In the Land of Lightning, Kumogakure Village.
After cohabiting for seven or eight years, Two-Tails Nekomata and Eight-Tails Gyuki had moved from constant bickering to outright mutual disdain.
"All I'm wishing for now is that Yugito advances her power soon, so she can expand this place a bit."
Inside the sealed space, Nekomata shouted loudly.
"Or could she at least create a partition? Why doesn't Kumogakure have any techniques for cultivating Spiritual Power? Annoying, annoying, annoying!"
Gyuki snorted in contempt. "You think I really want to stay with you either, sickly cat?"
As they argued, a faint laughter reached both beasts' ears.
Suddenly, an unfamiliar woman appeared before them.
That feeling again?!
Nekomata and Gyuki's fur stood on end as they stared wide-eyed at Kaguya who had materialized before them.
This time, she didn't transform into anyone else's appearance. Instead, she now looked at the two beasts with an amused smile. "Since you two have been so well-behaved, I'll shrink you down a bit from now on, so you can continue staying with Yugito."
"You're... that person?" Gyuki cautiously asked.
Kaguya calmly nodded.
Nekomata and Gyuki exchanged glances, their moods turning heavy at the same time.
Previously, she would still disguise herself as Yugito, clearly out of some concern.
Now she won't even pretend anymore—doesn't that mean nothing can threaten her anymore?
She fears absolutely nothing now? This is bad!
Back in the real world, since Kaguya hadn't severed her connection with Yugito this time, Yugito quickly sensed something entering her body.
"What are they up to again?" Grumbling irritably, she submerged her consciousness into her spiritual world.
"Who are you?" Yugito asked calmly, already preparing to expel this stranger.
At such a young age, having ascended the position of Raikage, she'd had to become strong-willed merely to suppress dissent within the village.
Nowadays, Yugito exuded an aura of leadership—firm convictions, immense confidence, and a presence that looked down upon everything.
Looking at her, Kaguya looked slightly satisfied.
Among those Kaguya had involved herself with, apart from using Yugito's body initially for one battle, Yugito probably experienced the least interference from Kaguya. All the challenges she faced within Kumogakure Village, she'd overcome independently.
Oh right, except for those two incompetent advisors, Two-Tails and Eight-Tails.
"I suppose you're content with the power I've given you?" A faint, knowing smile curved Kaguya's lips.
"What?" Yugito was taken aback.
"Uh... actually," Nekomata coughed awkwardly and cut in. "The one who took out B and A back then was her."
For a moment, Yugito froze, then a bitter, self-mocking expression crossed her face. "So you all conspired against me? First, you treated me like a puppet, and then tricked me together?"
She shot Kaguya a cold glare. "What kind of power? If you wanted to be Raikage, why don't you just take the position yourself? Why drag me into it?"
Feeling truly wronged, Yugito thought how unfair it was—since becoming Raikage, everyone had misunderstood her, thinking she was just power-hungry. To shut people up, she'd had no choice but to become cold.
Nekomata and Gyuki remained silent, only staring at the two of them.
Kaguya had no intention of offering explanations.
At first, she saw Yugito merely as a host.
If Hiroki hadn't insisted she spare Yugito's life, she wouldn't have appeared personally like this. Yugito would have had her tailed beast extracted and died in ignorant oblivion.
BOOM...
Yugito attempted to channel spiritual energy to attack Kaguya.
Glancing at her indifferently, Kaguya didn't even bother speaking before vanishing from sight.
Her expression gradually hardening with coldness, Yugito turned toward the cowering Nekomata and Gyuki on the ground.
"We're victims too!" Nekomata nervously shouted.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Yugito demanded.
"That person is just too powerful," Nekomata explained. "Even now, she could appear at any moment."
"What exactly does she want?" Yugito asked.
"It must be us," Gyuki interrupted. "She mentioned earlier about shrinking me and Two-Tails."
Back in reality, Yugito remained in a sour mood, her entire demeanor icy and frosty.
In the Raikage's private office, Mabui was trembling.
Are we going to war again? Who'd be stupid enough?
Kumogakure's peace all these years was because of Yugito—her willpower and unmatched combat power.
"Incredible," Orochimaru remarked while standing across from Konan in the Country of Rain. "We're working together once more."
"Working together?" Konan simply stared at him coldly without making a move.
"Why not?" Orochimaru shrugged. "Since you've spoken with Jiraiya, you should know about that so-called Kaguya Otsutsuki, right?"
Konan remained silent.
"The Two-Tails and Eight-Tails are already under her control. Do you really think you can take them back now?" Orochimaru continued. "Should I help count how many factions she has under her command? Tsunade and her Konoha, Yugito and her Kumogakure, Zetsu and—"
"Enough." Konan interrupted. "And do you actually believe you can deal with these two villages?"
"I never said that," Orochimaru admitted candidly. "But I can offer you an alternative plan."
Konan frowned.
"Let me meet Pain. Well, I should say Nagato instead." Orochimaru wore a confident smile on his face.
Konan fell into stunned silence.
Just how close was Master Jiraiya with Orochimaru anyway? Telling him everything like that.
Ever since their last encounter with Jiraiya, Nagato had stopped concealing his identity.
And yet, it hadn't been long before Orochimaru showed up directly.
Several days later, Hiruzen Sarutobi led a red-haired youth (Nagato) wearing an Akatsuki robe toward the ruins of the Uzumaki clan.
Hiruzen couldn't help but feel emotional inside. He never imagined he'd find himself collaborating with such a rogue organization.
Back when he was alive, something like this would've been absolutely impossible.
"If this fails," he told the person beside him gravely, "I may never return."
The red-haired youth nodded, thinking to himself: The Shinigami devours souls. My King Yama should be comparable enough.
When Nagato learned they were going to retrieve someone from the Shinigami's grasp, he hesitated for a long time between the Human Path and the Naraka Path before finally choosing the Naraka Path.
But he wasn't sure if it would actually work.
Since the Uzumaki clan's destruction, their ruins had become desolate.
The ground was overrun with wild vegetation. The buildings were in ruins and rotting away, while the occasional bird or animal passed by, their cries reverberating ominously.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was just a corpse, and the Naraka Path was only a puppet—neither affected by the eerie atmosphere surrounding them.
Following Hiruzen Sarutobi's steps, the Naraka Path entered a dim, shadowy [Noh mask] hall.
"This is where the Uzumaki enshrined their deities," he said in a monotone, gazing at the wall lined with demonic masks.
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