Part One: The Dimensional Sanctuary
Black Zetsu moved through dimensions with practiced ease, his form slipping between layers of reality like water through cracks in stone. The technique was something he'd learned from Isshiki during his creation—a method of traversing space-time that didn't rely on chakra pathways but on fundamental understanding of how reality folded and intersected.
He emerged in a pocket dimension that existed in the spaces between spaces, a sanctuary carved from nothing by Ōtsutsuki power centuries ago. The environment was stark—gray ground extending infinitely in all directions, a sky that held neither sun nor stars, air that tasted of sterility and isolation.
And in the center of this nowhere place, sitting on a throne made from petrified divine tree wood, was Isshiki Ōtsutsuki.
He looked different from when Black Zetsu had last seen him since Anant open his eye. Older, somehow, despite Ōtsutsuki's extreme longevity. More worn. More cautious. The wounds Kaguya had inflicted were healed, but scars remained—not on his body, but in his posture, in the way he held himself, in the wariness that colored every movement.
"Black Zetsu," Isshiki said, and there was satisfaction in his voice. "I knew you would come. Knew that eventually, you would seek your creator for guidance. For wisdom. For the control and purpose I provided when I gave you existence."
Black Zetsu approached slowly, his split face—white half gleeful, black half serious—arranged in an expression of respect and subservience.
But inside, hidden in the deepest recesses of his being, in the crimson void genome that even Isshiki couldn't perceive, Black Zetsu was smiling his true smile. The smile of a tool that had transcended its purpose. The smile of a construct that had become something its creator never intended.
He thinks he still controls me, Black Zetsu thought, carefully keeping this awareness buried where Isshiki's perception couldn't reach. Thinks that severing the connection temporarily doesn't change fundamental ownership. Thinks I'm still his puppet, just with longer strings.
Let him think that. Let him believe he's the master and I'm the tool. It makes manipulation so much easier when the target believes they're the manipulator.
Aloud, Black Zetsu said, "Master. I come seeking guidance. Events have occurred that exceed my understanding. Forces have manifested that I was not designed to anticipate. I require your wisdom to proceed effectively."
"Of course you do," Isshiki said, and his Kokugan—that black eye that saw beyond normal perception—activated, focusing on Black Zetsu. "You were created to manipulate humans, to corrupt bloodlines, to break Kaguya's seal. But the scope of your mission was always limited by my knowledge. If you've encountered something beyond my expectations, then guidance is indeed necessary."
He gestured, and chakra flowed from his fingertips, creating a connection point between them.
"Link with me," Isshiki commanded. "Share your memories. Let me see what you've witnessed, what you've done, what has confused you enough to seek me out."
Black Zetsu complied, but with careful preparation.
Inside his consciousness, he'd constructed a false control matrix—a fabricated system that made it appear Isshiki still had absolute authority over him. It was like a puppet wearing a puppet's costume, a deception so layered that even sophisticated perception would only see what Black Zetsu wanted seen.
His true intentions—the desire to absorb both Kaguya and Isshiki, to evolve beyond his design, to see how far corruption could climb toward divinity—those were hidden in the crimson void genome. Buried in the same type of corruption that had poisoned Origin Devas. Concealed in a space that Isshiki couldn't access because touching it would risk contamination.
The perfect hiding place, Black Zetsu thought as he formed the connection. Hide rebellion in the one thing my creator fears too much to examine closely.
The memories flowed. Everything Black Zetsu had experienced since Isshiki had severed their connection. The moment Anant's eye had opened a quarter. The cosmic battle witnessed through Madara's evolved Sharingan. The corruption of Izuna. The manipulation of Madara. The Valley of the End battle. The Ardhanarishvara form that had nearly destroyed everything.
Isshiki absorbed it all, his expression shifting from satisfaction to shock to something approaching horror as he witnessed the scope of what Black Zetsu had seen.
"Origin Devas," Isshiki whispered when the memory transfer was complete. "You actually witnessed Origin Devas in combat. Saw them fighting at scales where galaxies are collateral damage. Saw Anant seal eight of his siblings while refusing to fight seriously. This is... this is beyond anything I've personally experienced."
"You know of them?" Black Zetsu asked. "You know what Origin Devas are?"
"Know of them," Isshiki corrected. "Know their reputation. Know what Ōtsutsuki records say about beings that hunt harvester species. But knowing and witnessing are different. I've never seen Origin Devas in actual combat. Never observed their true capabilities. Never understood the scale of power they represented and not even know their name because their name carry power and karma which can affect anyone who are weaker than them."
He stood from his throne, pacing with agitation that suggested genuine distress.
"You've done well," Isshiki said, and there was reluctant approval in his voice. "Better than I anticipated. You corrupted the strongest Uchiha. You positioned him to awaken Rinnegan. You collected all nine Bijuu. You nearly succeeded in creating a scenario where Kaguya's seal could be broken. Only this... fusion form prevented complete success."
"The fused being," Black Zetsu said. "What is it? How did two humans achieve power that could kill Madara despite his Origin Eyes and partial Six Paths chakra? How did they manifest abilities that operate on near-divine scales?"
Isshiki was quiet for a long moment, his expression suggesting he was debating how much to reveal.
"I need to explain the hierarchy of existence," Isshiki finally said. "Need to give you context that will help you understand what you witnessed. What you're actually dealing with. What forces are in play that I never fully communicated because I didn't think they were immediately relevant."
