Dark Gaze
Moonlight streamed silently through the alleyways and rooftops of Konohagakure Village. Most villagers were already asleep, only the occasional tread of patrolling ninjas shattering the night's stillness. Yet, beneath this peaceful surface lay a presence darker than even the deepest night.
In the shadow of an ancient tree by the Nanga River, a mass as black as ink slowly wriggled. It had no fixed form, sometimes like flowing silt, sometimes like a swaying shadow, like a fragment escaped from a nightmare. This was Black Zetsu, a being who had witnessed the rise and fall of a thousand years, an ancient conspirator who viewed the entire world as a chessboard.
"Uchiha Aoi..."
A hoarse whisper echoed in the shadows. The voice seemed to come from deep underground, carrying the smell of decay and malice.
Black Zetsu's murky yellow eyes fixed on a distant courtyard within the Senju clan's territory. Even from such a distance, he could still clearly sense the woman's chakra—gentle yet resolute, like a vine growing tenaciously in spring, silently reconnecting the divided land.
"This variable that shouldn't exist..."
Black Zetsu recalled his observations over the past few months. He had seen how Uchiha Aoi had helped the Senju and Uchiha children put aside their prejudices at the ninja academy, how she had dispelled the guard of the wounded at the hospital, and how she had used the simplest means to build bridges of understanding in daily life.
What makes Black Zetsu most alert is that this woman is subtly changing Uchiha Madara.
It remembered the hesitation and doubt that had emanated from Madara when he returned from the Wind Country not long ago. The man who should have been drowning in hatred and despair, became hesitant because of his concern for his sister.
"Mother's plan must not be destroyed." Black Zetsu's body trembled slightly with anger.
A thousand years of waiting, a thousand years of planning, all for the resurrection of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. And Uchiha Madara is the most crucial piece in this vast scheme. He must embark on a lonely and dark path, must activate the Infinite Tsukuyomi in despair, and must become the perfect vessel to resurrect Kaguya.
But Uchiha Aoi's existence is like a bright light, always guiding Madara back to the human world when he is about to fall into darkness.
"This variable must be eliminated."
A cruel glint flashed in Black Zetsu's eyes. He began to carefully plan, like a chess player meticulously laying out his strategy.
First, it needed to gain a deeper understanding of its target. Black Zetsu blended into the shadows, silently weaving through the streets of Konoha. Its form allowed it to easily slip into any corner, evading the detection of any perceptive ninja.
In the following days, Black Zetsu was like an invisible ghost, always watching Uchiha Aoi's every move.
It saw her getting up early in the morning to prepare lesson plans for the upcoming classes; it saw her patiently teaching the children to read and write in class, gently resolving the friction between them caused by family; it saw her carefully caring for the wounded in the hospital, no matter which family they came from; it saw her sitting alone in the courtyard in the evening, looking into the distance, with worry for her brother on her face.
"What a touching devotion," Black Zetsu murmured sarcastically from the shadows, "but it is precisely this kind of meaningless emotion that will cause Madara to deviate from his intended path."
Black Zetsu began to gather intelligence, looking for weaknesses that could be exploited. It sneaked into the Senju and Uchiha archives, looking through all the records about Uchiha Aoi; it eavesdropped on the villagers' conversations to learn what they thought of this special lady; it even ventured close to those ninjas who were dissatisfied with the status quo, exploring their deepest resentments.
In the process, Black Zetsu discovered that Konoha was not a monolithic entity. Although the various clans lived in harmony on the surface, there was still an undercurrent of dissatisfaction in the dark.
Some members of the Senju clan privately complained that Tobirama married an Uchiha woman, worried that this would affect the Senju clan's status in the village; some Uchiha clan members believed that Aoi had betrayed the clan and was too close to the Senju clan; and some members of smaller clans were jealous of the privileged status of the two major clans.
"Perfect soil..." Black Zetsu murmured in satisfaction.
A sinister plan began to take shape in its mind. It wanted to use these undercurrents to weave a deadly web, not only to get rid of Uchiha Aoi, but also to make her death the fuse that intensified the conflict.
