Chapter 76 Speedrun of Black Zetsu (Three Chapters Combined, Including Bonus Chapter)

Amidst the deafening roar of battle, Yan Sheng's gaze pierced through the chaotic battlefield, locking firmly onto the two most dazzling figures.

The battle between the two had transcended the realm of ordinary ninjas. Every collision they made caused the earth to shake, and the aftershocks of their chakra forced the ninjas from both clans fighting around them to move away from the central area.

Only those two people could achieve that level of skill.

In fact, although this world is also a Warring States period, the fact that the Uchiha and Senju clans are still fighting to the death is enough to prove that this era definitely predates the alliance between the two clans and the establishment of Konoha.

I wonder if there exists an individual named 'Uchiha Kokusatsu' among the Uchiha clans in this world?

The thought flashed through Yan Sheng's mind. He had little interest in exploring "himself" in this world; his arrival was solely for completing a mission.

......

On the battlefield, Madara and Hashirama weren't the only focal point. A little further away, two other young ninjas were engaged in a fierce duel that was no less intense.

With black hair and black eyes, a handsome face but a cold gaze, and a nimble figure like a swallow, the swordsmanship he wielded, imbued with the precise predictions of his Sharingan, was ruthless and cunning. It was none other than Uchiha Izuna.

The other figure, with silver hair and red eyes, a serious expression, and eyes full of calm and calculation, held a kunai in his hand. His Flying Thunder God Technique was already showing its edge, and his movements were unpredictable. His Water Release ninjutsu and Body Flicker Technique were perfectly combined. It was none other than Tobirama Senju.

In a way, these two pairs of brothers are quite "balanced": the older one versus the older one, Madara and Hashirama, is a clash of power like a battle between giant beasts; the younger one versus the younger one, Izuna and Tobirama, is a contest of speed and skill like venomous snakes devouring each other.

The difference in their strength was not significant, and the battle became a stalemate, with no clear winner in the short term.

Izuna's Sharingan spun rapidly, anticipating Tobirama's every move. His swordsmanship inherited the sharpness of the Uchiha clan, but also possessed a unique blend of unpredictability and agility. He often attacked from unexpected angles, forcing Tobirama to frequently use the Flying Thunder God Technique to dodge.

Tobirama Senju, on the other hand, calmly analyzed the battle situation like the most precise instrument. His Water Release techniques sometimes transformed into towering waves that crashed down, and sometimes condensed into incredibly sharp water blades that cut through the enemy. Combined with the unpredictable Flying Thunder God Technique, he was always able to dodge Izuna's fatal blows at the last second and launch a fierce counterattack.

The battle was fierce, with flashing swords, ninjutsu, and the constant roar of chakra and the clash of weapons.

Yan Sheng stood silently at the edge of a battlefield where no one paid him any attention, the shadows cast by the tall trees perfectly concealing his figure. He observed the battle between the brothers, especially Uchiha Izuna's fighting style.

Because of his own poor health, he was never allowed to step onto the front lines of battle in his world. Therefore, he was unable to observe his two brothers' battles at such close range.

However, I have seen it from afar.

In his memory, Madara Uchiha's battles were a grand and violent aesthetic, like a raging storm that swept everything away.

In stark contrast to Madara's style, Izuna Uchiha represented another extreme. It was a clash of speed, skill, and cunning.

***

Being in the midst of war, everyone's nerves are stretched to the limit.

Yan Sheng knew very well that if he rashly showed himself now and couldn't prove his identity, he would likely be attacked by both sides as an enemy. He didn't want to get involved in this fight.

Speaking of which...

He recalled the purpose of his trip: the mission of this world was to prevent the death of Uchiha Izuna.

Having experienced the previous worlds, he had consulted various historical records (although the details differed between worlds, the major events were often similar). He then learned that the direct cause of Izuna's death was the severe injury he sustained in the battle against Tobirama Senju, while the indirect cause (which he speculated) was that Madara Uchiha was on the verge of blindness due to overuse of his Mangekyou Sharingan. Izuna had decided to give his eyes to his brother, but Madara resolutely refused.

Izuna simply gave up on treatment. Perhaps he was too preoccupied with his thoughts, which eventually turned into a mental illness, and mental illnesses are difficult to cure.

