That torment did not end anytime soon.
Late that night, Kaguya Otsutsuki finally could not bear it any longer.
She rose and left her room.
She went out into the courtyard alone, shutting off both her Byakugan and her sensory abilities.
In the darkness, the cool air inside the pavilion eased some of the heat simmering within her.
She gazed at the bright moon in the sky.
That was where she had spent a very, very long time.
Now, recalling those days, she still felt a little wistful.
"Mother."
Just then, a dark mass appeared before Kaguya Otsutsuki.
"Hmm?"
"You're here?"
A faint smile appeared on Kaguya Otsutsuki's face as she looked at Black Zetsu.
He was the contingency she had left behind in the Shinobi World.
She had never expected that the one who finally freed her from that seal would be the Kage of a village in the Shinobi World.
"Mother, do you need me to return to your body now?"
Black Zetsu lowered his head and spoke slowly.
"No."
"There's no need yet."
"Have you finished what I asked you to do?"
Kaguya Otsutsuki shook her head slightly before speaking slowly.
"It's underway. Everything is proceeding according to plan."
"Konoha's Hokage isn't someone who's easy to deceive. Mother... are you...?"
Black Zetsu looked at Kaguya Otsutsuki with concern.
After all, his mother had little experience with such matters.
Especially after all those years sealed inside the moon, the changes in the world and the many facets of human nature were already beyond what Kaguya Otsutsuki could handle.
Let alone working with a madman like Uchiha Kazama.
There were far too many problems involved.
"I'm not deceiving him."
"I truly want to work with him."
"As for what you're doing, don't tell him until it's completely finished."
"All