In a certain dimension.
The white, plant-like Zetsu and the spiral-faced Tobi stood side-by-side on a landscape of gray rock, staring up at the purple sky above.
"Strange. Where are we? How did we suddenly get here?" White Zetsu surveyed the desolate land and shook his head. "I can't connect with my other clones. This seems to be a different dimension."
"How can you be so calm?" Tobi knelt on the ground, sobbing and wailing, though not a single tear could be squeezed out. He opened his spiral face, revealing the pale, ashen face of Madara Uchiha, his eyes tightly shut.
"Waaah, you died so tragically, Madara! How could you just abandon us and leave all alone?"
"What are you getting so worked up about?" White Zetsu shook his head. "His death was inevitable, wasn't it? Even Madara himself knew his time was short."
"Huh? Really?" Tobi's expression changed in an instant. "So this was also part of Madara's plan? In that case, should we be acting happier?"
Before White Zetsu could answer, he burst out laughing. "Madara, you died so wonderfully!"
"...Don't say things like that while wearing Madara's face. It's creepy."
"Yay, yay, yay! Madara, you're finally dead! We're all so happy!" Tobi, still wrapped around Madara's corpse, began to dance happily, waving his arms and legs.
Suddenly, he clutched his rear and let out a sharp cry.
"What now?" White Zetsu asked, rolling his eyes.
"I feel something strange... in my butt," Tobi said, closing his spiral face, his voice sounding odd. "Could it be... could this be the legendary urge to poop?!"
"What? For real?" White Zetsu's expression grew solemn. He crouched down, his eyes fixed on Tobi's rear, and asked seriously, "What does it feel like?"
"Mmm, it's hard to describe. It feels like something is squirming around in there. Ah, it's... it's coming out!"
Tobi clutched his rear and leaned forward. His closed spiral face opened once more, and he spat out a lump of black putty.
"It really came out! But why did it come out of your mouth? Shouldn't it come out of your butt?"
"I don't know. It's my first time pooping, after all."
The lump of black putty writhed and stretched into a humanoid form. It looked remarkably similar to White Zetsu, only its body was the opposite color, a deep, inky black.
"Hey, my poop turned into a person."
"You idiot! I am not poop!" Black Zetsu gritted his teeth. "I was created by Madara with Yin-Yang Release right before he died... Never mind. I'll let Madara tell you himself."
As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding scenery suddenly turned into a vast, white expanse. The deceased Madara Uchiha appeared before them.
"Huh?! Madara, aren't you dead?" White Zetsu exclaimed in shock.
"I am indeed dead. This is merely a genjutsu I left within Black Zetsu," Madara said in a deep voice.
"Madara, you died in the coolest way! Thumbs-up!" Tobi gave him a thumbs-up.
"...Be quiet and listen!"
"Oh."
Madara took a deep breath. "I had originally planned to select a worthy successor to continue my plan. Unfortunately, those two intruders disrupted everything. Now, I can only rely on you."
"I created Black Zetsu. He shares my will. You can trust him completely. Follow his arrangements to complete my plan. Remember, you must preserve my body. When the time is right, have Nagato perform the Rinne Tensei no Jutsu and resurrect me!" Madara's voice was stern. "This is the highest priority! However, if you have the spare capacity, you may also attempt to collect the Tailed Beasts. Do you understand?"
"Understood!"
"Good. I hope we will meet again."
With that, Madara's figure dissipated along with the white mist, and White Zetsu and the others returned to the strange dimension.
"You all heard him. From now on, you will follow my orders," Black Zetsu said.
"Since it's Madara's will, I have no choice," White Zetsu nodded.
"I don't really care, but I want to know, can you poop?" Tobi raised his hand and asked.
"No!"
"Aw, so you're just like us? How boring."
"..."
Following Black Zetsu's command, he and White Zetsu merged, becoming a green, pitcher-plant-like figure named "Zetsu." Just as they finished, a dark red vortex suddenly appeared beside them. The massive Gedo Statue emerged from within, giving them a huge shock.
"How did the Gedo Statue follow us here?"
Black Zetsu was even more shocked. Looking at the figure standing in the palm of the Gedo Statue's hand, his mind plunged into panic. That aura... it's definitely an Otsutsuki. Why is there another Otsutsuki on this planet?
In truth, Black Zetsu was not created by Madara Uchiha. He was the youngest son of Kaguya Otsutsuki, born from her Yin-Yang Release just before her two unfilial sons sealed her away a thousand years ago. He had strived for a millennium to resurrect his mother. Thus, to commemorate this tear-jerking history of struggle, some enthusiasts had dubbed the story of the ninja world "The Tale of Black Zetsu Saving His Mom."
But now, just as he was lying low with Madara, feeling his goal was within reach, Madara was suddenly killed by two Otsutsuki impostors, and a real Otsutsuki had appeared before his very eyes. From his mother's memories, Black Zetsu knew that all Otsutsuki were his enemies, and they were the highest-level threat. White Zetsu had been created specifically to combat the Otsutsuki clan.
So, seeing an Otsutsuki appear now... he was so, so done.
Barely managing to restrain himself from screaming obscenities, Black Zetsu forced himself to calm down and assess the situation. In his current form, even an Otsutsuki wouldn't be able to discover his true identity.
Right, that's right. Calm down.
Though it took many words to describe, only a few seconds had actually passed. Just as Black Zetsu had calmed himself, Tobi's cheeky voice rang out. "Yo, handsome! What's your name? Are you the one who brought us here?"
"My name is Jigen. And yes, it was I who moved you here." Jigen looked down at the bizarre creature below him, his mind already understanding its origin. A puppet created from the leaves and branches of the God Tree? Crude, but it can serve as a tool. The thought of recruiting them entered his mind.
Thus, Jigen looked down from on high and spoke in a tone that brooked no refusal. "Hand over that man's body and submit to me. Otherwise, die!"
"Uhh..." Tobi scratched his head and looked at Zetsu. To be precise, he looked at the Black Zetsu half.
White Zetsu also glanced sideways at his other half.
"..." Black Zetsu didn't hesitate. He immediately nodded. "We are willing to obey your command."