Chapter 396 396: Turtles, Gods, and Firewalls
Just as Black Zetsu was pressuring Karasuki to reveal the location of Ōtsutsuki Shibai's remains—
Kazuki closed his eyes slightly, concentrating as he reached out through his contract with the sea, probing the planet's waters for any unusual regions…
If the remains were truly in the ocean, then as someone who had already become an Ōtsutsuki, Kazuki had no reason to fail in locating what even Ōtsutsuki Isshiki of the original timeline had managed to find.
"So that's where it is…" Kazuki's heart lifted as he sensed the ocean's response.
It was in the territorial waters of the Land of Water, in fact—right near the place he had once been: the Blackwater Nine-Dragon Coffin.
There, a certain region held a strange concentration of chakra.
In the past, when Kazuki had not yet become a pure-blooded Ōtsutsuki, his ability to sense such things wasn't exceptional.
But now, after merging bloodlines from every direction, his perception had become overwhelmingly sharp.
In fact, as he locked onto Shibai's remains, an unfamiliar greed and craving stirred within him—an almost unbearable urge to rush there and devour that supreme existence on the spot…
"What a joke… I'm the one who manipulates others' emotions—no one controls mine."
Kazuki's heart chilled. With sheer willpower and an unshakable mind, he forcibly suppressed the restless heat bubbling up from his blood, cutting off the oceanic contract's resonance with Shibai's remains.
This abnormal reaction confirmed his suspicion—
Powers that transcended dimensions were never easy to obtain.
Whether it was Shibai's remains or Gaia's consciousness, both carried terrifying hazards. If he wanted to claim them, he would have to find a way to avoid those deadly traps.
Otherwise, it was entirely possible that someone else would reap the rewards after all his efforts.
"That's enough, Zetsu. Stop pressuring him," Kazuki said with a wave of his hand, interrupting Black Zetsu as it tried to further intimidate Karasuki. He spoke slowly, "I promised you—after helping me with space-time traversal, I would give you your freedom."
"And I never go back on my word."
With a casual sweep of his arm, a torrent of water surged from the ground like rivers, lakes, and seas combined, instantly wrapping around Karasuki.
"Go on. Find yourself a peaceful place to live. But let me give you this warning: even though you once made your home in the seas of the shinobi world, it'd be best if you left this planet as soon as you can."
"This place will soon erupt into all-out war. And it might even be destroyed entirely… if I lose control."
"In any case… it was good to meet you. I wish you well."
Before the little turtle could say anything in response, the gentle yet swift current swept it away toward the ocean—without even giving it a chance to say goodbye to Kazuki.
...
"How can this be…? He really gave me my freedom?"
"A promise-keeping Ōtsutsuki? Am I dreaming…?"
Carried out into the sea, the little turtle felt dizzy with confusion.
It had always assumed that the best possible fate for itself would be to work under Kazuki for the rest of its life...
And to be honest, Karasuki had already accepted that destiny.
After all, Kazuki was gentle and polite by nature—he wasn't the type to exploit or abuse it. Serving someone like that… wasn't the worst outcome.
But this sudden freedom left Karasuki a little dazed.
It wasn't even sure whether to feel happy—or something else entirely...
...
[From the target Karasuki: You get the technique - Time Travel!]
Time Travel: You have acquired the ability to sense alternate time-spaces. When sufficient time-energy is available, you may actively initiate traversal.
'Got it...'
A quiet laugh rose in Kazuki's heart. 'This little turtle really is too naïve.'
"We let it go, so how are we going to find the Ōtsutsuki god's remains now…"
Black Zetsu looked at Kazuki, bewildered—but as soon as the words left its mouth, it caught itself.
It remembered Kazuki's dōjutsu.
Clearly, this turtle was just one more pitiful creature emotionally manipulated by this wicked elder brother...
"You figured it out, then."
Kazuki, watching Black Zetsu's expression shift from question to realization, gave its shoulder an approving pat.
Good. At least it wasn't completely hopeless.
"I've already located the remains of the Ōtsutsuki god."
