Black Zetsu sized up the strange trio before him.
Madara.
Obito.
And this guy who looked like the lovechild of Madara and Hashirama.
What in the world was this combination?!
Although he had been sealed and had lost track of time, he could vaguely sense that fifteen or sixteen years had passed.
With Naruto and Sasuke's personalities, would they really allow these three monsters to run rampant?
What in the world had happened to the shinobi world while I was gone?!
"Hm?"
Black Zetsu's gaze locked onto Akira's right eye.
A Rinnegan…?
Could it be…
Did something happen to Naruto and Sasuke?
Is this guy the new reincarnation of Indra?
But the age doesn't match…
At that moment, Madara's cold voice cut through his thoughts.
"You seem pretty calm, Black Zetsu."
"Heh."
Black Zetsu sneered.
"What expression are you hoping to see, Madara? Shock? Regret? Fear?"
"Sorry to disappoint you."
"I've already lost completely. All my schemes have been exposed. Nothing can be accomplished anymore."
"The only meaning of my existence was to revive Mother."
"And now that's nothing but a fantasy."
"In a world where Mother can't be saved, what's left for me to care about?"
He spoke with bleak resignation, as if he had seen through life and death.
Obito frowned.
"Then why were you sneaking around just now like a thief, trying not to be noticed?"
Black Zetsu laughed.
"Obito, you're still as thick-headed as ever."
"What did you say?" Obito snapped.
"Think about it," Black Zetsu said lazily.
"It's late at night. You're in bed counting sheep."
"Suddenly, a bunch of thugs knock down your courtyard wall and shake you out of bed."
"Wouldn't your first instinct be to hide and see what's going on?"
Obito was left speechless.
…That actually made sense.
The satisfaction of winning that argument lasted only a moment.
Soon, the melancholy returned to Black Zetsu's voice.
"Even if you hadn't found me, I wouldn't have been able to leave this space anyway."
"I'm useless now."
"Just seal me back into Chibaku Tensei."
"At least I can keep Mother company."
Madara looked at him and suddenly felt bored.
It was like punching cotton—no impact at all.
He'd been ready to settle old scores.
Instead, this guy was acting completely unbothered.
Annoying.
At that moment, Akira, who had been watching quietly, glanced at Madara and seemed to realize something.
He suddenly spoke.
"Black Zetsu, aren't you curious?"
"Why we're here?"
"Why we summoned the Demonic Statue?"
"And why we destroyed Chibaku Tensei?"
Black Zetsu froze.
He'd been mentally disconnected for too long.
Only now did it click.
…Yeah.
Why?
"Y-you know?" he stammered, swallowing nervously.
"Why?"
Akira smiled faintly.
"Because we want to revive your mother—Ōtsutsuki Kaguya."
"What?!"
Black Zetsu's face lit up instantly, then filled with disbelief.
"Revive Mother…? But… why?!"
"You know what she is, don't you?!"
Akira clapped his hands.
"Of course I do! I know better than anyone!"
"As for why—"
"I, Uchiha Akira, am a die-hard fan of Lady Kaguya!"
Black Zetsu stared.
"You… admire Mother? Really?!"
"Absolutely!"
Akira said firmly.
"Otherwise, where do you think my Rinnegan came from?"
"Without obsession and the resolve to gamble my life, could I have awakened it?"
Black Zetsu was deeply moved.
He knew better than anyone—
To obtain the Rinnegan, one needed an obsession that transcended life and death.
It was powerful proof.
Akira clenched his fists, eyes brimming with tears.
"Do you know?"
"From the moment I first heard of Lady Kaguya, I was deeply moved!"
"What kind of woman was she?!"
"To end human warfare, she risked execution and consumed the forbidden fruit!"
"And after that, she lived every day in torment and anxiety!"
"But Hagoromo and Hamura, those unfilial sons—"
"They didn't understand how terrifying her clan was!"
"They didn't know what disaster would come to this world!"
"Compared to that disaster, what did her little evils matter?!"
Black Zetsu was practically bouncing.
