Uchiha Madara was growing older.
According to the Leaf Village's calendar, Madara Uchiha, born 32 years before the founding of the Leaf, was now 69 years old.
Thanks to his own immense strength and the Sage Body traits he acquired from Hashirama Senju, 69 years was not a particularly advanced age for Uchiha Madara.
Especially after he successfully awakened the Rinnegan, achieving the ultimate Yin-Yang Release and evolving the power to create and destroy all things.
Logically, Madara's body should have become increasingly robust under the nourishment of these two powers.
But the problem lay with the power of the Rinnegan.
He had given his eyes away.
He had given them to the child who carried his hopes and dreams, and in exchange, he had taken a pair of ordinary three-tomoe Sharingan.
His spiritual anchor was placed in someone else, and the unfamiliar eyes did not perfectly fit his own body. They could not be closed, constantly consuming chakra...
Uchiha Madara's current state was one of decline.
"Not yet at the limit!"
Looking at the Outer Path Statue of the Ten-Tails standing in the shadows, Madara softly murmured.
"When I truly can't hold on any longer, I'll use the power of the Outer Path to prolong my life, just as Black Zetsu said!"
"Although I have entrusted the Moon Eye Plan to Nagato, and although I can be resurrected through Rinne Rebirth in the future, I..."
"I am truly unwilling to leave this world having accomplished nothing!"
With a sigh, Madara closed his eyes again.
"Lord Madara!"
A familiar, sharp voice suddenly sounded before him. Uchiha Madara didn't even lift an eyelid, merely grunting in response.
"Mm!"
Black Zetsu, half black and half white, holding a bag of food brought back from the Land of Iron, gently placed it before Madara.
(The reason Zetsu appears in both black and white states is likely because Black Zetsu is an incomplete creation of Yin-Yang Release, lacking the flexible limbs of a human. Apart from being able to travel underground using Yin-Yang Release, it inherently lacks the ability to walk on the surface. Only by possessing White Zetsu can it perform human-like movements.)
(This speculation can be referenced when Black Zetsu finally performs the act of tearing out its heart, controlling White Zetsu's body to move behind Uchiha Madara to complete the action.)
"It's time to eat!"
His eyes opened a mere slit, and he glanced at the food on the ground. A hint of annoyance seemed to flash in his crimson eyes.
"Leave it there for now!"
"I don't feel like eating rice balls today..."
White Zetsu, which provided Black Zetsu with its body, split open the large mouth on its side and pulled out a rabbit that was still struggling.
"Hey, hey, if Lord Madara doesn't want to eat this human food, how about trying these small animals?"
"I'm really curious to know the difference between the excrement Lord Madara passes after eating regular food and after eating small animals!"
These ambiguously worded words made Uchiha Madara's eye twitch.
"You idiot, say that again to provoke me, and I'll kill you on the spot!"
White Zetsu immediately put on a frightened expression, its body tilting back exaggeratedly.
"Wait a minute, Lord Madara!"
"I still need to transmit the intelligence Black Zetsu has gathered to the other White Zetsus, and their intelligence will be transmitted back to me."
"If you lose me, Lord Madara will have to find another White Zetsu as obedient as I am!"
"And..."
White Zetsu straightened up and muttered quietly.
"I still haven't figured out why Lord Madara has the urge to defecate..."
Uchiha Madara's chest heaved for a moment. Under Black Zetsu's somewhat worried gaze, he finally suppressed the anger in his heart.
"Did you gather any useful intelligence?"
"Don't bother telling me about trivial matters like the petty squabbles between ninjas that aren't worth mentioning!"
Madara's voice was calm, with no trace of emotional fluctuation.
Had decades of monotonous life significantly improved Madara's composure?
Zetsu nodded, its somber voice slowly rising. Clearly, at this moment, Black Zetsu was in control.
"There is important intelligence, and recently, there has been noticeably more than before."
Uchiha Madara opened his eyes and looked at Zetsu. Seeing its black and white face as stern as ever, he let out a satisfied grunt.
"Mm! Tell me about it!"
"It's somewhat interesting to occasionally hear the stories of these younger generations in the ninja world!"
"Yes!"
Zetsu replied and continued:
"A piece of intelligence transmitted by White Zetsus dispersed in the Land of Earth states that two months ago, the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki the Two-Headed Bird, was invited by the priestess of the Land of Demons to bring his people to the Land of Demons to assist in suppressing the seal of Mōryō and to expel a rogue ninja who was causing slaughter within their territory."
"Afterward, the Stone Village ninjas arrived in the Land of Demons that day and returned the same day."
