Inside the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen made the final decision. He turned to Amamiya Rei and said:
"It's already very late today. Go back and get some rest. Naruto will be entrusted to your care."
Danzō opened his mouth to object, but the sharp look in Hiruzen's eyes made him realize that no matter what he said next, Hiruzen would not change his decision.
Carrying Naruto gently in his arms, Amamiya Rei stepped out of the Hokage's office,which was still filled with shinobi.
The calamity of the Nine-Tails had left Konoha deeply scarred.
Beyond the deaths of Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina, many of the village's buildings lay in ruins. By some stroke of fortune, however, the home of Minato and Kushina had remained untouched.
Rei returned to their empty house.
Even with the warm yellow lights lit, the home still felt hollow and cold, as if the very walls mourned the absence of its owners.
On his way back, Rei had bought some goat milk. After warming it, he fed it to the infant. Naruto, who had gone hungry through the entire night, finally ate his fill and drifted into peaceful slumber.
Before Naruto's birth, Minato and Kushina had carefully prepared all the necessities a newborn would need.
Because of this foresight, caring for him was not too difficult for Rei.
He placed Naruto gently into the cradle, his hand lightly resting on its side, rocking it back and forth.
Nestled in soft bedding, Naruto slept soundly, his breathing calm and steady.
It was at that moment that Rei sensed an unfamiliar chakra intruding into his sensory range.
Sensing the approach of this chakra, Rei quietly closed the door to the room where Naruto slept and walked into the living room.
By the time he arrived, two figures had already materialized there.
One was Black Zetsu, half of his body emerging from the floor. The other stood cloaked in black, face hidden behind a mask—
Uchiha Obito.
"Have you gone soft?"
Black Zetsu's eyes locked on the monster before him, his heart filled with both fury and killing intent.
The image of Minato and Kushina's deaths still burned in his memory.
He hadn't forgotten the words this monster had spoken back then.
This monster had wanted to save them.
How long had the monster even been living in Konoha?
So easily swayed by that couple's kindness!
And to think that he himself had fed this monster so much meat—yet never once had the monster shown him such loyalty!
Black Zetsu's tiny yellow eyes glared coldly at Rei.
But Rei paid no mind to his accusation. Instead, he poured himself a cup of hot water, took a deliberate sip, and sat down on the sofa.
Like the true master of this home, he leaned back, arms stretched across the backrest, his crimson pupils fixed intently on the two uninvited guests.
His gaze lingered on Black Zetsu as he asked in return:
"Shouldn't I have gone soft? I could have kept feasting on their flesh. But because they died… I barely had the chance to taste a few bites!"
His voice sharpened as he spoke, Rei could no longer suppress his fury.
He looked as though he might seize Zetsu by the throat and devour him whole.
"Do you have any idea how delicious their flesh was?"
His eyes blazed with anger, his voice rising as he interrogated the two intruders.
"Do you know?"
"You don't know!"
Rei shifted his glare onto the masked man.
"Do you know what kind of loss tonight was for me?"
"Do you even understand the concept of sustainable development?"
He rolled his eyes, his breathing heavy, chest heaving up and down.
As the monster's fury burned ever brighter, an inexplicable sense of guilt began to creep into Black Zetsu's mind.
Black Zetsu: "..."
Following the monster's logic step by step, it actually did seem like a shame.
Perhaps the monster's anger was reasonable. If it had been him…
What was he thinking?
He realized with alarm that the monster's insane reasoning had begun to sway even him.
Realizing this, Zetsu's eyes hardened. He glared back at Rei and growled a threat:
"Do you still want to eat meat or not?"
At the mere mention of meat, Rei's demeanor shifted instantly. His eyes lit up, sharp and predatory.
Straightening his collar with dignity, he sat upright and fixed his gaze squarely on Uchiha Obito.
Ah… Obito's flesh.
Surely it would be very nourishing.
From the moment he had stepped into this house, Obito had remained silent. He had merely observed all of the monster's strange reactions, taking everything in.
Under Zetsu's subtle signal, Obito slowly raised his arm. Behind the mask, his single Sharingan glimmered with deep, inky darkness.
Without hesitation, Rei lunged forward. His sharp fangs sank deep into Obito's flesh, tearing away a massive chunk from his arm.
[Ding!]
[Scanning in progress…]
[Scan complete.]
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained "Uchiha Obito Flesh Chunk" x1.]
[Analyzing…]
[Analysis complete.]
[Abilities contained within "Uchiha Obito Flesh Chunk": Sharingan, Mangekyō Sharingan—Kamui, Izanagi, Fire Release: Violent Dancing Waves, Uchiha Flame Formation, Summoning: Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Sealing Technique: Nine Phantom Dragons Sealing, Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole, Wood Release: Cutting Technique…]
[Converting…]
[Conversion complete.]
["Uchiha Obito Flesh Chunk" x1 = Izanagi + 100,000 minutes of Sunlight Value + 1,000,000 Chakra]
[Warning: Izanagi requires the Sharingan and the vitality of the Senju. Once activated, the Sharingan eye employed will be rendered permanently blind.]
["Uchiha Obito Flesh Chunk" has been judged to be high-quality flesh. Reward: Awakening of Demon King Muzan Kibutsuji's ability from Demon Slayer—The Blood Curse!]
[Host, please strive to obtain more high‑quality flesh chunks!]
"..."
The Blood Curse!
The ability Rei had long dreamed of was finally obtained—yet only now.
It came too late.
Minato and Kushina were already dead!
What good was it to gain this power now?
No… perhaps not all was lost.
Shisui was still alive, wasn't he?
The Uchiha clan members were not all dead, were they?
As long as a person still drew a single breath, the Blood Curse could transform them into a demon.
Running the calculations in his mind, Rei realized there were still quite a few people he could use this ability on.
"Right now, the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki being under your care is the best possible outcome," Zetsu said slowly, his words calculated, careful not to reveal too much. "When the time is ripe… everything will fall into place."
As Rei was still savoring the taste of Obito's flesh, Black Zetsu continued speaking in his usual cryptic manner, revealing only half the truth, ensuring the monster before him could never see the full picture.
But the monster's world revolved around nothing but meat. In that sense, he was indeed a useful pawn.
"You only need to do your part in Konoha. When there's a mission, we'll let you know."
After a pause, Zetsu added coldly to the monster before him.
Rei, meanwhile, was sprawled lazily on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling like a lazy fish washed ashore, completely ignoring Zetsu's words.
"..."
Zetsu cursed him in his heart.
How could he not know exactly what this monster was thinking?
And sure enough, when Rei did not hear him promise anything, he finally spoke up:
"What about the payment?"
A sinister smile twisted across Black Zetsu's face. As expected. Just as he had predicted.
---