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"You bastard! Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? If I hadn't activated the Flying Thunder God in time, the meteors would have ruined my new clothes!"
Chiba roared, his face practically pressed to Madara Uchiha's ear in the underground palace.
"Qianyu, a question has bothered me for a long time."
Madara ignored Qianyu's showy complaint, instead asking thoughtfully, "I heard that two years ago, you were just an ordinary medical ninja. How did your strength suddenly explode to this degree?"
Madara knew Qianyu was strong. But seeing him handle the power of the Rinnegan so casually today… it threw Madara off balance.
Even he and Hashirama, at Qianyu's age, were just powerful Jonin. Not even a tenth of Qianyu's current level.
"You had your opportunities. I had mine."
After a moment of thought, Qianyu decided to give Madara one last chance to abandon the darkness.
"Everyone thinks the Sage of Six Paths is the origin of the shinobi world. They're wrong. The true progenitor of this world was his mother: Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. A being from beyond the heavens."
Boom.
Madara showed little reaction to Qianyu's words. But Black Zetsu, listening nearby, felt his entire being shudder. His orange-yellow eyes widened in disbelief, fixed on Qianyu.
How does this Qianyu know this? How does he know Mother's name? How does he know she came from beyond?
After a brief pause, Qianyu continued.
"Your power ultimately stems from Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. The power I inherited… comes from another being from beyond. The one who descended upon this world with her—Isshiki Ōtsutsuki."
"A shame I still can't fully bear the power of the Kāma. Otherwise…"
Here, Qianyu abruptly stopped, feigning caution, as if he'd accidentally let a secret slip. He subtly observed Madara's reaction.
The dismissive look on the other's face told Qianyu everything. Madara didn't believe a word of this "beings from beyond" nonsense.
I gave you the chance. You just couldn't take it.
Qianyu shook his head internally. If Madara couldn't even accept the prologue, how could he ever accept that the Eye of the Moon Plan was just an alien's scam?
It didn't matter. This little speech wasn't for Madara anyway. It was for the shadow clinging to his side.
Isshiki… is still alive?!
Behind Madara, Black Zetsu trembled like a leaf in a storm. Inheriting all of Kaguya's memories, his fear of Isshiki was bone-deep.
Long ago, Kaguya, as a 'guardian,' accompanied Isshiki to this planet to plant the God Tree, to devour the life force of all living things and nurture the powerful 'Chakra Fruit.'
According to the plan, the lower-ranked guardian, Kaguya, was to be sacrificed to the infant Ten-Tails, allowing it to mature into its complete form—the God Tree.
But during the sacrifice, Kaguya rebelled. She ambushed Isshiki, injuring the vastly more powerful being with everything she had, and sacrificed him to the Ten-Tails instead.
Isshiki's body was mostly devoured by the Ten-Tails back then… How can he still be alive? This is bad!
Black Zetsu's thoughts spiraled into panic.
Qianyu had named both his mother and Isshiki. He'd even mentioned the Kāma, a secret technique unique to the Ōtsutsuki clan.
There was no mistake. Isshiki was alive. And just as he, Black Zetsu, had cultivated Madara… Isshiki had cultivated Qianyu as his pawn.
Mother's resurrection was so close. Yet Isshiki had been lurking in the shadows all this time… Black Zetsu's anxiety burned.
Heh. Scared, aren't you? Good.
Noticing Black Zetsu's subtle, unnatural tension, Qianyu quickly pulled his gaze back, smirking inside.
He'd tossed out these fragmentary bits of lore like bombs to make Black Zetsu feel his mother was being targeted. To make him panic. To disrupt Kaguya's perfect resurrection as much as possible.
"Qianyu. With the One-Tails now in hand, only the Nine-Tails and the Five-Tails within you remain."
Madara had no patience for more of Qianyu's nonsense. He cut straight to the point. Hand over the Five-Tails. Then go back to the Leaf and fetch the Nine-Tails.
"The Nine-Tails must be sealed last. I'll extract the Five-Tails from my body now."
Qianyu's chakra reserves were monstrous now, surpassing even Tobirama at his peak. He agreed readily for the sake of his own plans. After siphoning off a portion of the tailed beast's power, he began the extraction without another word.
No wonder this Qianyu grew so fast. He obtained a higher-level power from Isshiki Ōtsutsuki. And his eagerness to advance the Eye of the Moon Plan… he's likely following Isshiki's orders!
Qianyu's immediate compliance only 'confirmed' Black Zetsu's suspicions.
By now, Black Zetsu was calming down.
Even if Isshiki lived, his condition couldn't be good. Otherwise, with his power, he wouldn't have needed to scheme from the shadows for a thousand years, just like him.
I've been careful all these years. Isshiki may not even know I exist. Otherwise, this Qianyu wouldn't be foolish enough to expose his master's plans right in front of me.
While Qianyu and Madara handled the Five-Tails, Black Zetsu's eyes narrowed. Thoughts flashed through his mind.
Isshiki has laid all this groundwork… He must plan to sever Mother's connection to the Ten-Tails during her vulnerable state right after resurrection. To reclaim the God Tree for himself.
He's likely predicted the exact time and place of Mother's return. But… what if I make her resurrect earlier? Disrupt his plans. Turn the tables!
A plan solidified in the darkness. Black Zetsu watched Qianyu and Madara coldly.
"Lord Madara. Next, you will attack the Leaf Village. I will lead elites from the other villages to intercept you at the border of the Land of Fire. I will assist you in acquiring the Nine-Tails… from the shadows."
After extracting the Five-Tails, Qianyu showed no sign of weakness. His voice was firm as he laid out the plan.
"Acceptable. We set the time for three days from now."
Madara finalized it. He'd seal the One-Tails and Five-Tails first, then move. Given his relationship with Qianyu, he didn't expect help with the sealing anyway.
Swish!
The moment Qianyu left, Black Zetsu slithered close to Madara, his voice laced with feigned concern.
"Lord Madara, Qianyu agreed far too readily. He's undoubtedly plotting something against you. You must be cautious!"
"Hmph. That brat might as well have the word 'schemer' written on his forehead. Do you think I don't see it?"
Madara snorted, his brow furrowing. "But the boy's strength is considerable. I cannot afford an open break with him. Not if it risks the Eye of the Moon Plan."
"Lord Madara… I have an idea."
"Oh? Speak."
Black Zetsu pressed on eagerly. "You still have surplus Nine-Tails chakra from what Qianyu brought earlier, correct? You could use it to summon the Ten-Tails… in an incomplete form. Qianyu would never expect it!"
"With the Ten-Tails' unparalleled power, you could sweep away all obstacles with ease and claim the complete Nine-Tails," Black Zetsu urged, his voice a mask of pure concern.
Summoning the Ten-Tails incomplete would affect its chaotic consciousness, which in turn would impair Mother's state and the recovery of her awareness. But Black Zetsu believed that given time, Mother would regain her full consciousness.
And once she did, augmented by the Ten-Tails' power… she might even overpower a weakened Isshiki!
"Your words… have merit."
Madara's furrowed brow slowly relaxed. Summoning the Ten-Tails early was a solid countermeasure. Before absolute power, all schemes and plots were worthless.
No matter what tricks Qianyu had up his sleeve, they would shatter like a mirage before the Ten-Tails.
"Prepare, Black Zetsu. We revive the Ten-Tails together."
"Yes, Lord Madara!"
Black Zetsu responded with perfect neutrality. But internally, he was trembling with a fervor that eclipsed Madara's own.
Mother… I will see you again. Soon.
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