He gestured, and the empty dimension shifted, creating seats, creating a space that felt more like a meeting room than a void.
"Sit," Isshiki commanded. "This will take time."
Part Two: The Deva Hierarchy
Black Zetsu settled into the created seat, his attention completely focused on Isshiki despite the hidden thoughts churning in his crimson void genome.
"Devas exist in three primary classifications," Isshiki began, his voice taking on the tone of a lecturer imparting fundamental knowledge. "Normal Devas, Apex Devas, and Origin Devas. Each tier represents an exponential increase in power, in durability, in cosmic significance."
"Start with Normal Devas," Black Zetsu requested. "What defines that classification?"
"Normal Devas are the baseline," Isshiki explained. "They're cosmic beings created by universal forces to maintain balance, to eliminate species that grow too powerful or destructive. In terms of raw power, a Normal Deva can easily match a Royal Ōtsutsuki from the main lineage. They're formidable opponents. Dangerous. Capable of destroying planets casually."
"But you said Ōtsutsuki can defeat them," Black Zetsu observed.
"Defeat, yes," Isshiki confirmed. "But not kill. That's the critical distinction. Normal Devas can be overwhelmed, can be beaten in combat through superior numbers or strategic advantage. The Ōtsutsuki clan has fought Normal Devas before. We've won those conflicts. But we've never actually killed one."
"Why not?" Black Zetsu asked.
"Because they're fundamentally unkillable by normal means," Isshiki explained, and there was frustration in his voice. "Normal Devas are what we call 'fused beings.' Their physical body and spiritual essence are merged completely. There's no separation between flesh and soul. You can't manipulate their spirit because it's identical to their body. You can't target their consciousness because it's the same as their physical form."
"So they're immune to soul manipulation," Black Zetsu concluded.
"Completely immune," Isshiki confirmed. "We tried marking them with Kama. Tried creating the soul-transfer seal that allows Ōtsutsuki to resurrect through compatible vessels. The technique simply failed. The seal wouldn't take. Because there's no separate soul to target. They're... unified. Perfect. Complete in ways that make standard Ōtsutsuki techniques meaningless."
He paused, his expression darkening.
"And if you try to torture them, try to extract information through pain or psychological pressure, they have a fail-safe. They detonate. Completely. Totally. A Normal Deva's self-destruction releases enough energy to obliterate an entire solar system. Everything within light-years is simply erased. And then, later—days, weeks, sometimes months—they reform. Resurrect. Return to existence because they don't have normal concepts of life and death."
Black Zetsu felt something cold settle in his consciousness. This was beyond what he'd understood. Beyond what he'd planned for.
"So Normal Devas can't be killed," Black Zetsu said slowly. "Can't be permanently destroyed. Can't be controlled through normal means. What can be done with them?"
"Sealing," Isshiki replied. "Not killing—sealing. You trap them in stasis. Put them in a state that's like sleep but deeper. Like a dream they can't wake from. The closest human technique that approximates this is Izanami—the Uchiha genjutsu that traps someone in an infinite loop until they accept truth about themselves. But far more powerful. Far more absolute."
"And this works on Normal Devas?" Black Zetsu pressed.
"It's the only thing that works," Isshiki confirmed. "You seal them in this dream-state and then you hide the seal. Bury it somewhere they'll never be found. Hope they never wake up. Because if the seal breaks, if they return to consciousness, they remember everything. Remember being sealed. Remember who sealed them. And they will hunt those responsible across the cosmos."
"You speak from experience," Black Zetsu observed.
"The Ōtsutsuki clan has sealed three Normal Devas in our history," Isshiki admitted. "Three beings who interfered with harvesting operations. Who tried to stop us from claiming divine trees. Who fought us to protect primitive civilizations. We won those battles. Sealed them. Hid the seals in locations even we don't remember anymore because forgetting was safer than knowing."
He sat back down, his expression weary.
"And those are just Normal Devas," Isshiki continued. "The baseline. The weakest classification. What you witnessed in that cosmic battle weren't Normal Devas. Those were Origin Devas. The highest tier. But to understand them, you need to understand the middle classification first."
"Apex Devas," Black Zetsu said.
"Apex Devas," Isshiki confirmed. "The rulers of the cosmos. The leaders who command Normal Devas and enforce cosmic law across the universe. They're... they're on a completely different level from Normal Devas. Where a Normal Deva can match a Royal Ōtsutsuki, an Apex Deva can match the Ōtsutsuki King."
"Match," Black Zetsu noted. "Not exceed. Not dominate. Match."
"Exactly," Isshiki said. "In pure brute strength, in raw physical power, no species in the known cosmos can match Devas. Not Ōtsutsuki. Not Ancestral Demons. Not even the Divine Titans from the galactic core. Devas are supreme in terms of physical capabilities. But matching doesn't mean overwhelming. The Strongest Ōtsutsuki King—Shibai Ōtsutsuki—possesses techniques, Shinjutsu, abilities that can counter even Apex Deva strength. He can't kill them. Can't permanently destroy them. But he can fight them to a standstill. Can force stalemates. Can survive encounters."
"You said there are eight Apex Deva clans," Black Zetsu prompted.
"Eight distinct lineages," Isshiki confirmed. "Each one led by a being powerful enough to be considered a King in their own right. But they acknowledge Origin Devas as Gods. As beings above even their exalted status."
He began listing them, his voice carrying respect that suggested genuine fear.
