Konoha.
The sky was overcast, with a cold rain falling, soaking the dust of the ruins.
A giant crater had appeared in the village, and rubble everywhere.
Ninjas, sweating and exhausted, hurriedly used Earth Style to rescue the wounded. The sounds of agony and weeping never ceased.
In tent after tent, countless villagers and shinobi stared numbly at the ruins that had once been their home.
"How could this happen? We were all just together…"
An old man emerged from a shelter, weeping as he saw the devastation.
In the refugee camp, many villagers silently stared at their bowls of thin porridge.
"Why did so many die? The Hokage is supposed to be the strongest ninja… Why couldn't he protect us?"
"Damn it, the demon fox is a curse. Konoha's disasters never ended after it appeared."
"The demon fox…"
Groups of villagers fell silent. The words "demon fox" now carried a dark, unspoken resentment.
But when they thought of the fox's overwhelming power, all they could do was mutter to themselves—no one dared rebel.
This was peace under the shadow of power.
Meanwhile, in a makeshift hospital…
"Naruto, your body's badly overdrawn. What you need is rest."
"No! I can't rest. When the enemy realizes they were tricked, they'll come back. We have to stop them…"
Naruto climbed down from his bed, exhaustion written all over his face as he gazed at the ruined village.
"Naruto!"
Sakura, his attending physician, sighed tiredly.
"Naruto, I know you're grieving. Boruto is still young—he didn't understand…"
But before she could finish, Naruto cut her off in anger:
"Does being young excuse him for killing villagers? That bastard is no longer a Leaf ninja, nor my son!"
"Spread my orders: Boruto Uzumaki is now an S-rank missing-nin. All shinobi are to capture him on sight. If he resists, break his limbs and bring him back."
"Yes!"
"Naruto!"
Sakura tried to stop him, knowing that being labeled S-rank meant Boruto was doomed.
But Naruto just waved her off, voice cold:
"Sakura, don't say another word. This is the duty of the Hokage!"
With that, Naruto left in silence, dragging his weary body toward the secret meeting room.
"Lord Hokage!"
"Lord Hokage!"
As the ANBU bowed respectfully, Naruto entered the chamber.
Nagato, sealed with a scroll, was inside—only his head was visible. Also present were Kurotsuchi (Fourth Tsuchikage), Darui (Fifth Raikage), Chojuro (Sixth Mizukage), Gaara (Fifth Kazekage), and Kakashi (Sixth Hokage). All were silent.
"Naruto!"
Sasuke, arm reattached, entered and grew serious at Naruto's somber expression.
"Sasuke, everyone, now is not the time to relax. The enemy only captured a shadow clone made from my Nine-Tails chakra. They'll soon realize."
Kakashi nodded gravely.
"Sasuke's right. We can't let the next battle be in Konoha. If we hadn't evacuated, the damage would have been even worse.
And Lady Tsunade never appeared. Something must have happened to her. According to our investigation, there are still enemies in the shadows. Someone saw Boruto with White Zetsu…"
As Kakashi relayed the intel, the others' eyes filled with fear.
White Zetsu!
Proof Kaguya Otsutsuki had truly returned—but she never showed up directly. That was the most terrifying part.
"That's Black Zetsu…"
Naruto gave a bitter smile.
"When we sealed Kaguya in the stone sphere, I sealed Black Zetsu with her. Now he's out for revenge."
Gaara looked worried, but Kurotsuchi, leaning against the wall, frowned and spoke gravely:
"Black Zetsu… We all survived the Fourth Great Ninja War, so we know how dangerous he is. If Kaguya's strength was terrifying, Black Zetsu's cunning is even worse. He manipulated centuries of conflict, even Uchiha Madara. Now he's taking advantage of the chaos. Nagato and Kakuzu appearing, even Boruto—they could all be his doing…"
Everyone fell silent, and Kakashi glanced at Kurotsuchi, surprised she was defending Boruto.
But remembering Boruto was Naruto's only son, Kakashi became more cautious.
"Naruto, Tsuchikage is right. Boruto must've been manipulated. Even someone like Madara was fooled—Boruto's just a child…"
The Kage began to excuse Boruto—partly because of Black Zetsu's manipulation, partly because they feared Naruto's reaction.
After all, Naruto was still the hot-blooded believer he'd always been, but now he had the power to tip the world's balance.
Everyone was wary.
"Kakashi-sensei, Gaara, everyone!"
Seeing them all defend Boruto, Naruto's eyes grew moist, but he soon steeled himself.
"Our top priority is to eliminate Momoshiki, Kinshiki, and the hidden Kaguya. They are the true threat."
Turning to the sealed Nagato, Naruto's face showed shame.
"Nagato, I broke my word. After the war, we were all so happy rebuilding our homes, I forgot my promise to you and Konan…"
Nagato, in his Edo Tensei body, gave a cold smile.
