Chapter 217: Why Is My Career Panel in a 2D Art Style? Chapter 98

"Who are you?!"

Black Zetsu's pea-sized eyes flickered with shock—he never expected his thousand-year plan to be exposed in a single sentence.

Before Li Ang could answer, he pressed on: "If you're truly Mother's child, then why have you never contacted me all these years?!"

This was Black Zetsu's greatest doubt at this moment.

Facing Black Zetsu's accusations, Li Ang delivered the prepared lie: "Before Mother was sealed, she secretly hid me away."

"All these years, I've been restoring my strength—only recently did I awaken again."

As he spoke, he fixed his Mangekyō Sharingan on the stark black-and-white figure before him, a mocking smile curling at his lips.

"After all these years, you're still this weak, placing all your hopes on others."

"How can we possibly revive Mother with you by our side?!"

Li Ang's words rang with heartfelt anguish and conviction—he could not let Black Zetsu seize the initiative.

Black Zetsu fell silent.

Because the man across from him spoke the truth: in direct combat, he was indeed weak.

He had tried—many times—but the problem was he simply couldn't learn. All these years, he'd only managed to develop a few Yin-Yang Release techniques, and Wood Release was far inferior to the previous generation's Asura.

'Wrong—I almost got tangled in his trap.'

Black Zetsu suddenly snapped back to awareness.

Just as he was about to speak again, Li Ang abruptly shifted tone, speaking with surprising kindness: "But it doesn't matter—I'm here to help you now. Brothers united, we'll surely revive Mother."

To revive Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, one must gather all nine Tailed Beasts—at least for now, Li Ang's and Black Zetsu's Moon Eye Plan had no conflict.

Next, one must absorb the Ten-Tails, which has gathered all nine Tailed Beasts, to awaken the Rinne Sharingan.

But to awaken the Rinne Sharingan, one must first possess a Rinnegan—otherwise, Black Zetsu wouldn't have waited for Uchiha Madara to awaken his Rinnegan before beginning his plan.

'So we still need Madara's eyes.'

At this stage, one becomes, in a sense, Kaguya's jinchūriki.

But if Boruto can start a 'Ku Su Tao La Ma,' why not a 'Ku Su Hui La Ma'? Though Li Ang thought it better to let Kaguya take over his body than to let her hijack it.

Only after that could the Infinite Tsukuyomi be unleashed.

This was the most dangerous step, for Kaguya could attempt a soul possession at any moment.

Li Ang believed that, given his current state, he was far more tempting to Kaguya than Uchiha Madara.

'One step at a time—if all else fails, I'll just pluck a branch from the Ten-Tails and run.'

If completing a ritual with the sole element of 'Truth and Falsehood' were enough to transform into a 【Sage】, then Li Ang thought he could still match Kaguya.

But the problem is

—

【Occupation: Sage】

【Requirements for Advancement:】

1. Previous Occupation 【Qi Refiner (San Yi)】 at Max Level (x)

2. Participate in and lead a super-large-scale (planetary standard) ritual with the element 'Truth and Falsehood' (x)

3. Master the Principles of Heaven and Earth, Awaken the Techniques of a Sage (x)】

【After Advancement:】

1. Stat Growth

2. Gain Occupational Skill—generated based on Conditions 2 and 3

3. Gain Occupational Specialization—Unity of Heaven and Man, Cultivation of Life and Destiny, generated based on Conditions 2 and 3

4. Gain Special Bonus:

Generated based on Condition 2.】

—

Completing the ritual alone is not enough—becoming a 【Sage】 requires other conditions.

Especially Condition 3, which was abstract even by abstract standards.

'Tsk. Looks like I'll have to figure it out myself—or will I ever get another chance to return to the One-Person World?'

The Eight Marvelous Techniques were definitely the youthful version of Sage abilities—if Li Ang wanted a shortcut, he'd likely find it there.

'Come to think of it, could the world of God Slayer work too?'

