Chapter 297
"Ah…"
Black Zetsu gasped, shocked at his mother's words. He hadn't expected Ōtsutsuki Kaguya to actually say that the Great Toad Sage had done the right thing.
Wasn't that unbelievable?
After all, Black Zetsu had always known how much his mother despised and disdained the Great Toad Sage.
Back then, if the Great Toad Sage hadn't meddled in the internal affairs of the Ōtsutsuki clan, then with the combined strength of Ōtsutsuki Hamura and Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, there would have been no chance to betray and seal his mother.
In other words, the Great Toad Sage could be considered the culprit behind Kaguya's sealing.
And now… his mother was siding with him?
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"Fool," Kaguya's cold eyes flashed with an icy gleam.
"Do you not understand? The true winner is the one who survives until the very end.
If the Great Toad Sage had stubbornly fought against the Fifth Hokage — Uchiha Yuta — what would the result have been? A shocking battle… but whether he won or lost, it would have only hurt him.
That is not in his interest. Do not forget, the Great Toad Sage and the Sage of Six Paths are nothing more than a community of interests. For the sake of Hagoromo, he will never gamble his own life."
She paused briefly, her tone sharper than steel.
"That is why, even after Fukasaku and Shima of Mount Myōboku were killed, he endured it. He will never directly confront Uchiha Yuta for their sake. Because once you clash with him… there is no room for retreat."
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Kaguya herself felt a touch of disbelief at the thought.
She had known Uchiha Yuta was strong. But she hadn't expected this level of strength.
Not only was he showing the entire shinobi world through a live broadcast, but he had also called down a terrifying power from the skies, annihilating Fukasaku and Shima in an instant.
It was a devastating show of force — one that even the Great Toad Sage could only bow his head before.
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"So that's it…"
Listening to his mother, Black Zetsu's eyes widened in sudden realization.
So it wasn't that the Great Toad Sage was too cowardly.
Rather, he was simply choosing survival — choosing humiliation over annihilation. Better to swallow pride and live on than to throw everything away in a hopeless fight against the Fifth Hokage.
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"Let's just sit back and watch…"
Kaguya's voice turned mocking.
"After seeing the Great Toad Sage surrender, my treacherous sons — Hagoromo and Hamura — must be so furious that they're spitting blood.
And when they finally reveal themselves, once Uchiha Yuta and they wear each other down… that will be the time for me to cleanse the clan."
Her tone dripped with killing intent.
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The truth, however, was one she did not admit aloud.
Even with all her might, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya wasn't certain she could defeat Uchiha Yuta right now. In that sense, she and the Great Toad Sage were alike — both choosing to endure, to wait for the right time.
The thought left her with bitter shame.
Once feared as the Rabbit Goddess, now she hid within her son's body, waiting for others to fall before she could act.
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"Hmph… don't doubt it. In the end, it will be I who has the last laugh."
Kaguya's eyes flashed coldly. After centuries of imprisonment, what was a little more waiting? She had endless time, and this time, she swore, she would not show mercy.
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"The Great Toad Sage's endurance… to endure even when it seems impossible… I have to admit, it makes sense."
From nearby, the masked man — Uchiha Obito — finally spoke. His tone was heavy, his heart shaken.
Before the fight had even started, the Great Toad Sage had raised the white flag. He had disgraced not only himself, but all of Mount Myōboku.
From this day on, the once-revered holy land of the toads would carry a tainted name.
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"What about you?"
Obito turned his gaze toward Uchiha Madara.
Now that even the Great Toad Sage had been suppressed, the entire situation had shifted in an instant.
Not only Obito, but also Nagato, Uchiha Itachi, Kakuzu, Hidan, and the many Edo Tensei summons — Hashirama, Tobirama, Minato, the Kazekage, the Raikage, the Mizukage — all turned their eyes on Madara.
The meaning was clear.
The Allied Shinobi Forces' morale had collapsed. What should be done now?
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"Interesting… truly interesting."
Under so many stares, Uchiha Madara's expression did not change.
Instead, a rare smile tugged at his lips. It was a mocking smile — directed at the Great Toad Sage.
Even Madara himself hadn't expected that the Sage, who had only just allied with the shinobi, would throw away his pride so quickly.
The instant Uchiha Yuta displayed his might, the Sage had knelt, surrendering without hesitation.
It was laughable.
It was shocking.
But Madara… Madara was not shaken.
He had seen far too much in this world to be disturbed by the cowardice of one toad.
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