Chapter 195

After a few simple attempts, Black Zetsu grasped the knack of communicating with this strange system, realizing it was linked to his own barren and dark mental world.

So, he only needed to converse with it from within.

'System, who exactly created you?'

"The universe, though vast, has been conscious since its inception 15 billion years ago. The system is a fragment of that cosmic consciousness."

'The universe...consciousness?'

"You could call it justice."

Justice? Hearing this, Black Zetsu felt the system might have chosen the wrong person. He had nothing to do with that word!

"The will of the universe recognized Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's righteous heart. Her nearly cold-hearted compassion and sense of justice are the only hopes for the universe's survival!"

'What?!' Black Zetsu was shocked. Even as his mother's will, he hadn't known she possessed such qualities!

However, thinking back, Black Zetsu pondered the system's question before binding with him, asking if his mother was wrong. Was there another meaning to that question?

'System, was there a deeper meaning to your question about my mother's actions?'

"From the perspective of the long history of humanity and even the universe, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki represents unwavering justice."

Black Zetsu was astonished again. From the grand, infinite cosmos' viewpoint, his mother was the embodiment of justice!

'Quick! Tell me more!'

"The Ōtsutsuki clan hails from a planet far from Earth, revering power. They plant God Trees on various life-sustaining planets across the universe, extracting life to create chakra fruits."

"They consume planet after planet, creating the chakra fruits they need. Their actions disrupt the universe's balance until no life-bearing planets remain. They call it the 'God-Making Plan,' using the universe's resources to create an unprecedentedly powerful god."

"The Ōtsutsuki clan is plagued by internal strife, with everyone vying to become the ultimate god. They show no mercy, even absorbing their kin to gain strength, which has become commonplace."

"The higher-ups command the Ōtsutsuki to operate in pairs across the universe, collecting chakra fruits for themselves. Your mother was one such member."

'I see...'

Black Zetsu realized, though he was born from Kaguya's will and Yin-Yang Release, he knew little of such secrets, only that his mother came from a faraway place.

"The reason the Ōtsutsuki operate in pairs is because to harvest chakra fruits from the God Tree, one Ōtsutsuki must be sacrificed. Your mother was originally meant to be the sacrificial Ōtsutsuki, being of lower status compared to her partner."

'What?!'

Black Zetsu was shocked again but quickly deduced that since his mother survived and consumed the chakra fruit, it meant she defeated the one who intended to sacrifice her! His mother was indeed formidable!

"The Ōtsutsuki paired with Kaguya, Isshiki Ōtsutsuki, was defeated by her but used a secret technique to escape and is currently hiding in the ninja world, waiting for an opportunity."

Black Zetsu was speechless. This news was explosive! He hadn't realized there was an even craftier Ōtsutsuki hiding in the world! You truly are a cunning one, Isshiki Ōtsutsuki!

"Additionally, the higher-ups who sent Kaguya and Isshiki will arrive on Earth in a few decades. Without Kaguya's power, the Earth will be doomed."

'Mother will defeat them all!'

"Kaguya's power is essential. Moreover, due to the thousand-year war and the escalating spiral of hatred among ninjas, the seal on the world's evil, which was sealed six thousand years ago, has loosened and it has now emerged."

'The world's evil?' Black Zetsu heard a new term.

"The embodiment of human malice in the ninja world, Angra Mainyu."

'System, where is he? I'll send the Akatsuki to eliminate him! I won't let anything threaten my mother!'

"Evil, or human desire, cannot be eradicated. The ancient seal has failed, and the techniques of jutsu and sealing have faded over time..."

'So as long as humans exist, he cannot be completely killed? The only solution is sealing him again, then.'

Black Zetsu pondered and came to this conclusion.

"Angra Mainyu's emergence is a result of Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki giving chakra to ordinary people. Without his actions, this world wouldn't have such overwhelming hatred."

'Curse that Hagoromo!!'

Black Zetsu gritted his teeth in anger, wishing he could tear the Sage of Six Paths apart, conveniently ignoring his own role in altering the stone tablet, which had also contributed to the chaos.

Of course, to Shinji (the system), it didn't matter whether Black Zetsu altered the stone tablet or not. The world would still be chaotic at this stage, even without his interference. The Warring States period would still happen, perhaps even more fiercely.