No one knows what the two brothers said at the end, but the result was that Izuna died and Madara replaced Izuna's eyes.

This is also why there are many complaints about Madara within the Uchiha clan—under the guidance of someone with ulterior motives, everyone believes that Madara deliberately dragged Izuna to death in order to steal his eyes.

Doesn't this "style pattern" feel familiar? It's not just similar to Black Zetsu's way of doing things, it's practically identical.

To be honest, based on Yan Sheng's understanding of Izuna, he was indeed capable of making such a sacrifice.

But Yan Sheng still sensed something unusual about it. He felt that behind this matter lingered a familiar, cold, damp scent of conspiracy.

He was almost certain that this matter was inextricably linked to Black Zetsu.

Black Zetsu is adept at exploiting human weaknesses and emotional rifts. The deep brotherly bond between Madara and Izuna is precisely the easiest target to manipulate.

Verifying this hypothesis is quite simple.

He doesn't need to jump out and change anything now; doing so might alert the enemy. He just needs to sit back and wait for the crucial event of "Uchiha Izuna being seriously injured" to occur.

If Black Zetsu gets involved, he will inevitably slip up.

Yan Sheng's wait did not last long. During this period, the battles between the Senju and Uchiha clans were as frequent as breathing.

In another conflict following this battle, the turning point he had been waiting for arrived.

On the battlefield, the shouts of battle still shook the heavens.

Uchiha Izuna and Senju Tobirama, these two old rivals, are still engaged in their high-speed and dangerous battle.

Izuna's Sharingan was locked on Tobirama, his blade sharp and relentless. However, during a seemingly ordinary exchange of offense and defense, an unexpected change occurred.

Izuna's movements showed an extremely subtle yet potentially fatal pause in a duel between top-tier fighters.

His gaze wavered for a moment. This brief lapse in concentration would be insignificant to an ordinary person, but in front of a powerful figure like Tobirama Senju, it was tantamount to opening a door wide.

Although Tobirama Senju didn't understand why, his fighting instincts allowed him to seize this fleeting opportunity. The Flying Thunder God Technique seal on his specially made kunai glowed slightly, and his figure disappeared from the spot, appearing behind Izuna in the next instant.

The kunai in his hand, gleaming with a cold light, pierced through the air with a sharp whistling sound, precisely and ruthlessly thrusting towards Izuna's abdomen.

"Pfft—!"

The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh was dull yet clear.

After succeeding, Tobirama Senju showed no joy on his face, but rather a hint of surprise.

He clearly hadn't expected that someone as strong as Uchiha Izuna would make such a basic mistake.

The intense pain jolted Izuna awake from his daze. He groaned, enduring the excruciating pain from the penetrating wound, and his Sharingan suddenly erupted with a scarlet light. His body twisted at an incredible angle, and with a backhand slash, he unleashed a resolute and ruthless strike towards Tobirama behind him.

Tobirama Senju reacted extremely quickly, activating the Flying Thunder God Technique once more. His figure instantly teleported backward, creating a distance of dozens of meters, narrowly avoiding the counterattack that could have cleaved him in two.

Izuna's all-out attack landed on empty air, aggravating the wound in his abdomen, causing blood to gush out even faster.

He clutched his bleeding abdomen with one hand, his brows furrowed, his face turning deathly pale from blood loss, his eyes filled with icy killing intent and a hint of annoyance.

On the other side of the battlefield.

Although Madara Uchiha was locked in a fierce battle with Hashirama Senju, with the sounds of explosions filling the air, he still kept a portion of his attention on the battle situation of his younger brother Izuna.

Madara's pupils contracted sharply the moment he saw Izuna being stabbed through the back by Tobirama.

"Izuna!"

A roar filled with shock and rage erupted from Madara's mouth. He disregarded his battle with Hashirama, his chakra exploded, forcefully shaking off Hashirama's Wood Release that was wrapping around him. His figure transformed into a black lightning bolt, rushing towards Izuna's direction.

Hashirama Senju was initially confused, thinking this was Madara's new tactic, but he quickly noticed the unusual situation with his younger brother Tobirama in the distance. His expression changed, he immediately stopped and followed Madara.

