"Damn it… I—!"
Black Zetsu struggled violently, trying to break free from the Sealing Formation restraining him.
Although Black Zetsu was extremely difficult to kill due to his unique constitution, sealing techniques were the most effective method against him.
He simply didn't possess enough raw power to break a seal.
However, as an ancient schemer who had plotted in the shadows for thousands of years, how could Black Zetsu possibly fail to leave countermeasures inside Obito?
"Sealing Art: Binding Curse Tag!"
With a sharp shout, Black Zetsu activated the technique.
Obito's body suddenly stiffened.
Several black chakra rods burst out from within his body.
This was a hidden failsafe Madara had planted inside Obito long ago. With a single thought, it could control Obito's movements.
As the so-called "Will of Madara," Black Zetsu naturally possessed authority over the Binding Curse Tag implanted in Obito's body.
Obito's body trembled slightly as his arm involuntarily lifted, trying to tear the sealing tags off Black Zetsu.
"Don't bother struggling, Obito," Black Zetsu sneered.
"You cannot resist Madara-sama's power."
Obito clenched his teeth, focusing all his strength on resisting Black Zetsu's control. He didn't even have the strength to reply.
Seeing this, Black Zetsu's eyes flashed with contempt as he increased the force of his control.
"Did you forget that I'm still here?"
At that moment, Uchiha Ren's voice sounded beside him.
Before Black Zetsu realized it, Ren had already appeared directly in front of them.
Black Zetsu's pupils shrank.
But it was already too late to react.
"Four Symbols Seal!"
Ren slammed his palm into Black Zetsu's abdomen.
Black sealing formulas spread rapidly across Black Zetsu's body, suppressing and sealing the power within him.
"Still not enough."
"Sealing Art: Crimson Red Lotus!"
Against an ancient manipulator like Black Zetsu—who had lurked in the shadows for thousands of years—Ren would never trust a single seal.
After all, someone like Black Zetsu might very well have studied ways to break various sealing techniques over the centuries.
The Four Symbols Seal was a traditional sealing art of the Uzumaki Clan.
If Black Zetsu could undo it, that wouldn't be surprising.
So Ren added another seal—one that had never existed in the shinobi world before.
Only then would he feel safe.
Due to certain circumstances, Ren had learned many sealing techniques from Uzumaki Kushina through Minato Namikaze.
The Four Symbols Seal was one of them.
But Sealing Art: Crimson Red Lotus was a technique Ren developed himself, based on sealing principles combined with his own abilities.
Once sealed by this technique, a seed of flame would form inside the target's body.
It would root itself within the target's chakra core, feeding on their body, spirit, and vitality.
From that energy, a crimson lotus of fire would bloom.
The sealed target would be slowly drained of all strength until they lost the ability to resist entirely.
"Sealing Formation — Reinforce!"
After casting Crimson Red Lotus, Ren still didn't stop. He strengthened the Sealing Formation, further restricting Black Zetsu's movements.
"Uchiha Ren… I never expected you to turn Obito against us."
Surprisingly, after being restrained by multiple layers of seals, Black Zetsu became calm.
He looked at Ren with a hint of admiration.
"I must say… this was an unexpected development."
By now, Black Zetsu had already figured out what happened.
The earlier genjutsu confrontation between Ren and Obito had merely been a smokescreen.
They had used genjutsu to isolate themselves from all observers and hold a conversation inside an illusion.
What Black Zetsu didn't know was how Ren had convinced Obito.
"Oh? You know who I am?" Ren asked with mild curiosity.
Black Zetsu replied,
"When Madara-sama was searching for a suitable successor, he once paid attention to you."
"But your talent was too mediocre, so he never chose you."
"Later, however, you displayed extraordinary ability during the war between Konoha and Kirigakure. Madara-sama was quite surprised by that."
"Logically speaking, someone like you shouldn't have achieved such accomplishments."
"But by that time, everything had already been set in motion, so Madara-sama didn't investigate further."
"Who would have thought that you would appear here today and disrupt our plans?"
Ren didn't argue.
Madara had probably evaluated the original owner of this body before Ren's transmigration.
Back then, that version of Ren had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and reached the level of a Jōnin, but in Madara's eyes that could still be considered mediocre talent.
Now that Black Zetsu was restrained, Obito felt much more relaxed.
He snorted.
"That old man Madara really had terrible judgment."
"Teacher Ren is someone who stands on the same level as Minato-sensei!"
"If that counts as mediocre talent, then what does that make a dead last like me?"
Black Zetsu glanced at Obito and replied irritably,
"That's not what I meant."
"If we're talking purely about shinobi ability, then yes—Uchiha Ren can be considered a genius."
"But among the Uchiha, his talent truly is mediocre."
Ren spoke calmly.
"You're referring to my lack of emotional bonds, aren't you?"
"Exactly."
Black Zetsu nodded.
"Your parents died early. You had almost no friends. You lived as a loner."
"Someone emotionally detached like you—without strong bonds—should never have been able to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"On the other hand…"
Black Zetsu glanced at Obito.
"This kid's emotions burn intensely. His heart is overflowing with love."
"For someone like him, all it takes is a little push to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"He's the true genius of the Uchiha Clan."
Ren didn't refute that.
The original Ren had shut himself off emotionally after awakening the Sharingan due to the trauma of losing his parents.
From that moment onward, he kept everyone at arm's length and never formed deep bonds again.
Under those circumstances, awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan would have been almost impossible.
But Ren was different.
After accepting his new identity and resolving to change the future, something triggered within him.
Perhaps it was the intense emotional shock.
Perhaps it was the fusion of two souls, greatly strengthening his spiritual power.
Or perhaps it was the mysterious advantage of being a transmigrator.
Whatever the reason—
His Mangekyō Sharingan awakened immediately.
His emotions were anything but cold.
Obito snorted.
"One day I'll definitely repay both you and Madara for your 'gifts.'"
"But right now…"
"It's already too late for you to say anything."
If he had the choice, Obito honestly would have preferred never being chosen by Madara in the first place.
After all—
"One wrong step can lead to eternal regret."
Obito hadn't yet done anything he truly regretted.
But his mindset had already changed.
He was no longer the boy he once was.
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