Cooperate?
Cooperate with what?!
Do you look like you want to cooperate?!
Black Zetsu's yellow eyes turned bloodshot. Ren's words went in one ear and out the other. Right now, he only wanted to kill Tobirama.
"Ren, this pitch black fellow who clearly lacks maternal love, doesn't seem interested in cooperating."
Tobirama spoke calmly, sensing the pure killing intent directed straight at him.
But he did not care.
He was already dead.
"Tobirama, I think you should stop talking."
Ren sighed.
"Can't you see he's getting more and more agitated?"
From the moment they met, Tobirama had been stabbing directly at Black Zetsu's sore spots.
His color.
His lack of maternal affection.
Every word hit precisely.
"Hmph. He's just a prisoner."
Tobirama snorted and fell silent, leaving the rest to Ren.
Still, his mind was racing.
According to Ren, this Black Zetsu was connected to the Sage of Six Paths.
A being worshipped as a god.
The origin of chakra.
The founder of Ninshu.
Yet this creature had lived for a thousand years in secrecy.
Clearly, he was plotting something massive.
Tobirama folded his arms and stepped back.
He would watch.
Let monsters deal with monsters.
"Black Zetsu."
Ren spoke gently.
"Let's ignore that inherently troublesome Senju. He's already dead. Why argue with a corpse?"
Tobirama's expression darkened slightly.
He wanted to punch Ren.
But he held back.
What mattered more were the secrets being revealed.
Something told him
This conversation would shape the future of the entire shinobi world.
Black Zetsu shifted his gaze from Tobirama to Ren.
Caution filled his eyes.
Ren knew his name.
His clan.
Did he also know his origins?
His mother?
His plan?
More importantly
He could not escape.
This sealing prison was impenetrable.
Who created it?!
Who?!
"…Who are you?"
"No one in this world should know my identity."
His voice was hoarse.
For the first time in centuries
He felt uneasy.
"My identity?"
Ren smiled faintly.
"Perhaps you should call me… brother."
"I once had a title."
"The Sage of Six Paths."
"…Impossible!!"
"He's dead!!"
"That unfilial wretch died a thousand years ago!!"
Black Zetsu roared hysterically.
Fear surged from deep within.
The shadow of that man
Returned.
Back then, he had lived in constant paranoia.
Every movement of the Sage felt like danger.
A simple walk
A casual journey
To Black Zetsu, it meant discovery.
He would hide for months.
Terrified.
Only after the Sage's death did he finally feel safe.
And now
Ren claimed to be him.
"Calm down, my dear little brother."
Ren raised a hand.
"Perhaps I misspoke."
"The Sage of Six Paths is indeed dead."
"But I am his reincarnation."
"His chakra resides within me."
"I have awakened fragments of his memories."
A perfect lie.
Impossible to disprove.
"You unfilial wretch!!"
"You imprisoned Mother!!"
"I'll kill you!!"
Black Zetsu erupted.
Hatred accumulated over a thousand years burst forth.
For several minutes, he raged without stopping.
Then finally
He calmed.
"…How did you find me?"
"You've grown careless."
Ren said calmly.
"You've been following me closely."
"How could I not notice?"
"And…"
He inhaled slightly.
"There's a trace of Mother's chakra on you."
"Shut up!!"
"She belongs to me alone!!"
"You are not worthy of even sensing her chakra!!"
Black Zetsu trembled again.
"You started following me after I went to Kusagakure, didn't you?"
"You tried to erase your traces from history."
"But I am the Hokage."
"My intelligence network spans the entire world."
"If something has been done, it can be uncovered."
"You interfered in the conflicts between Senju and Uchiha."
"I found a trace."
"And followed it to you."
Ren's voice turned sharp.
"Mother really did leave behind a hidden hand."
"I failed to notice you back then."
"You were the one who drove a wedge between Indra and Asura, weren't you?!"
"So what if I was?!"
"It's your retribution!!"
"I wish I could devour your flesh and skin!!"
Black Zetsu sneered.
He believed it now.
Ren really was connected to the Sage.
Tobirama watched silently.
Shock flashed across his eyes.
So it was true.
Ren was the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths.
…Ridiculous.
No matter what
Ren was still that inherently troublesome Uchiha brat.
Nothing could change that.
"Is our hatred truly that deep?"
Ren's voice softened.
"No matter what, I am still your brother."
"You are my mortal enemy!!"
"You are Mother's traitorous son!!"
"You are not worthy of being my brother!!"
Black Zetsu rejected him outright.
From the moment the Sage betrayed their mother
They were enemies.
Nothing more.
"You captured me to stop me from saving Mother, didn't you?"
Despair crept into his voice.
"…Black Zetsu."
Ren spoke slowly.
"Why would you think that?"
Silence.
"What do you mean…"
"Explain yourself!!"
"Indra's chakra reincarnated in Madara."
"Asura's chakra in Hashirama."
"Do you think they are the same people?"
"No."
Ren's voice rang out.
"I am me."
"I am Uchiha Ren."
"The Sage of Six Paths is me."
"But I am not the Sage of Six Paths."
Black Zetsu froze.
He repeated the words silently.
Trying to understand.
Then
Hope appeared.
"…Are you willing… to save Mother?"
Hooked.
Ren smiled inwardly.
Everything he said tonight
Had led to this moment.
"My predecessor, the Sage of Six Paths, made grave mistakes."
"He chose conflict instead of negotiation."
"He turned a family dispute into war."
"He sealed Mother."
"He spread chakra to humanity, believing it would bring understanding."
"But instead, it brought endless war."
"I will not repeat those mistakes."
"I will correct them."
"Including…"
"My predecessor's mother."
"So my answer is yes."
Black Zetsu trembled.
Mother could be saved.
"…You…"
For the first time, he hesitated in how to address Ren.
Ren's voice suddenly hardened.
"I inherited the Sage's chakra."
"I will correct his mistakes."
"I agreed to help you without hesitation."
"And yet…"
"You refuse to acknowledge me."
"You won't even call me brother."
"Tell me."
"What do you intend?"
The pressure crushed down.
Black Zetsu's emotions collapsed completely.
Hope.
Despair.
Hope again.
Finally
He lowered his head.
"…Brother."
His voice was no longer arrogant.
Whoever could save his mother
Was worthy of everything.
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