BOOM—!
A deafening explosion rang out as one of the Five Elders slammed his power-filled palm against the tree trunk. The towering tree shuddered violently, branches trembling and green leaves fluttering. The Five Elders immediately retreated, dodging to the sides as if afraid of something. Yet when they looked toward Kaguya, a trace of schadenfreude appeared on their faces.
"Foolish people will never understand the terror of true power," said the Five Elder with the birthmark on his forehead, grinning wickedly. "Because by the time they do… they're already dead."
As soon as he finished speaking, the divine tree suddenly extended countless thick, long vines, lashing out at Kaguya like lightning-fast tentacles!
Kaguya's eyes narrowed. She stomped her foot, her figure as light as a startled swan as she swiftly retreated.
But the sky-filled vines clung to her like maggots on bones, relentlessly chasing her. Kaguya's body flickered left and right in midair, constantly dodging the incoming attacks. Yet despite her incredible speed, she couldn't shake them off!
The white-haired Five Elder stepped forward and said, "Stop wasting your strength. No one can escape its overwhelming attacks. Even the kingdom of the 'D' clan perished under its might."
The kingdom of the 'D' clan?
Kaguya was momentarily stunned.
Some had theorized that before the current World Government, a powerful empire once existed—an empire with highly advanced technology and civilization, far beyond the current era. Clues from the One Piece side story on the moon supported this idea.
But several hundred years ago, for unknown reasons, this vast kingdom was destroyed, and the planet itself fractured into its current shattered form.
Analysts later suggested that the culprits behind this catastrophe were likely the Five Elders who went on to establish the World Government and seize ultimate authority.
Now, it seemed that theory held even more weight.
In that fleeting moment of distraction, the rapidly advancing vines went berserk, whipping around like silver serpents and converging on Kaguya from all directions. She suddenly realized—the overwhelming vines had unknowingly sealed off all possible escape routes!
"You have nowhere left to run. Die!"
Kaguya was about to activate her Heavenly Transfer Technique, but her pupils suddenly shrank—somehow, the technique wouldn't work!
In that instant of hesitation, the sky-darkening vines surged in, engulfing Kaguya in an endless sea of foliage…
The sky was bleak and gray, and everything around her was washed in dull, lifeless tones—like a faded mural, marked with traces of age and ruin. Broken walls and remnants of buildings lay everywhere, radiating an ominous sense of despair.
Where was this place?
After being bound by the vines, Kaguya had been transported here.
She glanced around. It was a completely unfamiliar environment—oppressive and gloomy. The air felt suffocating.
"Is anyone here?"
Her voice echoed far into the distance. The space felt empty, as though it had once seen fierce battle, but apart from the signs of destruction, nothing remained.
What was going on?
Kaguya frowned deeply. She had never encountered anything so bizarre.
Suddenly, she spun around, her cold eyes sharp as blades. She stared into the distance and shouted coldly, "Who's there?! Come out! Stop playing games!"
Her powerful voice cut through the fog like sunlight, clearing the air. A tall, slender figure emerged from the shadows. But when Kaguya saw who it was, her pupils contracted sharply.
"How could it be you?!"
Standing before her was a silver-haired woman with hair cascading like a waterfall. Her face was exquisitely beautiful, her skin as pale as snow. Her eyes were closed, her expression both enchanting and eerie. It was Kaguya!
More precisely, it was Kaguya Ōtsutsuki—the very same being Kaguya had once fought and destroyed!
Hadn't she already been eliminated?
How could she possibly appear here?!
Kaguya instinctively raised her arm, shifting into a combat stance, her eyes sharpening. "I asked you a question!"
But the Kaguya Ōtsutsuki floating silently in midair seemed completely unbothered by the threat, remaining still and silent. If not for Kaguya's extraordinary perception, she might not have noticed her at all.
Seeing no reaction, Kaguya furrowed her brow.
What was going on? She had never encountered anything this bizarre.
Logically, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki had already been dealt with in the Naruto world. Even if she had somehow survived, she shouldn't exist here in the One Piece world—after all, they were entirely separate worlds.
Even Kaguya herself couldn't cross between worlds without the system's support.
She stepped forward, approaching the floating figure. Reaching out her hand, she touched Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's cheek. The moment her fingertips made contact, a bone-deep chill shot into her mind. Even with her current power, Kaguya couldn't suppress a shiver.
So cold. An impossible cold—as if her very soul was freezing.
The two Kaguya stood side by side, their faces strikingly similar, like twin lotus blossoms on a painted scroll—beautiful, delicate, and perfectly composed.
While they shared some facial resemblance, close inspection revealed many differences. Kaguya's current appearance was more refined and her aura completely distinct—easily distinguishable.
Perhaps this change was due to everything she had experienced across many worlds—transforming her like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, more radiant than ever.
But Kaguya wasn't in the mood to admire beauty or indulge in twisted fantasies. She needed to get out of this strange space—fast. Shirahoshi and the others were still outside, and those fresh, delicate girls couldn't be left at the mercy of the Five Elders, who certainly had no habit of sparing beauty.
Just then, the floating Kaguya Ōtsutsuki suddenly opened her eyes.
