I Am Uzumaki Menma

Technology City, Research Tower, Sub-Level Three.

The space here was completely different from the bright, modern style above.

Thick Chakra Metal composed the walls, floor, and ceiling, surfaces emitting a faint silver-white glow.

The air held a peculiar 'silent' quality, as if even sound propagation encountered some intangible hindrance here.

This was a specially designed isolation research laboratory.

Dedicated to research requiring high secrecy or possibly producing uncontrollable risks.

At the lab's center stood various precision instruments and equipment.

Flashing indicator lights, jumping data screens, slowly rotating mechanical arms created a highly technological scene.

And in the lab's innermost area stood two massive cylindrical cultivation containers.

The containers were made of transparent special material, filled with pale green nutrient fluid.

In the left container floated a clone of a blond-haired man.

Eyes closed, expression serene, physique slender and well-proportioned, skin taking on a healthy hue under the nutrient fluid.

In the right container floated a clone of a red-haired woman.

She also had closed eyes, red long hair gently drifting in the nutrient fluid like red seaweed in water.

These two clones were secretly cultivated by Menma using cell samples obtained from Orochimaru, combined with the Land of Stars' latest cloning technology.

At this moment, Menma stood before the cultivation containers, hands clasped behind his back, calmly observing the clones inside.

He wore a black research robe unique to his main body. No mask, revealing that young yet overly composed face.

Short black hair neatly combed. No forehead protector, only a pair of calm, almost cold black eyes reflecting the cultivation containers' pale green light.

Suddenly, his brow twitched slightly.

[Chakra Network Perception] had a reaction.

This lab wasn't just physically isolated… it was also connected to the Land of Stars' unique Chakra Network technology.

Any biological entity entering this room, as long as it had chakra flow within, would leave a 'trace' on the network, perceived by Menma.

And now, a 'trace' had appeared.

Faint, but special… like a plant.

Menma slowly turned around.

As he turned, the Chakra-Metal floor surface in a corner of the lab rippled slightly.

Like water surface broken by a stone.

A white figure slowly 'grew' from the ripple's center.

A White Zetsu.

Its body unfolded like a flower bud, revealing an empty interior holding a palm-sized sealing scroll.

The moment it fully materialized, it sensed something was wrong.

Its connection to the outside world... was severed.

Not physically severed, but a perceptual 'blocking'.

It could no longer sense other White Zetsu through the underground root network, couldn't receive Black Zetsu's commands, couldn't even accurately determine its current location.

As if locked in a completely sealed box.

On the White Zetsu's face, that stiff smile turned to tension and fear.

It looked up towards the lab's center.

Then, it saw those eyes.

Calm, cold, deep, as if able to see through all disguises, reaching the soul's depths.

Under those eyes' gaze, the White Zetsu felt an instinctual trembling.

Though it was merely a White Zetsu created by the God Tree, only following orders, before this overwhelming aura, it still felt fear.

"Did you bring the item?"

Menma spoke, voice very calm, but exceptionally clear in the silent lab, like ice spikes striking the floor.

The White Zetsu's body trembled.

It hurriedly fully unfolded its body, using white hands to lift the sealing scroll, shakily raising it overhead.

"B-brought it—" Its voice stammered, cautiously adding: "This is... what the boss prepared... one thousand White Zetsu..."

It paused, secretly lifting its eyelids to observe Menma's expression, supplementing: "Our boss hopes... you can see his sincerity."

Menma didn't respond immediately.

He stood where he was, gaze falling on the sealing scroll, no emotional fluctuation in his eyes.

A few seconds of silence.

To the White Zetsu, these seconds felt like centuries.

It felt a non-existent organ pounding violently… was this 'heart-pounding' feeling?

This pressure of being watched by a powerful being made it almost want to immediately burrow back underground.

Then, Menma raised his right hand, palm facing the scroll in the White Zetsu's hands.

The next moment, an invisible attractive force emanated from his palm.

The sealing scroll instantly left the White Zetsu's hands, drawing a straight line through the air, landing steadily in Menma's grasp.

Universal Pull!

Simple, direct, yet full of forceful application.

Menma took the scroll, not opening it immediately. Instead, he infused Chakra into it.

Sealing formulas on the scroll's surface glowed dark red. Complex runes flowed and rearranged as if alive.

He could perceive that within this scroll's sealing space, one thousand White Zetsu were densely 'stored'.

