"Kaguya-sama, are you leaving again?" Ayano asked anxiously.
When the Emperor had Kaguya's room arranged, he specifically requested it be set up as a "private chamber."
This was customary in the Land of the Forefathers. Kaguya didn't understand these traditions and never thought to ask.
Though not openly acknowledged, all her subordinates understood—she was regarded by the Emperor as one of his concubines, essentially his personal possession.
Ayano was genuinely worried that Kaguya's frequent disappearances might provoke the Emperor's displeasure.
After all, when Kaguya returned last night, even some of her clothes were missing. Who wouldn't become suspicious?
If the Emperor became angry, Ayano would be the first to suffer punishment. How could she not worry?
"Mmm," Kaguya muttered, not bothering to explain as she strode straight toward the door.
After hesitating briefly, Ayano gritted her teeth and secretly followed behind.
She hadn't gone far before Kaguya simply disappeared from sight.
"What happened?"
Ayano rubbed her eyes, then quickly ran up to a guard. "Do you know which direction Kaguya-sama went?"
The guards looked at each other in confusion. "Did Kaguya-sama come out at all?"
"You didn't see her? Then last night, which way did Kaguya-sama leave?" Ayano continued asking.
Now the guards were even more puzzled. "Ayano, what are you talking about? No one left last night!"
Ayano looked confused. Kaguya-sama clearly had gone out—how could they have no memory of it?
...
After wandering around, Hiroki returned to the small wooden hut he had built himself.
Inside the wooden hut was a warm hearth, a simple bed, and a large table.
His injuries hadn't fully healed, so he couldn't do much.
He pulled out a blank sheet of paper and sketched a rough map of the distant future, marking key locations.
"Land of Wind... Dragon Vein..."
*Creak!* The door creaked open, and Kaguya calmly stepped inside.
Hiroki looked up and asked, "Which are you—the real one or a clone?"
"When you said 'Kaguya,' who exactly did you expect to answer?" Kaguya met his gaze steadily and countered.
He fell silent instantly, at a loss for words.
As they spoke, Kaguya had already approached him.
"What is this?" she asked, pointing at the paper on the table.
"This is the map of the future world. This spot is the Dragon Vein—the exact place I crossed over. I can also return through the Dragon Vein. I've carefully considered it: the time-space passage must be connected with whoever opens the Dragon Vein. So, if you just—"
Kaguya cut off his lengthy explanation directly, "You want to go back now?"
"Oh right, before I go back—"
"Talk about it after you're healed."
Before he could finish speaking, Kaguya snapped impatiently, her mood suddenly irritable.
"…" Hiroki fell silent again, unsure what he had done this time to upset her.
For the next few days, Kaguya would occasionally show up to treat his wounds and, as usual, siphon off his chakra. Sometimes she'd even bring him something to eat.
As for Hiroki, he had shifted his attention elsewhere.
The Flying Thunder God Technique recorded in the Scroll of Seals—although he had initially ignored it after reading, he figured he might as well study it now that he had free time.
"Why do I even have to do this? It's not like I mean anything to you..."
She mumbled softly to herself while gently rubbing ointment onto his back.
Her facial expression gradually turned awkward.
It just didn't feel like something she should be doing—it felt more like a wife taking care of an injured husband.
Hiroki grimaced slightly. "Since you're the one who hurt me, you have to take responsibility."
"I remember you can create clones. You don't actually need my help, right?" Kaguya suddenly raised her eyebrows.
"Then give back my chakra," Hiroki shrugged.
At this point, doubt stirred inside him.
Although his chakra reserves couldn't compare with those of a tailed beast, since awakening the Tenseigan, they far exceeded those of an average ninja. Moreover, Tenseigan chakra was fundamentally different from regular chakra. Kaguya had already absorbed his chakra multiple times—how could she still seem unaffected?
What exactly was the physical limit of the Otsutsuki Clan?
Kaguya pressed her lips together with a hint of self-interest and didn't answer. Naturally, she didn't want him wandering too far after absorbing his chakra.
Her gaze lowered, catching sight of several strange markings appearing on the floor out of the corner of her eye.
"What are these?"
"The Flying Thunder God formula."
