No One Understands How to Fool Tailed Beasts Better Than I Do

"Lord Madara, Lord Hashirama, you've finally returned."

Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama, who had been out capturing Tailed Beasts, returned to Konoha.

This time, Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama had captured all three remaining Tailed Beasts. All nine Tailed Beasts were now in Konoha.

"Yan, you've worked hard." Seeing Konoha grow ever more prosperous, Madara felt deeply gratified.

Ever since childhood, his and Hashirama's dream had been to build a place like this—a place where people no longer hated one another, understood each other, and lived together in peace.

The Konoha of today was not only just like the one in his dreams; it was even better.

All of this was thanks to the people of Konoha. Sound institutions ensured effective governance, while hardworking citizens ensured those institutions functioned. When Konoha was founded, they had promised everyone that Konoha belonged to all of its people.

"Yan, Konoha is fortunate to have you. It's a pity my disappointing younger brother is just as you said—Tobirama's mindset is still stuck in the Warring States era."

That night, Uchiha Yan eagerly headed to the Tailed Beast Paradise.

The Tailed Beast Paradise was an uninhabited zone Uchiha Yan had set aside deep within Konoha Forest. From the ground to the sky, it was covered in Uzumaki Clan sealing techniques, while barriers surrounded it on all sides. This ensured that the Tailed Beasts could not get out and that outsiders could not get in.

At the entrance to the Tailed Beast Paradise, four elite Uchiha jonin took turns standing guard. Each of these elite jonin had activated their three-tomoe Sharingan, so that if the Tailed Beasts ever went berserk, they could swiftly bring the situation under control.

"Lord Yan." The guards immediately bowed upon seeing him.

"Mm. You've worked hard. By order of the Hokage, I need to enter the Tailed Beast Paradise." Uchiha Yan took out a written order from Uchiha Madara, bearing the Hokage's seal. After the guards verified it, they stepped aside.

Normally, as acting Hokage, Uchiha Yan did not need Madara's written order. But now that Madara had returned, although Yan could still enter, the proper procedures still had to be followed.

The Tailed Beasts were not restricted in their movements within the Tailed Beast Paradise. Other than being unable to leave it, they were free to move about as they pleased.

The instant Uchiha Yan entered, all nine Tailed Beasts turned toward him in unison and bared their fangs.

If this had been outside, Uchiha Yan would have run without a second thought. But this place was covered in Uzumaki sealing techniques. When the Tailed Beasts had been thrown in here, half their chakra had already been worn away, and these Uzumaki seals continued to drain their chakra day and night. As a result, their strength was now less than half of what it had once been. Furthermore, Uchiha Yan had already contacted Whirlpool Tide Village. Uzumaki Ashina would send several Uzumaki clansmen proficient in sealing techniques to reinforce the seals and prevent all nine Tailed Beasts from rioting together.

"Kid, why have you locked us up in here?" One-Tail Guard Crane spoke first.

"To protect you, and to keep you from being exploited by people with ulterior motives."

"Protect us? We Tailed Beasts do not need anyone's protection. And aren't people with ulterior motives people like you?" Eight-Tails Ox Demon glared at Uchiha Yan with naked hostility.

"Is that what Hagoromo taught you?"

All nine Tailed Beasts froze at once.

"How do you know the old Sage of Six Paths' name?" Four-Tails Son Goku stared straight at Uchiha Yan.

"Not only do I know that the Sage of Six Paths was called Hagoromo, I also know that he created you."

"Hagoromo created you, which makes him your father." Uchiha Yan continued, "But Hagoromo failed to fulfill his role as a father. He never taught you how to conduct yourselves as beasts. To raise without teaching is the father's fault."

"Who exactly are you? How do you know all this?" Nine-Tails finally spoke.

"By seniority, I should be your uncle."

"I am Hagoromo's younger brother."

"Impossible!" Four-Tails shouted. "The old Sage of Six Paths never said he had a younger brother. You're lying to us."

"I know you don't believe me, but that is the truth. Not only do I know that Hagoromo created you, I also know every one of your names. You are Guard Crane." Uchiha Yan pointed at One-Tail. "You are Matatabi, you are Isobu, and you are Son Goku." He then pointed in succession at Two-Tails, Three-Tails, and Four-Tails. "You are King Mu, Rhinoceros Dog, Chomei, Ox Demon, and Kurama." Uchiha Yan then called out the names of the remaining Tailed Beasts.

"You say you're the old Sage of Six Paths' younger brother. What proof do you have? Besides, how could the old Sage of Six Paths have a younger brother as weak as you?" Nine-Tails remained unconvinced.

"I'm not finished yet."

"Today, your uncle will properly explain our family tree to you."

"Originally, this ninja world had no chakra. Later, Otsutsuki Kaguya—my mother and your grandmother—descended upon this world from another planet and planted the Divine Tree. The Divine Tree absorbed the earth's natural energy and cultivated a chakra fruit. After Otsutsuki Kaguya devoured the chakra fruit, she gave birth to twins. Her eldest son was Otsutsuki Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths you speak of, while her second son was Otsutsuki Hamura, the ancestor of the Hyuga Clan."

"Later, Brother Hagoromo and Brother Hamura became dissatisfied with Mother's cultivation of the Divine Tree, which had caused the land to wither, and so they went to war with her. In the end, my brothers won and sealed Mother on the moon. Brother Hamura also went to the moon afterward in order to guard her."

"Later still, Brother Hagoromo divided the Ten-Tails—the Divine Tree—into nine parts, and thus you nine Tailed Beasts were born. Since Brother Hagoromo created you, does that make him your father? And as Brother Hagoromo's younger brother, am I not your uncle?"

Guard Crane spoke. "That's not right."

"Mm?"

"Since Hamura is on the moon, and you don't have the Byakugan, then you clearly aren't Hamura. So how can you be the old Sage of Six Paths' younger brother? Where did you come from?"

Uchiha Yan's expression did not change. "At the very moment Mother was sealed away, she gave birth to me. She wanted me to find an opportunity to rescue her. Later, for various reasons, the original me split into two people. One was the black me, named Black Zetsu, who has always devoted himself to rescuing Mother. The other is the me you see now. I agree more with Brother Hagoromo's decision and believe that this ninja world should not be ruled by Mother."

"Black Zetsu wants to save Mother and return the ninja world to her rule. I agree with Brother Hagoromo's methods, so I have to stop Black Zetsu."

"Those who walk different paths cannot work together, even though he and I are the same person."

"As for why I'm so weak, it's because Mother's chakra was exhausted when she was sealed. I was born prematurely and malnourished, which is why I'm this weak."

"If what you say is true, what does that have to do with us?"

"If Black Zetsu wants to rescue Mother, he must gather all nine Tailed Beasts and reform the Ten-Tails. You were locked up here to prevent Black Zetsu from refining you back into the Ten-Tails."