When I finally regained full strength, I sat cross-legged at the center of the cave. My breathing was steady, my chakra calm, but beneath the surface… it was like a raging storm waiting to be unleashed.
"All right," I murmured. "Time to take the next step."
Black Zetsu stood silently before me — an unnatural creation born from my chakra and will. His body was thin, black, and flexible, pulsing faintly with my energy. He wasn't just a tool — he was an extension of me.
I pressed my hand forward, summoning bright golden chakra into my palm — pure Yang Release. It pulsed and shimmered, radiating life itself. Carefully, I infused it into Zetsu's body.
The effect was immediate. His chakra signature flared as his structure solidified, muscles forming under the blackened surface. His chakra pathways expanded, his energy becoming more stable — stronger.
"There," I said quietly, lowering my hand. "You now possess a physical body strong enough to fight — and the chakra of a low-level Ōtsutsuki."
Zetsu looked down at himself, flexing his new hands in fascination.
"I can… feel it. This strength… it's real."
"Don't get carried away," I said, my voice calm but firm. "You're still only a fraction of me."
He nodded obediently. Perfect.
Next, I activated my Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, my eyes burning with their familiar crimson glow. Reality itself seemed to warp as I extended my genjutsu into his mind. I poured memories, battle experiences, and ninjutsu knowledge directly into him — everything I'd inherited from Itachi, Indra, and Kakashi.
For an instant, the air around us crackled with energy. The process was excruciating for him — his body trembled as the flood of information overwhelmed his mind — but when it ended, he stood taller, calmer… and far more dangerous.
"Now you know how to fight," I said simply."And how to survive."
He bowed his head slightly. "As you command, my creator."
That was enough for now. I turned my attention to the pile of scrolls I'd uncovered earlier — ancient, dust-covered seals written in old shinobi script. My eyes lit up as I unrolled the largest one, revealing lines of intricate symbols and notes.
"Fūinjutsu…" I whispered, my fingers tracing the markings. "So much knowledge here."
There were sealing techniques ranging from the simplest chakra locks to divine-level barriers capable of trapping even gods. A complete collection — something even Konoha would've killed to possess.
I began with the basics — absorption seals, chakra suppression formulas, spatial storage methods — mastering the foundations before moving toward the higher levels. My Sharingan allowed me to memorize every stroke, every curve of ink instantly.
As I studied, I could feel Kurama's amused rumble in my mind.
"Heh. You really don't rest, do you?""Rest is for mortals," I replied softly. "I'm building something greater."
Hours passed. Scrolls opened and closed around me, the scent of old ink filling the air. Every line of script I read deepened my understanding, refining the Uzumaki sage body's natural affinity for sealing.
Meanwhile, Black Zetsu slipped silently toward the nearest settlement. His goal was clear: gather biomass, merge with the earth, and begin dividing himself. Each fragment would become a White Zetsu — my eyes, ears, and shadows.
By the time night fell, my cave was empty except for the flicker of chakra light and the soft rustle of turning scrolls.
"The foundation is set," I murmured, closing another seal formula."Soon… I'll know everything this world hides."
And when that happened, even the gods of Olympus wouldn't be able to conceal their secrets from me.