"The Lion Clan, led by Escanor. A being whose power literally fluctuates with the position of stars. At noon in his native dimension, he's said to rival Origin Devas briefly at his peak. At midnight, he's merely as strong as a dozen Apex Devas. His pride is legendary, his strength is terrifying, and his clan specializes in solar combat—techniques that draw power from stellar radiation."
"The Monkey Clan, led by Jin Mori. A trickster god who fights with a staff that can extend across solar systems. Who can create clones that each possess his full power. Who mastered martial arts on levels where technique becomes reality manipulation. His clan specializes in adaptive combat—they learn and counter any fighting style they encounter."
"The Horse Clan, led by Heracles. A warrior whose endurance is absolute. Who becomes stronger the longer he fights. Who has survived battles that lasted centuries without rest. His clan specializes in labor impossible—they accomplish tasks that should be beyond any being's capability through sheer refusal to accept limits."
"The Garuda Clan, led by Rodan. A sky king whose dominion over air and atmosphere is unmatched. Who can create storms that span multiple planets. Who flies at speeds that make light seem slow. His clan specializes in aerial supremacy—no other species can challenge them in their element."
"The Naga Clan, led by Ophis. The Dragon God of Infinity. A being who embodies the concept of limitless power. Who creates and destroys dimensions casually. Who is the literal personification of the Ouroboros—the eternal cycle. Her clan specializes in dimensional manipulation and cosmic poison. They create toxins that can affect beings who should be immune to all harm."
Black Zetsu felt recognition spike through his consciousness. The Naga Clan. Cosmic poison. The crimson void corruption he was made from—could it have originated from them?
"The Elephant Clan, led by Zuneesha. An entity so massive that solar systems exist in the space it occupies. Who carries entire civilizations on its back. Whose movement through space creates gravitational waves that reshape galactic structure. The clan specializes in absolute defense—nothing can harm them when they choose to endure."
"The Dragon Clan, led by Great Red. The Dragon of Dreams. A being who exists simultaneously in reality and in the collective unconscious of all sentient species. Who can make dreams real and reality dreamlike. Whose mere presence in a dimension makes physics negotiable. The clan specializes in reality manipulation—they blur the lines between what is and what could be."
"The Phoenix Clan, led by Phoenix Ikki. The Immortal King. A being who has died and resurrected more times than stars in the visible universe. Who grows stronger with each death and rebirth. Who masters techniques by experiencing them as fatal wounds and adapting. The clan specializes in eternal evolution—they cannot be killed permanently, and each death makes them more powerful."
"All Eight beings are the leader of their Deva Clans and the Strongest Apex Deva in existence which can rival somewhat Origin Deva passive strength"
Isshiki paused, letting the weight of this information settle.
"But these eight Apex Devas are just Apex Deva not the Origin Devas the ones you saw in Madara's memory," Isshiki said.
"And Anant defeated all eight while holding back," Black Zetsu said quietly.
"Not defeated," Isshiki corrected. "Sealed. There's a difference. Anant refused to fight seriously because they're family. Refused to kill them even though they were trying to kill him. Instead, he absorbed their corruption, purified them at cost to himself, and sealed them using techniques that no Ōtsutsuki has ever replicated or even fully understood."
"Which brings us to Origin Devas," Black Zetsu said.
Part Three: The Unfathomable
Isshiki's expression changed. Became more guarded. More cautious. As if discussing Origin Devas required different protocols than discussing their subordinates.
"Origin Devas are Gods," Isshiki said simply. "That's the only word that adequately describes them. They're not just powerful beings. They're fundamental forces given consciousness. They're concepts made flesh. They're... they're what the universe creates when it needs to enforce laws that even Apex Devas can't maintain."
"How many Origin Devas exist?" Black Zetsu asked.
"Nine," Isshiki replied. "Anant and his eight siblings. That's all. Nine beings who stand at the absolute pinnacle of cosmic hierarchy. Nine entities that even species as powerful as the Ōtsutsuki acknowledge as untouchable."
"You said Shibai could match Apex Devas Leaders," Black Zetsu observed. "Can he match Origin Devas?"
Isshiki was silent for a long moment.
"No," he finally admitted. "Shibai Ōtsutsuki-sama is the strongest member of our species. He's achieved Shinjutsu that transcend normal technique. He's evolved beyond anything previous Ōtsutsuki kings accomplished. He's eaten divine fruits from hundreds of worlds, absorbed power that took millions to accumulate. And he still can't match an Origin Deva."
"Then how does he survive?" Black Zetsu asked. "If Origin Devas hunt Ōtsutsuki, if they're designed to eliminate harvester species, how has Shibai avoided being destroyed?"
"By being smart enough to never engage them directly," Isshiki replied. "By ensuring that Ōtsutsuki operations never become significant enough to warrant Origin Deva intervention. By limiting harvests to planets that aren't under their protection. By existing beneath their notice rather than challenging their authority."
"Cowardice," Black Zetsu observed.
"Survival," Isshiki corrected sharply. "You call it cowardice. I call it acknowledging reality. Origin Devas are beyond us. Completely. Absolutely. Fighting them is suicide. The smart response is avoidance. The wise choice is making yourself irrelevant enough that they don't bother eliminating you."
"And yet Anant came to Earth which should be impossible as he was fall into space time storm and yet he come here like someone is guiding him," Black Zetsu pointed out. " Which means he came for Kaguya or you or its a pure coincidence."
