"Do you really not care at all?"
For the original inhabitants of Penglai Island, it was yet another sleepless night. More accurately, their lives had become unpleasant ever since Ushiki and Mineo arrived on the island.
First, they were imprisoned, then mistreated. Later, the battle between Ushiki and the yokai left them trembling in fear.
To ensure safety, Suzuhime had no choice but to lead everyone closer to Mineo. Consequently, she became increasingly anxious.
Mineo currently had no intention of joining Ushiki's fight. He recalled the information left by his original form about the Chrono Tree and began asking Suzuhime about it.
Suzuhime shook her head. "I've heard of it, but I don't know where it grows."
After all, although she was a Miko, she was also the indoor type—rarely left the island at all.
"What a pain. Which tree could it be?"
A strange voice approached.
The Four Fighting Gods wandered around the island and upon seeing this group gathered together, walked over.
"Hey, do you know about the God Tree?"
Luo Long asked loudly, his tone hostile, openly releasing his yaoki.
Mineo raised his hand. "I know."
Suzuhime was puzzled. These yokai didn't seem all that strong—why were they acting so aggressively?
"Take us there."
Moments later, he brought the Four Fighting Gods to the God Tree.
"That one is the God Tree."
As the Four Fighting Gods looked over, Mineo calmly stood beside them.
"It doesn't look especially impressive."
"Could it really be as miraculous as the legends say?"
They whispered among themselves. As they spoke, their eyes simultaneously turned toward Mineo, expressions shifting from calm to cold. His weak yaoki made them mistake him for just another lowly demon.
Suddenly, Luo Long smirked coldly, rushed forward, and grabbed him.
"You're up!"
Before his words even finished, he directly hurled Mineo toward the God Tree.
Mineo chuckled slightly. The moment he was released, a spatial portal appeared behind him. He stepped through the black hole-like portal and reappeared behind them.
"Why should your questions be my responsibility? That's unfair. You need to figure it out yourselves."
A thick black staff formed in his hand, composed of Yin-Yang Release jutsu. One by one, he smashed each of their heads.
At the same time, Ushiki had begun facing off against Indra and Ashura.
Indra's purple Rinnegan caught Ushiki's eye, and he regarded it with quiet indifference.
As for Ashura, he didn't even merit attention.
"Your eyes? Could you also be one of our clan? But someone as weak as you—I've never seen anything like it..."
Ushiki said mockingly. The pattern within his eyes suddenly shifted into the Rinne Sharingan, marked with six tomoe.
In an instant, Indra felt a powerful oppressive force emanating from his own eyes—an intense piercing sensation making it difficult to maintain the Rinnegan at that moment.
"Speak," Ushiki said. "Why are you here?" He couldn't yet confirm whether Indra truly belonged to the Otsutsuki Clan.
Without much hesitation, Indra spoke calmly, "Ushiki, I'm here to deliver the Supervisor's message. Something has happened on the homeworld—this location will be handed over to us, and they're calling you back..."
Beside him, Ashura remained silent, waiting for Indra's signal.
From Kaguya and Hiroki, they had received some intel about the Otsutsuki Clan.
What he was saying now was entirely fabricated by Indra.
After a brief clash, he realized how much stronger Ushiki was than him.
At this moment, he wasn't sure whether Hiroki and Kaguya were ready yet.
Acting recklessly would make it impossible to predict how long he and Ashura could last in a fight.
Upon hearing this, Ushiki paused slightly, carefully studying the two before him.
Though Indra possessed the Rinnegan, he lacked other physiological traits of the Otsutsuki Clan.
As for Ashura beside him, the situation was even stranger—he exuded chakra but outwardly looked no different from native humans.
Once again, silence fell, and both Ashura and Indra felt a wave of nervousness.
After a pause, Ushiki finally asked, "Exactly what happened on the homeworld?"
Indra kept his calm expression as he replied, "I don't know the details—they barely had time to issue orders before sending us here to summon you back. This is actually my first official mission."
"Follow me."
With that, Ushiki flew off in a certain direction.
Using gravitational and repulsive forces, Indra soared into the sky and trailed closely behind him, keeping half a body length distance.
On the ground below, Ashura gave a bitter smile and could do nothing but dash forward with rapid steps.
Ushiki glanced sideways at him before suddenly turning to Indra and asking, "Is he your partner?"
"He's not fully powered up yet," Indra replied flatly.
A flicker of understanding crossed Ushiki's face. "A living vessel? The situation must be urgent?"
Indra shook his head and fell silent, letting Ushiki draw his own conclusions.
Before long, Ushiki led them to the God Tree.
At this time, Mineo—who had just barely managed to severely wound the Four Fighting Gods—felt their arrival.
Seeing the three appear together, he was momentarily stunned, filled with confusion.
How did they end up together?
"Who are they?"
"The clan sent people to gather us back; they're taking over for us." Ushiki answered.
Ashura and Indra exchanged glances, their expressions uncertain.
"..."
Mineo was left speechless, briefly frowning before quickly smoothing out his brow.
Why would they pull a stunt like this? What if Ushiki actually returned?
And why would Ushiki believe them—was he really that naive?
"The living vessel will be under our protection now—you two can rest assured," Indra suddenly cut in.
Mineo: "..."
He couldn't figure out what they were trying to do.
Why are they faking it all of a sudden?
Ushiki observed Mineo's reaction carefully, then grinned mischievously. "What's wrong, Senior?"
"Ushiki, you..." Mineo sighed helplessly. "Do you know them? Have you seen them in the clan before? I don't recognize them."
"They're someone important's living vessel."
"Have you even seen their *Kāma*? Checked the markings on their bodies, at the very least? Confirm who they are before trusting them so easily. Words alone? Really?" Mineo said coldly.
"Senior, what you're saying makes sense," Ushiki nodded.
"If it makes sense, why don't you kill them already!"
"You're so furious because you're hiding something, aren't you? Admit it — you were behind what happened on our Homeworld!"
Indra roared furiously, and the chakra around him began to surge violently.
[Susano'o's] skeletal frame took shape in an instant, and a fist came crashing from the sky, slamming toward Mineo.
Ashura looked completely baffled. Didn't he remember right? Weren't they supposed to be fighting Ushiki? As for the other one, Hiroki's grandfather had mentioned he was essentially a Clone of Ushiki.
Ushiki's smile widened even further.
How thrilling! No matter who's real or fake, this is turning into quite a show.
As for these two newcomers, they only have chakra — he could take it whenever he pleased.
As for...
"Hm?"
Just as he was lost in thought, Ushiki was suddenly struck by a pain — like a curse clinging to his very bones.
He looked down and saw his own body had already been pierced by a sharp wolf claw.
Behind him, space rippled slightly.
Mineo fully emerged from the spatial portal, and his voice followed into Ushiki's ears.
"Ushiki, your biggest weakness has always been your excessive playfulness and arrogance."
"Although you've killed many yokai before, you've never really come into direct contact with them. Truth is, you've always avoided letting unstable yokai energy anywhere near your body."
Ushiki merely smiled faintly. "So, those two are under your command, Senior? Do you really think you can defeat me now?"
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