"Get out of my way!" Before Madara even arrived, his violent chakra and killing intent already rushed towards us. The flaming fan in his hand carried immense power, sweeping mercilessly towards Tobirama Senju, who had just regained his footing.

Knowing how terrifying Madara Uchiha could be in a fit of rage, Tobirama dared not confront him head-on. He once again used the Flying Thunder God Technique to dodge and appeared beside his brother Hashirama.

Madara didn't give chase. Instead, he rushed to Izuna's side, supporting his brother's swaying body. Looking at Izuna's pale face and the wounds that were constantly bleeding, Madara's expression was extremely grim. His voice was filled with suppressed anger and worry: "Izuna! Are you alright?"

Izuna leaned against her brother's strong arm, feeling that familiar support. Enduring the excruciating pain, she shook her head and said apologetically in a weak voice, "I'm sorry, brother... it was my carelessness."

"Say such things at a time like this!" Madara roared, interrupting him and immediately began to check Izuna's injuries, his eyes filled with barely concealed anxiety.

The location of the penetrating wound was extremely dangerous. Although it avoided a fatal spot, the bleeding was enormous, and immediate treatment was necessary.

Not far away, Hashirama Senju watched this sudden turn of events, then looked at his younger brother with surprise on his face. He scratched his head and asked in confusion, "Tobirama, what's going on? Why are you being so fierce today?"

In his memory, although his younger brother Tobirama had a calm and ruthless fighting style, he was on par with Izuna. It was rare, no, unprecedented, for Uchiha Izuna to suffer such a great loss.

Upon hearing this, Tobirama Senju's usually serious face showed a rare hint of speechlessness. He withdrew his complicated gaze from Izuna and explained in a calm tone, "Brother, it has nothing to do with me. It was Uchiha Izuna who was distracted."

"Distracted?" Hashirama's eyes widened, finding it even more unbelievable.

To be distracted on a battlefield where life and death are at stake? This is hardly something that Uchiha Izuna, known for his calm and sharp mind, would do.

Madara looked at his younger brother's pale face and horrifying wounds in his arms, his heart filled with anxiety and rage, leaving him with no will to continue fighting. His crimson Sharingan swept over the Senju brothers, his killing intent tangible.

Hashirama Senju keenly sensed Madara's state. He knew that if he pressed Madara any further, Madara, in his rage, would fight to the death without regard for anything else, and the consequences would be unimaginable. Moreover... he was unwilling to take advantage of Madara's vulnerability.

He immediately stepped forward, his face bearing his usual cheerful smile as he tried to ease the tension, and offered a way out:

"Madara, how about we end this battle here?"

Madara Uchiha snorted coldly, offering no reply, but his tense body relaxed slightly, which was tantamount to acquiescing to the suggestion.

Tobirama Senju frowned deeply, looking at his brother with utter disapproval and coldly reminding him, "Brother! Now is the perfect opportunity for us to press our advantage and severely injure the Uchiha."

He couldn't understand why his brother was always so soft-hearted towards the Uchiha, especially towards Madara Uchiha.

Hashirama Senju laughed it off, saying, "Hey, Tobirama, look how badly Izuna is injured. If we make a move now, wouldn't it be an unfair victory? It wouldn't sound good if word got out."

Tobirama: "..." He was almost laughing at his brother's absurd logic.

War, a life-or-death struggle for the survival of a family, what's with talking about winning unfairly? It's not a friendly sparring match!

Seeing Hashirama's clearly biased attitude towards Madara Uchiha, he felt a pang of helplessness. His brother's heart was utterly biased! Did he really want to form an alliance with the Uchiha that badly?

Ultimately, at Hashirama's insistence, the Senju clan was the first to sound the retreat horn. On the Uchiha side, Madara, having lost all will to fight, immediately ordered a retreat.

Both tribal chiefs issued orders to withdraw from the war, and the conflict came to an end.

Madara carried Izuna back to the clan's territory as quickly as possible, summoned the clan's most skilled medical ninja, and ordered them to treat Izuna at all costs.

He paced back and forth outside the room, his usually composed figure now filled with anxiety. His sharp eyes were fixed on the tightly closed door, as if trying to see right through it. Every slight sound coming from inside made his heart clench.

