Naruto, Madara is my girl.

Regardless of level or identity, as long as you could complete the task, you would receive a reward of 100 million.

And the mission? It was simply to deliver a letter-a love letter, to be exact.

An unlimited task with no threshold and no deposit instantly stirred up the entire ninja world.

With Sarutobi Hiruzen's vigorous promotion, everyone from the far north to the southern desert of Loulan, from the Water Kingdom across the sea in the east to the endless Gobi Desert in the west, knew about this bizarre mission.

Except for the Land of Lightning, who believed it to be a trap set by Akira, people across the ninja world stopped greeting each other normally and instead asked one thing-

"Have you heard about the 100 million mission?"

Along with widespread awareness of the task came the story of the "unparalleled love" between Senju Akira and Uchiha Madara.

"Sister-brother love," "the love story of the God of War," "the forbidden love between Senju and Uchiha"-these gossips moved countless infatuated hearts to tears. More than one passionate young person set off to complete the task without caring about any reward at stake.

Which perfectly demonstrated how well the mission had been publicized.

Naturally, word of this couldn't escape Black Zetsu's attention for long.

At that moment, in a massive cave beneath the Land of Fields, one strange humanoid figure covered in white began slowly "growing" out of the ground.

Before it could even fully form, it shouted impatiently-

"Black Zetsu! Black Zetsu! I heard big news today!"

Black Zetsu rose from the corner slowly, emerging from the shadows with mud-like movements until he took on his usual human-like form, still unstable and strangely abstract in appearance due to his ever-shifting body.

"White Zetsu, don't shout so much. You'll disturb Lady Madara."

As Shippuden's hidden force behind countless manipulations, Black Zetsu wasn't easily shaken, least of by White Zetsu's antics.

"But this is about Madara-sama!"

White Zetsu's indignant reply made Black Zetsu frown slightly. After nearly ten years of absence since her disappearance following the Battle at the Valley of the End, Uchiha Madara was nothing but mythology in most people's eyes now. Even chatter about the Uchiha wasn't common anymore, major events related to her were close to impossible.

"What exactly is it?"

Seeing Black Zetsu finally take interest, White Zetsu eagerly recounted what he had overheard about the mission.

To which Black Zetsu merely sneered.

"Hah... just another attempt for attention. That man's long dead-even if-"

"That's not right!"

White Zetsu cut in with sudden urgency. "I found out that Senju Akira was resurrected by Tobirama through Impure World Reincarnation. He's currently in Konoha!"

"What? Hasn't Tobirama been dead for days? Isn't that technique only temporary? The one summoned should disappear on its own after some time… So Tobirama Senju...?"

"Who knows? Why don't we use Impure World Reincarnation ourselves and ask him?"

"Shut up."

Black Zetsu's glare silenced him instantly. He wasn't interested in idle speculation or entertainment. What mattered now was Akira's purpose behind resurfacing this way.

"Even if I assume it's just bait to lure Madara-sama out… that seems too shallow for someone like him. Every time that man moves, it's because he's guiding toward some deeper outcome. There's no way this is just about expressing feelings."

Was there some hidden signal embedded in it?

Black Zetsu felt himself break into unease-the kind that bred dread when familiar patterns started twisting into unfamiliar directions.

"Could he have sensed my presence?"

"No-that's impossible," he told himself immediately. "No one has discovered me for thousands of years-not even the Sage of Six Paths. I've done nothing different… haven't made any errors..."

And then, doubt seeped in anyway.

What if?

Until recently, he believed his plan was airtight-but Akira's sudden return as "Thousand Stars" changed everything. The threat he posed was enormous and might irreparably damage Black Zetsu's long-term plans unless handled soon.

"To save Mother… I not only tricked Uchiha Madara into taking action, i also harvested Hashirama's flesh and planted this path toward awakening Rinnegan. Everything is aligning toward the Moon Eye Plan."

"I will not fail."

Gritting his teeth, Black Zetsu made up his mind and issued orders without hesitation:

"White Zetsu, I have a task: kill Senju Akira."

"Eh?"

White Zetsu blanked, completely confused by what he just heard. Akira had already died once, this version was just reincarnated through Edo Tensei... so why was he being told to assassinate someone already dead?

Besides, White Zetsu lacked the ability to do so anyway.

As for sealing him? That required Uzumaki skill. Mito's sensory powers-amplified by the Nine-Tails-meant White Zetsu couldn't get anywhere near Akira without being spotted almost instantly every time he tried.

He hesitated before speaking carefully-

"But… Black Zetsu… if I get caught then our entire position might-"

"I don't care."

Akira's presence had upset every calculation Black Zetsu had ever made. Especially his relationship with Madara, if they reunited and reconciled emotionally... everything could unravel. Madara might abandon her hatred-and without hatred-the entire foundation for the Moon Eye Plan would fall apart.

"I've waited over a thousand years. I'm not letting anything-even him-jeopardize that now. Akira must die. I'll handle Madara's side myself."

"…Alright."

White Zetsu could only obey under pressure-sinking back into the earth moments later without another word.

Even then, Black Zetsu remained uneasy. A single assassin wouldn't be enough-not against someone like Akira… not anymore.

Which led him to visit Uchiha Madara directly, currently fusing Hashirama's chakra into herself while resting deep inside their secluded cavern base.

She no longer looked vibrant, her body weakened by age and injuries sustained long ago, but her presence was just as domineering as ever.

Black Zetsu stood back briefly in respect before speaking up-

"Lady Madara!"

"What is it?"

Her tone lacked emotion entirely-as dulled as her expression. With no family left and only loneliness surrounding her... there were no ripples in her heart anymore. Nothing moved her now-not even pain.

"There are rumors circulating… about Senju Akira leaving behind strategies related to Konoha's future. It might affect our Moon Eye Plan. Should we intervene?"

"Oh?"

Madara opened her eyes for once-and stared at him blankly.

"So?"

"Lord Madara understands full well how calculating the God of War is… but what should we do if we encounter strategies designed specifically to derail your goals?"

Madara didn't reply immediately. Memories flickered through her mind-all those moments they shared growing up… and then falling apart one betrayal at a time.

Her father sold them out in childhood. Hashirama turned against her later in life. Izuna died and Akira hadn't stopped it...

Innocence shattered into mistrust-and every glimpse of hope turned to loss instead.

When she opened her eyes again-the Mangekyō Sharingan spun wildly in each socket, barely containing her surging emotions anymore.

"If they're trying to block my path to peace... then I'll forge it alone, even if Akira stands in my way."

She didn't add it out loud-but inside, she thought,

"Akira… if your soul watches from above, I hope you understand why I must do this."

Watching her response from behind, Black Zetsu allowed himself one careful smile.

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