After concluding his primary business with Diarmuid, Black Zetsu realized he hadn't been "evicted" this time, which sent his spirits soaring.
Look at that, the big boss is actually willing to chat with me. Doesn't that prove our relationship is improving? In short, he was ecstatic. Since Diarmuid wasn't chasing him away, he certainly wasn't going to volunteer to leave. He settled in for some idle chatter. To be fair, Black Zetsu was quite knowledgeable; after living for so many centuries, even a pig would have attained enlightenment, let alone a creature like him.
Diarmuid was willing to talk a bit more this time for two reasons. First, his Wood Release power was rapidly stabilizing, putting him in a fantastic mood.
The second reason was... a flicker of pity for this pathetic fellow.
What had Black Zetsu really done wrong? From his own standpoint, nothing at all. As a manifestation of Otsutsuki Kaguya's will, he considered himself her son. From the moment of his birth, he had only one life goal: to rescue his mother from her imprisonment within the moon, a seal placed by her two unfilial sons.
What was wrong with that?!
Perseus rescued his mother from the threat of Polydectes; Aeneas carried his father out of the burning city of Troy. Why was Black Zetsu a villain for wanting to crack open the moon to save his? One could even argue his filial piety was quite touching! For a thousand years, he had toiled tirelessly; such devotion was enough to move the heavens.
Yet, he ended up as the ultimate antagonist. Though he eventually reunited with his mother, the manner of it was tragic, sealed away together once more...
With this slight sense of sympathy, Diarmuid engaged in a proper conversation. Perhaps because of these stray thoughts, his words carried a trace of genuine emotion. This led Black Zetsu to feel as though he'd found a true kindred spirit. Occasionally, Diarmuid would drop a deep observation that resonated deeply within Black Zetsu, leaving him unexpectedly moved.
In his moved state, and fueled by his desire to curry favor, Black Zetsu's thoughts turned back to Diarmuid's Wood Release.
When he first saw Diarmuid today, the man was essentially a tree. Now, he had almost entirely returned to human form, save for the roots at his feet which hadn't quite retracted. After some deliberation, Black Zetsu couldn't help but ask:
"Diarmuid-sama... is this a power you are currently training?"
"Oh? You noticed? Hahaha," Diarmuid laughed. He didn't elaborate, but the laugh served as an admission.
Black Zetsu was a bit speechless. With you looking like that, who wouldn't notice? However, he kept the retort to himself and nodded. "Madara-sama once did some research into Wood Release as well, so I know a thing or two."
Diarmuid assumed Black Zetsu was just making small talk and nodded casually. "Is that so?"
"Yes. As far as I know, mastering the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai is one thing, but developing Wood Release Ninjutsu is quite another. I wonder... is Diarmuid-sama interested in Wood Release techniques?" Black Zetsu asked suddenly.
Diarmuid: "???"
Well, talk about a surprise!
He suddenly realized his mistake. He had subconsciously assumed that only Konoha held the scrolls for Wood Release. But wait, Uchiha Madara should have them too! Madara had used Nativity of a World of Trees, Advent of a World of Flowering Trees, and the Wood Dragon Technique! Obviously, he had copied these from Hashirama, having developed no original Wood Release jutsu of his own.
But that proved he possessed Hashirama's techniques!
Diarmuid's mood brightened even further. The Wood Release Orochimaru possessed was relatively low-tier; what Madara held was clearly high-level stuff. While Madara might not have mastered the True Several Thousand Hands, techniques like the Wood Dragon were formidable enough.
Diarmuid looked at Black Zetsu and nodded. "You're right. I've only recently mastered this Wood Release power and haven't begun developing any jutsu. It sounds like you have the relevant formulas?"
"Indeed. Madara-sama once studied this power and held several powerful Wood Release formulas, for example, Nativity of a World of Trees, the Wood Dragon Technique, the Wood Clone Technique, and the Wood Expulsion Technique. If Diarmuid-sama is interested..." Black Zetsu smiled.
As expected, none of the Wood Release techniques Madara bothered with are simple, Diarmuid thought. He probably couldn't be bothered to learn low-level stuff like 'Tree Bind Flourishing Burial.'
Nativity of a World of Trees and the Wood Dragon needed no explanation, but the Wood Expulsion Technique was a vastly underrated gem, arguably one of the top defensive jutsu in the Shinobi World. Its name was derived from a ritual tool of the Thousand-Armed Kannon, said to be capable of warding off all evils. In practice, Hashirama's Wood Expulsion was strong enough to block Madara's Majestic Attire: Susanoo without taking a scratch.
"I am very interested. State your conditions," Diarmuid said with a smile.