A thought flashed through his mind: a world where one gains divine authority by slaying gods. Li Ang's gaze flickered slightly.

Meanwhile, Black Zetsu's emotions were deeply conflicted.

Though he hated to admit it, the man before him—given his current behavior—undeniably bore some deep connection to Mother.

'Could it be… Mother left behind more than just me before she was sealed?'

He thought to himself.

But after pondering for a long while, Black Zetsu could not reach a definite answer, so he finally asked: "What do you plan to do?"

"Let Pain continue gathering the Tailed Beasts. When the time is right, I'll replace him with the Rinnegan, absorb the God Tree, and finally unleash the Infinite Tsukuyomi to collect chakra and revive Mother."

After a brief pause, Li Ang presented a modified Moon Eye Plan.

Upon hearing this plan, Black Zetsu first froze—then began weighing its feasibility.

The only difference from the original plan was that Uchiha Madara had been removed from the equation.

Seeing the filial son lost in thought, Li Ang remained silent, offering no pressure.

After a long while, Black Zetsu asked in a low voice: "If you've regained your strength, why haven't you awakened the Rinnegan?"

In his view, if this man truly was Mother's child, how could he not inherit the Rinnegan—yet instead possess Indra's eyes?

The Byakugan, however, was indeed Mother's eyes.

Hearing this, Li Ang gave Hei Jue a skeptical look: "You, who inherited none of her powers, have the nerve to criticize me?"

"Aren't you also Mother's child? Then why don't you have the Rinnegan?"

Hei Jue was momentarily speechless, unable to think of a rebuttal.

Indeed, he could almost be said to have inherited none of Mother's power.

After a moment of silence, this dutiful son spoke: "I'll temporarily accept you as Mother's child. I'll follow your plan—for now."

At this point, Hei Jue was half-skeptical, half-suspect of Li Ang's identity; he could never trust someone based on such a brief exchange.

But currently the most critical task was gathering all nine Tailed Beasts; whether to follow the original plan or the new one, he would decide based on circumstances.

Thus, two men with hidden agendas reached an alliance.

After forming the alliance, Li Ang asked: "Who came to see me just now? Not Indra's reincarnation, right?"

He did not reveal Uchiha Obito's identity, for acting as if he knew everything would only deepen Hei Jue's suspicions.

Not just Obito—he uttered no name he shouldn't have known throughout the entire conversation.

Like Changmen.

Hei Jue did not conceal Uchiha Obito's identity, but selectively revealed fragments of the Moon's Eye Plan.

Hearing this, Li Ang feigned surprise: "So all these years, you haven't done nothing after all."

"Hmph. Good that you know."

Hei Jue let out a cold snort, then sank into the ground and vanished from the room.

After seeing off his newly acknowledged brother, Li Ang turned back to the mirror.

He stared at his right eye, its pure white iris, and frowned slightly.

'Need to find a way to conceal it.'

Just now, it was thanks to the Byakugan's insight that he spotted Hei Jue—though the other's emotional turmoil had also left an opening.

In other worlds, Li Ang wouldn't need to conceal it, but in the Naruto world, it was still too sensitive.

'Pity it's not the Tenseigan—if it were, I wouldn't have to go through all this trouble.'

After brief consideration, he chose to conceal it with the Golden Eyes.

Since the Golden Eyes were transformed by the 【Console Player】, they could still be used.

Moments later, Li Ang nodded in satisfaction at his reflection—the pupils faintly glowing gold.

Though still somewhat conspicuous, it was far better than the Byakugan.

'Next, I'll level up while waiting for the Akatsuki's plan to unfold.'

Thinking this, Li Ang first entered Sage Mode, then activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.

With the massive boost from 【Mao's Bloodline】, his stamina had been greatly enhanced.

【Maintaining Sage Mode, Skill EXP +1】.

【Maintaining Mangekyō Sharingan, Skill EXP +2】.

【Using Bloodline Ability, Class EXP +4】.