After an unknown amount of time, the door to the room was finally pushed open. A medical ninja stepped out, his face showing exhaustion and a hint of barely concealed hesitation and heaviness.

Madara immediately went up to her and asked anxiously, "How is Izuna?"

Looking at the clan leader's urgent and imposing gaze, the medical ninja swallowed hard and said with difficulty, "Clan leader... Lord Izuna's injury... is not in a good condition."

Madara's heart sank instantly. He grabbed the medical ninja's collar abruptly, his voice rising sharply, trembling slightly without him even realizing it: "What do you mean? Explain yourself! What do you mean by 'not easy to handle'?!"

Just then, Izuna's weak but clear voice came from inside the house, breaking the tense atmosphere outside the door:

"Brother Ban, come in for a moment."

Madara immediately released the medical ninja and strode into the room.

The room was filled with the strong smell of medicine and blood. Izuna lay weakly on the tatami, his face even paler than before, almost devoid of any color, and his breathing became shallow and rapid.

His condition was visibly bad.

Madara walked quickly to the bedside. Seeing his younger brother in this state, he felt an overwhelming pang of heartache. He suppressed his anger and worry and softened his voice, saying, "Izuna, don't think about anything right now. Just focus on recovering. I'll take care of everything else."

Izuna slowly shook his head, his eyes, dimmed by blood loss and weakness, looking at Madara with unusual determination: "Brother, I want to tell you something."

"Let's talk about everything after you're better," Ban subconsciously stopped him.

But Izuna insisted, "It's about your eyes."

Ban's body stiffened for a moment.

Izuna continued, his tone filled with knowing understanding and deep worry: "I told you before... your eyesight is getting worse, isn't it? You'll probably go blind soon. You think you're hiding it well, but I know you so well, how could I not see it?"

"Stop saying that, Izuna," Madara interrupted him, his voice filled with suppressed anger. "I will not agree to it."

"Brother!" Izuna's emotions surged, aggravating his wounds and causing him to cough violently a few times, but he still stared intently at Madara. "You are more important than me! The Uchiha can live without me, Izuna, but not without you, Uchiha Madara! I will never allow you to go blind!"

"Izuna!" Madara roared, veins throbbing on his forehead. "You're usually so obedient, so why can't you listen to your brother on this matter?"

A tear flashed in Izuna's eyes, but he stubbornly refused to let it fall. He gritted his teeth and replied, "It's precisely because I'm usually very obedient... that I absolutely cannot compromise on this matter!"

"I'll figure out what to do about my eyes," Ban said coldly, taking a deep breath.

"What can you do?" Izuna gritted his teeth. "Every single one of them...every single Uchiha who has awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan is doomed! If there really was a way, our ancestors would have found it long ago! Eye swapping is the only known and effective method right now."

"In short, I won't agree." Madara stood up, his back to Izuna, his chest heaving. He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would lose control of his emotions and hurt his younger brother, who was currently in a vulnerable state. He clenched his fists, his face dark, and strode out of the room, leaving Izuna's pained, worried, and resolute gaze behind him.

Watching her brother storm off in anger, Izuna finally let the tears she had been holding back fall silently, soaking her pillow.

He knew his brother cared for him and loved him, but... how could he just watch his brother, who was as bright and powerful as the sun, fall into eternal darkness?

Although Madara stormed out of Izuna's room, his sense of responsibility as the clan leader and elder brother immediately calmed him down.

He suppressed his agitation and carefully instructed the medical ninjas to do their utmost to treat Izuna and keep a close watch on him. He also arranged for two attentive and reliable attendants to take turns caring for Izuna's daily needs and ensure that nothing went wrong.

However, several days passed, and Izuna's injuries did not improve as expected. Instead, they showed signs of worsening. The persistent low-grade fever and pain were consuming Izuna's already weakened vitality due to blood loss.

The medical ninjas were helpless and could only barely manage to keep her afloat with expensive medications.

Madara regretted leaving that very day. He understood Izuna's stubbornness and knew that his brother had done everything for him.

The next day, he lowered his stance and came to Izuna's courtyard again. He apologized through the gate with an unusually gentle and conciliatory tone: "Izuna, it was my fault. I shouldn't have lost my temper with you. You should heal your injuries first, and we can discuss the rest slowly, okay?"