Between Orochimaru's low-level applications and Black Zetsu's high-tier jutsu, he would be well-covered. While he might find more complete scrolls during his future raid on Konoha, Orochimaru only suspected they were in the Scroll of Seals. There was no guarantee. If he could snag them from Black Zetsu now, he wasn't about to pass up the opportunity.
Black Zetsu smiled. "I only hope to secure the friendship of Diarmuid-sama and the Yorozuya."
"I thought you'd take the chance to ask for the Rinnegan or the Gedo Mazo back..." Diarmuid remarked.
Black Zetsu certainly wanted them, but he didn't say it. He maintained his respectful facade. "I believe that eventually, Diarmuid-sama will become interested in my proposal. When that time comes, we will be like-minded partners. Therefore, I am not worried about the Gedo Mazo or the Rinnegan remaining with you for now."
"Heh, you're confident. That's good," Diarmuid replied.
At that moment, the final root-like tendril at Diarmuid's feet retracted into his body. His aura flared for a brief second before settling.
Closing his eyes for a moment, he felt the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai within him reach total maturity, as natural to use as his own limbs. He didn't manifest the power immediately, however, as Black Zetsu was still present.
He reached out his left hand, and a dark spatial gateway opened in the void. Diarmuid thrust his hand into the darkness.
Black Zetsu watched with wide-eyed curiosity. This was the first time he had seen Diarmuid's darkness power up close. After staring for a while, he realized that beyond sensing its unfathomable depth, he couldn't understand it at all. In all his long years, he had never encountered such a force. What kind of power is this?
Before he could ponder further, Diarmuid pulled a Haori and Hakama from the darkness and donned them over his bare torso. Once dressed, he reached back in and retrieved his blade, Kokorowatari, hanging it firmly at his waist.
Finally, he took out an exquisite pipe and placed it between his teeth. With a gentle puff, the tobacco ignited without a flame.
"Phew..." Diarmuid exhaled a plume of smoke into the rain and looked at Black Zetsu.
Noticing the gaze, Black Zetsu felt a slight tremor of nervousness.
"Do you have the ability to control the Gedo Mazo?" Diarmuid asked suddenly.
Black Zetsu blinked, then broke into a look of delighted surprise. "Yes! While the best way to control the Gedo Mazo is through the Rinnegan, over the years, we have mastered several methods to exert basic control over it..."
Diarmuid nodded. This matched his deductions. Madara had given the Rinnegan to Nagato long ago, yet he had still been able to use the Gedo Mazo to sustain his own life. This meant there had to be other ways to control it, ways Black Zetsu would surely know.
Keeping the Gedo Mazo himself didn't serve much purpose right now. It was better to give this "pitiful little brother" some "candy" to taste. It would signal his goodwill and make it easier to manipulate them later. As long as the Rinnegan remained in his hands, he still held the core of the operation and the overall rhythm.
"Very well." Diarmuid nodded and snapped his fingers.
In the next second, a pitch-black sphere appeared before Black Zetsu, roughly the size of a fist. Despite its small size, the power contained within made Black Zetsu's heart race. He could sense an incredibly dense darkness, as if something gargantuan had been compressed into this tiny orb.
"Take it. The Gedo Mazo is inside. You can release it using standard unsealing formulas," Diarmuid said with a smile.
Overjoyed, Black Zetsu caught the black sphere. "Thank you ever so much, Diarmuid-sama!"
"I hope you don't disappoint me," Diarmuid said, exhaling another cloud of smoke.
Black Zetsu replied without hesitation, "Please rest assured, Diarmuid-sama, I will certainly not disappoint you. However, this visit was rushed, and I hadn't prepared the scrolls... I wasn't aware that you already possessed the Wood Release..."
Seeing him start to over-explain, Diarmuid waved him off. "No need to be so tense. Take it back first. Then, send me what I want. No problems there, right?"
"None whatsoever!" Black Zetsu said quickly.
"Hahaha, good. I like dealing with smart people," Diarmuid said satisfied. He glanced at the sky. "It's getting late. I won't keep you for dinner."
"Yes. Then I shall not disturb your rest further. I take my leave." Black Zetsu bowed out tactfully.
He was immensely satisfied with this trip to Amegakure. Not only had he reached an agreement with Diarmuid, but he had also successfully retrieved the Gedo Mazo. More importantly, his relationship with this powerhouse seemed to have hit a new high. A truly fruitful harvest.
As Diarmuid watched Black Zetsu leave, he let out a silent laugh.
The more reliable, powerful, and excellent I appear, the more Black Zetsu will eventually realize, especially when compared to Obito, who is actually the one worth following.
Clearing his mind, Diarmuid stretched. After three days of being a "tree-man," it felt good to be normal again.
"Ameri? Go make my bed..." Diarmuid called out.