Chapter 315: The Foolish Ones — Itachi's Clarity and Kaguya's Plan
"Is that so?"
Nagato gave a small shrug, his tone indifferent.
"No matter what the reason is, the Fifth Hokage — Uchiha Yuta — has already won. The Great Toad Sage and Uchiha Madara are nothing more than clowns from beginning to end."
He smirked faintly.
"In front of the entire shinobi world, they've completely lost all dignity."
"...Yes,"
murmured Uchiha Itachi, his voice tinged with sadness as he looked up at the massive projection in the sky.
What else could he say?
After the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Yuta, had rewritten the fate of the Uchiha clan,
both his parents — and even Itachi himself — seemed to have been erased from their memories.
Thinking about it now, Itachi felt a dull ache in his chest.
He had sacrificed everything, believing in the Will of Fire preached by the Third Hokage — Sarutobi Hiruzen — and yet…
was this the price he had to pay?
But after witnessing the flourishing of Konoha under Yuta's leadership,
after seeing the confident smile of his younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke,
and the thriving Uchiha clan,
Itachi could finally breathe a long sigh of relief.
He had been wrong.
Terribly wrong.
As that realization sank in, Itachi's gaze drifted toward the Third Hokage, standing not far away — resurrected through Edo Tensei, his eyes still filled with that same hypocritical gentleness.
That old man.
Still pretending to be kind, even in death.
"...You idiot," Itachi muttered under his breath, the words filled with disgust.
Perhaps sensing Itachi's animosity, the Third Hokage — Sarutobi Hiruzen — turned slightly and smiled warmly, as though trying to reassure him.
After all, Hiruzen had always regarded Itachi as a special disciple, a symbol of the Will of Fire.
Now, with Itachi looking at him, he instinctively tried to show his best side.
But the Itachi before him was no longer the same.
The illusion of loyalty had long since shattered.
Seeing that patronizingly gentle expression, Itachi's lips curled in open contempt.
"Fool," he said plainly.
The words weren't loud — but every Kage-level shinobi nearby heard them clearly.
For a brief moment, the air froze.
Then several people who had suffered under Hiruzen's decisions couldn't help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction.
Uchiha Itachi… calling the Third Hokage an idiot.
It was poetic justice.
As for Hiruzen himself, his expression stiffened, the color draining from his face.
He opened his mouth to speak — but no words came out.
Itachi, the very person who once embodied his Will of Fire, had turned against him.
Hiruzen felt something twist painfully inside.
For the first time, he felt… ashamed.
He quickly turned away, unable to meet Itachi's gaze.
Still, he consoled himself with hollow pride.
"The world mocks me for being too idealistic," he whispered under his breath, "but they can't see my true intentions. One day, they will understand."
He clenched his fists tightly.
"One day, I — the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen — will rise again."
With that delusion fueling him, Hiruzen turned back toward the ongoing spectacle — the ridiculous standoff between Uchiha Madara and the Great Toad Sage.
These two were supposed to be the core of the Ninja Alliance, the spearhead against Konoha.
But now, they were just… a farce.
Meanwhile, the confrontation between Uchiha Madara and the Great Toad Sage only grew more intense.
Neither was willing to back down, even as the entire world watched their folly unfold.
Both were too proud — and too angry — to retreat now.
Whoever gave in first would be the loser.
"Pathetic. Truly pathetic,"
grumbled Black Zetsu, watching the scene unfold.
He could hardly believe what he was seeing.
Their supposed leaders — the Great Toad Sage and Uchiha Madara — were fighting each other instead of uniting against their common enemy, the Fifth Hokage.
How absurd could they be?
If he weren't forced to stay hidden, Black Zetsu would have long since jumped out to curse them both.
"Hmph. They're just two useless fools."
A calm, icy voice cut through his thoughts.
It was Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, her expression filled with disdain.
"Before the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Yuta, even makes a move, these two start fighting among themselves. How utterly stupid."
Then her eyes narrowed as a thought crossed her mind.
"Forget it. We'll pull back for now," she said lightly. "The Ninja Alliance is nothing but a rabble — they can't accomplish anything. It's better to wait for the true power of the Ōtsutsuki clan to descend."
"I'm sure your two foolish brothers think the same."
"Understood."
Black Zetsu nodded coldly.
He knew exactly what his mother meant.
Uchiha Madara and the Great Toad Sage were unreliable — pawns destined to fail.
Only when the true Ōtsutsuki warriors arrived to conquer the world would Kaguya's opportunity come.
Then… she would rise again as the true ruler of Earth.
But before he could speak further—
A calm, almost mocking voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Black Zetsu," said Uchiha Yuta, his Sharingan glowing faintly as he turned his gaze toward the hidden shadow, "you seem awfully talkative for someone who calls himself a strategist."
His tone sharpened.
"As the first creation of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki — and the younger brother of Hagoromo and Hamura — why do you always hide in the dark like a cowardly turtle?"
The words struck like thunder.
The entire battlefield froze.
Even the arrogant smirk on Black Zetsu's face disappeared in an instant.
He had been discovered.
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