Black Zetsu nodded slowly, still puzzled as to why the boy emphasized that point.
"My sister can recover and even strengthen herself by absorbing chakra. The chakra she's drawn from me is exceptionally refined. Now I need other people's chakra—especially that which comes from the Uchiha's ocular power and the Senju clan's life force. The chakra of Kaguya's lineage and Uzumaki vitality will also help, but ideally, I need the chakra of the tailed beasts."
"She's in my spiritual consciousness right now and can't fully manifest or be absorbed. I need to construct a sealed inner space within myself—one as stable and refined as possible—to host her essence."
"Most critically, it has to be completely hidden—unable to be sensed, even by chakra sensory types, and impervious to dōjutsu like the Sharingan or Byakugan."
What Tamura Hao sought was essentially the Six Paths: Chibaku Tensei Seal that Uchiha Madara used to become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki and anchor the God Tree inside his body. Others might not recognize it, but this ancient entity should know.
After all, Black Zetsu had existed for over a thousand years and inherited a legacy that was far more profound than what was depicted in the anime. He possessed knowledge from the time of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki herself—secrets passed down through the divine tree and the Ōtsutsuki clan.
After pondering for a moment, Black Zetsu replied, "I know a sealing art that can synchronize your body with my mother's essence. Reveal your abdomen—I'll assist you in constructing the inner matrix."
Without hesitation, Tamura Hao lifted his clothes, revealing a lean, muscular abdomen with defined eight-pack abs.
With his golden finger ability as his foundation, he wasn't concerned about Zetsu playing tricks.
Black Zetsu extended a pair of shadowy hands and utilized Yin-Yang Release to inscribe a formation of complex runes across the boy's abdomen. Finally, he struck his palm into Hao's stomach—the seal glowed faintly as the inscription was absorbed into his body.
Tamura Hao synchronized his chakra with the seal and instantly felt the spatial distortion inside—a vast and highly stable sealed space.
He wasted no time. Using chakra as a medium, he transferred the remnant essence of Kaguya from his spiritual plane into the seal.
The moment her presence entered the space, the Yin-Yang chakra that formed the seal resonated and began integrating into her will. It was as though the space recognized her as its true owner.
Kaguya's phantom visibly became more distinct and expressive—sharpening like a mirage gaining clarity.
Sensing that control had shifted from him, Black Zetsu immediately plunged his consciousness into the sealed space. When he saw the increasingly tangible silhouette of Kaguya, his entire being trembled.
"Mother! It's truly you!"
It was unmistakable. This was her.
Kaguya's phantom turned and locked eyes with Zetsu. She said nothing, merely watching him in silence.
Tamura Hao, still shaping chakra into supportive structures within the sealed space, watched her evolving state and confirmed his suspicion.
He'd long theorized that chakra—especially divine Ōtsutsuki chakra—could evolve toward sentience. This shadow of Kaguya was becoming more intelligent and autonomous over time.
After all, even Hagoromo's chakra had manifested independently during the Fourth Great Ninja War—interacting with Naruto and Sasuke in their mental worlds. If Hagoromo's mere chakra could do that, then Kaguya's remnant was more than capable of the same.
"You plan to use Uchiha Madara to awaken the Rinnegan and trigger the Infinite Tsukuyomi, thereby releasing the seal on my sister. But I think your strategy has a critical flaw."
Tamura Hao said suddenly, preparing to redirect Black Zetsu's thoughts. It was time to manipulate the manipulator.
"What flaw?" Black Zetsu, now calm again, turned toward his "brother" with narrowed eyes.
"The flaw is the Sage of Six Paths himself—Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki. Are you sure he's truly dead? You've been scheming in the shadows all these years, but he might have been watching all along. When you nudged Madara down that path, he might've anticipated it. You may not be the only one pulling strings."
