Black Zetsu's First Appearance

"Kaguya Clan Extermination (1/2)?"

It can work like this? Masahiko thought. Makes sense. Most of the Kaguya Clan members who awakened the Shikotsumyaku this time overused it. They're probably Doomed.

"And Frostbone Grass wouldn't grow in the damp environment of the Land of Water..." Thinking about it that way, the great Kaguya Clan of the Warring States could already be considered exterminated.

As for the Kaguya Clan members who had fled to the Land of Water, they could already be regarded as an entirely different clan.

"But 1/2? It seems I'll have to make a trip to the Land of Water when the Kaguya rebellion happens in the future. There'll definitely be Witness Points to gain."

"I need to allocate these fifty points carefully. Judging by Hashirama and Madara's growth, the era of the two gods probably isn't far off."

While Masahiko was lost in thought, his Perception Ability detected something unusual around the battlefield.

"Who's there?!" Masahiko turned in that direction and shouted.

The five Senju and Uchiha elders, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, immediately tensed up again. Kunai in hand, they scanned their surroundings. Yet even after five minutes, no one discovered any remaining enemies.

Masahiko looked embarrassed as he said, "Sorry, sorry. Maybe I sensed it wrong..."

The two Uzumaki elders were even more embarrassed. They had thought Masahiko had suddenly become dependable, but he was still this unreliable.

My perception shouldn't be wrong... Then, was it Black Zetsu? Though he apologized aloud, this was what Masahiko thought.

Familiar with the plot, Masahiko knew that Black Zetsu was the greatest mastermind behind the scenes in the Naruto World. He had plotted for a thousand years, all to revive his mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki.

Masahiko would not naively believe that Black Zetsu had only been active during the era of the plot. Over the years, he had kept watch for any trace of Black Zetsu.

When he was young, Masahiko had noticed something unreasonable: the existence of the underground Black Market.

From the experiences of his clan elders, he learned that the Black Market had already existed when they were young. Even now, no one knew who had founded it or who managed it.

Thus, Masahiko boldly guessed that the Black Market might have been created by Black Zetsu to gather intelligence for reviving his mother.

And some of the events that had occurred in the Warring States over the past few years were equally unreasonable. The Hyuga had easily succeeded in ambushing the Uchiha Clan's Fourth Training Ground. The Kaguya Clan had suddenly discovered Frostbone Grass near the Uzumaki Clan. Kaguya Jyorai had personally set out, only for his trail to be discovered by an ordinary Uzumaki scout...

So it really was you pulling strings behind the scenes, Black Zetsu... Only after sensing Black Zetsu's suspected presence near the battlefield just now did Masahiko confirm that the discordant feeling he had felt over the years had all come from Black Zetsu.

It's time to learn the clan's Sealing Jutsu... Thinking of the endless Impure World Reincarnations to come, the Nine Great Tailed Beasts, and even the revived Kaguya Otsutsuki, Masahiko resolved to master his clan's Sealing Jutsu.

At that moment, somewhere deep underground and shrouded in darkness, a black shadow lurked.

What sharp perception. I almost got discovered, the black shadow thought. So what if I was? No one knows my great purpose, and no one knows who I am.

That black shadow was Black Zetsu. He would never have imagined that Masahiko had not only discovered him, but had even guessed his movements over the years.

Thinking of Kaguya Otsutsuki, Black Zetsu grew increasingly excited.

"Mother, wait for me. I will definitely revive you! Those two damned traitors, Hagoromo and Hamura, I'll punish them for you as well. Hamura's descendants, the Hyuga and the Kaguya Clan, are already in the palm of my hand. Hagoromo's descendants, the Senju and the Uchiha, one day..."

"And the Uzumaki Clan too. Such dangerous Sealing Jutsu is better off not existing!"

Deep underground, silence gradually returned...

Back at the battlefield, the Senju, Uzumaki, and Uchiha clans had finished sorting through the Kaguya Clan's supplies. Just as Masahiko had expected, conflict arose over their distribution when faced with the mountain-like pile of resources.

The first agreement reached was that the Uzumaki Clan would receive twenty percent. The two Uzumaki elders voiced no objections to this arrangement. Their clan was the weakest and had contributed the least, so they were already satisfied with twenty percent.

After that, the Uchiha Clan insisted on splitting the remaining supplies evenly, but the Senju elders believed they had contributed more and demanded sixty percent. The two sides argued without resolution and looked ready to fight again.

At that moment, Uchiha Madara, whose injuries had already recovered, snorted and said to Hashirama, "We'll take half. Do you have a problem with that? If you don't accept it, let's fight!"

Masahiko covered his face. He was clearly asking Hashirama for help, but what was with that arrogant attitude, Madara...

Sure enough, faced with Madara's rudeness, Tobirama nearly rushed forward to fight him to the death. Hashirama stopped him at the critical moment.

Faced with a choice between his best friend and his clan, Hashirama decisively abandoned his clan. He said to Senju Suijian, "First Elder, let's divide it evenly. The Uchiha Clan's losses weren't small either, and our clan members have fought continuously for a month. They're already exhausted. We shouldn't fight the Uchiha again."

Faced with a fake young clan head, Senju Suijian felt utterly hopeless inside...

In the end, faced with Hashirama's insistence, the Senju and Uchiha still split the remaining eighty percent of the supplies evenly. Afterward, they packed up and returned to their respective clan lands.

The Uzumaki Clan's group also set out on the road back to their clan. Having obtained twenty percent of the Kaguya Clan's supplies, they could be considered to have returned fully loaded.

In truth, however, the Uzumaki Clan members in the group felt heavy-hearted. Their ranks had nearly been cut in half compared to when they had set out.

Before departing, Masahiko had noticed that more than a dozen Elite Jonin had accompanied the expedition. These people were the backbone of the clan, yet only eight remained now. Fortunately, the two Peak Jonin and two elders were all unharmed. Otherwise, losing even one of them would have severely damaged the Uzumaki Clan.

As for the Genin and Chunin, Masahiko could no longer count how many had been lost.

In short, our Uzumaki Clan suffered devastating losses this time. The Clan Head and elders probably won't agree to help the Senju Clan fight the Uchiha for the next few years... That's fine too. I can settle down and study Sealing Jutsu. Masahiko thought.

Only after night had completely fallen did Masahiko's group return to the clan land.

The Clan Head and the Uzumaki First Elder welcomed them at the gates. The Clan Head did not urgently ask about the details of the war. Instead, he and the First Elder arranged for the clan members who had remained behind to prepare a lavish banquet for them and had the supplies they brought back stored in the warehouses.

Masahiko ate a few simple bites of dinner. He did not stay to listen to the Clan Head's encouragement and praise for the returning clan members, and the wound on his arm also needed treatment.

After casually greeting the First Elder, Masahiko returned to his little home. He hastily bandaged his right arm, then plunged straight into bed and soon fell asleep.

After a month of fighting, he was tired.