I Am Uzumaki Menma

Land of Stars, Wind County, the Great Desert.

Two years ago, this place was a barren land locals called the [Sea of Death].

Back then, there were only rolling sand dunes, wind-eroded rocks, and the occasional withered Euphrates poplar… like the parched skeletons of the earth, silently testifying to the land's cruelty under the blazing sun.

But now, everything was different.

A broad green corridor, like a giant's arm, stretched from the Land of Stars' core region, cutting through this former desert.

On both sides of the corridor were neatly arranged windbreak forests. Various drought-resistant plants thrived under specialized soil improvement techniques and regular artificial rainfall, forming a green belt stretching hundreds of kilometers.

Further in, the desert had been transformed into oases.

Not just small patches, but entire swathes of oases.

Artificial lakes shimmered under the sunlight. Neat irrigation channels were built along the shores, delivering precious water resources to every inch of soil needing moisture.

In newly built farms, improved sandy soil crops sprouted and grew, patches of tender green strikingly vivid against the yellow sand backdrop.

In the distance, even rows of new solar panel arrays provided continuous electricity for the entire transformation project under the desert's ample sunlight.

But this wasn't the most astonishing part.

Midway along the green corridor, a brand-new city was rising.

The city's layout followed the ancient Eight Trigrams formation. Streets radiated out in concentric circles. At the center was a vast city park, and at the park's heart was a pair of artificial lakes shaped like Yin-Yang fish eyes.

And at the positions of the Yin-Yang fish eyes, two modern high-rise buildings stood.

To the east was a thirty-story administrative tower with light blue glass curtain walls reflecting the sky's colors. At its top flew the Land of Stars' flag… deep blue background dotted with a red star, symbolizing the Land of Stars' grand goal of unifying the Ninja World.

To the west stood a research tower of the same height, its silver-white exterior appearing more austere and professional. Various observation equipment and signal towers were installed on the rooftop. Occasionally, personnel in white lab coats could be seen moving on the top-floor open-air platform.

Between the two towers were auxiliary buildings connected by aerial walkways, forming a complete scientific research and administrative complex.

And in various districts of this city, more buildings were springing up.

Steel arms of cranes swung back and forth against the sky. The roar of construction vehicles intertwined with shouts from ninja and workers, composing a symphony of construction.

This was the Land of Stars' latest Technology City.

With the Land of Stars' rapid scientific and technological development, the original experimental zone in Star City could no longer meet the growing research demands.

Numerous researchers, experimental equipment, and research projects required more specialized, centralized space.

Thus, after the desert transformation project achieved phased results, Menma decided to build a city dedicated to scientific research and technological development on this newborn oasis.

Aside from top scientists under his command like Orochimaru, Kabuto, and Tono Katasuke, scientists from across the Ninja World, attracted by the Land of Stars' research environment and resources, flocked to settle here.

Vast human, material, and resource investments poured into this place, making this city born from the desert erupt with astonishing vitality and vigor.

At the edge of the green corridor, on the outskirts of Technology City, in a mountain range.

The transformation project hadn't fully advanced here yet, retaining some original geological features left from large-scale Earth Release Ninjutsu.

Scattered drought-resistant plants grew among jagged rocks. A few tenaciously surviving old trees stretched out twisted branches, casting mottled shadows in the afternoon sun.

On one relatively sturdy old tree, the trunk's surface suddenly rippled slightly.

Like a drop of water falling into a calm lake.

At the ripple's center, a strange figure slowly 'grew' out from the trunk.

The figure resembled a giant venus flytrap, split into black and white halves.

Left side was pure white, face showing an exaggerated, stiff smile, while right side was deep black, with gloomy and cold expression.

The two halves shared a central seam, as if roughly stitched together.

More notably, this bizarre creature wore a black cloak with red clouds.

"Wow~"

The white half spoke first, voice shrill and exaggerated. A white arm extended from the robe sleeve, pointing at the distant rising city.

"I remember just two years ago, this was all a vast desert!" The White Zetsu's exaggerated tone echoed through the mountains. "Now, in such a short time, it's become such a huge oasis! And look over there… the forest coverage is still expanding!"

Its gesticulating manner clashed with the solemn scene, but its eyes held genuine surprise.

Black Zetsu didn't respond immediately.

Its small yellow eyes swept over everything before it.

The windbreak forests stood in neat rows like green walls, blocking the raging sandstorms.

The artificial lakes under the sun were like mirrors embedded in the earth, reflecting sky and clouds.

Further away, Technology City's outline trembled slightly in the heat haze, the high-rises' glass curtain walls reflecting glaring light.

All this was the result of human modification.

Not a miracle like Hashirama creating a forest with a single Wood Release Ninjutsu, but ordinary people, ordinary Ninja, scientists… through planning, calculation, labor… reclaiming land bit by bit from the desert's grasp.