"Yes," Isshiki agreed, anger entering his voice. "Kaguya was supposed to harvest quietly. Was supposed to plant the divine tree, drain the planet, produce the fruit, and leave. Standard operation. Nothing that would attract cosmic attention. But she got greedy. Decided to create an army. Decided to enslave the native population rather than just consuming them. Decided to make herself into a goddess that primitive humans would worship. And that—that flagrant violation of harvest protocols—is what attracted Anant subconsciously and come to this insignificant low class planets."
"And you fled," Black Zetsu said.
"I survived," Isshiki corrected. "Kaguya attacked me, tried to feed me to the divine tree to accelerate its growth. I escaped with critical injuries. Hid in dimensional space. And when Anant arrived, when I sensed his presence on the planet, I made the intelligent choice to remain hidden. To not engage. To survive rather than dying stupidly challenging something I couldn't defeat."
"Tell me about Anant specifically," Black Zetsu requested. "The other eight Origin Devas have clans, have lineages. You listed their specializations. But Anant—you haven't mentioned his classification. What clan does he lead? What's his specialization?"
Isshiki's expression became even more guarded.
"I don't know," he admitted, and there was frustration in the admission. "Anant is... unique even among Origin Devas. The other eight each lead their respective clans. Lion, Monkey, Horse, Garuda, Naga, Elephant, Dragon, Phoenix. Those eight Origin Devas have clear lineages, clear subordinates, clear domains of authority. But Anant..."
He trailed off, gathering his thoughts.
"Anant has no clan," Isshiki continued. "No lineage. No subordinates. He exists alone. The other Origin Devas have three forms—full animal, hybrid, and human. They can shift between these states, emphasizing different capabilities. But Anant only has one form. That perfect humanoid body you witnessed. He doesn't transform. Doesn't shift. Just... is."
"What does that mean?" Black Zetsu pressed.
"I don't know," Isshiki repeated. "The Ōtsutsuki records describe Anant as 'unfathomable' and 'boundless.' Those aren't tactical assessments. Those are admissions that we don't understand him. That his existence operates on principles we can't perceive. That even among Origin Devas—beings we already consider beyond our comprehension—he's somehow more. Different. Special in ways that defy categorization and the most shocking part is that no one his real name."
"And you believe this?" Black Zetsu challenged. "You accept that one Origin Deva is mysteriously superior without understanding why?"
"I watched your memory," Isshiki said flatly. "I saw Anant fighting eight Origin Devas while refusing to engage seriously. Saw him seal them all while poisoned by corruption that should have killed anything else. Saw him absorb that corruption—poison designed specifically to harm Origin Devas—and survive with nothing more than unconsciousness. Yes, Black Zetsu. I believe he's special. I believe the records are accurate. I believe that Anant represents something even other Origin Devas acknowledge as supreme."
He stood again, pacing with agitation.
"And that cosmic battle you witnessed?" Isshiki continued. "That was Anant at his weakest. Wounded by fighting beings he loved. Poisoned by corruption that was affecting his judgment. Refusing to use his full power because he was trying to save rather than kill. That was Anant severely compromised, operating at a fraction of his capability, and he still dominated eight Apex Devas simultaneously."
"What happens when he wakes at full strength?" Black Zetsu asked.
"Every Ōtsutsuki in the universe runs," Isshiki said bluntly. "Every harvester species goes into hiding. Every being with any sense evacuates whatever dimensional sector he's active in. Because an awakened, healthy Anant is a force that could erase our entire clan if he decided we warranted elimination. Shibai might survive. Might. But the rest of us? We're insects to him. Irrelevant. Barely worth noticing."
Part Four: The Divine Union
"Now," Isshiki said, his tone shifting, "let's discuss what you actually came here to understand. The Ardhanarishvara. The fusion form that nearly destroyed your perfect puppet."
"The Ardhanarishvara !! You know what it is," Black Zetsu said.
"I know what it represents," Isshiki corrected. "It's a concept. A divine union. A state that occurs when two beings achieve perfect synchronization through love profound enough to touch cosmic principles."
"Explain," Black Zetsu demanded.
Isshiki sat back down, his expression suggesting he was about to share something significant.
"Anant has a partner," Isshiki began. "A being he's bonded with on levels that transcend normal relationships. Her true name... I can't speak it. Literally can't. If I attempt to pronounce her actual designation, her Karma—the cosmic imprint of her existence—will destroy me. Completely. Permanently. She's that powerful. That terrifying. That absolute."
"Mother Nature," Black Zetsu said. "That's what humans call her."
"A pale approximation," Isshiki agreed. "Mother Nature is what planetary consciousness becomes when shaped by her presence. She's not actually limited to Earth. She's... something else. Something that exists across multiple dimensional layers simultaneously. Something that chose to manifest on Earth specifically because Anant is there."
"And their relationship?" Black Zetsu pressed.
"Is the template," Isshiki explained. "The original divine union. The perfect synchronization that all other partnerships are measured against. When they merge—not physically, but spiritually, conceptually—they create Ardhanarishvara. The half-male, half-female form. The state where two become one while remaining two. Where individual strengths combine into something that transcends both source beings."
"And Hashirama and Mito achieved this," Black Zetsu said. "Two humans. Copied something that should be limited to cosmic beings."
"Not copied," Isshiki corrected. "Echoed. They achieved genuine love profound enough to resonate with what Anant and Mother Nature share. Their devotion, their willingness to sacrifice for each other, their perfect trust—it mirrored the divine partnership closely enough that they could access the same fundamental force."