In a flash, her pale hand shot out like lightning—and grabbed Kaguya by the wrist!
Kaguya's gaze sharpened, and she instinctively countered with a backhand strike. But when she saw the other's eyes, she paused—those eyes were crystal clear, like polished jade, without a trace of impurity.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki released her wrist, stared at her, and said softly, "Are you here to kill me?"
Kaguya blinked. "Kill you?"
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki replied calmly, "Isn't that what you did before?"
The atmosphere grew a little awkward. After all, Kaguya had indeed tried to eliminate her previously. Though she hadn't succeeded completely, her intent had been clear—she never tolerated threats, no matter how beautiful they might be.
"If that's your intention, I won't let it happen," said Kaguya Ōtsutsuki firmly, locking eyes with her. "Because—I don't want to die yet." As she spoke, she assumed a fighting stance. Her clothes billowed without wind, and an invisible power surged from within.
Kaguya looked at her determined expression and suddenly smiled. "Didn't expect to see you here—it's a surprise. But tell me, you weren't my match before. What makes you think you are now?"
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki bit her lip. "I just want to live. That's all I ask. Why are you being so aggressive?"
Aggressive?
That was a first.
"Sometimes, just staying alive is a luxury," Kaguya said with a crooked smile, her tone carrying a hint of wickedness.
"Heavenly Transfer!"
In the blink of an eye, Kaguya vanished—and reappeared behind Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, arm sweeping out to grab her wrist, attempting to pull her into an embrace!
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, caught off guard, spun around suddenly, raising her pale arm!
"Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack!"
In an instant, countless chakra fists burst from her palm, transforming into a storm of shadows that surged toward Kaguya like a lightning storm!
But before the fists could connect, Kaguya looked up, smirking. "You think such shallow techniques still work on me?"
"What?!"
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's pupils contracted.
Kaguya casually waved her hand through the barrage of fists and seized her wrist!
How—how was that possible?!
Sensing her confusion, Kaguya sneered. "Using that technique against me? You're underestimating me."
The Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack was indeed Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's signature move. But aside from her two artificial sons, she'd rarely used it in real combat. She either crushed her opponents with sheer power or they fled before a real fight could begin. Her lack of battle experience showed.
That's why she had first been sealed by the Sage of Six Paths, and later by Sasuke and Naruto.
Compared to the battle-hardened Kaguya who had fought across countless worlds, she was no match. And as the originator of the technique, Kaguya knew all its strengths and weaknesses. Combined with the power she had gained through her many travels, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki stood no chance.
Still gripping her soft white wrist, Kaguya leaned in and blew a breath into her ear, speaking wickedly: "You'd better surrender obediently. You're not my opponent. You have two choices: submit willingly… or get beaten up and then submit."
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki bit her lip. "Let go of me!"
"You're my prey now. Why would I let you go?" Kaguya said playfully, her hand sliding along her graceful curves.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki suddenly felt a tightness in her chest—Kaguya had grabbed her, kneading with force. Her face flushed with anger.
Kaguya leaned in close and whispered into her ear, "Prey doesn't have the right to choose life or death. Even someone from the Ōtsutsuki clan like you is no exception. Give up those unrealistic fantasies—it's all meaningless resistance."
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's face grew redder. She bit her lip, and after a moment, a trace of determination flashed through her clear eyes.
Just as Kaguya was about to speak again, she suddenly sensed something was off. A powerful force began surging from Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's body—far too intense, and not quite right.
Not good!
She's trying to self-destruct!
Even if Kaguya Ōtsutsuki couldn't defeat her, a self-detonation at that level might still inflict severe injury on Kaguya.
She couldn't let that happen!
Without thinking, Kaguya pulled Kaguya Ōtsutsuki into her arms. In her startled gaze, Kaguya pressed her lips to hers!
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki instinctively struggled, but Kaguya held her tightly, refusing to let go. As she kissed her, her hands roamed gently along her body.
Before long, under Kaguya's skilled technique, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's cheeks flushed even deeper, her breath became uneven, and her tense body gradually relaxed. The violent energy within her also began to settle down.
"Were you trying to kill me?" Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, cheeks burning, leaned weakly against Kaguya, panting as she whispered.
"Kill you?" Kaguya replied, "Why would I want to kill you?"
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki blinked, then urgently grabbed Kaguya's collar. "You came here to hunt me down, didn't you?"
"Hunt you down?"
Kaguya was slightly stunned. Did she think that was why she was here?
"Wasn't that it?" Kaguya Ōtsutsuki countered.
On second thought, it did seem like that from her perspective. After all, they had once been sworn enemies. Kaguya showing up again could easily be seen as coming to finish the job.
But come on—she was a model citizen of a civilized society. Doing something like force first, then silencing the witness? That wasn't her style.
Guessing what Kaguya Ōtsutsuki was thinking, Kaguya suddenly had a mischievous idea. With a wicked smile, she said, "Letting you go isn't impossible—but I have one condition."
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki paused. "What condition?"
Kaguya reached out, gently pinching her chin, her lips curling. "Let me enjoy myself a little first."
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