That man had a head of white hair, red eyes, and wore an oversized high-collared coat strapped with three belts across it.
At the moment, he was lowering his head, studying something intently.
"Hiruko, how's the research progress on the Impure World Reincarnation?"
Hiruko only gave him a calm glance, "It can already be performed, but if you want it to bring out any real strength, it still needs further research."
The Impure World Reincarnation was a jutsu he'd seen before while studying with Orochimaru. But back then, he had thought the technique was rather useless, so he hadn't paid much attention to it.
If Black Zetsu hadn't offered such a generous reward, he wouldn't even have bothered researching it now.
"Then keep researching."
Black Zetsu nodded slightly, took out a scroll, and tossed it over.
Hiruko opened it, and his eyes instantly lit up. Inside was a Sharingan.
But after examining it closely, his expression darkened.
"Why is it only a single tomoe?"
Their deal had been for a three-tomoe Sharingan, yet the one in the scroll was just a single-tomoe.
"Once you perfect the technique, the organization will feel secure enough to give you the three-tomoe Sharingan," Black Zetsu's tone was flat as he spoke.
After Uchiha Obito's capture, all of Uchiha Madara's stored resources had fallen into his hands.
He was still wearing the black cloak patterned with red clouds, pretending to operate under the Akatsuki name to bluff others.
If the man before him knew that he was actually working alone now, he might start getting dangerous ideas.
Hiruko narrowed his eyes and stared at Black Zetsu for a while, but ultimately said nothing.
"I hope next time you don't try to fool me again. You're not my only option, you know."
The final piece of his Chimera Technique required a three-tomoe Sharingan. A single-tomoe one was practically useless to him except as a research sample.
And his other option, was, of course, the one on Kakashi's body.
Back when Kakashi had first obtained that eye, Hiruko had already planted a hidden contingency on him.
However, using that backup would definitely draw Konoha's attention.
And Konoha's current power was no joke, ever since that youngster, Aoba, had appeared, the village's strength and prestige were rapidly approaching the peak of the First Hokage's era again.
If he made a move on Kakashi now, there were too many unpredictable variables.
So unless it came to that, he didn't want to go after Kakashi.
Doing business with this pitch-black egg was much simpler.
He only needed to focus on studying the Impure World Reincarnation.
As for being betrayed later?
Not to mention that the reanimated shinobi would be under his control as the caster, that guy's own strength was far beneath his anyway.
All he really had going for him was his ability to hide and run.
"Don't worry. As long as the reanimated person can fight with even thirty percent of their power from life, I'll hand you the Sharingan."
Black Zetsu said calmly.
Hiruko raised an eyebrow, "You're sure thirty percent is enough?"
He couldn't imagine what use a shinobi with only thirty percent of their original power could possibly have.
"It's enough," From Black Zetsu's perspective, it was more than enough.
What he needed now was time.
At this point, the worst outcome for him was simply to hide again and wait another thousand years. He was already at rock bottom, any move from here was upward.
And after plotting for nearly a millennium, finally getting such a golden opportunity, it wasn't in his nature to just give up now.
"How long will it take?"
"If it's just to reach thirty percent strength… around a year."
Hiruko was actually rather anxious himself. His Chimera Technique was also at a critical stage, he was just one three-tomoe Sharingan short.
"A year, huh? I hope you don't disappoint me. Once you bring the soul back successfully, I'll hand you the three-tomoe Sharingan."
With that, Black Zetsu once again sank into the ground with the Mayfly Technique and vanished.
Hiruko stared at the spot where he'd disappeared, the ground showed no disturbance, and his chakra presence had completely faded as if it never existed.
Honestly, that ability made him a bit envious. Too bad the guy was too slippery, and Hiruko still needed the Sharingan that only Black Zetsu's "organization" could provide.
Otherwise, the moment Black Zetsu first appeared before him, he would've made him a test subject on the spot.
———
Elsewhere, after leaving the cave, Black Zetsu felt a bit mentally exhausted.
That man's gaze was exactly like Orochimaru's, full of greedy curiosity toward his body.
So naturally, he had to stay cautious and keep his distance.
Mainly because his own strength wasn't enough.
Sometimes, he really thought Mother was biased.
Why did those two rebellious brats, Otsutsuki Hagoromo and Otsutsuki Hamura, get such powerful abilities, while he, her most filial child, was only good at hiding and running?
Still, those were just occasional complaints in his heart. After all, Black Zetsu was a devoted son through and through.
After grumbling internally for a bit, he began planning his next move.
All of this was Obito's fault, if that idiot hadn't been so useless, Black Zetsu would now only need to sit back and have White Zetsu collect intel for him.
Instead, he was running around doing everything himself.
And he had to stay careful not to reveal his true nature, since people as easy to manipulate as Obito were rare in the ninja world.
Thinking of that, Black Zetsu couldn't help feeling a strange sense of nostalgia for Obito.
He shook his head, then sank back into the ground with the Mayfly Technique, heading toward the Land of Hot Water.
There, in the Land of Hot Water, was a place called Valley of Hell, once a battlefield between the Lands of Fire and Lightning.
It had also been the main battleground of the Senju and Uchiha clans.
That battle had been an intense one, and Black Zetsu had watched it with great interest.
Hundreds of years ago, a certain seal had been placed there. He wanted to see if it still remained.
If he wanted to reclaim the Rinnegan from Nagato, a reanimated shinobi with only thirty percent strength wouldn't be enough.
He'd need to find another easily manipulated helper.
———
Meanwhile, inside Konoha Village, in the Senju compound—
"Damn it, those bastards from Kusagakure actually dared to do something like that!", After hearing the story of what Karin and her mother had gone through in the Grass Village, Kushina was already fuming.
Her red hair flared up behind her like the fiery mane of a wrathful spirit.
The others watching her couldn't help swallowing nervously.
Especially Naruto, he seemed to already have a premonition of what his future home life would be like.
Kushina suddenly glared at Aoba with eyes wide as saucers, "Aoba! Did you take care of those bastards?"
Suppressing his awkward feeling, Aoba explained, "At the time, I wasn't strong enough. I only dealt with their leader."
"But now, it won't be long before Karin and Aunt Kasui can take revenge with their own hands."
"Good. When the time comes, I'm definitely going too, to lend a hand."
Kushina had already rolled up her sleeves and was pumping her fists.
"Kushina-nee, then let's do it together! We'll teach those Grass Village jerks a lesson they'll never forget!", Karin was also cracking her knuckles, looking every bit the fierce big-sister type.
In just one afternoon, the two of them had formed a strong bond.
Naruto looked at them both and couldn't help feeling, they looked more like mother and daughter.