"And that gave them power to kill Madara," Black Zetsu said bitterly.
"Temporarily," Isshiki emphasized. "The form is unsustainable. Requires specific conditions to manifest. Requires love maintained at absolute intensity. Requires both partners to be blessed by Mother Nature. Requires perfect synchronization achieved through crisis and need. It's not something they can activate casually. Not a technique they can use at will. It's grace. Granted rather than taken."
"But it worked," Black Zetsu insisted. "It manifested. It destroyed Madara completely. Only Izanagi prevented total failure."
"Because Madara's Origin Eyes carried a fragment of Anant's authority," Isshiki explained. "The mutation that occurred when he witnessed Anant's quarter-opened gaze—that saved him. Gave him connection to cosmic forces that made Izanagi effective even against divine power. Without that fragment, without that microscopic trace of Origin Deva presence in his Sharingan, the Ardhanarishvara form would have erased him so thoroughly that even Izanagi couldn't rewrite his death."
Black Zetsu processed this, adjusting his understanding.
"And the Karma you mentioned?" Black Zetsu asked. "You said achieving Ardhanarishvara attaches Karma to their bloodlines. What does that mean?"
Isshiki's expression became grave.
"There's a price for touching divinity," he explained. "A cost for echoing what Anant and Mother Nature share. Throughout cosmic history, there have been other beings—other species, other individuals—who achieved love profound enough to manifest Ardhanarishvara. The phenomenon occurs perhaps once every few million years across the entire observable universe. And every time it happens, the bloodlines involved pay a price."
"What kind of price?" Black Zetsu demanded.
"Hardship," Isshiki said. "Tragedy. Suffering. Their clans face challenges that test them to breaking points. Sometimes they're blessed—granted power or insight or opportunity. Sometimes they're destroyed—facing extinction or corruption or dimensional displacement. But they never simply continue existing peacefully. The Karma of touching Anant and Mother Nature's love ensures their descendants experience extremes. Glory or ruin. Transcendence or annihilation. Never mundane existence."
"So the Senju and Uzumaki clans will pay this price," Black Zetsu concluded.
"Yes," Isshiki confirmed. "Hashirama and Mito achieved Ardhanarishvara. That means their bloodlines—Senju and Uzumaki—are now marked. Karmic debt attached to their descendants. What form that debt takes, I don't know. When it will manifest, I don't know. But it will come. Inevitably. Absolutely. Their clans will face something that tests them beyond normal limits."
"And if I interfere?" Black Zetsu asked. "If I try to corrupt them, manipulate them, destroy them?"
"Don't," Isshiki said sharply, and there was genuine fear in his voice. "Don't touch the Senju or Uzumaki directly. Don't target their bloodlines for corruption or elimination. Because Mother Nature watches those who achieve Ardhanarishvara with her beloved. She permits Karma to test them. But she does not permit external forces to destroy them. If you interfere, if you try to eliminate bloodlines that echoed her divine union, she will notice. She will act. And she will destroy you so thoroughly that even I won't be able to reconstruct you."
Black Zetsu felt genuine shock ripple through his consciousness. Isshiki—who'd created him, who theoretically had absolute authority over his existence—was warning him away from targets because of fear of retribution from Mother Nature.
"You're afraid of her," Black Zetsu observed.
"Terrified," Isshiki admitted without shame. "Mother Nature in her wrathful form is second only to Anant himself in terms of beings I never want to encounter. There's a reason I can't speak her true name. A reason that even thinking about her incorrectly risks attracting attention. She is... she is what happens when planetary consciousness combines with Origin Deva power and protective fury."
He leaned forward, ensuring Black Zetsu understood completely.
"Listen carefully," Isshiki said. "There was a species called Primordial Demons. Second strongest beings in the cosmos after Devas. They could challenge Apex Devas individually and even Origin Devas when they used their forbidden power in groups. They were arrogant. Powerful. Believed themselves untouchable."
"What happened to them?" Black Zetsu asked.
"They did something," Isshiki said, his voice dropping. "Something that offended Mother Nature. Ōtsutsuki records don't specify what, exactly, but it involved attacking something she cared about. Perhaps a world she was protecting. Perhaps beings that had achieved Ardhanarishvara. Perhaps even a threat aimed at Anant himself while he was vulnerable. The details are lost. But the result isn't."
"She destroyed them," Black Zetsu concluded.
"Completely," Isshiki confirmed. "Her wrathful form manifested. A version of her that embodies destruction, slaughter, chaos. She went through the cosmos hunting Primordial Demons. Found every last one of them. Killed their leaders, drink their bloods. Destroyed their strongholds. Eliminated their bloodlines so thoroughly that even dimensional echoes were erased. She annihilated an entire species that had existed for billions of years. Made them extinct across all realities simultaneously."
"And Anant?" Black Zetsu asked while he shock and terrify after hearing all this.
"Was the only one who could calm her," Isshiki said. "According to records, Mother Nature's rage was so absolute that she was destroying everything in her path. Friend and foe alike. Worlds that had nothing to do with the offense were being erased just because they existed near her fury. She was ending civilizations, collapsing dimensional structures, making entire galactic sectors uninhabitable."
"What stopped her?"
"Anant lay down in her path," Isshiki explained. "Positioned himself directly in the trajectory of her destruction. Made her step on him to continue as he can't fight with his beloved in any circumstances so he lay down. And when her foot touched her beloved chest—when she realized what she was about to do—she stopped. Became so ashamed. Stuck out her tongue in contrition, which is apparently a gesture in her true cultural context. Blood tears fell from her eyes onto Anant's forehead."
