Ryūjin's words caused Black Zetsu to pause.
To revive Kaguya, two essential conditions were required, the Divine Tree and the Infinite Tsukuyomi cast through the Rinnegan. Setting the Rinnegan aside for now, since Obito currently possessed it, that part was not too difficult. However, aside from gathering the Tailed Beasts, how else could the Divine Tree be obtained?
If there truly were another way to revive Kaguya, would Black Zetsu have spent over a thousand years scheming toward a single goal?
"Without the Eye of the Moon Plan, how do you intend to save Mother? Uchiha Ryūjin, I am not so easily deceived," Black Zetsu said coldly, his gaze locked onto Ryūjin.
"I already said you think too narrowly, yet you still deny it. Let me ask you something, where is Kaguya now?" Ryūjin shrugged, his tone casual.
"If you think you can extract information from me, give up on that idea," Black Zetsu replied with a sneer, refusing to answer.
Ryūjin stared at him for a moment.
This one is cautious.
He dropped the act and spoke plainly, "Kaguya is sealed inside the moon. I've known that for a long time, no need for you to confirm it. Zetsu, there's nothing about you I don't already know."
Black Zetsu's expression darkened, anger rising within him. Being completely seen through like this was infuriating.
"Fine. Mother is sealed in the moon. What are you getting at?" he asked after a brief pause.
Ryūjin gave him a look. "I've made it obvious, and you still don't get it? If she's sealed in the moon, then I just split the moon open."
He said it as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
Black Zetsu froze.
He had never once considered that possibility.
Simple, direct, effective.
But he quickly regained his composure. "And who in this world can split the moon? Don't tell me you mean yourself."
It was not that he underestimated Ryūjin. Even if Ryūjin could wipe out tens of thousands of ninja in a single strike or shatter a massive meteorite, that level of power was nowhere near enough to split the moon.
"I can't do it right now," Ryūjin replied calmly. "But if you help me find the Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchūriki, I will reach that level."
Black Zetsu studied him carefully. "If I help you, what exactly do you plan to do?"
Ryūjin shrugged. "That's my business. You don't need to know. I'll give you one day to think about it."
"No need. I agree," Black Zetsu said heavily.
He had no other option.
Leaving aside Kaguya, he could not even escape Ryūjin's Kamui dimension. If he refused, he would remain sealed forever, forgotten like dust.
Even if he did not fully trust Ryūjin, he had no choice but to cooperate.
"You made the right decision," Ryūjin said.
He reached out and placed a Flying Thunder God mark on Black Zetsu.
"If I sense this mark disappear, I will immediately begin sealing the Tailed Beasts into myself. At that point, saving Kaguya becomes impossible. So be careful."
With that, Ryūjin sent Black Zetsu out of the Kamui dimension.
"Within three days, I will bring you the locations of the two Jinchūriki. Make sure you keep your promise," Black Zetsu said before sinking into the ground and vanishing.
His weakness had been completely exposed.
Black Zetsu had manipulated figures like Indra, Asura, Hashirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha across centuries. Yet in front of Ryūjin, all of that meant nothing.
How could he scheme against someone who already knew everything?
And without schemes, he had no strength to rely on.
Meanwhile, Ryūjin could casually collect the Tailed Beasts and destroy Black Zetsu's plans entirely.
There was no path forward except cooperation.
After leaving, Black Zetsu immediately mobilized all White Zetsu across the ninja world to search for the Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchūriki.
The results came quickly.
On the second day, Black Zetsu appeared again before Ryūjin.
"They've been found."
"Good," Ryūjin said, his eyes lighting up slightly.
"They were hiding in extremely remote locations, especially the Four-Tails Jinchūriki. You would never have found him on your own," Black Zetsu added, making sure to emphasize his role.
"You don't need to hint. Bring me to them, and I'll keep my word," Ryūjin replied.
Black Zetsu nodded. "Follow me."
He sank into the ground once more.
Using the Flying Thunder God mark, Ryūjin tracked him and soon arrived in a remote mountain region.
Activating Sage Mode, he immediately sensed the presence of the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, Rōshi.
Without hesitation, Ryūjin vanished and reappeared directly in front of him.
"Uchiha Ryūjin?"
Rōshi's expression changed instantly, sweat forming on his forehead.
Even in isolation, he had kept up with the outside world. Ryūjin's name had shaken the entire ninja world, especially his pursuit of the Tailed Beasts.
That was the reason Rōshi had hidden here.
"You don't need to panic. You won't die," Ryūjin said with a faint smile as he walked forward.
Rōshi clenched his teeth and transformed completely.
The Four-Tails, Son Gokū, appeared in full form and charged forward with overwhelming force.
Ryūjin did not move.
His eyes shifted to the Tenseigan as he raised his hand calmly.
"Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion."
A massive force erupted.
Boom.
Son Gokū was blasted apart instantly.
Rōshi reappeared, his body bloodied.
Ryūjin fired several black rods, pinning Rōshi to the ground and immobilizing him completely.
He knelt down and began examining the seal.
At that moment, a terrifying pressure filled the area, as if the air itself had grown heavier.
Black Zetsu's expression changed immediately.
This presence was unmistakable.
"It's him," he muttered, his voice filled with hatred as he looked toward the sky.
Space distorted, and a figure gradually appeared.
Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo.
The Sage of Six Paths.
"Finally decided to show up," Ryūjin said, standing up and facing him.
Even now, his expression remained steady.
"The Sage of Six Paths?" Rōshi muttered in disbelief.
The legendary figure had appeared in person.
"Uchiha Ryūjin, you ignored my warning," Hagoromo said, his voice heavy.
"So?" Ryūjin replied flatly.
"Then I will stop you myself."
"Yeah, try it."
As he spoke, Ryūjin placed his hand on Rōshi and absorbed him into the Kamui dimension.
Hagoromo did not interfere.
A battle at their level would be devastating, and protecting Rōshi during it was not guaranteed.
Once Rōshi was secured, Ryūjin's demeanor shifted.
Now the real fight began.
He entered Sage Mode fully and drew upon the chakra of the Tailed Beasts within him.
Facing Hagoromo was no joke.
"Stubborn," Hagoromo said, swinging his staff forward.
The staff, formed from Truth Seeking Orbs, could erase anything it touched and nullify all ninjutsu.
But it was not invincible.
Senjutsu could counter it.
Ryūjin's Sharingan spun, and a half-body Susanoo formed around him, wielding a massive sword infused with Sage chakra.
He swung it forward.
Clang.
The blade blocked the staff cleanly.
Ryūjin stood steady inside the Susanoo, showing no strain at all.
Black Zetsu's eyes widened in shock.
That was the Sage of Six Paths, and Ryūjin had blocked him effortlessly.
"Natural energy… Sage Mode. So you know my weakness," Hagoromo said, his expression darkening.
Ryūjin smirked slightly.
"The Sage of Six Paths? You're not that impressive."
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