Kazuki's tone grew serious as he exhaled slowly: "The real challenge now is how to obtain the power of the Ōtsutsuki god—and Gaia's consciousness."
"To put it bluntly, both of these powers possess sentient awareness. Think of it like your Infinite Tsukuyomi plan—whoever recklessly becomes the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki ends up as nothing more than a vessel to be taken over."
"That's why I need a filter, a firewall—something that can absorb the raw power into my body while keeping the dangerous consciousness out."
Black Zetsu couldn't help but ask, "Then… how exactly do you plan to do that?"
"I've already made the arrangements," Kazuki said flatly.
"Kaguya is the tool I'll use to filter the consciousness from the power."
Black Zetsu's face twisted with rage.
So much for its change of heart toward Kazuki. Looking at him now—he hadn't changed at all!
Still the same treacherous bastard!
To drag Kaguya herself into such a dangerous plan? Unthinkable!
"You… What the hell are you planning, Uchiha Kazuki?!"
Black Zetsu was beside itself with fury. It couldn't wait to hear Kazuki's explanation…
"What I'm doing… Haven't I been telling you this whole time, Zetsu…"
Kazuki cast a calm glance at the suddenly agitated Black Zetsu, his voice as still and placid as an ancient well. "Or did you not understand me before?"
"How could I not understand?! But why the hell are you using Kaguya as the filter?!"
Black Zetsu's features contorted in disbelief—it felt as if Kazuki was toying with it for his own amusement! And all that talk about burning himself to face the enemy, about sacrificing his life to protect Kaguya…
In the end, compared to that unfilial son, the Sage of Six Paths, Kazuki was the one who truly went too far!
At least the Sage of Six Paths had only sealed Kaguya within Chibaku Tensei...
But Kazuki—he was aiming straight for her life!
After learning the terrifying extent of Gaia's consciousness and the power of the Ōtsutsuki God, Black Zetsu dared not imagine what might happen if Kaguya became the filter to bear that consciousness.
Would she go mad? Be possessed?
Whatever the outcome—it would surely be disastrous.
In that instant, an image flashed through Black Zetsu's mind.
Back when it was disguised as Uchiha Madara's creation—a loyal servant at that old man's beck and call—Black Zetsu had maintained a flawless act on the surface, but inwardly, it often entertained sinister fantasies:
The moment that self-proclaimed savior Uchiha Madara became the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki and cast Infinite Tsukuyomi, he'd immediately be used as the medium for Kaguya's resurrection.
At that moment, Madara's smug expression would twist into sheer terror...
Black Zetsu had always found great satisfaction in that image.
That scene—it would be delicious.
But now, after hearing Kazuki's plan, the face that surfaced in its imagination wasn't Madara's anymore.
It was Kaguya's.
That—Black Zetsu simply could not accept!
"Zetsu," Kazuki narrowed his eyes, shaking his head slightly, "I think you've got a bias against me."
"Why do you assume I harbor ill will toward Kaguya?"
"She's important to you—but she's important to me too."
"I would never harm her."
Black Zetsu trembled with rage!
Uchiha Kazuki, you still dare claim you mean no harm to Kaguya?! Look at what you're planning—are you that desperate to see her dead?!
"Calm down and hear me out."
Kazuki slowly walked over to Black Zetsu and placed a hand on its shoulder. "Come, sit."
Though burning with fury, Black Zetsu knew it was powerless to retaliate against someone capable of destroying even an expanded Truth-Seeking Orb. With its tiny body, it could only sit down reluctantly, silently praying in its heart—
Praying Kazuki wasn't an utterly deranged lunatic.
"You think I want to use Kaguya as the filter? I just… have no choice."
A shadow flickered through Kazuki's eyes. "The enemy is too powerful, and I don't have much time left. There's simply no time to build a proper firewall… I can only let Kaguya stand in.
"I admit, there's a gamble in this."
"But I have my reasons. I must do this."
"Even if you and Kaguya can't understand me, I still have to find a way to protect you both…"
"You think—I told you my plan, my abilities—just to amuse myself at your expense?"
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