"Yes! Exactly! You understand her! You really understand her!"
Akira grew more impassioned.
"From here on, I'll summon the Demonic Statue!"
"Then hunt the Tailed Beasts again!"
"Revive the Ten-Tails!"
"Become its Jinchūriki!"
"Activate Infinite Tsukuyomi!"
"Absorb the God Tree!"
"Not for immortality—"
"But to bring the great Kaguya back to this world, once more!"
Obito: He's fully in character now.
Madara: …Yeah, I see what he's doing.
"That's wonderful… wonderful…"
Black Zetsu was about to cry from joy, then suddenly paused.
"Wait."
"What about Madara and Obito?"
"Would they really cooperate with you?"
"Oh, them?"
Akira replied instantly.
"They're both under my Kotoamatsukami."
"Kotoamatsukami? You can use that too?!"
—Summoning Technique!
Bang!
A Guhuo Bird appeared on Akira's shoulder, raising its head and displaying Shisui's left eye.
Black Zetsu recognized that unique Mangekyō pattern instantly.
But still…
Kotoamatsukami was only a Mangekyō technique.
It might work on Obito.
But Madara?
To erase his doubts further, Akira covered his right eye dramatically.
"My Rinnegan gives ocular techniques a qualitative upgrade."
"I can elevate Kotoamatsukami to Rinnegan level."
"Even Madara can't resist it."
Black Zetsu glanced around nervously.
"But… they're glaring at me like they want to kill me."
"Of course," Akira said calmly.
"They only obey me."
"C-can you prove it?"
"I'm still uneasy…"
After a brief silence, Akira looked at the two of them.
"Obito. Uncle Madara."
"Call me Lord Akira."
Obito was never one to ruin the mood.
In fact, he loved acting.
He waited for Madara's reaction.
He thought Madara would never say it.
But—
Madara lowered his crossed arms, walked forward, bent slightly, and said solemnly:
"Lord Akira."
Obito thought:
Wow, Madara. You really hate Black Zetsu that much?
Not enough to kill him—you want to destroy his soul first?
So he followed suit.
"Lord Akira."
Black Zetsu was convinced.
Obito was one thing.
But Madara?!
That proud man would never lower himself like this unless it were real.
So it must be true.
He really is doing this for Mother!
Suppressing his excitement, Black Zetsu asked:
"Akira… you know the price of reviving Mother, right?"
Akira's eyes burned with fanatic devotion.
"I know."
"After Infinite Tsukuyomi, I'll sacrifice my body and power to Lady Kaguya."
"From the day I decided to revive her, I decided to give up everything!"
Heavens above!
Mother!
Besides me, there's finally someone else who understands you!
Someone willing to give everything for you!
"Hahahahahahahahahaha!"
Black Zetsu burst into wild laughter.
Tears streamed down his face.
After fifteen years in darkness…
He'd finally found someone like Akira.
Sure, he was stupid.
Lovably stupid.
But he wasn't like Obito.
He truly understood Mother.
Was my filial devotion finally rewarded by heaven?
"Akira, can you pull these spikes out first?"
"I want to tell you something from the heart."
"Sure!"
Akira walked over cheerfully and pulled out the black rods.
Black Zetsu wriggled back into human form.
"…"
Akira picked up Kaguya's severed arm, his eyes unreadable.
Then he turned and walked toward the Demonic Statue.
Black Zetsu followed.
"Do the Tailed Beasts still have hosts?"
"What about Naruto and Sasuke?"
"I'll tell you everything… slowly."
Madara and Obito followed behind.
Akira stopped beneath the statue, gazing up with reverence.
Black Zetsu also stopped, eyes full of tenderness.
"Mother… wait a little longer."
"Soon, Akira and I will bring you back…"
At that moment, Madara silently stepped closer behind him.
"Akira."
"Breaking someone's spirit before killing them…"
"You really get me."
He raised his hand—
And thrust it straight through Black Zetsu's back.
Crack!
As his arm burst through, all the pent-up resentment in his heart was released in a single word.
"Perfect."
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