"Hmm?" Obviously not understanding.
"It's the formula of a Spatial Ninjutsu."
Suddenly, Hiroki remembered—Kaguya possessed space abilities herself. Since training in spatial ninjutsu involved risks, having her around to supervise would make things much safer.
"Kaguya, could I ask for a favor?"
"You're asking me?" Kaguya subtly smiled, hinting at mockery.
Hiroki briefly lost focus; the way she looked now reminded him so much of the "Kaguya" in his memories. She always liked wearing expressions filled with teasing and mischief.
"What's wrong?"
Her voice entered his ears again. Noticing the way he looked at her, she seemed to guess his thoughts and felt a pang of discomfort, quickly restoring her neutral expression.
"Hmm... I'm asking you," he shifted his gaze away and nodded.
...
The sun sank behind the mountains.
As Amaneko passed by Kaguya's room, he noticed Ayano standing at the door, glancing around nervously.
Recently, he had been troubled over territorial disputes with the Land Beyond.
Now that he had some free time, he started thinking again about how to gain Kaguya's favor.
"Ayano, what's going on? Where is Kaguya?"
"Tenko-sama, Kaguya-sama is resting." Ayano immediately straightened her posture, maintaining composure while blocking Amaneko's line of sight toward the door.
"Has Kaguya gone to rest already? It isn't even dark yet," muttered Amaneko as he frowned slightly.
After he left, Ayano finally relaxed and let out a breath.
She'd seen Kaguya-sama come and go countless times — so why didn't the guards ever remember?
If Kaguya didn't speak to her briefly every time she returned, she would even doubt whether there was something wrong with her own mind.
...
Meanwhile, after leaving Hiroki's small wooden hut, Kaguya approached the God Tree.
"Is it ready already?"
She reached out, and the God Tree's fruit floated down into her palm as if pulled by some unseen force.
The moment she swallowed it, a crack opened on her forehead, and suddenly, a red eyeball appeared.
Inside this eerie eye were concentric rings, containing exactly nine tomoe.
Kaguya was very satisfied with the transformation of her body and the power brought by consuming the God Tree's fruit. She left the spot wearing a faint smile.
Suddenly, a strong discomfort surged from her body, as if it might burst at any moment.
This unbearable sensation caused cold sweat to form across her brow.
"Kaguya-sama, I finally found you. Hurry and come back with me — it'll worry the Heavenly Emperor."
After a while, Ayano's voice came out, as she ran over in this direction.
Gritting her teeth and standing still, Kaguya lifted her eyes slightly.
Seeing the Rinne Sharingan in the center of her forehead, Ayano was instantly shocked. Her face paled, her body froze, and she dared not take another step forward. Her voice trembled. "Kaguya-sama, are you alright?"
Kaguya merely gazed coldly, clearly having no mood to respond.
Just then, Ayano noticed the painful expression on her face. After hesitating for a moment, she forced herself to walk closer. "Kaguya-sama, what exactly happened to you? Let me help you back."
To avoid scaring anyone else, Ayano shielded the eye on Kaguya's forehead with her hand and helped her walk away.
Drained of strength, Kaguya slowly followed along behind.
Once back in the room, Ayano immediately closed all the doors and windows, carefully guiding Kaguya to sit down on the bed before asking questions: "Kaguya-sama, how did your body end up like this?"
"You're not afraid?"
"I...I know that Kaguya-sama comes from Heaven itself, so you're naturally different. Also, since you trust me, those you don't trust have their memories erased, right?"
"..."
"Kaguya-sama, maybe... you should hide that eye and your horn? Otherwise people will see you as a monster." Ayano suggested cautiously.
"Don't bother me!" Unable to endure her constant chatter, Kaguya responded with slight annoyance.
The strange feeling within her body hadn't faded yet, but she already had some idea about it.
It all started after consuming the God Tree's fruit.
Most likely, the power from the fruit was too intense and sudden for her body to fully adapt yet.
The simplest solution was to expend the excess Chakra energy.
But frankly, she wasn't willing to do that.
"Kaguya-sama, I'll go out first. If anything happens, feel free to call for me." Seeing her irritation, Ayano decided to step outside.
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