However, what came from inside the room was Izuna's still weak but unusually firm reply: "If brother doesn't agree to the eye transplant, I won't see brother."

These words, like a cold, sharp thorn, pierced Ban's heart. His concern and concessions had only resulted in his brother using himself as leverage to coerce him. The anger he had just suppressed suddenly reignited, burning even more fiercely than before.

"Fine! Very well!" Ban's face turned ashen with rage, and the atmosphere around him was frighteningly tense. He said coldly to the closed door, "Then you can stay in the room."

After saying that, he turned and strode away, exuding a chilling aura.

Inside the house, Izuna clearly heard his brother's angry footsteps as he left, and a bitter smile crept onto his face. He knew that what he was doing was like stabbing his brother in the heart, using his brother's love to coerce him. This feeling tore at his heart.

But... the thought of his brother's increasingly deteriorating eyes, and the potential predicament the Uchiha clan might face in the future due to the loss of their peak-powered clan leader, made it impossible for him to back down.

For his brother's sake, and for the long-term future of the Uchiha clan, he had to harden his heart, even if... his brother would resent him.

At noon, a close attendant who was in charge of taking care of Izuna's daily life carried a carefully prepared meal and bowed as he entered the room.

He gently placed the plate on the low table beside Izuna's bed, his movements hesitant and absent-minded, even accidentally knocking over the water glass next to him.

"I'm so sorry, Lord Izuna." The nearsighted man quickly tidied up while apologizing.

Although Izuna was weak, his observation skills remained sharp. He frowned and looked at his usually composed attendant, asking in a cold voice, "What's wrong? You seem distracted."

The attendant trembled slightly, hurriedly lowered his head to hide his unease, and stammered, "N-nothing, Lord Izuna. I just... just haven't had enough rest."

"Speak." Izuna's tone became more forceful, carrying an unquestionable authority.

His mood was already heavy due to the argument with his brother, and he couldn't stand his subordinate's hesitant manner.

The attendant seemed frightened and knelt down with a thud, his voice filled with fear, as if he had been forced to say something treasonous: "Your subordinate... Your subordinate dares not conceal the truth! It's just... It's just that this morning, your subordinate saw the clan chief... When he was walking, it seemed... it seemed like he bumped into a pillar in the corridor."

As he spoke, he carefully observed Izuna's expression, adding fuel to the fire with a tone full of "concern": "Although the clan leader immediately regained his composure and pretended to be nonchalant, I could clearly see... Lord Izuna, is the clan leader... is he too tired? Or...?"

He didn't finish his sentence, but the unspoken words, combined with his perfectly timed fear and hesitation, were like a poisoned dagger, precisely piercing the deepest fear in Izuna's heart.

While walking...did you bump into a pillar?

Izuna's pupils contracted, and his breath caught in his throat. How could his brother, a ninja of such strength, with his control over his body already at its peak, make such a basic mistake as bumping into a pillar while walking? The only explanation was that his eyesight had deteriorated to the point of severely affecting his daily activities. He might even be nearly blind, only managing to stay awake by relying on his memory and senses.

The news brought by the attendant was like the last straw that broke the camel's back, completely shattering the last shred of hesitation and hope in Izuna's heart.

His hands, hidden under the blanket, clenched so tightly that his nails almost dug into his palms. The faint hope that had lingered—that "perhaps there's still a chance," or "perhaps my brother can find another way"—was completely extinguished at that moment.

We can't wait any longer.

He raised his eyes and looked at the kneeling, terrified attendant before him. The last trace of hesitation vanished from his eyes, replaced by a coldness and resolve akin to that of a martyr.

"I understand, you may leave," Izuna said calmly.

The attendant left the room with his head bowed and eyes downcast, a sly smile playing on his lips from an angle where no one could see.

***

Hidden deep within the mind of the attendant, Black Zetsu felt as if he were soaking in a warm spring, feeling relaxed and smug.

It sensed the turbulent waves surging within Izuna's heart caused by the "message" it had carefully sown—the fear of his brother's blindness, the determination to gamble everything, all unfolding perfectly as if it had written a script.

If we were to name the person in the world who least wants Madara Uchiha to go blind, Black Zetsu would definitely be on the list, perhaps even the most eager one.

