Chapter 292 – Forging History: Black Zetsu—Mother Can Be Saved!
Even though Kitagawa Gen had his suspicions, seeing the "forged relic" Black Zetsu created for the Hyūga Clan left even him speechless.
And as for the one sealed within him—Kaguya Ōtsutsuki—she was furious.
"He… how dare he! How dare he!?"
Her voice trembled with rage, her divine chakra rippling like an oncoming storm.
If she had a body right now, she'd have already smashed her son's head into the floor.
"Forging Hamura's legacy was one thing—but this?!"
Even Gen couldn't help but grimace.
Because somehow, this elaborate fabrication even managed to include… him.
"Seriously? We've reached the point where even fake scriptures have me in them now?"
The "record" was written in several parts.
The first was your typical mythic retelling—origin tales about gods, divine trees, and celestial beings.
The second detailed how Hamura and his descendants left the shinobi world and settled on the moon.
All standard lore—nothing suspicious there.
But the third section?
That's where things got bizarre.
It spoke of a coming crisis—one so immense that all the shinobi world must unite to stand against it.
A noble sentiment… if not utterly naive.
After all, an Ōtsutsuki battle wasn't something mortals could "unite" against.
The shockwaves from a single clash could wipe out nations.
Still—it wasn't the worst idea, Gen admitted.
If Naruto and Sasuke matured properly, they might actually stand a chance one day.
Then came the line that made his eyebrow twitch:
"When the world overflows with natural energy, a boy with pale eyes shall appear—marked by the trait of 'evolution.' He alone may hold the key to salvation."
Gen stared blankly at the text, then rubbed his temples.
"Wait… 'evolution'? That was my nonsense, wasn't it? He actually believed that?!"
He sighed, half amused, half exasperated.
"What's next, he writes me into the prophecy to go fight myself?
Didn't we already do that act once before?"
But the fourth section—that was where things turned ugly.
"To my descendants: never, under any circumstances, awaken the 'Eye of the Moon' unprepared.
If the power cannot be contained, reinforce the lunar seal. And if necessary, destroy all traces of the 'Eye of the Moon Project.'
Fail to do so, and an even greater terror will descend upon this world."
Gen exhaled slowly.
He understood what Black Zetsu meant by this.
Strengthen the lunar seal—destroy all knowledge—
It was all meant to protect his mother.
That "greater terror" obviously referred to the devouring Kaguya's power.
The intention was good.
But…
"Yeah, about that—maybe don't let her read it," Gen muttered, glancing inward.
Because the chakra within him was boiling.
"Seems like your son really worries about you, doesn't he?"
"You didn't sound so forgiving a minute ago," Kaguya hissed.
Her voice was cold—sharp enough to slice through his thoughts.
She knew Zetsu meant well.
Part of her even feared Gen's divine transformation—
because she could tell that he, too, had the power to consume her if he wished.
But to reinforce the seal?
To trap her for eternity after she'd waited a thousand years for a crack of freedom?
"He wants to lock me away forever?" she spat.
"Just like his brothers! Just like that traitor, Hagoromo!"
Gen sighed quietly.
"You know, he's trying to save you. And this really has nothing to do with Hagoromo—"
"It has everything to do with him!" Kaguya snapped.
"Everyone touched by his blood becomes cold and cruel.
First Hagoromo, then Hamura, and now even my last child!"
Her fury burned through every word,
but after a long silence, it cooled—hardened into resolve.
"No," she said suddenly. "We're changing this."
Gen blinked.
"You mean—?"
"I want to rewrite his message," she said. "And I want to see how he reacts."
"…You mean, edit the fake relic?"
"I've seen enough of his lies. This time, I'll leave truths of my own."
Gen sighed.
"Great. A family feud in scripture form."
Still, it was between mother and son.
And he'd be lying if he said he wasn't a little curious how far she'd go.
"Fine. How do you want to change it?"
"The beginning can stay. But the ending—
I'll add the truth about Hagoromo."
Gen pinched the bridge of his nose.
"This is going to get messy…"
"I want the world to know what he really did," she said coldly.
"How cruel he was. What kind of god he really was."
"You're seriously going to broadcast your family drama to all of history?"