They seemed paused, maintaining various postures, all in a special dormant state.

Each was a pure white body, identical, like mass-produced dolls from a factory.

Menma's perception swept through the space, confirming the count was correct.

One thousand.

No more, no less.

The corners of his mouth slowly curved upward into a subtle arc.

"Good."

Menma spoke, voice carrying a trace of satisfaction.

"I've seen your sincerity."

He put away the scroll, casually placing it on the operation panel of an instrument nearby, then looked back at the White Zetsu.

"Now then," Menma clasped his hands behind his back again, posture casual yet filled with pressure. "Tell me his plan."

The White Zetsu breathed a sigh of relief.

Though pressure remained, at least the trade's first part was complete.

It carefully stood up fully from the ground.

"Our boss's original plan—" The White Zetsu began reciting what Black Zetsu had instructed, voice still cautious but smoother now. "—was to use the [Eye of the Moon] as bait to lure 'Uchiha Madara' and Nagato. They'll gather the Nine Tailed Beasts, create the ultimate weapon Ten-Tails, realize so-called 'world peace'—"

It paused, secretly observing Menma's expression.

Menma showed no reaction, just calmly watching it, as if listening to an unrelated story.

The White Zetsu continued: "However... due to your strength being too formidable, the Tailed Beast gathering plan might fail. After all, the One-Tail's Jinchuriki is under your command, the Four-Tails and Five-Tails' Jinchuriki are also within your sphere of influence... If we insist on gathering them, conflict with you would be inevitable."

These words were skillfully phrased.

They pointed out Shura's existence was the biggest obstacle to Akatsuki's Tailed Beast gathering, while subtly expressing 'Black Zetsu doesn't want to be your enemy.'

Menma nodded slightly, not interrupting.

His mind was rapidly analyzing.

The information Black Zetsu knew, the lies Black Zetsu might weave, Black Zetsu's true purpose...

From current evidence, Black Zetsu clearly still didn't know about Isshiki's intel, nor the existence of the 'second Ten-Tails'.

It was still using the original Eye of the Moon Plan as bait, trying to guide him onto the path of becoming the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki.

So, what reason would Black Zetsu use to explain its own motives?

A mysterious being who had lived for who-knows-how-long… why push the Eye of the Moon Plan?

Why help others become Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki?

Menma already had several general guesses.

And the White Zetsu's next words confirmed one of them.

"Our boss's purpose—" The White Zetsu's voice lowered further, seeming more mysterious. "—is actually to lift the seal the Sage of Six Paths placed on him long ago."

Menma's eyebrows rose slightly.

"A seal?" His voice carried just the right amount of curiosity… showing interest without seeming too eager.

"Yes, a seal," the White Zetsu hastily explained, its white face trying to make a "sincere" expression. "Our boss... is actually a survivor from the Sage of Six Paths' era. For certain reasons, he was sealed by the Sage, trapped in this body, unable to attain true freedom."

It paused, observing Menma's reaction, continuing to weave the lie: "This seal can only be undone using the Sage of Six Paths' power. So, the boss's goal is actually to have someone become the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki, gain the Sage's power, then... help him remove the seal."

Finished, the White Zetsu nervously stared at Menma.

This was the lie Black Zetsu meticulously crafted.

Half-truth, half-falsehood.

Black Zetsu was indeed from the Sage of Six Paths' era, but the one 'sealed' by the Sage wasn't him… it was Kaguya.

It also indeed needed someone to become a Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki like the Sage, but not to remove 'its own seal'… it was to resurrect Kaguya.

But this lie sounded somewhat reasonable.

An existence living for millennia, trapped in an unfree body, wanting liberation...

Such motivation could explain why Black Zetsu pushed the Eye of the Moon Plan, why it was willing to help others become Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki.

Moreover, this lie had another benefit: it made Black Zetsu's 'need' specific and limited.

I just want the seal removed, to gain freedom.

As for the Ten-Tails' power, the Sage's power… that's all yours.

We each get what we need, and there's no fundamental conflict of interest.

It might even stir the other's greed...

But that was precisely what Black Zetsu wanted!

After listening, Menma fell silent for a few seconds, as if thinking, as if scrutinizing.

Then, he slowly spoke: "Does the Ten-Tails definitely require the Chakra of all Nine Tailed Beasts? What's the relationship between the Ten-Tails and the God Tree?"

