And then—
Those white pupils—no, that's definitely the Byakugan.
But it also seems... a little different from the current Hyuga clan's Byakugan...
Wait a minute!
Wait a minute! Wait a minute!
Byakugan, rabbit, red claws... pure white and crystal-clear.
Black Zetsu's eyes suddenly widened, almost unable to maintain its current form.
Because—
A rabbit with the Byakugan… Isn't that… Isn't that the original form of Mother Kaguya after she completely took control of the Ten Tails?
And at this moment...
Legend says that during the era of the Sage of Six Paths, the ninja world was thrown into great war.
The Sage of Six Paths and his brother fought a battle against their mother, Otsutsuki Kaguya, that lasted three whole months.
The land suffered immense devastation.
But for Black Zetsu, this wasn't some mere legend—because it was there.
It was created by Kaguya, and then watched as her two sons committed filial betrayal.
Back then, without any power, it could only hide somewhere and secretly observe the battle it couldn't take part in.
At that time, Mother Kaguya's form was that of a giant white rabbit merged with the Ten Tails.
And the Sage of Six Paths and his brother used Susanoo.
Earlier, the First Hokage, Big Dumb - Hashirama, used Wood Release Sage Art: True Several Thousand Hands, which looked impressive...
But to Black Zetsu... it was disgusting.
Because it reminded it of those two unfilial brothers.
What is Wood Release, anyway?
If it were just that, Black Zetsu wouldn't have much to say.
But if we're talking about True Several Thousand Hands, then it does have an answer.
Because that technique is something Asura, the son of the Sage of Six Paths, could use—it relies on Asura's chakra.
So, True Several Thousand Hands + Sage Mode = Asura Chakra.
And having roamed the ninja world for so long, Black Zetsu had long known that the sons of the Sage—Indra and Asura—had been continuously reincarnating in conflict. By the time of Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, Hashirama had inherited Asura's chakra and Madara had inherited Indra's chakra. So the two were incredibly powerful.
Far stronger than ordinary people.
After all, they possessed Otsutsuki blood.
As for the other ordinary bloodlines—they weren't as remarkable. Either they diluted over generations or simply weakened.
Like the Hyuga clan of Konoha… What a joke, is that even the Byakugan?
The base standard for the Otsutsuki clan is the Byakugan…
And yet Black Zetsu had none.
But those two unfilial brothers and Mother Kaguya did.
"..."
Although thinking this way made it feel depressed, Black Zetsu was very clear: it was Mother Kaguya's only hope of salvation.
So it had to act for her sake.
It searched the ninja world for a way to free Mother Kaguya.
Because it lacked strength, it couldn't fight head-on—so it played to its strengths.
It began… manipulating people.
Generation after generation, it manipulated the Sage of Six Paths' descendants, with the ultimate goal of acquiring the Rinnegan.
With the Rinnegan and the collection of all chakra, it could revive Mother Kaguya.
But...
The current situation left it dumbfounded.
The Rinnegan—it's not unfamiliar with it. It even guided Uchiha Madara into evolving it, but that took Madara decades.
To revive Kaguya, it had planned to use Madara.
But now...
The Rinnegan… is in Kitahara Kaede's body.
And then...
Kitahara Kaede's rabbit… is Kaguya.
"...%"
[Filial Black Zetsu]: This can't be.
[Filial Black Zetsu]: What is this?
[Filial Black Zetsu]: Why is this happening?
[Filial Black Zetsu]: This can't be!
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: ???
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Mr. Black Zetsu, what are you talking about?
[Filial Black Zetsu]: ...
[Filial Black Zetsu]: I… I...
Black Zetsu didn't know what to do anymore. Or rather, everything it had done until now was to revive its mother, and this plan had taken a thousand years.
But after a thousand years… someone else had already achieved the goal.
[Minato Namikaze]: Right? That ninja rabbit is cute and really aloof.
Minato didn't find anything strange, while Black Zetsu looked over and saw Kitahara Kaede walk up to the ninja rabbit and reach out to pat its head.
The ninja rabbit seemed to want to avoid it, but he grabbed its body with his left hand and then placed his right hand on its head.
Black Zetsu almost jumped up.
[Filial Black Zetsu]: How dare Kitahara Kaede do that to my mother!
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Hm?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Mr. Black Zetsu, your reaction seems really weird.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Don't tell me… you know this ninja rabbit?
[Filial Black Zetsu]: Uh…
[Filial Black Zetsu]: That's...
Black Zetsu suddenly realized—this little chat group's existence had already caused the collapse of the Sand and Sound Villages' plan against Konoha.
But more importantly, its manipulation plan using Uchiha Madara was still in progress. If it got exposed here… it would be in big trouble.
And worst of all...
The mother it wanted to revive was already in Konoha?
And she… turned back into her original form?
Black Zetsu decided it had to investigate.
It had no power, so it needed to plan carefully.
[Filial Black Zetsu]: This little group only has 3 hours of livestream time each day, right?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Yup.
[Filial Black Zetsu]: Oh… so right now...
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Yeah, it's about to end.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Looks like we'll have to wait until tomorrow.
[Ding!]
At this moment, System 31 chimed in with a sound.
[Kakashi Hatake has come back online]
Kakashi, who had been sent to report to the Third Hokage, had returned.
[Kakashi Hatake]: Whew, I made it.
[Tobirama]: Kakashi, how'd it go? Hm? Why do you look so odd?
[Tobirama]: What did Hiruzen decide? Has he already detained the Sand ninjas?
[Tobirama]: Don't worry—Kirigakure's Mizukage and Ōnoki will help.
[Future Mizukage - Mei Terumi]: I'll help.
[Cowardly - Ōnoki]: Me too.
Ōnoki and Mei Terumi immediately expressed their support.
Everyone knew—without the chat group and Kitahara Kaede, Konoha could've been stomped by anyone.
But now...
All the past Hokage were watching.
And Kitahara Kaede… with the Rinnegan, the Sage's eyes, a tamed Nine Tails - Kurama, and Wood Release mastery… Who would dare fight him?
His power level wasn't even in the same art style as everyone else.
So Kirigakure and Iwagakure were smart.
Both villages were also seeking a long period of peace, so of course they agreed to help.
[Kakashi Hatake]: ...
[Kakashi Hatake]: Regarding that, although I've already reported that Iwa and Kiri are willing to help—
[Kakashi Hatake]: However…
[Kakashi Hatake]: The Third Hokage decided not to make the first move.
[Kakashi Hatake]: He said to wait for the Sand Village to slip up first, then act.
[Kakashi Hatake]: Since the Fourth Kazekage is already in Konoha, he's worried it might cause a conflict with Suna and trigger another Ninja World War.
[Kakashi Hatake]: He said Konoha can't endure another catastrophe.
[Kakashi Hatake]: But I recommended Kitahara Kaede, so the Third said he'd personally go and ask him for help.
Kakashi relayed the Third Hokage's message.
It sounded reasonable.
After all, there had already been three Ninja Wars and the Nine Tails incident, which caused major losses—Konoha really couldn't afford another one...
Yeah, right!
[Tobirama]: ...
[Tobirama]: Ah…
[Tobirama]: I finally calmed down after decades in genjutsu space.
[Tobirama]: But right now, I really want to say—
[Tobirama]: Sarutobi… Sarutobi, you pig!
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Chapter 075+ in patreon.com/dzeref887