Tamura Hao didn't believe that the Sage of Six Paths had simply died and vanished. Hagoromo was a pure-blooded Ōtsutsuki, had awakened the Rinnegan, and had once been the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki. He wasn't far off from Kaguya's level.
Kaguya, Black Zetsu, and the nine tailed beasts had all survived for centuries. Why should Hagoromo be different?
Moreover, his spiritual return during the Fourth Great Ninja War and his power to grant chakra from beyond death suggested a deeper mystery.
"I know it's a gamble, but I have no other choice," Black Zetsu said grimly. He too had doubts about Hagoromo's end. That's why he'd waited centuries before pushing the plan forward. The continued reincarnation of Indra and Asura's chakra alone suggested Hagoromo's lingering influence.
And there was also the matter of his Rinnegan—its disappearance was suspicious. But Black Zetsu had no alternate method. The Rinnegan was the key to unsealing Kaguya, so he had no choice but to act.
"If I acquired power surpassing the Sage of Six Paths, could I forcefully break the seal on Kaguya?"
Tamura Hao asked. Compared to relying on the moon-eye plan and Madara, he preferred brute force—breaking the seal head-on. That would alter the game entirely.
"Power beyond Hagoromo's? You?"
Black Zetsu scoffed. He had sensed Tamura Hao's chakra long ago—no Ōtsutsuki blood, no Rinnegan potential. Merely refined chakra. It was impossible for him to reach Hagoromo's level.
If power alone were enough, Black Zetsu would've cultivated someone millennia ago.
"You'll never know if you don't try," Tamura Hao replied calmly. With his cheat-like abilities, his growth potential was beyond comprehension.
"Don't place too much hope on that shadow. It's not my mother's true form. It's only a fragment—barely a construct. There's no full bloodline, no true will," Black Zetsu warned. He could sense it—the essence was authentic, but incomplete.
Tamura Hao let the topic drop and shifted gears.
"What about the Ten-Tails? Can you cultivate a miniature version that my sister can use as an external source to draw energy from, or at least refine her own chakra more quickly?"
"I've sealed parts of the God Tree's husk. They still contain traces of vitality. I'll send them to you."
Black Zetsu didn't refuse. Even if the phantom's potential was limited, it was more than enough to let Hao surpass any ninja in the current world. Reaching the tier of Madara or Hashirama should be possible.
"I'll also need the chakra of the tailed beasts—especially the Nine-Tails. Absorbing some of its power may enhance my ability to detect malice or intent."
Tamura Hao proposed. He was certain that Black Zetsu had tailed beast chakra in reserve. After all, even a monk like Chiriku had collected Nine-Tails chakra during the incident at Konoha.
"That perceptual ability stems from the Nine-Tails' origin power, not just its chakra. Only its primal essence can override worldly chakra and grant true sensitivity."
"Ordinary chakra won't help. However, lesser chakra from tailed beasts can still be used to nourish a new Ten-Tails. The result won't be as powerful, but it could approximate a tailed beast's level."
Black Zetsu rejected the idea of sensing evil through ordinary Nine-Tails chakra. If that alone worked, he would've gathered tailed beast chakra ages ago and raised another Ten-Tails in secret.
"Origin chakra..."
Tamura Hao suddenly understood. He'd always assumed tailed beasts were just chakra constructs, but this made more sense. They had mass, will, and unique biology. They had a foundational essence—the root of their power.
To truly evolve his perception, he needed access to the Nine-Tails' original flesh or essence. And he wasn't sure how long Mito Uzumaki could live.
"Then watch the First Hokage's wife carefully. She's aging. When the Nine-Tails gets transferred, there'll be an opportunity. I'll ask the Third Raikage and the others to help seize it. Even getting some flesh or blood is enough."
Tamura Hao was determined. The ability to detect malice would become his most reliable defense—no assassin or betrayer could get close.
"You can influence the Third Raikage and the Hidden Cloud?" Black Zetsu asked, startled. This younger brother seemed far more deeply embedded in Kumo's core than he had imagined.