Chapter 401: Chapter 401: Kurama: In this novel, I’m the main character... at least that’s what the author
says
"We lost?" Kurama froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Are you crazy? Or do you think you alone can kill all three of us? Or launch the Infinite Tsukuyomi?"
How confident did someone have to be to say something like that?
Madara lowered his hand and let out a short hum. "Haven’t you noticed yet? Indeed, that guy’s hidden ability is troublesome, even for those of us with the power of the Sage of Six Paths."
Kurama’s laughter stopped cold.
"Black Zetsu?" Naruto said in surprise.
In this world, the only hidden ability that could trouble even the power of the Six Paths belonged to no one else but Black Zetsu.
Sasuke clearly thought of the same thing. His Rinnegan with tomoe gave off a faint glow as his eyes swept the area, trying to find traces of Black Zetsu. At close range, his tomoe Rinnegan could pick up details more precisely than Naruto or Kurama’s sensing.
But a moment later, Sasuke frowned. "No trace of Black Zetsu."
Even if it were Black Zetsu, if he was close enough, there was no way Sasuke’s Rinnegan would miss him. Otherwise, why wouldn’t Black Zetsu dare appear near the Sage of Six Paths?
Madara gave a short, mocking laugh. "Of course you can’t sense him. If it weren’t for the Ten-Tails, I wouldn’t have known that guy had already gotten this close."
"What did you say?" Naruto fully expanded his sensory field, covering everything around them, even picking up chakra reactions from the Land of Lightning. But there was still no sign of Black Zetsu—not even the faintest trace.
Sasuke couldn’t find him either.
Was Madara just trying to scare them?
No—Madara wasn’t that kind of person.
While the two were still puzzled, Kurama suddenly grinned, his face growing serious. "Madara, don’t tell me... Black Zetsu is inside you?"
"So you guessed it?" Madara laughed. "As I thought, there’s something strange about you. I’ve always wondered—how do you know so much? About me, the Otsutsuki, and Black Zetsu—you know more than the legends that were passed down. Some of what you know... you learned before you were even born."
"Can you answer me that?" Madara lowered his staff and looked at Kurama with curiosity.
Kurama stayed silent, staring at Madara without a word.
Naruto and Sasuke glanced at each other, both seeing the same confusion in the other’s eyes. What did Kurama mean just now by ’Black Zetsu is inside Madara’?
But... the silence didn’t last long before Kurama spoke again. "Black Zetsu was born from Kaguya—he can be considered her third child. The power that created him came from the Ten-Tails, or more precisely, from the chakra fruit Kaguya consumed. That’s why Black Zetsu and the Ten-Tails are connected to some degree."
This was also why Black Zetsu could control the White Zetsu left inside the Ten-Tails by Kaguya. Similarly, he could do what White Zetsu could—merge into the Ten-Tails’ body.
"That guy took advantage of the fact that all three of us were focused on the Ten-Tails, avoided Sakura’s sensing range, slipped underground into the Ten-Tails, and with the help of the Izanagi just now, returned to Madara’s body along with it."
Kurama took a deep breath and continued. "The Six Paths body, the Ten-Tails, the Rinnegan, and now the final piece—you’ve got them all. But like I said, do you really think we’d give you the chance to cast Infinite Tsukuyomi?"
"Avoiding my question, huh?" Madara frowned slightly. "But fine. Since you want to know, answer my question and I’ll tell you why."
Kurama narrowed his eyes. "You’re... stalling for time?"
"No. The Ten-Tails has been ready for a while." Madara shrugged casually. "I just want the answer to my question before the final stage."
"Is that so..." Kurama seemed to realize something. He stopped being wary and instead looked at Madara with a relaxed tone. "Do you believe... there’s another world?"
Madara narrowed his eyes but didn’t answer right away.
Kurama went on, "Another world, one without chakra, where an individual’s strength isn’t even equal to a regular genin in the ninja world. That world reached a strange turning point and became obsessed with entertainment. During that time, many interesting things were created."
"Games, TV dramas, music, variety shows, even all kinds of amazing skills as tricky as flicking a lighter. And among these, some things were developed and spread worldwide by a single country." Kurama grinned. "One of them was—manga and anime."
"Of course, that’s not the main point. The point is, among them there was a manga called Naruto, which literally translates to The Tale of Naruto."
Naruto’s mouth fell open. Sasuke looked at Naruto with a dazed expression, speaking in confusion, "Kurama... you’re not saying that The Tale of Naruto is... about this Naruto, are you?"
"That’s right." Kurama nodded. "From the very start with the Nine-Tails’ attack, all the way to the final battle between Naruto and Sasuke at the Valley of the End, and even the later side stories—every character and event was exactly the same as what you all actually went through. And I... have those memories."
"So I know a lot. I know what you’re trying to do, why you’re doing it, and... everyone’s story. I know it all."
Kurama’s smile turned strangely amused. "In fact, if I hadn’t gotten these memories, based on what I know about you all, the story would have played out exactly the same as that manga—including the ending. The Naruto–Sasuke battle would’ve been the same too."
"W–wait!" Before Madara could speak, Naruto jumped in. "When you say Naruto–Sasuke battle, you mean the fight between me and Sasuke, right?"
"Was there anything I said that you couldn’t understand?" Kurama shot back.
Naruto was at a loss for words.
Sasuke lowered his head in thought, then after a while looked back up at Naruto. "If... if during the Chunin Exams you hadn’t gotten Kurama’s help, and hadn’t said those things to me, maybe... I really would have gone with the Sound Four to Orochimaru."
"And if that had happened..." Sasuke turned to Kurama.
He knew better than anyone how his heart had changed. From the moment he and Naruto acknowledged each other during the Chunin Exams, much of his hatred had been pushed down. At least, as Naruto had said, he wouldn’t have thrown himself away for Orochimaru’s sake.
But if the Chunin Exams had gone differently, maybe... no, for sure he would have chosen Orochimaru.
"That’s right—you defected," Kurama said with a smile to Sasuke. "Then Naruto chased after you step by step. He got targeted by the Akatsuki, triggering the Hayate arc. As he learned the truth, he kept getting stronger. After you two sealed Kaguya together, you fought at the Valley of the End and both were left badly injured."
"Then Naruto talked you into coming back to the Leaf, and you set out on a journey to atone. That was the original plot. Interesting, isn’t it?" Kurama spread his hands, grinning.
"What’s so interesting about that..." Naruto stared at Kurama, stunned.
He had always thought Kurama was joking when he said he had memories of another world. But... it was true?
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