Escalation

In the jungle, under the shroud of night and a gentle drizzle, Black Zetsu and Naruto faced each other.

Black Zetsu remained silent for a prolonged moment, deeply shaken by the revelations brought forth by Naruto. Did Naruto truly possess knowledge of all the hidden truths, even the secrets surrounding Infinite Tsukuyomi, the prophecy of Madara's demise, and the eventual resurrection of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya?

It was clear that Naruto had unraveled the mysteries surrounding Black Zetsu's true origins. He was not merely the will of Uchiha Madara, as many believed, but rather, a creation born from Kaguya's last remnants of will before her sealing. He was Kaguya's will incarnate, her offspring.

Black Zetsu gazed upon Naruto, who seemed far from indifferent, his suspicions lingering. "If you know all this, why do you offer to assist me?" Black Zetsu questioned, abandoning the pretense of secrecy. "You should be aware that to enact the Infinite Tsukuyomi, one must first resurrect the Ten Tails. To do so, the power of the Nine-Tails is required. As the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, you will inevitably perish."

This revelation was delivered with an air of finality, a test of Naruto's resolve. Black Zetsu scrutinized Naruto's reaction, watching for any subtle shifts in his demeanor.

Naruto had foreseen this question and had prepared his response. Without hesitation, he replied, "There's one thing I neglected to mention. I only possess half of the Nine-Tails' chakra. The other half was sealed within my father and remains in another location. To resurrect the Ten Tails, I don't require the entire Nine-Tails, merely half is sufficient. And if that's not enough, I can supplement it with other sources. I've already devised a plan for this."

Indeed, Naruto had formulated a strategy. For instance, he had considered the Golden and Silver Horns of Cloud Village. The two brothers had once harbored Nine-Tails' chakra for reasons unknown.

In essence, by resurrecting these long-deceased siblings through Impure World Reincarnation, the Nine-Tails' chakra from them, combined with half of Kurama's essence, would prove adequate.

"Therefore, I won't have to sacrifice my life to witness Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's revival," Naruto declared with unwavering resolve. "Once Infinite Tsukuyomi is cast, it will bring peace to the ninja world."

Black Zetsu, however, was skeptical of Naruto's altruism. "But what will you gain from this?" he inquired, his disbelief evident.

Naruto maintained a cheerful smile as he spoke, his words laced with bitterness and resentment: "Destroying the shinobi world would be the ultimate reward for me. My parents sacrificed themselves for the village, yet I was met with isolation and hostility. In the end, I was forced to turn my back on the village. The world, it's all just a cesspool of pain."

He was playing a character consumed by hatred and darkness, echoing the sentiments of Obito in order to trick Black Zetsu.

This portrayal left Black Zetsu contemplating Naruto's sincerity. Was he to be believed?

"And who else do you have but me?" Naruto continued confidently. "Refuse to trust me, and I'll expose all your secrets, from your vulnerabilities to the deeds of Uchiha Madara. Everything you've worked for will crumble."

"In truth, you have no choice but to trust me. I've kept your secrets from everyone, even Nagato and Konan. We can even utilize Nagato's abilities to resurrect Uchiha Madara, just as I mentioned."

Naruto's bluff was calculated to the last detail. He hadn't disclosed anything to Nagato and Konan, not even the eventual outcome.

What Black Zetsu hadn't anticipated was Naruto's ability to rally Nagato and Konan to his cause.

Furthermore, Naruto held a significant advantage: his backstory.

If Black Zetsu delved into his origins, he'd discover the reasons for his bitterness and betrayal of the village, making it more plausible for him to incite global anger.

And yet, Obito was gone.

Moreover, Naruto held the narrative advantage. Whether true or false, he possessed knowledge of everything.

It was a delicate balance.

"And isn't hatred the most potent catalyst for darkness?" Naruto's voice rose with excitement. "Isn't that what you exploited with Obito? Why not join forces with me now? It's a better alternative to Obito's path. I refuse to become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, and I won't initiate the Infinite Tsukuyomi alone. Let's unite, resurrect Madara, and end him once and for all."

Naruto's fervor grew with each word, his eyes gleaming with determination.

Black Zetsu stared at him, aghast. Fortunately, his ebony complexion concealed his speechless expression.

Living, Naruto possessed a profound understanding of all the secrets at play. How he managed to bear the weight of such knowledge was a mystery to many. Black Zetsu, even in the midst of their discussions and seemingly aligned plans, harbored a suspicion that this young ninja held more darkness within than even himself.

"I find it hard to believe you," Black Zetsu retorted skeptically, unswayed by Naruto's words.

Nonchalantly, Naruto shrugged, "Even if I were to swear an unbreakable oath to serve you faithfully until Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's resurrection, would that ease your doubts?"

"Humph," Black Zetsu snorted dismissively, maintaining his skepticism.

"Then prepare to meet your end," Naruto's demeanor shifted abruptly. His once amiable expression turned icy and merciless, his eyes now radiating a lethal intent. A pair of sharp, pointed horns emerged from Naruto's head, and his short yellow hair transformed into white silver. Six black Truth-Seeking Balls revolved around him.

With swift movements, Naruto conjured two Truth-Seeking Balls into his hands, shaping them into slender black sticks. Without hesitation, he lunged at Black Zetsu, hands outstretched.

Black Zetsu was caught off guard. Weren't they just in the midst of a conversation? How did it escalate to a confrontation so rapidly?

His eyes twitched with uncertainty. Little did he know that Naruto possessed the power of the Six Paths, and the formidable Truth-Seeking Balls. Considering Black Zetsu's enigmatic creation, there lingered a doubt whether he was formed by Ōtsutsuki Kaguya using materials akin to Truth-Seeking Ball.

Regardless, Naruto had resolved to eliminate Black Zetsu in case of conflict, making Truth-Seeking Ball the optimal choice. Its power could obliterate not just the body but the very soul.

"If cooperation isn't an option, then embrace your demise," Naruto declared resolutely as the confrontation unfolded.

.....

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