"How could this be?"
Shinigami felt an unprecedented shock.
The two hovered in the air, standing amidst absolute silence—an empty void without the slightest trace of life.
As a god of the Ninja World, his body could easily shift between tangible and intangible states. Transparent and flexible, no one could touch him unless he allowed it.
Yet now, this unknown woman had actually made contact with him, causing him slight surprise and unease.
It had been over a thousand years since anyone like her had appeared.
Kaguya wore a white flowing robe, her hair drifting loosely, a faintly arrogant smile on her face.
Her eyes were deep and cold, impossible to read.
"It seems you still don't fully understand this world," Kaguya said lightly, glancing at him with disdain, her tone full of pride and confidence.
Her indifference and mockery started to annoy Shinigami. He couldn't help but ask, "Have you also received recognition? Have obtained part of this world's power?"
Kaguya withdrew her hand, unwilling to have too much contact with him, too lazy to explain.
She was the invader; there was no need for approval.
Whatever she had taken from the God Tree belonged to her now.
A slight curve formed on her lips, as if mocking him. "In recent years, the number of human souls going to your realm has decreased. Haven't you noticed?"
Shinigami snorted coldly. "What are humans—some precious species or high-level lifeform worthy of special attention? Who cares whether a colony of ants increases or decreases? Ridiculous."
Humanity could go extinct for all he cared. He didn't care at all. Without humans, other species would still exist.
As long as the world didn't collapse, nothing else mattered to him.
After all, he was nearly eternal.
Kaguya didn't show the slightest emotion—not a smile, not a frown—only that cold, unreadable calm.
Though their thinking was somewhat alike, they weren't naturally enemies.
But conflict had already occurred. Even if Shinigami was acting passively, since he had dared harm someone she cared about, he became her enemy.
With that thought, in an instant, her body seemed to merge completely with the surroundings. Standing there clearly, yet leaving behind no traceable aura whatsoever.
Realizing she could pose a threat to him, Shinigami dared not take her lightly either.
Immediately, the two clashed in battle. Unlike the grand, wide-scale fight earlier against Hayato and Hamura, this time their combat left no destruction in its wake. Instead, it resembled a game of chase, leaving behind streaks of light.
The lights flickered rapidly, tracing every move they made, leaving dazzling trails behind.
Interweaving together, they painted scene after breathtaking yet perilous picture.
No tremors, no sound—their clash was intense, yet eerily quiet.
Hayato and Hamura watched with stunned eyes, unable to follow the two fighters' movements during their pursuit.
"So fast! The eyes can't even catch them," Hayato murmured in admiration.
"It seems truly powerful people really can hold back or unleash strength at will."
The two flew to Hiroki's side. "Father, can you see clearly? Who has the advantage?"
"It's definitely your mother," Hiroki replied. "That Shinigami is just someone stuck in his ways. He knows nothing about how things have changed over these years."
Even so, he wasn't sure how much longer the two would continue fighting.
Thinking for a moment, he decided to interfere and create a distraction.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In midair, a shadow clone appeared beside him.
Nodding toward him, the clone suddenly dispersed into smoke with a 'poof' sound.
At the same time...
"Hmm?"
The Shinigami momentarily felt something enter his body. It was an odd sensation.
Was it a rebellion from the souls contained within? No, that didn't feel right. Impossible...
Just as he lost focus for a brief second, Kaguya behind him revealed a victorious smile.
"Even gods will become dust beneath my heels!"
[Amenominaka!]
In an instant, Kaguya and the Shinigami both vanished from this world.
She had taken him into the Origin World.
"It's almost over," Hiroki said calmly at the sight.
Hayato and Hamura still looked worried.
"Hey, Hayato, Hamura... we might need to leave," Hiroki murmured softly.
Hearing his words, they both froze. "Father, what do you mean by leaving?"
"Just temporarily leaving this place. You can think of it as going on a trip," Hiroki explained. "With me and Kaguya always here, you're too restricted and nervous. Let's leave it to time and see what kind of things you can accomplish."
After speaking, he sighed again. "When I was your age, I also wanted to change the world in my own way..."
"But gradually, those plans in my mind became vague, and the intense desire disappeared. I hope both of you can firmly pursue what you truly want to do. Otherwise, wouldn't life be terribly boring?"
The two exchanged glances, nodded silently, then fell silent again.
Hiroki stopped talking as well.
The three waited quietly for Kaguya's return.
About half an hour later, a black spatial portal opened up again, and Kaguya walked out through it, appearing within their vision.
She wore a faint smile as she approached them, holding something in both hands.
Instinctively, the four flew away from the battlefield now left in ruins and devastation, standing on a piece of level ground.
Kaguya spread out her palms, causing the items in her hands to levitate and display them before the others.
To the left, something the size of a thumb hovered — dark and scale-like in appearance. To the right floated a small fragment.
"What are these?"
"That one is a Chakra Pill," Kaguya explained, "while this fragment... Well, you can understand it as his Divinity."
"Hmm..." Hiroki and the others still frowned slightly, puzzled.
"In simple terms, I transformed and refined his original life energy and soul power into this Chakra Pill. As for the Divinity, it's essentially the divine aspect stripped away from him as a god."
Kaguya seemed somewhat pleased and patiently clarified further.
"Mother..." Hayato couldn't help but interrupt. "Are you saying the Shinigami is dead and only these two things remain? What about all the other souls we've seen entering his body before? What happened to them?"
"They're naturally inside these Chakra Pills too," Kaguya answered, casting a displeased look toward Hayato as she spoke.
This guy again, ruining the mood. Is he just born to go against me...
Hayato hesitated, at a loss for words.
Kaguya let out a cold snort. "You didn't ask clearly in the first place. Now what's the point in pressing the issue?"
Hamura gave Hayato's sleeve a slight tug, reminding him not to dwell on what's already settled.
"What are these two things for?" Hiroki changed the topic and asked.
Kaguya curled her lips into a smile. "Try it yourself and you'll find out."
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