• Dark Dawn •

Ep 47 - Companions

(Arc 8 - Set in Stone - pt 3)
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Naruto

As much fun as it was to mess with his fellow Akatsuki members, he knew that the situation wasn't as light-hearted as he had been acting like it was.

They'd opted to stop talking while standing around awkwardly and had found a room with chairs and a table for a more proper meeting that they were originally supposed to have.

Their discussion devolved into something more somber as Tobi had gathered himself and started recounting his time with Zetsu, before the Akatsuki had become the organization it was today. Tobi left out a lot of details, but it was more than enough to understand that Zetsu definitely had an ulterior motive, all this time.

Naruto hadn't known any of this, which, fair, he hadn't been around during the earlier days of his membership, doing something completely different from everyone else, but it also seemed like the founding members, Pein and Konan, hadn’t known it either.

“Well,” Konan started. “I will admit, I did find it strange that Zetsu was with you when you first approached us with the plan. I just assumed that he was one of your underlings or something similar.”

Tobi seemed reluctant to reply, words meek and hesitant, the complete opposite of when he was in battle. “About that … I originally met Zetsu when he was under Madara Uchiha’s influence.”

Absolute silence.

“...what?”

Sasuke’s voice cut through the still air, a mix of shock and incredulity written plainly, all over his face.

Tobi’s head shifted slightly towards the younger teen, an uncomfortable air about him. Like he was nervous about something.

The silence stretched out a little longer than comfortable, only breaking with a sigh from Tobi. “It’s a long story for another time. All you need to know is that I spent time with Madara Uchiha once, and Zetsu was there as well.”

He went on to describe the plan that he’d been tasked with by Madara, and how Zetsu was sent along with him as an aide to assist him on the mission. It still seemed that Tobi wasn’t telling the whole truth, but Naruto watched intently for a moment at his best friend’s demeanor and noted that the stiffness of his shoulders wasn’t from being uncomfortable.

Just… unsettled.

“It was a grand plan that encompassed the whole world. A path that is meant to pave the way to world peace. But now without the influence of the seal, even I can see that this plan has numerous flaws. So I doubt Madara’s sincerity in his beliefs. Now that I’m capable of more rational and logical thinking, some of what he’s said sounds like utter madness to me.” Tobi concluded. “Boastful words for a disabled man.”

“Okay, yeah I get it now. So Zetsu believes that you’ve abandoned the mission given to you by his true master, right?” Naruto replied.

Sasuke cut in before Naruto could continue. “...but what if that wasn’t it?”

All eyes turned towards Sasuke. Naruto’s eyes widened a considerable fraction.

“You mean…” the blonde trailed off.

Within the deep recesses of his mind, the nine-tailed fox spoke into his subconsciousness.

I believe that you are on the right track. Kurama projected, solemnly serious.

So wait, is Zetsu really not human?

Not even I know for sure. But I did not think too much of his chakra signature when we first encountered him. It wasn’t like a signature like that is wholly uncommon around these parts. Still, as you lot have discussed, yes it is very likely that he is, in fact, a relic of a distant past, a reminder of the bygone era.