Black Zetsu decided to start by spreading rumors. He chose crowded places such as taverns, markets, and training grounds, possessing those disgruntled ninjas and spreading the seeds of doubt through their mouths.
"You know what? That lady often has secret meetings with the Uchiha clan members late at night."
"I heard that she was in the hospital, deliberately delaying the treatment of the injured Thousand Hands."
"Someone saw her secretly passing information about the village to Uchiha Madara."
These rumors spread quietly through Konoha like a plague. Black Zetsu carefully crafted each lie, making it believable enough to not cause too much of an immediate stir. His goal was to slowly poison people's perceptions of Uchiha Aoi, preparing for subsequent actions.
However, to Black Zetsu's annoyance, these rumors had little effect. Uchiha Aoi's good deeds had earned her a great deal of favor, and most villagers scoffed at the rumors. Even the usually suspicious Senju Tobirama showed no suspicion of his wife.
"It seems that more direct means are needed." Black Zetsu roared in the shadows.
It began tracking Uchiha Aoi's daily schedule, looking for an opportunity to strike. But it soon discovered that this wasn't easy—Aoi was always surrounded by companions, whether they were children from school, colleagues from the hospital, or that pesky Uzumaki Mito. Even when she was alone, she was in the core area of the Senju clan's territory, which was heavily guarded.
To make matters worse, Black Zetsu sensed that Uchiha Madara was about to complete his mission and return to Konoha. He knew that once Madara returned to the village, it would be extremely difficult for him to attack Aoi.
"We must act before Madara returns."
Black Zetsu decided to take a risk. It began to carefully plan an "accident," one that would be fatal but would not immediately arouse suspicion.
It noticed that Aoi had the habit of taking a walk along the Minamiga River every evening. The environment there was secluded and the guards were relatively sparse, making it an ideal place to attack.
Black Zetsu began to prepare. It carefully studied the flow of the Nanga River, surveyed the topography of the riverbanks, and even subtly altered the structure of certain locations to create potential hazards. It wanted everything to look like an unfortunate accident, a tragedy that no one would suspect was its fault.
"It's almost there, it's almost there..." Black Zetsu whispered in the darkness, its form fluctuating with excitement.
However, just as it was about to execute its plan, something unexpected happened.
It was a rainy night, and Black Zetsu was lurking in the shadows outside the Senju clan's territory as usual, watching Uchiha Aoi's courtyard. Suddenly, it felt a powerful and familiar chakra approaching Konoha rapidly.
It was Uchiha Madara. He had returned early.
Black Zetsu was shocked to discover that Madara's chakra held a calmness it had never felt before. The man's soul seemed to have found a place of sustenance, a balance that threatened its millennium plan.
"No!" Black Zetsu roared in his heart, "We can't do this!"
It watched Madara stride towards the Senju clan's territory, watched Uchiha Aoi greet him with surprise as he walked out the door, and watched the heartwarming scene of the brother and sister reuniting after a long separation. All of this made Black Zetsu feel extremely uneasy.
"This woman is more dangerous than I thought." Black Zetsu's murderous intent became even more resolute. "She must die, for the return of Mother, and for the 'salvation' of this world."
But Madara's return forced Black Zetsu to change his plan. It was too risky to act now, so he needed to wait for the next opportunity, an opportunity for Madara to leave the village again.
Black Zetsu slowly sank into the ground, leaving behind only an almost inaudible oath:
"Enjoy this brief peace, Uchiha Aoi. Your death will be the best gift I can give to this hypocritical world."
Deep underground, Black Zetsu began a new wait. Millennia had taught it the importance of patience. It would wait, it would plan, and it would do whatever it took to ensure its mother's resurrection went smoothly.
Uchiha Aoi, the woman who accidentally became a key chess piece in the game, knew nothing about it. She continued to work hard for her ideals and still believed that love and understanding could resolve the hatred in the world.
She didn't know that a pair of ancient and vicious eyes were watching her in the darkness, waiting to push her into the abyss of no return.
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