Its millennia-long plan to revive its mother hinges on Uchiha Madara, or more precisely, on his eyes!

Madara is its only pawn, the perfect vessel to hold the power of its mother. The Eye of the Moon Plan needs Madara to initiate it, and the Infinite Tsukuyomi needs Madara to execute it. If Madara were to lose his sight at this stage due to the side effects of the Mangekyou Sharingan, wouldn't all its millennia of waiting and scheming be in vain?

It must ensure that Madara's eyes successfully evolve into the Rinnegan, and evolution requires the fusion of Ashura's (Hashirama Senju's) power, which requires time, opportunity, and Madara himself being at the peak of his power and will.

A blind spot is definitely not what it wants.

Therefore, it must speed things up and, before Madara's eyes completely deteriorate, use Izuna's sacrifice to sever Madara's other thoughts, so that he will resolutely walk the path it has laid out, filled with hatred and despair for the world.

In a good mood, Black Zetsu controlled his attendant's body, head down, preparing to casually walk to a secluded corner as usual, then quietly detach from the body and disappear into the darkness again, waiting for the next opportunity to sow his conspiracy.

However, just as it turned the corner of a corridor, two people walked towards it.

Its gaze swept casually across the area, and the next second, it froze completely.

It stared wide-eyed in disbelief and blinked hard, wondering if it was hallucinating—otherwise, how could it see two Uchiha Madaras?

No, that's not right.

Black Zetsu quickly calmed down and carefully analyzed the situation.

Walking on the right was indeed the familiar Uchiha Madara, his expression cold and stern, a shadow of gloom hanging over his brows because of his brother's situation. And walking on the left...

The man was dressed in dark-colored everyday clothes, different from the Uchiha clan's attire. He was taller and more slender than Madara. His long, dark hair was tied into a ponytail and fixed at the back of his head. His appearance was six or seven parts similar to Madara's, especially the contours of his face and the coldness and majesty in his deep eyes, which were almost identical.

However, his demeanor was more reserved, like the deep sea concealing endless storms, tranquil yet dangerous. Moreover, he was significantly taller than Madara.

Who is this?

Black Zetsu's mind was filled with alarm bells, a huge question mark, and an ominous premonition.

It had never seen such a person in the Uchiha clan's territory before, and the person looked remarkably like Madara.

Suspicious, extremely suspicious.

It manipulated its attendant's body to move aside in the corridor, preparing to avoid the two people. It planned to investigate this man who looked so much like Madara later.

However, the two people changed their direction as it moved, and walked straight towards it, their eyes clearly locked on it.

What does that mean? Are you after it?

Black Zetsu's heart sank, and his ominous premonition grew stronger.

It should have immediately abandoned its body and fled into the earth.

However, wishful thinking ultimately prevailed.

It's impossible for anyone to know of its existence, let alone recognize its possession.

It has been hidden for over a thousand years, and even the Six Paths Immortal never discovered it, so it was even less likely that anyone else would.

In that moment of hesitation and weighing the options, that laughable glimmer of hope caused Black Zetsu to miss his only chance to escape and ascend to heaven.

Just as the body of the attendant controlled by Black Zetsu stopped, a respectful yet slightly confused expression appeared on his face, and he was about to ask, "What are your orders, Chief?"

The stranger standing next to Ban, Yan Sheng, made a move.

Black Zetsu was given no time to react. And because he had to use the power of the Rinnegan, he had to reveal the true form of his two Rinnegan eyes on his face.

Black Zetsu was horrified when he saw this and finally realized something was wrong. He tried to run away, but it was too late.

An invisible and intangible spatial confinement force, seemingly containing the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, instantly enveloped a space several meters in radius around Black Zetsu, like a resilient spider web.

This confinement is not directed at the body, but rather acts directly on the soul and consciousness, locking down the intruder lurking deep within, who does not belong to this body.

"Ugh—!"

The attendant's body suddenly convulsed violently, his eyes rolled back, and he let out a shrill, inhuman scream.

Then, a pitch-black, shapeless shadow emerged from the attendant's seven orifices, as if forcibly extracted. It tried to escape, but seemed to have crashed into an invisible wall, unable to merge with the ground or dissipate into the air.

It is Black Zetsu's true form.

