Chapter 67: Do You Miss Your Mom

The moment the Nine-Tails was released, it let out a furious roar.

Houses collapsed, rubble flew in all directions.

At this most critical and dangerous moment, Shisui Uchiha used his exceptional Body Flicker Technique to escape.

And along the way, he saved Kushina Uzumaki.

—

With the Nine-Tails rampaging, Minato Namikaze had no choice but to hastily imprison Obito.

A dim underground prison.

Obito Uchiha sat on the cold floor, his entire body wrapped in chains.

At that moment, Black Zetsu appeared.

"Oh my, how pitiful! Need some help?"

Obito's eyes snapped open.

"Since you're here, that means the Nine-Tails has been released. Hurry up and free me."

Black Zetsu chuckled darkly.

"Alright, no problem! But seriously, Obito, you really suck. First, you got your ass kicked by Shisui, and now your teacher too."

Extending his hand, Black Zetsu prepared to undo the sealing jutsu on Obito.

"Hey there! Do you miss your mom?"

A voice filled with amusement echoed through the chamber.

Ren Asakura had arrived.

The moment the Nine-Tails broke free, the situation was already beyond Minato's control.

So Ren came to clean up the mess.

"Who's there?!"

Black Zetsu snapped his head around—only to see Ren Asakura smiling at him.

Though he had his suspicions, Black Zetsu still acted casual.

"Oh? Who are you? When did you even get here? I totally didn't see you!"

Ren tilted his head slightly.

"When did I get here? Hmm… probably before you did! But hey, you still haven't answered my question—do you miss your mom, Zetsu?"

Black Zetsu shrugged.

"I was created. I don't have a mother."

Ren's expression shifted into one of mocking disdain.

"If your mom heard that, she'd probably beat you. I mean, how dare you say you don't have a mother?"

Black Zetsu fell silent.

He couldn't figure out what this man was after.

Meanwhile, Obito sat there, utterly confused.

From what he understood, Black Zetsu was a creation of Madara, meant to carry out his will and monitor him.

Ren gazed at the ceiling, staring past layers of walls, through to the moonlit sky.

"I wonder… if Kaguya Ōtsutsuki knew she had such an ungrateful child, would she be crying in her seal right now?"

Black Zetsu's expression changed instantly.

"Who… the hell are you?!"

Ren smiled slightly.

"No one special. But you know what they say—'A child with a mother is a treasure, while a child without one is just a weed.'

"But you? You seem pretty happy for a weed. What's it been, a thousand years? You're literally Hagoromo's brother, yet look at you—getting weaker and weaker over time. You even had to rely on some 14-year-old brat to carry out your 'Save Mommy' plan."

A murderous glint flashed in Black Zetsu's eyes.

He had planned for millennia, and now that the Rinnegan had finally appeared, everything was at its most crucial stage.

He couldn't afford for anyone to interfere.

"How much do you know?!"

Ren pretended to think for a moment.

"Oh, quite a lot. Let's see… You manipulated Madara Uchiha, tricked Obito Uchiha, stirred up the conflict between Ashura and Indra, incited the war between the Senju and Uchiha, altered the Uchiha clan's stone tablet…"

As Ren listed off each of Black Zetsu's sins, even Obito was shocked.

Was this Black Zetsu really that powerful?

Suddenly, countless White Zetsu clones emerged from the walls around them.

But the next moment, they turned to ashes and vanished.

Ren stared at the pile of gray dust.

"Oh? Someone's getting desperate."

His smile widened.

"But hey, I'm a good person. You haven't seen your mom in over a thousand years, right? You must really miss her."

"If you beg me, I'll let you see her."

"That's way better than that whole Infinite Tsukuyomi, Eye of the Moon Plan nonsense you've been working on, don't you think?"

Black Zetsu didn't believe it, and countless wooden spikes emerged from his body.

"Trying to attack me? You know, the last person who tried that… After a little 'gentle persuasion' from me, they became a fine, upstanding person. Wouldn't it be fun if you could become one too?"

Snap.

Ren Asakura snapped his fingers.

Instantly, the White Zetsu clones possessed by Black Zetsu crumbled into ash.

Their life force had been drained away.

"Life force—the essence of existence, the foundation of vitality, longevity, and strength. As the ancient saying goes, 'Living beings are the essence of all things; they may seek the Dao and understand destiny.'"

The path of cultivation is the pursuit of the Dao. Those who attain it become immortals, but in the end, cultivation is just stealing the world's essence to empower oneself.

Humans, as higher lifeforms, hold extremely valuable life force—a precious form of natural energy, capable of rapid cultivation.

Of course, those who use this method of cultivation are typically demonic cultivators.

Ren Asakura wasn't a demonic cultivator, but if he didn't control his absorption, all life energy around him would be completely devoured.

Plants, animals, humans, the very earth itself—nothing would be spared.

That's how the White Zetsu clones died.

Ren didn't need to do anything.

Just one breath, a tiny bit of cultivation, and that was it.

—

With no White Zetsu body to cling to, Black Zetsu reverted into a mass of black liquid.

Within the liquid, a vague outline of a head formed—its empty, hollow eyes staring out.

"So this is your true form? Damn, you're ugly."

"You bastard!"

Black Zetsu tried to flee, but he suddenly realized—he couldn't sink into the ground.

"Trying to run from me? You think too highly of yourself."

"The Shinobi world sure has a lot of messes, but you? You're easily the biggest one in the early story. As for Jigen hiding in the shadows, and the future arrival of the Ōtsutsuki clan… Minato Namikaze can deal with that headache."

Ren Asakura grabbed Black Zetsu by the throat, lifting him into the air.

With his other hand, he casually swiped at the air, and a dimensional rift appeared.

Beyond the rift lay Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, sealed away in eternal slumber.

Ren smirked.

"Damn, she really is beautiful."

Black Zetsu finally saw his long-lost mother.

Tears instantly welled up in his eyes.

He really did miss her.

Ren tightened his grip on Black Zetsu's throat, watching him squirm.

"A thousand years have passed… Seeing your mother again after all this time—aren't you happy?"

Ren's smile carried pure sadistic amusement.

Then, he lowered Black Zetsu toward the dimensional rift.

"No! You can't do this!"

If Ren threw him in, Kaguya would never escape.

A millennium of planning, scheming, and manipulation—all of it would be for nothing.

"Wow, I really am such a good person!"

"You hate me so much. You even tried to attack me. But look at me, being all kind-hearted—helping you fulfill your dream and reuniting you with your dear mother. I can't help but marvel at my own saintly nature!"

Ren's smile was pure joy.

Sometimes, being alive is worse than death.

Because living means struggling, suffering, resisting—and that's what makes it fun.

Pain brings entertainment.

And at Black Zetsu's moment of absolute despair, Ren let go.

The dimensional rift snapped shut.

Black Zetsu and Kaguya were now sealed together forever.

°°°

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