After having such a heart-to-heart conversation with Aomi, the worries that Black Zetsu harbored in the past nearly vanished entirely. It no longer stood in opposition to Aomi; instead, they became like brothers fighting side by side in the same trench.
There was a certain beauty in this bond of recognition.
"I haven't told Kaguya about my identity, Zetsu..."
Aomi said softly, "Remember, you don't know me. You only sought me out to rescue Uchiha Obito and had to betray Kaguya. That's your role."
"Just improvise when it comes to specifics."
Black Zetsu nodded gently.
Why didn't Aomi tell Kaguya about his identity? Black Zetsu wasn't concerned...
Since Aomi had explained his logic and future plans so clearly, nitpicking these trivial matters would only cause annoyance.
After all, it was merely part of the plan.
And as for freely acting to deceive Kaguya, although Black Zetsu had some mental barriers, the actual difficulty was surprisingly low.
To be honest, deceiving Kaguya was even easier than deceiving those self-assumed reincarnations of Indra...
"Alright, Zetsu, gather your emotions."
Aomi slowly closed his eyes and said softly, "When I open my eyes, Kaguya will be observing our conversation, and that will mark the start of the main topic."
"By the way, you don't need to worry about Obito... I know he's the ninja you've chosen, and I won't let Isshiki do anything to him..."
"My Chakra is protecting Obito."
Black Zetsu felt a warmth in his heart.
Actually, it always wanted to ask whether Obito was safe... but Aomi was talking about significant matters like planetary consciousness and the God of Otsutsuki.
These things involved Kaguya's safety and absurdly high levels of strength.
Bringing up things about Obito and its own issues felt like trivial matters...
But Aomi still thoughtfully reassured Black Zetsu.
"Don't worry, brother, I know what I have to do!" Black Zetsu responded firmly, imagining its character in its mind and began to compose the script that would cause Kaguya's heart to collapse.
And at this moment, Black Zetsu, who initially felt conflicted, was surprised to discover—
It thought it would be difficult to adopt this emotion, but executing it seemed unchallenging, smoothly coming up with many ideas...
Could it really be that deep down inside, it had thoughts of abandoning Kaguya to save Obito?
Otherwise...
How could its thinking be so agile?
Black Zetsu stole a glance at the solemn Aomi standing with closed eyes, and a sense of guilt washed over it.
Believing Aomi to be disloyal, it turned out that Aomi was the most loyal to Kaguya, willing to sacrifice himself to protect her despite surpassing the ordinary Otsutsuki level in cultivation.
Yet it was the self-proclaimed loyal one, who, due to the bond with Obito, seemed to have long harbored some unhealthy ideas...
"I deserve to die..." Black Zetsu cursed itself internally and sighed helplessly.
However, even so...
Black Zetsu had to admit, it absolutely couldn't bear to watch Obito sacrifice himself...
Despite the strangeness of this relationship, to Black Zetsu, it was significant.
Significant enough to determine whether it could exist as an independent "person," rather than as a mere empty shell of a creation in the world.
Within Aomi's body.
Kaguya sat dejectedly on the ground, wandering in a space of darkness.
Since she had been exposed for previously deceiving Aomi...
There were times when Aomi would retract her privileges, not allowing her to share his vision. Though not completely sealed like in Chibaku Tensei, it was an agony for Kaguya who had gotten used to freedom.
It was an inner torment as well.
Kaguya desperately hoped to clear things up with Aomi...
The misunderstandings between her and Aomi still had a chance to be resolved... In Kaguya's view, it might be because Aomi, using Dojutsu, absorbed too much of the Otsutsuki Chakra, causing this...
The Chakra not only harnessed power but also carried consciousness.
This was why the core of the Otsutsuki was the "Wedge."
Aomi, who absorbed the Chakras of several Otsutsuki, perhaps couldn't handle such power for a while, causing his usually gentle personality to become extreme...