"No! Impossible! How could you... Who are you?!" Black Zetsu shouted in horror and disbelief.

Yan Sheng remained expressionless, his eyes coldly fixed on the struggling black shadow before him, as if looking at an insignificant insect. He slightly clenched his palm, and the spatial binding force suddenly contracted.

"seal."

As his indifferent voice fell, the emanating black shadow was forcibly grasped by an invisible giant hand, letting out a final desperate wail. It was then compressed and pulled, eventually turning into a thin stream of black light, which was absorbed into a blank scroll that Yan Sheng had taken out.

On the surface of the scroll, complex sealing runes lit up automatically, flickered a few times, and finally returned to calm, leaving only a wisp of ink in the center of the scroll that kept wriggling slightly but could not break free.

The possessed attendant's body went limp and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious. He was only temporarily controlled and was otherwise unharmed.

The whole process happened in the blink of an eye, so fast that even Madara Uchiha, who was standing to the side, only had time to show a shocked expression.

Yan Sheng put away the sealing scroll and looked calmly at Ban, as if he had just casually swatted a fly.

"Now you can trust me, right?"

***

Yan Sheng possessed an extraordinary sensitivity to Hei Jue's unique, cold, and malicious aura.

As long as Black Zetsu appears within a certain range of him, no matter how cleverly it hides—whether it possesses a person or lurks underground—it will be as clearly visible as a firefly in the night.

Therefore, after determining that Black Zetsu was likely behind Izuna's death and loss of his eyes, Yan Sheng did not act rashly to alert the enemy. Instead, he quietly lurked near the Uchiha clan's territory, minimizing his presence and aura, and "waiting for good news."

Sure enough, Black Zetsu appeared, possessing one of Izuna's attendants.

The moment it appeared, that familiar, chilling aura was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly captured and firmly locked onto by Yan Sheng.

You really are behind this.

Yan Sheng thought coldly.

......

Madara Uchiha was sitting alone in his study. A mountain of files lay spread out on the desk, but his hand holding the pen remained motionless for a long time.

The worry about his younger brother Izuna's serious injury and the panic and helplessness caused by his own deteriorating eyesight intertwined, turning into a heavy shackle that made it almost impossible for him to breathe.

The affairs of the clan, the ongoing conflict with the Senju clan... everything weighed heavily on his shoulders. He felt he was nearing his limit, and was only holding on with sheer willpower.

Just as he was feeling uneasy, an extremely subtle yet undeniably present unfamiliar aura appeared in the room without warning.

Madara's muscles tensed instantly, almost instinctively. He stood up abruptly, ignoring the chair behind him that had been knocked over. The pen in his hand was infused with chakra like a kunai, and with a sharp whooshing sound, it shot straight towards the direction from which the aura came.

At the same time, he slightly turned his body, and his Sharingan (although his vision was already blurred) instantly activated, capturing any possible movement trajectory, preparing to launch a subsequent fatal attack.

—The fact that this person could sneak into his study and stand before him without alerting any of the clan's defenses or guards shows that his strength is absolutely unfathomable.

Madara dared not be careless in the slightest, and immediately unleashed a deadly attack with all his might.

However, faced with this sudden attack, the unfamiliar figure did not dodge or use any ninjutsu. Instead, he simply raised his arm and, with a soft "snap," firmly pinched the pen, which contained powerful chakra and was capable of piercing through rocks, between two fingers.

Madara felt a chill run down his spine. His opponent had parried so easily, clearly with complete ease, and Madara's fighting spirit was stirred within him.

To be honest... he didn't sense any clear killing intent from the other party, but this uninvited intrusion was itself full of hostility and provocation.

Without further hesitation, he moved with lightning speed, closing in on his opponent with a barrage of close-quarters combat attacks, his fists and feet carrying the force to split mountains and shatter rocks.

For a moment, figures darted about in the study, and the muffled sounds of fists and feet colliding filled the air.

Ban's attacks were incredibly fierce, each move aimed straight for vital points, but the stranger remained calm and composed throughout.

His movements were concise and efficient, as if he could anticipate every move Madara made, always blocking, deflecting, and dodging with minimal effort, thus neutralizing Madara's attacks one by one.

