Naruto: Tenseigan Eye

As the pull of Madara's power grew stronger, Shinki felt himself being inexorably drawn closer to the legendary Uchiha.

Out of the shadows, a dark force surged toward him. It was Black Zetsu, the shrewd manipulator concealed within Madara's shadow.

Both Madara and Black Zetsu had deduced that the scroll containing the Rinnegan was in Shinki's possession. It seemed logical; such a critical artifact would hardly be left unguarded. Black Zetsu's unparalleled ability to locate hidden items made retrieving it an eventual certainty, no matter where it might be concealed in the ninja world.

If the Rinnegan was already with Shinki, a more direct approach was necessary. Madara entrusted Black Zetsu to execute this strategy, knowing only his intervention could draw Shinki close enough to seize an opportunity.

Black Zetsu's plan was straightforward: steal the Rinnegan and escape. Whether Madara was sealed or not was irrelevant. With the Rinnegan in his grasp, Black Zetsu could outlast his adversaries, awaiting the perfect moment to manipulate new pawns to fulfill his ultimate objective.

Despite Shinki's formidable strength and intellect, Black Zetsu dismissed him as a temporary obstacle. From his perspective, Shinki's mortality was his greatest weakness. Even with the extended lifespan granted by the Tenseigan, Shinki would inevitably succumb to the limits of human life. Once that time came, Black Zetsu would reemerge to resume his pursuit of the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan.

For Madara, the priority was reclaiming the Rinnegan. For Black Zetsu, however, the stakes extended far beyond that—his ambitions were far greater than Madara ever envisioned.

"Success!" Black Zetsu declared, moving with such speed that Shinki was caught off guard. Snatching the scroll, Black Zetsu vanished with blinding velocity, leaving Madara to bask in the triumph he believed was inevitable.

Madara's laughter echoed across the battlefield. "Hyuga Shinki, do you honestly think you've won? I would never face you without ensuring I had a contingency plan."

His voice exuded confidence, rooted in his unwavering belief in Black Zetsu's loyalty. "Black Zetsu is the manifestation of my will. With the Rinnegan, he will guarantee my return. The Infinite Tsukuyomi is inevitable, no matter what you do."

Shinki remained unshaken as he approached Madara. Calmly placing a hand on Madara's head, he began the intricate sealing process, watching as the patterns of the seal spread across Madara's body.

"You trust him completely?" Shinki asked, his voice steady. "Did it never occur to you that he might betray you?"

Madara scoffed, dismissing the notion. "Absurd. Black Zetsu is my will. Betrayal is impossible."

Raising an eyebrow, Shinki retorted, "Interesting. But my sources suggest otherwise. They say Black Zetsu isn't your will at all but the will of Kaguya Otsutsuki. His true loyalty lies in reviving her."

Madara's smug demeanor wavered. Doubt crept into his expression, but before he could respond, Shinki completed the seal, leaving Madara silenced and immobilized. With Madara neutralized, Shinki turned his focus to Black Zetsu, who was now fleeing with the scroll.

Surveying the aftermath of the battle in the Land of Taki, Shinki shook his head. The destruction was extensive, and the recovery would be arduous. Fortunately, the conflict had not spilled into the Land of Fire, sparing it from devastation. More critically, the Ten-Tails had been kept sealed, avoiding a catastrophe of unprecedented scale.

Sealing Madara's body in a dimensional rift to ensure it remained beyond reach, Shinki set off in pursuit of Black Zetsu. While Madara was no longer a threat, Black Zetsu's cunning and resourcefulness posed an even greater danger. If allowed to escape, he would undoubtedly burrow underground, waiting patiently for another chance to act.

"Sometimes," Shinki muttered with a wry smile, "the safest places are the most dangerous."

Determined, he pressed forward, resolute in his mission to eliminate Black Zetsu once and for all.