He sighed again but started rewriting anyway, Kaguya dictating in his mind while he carefully moderated her rage with measured words.
---
The Revised Record (by Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, edited by Kitagawa Gen)
After sealing the Rabbit Goddess, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, I—Hamura—led my kin to the moon, to guard the husk of the Ten Tails.
My elder brother, Hagoromo, remained in the world below and founded the Ninshū faith. But he foresaw that more Ōtsutsuki would one day descend and attempt to consume this planet.
Thus, he made a choice—cold and terrible—to prepare the world through endless conflict.
He deliberately set his sons against each other: Indra, the gifted, and Ashura, the naïve. He denied the elder his birthright and gave power to the weaker, ensuring strife.
As expected, their followers clashed, their hatred spreading like wildfire until war consumed the world.
To preserve the cycle, my brother reincarnated their souls endlessly—forcing their feud to replay across ages—believing suffering would breed strength.
When I questioned him, he said: 'Only through pain can mortals grow strong enough to defy the gods.'
He believed that the death of thousands—even millions—was a worthy price for survival.
He chose blood and despair over peace, for the sake of what he called "balance."
And yet, when I recalled the celestial beings who devour worlds whole, I… could not wholly condemn him.
Perhaps, in his madness, he sought to save this world in his own way.
Still, I vowed not to let him bear the burden alone. I made preparations of my own.
When a youth with pale eyes and the mark of 'evolution' appears, the world may yet find salvation.
And when the Rinnegan awakens again, the "Eye of the Moon" plan shall begin.
Behind that plan lies a deeper secret—one that could save the world in its darkest hour.
To my descendants: the future of this world rests with you.
---
When they were done, Gen leaned back and sighed.
"Alright, masterpiece complete. How's this version?"
Kaguya's tone was still sharp.
"You still softened him. You painted his cruelty as necessity."
"Would you rather I start a holy war between religions?" he countered dryly.
"Let's compromise. History doesn't need all your truth—just enough to sting."
She said nothing, though he could sense her lingering discontent.
After a moment, she added, almost bitterly:
"And to think… Zetsu actually believes I came from the moon."
Gen chuckled.
"Who knows? He even used my word—'evolution.'
Seems like he's rewriting history and plagiarizing me now."
"You find this amusing?"
"A little," he admitted with a smirk.
"If he wants to play historian, I'll just make sure I'm the footnote that ruins his story."
"Hmph. You're still far too merciful."
Her voice faded back into the depths of his mind, leaving Gen standing in the ancient shrine, the newly altered "relic" glowing faintly in his hand.
"Forging history, huh?" he murmured.
"Fine, Zetsu. Let's see what you do with this version."
Kaguya's voice was as cold and ethereal as ever,
but when faced with Kitagawa Gen's faintly amused smile, she could only sigh helplessly.
"Fine. If you think this version is 'enough,' so be it.
Let's see what my foolish son chooses when the time comes."
Her tone was steady, but the restrained fury beneath it was unmistakable.
Gen could feel her rage simmering in his chakra —
and he could only offer a silent prayer for poor Blacky.
In truth, the choice before Zetsu wasn't all that complicated.
He clearly didn't want Kaguya to return — not yet.
But with Obito now acting on his own,
Zetsu had been forced to improvise this entire farce.
The tragedy was that Kaguya herself was now watching everything.
If he so much as dared try to stop her in front of Madara and Obito…
"Heh… that's going to be fun to watch," Gen murmured with a grin.
He was honestly curious to see how Zetsu planned to handle the chaos he'd created.
---
Meanwhile, far away on a desolate mountain ridge,
a black shadow stirred beneath the moonlight.
Black Zetsu stood alone, his form rippling like oil.
"It should be fine now," he whispered to himself.
Even as he said it, a faint ache crossed his voice —
the guilt of a child who had once again betrayed his mother's will.
Yes, he'd sealed her freedom away once more.
But in his eyes, it was necessary.
What was fleeting freedom compared to eternal existence?
"All that's left is to choose the right moment," he muttered,
"and use this relic to draw Kitagawa Gen's attention."
He refused to repeat his past mistakes.
No more reckless invasions of Konoha.
Not now — not during a full-scale war.