Tsk! Madara's face suddenly darkened. It was precisely at this moment—his vision was becoming increasingly blurry, and the other person's movements had become a blurry afterimage in his eyes, which greatly affected his judgment and accuracy.

Finally, during one exchange, the opponent seemed to tire of the endless entanglement. He seized a tiny opening caused by Madara's blurred vision, his left hand clamping down on Madara's outstretched wrist like an iron clamp. At the same time, he shifted his stance, his right leg coiling around Madara's ankle like a serpent. His entire body exploded with power, using an extremely exquisite joint technique to forcibly fix Madara's movement in place.

Ban groaned and struggled, only to find that the opponent's strength was astonishing; the restraints were like cast iron, completely immovable.

Just as he was about to unleash his chakra and break free, the intruder who had been silent finally spoke.

"I have no ill intentions towards you, nor do I intend to do anything to the Uchiha."

"I've come to tell you something."

After saying that, Yan Sheng released Ban.

The restraints on his wrists and ankles suddenly vanished, and Madara immediately took two steps back, assuming a defensive stance. His crimson Sharingan (though his vision was blurred) remained fixed on the direction from which the sound came, filled with vigilance and distrust. His chakra secretly gathered within him, ready to unleash a thunderous attack at any moment.

"Black Zetsu?" Madara's voice was cold and hard, tinged with sarcasm. "Compared to a so-called threat that I've never heard of before, I think you, this uninvited 'guest,' are a much greater threat."

He simply didn't believe that explanation.

A stranger with unfathomable strength who could sneak into his study without a sound suddenly came to tell him that there was a schemer named "Black Zetsu" lurking in the clan's territory. This sounded more like a clumsy excuse made up to get close to him or to sow discord within the Uchiha clan.

Faced with Ban's undisguised hostility and skepticism, Yan Sheng's tone remained unchanged, calm and composed: "Hearing is believing, seeing is believing."

He paused, then said, "Right now, Black Zetsu is in the clan's territory. It just went to find Izuna."

Izuna? !

Ban's heart skipped a beat. His younger brother was seriously injured and bedridden, a time of great vulnerability.

Yan Sheng: "We can still stop them if we go now."

When it came to his younger brother Izuna's safety, Madara's rationality told him that this was likely a trap, but emotionally he couldn't afford to take any risks.

Ban's hesitation lasted only a moment. He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Lead the way!"

He wanted to see what this mysterious person was up to.

Yan Sheng turned and walked out of the study. His steps were slow, as if he was deliberately accommodating Ban's limited mobility due to his poor eyesight.

Ban followed closely behind, his mind highly focused, his blurry vision straining to catch a glimpse of the tall, slender figure ahead.

However, even at this moment, at such close range, and having just experienced such intense physical contact, Ban had no idea that the stranger in front of him bore a striking resemblance to himself.

A sense of understanding flashed through Yan Sheng's mind.

It seems that the eyes of the spotted person in this world are even worse than they appear, almost to the point of being completely blind.

Otherwise, given Madara Uchiha's keen observation skills, it would have been impossible for him to overlook such obvious facial features. This also explains why, in other timelines, Madara was ultimately forced to accept his brother's eyes—his eyesight had indeed reached its limit.

It's strange, really. He traveled through so many worlds, and at similar points in time, Madara Uchiha almost always faced the predicament of losing his Mangekyou Sharingan. It seems to be some kind of shared destiny.

But in his world, the situation was completely different. In his world, Madara Uchiha's eyes had always been fine, without showing such serious signs of deterioration.

The thought only flashed through Yan Sheng's mind and did not leave much of a mark.

Every world has its variables, and pursuing subtle differences is not his current task. What he needs to do now is to make the Uchiha Madara of this world witness the "truth" firsthand, prevent the impending tragedy, and complete his mission.

—And then, here we are now.

Yan Sheng handed the scroll containing the Black Zetsu to Ban.

-----------------------

The author's note: Izuna's distraction on the battlefield was due to his thoughts about Madara's eye problem, and how someone as calm, intelligent, and perceptive as him could so easily believe what others said. The main reason was that Madara's eyes were failing, which Izuna knew very well. Black Zetsu was saying what he already knew, so he naturally believed him.

And Black Zetsu didn't actually lie.