17

After the weight of Sakura's words hangs in the air, Madara steps forward, his eyes dark with the weight of past manipulations. He crosses his arms, his voice steady but tinged with bitterness.

"Black Zetsu," he begins, "he's always been the true force behind everything. He manipulated me, played me for a fool. It was Black Zetsu who twisted my vision, making me believe in the Infinite Tsukuyomi. And then he moved on to Obito, who in turn manipulated Nagato. Nagato's pain drove him into the arms of the Akatsuki, and that's when everything started to spiral. Now, it's you two, Naruto and Sasuke, in his sights."

He looks at Naruto and Sasuke, his gaze hardening. "And to think all this started with Black Zetsu's manipulation, pulling the strings from the shadows. It's always been him, hiding in the background, working toward his true goal."

Naruto frowns, rubbing his chin in thought. "It's true... Black Zetsu has been in control the whole time, pulling people together, guiding them toward his plans. I guess we were too focused on everything that happened with Isshiki that we forgot how deep the manipulation went."

Sasuke narrows his eyes, contemplating Madara's words. "So, all the pieces fall into place. Black Zetsu has been behind this from the start. He's the one who brought all of us to this point, knowingly or unknowingly."

As the weight of the conversation settles over the room, the previous Kages—still in their spiritual forms—nod gravely. They remember when Kaguya first revealed her army, the overwhelming presence of her creations, and the sheer scale of her power. The memories stir a mix of fear and disbelief.

Hashirama sighs deeply, his face filled with concern. "Yes... when Kaguya first showed us her army, none of us could truly understand the scale of what was coming. It felt like we were facing an unstoppable force, and now... now we see the strings being pulled by Black Zetsu all along."

Tobirama shakes his head in disbelief. "We were too distracted by the immediate threats, the wars, the conflicts. We had no idea what lay behind the curtain. And now it seems like everything has come full circle."

Naruto, sensing the growing tension, tries to lighten the mood with a wry grin. "I think we all got too caught up with Isshiki and his arrival. We were focused on him, not realizing that Black Zetsu had already set everything in motion long before."

The room falls silent again, the weight of the truth sinking in. The Zetsu Army is not just a random collection of creatures—it's the result of years of manipulation, and the true force behind everything has always been Black Zetsu.