Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 217: Following the Strong Is Human Instinct

"What... is this?"

Uchiha Madara stared in disbelief at the black hand piercing his chest, never imagining Black Zetsu would betray him now.

Black Zetsu was Shigen's will.

With Shigen's power and reputation, there was no need for such a backstab—not at this moment.

"Black Zetsu..."

"Don't be too rough."

Shigen, unable to see what had happened, merely assumed Black Zetsu had restrained Madara.

"With Madara's nature, he might refuse to revive Lady Kaguya, but he's still a suitable subordinate for her reign over the ninja world."

"Don't worry, Shigen."

Black Zetsu replied with a hoarse, half-truthful chuckle.

"I'm only temporarily restraining him. Madara has the Ten Tails inside him—essential for reviving Kaguya. Let him merge with her first. Once she's back, he can be dealt with however we like."

"Lady... Kaguya?"

Madara murmured the name in a daze.

"That's right."

Black Zetsu's smile twisted into something wicked.

"Our plan was never just about trapping the world in a dream with Infinite Tsukuyomi. No, it was to use that genjutsu to revive the Goddess of the Rabbit, Kaguya of the ancient age."

"You should've figured it out, Madara..."

"A kind man like Shigen could never agree to trapping all of humanity in an illusion for eternity. That's just another form of extinction."

"Compared to that... returning the world to an age ruled by gods is our true goal!"

"In the new era..."

"The Rabbit Goddess will look down upon all from above. With divine might and infinite wisdom, she'll rule again. Her life is endless—undying, eternal. The ninja world will obey her will for generations to come."

"That's what we truly seek."

"Infinite Tsukuyomi..."

"Was just the prelude to Kaguya's return."

"!!!"

Madara's pupils shrank. His voice trembled.

"But... you said Infinite Tsukuyomi... was the Sage of Six Paths' legacy..."

"If we had told you the truth, you'd never have agreed."

Black Zetsu laughed, completely pleased with itself.

"Your power is far beneath Shigen's—but your arrogance far exceeds his. There's no way you would've accepted a god ruling above you."

"Still..."

"We needed you."

"To revive Kaguya, Infinite Tsukuyomi was necessary."

"And to cast Infinite Tsukuyomi, the Rinnegan was required."

"Shigen destroyed the Sage's Rinnegan in ancient times, so we had to cultivate a new one in this era."

Black Zetsu sighed regretfully.

"I always hoped Shigen would take your eyes and toss you aside like a pawn. But he wanted you to witness the new era... so you survived."

"You bastards..."

Madara clenched his teeth, wanting to curse—but his body was immobilized by Black Zetsu. And he had a peculiar flaw: when someone stood behind him, he couldn't exert his full strength...

That weakness—

Was fatal now.

"Shigen..."

Naruto was stunned as he watched everything unfold. He'd heard Black Zetsu and Madara's exchange and didn't understand what Shigen truly wanted.

"You want to revive Kaguya? That old hag who turned people into White Zetsu?"

"Who are you calling an old hag?!"

Black Zetsu fumed, wishing it could revive Kaguya right then to smack Naruto.

"Naruto."

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

"Human life is limited."

"Even if we achieve peace with ideals and power, it'll fade with our deaths..."

"I saw it all when Hashirama died."

Shigen didn't deny his intentions.

"Hashirama ended the Warring States era—but his short life meant the era of the Hidden Villages he created couldn't sustain lasting peace."

"..."

The reanimated Hokage nearby approached silently.

None could refute Shigen's words—they had all seen the First Great Ninja War that followed Hashirama's death.

"But..."

Naruto clenched his fists, raising his voice.

"If the First Hokage created peace once—we can do it again!"

"Then what about all those who died in the wars between those periods of peace?"

"What about the people who suffered in those gaps?"

Shigen's voice grew distant, heavy.

"Have you ever seen the souls who lived through those ages of pain?"

"That's why..."

Naruto gritted his teeth.

"If everyone understands the pain of war—they won't want to keep fighting..."

"Enough."

Shigen cut him off.

His tone was calm—but tinged with disdain.

"A child can't comprehend the world of adults. The real world needs a being capable of suppressing the darkness within everyone's heart."

"And there is no one more suited to that than an immortal god."

"Human life is too fragile. Expecting everyone to think like sages is foolish. Even asking them to think independently is a luxury."

"That's not true..."

Naruto tried to refute him.

"You want to create something that stands above everyone..."

"Naruto..."

"That's what the world wants."

"The idea of freedom is a contradiction to human nature."

"Humans are born with one specific instinct..."

"To follow the strong in times of uncertainty. Just like ninja once followed Hashirama for peace, just like how the Hidden Leaf now looks to its Hokage for direction..."

"Compared to tirelessly training and learning to develop independent thinking..."

"Following a strong leader is easier. People only need to do one thing—"

"Believe."

"Believe in the strong."

"And everything else becomes easy."

"Most people need someone to direct their lives—to show them the path, to shield them from dangers they'd never see coming..."

"Like now..."

"The ninja world is placing its hopes on you and Sasuke—to defeat an enemy they can't touch."

"..."

Naruto couldn't respond right away.

Because it was true.

He often followed orders from the Hokage.

He carried everyone's hopes.

Even when he returned from the Sage of Six Paths, he'd heard Tobirama and his father speak of their expectations.

"But that doesn't mean Kaguya should be the one!"

Sasuke's voice cut in while Naruto struggled to speak.

His mind was clear.

Sasuke agreed with Shigen's view—

That most people needed guidance.

But—

"Treating humans like livestock..."

"Turning them into sacrifices for the God Tree, into monsters like White Zetsu..."

"Is madness."

"Nonsense!"

Black Zetsu snapped back, defending Kaguya in front of Shigen.

"Those people committed unforgivable sins!"

Right now—

No mistakes could be allowed.

Black Zetsu's eyes gleamed coldly as it moved. It hurriedly made Madara manipulate the God Tree.

In an instant—

The tree began draining chakra from the suspended mummies.

Black Zetsu had already passed the point of no return.

It felt uneasy.

What if...

Shigen switched sides because of Naruto and Sasuke?

But—

Black Zetsu didn't need to worry.

Because Shigen would never side with them.

Though Shigen had never truly been on Black Zetsu's side either, he could hear the unease in its voice. That fear—

That one lie might unravel everything.

In fear...

People instinctively seek a stronger power to rely on.

Just like Black Zetsu.

It couldn't handle the threat alone—so it turned to reviving Kaguya, believing she could fix everything.

Following the strong—

It's not just human instinct.

It's the instinct of all life in this world.