"If I gave all my power to Aomi, maybe I could help him stabilize the Otsutsuki Bloodline and Chakra within him, allowing him to find the gentle self again..."
Kaguya murmured to herself in the dark, "I will apologize to Aomi... I didn't deceive him intentionally. How could I have known he was special to me upon first meeting..."
"I have to let Aomi rebuild his trust in loyalty."
Black Zetsu's image crossed Kaguya's mind.
Ironically, since Kaguya came into Aomi's body, experiencing a sense of tenderness, she had actually forgotten about Black Zetsu for a long time...
After all, Black Zetsu was nominally Kaguya's third son.
But it was only a body of incomplete nature compared to the children like Otsutsuki Hamura and Hagoromo who inherited power.
To put it harshly, calling Black Zetsu merely a Yang Release creation, a puppet, wasn't inaccurate.
But after the incident, Kaguya finally remembered her loyal Black Zetsu.
It seemed that only Black Zetsu could prove to Aomi that loyalty existed... After all, toiling for millennia to resurrect her should be a persuasive example, right?
On the battlefield, Kaguya saw Obito, whom Black Zetsu was possessing.
This showed that Black Zetsu had always been trying, just limited by its abilities, without achieving significant results...
While Kaguya was deep in thought.
The dark space she had become somewhat accustomed to began to shine.
Aomi slowly appeared in front of her, gazing at her with an inexplicable expression.
Kaguya stared dazedly at the Aomi before her.
Both of their Rinnegans met, the ripple-like waves of fluctuation, yet neither spoke.
In that long-planned moment, upon seeing Aomi, whom she had longed for day and night, she didn't know what to say to make it most appropriate.
Kaguya felt that she and Aomi seemed to have become the most familiar strangers.
"Kaguya, the Zetsu you mentioned, found me..."
Aomi looked at the somewhat haggard Kaguya, a fragmented and playful smile tugged at the corner of his mouth: "It seems like it wants to show me the so-called loyalty you spoke of..."
"Would you like to listen together?"
Kaguya's heart trembled; Black Zetsu actually found Aomi? It actually found Aomi?
Kaguya was originally thinking about how to make Aomi find Black Zetsu...
Her seemingly worthless third son actually had such a skill, taking the initiative to come over!
"Of course, of course!"
Kaguya nodded eagerly: "Aomi, believe me, Black Zetsu can prove to you that there is loyalty in people's hearts..."
"Alright." Aomi nodded succinctly, walked to Kaguya's side after a long absence, and waved.
At that moment.
Kaguya and Black Zetsu, separated for millennia, finally met again.
Kaguya, suppressing her excited heart, discreetly stole several glances at Aomi...
If she could get through this, Aomi might stand by her side as before, never leaving.
Kaguya took a deep breath, focusing intently on Black Zetsu in front of her, full of anticipation in her heart.
Come on, Zetsu!
Prove to Aomi how loyal you are to me...
If you do, not only can we reunite happily, but you also gain another family member!
And in Black Zetsu's perspective.
When Aomi opened his eyes, Black Zetsu's heart suddenly trembled, instantly entering combat mode!
It knew.
Now, it wasn't only Aomi watching, but Kaguya as well...
This was a historic moment.
While Aomi observed Black Zetsu playfully, he was also anticipating how Black Zetsu would perform...
"Lord Aomi, I beg you..."
Black Zetsu slowly knelt down, bowing to the ground!
"I will give my all... I can help you grasp the power of Otsutsuki Kaguya! I just hope you... I just hope you let Uchiha Obito live..."
After speaking, Black Zetsu raised its head earnestly, tears glistening in its eyes, its expression twisted as if under Kamui, as though it had endured great inner torment just to say these words.
Just one expression, yet enough for people to savor for a while.
"Truly an old hand at acting..." Even Aomi was slightly shocked by Black Zetsu's performance.
Kaguya's eyes instantly lost focus.
A moment later, her white hair furiously moved as she screamed in rage, "Zetsu! I... I'll kill you!!"