Uchiha Yato pondered a simple yet crucial question:
How would the shinobi world evolve from here? After all, it was already vastly different from the past.
Yato, an outsider like a butterfly, had flapped his wings and stirred a tremendous storm.
Whether the Third Shinobi World War would still break out remained uncertain.
In the original timeline, the Hidden Leaf had lost much of its elite forces. But now, Hatake Sakumo was alive, the Sannin hadn't deserted, and the Uchiha Clan coexisted harmoniously with other clans and civilians.
The Hidden Leaf's "F4" cancer had been excised, and Sarutobi Hiruzen, aside from his daily administrative duties, had no major schemes in motion.
If the Third War were to erupt now, the Hidden Leaf might even swiftly ally with Sunagakure.
Under these circumstances, Yato couldn't predict whether the war would happen at all.
After some thought, he decided there was no point in overanalyzing.
If the Third War didn't occur, then he'd simply live peacefully and await the arrival of two future troublemakers.
Just then, Yato did a quick mental calculation and realized—by all accounts, Uchiha Itachi should be due soon.
But hadn't he interfered to the point where Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto weren't even married yet?
So tomorrow, he decided to pay them a visit. That way, he could gauge how the timeline might unfold.
In the vast, silent rainforest, time itself seemed frozen.
Everything was tranquil and mysterious, with only the occasional chirp of insects or birds breaking the stillness.
Yet deep within this seemingly peaceful wilderness, a flickering flame suddenly appeared.In the distance, the flickering flames resembled stars twinkling in the night sky, striking and dazzling.
Upon closer inspection, one would discover that the source of these flames concealed three groups of ninjas clad in black night attire.
They stood or sat, their figures flickering in and out of view under the glow of the firelight.
Each of these ninjas moved with the lightness of swallows, agile and swift, gripping various weapons in their hands, exuding an aura that sent chills down the spine.
Their posture made it clear—they were fully prepared to defend against potential attacks from the other two groups.
A more careful observation would reveal that around the flames, many similarly dressed ninjas encircled the area.
Some sat with their eyes closed, resting, while others whispered among themselves, their gazes constantly scanning their surroundings with unwavering vigilance.
At the very center of these ninjas sat three individuals.
Unlike the others, these three carried no weapons, merely sitting quietly together, conversing in hushed tones.
Their demeanor and movements suggested they were figures of extraordinary status—likely the core leaders of these three ninja squads.
One of the black-clad figures spoke.
"The state of the shinobi world is growing increasingly dire."
Hearing this, another black-clad figure responded in a steadier tone.
"Why not just say the Hidden Leaf's power is growing stronger?"
The moment these words were spoken, the other two fell silent.
Because the speaker was right.
Rather than the shinobi world being in a dire state, it was more accurate to say the Hidden Leaf stood as the greatest obstacle to their ambitions.
The shortest of the black-clad figures then spoke.
"So, where exactly did you get your intel?"
"And why all this secrecy? It's downright unsettling."
His words visibly soured the expressions of the other two, as they had arrived here based on the same information.
This realization instantly struck them—they might have walked into a trap.
Seeing their reactions, the shorter figure also understood that things might have taken an unexpected turn.
Just then, a pitch-black figure emerged from the distance and spoke.
"Gentlemen, no need for alarm."
"Though I did deceive you into coming here, the rewards and intel I promised are all genuine."
The fact that this figure could evade their detection and appear before the three black-clad individuals spoke volumes about his skill.
But what they didn't know was that Black Zetsu didn't need such elaborate methods—he could simply emerge from the ground.
That's right, this pitch-black figure was none other than our Black Zetsu, once again scheming behind Uchiha Madara's back.
The three black-clad figures each had their own thoughts.
To put it plainly, Black Zetsu's offer was too tempting to ignore.
That was why they had gathered here to negotiate with him.
The raspy-voiced black-clad figure then posed a question.
"So, our rewards are all different, correct?"
"And if we follow through with your plan, we'll receive our promised shares, yes?"
Black Zetsu replied, "If everything goes smoothly, you will undoubtedly obtain what you desire."
Then, to further motivate them, Black Zetsu added,
"Let me share one more piece of information with you all."Hearing these words, everyone realized this information broker was about to offer different news—or perhaps other conditions.
Seeing everyone's attention drawn, Black Zetsu spoke up.
"There's an exceptionally powerful fighter in the Hidden Leaf—Uchiha Yato. His Ninjutsu, or rather his genjutsu, is something you all should be very cautious against."
Hearing these words, the group showed expressions of disdain.
The three individuals seated here were all of considerable status and ability.
Although Uchiha Yato's reputation was already well-known in the shinobi world, as veteran ninjas, they still looked down on him somewhat.
Moreover, the three of them were not united like an iron barrel—each harbored their own ulterior motives.
Observing their expressions, Black Zetsu spoke again, "The Sage's Eye has appeared."
"If you can incite a great war, then the Sage's Eye can be yours for the taking."
Only upon hearing this did the group shift their mindset—or rather, their attitude.
The short, black-clad man trembled slightly as he asked, "So you mean the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths?"
In the shinobi world, knowledge of the Sage's Eye was scarce, and these three had only learned of it through obscure channels.
Black Zetsu then revealed more information, further fueling their confidence and ambition.
Only by satisfying their desires—or ensuring the rewards they sought were within reach—could this great war be incited.
Having waited a thousand years, Black Zetsu felt this was his closest chance at hope.
That was why he had taken the risk to appear before them now. After all, they didn't know who he was—he could always claim to be just a tool if necessary.
This would also add an air of mystery, allowing him to extract greater benefits from the three.
Just as they were about to ask where the Sage's Eye was located—
Black Zetsu had already vanished from the scene, leaving only his echoing voice behind.
"All will be revealed in the war."
A hoarse voice scoffed disdainfully, "I hate these cryptic types. So tasteless."
The other two looked as if they'd eaten something foul. Though silent, their expressions were clearly unpleasant.
With that, the brief meeting concluded, and the three departed.
But after leaving, each of them encountered ambushes and obstructions to varying degrees.
This ensured that beyond their own self-interests, cooperation among the three would be impossible.
This was exactly the scenario Black Zetsu needed.
Watching the scene unfold, Black Zetsu murmured to himself,
"The curtain rises, and great beauty descends!"
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