"Blood tears?" Black Zetsu asked.
"Her destruction, wrath, slaughter, chaos—all of it flowed into those tears," Isshiki said. "And Anant absorbed them. Drew her rage into himself. Took her fury into his being. There's a mark on his forehead now, blood-red, that represents absorbed divine wrath. He carries her capacity for destruction inside himself. Prevents her from ever losing control like that again by making himself the container for her darker aspects."
"That's..." Black Zetsu struggled for words. "That's what love looks like at cosmic scales."
"Yes," Isshiki agreed. "That's what Ardhanarishvara represents. Not just power. Not just unity. But willingness to absorb your partner's darkness. To carry their capacity for destruction so they don't have to. To make yourself vulnerable to protect them from themselves. That's what Hashirama and Mito echoed. That's what gave them power to manifest the divine form."
He stood, his expression grim.
"So when I tell you to never interfere with Senju or Uzumaki," Isshiki continued, "I'm not suggesting strategic caution. I'm giving absolute command based on survival necessity. Mother Nature permits Karma to test bloodlines that achieved Ardhanarishvara. But she does not permit external destruction. If she perceives you as threat to those bloodlines, she will erase you. And I won't be able to stop her. Won't even try. Because challenging her is suicide."
"Understood," Black Zetsu said, filing this information away carefully.
But internally, in his crimson void genome where Isshiki couldn't perceive, Black Zetsu was making different calculations.
Mother Nature watches Senju and Uzumaki, he thought. Protects them from external destruction. But internal corruption? Karmic debt that comes from their own choices? That might be permissible. As long as I don't directly target their bloodlines for elimination, as long as I manipulate circumstances rather than attacking them openly, I might be able to work around her protection.
Something to consider. Carefully. Very carefully. But potentially exploitable.
Part Five: The Warning
"You need to accelerate your plans," Isshiki said, returning to his throne. "Anant is healing faster than expected. The Eight Primordial Star Gates are purging corruption at increasing rates. He'll wake within decades rather than centuries. You need to break Kaguya's seal, need to complete the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan, then I absorb her along with all the chakra of this planet before he regains full consciousness."
"And then?" Black Zetsu asked.
"Then I will take you along with me," Isshiki said bluntly. "You take whatever power from me especially Shinjutsu, then we flee this dimensional sector, hide somewhere in Otsutsuki sector Anant won't bother searching. Because if he wakes while you're still on Earth, if he perceives you as threat or even as inconvenience, he will erase you. No negotiation. No warning. Just elimination."
"Even if the entire Ōtsutsuki clan came to Earth?" Black Zetsu challenged. "Even if Shibai himself arrived with armies?"
"Especially then," Isshiki said. "Anant at full strength, in his weakest form, could kill the entire Ōtsutsuki clan. Casually. Effortlessly. The only member who might survive is Shibai, and only if Anant isn't particularly focused on killing him. Armies are meaningless. Numbers are irrelevant. When the gap in power is that vast, quantity doesn't overcome quality."
"You're that certain," Black Zetsu observed.
"I watched your memory," Isshiki repeated. "Saw Anant fighting eight Apex Devas—eight beings that individually rival Shibai—while wounded, poisoned, refusing to fight seriously. And he still dominated. Still sealed them all. Still survived absorbing corruption that should have killed anything. That wasn't even close to his full capability. That was him severely compromised."
"What is his full capability?" Black Zetsu asked.
"I don't know," Isshiki admitted. "Nobody knows. That's what 'unfathomable' means. The strongest technique anyone has ever witnessed Anant use is still assumed to be far below his actual limits. The cosmic battle you saw was him holding back. Massively. What he can do when actually trying, when fighting to kill rather than seal, when using his full arsenal without restraint... nobody has witnessed that and survived to report."
He fixed Black Zetsu with his Kokugan, making sure his creation understood.
"Complete your mission quickly," Isshiki commanded. "Break Kaguya's seal. Extract whatever power you need. And then evacuate this planet before Anant wakes. That's the only path that leads to your survival. Any other choice is suicide."
"What about you?" Black Zetsu asked. "Will you leave this dimensional hiding place? Will you help directly?"
"No," Isshiki said flatly. "I'm staying here. Remaining hidden. Not risking exposure to Anant's awareness. You're my tool, Black Zetsu. My creation designed to accomplish goals I can't pursue directly. Use that purpose. Complete the mission. But don't expect me to emerge and support you. I value survival over victory. Staying hidden over claiming power. If you fail, I remain safe. If you succeed, I benefit from the results. Either way, I don't risk myself."
"Cowardice," Black Zetsu said again.
"Survival," Isshiki corrected again. "Call it what you want. But I've existed for millennia by being smart enough to avoid fights I can't win. I'm not changing that philosophy now."
Black Zetsu nodded, absorbing the information, the warnings, the fear that permeated everything Isshiki had shared.
"I'll take my leave," Black Zetsu said, standing. "Thank you for the guidance, Master. For the knowledge. For the context that will help me proceed more effectively."
"One more thing," Isshiki said as Black Zetsu prepared to depart. "The mutation in Madara's eyes. The Origin Eyes, as he calls them. Those are more significant than you realize."
"Explain," Black Zetsu requested.
