Outskirts of Konoha.
Beside a gentle-flowing river tracing the edges of the Land of Fire.
Bai Ye held a fishing rod in one hand, and with the other, he idly stroked the snow-white rabbit nestled in his lap.
At this moment, his expression was serene.
Fishing—
It was his chosen form of self-refinement.
Today marked his rare day off.
Ironically, all of his women were tied up with their own matters.
Tsunade had finally gathered crucial evidence—an opportunity that couldn't wait.
Uzuki Yugao was adjusting to her new duties as interim Anbu commander.
Under her father's guidance, Yuhi Kurenai was refining her genjutsu to new heights.
And so it was—rare, indeed—
There were no women vying for Bai Ye's attention.
Of course...
The rabbit in his lap could only be considered female in form, not in spirit.
That rabbit, however, was no ordinary creature.
The so-called Rabbit Goddess—Kaguya Ōtsutsuki—wriggled occasionally in Bai Ye's grasp.
After a few mild struggles, she resigned herself.
Tilting her head, she peered up at Bai Ye, lost in silent contemplation.
Over the past few weeks, she'd kept close to him, subtly absorbing the chakra he naturally emitted.
That power—tied to his unique physique and Uchiha lineage—was unusually potent.
Thanks to this ambient nourishment, she'd even managed to absorb residual chakra from Shukaku, the One-Tail, without detection.
If this pace continued, there would be no need for Infinite Tsukuyomi.
This, precisely, was why she willingly followed him back to Konoha.
Regain her strength.
Then, unleash her true self and teach this insufferable mortal a lesson.
That was Kaguya's current intent.
Only then would she resume her grand vision.
Lately, she had become painfully aware of just how much time had passed since her sealing.
Twenty-nine millennia.
And what had her "child," Black Zetsu, done in all this time?
Lazing around. Plotting endlessly. Failing just as consistently.
Under the warm sun, Kaguya stretched languidly in Bai Ye's lap.
She hated to admit it...
But she'd gotten used to this absurd life.
While she still didn't comprehend this man's obsession with mundane things like fishing, she couldn't stop herself from analyzing him.
A man with strength surpassing the Six Paths.
Yet he played house in a village full of weaklings, serving as a peacekeeper in uniform.
Was this normal?
Millennia ago, she unified a world torn by war and conflict.
Her divine chakra imposed peace where none had existed.
From that divine will, she birthed two sons.
Unfilial children.
They dared to question her purpose, and worse, they'd shattered the harmony she'd painstakingly created.
What could weak humans possibly accomplish against true threats?
That's why Infinite Tsukuyomi was necessary.
To protect them—from themselves.
Strength was to protect the worthy.
That was Kaguya's gospel.
She couldn't fathom Bai Ye's outlook.
"Hooked."
Right then—
Bai Ye twitched the rod and flicked his wrist, sending a plump carp flying into a wooden bucket nearby.
Fish secured, both Bai Ye and the rabbit shifted their gaze.
In the distance, an oddly cloaked man emerged from the trees.
Shrouded in dark fabric, even his face was hidden.
He, too, carried a rod and basket—seemingly a fellow angler.
He's arrived.
Bai Ye's lips curved with amusement.
But in his lap, Kaguya's eyes narrowed with quiet disdain as she glanced sideways at the figure.
It was him.
Black Zetsu.
At that moment, a storm of emotion erupted inside the dark will's heart.
What did he see?
His divine mother, reduced to a rabbit spirit, perched willingly in another man's arms?
He wanted to scream.
But Black Zetsu had never been reckless.
Caution, not courage, had preserved him through a millennium of schemes.
If he was alive now, it was because he never made a move without knowing the full picture.
He hadn't planned to reveal himself today.
But recently...he had sensed her chakra.
Subtle, unmistakable.
No matter how faintly she released it, he would always find it.
This was the link between them—origin and will.
Like a beacon.
And so, carefully, he tracked it.
Until he followed it to this scene—
Where Bai Ye sat on the riverbank, with Mother curled up on his lap.
In disguise as a humble villager from the Land of Fire, he hoped to investigate further.
Was this man coercing his mother? Enslaving her in some spiritual trap?
If so, Black Zetsu would act.
He would resurrect the Akatsuki, awaken Obito and Nagato—whatever it took.
But then—
He witnessed something that broke him.
Smack!
Bai Ye's hand landed squarely on the rabbit's round backside.
"Why the look?"
He addressed Kaguya with a smile.
"I came here to fish, not play pretend. You know the rules. You want to role-play? Tell me first."
Rules?
Black Zetsu's eyes bulged.
He smacked her?!
You dare?!
That's the progenitor of chakra!
The one who consumed the God Tree's fruit!
And you... touched her like a pet?
He wanted to scream—
LET GO OF MY MOTHER!
But even worse—
Kaguya, the revered goddess, didn't resist.
She... lowered her head and snuggled closer into Bai Ye's arms.
Like a tame animal.
No!
You're not a rabbit!
You're the Sovereign of Chakra!
Where's your dignity?!
Strike him down!
You're the goddess who reshaped the world!
But... she didn't.
Instead, Bai Ye tossed her lightly onto the grass and turned toward Black Zetsu.
"Come fish with me. Ever heard of Nanhe River?"
Black Zetsu froze.
Fishing? Now?!
He looked at his rod, completely confused.
He was supposed to reclaim his mother, restore her honor.
But now... he found himself sitting on a nearby rock with Bai Ye.
Emotionless. Dumbfounded.
Kaguya's voice reached him telepathically.
"Do your job. Don't disturb my peace."
Black Zetsu flinched.
They were of the same essence.
She could communicate effortlessly from such a short range.
Do your job?
You mean... fish?
He glanced at his rod and sighed.
Quietly... he cast the line.
"So, do you know what happened here?" Bai Ye suddenly asked.
Black Zetsu tensed. "Uh... no."
"It all started during the Warring States Era."
Here we go again, Kaguya sighed in his mind.
"You know the God of Shinobi, right? Hashirama Senju? And that guy Uchiha Madara?"
"Yeah..."
"Both peed in this river. Long distance. Epic arcs."
...
"Wait... what?"
"They were besties. And lovers. At least emotionally."
Black Zetsu blinked.
Is this... real lore?
No wonder Madara carried Hashirama's DNA.
"But then..." Bai Ye leaned in. "A third figure came between them."
Black Zetsu."
The air went still.
A chill crawled up Black Zetsu's spine.
He knows.
Bai Ye continued, voice low and taunting—
"The tragedy of two warriors, torn apart by a shadow. Black Zetsu, the interloper."
Black Zetsu swallowed hard.
Was this fishing trip... a trap?
Kaguya looked away, clearly tired of both their antics.
She licked her paw.
Then leapt back into Bai Ye's lap.
Bai Ye gently scratched her ears.
Gods.
She's been tamed.
Black Zetsu's soul collapsed.
His mother... had become something he couldn't recognize.
A pet.
Worse.
A cuddly pet.
"Mother," he thought bitterly, "you've changed."
No longer the proud Otsutsuki sovereign.
Now... she purred in the arms of a man who told ghost stories about urination.
Bai Ye chuckled.
"Want to hear how the Uchiha bathed in this river next?"
Black Zetsu's face twitched.
Kaguya sighed again.
And so... fishing continued.
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