On the way to the moon.
Genya walked ahead, hands in his pockets, his pace leisurely, as though he were out for a picnic.
Hashirama followed beside him, hands behind his back, looking around with curiosity at everything.
Black Zetsu brought up the rear, filled with an urgency he had suppressed for a thousand years and could finally release.
Genya suddenly slowed and glanced sideways at Black Zetsu.
"Black Zetsu, once Kaguya gets out, you aren't going to trick your mom into beating us up, are you?"
Black Zetsu stiffened. His steps faltered before he caught up again.
His voice sounded hesitant.
"Of course not... Genya, Mom will still need you to deal with her enemies in the future."
Genya nodded, his lips curving slightly.
"Good, then. Why make resurrecting your mom so complicated? Tricking Madara, tricking Obito, setting up all those schemes, lying low for over a thousand years. You should've come to Konoha and found me. I would've taken you straight there."
Black Zetsu froze.
He hovered in place, staring at Genya's languid face. His mouth opened, closed, then opened again.
He had calculated every possibility, accounted for everything under heaven, and plotted across every corner of the shinobi world. The one thing he hadn't accounted for was a kid turning up in Konoha who knew the whole truth.
"Uh... who could've known? Who could've known you knew so much?"
Black Zetsu's voice was a little strained.
"You never said anything."
Genya shrugged.
"You never asked."
Black Zetsu was speechless.
The three continued until they reached a cliff.
A waterfall cascaded down from above with a thunderous roar, its white mist forming a faint rainbow in the sunlight.
Black Zetsu looked at the waterfall, then surveyed the surrounding terrain, his voice full of doubt.
"Are you sure this