Curiosity, flaws, greed, desire—these are unchanging aspects of humanity.

You think writing about Sharingan and dissatisfaction on a stone tablet would work? No, it wouldn't. There will always be curious individuals who do the opposite. That's human nature.

"Conversely, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, betrayed by humanity but still loving and protecting them, aligns more with cosmic justice. Sacrificing a few ordinary lives annually actually preserved the majority.

Sacrificing a few to save many is justice. If Kaguya's method had continued to this day, Angra Mainyu would never have emerged. The number of voluntary sacrifices for justice would have been far fewer than the casualties from a thousand years of war."

Black Zetsu was speechless. His mother, it turned out, was the true protector of humanity, the embodiment of justice! His mother was the epitome of righteousness!

Hagoromo and Hamura were the true villains!

Instantly, Black Zetsu's admiration for his mother grew even more profound, while he cursed Hagoromo and Hamura internally.

"Now, Black Zetsu, as Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's offspring, will you carry on her will?"

'Of course!'

Thus, Black Zetsu, determined to save and protect his mother, opened the beginner's gift pack.

Inside was a real, tangible body and identity created by the system, something that didn't exist in this world!

The name was: Kōgetsuki Chloe!

…

Lying on the small bed, Chloe thought about recent events and felt emotional. Gaining the system and a real body, even the mud had become his clone.

The sudden changes left him unsure what to say, but he was determined to work hard, accumulate reputation points, grow stronger, and rescue his mother to maintain true justice together!

Such a convenient thing, if only you'd given it to me sooner! Did I really need to hide in the shadows for a thousand years? With my intelligence, I would've already maxed out the top-tier Ōtsutsuki set, rescued my mother, and defeated the enemies effortlessly.

"Chloe, it's time for dinner."

A woman's voice came from outside the door. Chloe closed his book and got off the bed.

Having thoroughly read the book, Chloe knew what to do and what expressions to show to the visitor. To earn reputation points, similar to gaining favor, he needed to act like the Third Hokage—a great benefactor!

For Black Zetsu, who had been scheming in the shadows for a thousand years, this was somewhat unfamiliar. But with the system's guidance, he had a good idea of what to do.

"I'm coming, Sister Nonou—"

Chloe opened the door and greeted the visitor, his clean, determined face instantly capturing Nonou Yakushi's heart.

She had heard about the child's tragic story from the Hokage, but she didn't expect him to be so strong. She felt she could see the spirit of a certain Hokage from a year ago in his face!

The same determination, sunshine, handsomeness, and cleanliness! And… those blue eyes!

"Come, Chloe, from today, we are all family. Let me introduce you to your companions."

"Mm!" Chloe nodded firmly. Although he didn't care about these people, he would endure for the sake of reputation points.

When it comes to endurance, who in this ninja world could surpass him? Impossible.

What? Isshiki Ōtsutsuki? He's nothing!

…

While Chloe was making friends with his orphanage companions, his "grandfather" Shinji was crossing the sea to the border of the Land of Hot Water.

He didn't choose to enter the Land of Fire along the border out of caution but simply to train himself.

He also received a beginner's gift pack, which doubled his cell count, making his familiar body feel strange.

Spending half a month preparing in a remote, uninhabited forest on the other side of the planet, he then took a month to sail and swim across the sea, adapting to his new body.

Now, it was time to put it to use.

Shinji, having landed, calculated his swimming speed, which had more than doubled, reaching an astonishing 90 kilometers per hour!

"Chakra extraction, tree climbing, and water walking are all proficient. What remains are the jutsus? I've only learned the Rasengan, which feels a bit inadequate…"

Before he could finish, he heard a friendly, soothing voice.

"Sir, would you like a meal or a room? We also have hot springs~"

Seeing the two girls waving at him, too poor to afford long pants in the cold weather, Shinji immediately abandoned his previous thoughts and goals. His helpful nature took over!

With double the cells, he could feel double the cold…ahem, he could surely feel twice the warmth!

"Ladies, let me warm you up!"

Kōgetsuki Chloe's name actually contains a pun, referencing the Kōzuki Clan from a certain pirate series related to historical texts.

The surname Kōgetsuki hints at Kaguya, and Chloe signifies Black, making up for the regrets of a certain small black character in another world.

How many of you caught this? Raise your hand.