The Wager and Black Zetsu's Conspiracy

At noon, Kirigakure Training Ground No. 3.

When word spread that the currently unrivaled Hozuki Shingetsu was set to battle the veteran genius Kaguya Hirotoshi, people dropped whatever they were doing—even if they were in the middle of procreation—to head over and catch a glimpse.

After all, in this era of isolationism, Kirigakure had virtually no entertainment. Aside from procreation—and changing partners—most people were essentially bored to death.

Furthermore, battles between jonin were rare and highly sought after, so almost everyone who heard the news arrived at the scene.

However, due to the need to keep combat intelligence confidential, it was impossible for just anyone to watch. After a round of screening, only those with special status and jonin were granted the right to observe.

--If the Kaguya Clan hadn't been harboring thoughts of using this battle to suppress Hozuki Shingetsu, they would never have allowed anyone, not even jonin, to watch.

It wasn't just about protecting their own combat intelligence; any ninja with a shred of pride would refuse to be gawked at like a monkey.

"This is a secret ointment for trauma passed down by my Kaguya Clan. Please, Clan Head Hozuki, don't be modest. After all, your son is also a genius of our Kirigakure. If he were to suffer lasting complications from an injury later, it would be the fault of my Kaguya Clan."

Kaguya Yoshio, the current head of the Kaguya Clan, handed a bottle of medicine to Hozuki Zangetsu with a seemingly warm expression.

How could Hozuki Zangetsu fail to hear the implication in Kaguya Yoshio's words that Hozuki Shingetsu was about to be defeated?

They were both thousand-year-old foxes; why play these games?

He immediately struck back without showing weakness: "This is a calcium supplement specially formulated by my Hozuki Clan. Once Kaguya Hirotoshi pulls his own bones out later, he can use it to patch himself up."

"It seems Clan Head Hozuki has great confidence in his son? How about we make a wager?"

Kaguya Yoshio chuckled, showing no anger, and instead seized the opportunity to propose a suggestion.

"Wager what?"

"If Hozuki Shingetsu wins, then Kaguya Hirotoshi will be at his disposal, provided it does not violate the interests of the Kaguya Clan. If Kaguya Hirotoshi wins, I don't want much—just ten drops of your blood. How about it?"

Hozuki Zangetsu stared at Kaguya Yoshio in astonishment, unable to fathom what his old rival was planning.

As a genius who had promoted to jonin at fourteen, Kaguya Hirotoshi held a high status in the current Kaguya Clan. If things went smoothly, he could even become the next Kaguya elder. And yet, such an important figure in the family was being used as a stake?

Was his confidence really that high?

Moreover, the stake on his own side was ten drops of his blood... It wasn't that he was reluctant to part with it, but rather, what did Kaguya Yoshio want with his blood?

Although the Jashin Cult in Yugakure didn't have a wide sphere of influence, Hozuki Zangetsu had heard of the secret arts of that cult. Could Kaguya Hirotoshi be planning to use some kind of curse?

Unable to figure it out, Hozuki Zangetsu immediately rejected Kaguya Yoshio's proposal. If you don't gamble, you can't lose—a lesson he had learned after painfully losing the position of Third Mizukage.

"Fine, then I'll take a step back. If Kaguya Hirotoshi wins, I will have him marry a member of your Hozuki Clan. If he loses, then a woman of my Kaguya Clan will marry Hozuki Shingetsu. How about that?"

A flash of disappointment crossed Kaguya Hirotoshi's eyes, but he quickly proposed a new suggestion.

"This..."

To be honest, Hozuki Zangetsu was tempted.

Losing didn't matter, but if he won, the Hozuki Clan would have the chance to get their hands on the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai!

Although the Hozuki Clan was also a bloodline family, they were different from others. Their Kekkei Genkai was essentially a constitution—a constitution that made it easier to cultivate the Hydrification Technique.

If the Ino-Shika-Cho clans of Konoha continued to develop, one day they too would possess such a Kekkei Genkai.

Therefore, even if a Hozuki clansman were to marry into the Kaguya Clan, without the Hydrification Technique and the guidance of elders, the chance of the secret leaking out would be minimal.

But the Shikotsumyaku was different. This type of physical Kekkei Genkai manifested its combat power automatically as one aged, making it entirely possible for the Hozuki Clan to master it.

Thus, after a moment of thought, Hozuki Zangetsu agreed. However, considering his son had been very independent since childhood, he left himself an out.

If Hozuki Shingetsu lost, the bet would be carried out as agreed, but if Hozuki Shingetsu won, whether or not he married would be up to him.

Kaguya Hirotoshi agreed immediately. In his view, how could the Hozuki Clan possibly give up such a rare opportunity to acquire the Shikotsumyaku?

They were only saying that for the sake of appearances.

So... "I hope the records on that stone tablet are true!"

Thinking of the stone tablet Ren had given him, Kaguya Yoshio hoped as much in his heart.

"If the secret arts recorded on that tablet don't work, then under the torment of the Kekkei Genkai Disease, our Kaguya Clan will eventually fade into obscurity."

If there was anyone in this world who could truly solve the Kaguya Clan's Kekkei Genkai Disease, it could only be the legendary Sage of Six Paths.

As it happened, that stone tablet was a fragment of the Book of the Shinobi World left behind by the legendary Sage of Six Paths, which detailed the origins of the Kaguya Clan. And this was the reason Kaguya Hirotoshi believed in it.

It was simple: if it wasn't something left behind by the Sage of Six Paths, how could it accurately record the historical origins of the Kaguya Clan? There were even ancient histories that even they had lost records of.

It was impossible that some guy who had lived for a thousand years and witnessed the history of the shinobi world was plotting against their clan, right?

Likewise, under the temptation of Black Zetsu, Uchiha Madara would only think that he had used his Rinnegan to create this tablet—a creation of Yin-Yang Release combined with the history of the Kaguya Clan secretly provided by Black Zetsu. This was the origin of this fragment of the Book of the Shinobi World.

As for the reason they did this... it was, of course, to further disrupt the situation in Kirigakure, so they could develop their forces in secret and pave the way for Uchiha Madara's resurrection plan.

Therefore, based on the above information, the Kaguya Clan naturally believed in the solution to the Kekkei Genkai Disease recorded within—using secret arts to fuse the flesh and blood of other bloodline families.

This was exactly the reason for the Kaguya Clan's rebellion in the first place, because only by helping the isolated Ren to launch battles against other bloodline clans could they obtain what they wanted.

Therefore, with the timing approaching, the Kaguya Clan not only wanted to marry into the Hozuki Clan but also the Yuki Clan, to convey an illusion: Ren did not intend to fight everyone to the death, but intended to sit down and talk it out.

When the vigilance of the various clans was worn down, the Kaguya Clan would cooperate with Ren to launch a purge of Kirigakure, thereby obtaining what they wanted in one fell swoop.

Marriage?

It was nothing more than a measure to lower their guard!