"Why are you doing this?" Madara Uchiha's face darkened as he spoke coldly. "Aren't you on her side?"
"No, you misunderstand," Black Zetsu Loli shook her head gently, speaking softly. "She is my mother, but what she is doing now is not her true intent. She is being controlled, which is why she acts this way."
"Controlled?" Madara's face twisted into a mocking smile. "If she's as powerful as you claim, how could she be controlled?"
"Stop it, Madara," Hashirama interrupted, walking over with a serious expression. "What do you want us to do?"
"I want you to try and place this on my mother," Black Zetsu Loli said, blinking and pulling out a peculiar kunai from her pocket.
"This is," Hashirama's eyes widened, "the special kunai used by Minato Namikaze for Flying Thunder God Technique."
"Exactly," Black Zetsu Loli nodded quietly.
This kunai was the same one she had with her when she entered the Dragon Veins, imbued with the Dragon Veins' chakra. Previously, Black Zetsu Loli had observed that whenever Kaguya regained her consciousness, a faint purple glow appeared around her—the glow of Dragon Veins chakra. This suggested that the Dragon Veins chakra might be the key to awakening Kaguya's consciousness.
"Doing this might awaken Mother's consciousness," Black Zetsu Loli said calmly.
"Why don't you do it yourself?" Madara raised an eyebrow and folded his arms, speaking sternly.
"Because if I get too close to her, I will be affected, so I need someone else to do it," Black Zetsu Loli said, looking up at them. "I need your help."
"Alright, I'll help you," Hashirama took the kunai, weighing it in his hand. "I just need to place the kunai next to her, right?"
"Yes," Black Zetsu Loli nodded with a gentle smile. "Thank you."
"Wait," Madara suddenly spoke up. "When did I say I would go?"
"Madara," Hashirama was taken aback and spoke urgently.
"If this world can never be perfect, then it might as well be destroyed," Madara said coldly, his eyes fierce. "Living in pain might be a release."
"What are you talking about, Madara?" Hashirama stepped forward urgently. "Things are already starting to get better, and—"
"And I, who started this war, am right in front of you," Black Zetsu Loli said coolly. "If you can restore Mother's consciousness, I am willing to accept punishment."
"Hmph," Madara snorted coldly. "I have no interest in taking revenge on a defenseless child."
"Don't you want revenge?" Black Zetsu Loli asked curiously. "After all, it was because of me—"
"Enough, it was my own carelessness that led me to fall into your trap," Madara said coldly, glancing at Black Zetsu. "I haven't sunk so low as to take it out on a child, but I won't help you either. Give up."
"I will help."
Just as Hashirama was about to persuade Madara Uchiha, a voice suddenly rang out.
Meanwhile, in another place.
This was a white space filled with a soft light. Although everything was white, it was not glaring at all; instead, it gave a sense of peace and tranquility.
In the center of the space was a luxurious bed made of fine sandalwood, intricately carved with lifelike birds and flowers. It was covered with a down comforter, making it look very comfortable. Not only that, but above the bed was a lavish canopy, with curtains like mist or waterfalls swaying gently with the breeze.
On the bed lay an exquisitely beautiful girl sleeping soundly. Her silvery hair cascaded over the pillow like a misty waterfall. Her skin was as smooth as porcelain, her eyebrows like distant hills, and her sleepy eyes half-closed. Her long eyelashes quivered slightly with her breath, and her pale cheeks were slightly flushed. Even with a blanket covering her, it couldn't hide her alluring figure. Bathed in this gentle white light, she looked like a beautiful spring sleep painting.
Suddenly, the girl's silver eyelashes fluttered a few times, and she opened her eyes, sitting up abruptly. It seemed she had awoken from a nightmare; her chest rose and fell with her rapid breathing.
"Where is this place?"
The silver-haired girl quickly got out of bed, looked around, and found herself in an unfamiliar space, with nothing but the luxurious bed.
She was Kaguya. She had fallen unconscious when Madara Uchiha released the Infinite Tsukuyomi, and when she awoke, she was in this unknown space.
All around was an empty white expanse, with nothing but the bed for reference. Kaguya ran in one direction, anxious to get back, as she still had things to do and couldn't stay here. She didn't know what was happening outside. Without her, the ninja alliance couldn't possibly stand against Six Paths Madara. Now, she didn't know where Naruto and Sasuke were.
If things didn't happen as they did in the original story, wouldn't it be a disaster? Also, it was known that the Sage of the Six Paths had foreseen Kaguya's appearance, which is why he gave Naruto and Sasuke the power of the Six Paths. Now that Black Zetsu is gone, Madara will definitely not become Kaguya Otsutsuki. Without Kaguya, it's uncertain if the Sage would grant them the Six Paths power as in the original.
Now, the only thing Kaguya could do was to get out of this unknown space as quickly as possible. She was the only one who could stop Six Paths Madara.
She ran continuously for about an hour, but all she saw was an endless white space. It seemed as though this space had no end.
Suddenly, Kaguya's eyes brightened as she seemed to see something and quickened her pace. But when she reached that spot, she was greatly disappointed.
What she saw was the same luxurious bed she had been lying on before. After running such a long distance, she had returned to her starting point.
Is she doomed to run in circles here?
Kaguya frowned slightly, thinking carefully about a way to get out.
Suddenly, she sensed something and turned around abruptly. When she saw the person in front of her, her pupils shrank.
The person before her looked almost exactly like herself—no, they were identical except for a slight difference in their smiles. It was Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's likeness.
However, upon closer inspection, one would find that Kaguya was more beautiful than the person in front of her. This was the change she underwent after arriving in the Naruto world. The person in front of her more closely resembled her appearance when she first arrived in the Naruto world, or rather, it was Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's original appearance.