Chapter 319: The Hidden Agenda of Black Zetsu
After speaking, Uchiha Madara ignored Senju Hashirama completely.
His sharp eyes turned toward Black Zetsu, who had remained silent all this time.
He wanted to see—how exactly was this shadowy being going to explain himself?
As the third son of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya and the younger brother of the Sage of Six Paths, what was his hidden agenda?
What puzzled Madara most was simple—
If Black Zetsu was truly of such exalted origin… then why had he spent centuries working as his subordinate?
A "dog coin," as Madara muttered darkly to himself.
It made no sense.
At that moment, not only Madara, but countless shinobi across the world—those in the Allied Shinobi Forces, the Reanimated Hokage, and even ordinary people watching the battle on the enormous sky-projection—were all focused on the dark, shapeless figure of Black Zetsu.
No one was an idiot.
Everyone could sense it—some deep, ancient secret about to be unveiled.
And the idea of that revelation sent a strange thrill through the crowd.
"This is getting more and more entertaining…"
Watching the chaos unfold, Uchiha Yuta, the Fifth Hokage, curved his lips in amusement.
He almost felt pity for Black Zetsu. Almost.
After all, neither the Great Toad Sage nor Uchiha Madara had been his match.
The Sage had surrendered outright, and Madara had already been suppressed by his overwhelming power.
There wasn't much left to do.
So, out of sheer boredom, Yuta decided to liven things up.
He had casually revealed Black Zetsu's true identity to the entire world—
and was now even planning to replay, live on screen, the moment in the "original timeline" when Black Zetsu stabbed Madara in the back.
Yes, that moment of ultimate betrayal.
Just thinking about it made Yuta grin with excitement.
This was entertainment on a cosmic scale.
"Th-this… this is insane!"
"Now let's see how Black Zetsu explains that!"
The Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki and Fourth Raikage Ay exchanged glances after a long silence.
Both could see the gleam of anticipation in each other's eyes.
Moments ago, they had thought the Allied Shinobi Forces were doomed after Madara's crushing defeat at Yuta's hands.
But now?
Now it seemed the true game had just begun.
"Hahaha! Maybe there's still a chance for us after all!"
"That's right—Black Zetsu might be our final trump card!"
"If he's really Kaguya's son and the Sage's brother, his power could rival even the Fifth Hokage!"
"After living for thousands of years, even a pig would reach godhood by now!"
Excitement rippled through the ranks.
Even the Reanimated Kage—the First Tsuchikage, Second Tsuchikage, Second Raikage, and Third Raikage—watched intently, their eyes glued to Black Zetsu's every twitch, as if afraid to miss even a single movement.
"Wait! Wait!!"
"Forget it—I'm too lazy to say anything else."
"Let's just see how Black Zetsu responds! We trust the Fifth Hokage—Lord Uchiha Yuta!"
The First Hokage Senju Hashirama, Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato, and others—Hatake Sakumo, the past Kazekage and Mizukage—remained silent.
Hashirama had already said all he wanted to. He understood the Valley of the End battle better than anyone, and though Madara still couldn't grasp his good intentions, Hashirama's faith in Uchiha Yuta was unwavering.
If Yuta has chosen to reveal Black Zetsu's identity, then he must already have a plan.
Meanwhile, under the burning spotlight of a billion stares, Black Zetsu himself was on the verge of a breakdown.
Why… why is this happening?
At such a critical moment, the Fifth Hokage had exposed his identity in front of the entire world!
Just thinking about it made Zetsu want to scream—or dig himself into the ground and vanish.
His plan had been simple:
Wait patiently until Madara completed the Eye of the Moon Plan,
then reveal his true nature at the perfect moment—stabbing Madara in the back and reviving his mother, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
But now?
Everything was ruined.
The Fifth Hokage had spoiled his grand reveal.
And with the eyes of every Kage, every village, and every reanimated soul locked on him, Black Zetsu could barely think.
Who am I? Where am I? What am I even doing right now?!
Then—
a familiar, cold, and ancient voice echoed in his mind.
"My foolish son… how could you let your identity be exposed?"
Black Zetsu froze.
It was Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, speaking directly into his consciousness.
She sounded furious—and more than a little worried.
After all, in her mind, her son's identity had been flawless.
No one was supposed to know he even existed.
Yet somehow… not only her two "unfilial" sons, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo and Ōtsutsuki Hamura, but even Uchiha Yuta, a human from the lower world, had seen through everything.
How could this be?
If he knows about me… could he even trace me?
A chill crept into Kaguya's heart.
She had paid a tremendous price to escape from the Six Paths: Chibaku Tensei, the sealing jutsu that had imprisoned her for millennia.
If her existence were exposed again, it could all be over.
Even worse—her strength hadn't fully recovered yet.
If Hagoromo and Hamura ever joined forces again, the consequences would be unimaginable.
And as that grim thought echoed through her mind, even the mighty Ōtsutsuki Kaguya felt something she hadn't experienced in ages—
fear.
✨ To be continued…