Chapter 204: The Real Enemy
The image currently playing seemed, judging from the background, to be set in ancient times.
Back then, the ninja world's political landscape was nothing like it is now—there were countless nations, large and small.
It was during this era that a figure descended from beyond the heavens like a falling star. The woman introduced herself as Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, and she had brought with her a seed of the Divine Tree.
After the Divine Tree was planted, because it needed a full thousand years to bloom and bear fruit, the woman integrated herself into the human world and began a long wait.
During this time, under humanity's blessings, she gave birth to two sons: one named Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, and the other named Ōtsutsuki Hamura.
The elder, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, would later be known in legend as the "Sage of Six Paths."
At this stage, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya and her two sons lived in harmony with humankind, their days filled with peace.
However, as the Divine Tree grew, it required more and more nourishment, and the increasing number of missing people aroused the suspicion of the Sage of Six Paths and his younger brother.
After investigating, they finally uncovered a shocking truth—their own mother, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, had been using the humans of this planet as nourishment to cultivate the Divine Tree.
The brothers believed their mother's actions were gravely wrong. At first, it was only disagreements and arguments, but eventually, they were forced to join hands to stop her from continuing her persecution of the world's people.
A fierce battle erupted between them.
After months of continuous fighting, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya was ultimately defeated by the combined might of her sons, and the Sage of Six Paths, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, used "Six Paths: Planetary Devastation" to seal her away.
But in the final instant before her sealing, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya gave birth to a third child—the being now known as Black Zetsu.
Black Zetsu wandered the ninja world for a thousand years, enduring humiliation, always seeking a way to resurrect Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
From the information stored in Black Zetsu's mind, Uchiha Dali and Uchiha Obito saw everything clearly.
The Sage of Six Paths had two sons—one named Ōtsutsuki Indra, the other Ōtsutsuki Ashura.
From that time onward, Black Zetsu had been attempting to use them to revive Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
Thus, he schemed to sow discord between Indra and Asura, leading to years of conflict between the brothers.
However, whether it was Ōtsutsuki Indra or Ōtsutsuki Ashura, neither grew in accordance with Black Zetsu's designs, and thus neither could help him revive Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
Through the long years that followed, Black Zetsu continued to use similar methods to manipulate the brothers' descendants, but still, he never succeeded.
Until one day, decades ago, he finally saw an opportunity—he infiltrated the Naka Shrine of the Uchiha clan and left misleading information on the stone tablet there.
Black Zetsu did this knowing full well that the present-day Uchiha clan were actually the descendants of the Sage of Six Paths' elder son, Ōtsutsuki Indra.
The Uchiha clan were the descendants of Ōtsutsuki Indra.
As for the Senju clan, they were the descendants of the Sage's younger son, Ōtsutsuki Ashura.
The false information he left successfully misled Uchiha Madara, enabling him to awaken the Rinnegan and conceive of using the Infinite Tsukuyomi to create a world of true and everlasting peace.
By now, the truth had basically been laid bare.
All the sealed memories from Black Zetsu's mind dissolved completely.
Before Uchiha Dali and Uchiha Obito, they reformed into a memory obelisk identical to those surrounding them, which was then automatically covered with sealing chains, intricate patterns spreading across its surface.
Faced with such a miraculous sight, even Uchiha Obito couldn't help but be awed.
"Do we need to look at the other memories as well?"
Uchiha Dali turned to the silent Uchiha Obito and asked with a smile.
Personally, he didn't think it was necessary—unless Uchiha Obito's brain was somehow malfunctioning and he still couldn't see the truth by now.
Fortunately, Uchiha Obito wasn't truly a fool.
After a moment's thought, he took a deep breath and shook his head. "No need.
I already understand everything.
What you said is true—Black Zetsu is the real mastermind behind it all, trying to control everything and bring back Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
I believe you now."
At this moment, Uchiha Obito felt a deep sense of powerlessness and exhaustion.
Goosebumps spread uncontrollably across his body.
To think that the peace he had long yearned for, the plan he had wholeheartedly believed in, was nothing more than a lie.
Black Zetsu's true goal was to resurrect Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
If he succeeded, the world would not face peace—it would face annihilation.
Humans, as nourishment for the Divine Tree, would be utterly drained.
And once humanity was wiped out, of course, there would be peace in the world.
But what meaning would such peace have?
Uchiha Obito fell into deep self-doubt.
He felt a pang of frustration, unable to understand why this plan couldn't be real—why it had to be a lie.
"I just wanted to create a world where Rin could exist…" he murmured.
Then he suddenly looked up at Uchiha Dali. "If you unify the ninja world, then how will you deal with Uchiha Madara afterward?
The world will still fall into ruin."
In the face of this question, Uchiha Dali simply shrugged carelessly. "Don't worry—Uchiha Madara isn't our greatest threat, and neither is Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
If you're worried they'll interfere with us after being revived, then we'll simply make sure they're never revived.
Our real enemy is not them."
Hearing this, a trace of surprise flashed in Uchiha Obito's eyes.
He stayed silent, staring at Uchiha Dali, waiting for him to continue.
Seeing his confusion, Uchiha Dali countered, "Haven't you ever wondered how Ōtsutsuki Kaguya came to be here in the first place?
From the memories in Black Zetsu's mind, you saw it too—she seemed to have suddenly descended upon this world from beyond the heavens. That means she didn't originate here.
If she wasn't born on this planet, then she must have come from somewhere—perhaps another world in outer space, or some other strange dimension. Something like that."
Uchiha Dali finished with another shrug. "That's why I believe the force behind Ōtsutsuki Kaguya is what we should truly be wary of."
By now, Uchiha Obito's heart had grown tense.
Following the line of thought in Uchiha Dali's words, he too felt a creeping sense of dread.
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's arrival here was likely no accident.
And Uchiha Dali was right—since she didn't come from this world, she must have a place of origin, and behind her might well stand a vast organization or family.
The ninja world… was the target of their clan's invasion!
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