Black Zetsu remained silent for a long time.

It had lived too long.

In its more-than-one-thousand-year-long existence, it had seen too many human civilizations rise and fall, too many nations emerge and decline, too many Ninja's glory and downfall.

But it had never seen such a scene.

In its understanding, when the environment deteriorated, humans migrated.

When water sources dried up, they sought new ones.

When land turned to desert, they abandoned that land.

For thousands of years, humans in the Ninja World survived this way.

Adapt to the environment, or be eliminated by it.

Why expend such enormous effort to modify the environment?

Why deploy massive Chakra, manpower, material resources to do something it saw as meaningless?

Weren't Ninja supposed to be professionals dedicated to combat?

Shouldn't their power be used on battlefields, in seizing resources, expanding territory, realizing ambitions?

"Truly... incomprehensible."

Black Zetsu finally spoke, voice low and raspy, like two rough stones grinding.

"Such power to alter nature... is actually achieved by a group of Ninja with strength like ants, through 'cooperation' and 'technology'."

It paused, the black half leaning slightly forward, as if examining this newborn land more carefully.

If it were Hashirama, or Madara… or even Shura himself using their world-destroying power to create a forest in a short time, Black Zetsu wouldn't be surprised.

That was the power 'the strong' should possess.

But everything here...

Black Zetsu's gaze swept over ordinary people laboring in fields, engineers operating machinery, humans who might or might not be called Ninja...

"Not the power of one person, not an instantaneous miracle, but countless people, over a long time, through planned joint effort."

Its voice carried a complex emotion… surprise, confusion, also a trace of wariness.

White Zetsu tilted its head, half its face showing a puzzled expression. "You seem very concerned about this?"

"Concerned?" Black Zetsu sneered. "I just can't understand what purpose Shura has in making the Land of Stars' Ninja do this. Simply disliking deserts? Or... does he have another goal?"

Black Zetsu had this question pondered for a long time.

In its one-thousand-plus years of life, it had seen too many rulers.

Some sought power, some wealth, some ambition, some ideals.

But whatever their motives, they ultimately concentrated their power on 'war' and 'conquest'.

Because only war and conquest could quickly acquire resources, consolidate rule, realize ambitions.

But Shura was different.

After the Land of Stars annexed the Land of Wind and made the Land of Earth a vassal, it didn't continue expanding. Instead, it began large-scale internal construction.

Desert transformation, agricultural development, city construction, scientific research, civil education… things traditional rulers considered 'slow-yielding', 'low-return'…Shura invested enormous resources.

Why?

Black Zetsu couldn't figure it out.

But it knew there must be some scheme behind this it didn't understand.

"Forget it," Black Zetsu withdrew its thoughts, voice regaining calm. "Now's not the time to think about this."

It turned to White Zetsu. "Have someone take the item to the agreed location."

"Roger!" White Zetsu immediately responded, its white arm wriggling within the trunk, transmitting information through the deep underground root network.

This time, Black Zetsu was here to trade with Shura.

Back in the ruins of the ancient Roran Kingdom, the White Zetsu clone Black Zetsu sent finally found an opportunity to 'coincidentally meet' Shura and convey a message.

A path to 'obtaining the Sage of Six Paths' power'.

Gather the Nine Tailed Beasts, create the Ten-Tails, become the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki, and gain power rivaling the Sage of Six Paths.

Black Zetsu believed no one in the Ninja World could refuse this temptation.

And Shura's reaction was indeed within its expectations.

Greed, covetousness, yet full of wariness.

Shura didn't agree immediately but proposed a condition: Black Zetsu must first deliver one thousand White Zetsu 'materials' to demonstrate sincerity.

This condition hit right where Black Zetsu wanted.

It wasn't afraid of Shura making exorbitant demands… it was afraid Shura wouldn't take the bait!

As long as Shura became interested in the 'Sage of Six Paths' power', as long as Shura started gathering Tailed Beasts, as long as Shura wanted to become the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki...

Then, its plan was half-successful.

Then, when Shura became the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki, through backdoors left in these White Zetsu materials, it could inject Kaguya's will, allowing Kaguya to descend upon this world using Shura's body as a medium!

Thinking of this, a barely detectable excitement flashed in Black Zetsu's gloomy expression.

Two thousand years of waiting, finally nearing dawn.

"Already arranged," White Zetsu's voice interrupted Black Zetsu's thoughts. "One White Zetsu is carrying the sealing scroll to the agreed location."

"Hn," Black Zetsu nodded.

The venus flytrap-like figure slowly sank into the trunk, disappearing, leaving only gradually smoothing ripples on the bark and a few lizards climbing back onto rocks to sunbathe.