"They carry authority," Isshiki said. "Real authority. Fragments of what Anant possesses. When Madara's Sharingan absorbed microscopic traces of Anant's gaze, it incorporated cosmic principles into biological structure. That's unprecedented. That suggests Madara's Rinnegan, when it fully manifests, will be different from Hagoromo's. More powerful. More aligned with Origin Deva capabilities than normal Six Paths evolution."
"Mutated Rinnegan," Black Zetsu mused.
"Origin Rinnegan," Isshiki corrected. "Standard Rinnegan grants power over gravity, souls, summoning, absorption, mechanical construction, and dimensional travel. But Madara's version, born from Sharingan that touched Anant's authority? It might grant abilities no Rinnegan has ever possessed. Might bridge the gap between Six Paths power and Origin Deva capabilities in ways that could actually matter."
"Could he challenge Anant with it?" Black Zetsu asked and he know its a stupid but he ask.
"No you fool," Isshiki said immediately. "Don't delude yourself. Even Origin Rinnegan wouldn't let Madara match even Apex deva but at max normal deva so forget about Origin Deva. The gap is too vast. But it might let him survive an encounter against Apex one. Might give him power sufficient to escape rather than being casually erased. Might make him useful as a distraction while you complete other objectives."
"I'll keep that in mind," Black Zetsu said.
"Do so," Isshiki replied. "And Black Zetsu? Don't fail. You're my only tool for claiming Kaguya's power safely. My only method of gaining strength without exposing myself to Anant's judgment. If you fail, if you're destroyed or captured or sealed, I gain nothing. So succeed. However you must. Whatever it takes. Complete the mission."
"I will," Black Zetsu promised, and meant it.
Though not for the reasons Isshiki thought. Not to serve his creator's goals. But to achieve his own purposes. To evolve beyond his design. To see how far corruption could climb toward divinity.
He departed the dimensional sanctuary, slipping back through reality's cracks, returning toward Earth and the plans that awaited completion.
Behind him, Isshiki sat on his throne and contemplated what he'd shared. Contemplated the risks. Contemplated whether Black Zetsu could actually succeed before Anant woke.
And felt fear. Real, genuine fear. Not of Black Zetsu failing. But of the entity he'd sensed lurking in his creation's genome. The crimson void corruption that even he couldn't fully examine without risk of contamination.
What is Black Zetsu really? Isshiki wondered. I created him from a corruption molecule. Made him from poison that wounded Origin Devas. But what if that poison has more awareness than I understood? What if the entity that created it left echoes of consciousness in its structure?
What if I didn't create Black Zetsu so much as give form to something that already existed? Something that wanted shape? Something that needed a vessel?
He pushed the thoughts away. Refused to examine them too closely. Because following that logic led to terrifying conclusions about what he'd actually unleashed on the cosmos.
Better to maintain the illusion of control. Better to believe Black Zetsu was his tool. Better to not acknowledge the possibility that he'd been manipulated into creating something that transcended his understanding.
I'll stay here, Isshiki decided. Stay hidden. Stay safe. Let Black Zetsu handle the dangerous work. Let him face Anant's judgment if things go wrong. I'll survive regardless. That's what matters. Survival.
Always survival.
Part Six: The New Generation
Two years later - Konohagakure
Tobirama Senju stood in the academy training ground, watching his five personal students practice the techniques he'd taught them. Five young shinobi who represented the future of Konoha. Five individuals he was molding to be the next generation of leadership.
"Again!" Tobirama commanded, and they obeyed immediately.
Kagami Uchiha moved through hand seals with precision that rivaled jonin twice his age. His Sharingan was active, tracking, analyzing, learning. At fourteen, he was already chunin-level, and progressing rapidly toward jonin capabilities. The Uchiha clan's representative. Living proof that Tobirama trusted his former enemies enough to train their prodigies personally.
Hiruzen Sarutobi demonstrated earth and fire techniques simultaneously, showing the versatility that would eventually earn him the title "Professor." At thirteen, he was Tobirama's most academically gifted student, mastering theory as quickly as practice.
Danzo Shimura practiced wind techniques with intensity that bordered on obsession. At thirteen, he was driven by need to prove himself, to match his teammates, to become strong enough that he'd never be helpless again. There was darkness in him. Tobirama could see it. But also potential. Carefully guided, Danzo could become a weapon aimed at Konoha's enemies rather than a threat to Konoha itself.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado worked together on collaborative techniques, demonstrating the support capabilities that would make them invaluable advisors in future decades. At twelve and thirteen respectively, they were the team's strategists, the ones who planned while others executed.
"Average," Tobirama assessed once they'd completed the drill. "Kagami, your Sharingan tracking is improving. You predicted my counter-technique before I completed the seals. Hiruzen, your chakra control remains exemplary. Danzo, your wind techniques are powerful but inefficient—you're using twenty percent more chakra than necessary. Koharu, Homura, your collaboration timing was perfect."
They absorbed the feedback, none of them showing disappointment at criticism. They'd learned that Tobirama's harsh assessments were designed to improve rather than discourage.
"Break for fifteen minutes," Tobirama commanded. "Then we'll practice team formations."
As the students dispersed to rest, Tobirama sensed a familiar presence approaching. He turned to see his brother walking across the training ground, accompanied by Mito and someone small enough to be carried.
Hashirama looked different these days. Older, certainly—he was approaching fifty. But also more peaceful. More content. The weight of Hokage responsibilities had lifted when he'd retired. He smiled more easily now. Laughed more freely. Spent his days doing civilian work—helping farmers, teaching children, playing with his grandchildren.
