Ye Zi's presence in Amegakure meant that he had already completed his mission, capturing the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails Jinchūriki and bringing them back to the village.
Precisely because they all knew how difficult Ye Zi's mission was, the fact that he had actually succeeded and returned before them filled everyone with shock and disbelief.
Their team of six had captured the Six-Tails Jinchūriki from an entire shinobi village, which was no small feat, but the cost had been high. On the return trip, they had suffered immensely, constantly hunted by Kirigakure's forces for over three days and nights without a moment's rest.
Now, seeing Ye Zi standing there without a single injury and in perfect mental condition, the exhausted Kakuzu couldn't help but ask reflexively, "You completed your mission?"
Ye Zi didn't answer Kakuzu's question. His gaze had already shifted to the Six-Tails Jinchūriki slung over Kisame's shoulder, his eyes flashing faintly with emotion, there was a hint of excitement.
Now only the Nine-Tails remained. They were truly, in every sense, just one step away.
Although the final outcome was still uncertain, for the first time since arriving in this world, Ye Zi felt genuinely optimistic about the future.
After confirming the capture, Ye Zi turned and left in silence. Kakuzu, having been ignored, looked annoyed. He was extremely curious about how Ye Zi had completed such an impossible task alone, and especially how he had managed to face the so-called "monster," the Third Raikage.
"Well done."
Nagato took over custody of the Six-Tails Jinchūriki. It was now time to begin the lengthy sealing process. But before that, Konan and the others would need at least a full day of rest.
"Rest for a day. After that, we begin the sealing. This time, we'll be sealing three Jinchūriki at once."
Seeing how utterly exhausted the six of them were, Nagato spoke calmly.
Upon hearing this, the six were more than happy to comply, and they each went to their rooms to rest without hesitation.
As they left, both Nagato and Ye Zi shared the same excitement.
They each had their own goals and paths, but to reach the end of that road, they needed all nine Tailed Beasts. Now, there was only one step left.
Ye Zi returned to his room and leaned against the wall by the window, arms crossed, watching raindrops slide down the glass, his expression tinged with something hazy and distant.
Inside the room with him was White Zetsu, as usual curled up in a corner.
Ye Zi watched the rain. White Zetsu watched Ye Zi.
"Just one last step until the plan is complete," White Zetsu chuckled softly, while Black Zetsu, as always, remained stoically silent.
Hearing White Zetsu's words, Ye Zi stared silently out the window.
"According to the pre-assigned roles, after we finish sealing these three Jinchūriki, it'll be Nagato's job to capture the Nine-Tails. Then comes reviving Madara. So… what do you plan to do?"
White Zetsu couldn't help running his mouth. Even when Ye Zi remained cold and indifferent, he kept talking.
Black Zetsu's eyes narrowed slightly. He harbored secrets even Madara didn't know. Though he served as Madara's "will," this step of the plan was too crucial for him to stay silent.
"The final sealing step won't take long. If we manage to capture the Nine-Tails, Nagato can immediately summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and seal the Nine-Tails on the spot. That's why the timing for reviving Madara is so critical," Black Zetsu said evenly.
Ye Zi gave the two of them a sidelong glance, but said nothing.
White Zetsu picked up the thread of the conversation again, sneering: "To make Nagato use Rinne Rebirth to revive Madara, we'll need to… apply a little pressure."
Controlling Nagato to use Rinne Rebirth wasn't difficult. This was a key part of the plan. Without the absolute certainty of success, they would never have entrusted Nagato with such a crucial role.
Black Zetsu looked at the silent Ye Zi. He needed to understand Ye Zi's intentions as well. Controlling Nagato would require Ye Zi's help, but Nagato would first be heading to Konoha to capture the Nine-Tails. If they could take advantage of that timing, they might not need to work as hard.
As Black Zetsu studied Ye Zi, White Zetsu did the same.
Faced with their questioning stares, Ye Zi's expression remained cold as he said flatly, "I know what I'm doing."
Everyone has their secrets. Black Zetsu did. White Zetsu did. Naturally, Ye Zi had his own as well.
His secret was the role of "Shokui"...
Now that he had discovered how to break through space and return to Earth, how could Ye Zi possibly go through with reviving Madara?
But as one of the co-executors of the plan, alongside Black and White Zetsu, Ye Zi would hide this secret until the very end. He had no intention of letting them know that he never planned to revive Madara at all.
Ye Zi's vague response left Black Zetsu dissatisfied. Although he had backup plans, they were now deep into the final stages of the plan, there was no room for mistakes. He pressed Ye Zi again:
"If you won't tell us your full intentions, it'll be hard to coordinate."
At the very least, they needed to know what Ye Zi was thinking, so they could be prepared.
White Zetsu wasn't as anxious as Black Zetsu, but he also thought it would be nice to know Ye Zi's plan, it would make spectating the chaos even more enjoyable.
If he felt even a slight sense of urgency, it was only because he was eager to see how Ye Zi's "ending" would play out. He was very much looking forward to that moment.
Ye Zi withdrew his gaze and continued staring out at the storm through the window. He spoke calmly, "I'll follow Nagato to Konoha, then wait for the right moment to act. As for the exact approach… it depends on whether Nagato's mission in Konoha goes smoothly."
To cover up his true plans, he had to toss out a smokescreen.
"If Nagato succeeds in capturing the Nine-Tails and summons the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to complete the sealing, that will be the perfect opportunity. You and I will coordinate and forcibly make Nagato use the Rinne Rebirth to revive Madara."
Ye Zi turned to look at Black Zetsu and continued evenly,
"As for how, I'll weaken Nagato's self-control using genjutsu. After that, you'll invade his body and control him to form the hand seals for Rinne Rebirth."
Hearing this, a cold smirk surfaced in Black Zetsu's mind. By that point, Nagato would have fought an intense battle against Konoha to capture the Nine-Tails. Even if victorious, he would undoubtedly be physically and mentally exhausted. That would be the ideal time to strike.
However, the timing had to be flawless. The Rinnegan allowed Nagato to control the Demonic Statue after sealing all nine Tailed Beasts, he couldn't be given a chance to replenish his chakra.
Before he could recover, if Ye Zi's genjutsu took hold and Black Zetsu controlled his body, the chances of success were high. But…
Black Zetsu looked at Ye Zi and asked quietly,
"And what if Nagato fails?"
Ye Zi's entire plan revolved around Nagato successfully capturing the Nine-Tails. But failure was a real possibility, and that would change everything. They would need a contingency.
Ye Zi was silent for a moment, then replied calmly,
"If he fails…" He turned his eyes to Black Zetsu, and suddenly smiled coldly, his voice low and sharp:"Then what happens next will depend… on whether Nagato lives or dies."
Black Zetsu fell silent.
In his carefully scripted plan, Nagato was a critical supporting actor. The value he was meant to deliver… all hinged on the outcome of that one battle.
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