Starting as a Ninja in the Naruto World

Black Zetsu felt restless.

Deep down, frustration simmered.

He couldn't believe it—Emiya Shigen had fallen for Asura's nonsense once, but now he actually admired Hashirama Senju?

Yes, Hashirama had ended the Warring States Era.

But once he dies, new wars will surely break out!

"Emiya-sama…"

"You are the most intelligent person this world has ever seen…"

"I've followed your footsteps for a thousand years, but I've never encountered anyone even close to your brilliance."

Black Zetsu's raspy voice echoed with melancholy, as if trying to awaken the man before him.

"But you know better than anyone else…"

"Hashirama's peace is temporary."

"As long as there are ninjas in this world…"

"As long as greed festers in their hearts…"

"As long as there is no overwhelming power to suppress that greed…"

"There will never be peace."

"No matter how many times Asura reincarnates, it's useless!"

"When Hashirama dies, these ninjas will once again wage wars for their own interests. The endless cycle will continue… People born into this world will suffer from the moment they take their first breath, living tragic, painful lives."

"Emiya-sama…"

"Have you forgotten your ideals?"

"You once endured the pain others couldn't bear. You worked tirelessly to relieve the suffering of the helpless."

"Are you really going to stand by and watch this cycle of misery repeat endlessly?"

As Black Zetsu spoke, his tone became more fervent, like a devoted believer chastising a fallen prophet.

"You inspired countless future medical ninjas to carry your will… Have you abandoned that dream?"

Emiya Shigen frowned slightly, deep in thought.

It seemed Black Zetsu's words were getting through.

But deep down, Shigen was already coming up with excuses to divert the conversation.

"Actually…"

He narrowed his eyes, carefully crafting his response.

"Asura once said to me—"

"Asura was an arrogant fool!"

Black Zetsu cut him off harshly, his voice filled with anger.

"If you hadn't believed his lies… If you'd killed him and destroyed the ninja sects entirely… If you'd reclaimed the chakra the Sage of Six Paths spread across the world… Then this world would never have fallen into a millennium of war!"

"The ones responsible for this endless conflict…"

"Are the descendants of the Sage of Six Paths and those wretched ninja clans!"

"..."

Emiya Shigen went silent.

Black Zetsu's words were harsh, but there was truth to them.

Watching Black Zetsu's fervent expression, Emiya couldn't help but feel a little dazed.

For a moment, it even seemed like Black Zetsu was the righteous one here.

What a twisted reality this was…

When did things get this absurd?

"…Heh."

"Hehehe…"

"Why aren't you answering me, Emiya-sama?"

Black Zetsu grinned, sensing he was striking a nerve.

"Is it because you've realized…"

"That you're still on the wrong path?"

"..."

Emiya Shigen remained silent, his gaze distant.

"…?"

Suddenly, Black Zetsu felt uneasy.

Had he pushed too hard?

Was he being too forceful?

Then, Emiya Shigen lowered his head.

His entire demeanor shifted—his once determined spirit now seemed completely defeated. His voice carried a weight of hopelessness, as if burdened by the failures of the past.

"Black Zetsu…"

"We can't succeed."

"..."

Black Zetsu froze.

For a moment, his mind went blank.

"…What do you mean?"

"Listen to me."

Emiya Shigen raised a hand, stopping Black Zetsu from speaking further. His voice was calm—too calm.

"When I obtained the Sage of Six Paths' powers, I immediately set out to reclaim the chakra he'd spread across the world."

"But…"

"I studied the Sage's body."

"And I found no way to take back the chakra."

His voice remained steady, yet there was an undeniable undertone of despair.

"Whether it was the Wood Release granted by the remnants of the God Tree… or the power of the Rinnegan… None of it allowed me to reclaim the chakra that the Sage had given to the world."

"I couldn't differentiate between good and evil."

"I couldn't selectively take chakra back from those who misused it."

"So I resorted to killing the ninja sects indiscriminately."

"..."

Black Zetsu's expression grew… complicated.

Because all of this…

Was his fault.

This failure… was because he hadn't taught Emiya Shigen how to properly reclaim chakra!

The process of reclaiming chakra was part of the ritual to resurrect Kaguya. But at the time, Black Zetsu never thought Emiya would actually get that far.

"I…"

Black Zetsu tried to interject.

"Let me finish."

Emiya Shigen's voice cut through, firm yet calm.

"Remember our shared faith?"

"The Goddess of the Rabbit—Ōtsutsuki Kaguya?"

"..."

Black Zetsu nodded slowly.

Of course, he remembered.

Kaguya was his mother. He was created for the sole purpose of reviving her.

"I believed…"

"That she could take back the chakra."

Emiya Shigen's voice remained emotionless as he continued, weaving a narrative from half-truths and long-forgotten memories.

"I heard rumors from the ninja sects… forbidden tales… that Kaguya was the Sage of Six Paths' mother—the grandmother of Asura and Indra."

"To be honest…"

"I was worried."

"But I placed my hope in her."

"I believed that Kaguya would be a just and fair arbiter of chakra. That she would use it to heal the suffering of the world, not as a weapon of oppression."

"That's why… when I confronted Asura… I wanted to ask him how to bring her back."

"But during our battle…"

"I was swayed by his words. I gave up on my pursuit of Kaguya's resurrection."

"And the rest…"

"Well, you know how that story ends."

"..."

Black Zetsu was stunned.

He hadn't expected… this.

Emiya Shigen had done so much for Kaguya's resurrection.

He'd gone further than anyone else ever had.

If only… If only he'd known the exact steps to revive her…

Black Zetsu couldn't help but feel deeply moved by the revelation.

He had always believed that Emiya was the key to his plans.

Now, hearing all this…

It was painfully clear.

If Emiya Shigen had known the full process, Kaguya would have been resurrected a thousand years ago!

"…Actually…"

Black Zetsu's voice trembled slightly, as he prepared to finally share the truth.

"Black Zetsu… Let me finish."

Emiya interrupted him for the third time.

This time, his voice was exhausted.

"Now…"

"I've been brought back in this era."

"I've learned about the thousand years of endless war and suffering that followed."

"I know I made a terrible mistake, trusting Asura."

"I know that by sparing the ninja sects, I threw away the only chance we had to change the world."

"But…"

"What can I do now?"

Emiya's voice was hollow, utterly devoid of hope.

"The Sage of Six Paths is dead."

"Asura and Indra are long gone."

"The only ones who knew how to bring back Kaguya… are long dead."

"And this era…"

"This era doesn't even know its own history."

"These ninja revere the Sage as a god… They've reduced our time into mere legend."

"Black Zetsu…"

"Our path is gone."

"We can't reclaim the chakra from this era's ninjas. We can't find the secrets to resurrect Kaguya."

"I don't have the power to kill every ninja in this world."

"So… what's left?"

Emiya let out a bitter chuckle.

"All I can do…"

"Is keep trusting in Asura's promise."

"Because, Black Zetsu…"

"I don't see any other way forward."

He smiled faintly, his expression full of regret.

"I'm sorry…"

"I've let you down."

"Once again."

"..."

Black Zetsu stood frozen.

His mind was racing.

"No…"

"No, you haven't."

"There's still hope."

"There has to be!"

Yet deep inside, for the first time in a thousand years…

Black Zetsu began to doubt.