This time, every move would be calculated.
---
At the appointed rendezvous, Uchiha Madara was already waiting.
His red eyes gleamed like dying embers beneath the shadowed peaks.
"Well? Did you find it?" he asked the moment Zetsu emerged.
"Or do I need to take it by force?"
Zetsu quickly shook his head.
"No, not yet. It's too dangerous. Kitagawa Gen and Senju Hashirama are both present —
we can't risk direct confrontation."
"Tch. Then what have you learned?"
"I've confirmed the general location," Zetsu said quietly.
"The relic is within the Hyūga Clan."
Madara froze.
For the first time, he looked genuinely puzzled.
"The Hyūga Clan? The descendants of the Sage's brother?"
He frowned.
"You can't be serious. Those pale-eyed fools barely qualify as shinobi."
"Perhaps. But you forget something important, Lord Madara," Zetsu replied, his tone steady.
"Orochimaru's subordinate, Kimimaro — he was of Kaguya's lineage.
His body required the Byakugan's yin suppression to balance his overwhelming yang energy.
Isn't that reminiscent of the Power of All Creation itself?"
Madara's expression darkened.
"And Kitagawa Gen? He doesn't even have the Byakugan."
Zetsu's voice dropped.
"He doesn't… but his Sage Mode mimics it.
Those pale eyes of his — indistinguishable from the real thing."
Madara folded his arms, unconvinced.
"That alone doesn't prove anything."
Zetsu smiled faintly beneath the mask of black fluid.
"I've gone through every record I could find.
The Hyūga bloodline only appears within the last few centuries.
Before that — nothing. No trace.
Doesn't that strike you as odd?"
Madara's gaze sharpened.
"You're saying… they didn't originate here?"
"Exactly. And more importantly…" Zetsu's voice lowered to a whisper.
"The relic's energy signature was first detected near the Hyūga estate.
That can't be coincidence. I plan to confirm it myself."
For all his cunning, Zetsu sounded tired — exhausted by centuries of manipulation.
He had to play the fool, break information into fragments,
feed it slowly to Madara without raising suspicion.
It was agony.
But as he saw Madara fall into thought,
he knew he was almost there.
The only thing standing between success and disaster now
was Madara's skepticism about the Hyūga's connection to the Sage's brother.
If only those Hyūga imbeciles were a bit more impressive,
Zetsu cursed inwardly, I wouldn't have to go through all this trouble!
Still, he had one more card to play.
"Lord Madara, there's something you may have overlooked," he said carefully.
Madara raised an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
"The eyes," Zetsu said simply.
"The eyes of the Ōtsutsuki."
Madara's brow furrowed.
"The eyes? Don't be absurd.
Few have ever seen them and lived.
Their battles annihilate everything within reach."
"And yet," Zetsu continued,
"the Ōtsutsuki known as Shibai possessed eyes that shone like flowing light —
different from any dōjutsu we've known.
But the others… the ones beyond him…
their eyes were pale — white as moonlight."
Madara's breath caught.
"You mean… the Byakugan?"
"Precisely," Zetsu said, his tone hushed.
"I was too far to confirm, but that faint white radiance…
I doubt I was mistaken."
He stopped there.
He'd already given Madara enough to chew on — any more would risk exposure.
Madara stood silently, deep in thought,
the idea taking root in his mind like a seed.
"Hyūga… descendants of Hamura…" he muttered.
"Could it be true?"
Kitagawa Gen's power far surpassed any Hyūga in history —
his strength defied bloodlines.
And yet… those eyes…
After a long pause, Madara finally spoke.
"Very well. Search thoroughly.
If there's even a chance you're right, I want proof — and quickly.
We can't afford mistakes.
Ōtsutsuki and Obito won't wait for us."
"Understood."
Zetsu bowed low. For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself a breath of relief.
Everything was proceeding as he hoped.
Madara's attention was now fixed on the Hyūga —
and away from Kaguya.
"At last," Zetsu whispered to himself.
"Mother… you're safe.
For now."
He sank back into the ground,
his form dissolving into the darkness like ink in water.
The wind howled across the mountain peaks,
carrying only the faintest echo of his voice—
"Mother… I'll save you. Even if it means rewriting history itself."