The White Zetsu was momentarily stunned but quickly reacted, answering as Black Zetsu had instructed beforehand: "The Ten-Tails is the God Tree, and the God Tree is the Ten-Tails absorbing the Natural Energy of the Ninja World to sprout. To create the Ten-Tails, the Gedo Statue must absorb the Chakra of all Nine Tailed Beasts… none can be missing."

"And the Gedo Statue is currently in the Akatsuki's leader's possession."

It paused, cautiously counter-asking: "By the way... may I ask how you... learned of the God Tree's existence?"

The God Tree's existence was an absolute secret.

Aside from the Otsutsuki Clan on the moon possibly having records, and those three old-timers in the three Holy Lands who'd lived for millennia, no one should know about it.

Why did Shura know about the God Tree?

It wondered just how much more did he know?

Menma didn't answer directly.

His gaze shifted from the White Zetsu to the sealing scroll on the nearby operation panel, as if casually mentioning: "That guy called Isshiki back then kept saying something like 'Kaguya stole his God Tree' or whatever."

His voice was light, but exceptionally clear in the silent lab.

"You must have some relation to the 'Kaguya' he mentioned."

These words made the White Zetsu's body visibly stiffen.

Otsutsuki Kaguya...

It remained silent, not daring to say more.

Black Zetsu had instructed: if Shura mentioned intel about Kaguya, don't explain, don't deny, don't acknowledge.

Remain silent, then bring the intel back.

Menma watched the White Zetsu's stiffened state, the corners of his mouth curving a bit more.

He knew he'd hit a nerve.

'Black Zetsu indeed didn't know about Isshiki, nor about Isshiki's second Ten-Tails.'

Menma inwardly sneered.

'Trying to lure me into becoming the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki with lies, then seize the opportunity to 'connect heart-to-heart', letting Kaguya possess my body?'

'Do you take me for Uchiha Madara or Uchiha Obito?!'

But he didn't plan to expose it now.

Black Zetsu had its plan, he had his.

And sometimes, playing along was the most cunning strategy.

Menma waved a hand, posture casual, as if shooing away a pesky fly.

"Enough."

"Take a message back to that guy."

The White Zetsu hurriedly lifted its head, pricking up its ears, listening attentively.

"As for the One-Tail's Jinchuriki, I cannot give you," Menma's voice was cold, leaving no room for negotiation. "However, extracting some One-Tail's Chakra... is possible."

He paused, gaze returning to the White Zetsu, those black eyes so deep they seemed capable of swallowing all light.

"I hope he doesn't disappoint me."

These words were spoken lightly, but the threat within was heavy enough to make the White Zetsu almost tremble again.

"Y-yes! Yes!" The White Zetsu hastily responded. "I'll definitely deliver the message!"

It felt as if granted amnesty, its body immediately beginning to sink, wanting to burrow underground and leave this suffocating place.

But just before its body completely submerged into the ground, Menma added another sentence: "And one more thing."

The White Zetsu's movement froze, half its body still exposed, nervously looking up.

Menma looked at it, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curling at his lips. "Next time we meet, I hope he comes personally."

"After all..."

"Always sending clones to relay messages lacks sincerity."

The White Zetsu didn't dare utter another word, its body rapidly sinking into the chakra-metal floor, disappearing.

The ripples smoothed out.

The lab regained silence.

Menma stood where he was, not moving immediately.

He closed his eyes, sensing the Chakra Network's feedback. The White Zetsu had indeed left, its Chakra trace rapidly moved away after leaving the lab, heading towards the mountain range at the green corridor's edge.

'No trace of Black Zetsu was detected within fifty kilometers of Technology City… It seemed that guy was still cautious.'

A few seconds later, Menma opened his eyes.

He turned, his gaze falling once more on the sealing scroll on the operation panel.

One thousand White Zetsu.

These products of the God Tree possessed extremely strong vitality and Chakra compatibility, which is excellent 'research materials'.

Whether for Chakra-related experimental research or for developing certain Special Jutsu, they were rare resources.

The corners of his mouth slowly curved upward into a pleased arc.

"Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki, huh..."

His voice echoed in the silent lab, light, yet filled with a composure of being in control of everything.

"For the script of the Fourth Great Ninja War to be interesting, there need to be some antagonists..."