Black Zetsu's Past

In Konoha's square, the ordinary villagers and Genin who saw Zetsu felt, more than anything, confusion and fear.

"Did the Sage of Six Paths really exist?"

"That black-and-white thing is the Sage of Six Paths' younger brother?"

"He got the Fourth Hokage killed? That's terrifying!"

"I told you the Canopy Screen was fake. Look how ridiculous its story's getting. Now even the Sage of Six Paths has appeared."

Panic spread through Konoha, fueled above all by fear of the unknown.

Fortunately, the Hokage's Office moved quickly to reassure everyone and explain the situation, bringing it under control.

In the Raikage's Office, Fourth Raikage A stared at the Canopy Screen, too stunned even to curse.

After a long moment, he slammed a hand on his desk. "Quick! Reexamine every ancient text immediately! Especially anything about the Sage of Six Paths!"

In the Hidden Stone Village, Ōnoki of Both Scales was so shocked he fell out of the air. Kurotsuchi caught him.

"I... I've lived this long, and now I'm hearing that a myth has become reality?"

"The Sage of Six Paths' younger brother has been hiding in the Shinobi World all this time?" His back seemed to hurt even more.

In Kirigakure, Mei Terumi went pale and covered her mouth without thinking. "Oh my God! A member of the Creator God's family actually... joined the Akatsuki Organization?"

She now seriously wondered whether the Blood Mist Policy had also been influenced by someone of that caliber.

Otsutsuki Toneri could see the Canopy Screen from the moon, and he too was plunged into confusion and self-doubt.

"Father, why did the Main Family's records never mention another granduncle?"

"And why does he look like that? What is going on?!"

Deep underground, Black Zetsu was so furious at the Canopy Screen he was ready to explode. "Idiotic! Inferior! Who's his younger brother?!"

"I'm Mother Kaguya's will! I'm her son! I'm not the younger brother of that traitor Hagoromo!"

"What nonsense is that damned Canopy Screen spouting?!"

Its thousand years of planning and the identity it took such pride in had been twisted into "younger brother" to someone it despised. It could think of no greater insult.

But it could not defend itself. It could only watch as the entire Shinobi World looked at it as the Sage of Six Paths' bizarre younger brother.

Then space warped beside him, and Obito Uchiha appeared.

"Who are you?!" Obito Uchiha's voice rang with fury as his lone Mangekyō Sharingan glared at Black Zetsu.

At the slightest move from Black Zetsu, he would use Kamui to pull him into the Kamui dimension.

Black Zetsu knew it needed an explanation immediately, one that would keep Obito and Nagato on its side.

Its plan could not fall apart now!

In an instant, Black Zetsu's entire presence changed. The aura of a formidable fighter washed over Obito Uchiha.

Obito was shaken to his core. He wanted nothing more than to escape through Kamui.

As everyone knew, a few characters in Naruto had been capable of certain feats from the very beginning of the story.

Might Guy, for example, could have opened the Gate of Death as soon as he appeared and reached the Six Paths Tier.

Likewise, Black Zetsu had been able to plunge his hand through Six Paths Madara's chest from the start. P.S. Feel free to add more examples.

After all, Six Paths Madara had been at his peak then, and he ranked among the stronger fighters of the Six Paths Tier.

Black Zetsu had caught him off guard, but he had still possessed the ability to kill a Six Paths Tier fighter that way.

Taking care of a Kage Level fighter should pose little problem.

"Does it matter who I am?" Black Zetsu asked in a low voice as he slowly approached Obito Uchiha.

"Obito, all you need to know is that I can help you achieve your dream."

Just then, the rings on his and Obito Uchiha's hands began to glow faintly.

"Heh. It seems Nagato wants to know who I really am too. Fine. I'll tell you both."

Black Zetsu and Obito Uchiha used their rings to cast Demonic Illusion: Mirage and appeared in Amegakure.

In a secret chamber in Amegakure, the members of the Akatsuki Organization appeared one after another through Demonic Illusion: Mirage. Atop the giant fingers, their hazy, dangerous figures took shape.

Deva Path Pain's Rinnegan swept over them without emotion. His cold voice broke the silence. "I've called you here because of the Canopy Screen that recently appeared in the sky."

"Zetsu, you owe us an explanation."

Every gaze settled on Zetsu's pitcher-plant form—some curious, some mocking, some cold, some wild.

White Zetsu's half seemed to shift uneasily, while Black Zetsu's half sank deeper into shadow.

Obito Uchiha stood on the highest finger. Beneath his mask, his Sharingan fixed on Zetsu. His voice was low and forceful.

"Tell us. Was everything on that screen true? Who are you?" A faint tremor crept into his voice.

Black Zetsu knew this was the greatest crisis it had faced in a thousand years of planning.

There was no hiding the truth now. Only a story woven from truth and lies could keep these pawns in place, especially Obito and Nagato.

It gave its distinctive rasping, sinister laugh, breaking the suffocating silence.

"Heh... hahahaha..." Its laughter took on a desolate edge.

"Who would have thought that, after a thousand years, the history Hagoromo deliberately buried would come to light like this!"

Everyone held their breath and listened.

"That's right," Black Zetsu said, its voice slowing and deepening as though it had drifted into a distant memory.

"Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the man the world reveres as the Sage of Six Paths—he is my own elder brother."

"And then there's Hamura. The three of us should have been the closest of brothers."

Hidan's eyes widened at the opening. "Brothers?! A family feud between deities? That's fantastic! Tell us more!"

Kakuzu snorted. "Brothers turning against each other? Some things never change, no matter how long you live."

Deidara said, "Hm? Brothers? That's a rather tired form of art."

Kisame bared his teeth but said nothing. He merely glanced at Obito Uchiha.

Itachi Uchiha's expression remained calm, but the focus of his Sharingan tightened slightly. He was clearly thinking of Sasuke Uchiha, who was still in Konoha.