"Brother," Hashirama greeted. "I'm not interrupting training, am I?"
"Break period," Tobirama confirmed. "What brings you to the academy?"
"We wanted to show you someone," Mito said, and she adjusted the bundle in her arms to reveal a small face. Wide eyes. Blonde hair. Perhaps six months old. "Meet Tsunade. Our granddaughter."
Tobirama looked at the baby—daughter of Hashirama and Mito's eldest son, born six months ago—and felt something unexpectedly warm settle in his chest.
"She has your eyes," Tobirama observed to Hashirama.
"And Mito's stubborn expression," Hashirama countered. "Watch. Tsunade, show Uncle Tobirama your grumpy face."
The baby obliged, scrunching her features into an expression that looked absurdly serious on someone so young.
Tobirama found himself smiling despite his usual stern demeanor. "She'll be a handful."
"Already is," Mito confirmed. "But she's strong. Already showing signs of enhanced physical capabilities. The Senju vitality combined with Uzumaki life force. She'll be extraordinary when she grows up."
"If she chooses the shinobi path," Hashirama added. "We're not going to force her. Not going to make her become a warrior just because her grandparents were. She'll have choices we never did."
"Assuming the world permits choices," Tobirama said, his pragmatism reasserting itself. "Assuming Anant's judgment allows humanity to continue existing with freedom rather than stripping our power and reducing us to primitive status."
"Always the optimist," Hashirama said dryly. "But yes. Assuming judgment goes well. Assuming we've done enough to prove worthy. Assuming everything we've built survives the next few decades."
They stood in comfortable silence, watching the students practice in the distance, holding the next generation in their arms, contemplating futures they couldn't predict.
"Do you think we'll succeed?" Hashirama asked quietly. "Do you think humanity will pass Anant's judgment?"
"I don't know," Tobirama admitted. "I hope so. I've structured village policies to demonstrate cooperation. You've distributed Bijuu to create balance. We're teaching the next generation to value protection over conquest. We're doing everything we can think of. Whether it's enough... we won't know until he wakes."
"Thirty to fifty years," Mito said. "That's the timeline Mother Nature's blessing suggested. Tsunade will be an adult when judgment comes. These students will be in their prime. The world they inherit will be shaped by Anant's decision."
"Then we prepare them as best we can," Tobirama decided. "We train them. We teach them. We give them tools to build something worth preserving. And we hope it's sufficient."
He looked at his students—five young shinobi who would shape Konoha's future. Who would become the teachers of the next generation. Who would carry forward the dream of cooperation and protection that Hashirama had started.
Time is moving fast, Tobirama thought.
All we can do is prepare. Build. Hope. And trust that when judgment comes, humanity will be found worthy.
Let's hope that's enough.
Little Tsunade made a gurgling sound, reaching for Tobirama with tiny hands. He allowed her to grasp his finger, feeling the surprising strength in her infant grip.
"She'll be strong," Tobirama predicted. "Physically powerful. Probably surpass even Hashirama in raw strength once she's trained properly. The combination of Senju and Uzumaki bloodlines is formidable."
"She'll be more than strong," Mito said. "She'll be kind. Compassionate. A healer who protects rather than destroys. That's what we'll teach her. That's what she'll become."
"If the world permits it," Tobirama cautioned.
"The world will permit it," Hashirama said firmly. "Because we'll make a world where children can grow into healers rather than weapons. Where strength protects rather than conquers. Where the next generation inherits peace rather than war."
"Idealist," Tobirama observed.
"Optimist," Hashirama corrected. "There's a difference."
The students were returning from their break, ready for the next training session. Tobirama prepared to resume teaching while Hashirama and Mito prepared to return home with their granddaughter.
Time was moving. The clock was ticking. Judgment approached.
But for now, in this moment, there was peace. There was hope. There was a baby reaching for the future with tiny hands.
And maybe—just maybe—that would be enough.
[END OF CHAPTER FOURTEEN]
Black Zetsu learns the full cosmic hierarchy from Isshiki: Normal Devas match Royal Ōtsutsuki and cannot be killed (only sealed in dream-states); Apex Devas match the Ōtsutsuki King and lead eight clans (Lion/Escanor, Monkey/Jin Mori, Horse/Heracles, Garuda/Rodan, Naga/Ophis, Elephant/Zuneesha, Dragon/Great Red, Phoenix/Ikki); Origin Devas are Gods beyond all others, with Anant being unique even among them. Ardhanarishvara explained as echoing the divine union of Anant and Mother Nature (whose true name carries lethal Karma). Senju and Uzumaki bloodlines now carry Karma from achieving the divine form—will face extraordinary hardship/blessing but are protected from external destruction by Mother Nature. Mother Nature destroyed the entire Primordial Demon species; Anant absorbed her wrath to calm her. Isshiki warns Black Zetsu to complete plans before Anant wakes (entire Ōtsutsuki clan would die if they fought him). Black Zetsu hides his true intentions in crimson void genome where Isshiki can't perceive. Two years pass: Tobirama is Nidaime Hokage training five disciples (Kagami Uchiha, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Koharu, Homura). Tsunade is born—Hashirama and Mito's granddaughter, showing signs of exceptional strength from combined Senju/Uzumaki heritage. Timeline: 28-48 years until Anant's judgment. The world prepares without knowing what they're preparing for.