"Onoki's performance was somewhat disheveled. After returning to the Stone Village, he was so angry that he smashed his own Tsuchikage building."
A cold, disdainful sneer curled Madara's lips.
"That brat who groveled before the power of God back then?"
"Heh! Just an ant, it's not surprising he was forced back to the Stone Village!"
Zetsu shook its head.
"Lord Madara certainly has the right to say that, but what if the one who forced Onoki back was a young Leaf ninja?"
Uchiha Madara's interest was clearly piqued by Zetsu's words.
"Oh? A junior from the Leaf?"
"Which one? Uchiha Yashiro? Or Kagami Uchiha, who defected to Tobirama?"
"Neither!"
Zetsu shook its head again, its eyes growing somewhat cold.
"It was one of the Legendary Sannin of the Leaf who previously defeated Hanzo, Orochimaru!"
"In the Land of Rain, he displayed powerful sensory abilities. As soon as White Zetsu and I approached Nagato, we immediately drew his attention."
"This intelligence was reported to you before, Lord Madara, do you remember?"
Uchiha Madara nodded slightly, saying dismissively:
"Continue!"
"Just being strong in sensory abilities isn't enough for him to force back Onoki, who possesses a Kekkei Tota."
"What other means does that Orochimaru have?"
Black Zetsu nodded obediently and continued:
"Although I couldn't get too close to Orochimaru, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki of the Leaf and the Four-Tails Jinchūriki of the Stone Village were also present at the time."
"The commotion between the two Jinchūriki was significant, so useful intelligence could be gathered from a great distance."
"Orochimaru only used two jutsu, and he helped the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki subdue the completely tailed beastified Four-Tails, Roshi."
"One was a powerful Senjutsu Ninjutsu, Suiton—Great Waterfall Unleashed, and the other..."
"I don't understand..."
Uchiha Madara's eyes suddenly snapped open, his crimson gaze fixed on Black Zetsu.
"Senjutsu?"
"Is it Hashirama's Sage Mode?"
Black Zetsu nodded gently.
"It's very similar. In that state, Orochimaru possesses strong sensory abilities, even dodging a surprise attack from Onoki's Dust Release."
"Even, he can fly..."
Uchiha Madara nodded thoughtfully.
"Dust Release was ineffective, and Onoki lost his aerial advantage. Being forced back is quite reasonable!"
"And the Four-Tails?"
A hint of worry flashed in Black Zetsu's eyes, and it sighed softly.
"It was sealed by Orochimaru. He should have taken it back to the Leaf Village!"
Uchiha Madara frowned slightly, displeased.
"The Leaf Village has begun actively capturing tailed beasts in the ninja world?"
"However, it doesn't matter if it was taken to the Leaf. Nagato's growth still requires time."
"The Moon Eye Plan will not be halted by the Leaf Village's actions..."
"What about the current situation with the other tailed beasts?"
Black Zetsu pondered for a moment and spoke in a deep voice:
"The Five-Tails of the Stone Village and the Eight-Tails of the Cloud Village have found new-generation Jinchūriki. The Two-Tails is temporarily sealed in the Cloud Village, and a suitable Jinchūriki has not yet been found."
"The Seven-Tails is in a wild state. The strength of the Waterfall Village is limited, and they are incapable of capturing the Seven-Tails, which possesses flight abilities."
"As for the One-Tail in the Land of Wind and the Three-Tails and Six-Tails in the Land of Water..."
"The number of White Zetsus is limited, and there is currently no intelligence on those tailed beasts."
Black Zetsu lied.
There were many White Zetsus, but it couldn't explain the origin of the hundred thousand White Zetsus buried underground to Uchiha Madara.
"Is that so..."
Uchiha Madara's gaze flickered, and after a brief period of thought.
"Intelligence in the ninja world must be under my supervision. The number of White Zetsus is indeed a problem."
"However, I have too little power remaining now to create more White Zetsus out of thin air..."
"If they rely on themselves to split, their numbers and quality may not meet my requirements."
White Zetsu scratched its head, not refuting.
"Go and capture some people. I will use the power of the Outer Path Statue to transform them into White Zetsus."
"Not the Land of Iron; it's too close, and it might expose our location."
"Go to the Land of Hot Water!"
"The Ninja Village of the Hot Water is famous throughout the ninja world for its hot springs. A large number of people travel to the Land of Hot Water daily. The disappearance of a few will not arouse suspicion from others."
"The more, the better!"
"Go!"
Uchiha Madara commanded with a cold voice.
"Your will!"
Black Zetsu gave a sinister laugh and slowly sank into the ground.