"That's just like you, Naruto. Every time you make a mistake, you just want forgiveness. You never reflect on your faults. If someone disagrees with your ninja way, you just get angry, beat them up, and force your will on them. Isn't that what you're best at? Just like with Sasuke!"
Nagato then glared at Sasuke in frustration:
"Uchiha Sasuke, didn't you vow to change the ninja world? Did your ninja way disappear after Naruto beat you? You've just been influenced by Naruto. Are you still Sasuke Uchiha, or are you Naruto Uchiha?!"
As Nagato roared, Naruto tried to speak, but suddenly, a spectral figure appeared, startling everyone.
"Sage of Six Paths!"
"Old Man Sage!"
As Hagoromo Otsutsuki appeared, everyone cried out in surprise. The Sage stared at Nagato.
"Nagato! Or should I say, Black Zetsu manipulating you—aren't you coming out yet?"
As his voice echoed, a familiar, hoarse laugh sounded.
"Heh, Hagoromo, you noticed after all."
With that laugh, Nagato's Edo Tensei body twisted in pain, turning half-black.
"Naruto, don't be rash. This is just a clone of Black Zetsu."
Seeing Black Zetsu appear, Naruto wanted to attack, but the Sage stopped him.
"Heh, Naruto, don't think this is all my doing. I just told Nagato about the ninja world's development and the Rain Village's current state."
Black Zetsu's mocking smile taunted Naruto.
"Can you honestly say, in front of everyone, that I lied to Nagato?"
Naruto seethed with rage, while Nagato fell silent.
He knew he'd been manipulated, but also that Black Zetsu had told the truth.
"Black Zetsu, with Kaguya free, what exactly do you want?"
The Sage's expression was grim, but Black Zetsu just sneered.
"Hagoromo! All the ninja world's disasters were your doing! 'Child of Destiny Naruto Uzumaki'—all just your scheme! Ashura and Indra, their wills are shaped by you! A thousand years of war, your game…"
"Shut up! Don't talk about the Sage like that!" Naruto shouted, but the Sage simply shook his head.
"You'll never understand me."
Black Zetsu mocked, "Hagoromo, you're just worried about Mother. Well, she's the princess of the Otsutsuki clan. As long as she's here, this planet is safe—it's her private territory. But because of your so-called peace, she lost all hope in this world and left!"
Black Zetsu laughed maniacally. He would spin a massive lie, plunging the world into fear. He wanted Naruto and the Sage to be abandoned by all.
"What?!"
Everyone paled in shock. As ninjas, their minds raced.
The Sage snorted, "Stop trying to mislead them. Didn't Mother create the White Zetsu army to fight the Otsutsuki threat?"
Black Zetsu sneered, "Idiot. Mother, as an Otsutsuki princess, only rebelled because she refused to follow her clan's plans. Otherwise, there would have been centuries of peace!
The real idiots are you all—you believed Hagoromo and sealed away the world's true guardian!"
He glared at Kakashi and the others, cursing:
"Serves you right! After Mother was sealed, she was completely disappointed in this world and chose to return to the Otsutsuki clan.
Now the world has lost its protector, and the Otsutsuki have made it a colony for God Trees. What you're facing is just the beginning."
Black Zetsu looked at Naruto and laughed:
"Naruto Uzumaki, didn't you say that as long as everyone trusts each other, there will be peace? Well, show me.
You're facing only two Otsutsuki now—but there are more in the universe. Defeat two, and more will come. How many can you defeat? And all this disaster happened because of you! You made Mother give up on this world!"
Black Zetsu's triumphant laughter echoed. The lie perfectly fits the facts.
After all, while Kaguya was around, the world hadn't faced the Otsutsuki invasion. When she disappeared, they came. It was a perfect loop.
The Otsutsuki princess, losing hope, abandoned the world. Without her protection, the world became prey.
"Impossible! Who can prove your story? Don't believe him!"
Kurotsuchi shouted angrily. Black Zetsu just laughed:
"Do I need you to believe it? I just want you to feel endless regret. When you realize that defeating one Otsutsuki only brings more, you'll live in remorse for everything you did. I'll be watching…"
The Sage's face darkened as he stared Black Zetsu down, trying to spot the trick. But his mind buzzed.
Could it all be true? The Otsutsuki invasion, an endless disaster!
The Sage trembled. Had everything he'd done for a thousand years been a joke?
"Naruto! Don't believe him."
The Sage finally spoke calmly, as if to assure everyone he'd seen through the plot.
Naruto also shouted furiously:
"Old Man Sage, don't worry. There's no way I'd believe Black Zetsu. I know we can defeat our enemies!"
"Haha, I'll look forward to it."
Black Zetsu laughed coldly.
"Only by defeating the current enemies will you see more Otsutsuki arrive. Then you'll know what disaster you've brought to the world, hahaha…!"
As he laughed, Nagato's Edo Tensei body collapsed, leaving only Black Zetsu's meaningful smile.