Chapter 339: Jigen's Power Comes from Kaguya!
Kaguya was thinking about Black Zetsu, and Black Zetsu was thinking about Kaguya.
After being captured by Nagato, Black Zetsu initially thought he had already reached the depths of despair—only to realize that even greater despair was just beginning.
"Hyuga Fuji now possesses Hamura's power and has taken it further by harnessing the chakra of the entire ninja world. Lord Madara has said that to defeat him, we must obtain Kaguya's power."
In a secret base in the Land of Birds, the remaining members of Akatsuki gathered to hear Black Zetsu's clone relay Madara's words.
"Kaguya is the mother of the Sage of Six Paths, possessing power even greater than his. As long as you, Nagato, acquire her strength, you will be able to surpass Hyuga."
The Black Zetsu "ball" that Nagato carried with him also heard this and couldn't help but feel a deep sense of dread.
What was Hyuga Fuji planning? What was his brother trying to do?
Was he so frustrated with his mother's indifference that he now sought to reclaim his peak power—going so far as to send a clone of Black Zetsu to sabotage the Eye of the Moon Plan?
Black Zetsu couldn't comprehend it, but the more he thought about it, the more terrified he became.
Should he have tried persuading his mother earlier?
"Kaguya?"
Ōtsutsuki Shinichi narrowed his eyes, staring at Black Zetsu's clone. "What does Madara mean?"
"You know Kaguya?" Nagato raised an eyebrow, intrigued by a name he had never heard before. "The Sage of Six Paths and Ōtsutsuki Hamura had a mother—why are there no legends about her in the ninja world?"
Seeing that Black Zetsu's clone didn't immediately respond, Shinichi turned his gaze toward Nagato.
"That's a forbidden topic in the ninja world! Ever since Kaguya was sealed away by our ancestor and the Sage of Six Paths a thousand years ago, all records of her were erased, and fewer and fewer people in the world even know she existed."
"Our clan's mission was to guard Kaguya's seal!"
To be honest, Shinichi had conflicting emotions about this.
On one hand, the Ōtsutsuki clan on the Moon had been wiped out—he despised Hyuga Fuji and wanted Nagato to use the Ten Tails' power to take revenge for him.
On the other hand, his original desire to reshape the ninja world hadn't faded. But without the Giant Tenseigan, his plan was now impossible, so he had temporarily put it aside.
However, that didn't mean he could accept Kaguya ruling over the world!
Reviving the Ten Tails? Fine. Even if the Ten Tails' jinchūriki cast Infinite Tsukuyomi, he could accept it, since that would mean the ninja world was effectively entering a countdown to its reset—once all humans became White Zetsu, Nagato would have no choice but to reshape the world, aligning with his vision.
But Kaguya? Kaguya was an enemy of the entire planet. She must never be revived!
If Madara's message involved resurrecting Kaguya, Shinichi would be the first to eliminate him!
Shinichi then explained Kaguya's true nature as the master of the Ten Tails and her past conflict with the Sage of Six Paths.
Nagato's expression turned cold.
"So… the purpose of Infinite Tsukuyomi is to trap humanity in a genjutsu and transform them into White Zetsu? Why didn't you reveal this information earlier?"
Hearing the truth about the Ten Tails and Kaguya, Nagato felt both relief and fury.
He was relieved that he, not Obito or Madara, had become the Ten Tails' jinchūriki.
He was furious that Shinichi, despite being an Ōtsutsuki from the Moon, had known the truth yet chose to remain silent, watching events unfold without intervention.
Nagato gave Shinichi a long, piercing look. "You and I will be having a serious talk later."
Shinichi had anticipated this reaction when he revealed the truth, so he remained silent.
Ignoring him for now, Nagato turned his cold gaze back to Black Zetsu's clone.
If Madara knew about Infinite Tsukuyomi's true nature, then he must also understand its ultimate result.
After all, considering how many White Zetsu were among Madara's subordinates, how could he not know they were the product of Infinite Tsukuyomi?
Madara's goal had become obvious.
"So Madara's way of achieving peace is to turn the entire world into White Zetsu?"
Black Zetsu's clone tensed. He neither confirmed nor denied it, which, in Nagato's eyes, was as good as an admission.
But only Black Zetsu's clone knew the truth—Madara had no idea!
If Hyuga Fuji hadn't given him exclusive intel, he would have still believed that Madara's plan would succeed…
Black Zetsu's clone mentally cursed but maintained a neutral expression. "I don't know what Lord Madara is truly thinking, but I believe he has a way to reverse the White Zetsu transformation. Right now, the focus should be on Kaguya—if you want to defeat Hyuga Fuji, you need her power."
Shinichi sneered. "Kaguya is immortal. Our ancestors and the Sage of Six Paths had no choice but to seal her away on the Moon. That sealing technique is the most powerful in the history of the ninja world. And now you're saying we can take her power? What, do you think you can release her?"
"I never said release her—I said obtain her power! Releasing Kaguya? The Sage of Six Paths' seal isn't something that can be broken so easily."
"Madara doesn't have the ability to do that either," Shinichi scoffed.
To Shinichi, who was unaware of Black Zetsu's true nature, their ancestor's instructions to guard Kaguya's seal had always seemed unnecessary.
After all, the Six Paths: Chibaku Tensei—who could possibly break that?
Nagato glanced at Konan, who was quietly absorbing this flood of shocking information, then turned back to Black Zetsu's clone.
"What are the risks and requirements?"
Since Shinichi believed the Sage of Six Paths' seal was unbreakable and Kaguya—this enemy of the world—would never escape, it was at least worth hearing Black Zetsu's supposed "plan."
Even though he had only glimpsed Fuji Hyuga's power, he had no confidence in overcoming him.
Black Zetsu's clone asked, "Do you remember Jigen?"
"You mean the Ōtsutsuki Clan noble who appeared in the Land of Earth?" Shinichi frowned.
He hadn't been part of Akatsuki's previous mission there, so he hadn't personally encountered Jigen.
All he had heard was that the Land of Water had invaded the Land of Earth and Jigen had died in battle.
But according to his allies, Jigen had carried himself with calm elegance, possessed the Byakugan, and had overwhelming strength—he was clearly from the main family of the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
After all, if he had Uchiha Madara's level of power, why would he need to pose as a member of the Moon's Ōtsutsuki? What would be the point?
Black Zetsu's clone nodded. "Yes. Shinichi, as a member of the Moon's Ōtsutsuki Clan, do you believe one of your kin without the Tenseigan or Rinnegan could defeat Lord Madara?"
Shin wanted to say maybe, but that was only if they had the Giant Tenseigan—without it, he had to admit, "No."
"But Jigen did defeat Lord Madara. Doesn't that strike you as strange?"
Black Zetsu's clone continued to guide their thoughts. "His dojutsu doesn't match the Tenseigan or Rinnegan. So where do you think his power came from?"
"You're suggesting… Jigen stole Kaguya's power? That's how he defeated Madara?"
Nagato pondered this carefully. It actually made perfect sense.
Among the most powerful beings in history, only three stood above all others:
1. The Sage of Six Paths
2. Ōtsutsuki Hamura
3. And now, the newly revealed Ōtsutsuki Kaguya
He and Madara drew power from the Sage of Six Paths.
Hyuga's power came from Ōtsutsuki Hamura.
But Jigen? Jigen had neither the Tenseigan nor the Rinnegan.
Yet he defeated Uchiha Madara.
Where else could such power have come from?
Only from Kaguya.