"No."
Ushiki was clearly targeting her. Kaguya's close combat abilities were weak, so she quickly pulled out a Gray Bone as a precaution.
Seeing how tense she looked, Ushiki couldn't help but sneer.
This woman fought chaotically, always resorting to powerful moves immediately—that was information he had gained through multiple Time Reversals.
That's precisely why he'd chosen her as his breakthrough target.
[Truth-Seeking Balls]
Hiss...
Hiroki released numerous Truth-Seeking Balls covered in green chakra, which shot down like laser rain upon Ushiki.
[Tenjo-Hadaka Crimson Sphere].
Ushiki, shouldering his fishing rod, tilted his head sideways. A red light emitted from the rod formed a transparent red sphere that surrounded him.
He continued advancing without slowing, dodging left and right until reaching Kaguya's side.
Seeing the deep crimson Rinne Sharingan on her forehead and the fear in her eyes, Ushiki burned with jealousy and hate.
"Shame of your clan. You possess such powerful eyes yet still associate with the weak."
"This eye..."
He saw Kaguya's body tremble slightly and stretched out his hand, wearing an expression of arrogance and disdain, as if he was destined to claim her eyes.
"Kaguya!"
Just then, Hiroki finally arrived at Kaguya's side.
A faintly cruel smile remained on Ushiki's face. His fingers had barely touched her—then his face went cold.
"It's mine!"
He tightened his grip—but his expression froze.
They disappeared!
All sound from the onlookers disappeared as well!
His fingers grasped at thin air!
The two people who stood right in front of him just seconds ago were gone!
Even the surrounding environment had changed completely.
It was as if reality had flipped a page, shifting them from one place to another in an instant.
Yet he felt absolutely nothing.
"Is this lava?"
Bubbling sounds filled the air constantly. Everything around him was painted red. Looking down, Ushiki saw molten magma surging endlessly.
And within this fiery space, he was alone.
"Where did they go?"
Frowning, his gaze turned icy.
Suddenly, three figures simultaneously appeared behind him. Three Black Receivers shot straight into his body like spears.
At this moment, Ushiki's body finally stiffened. Drops of blood fell pattering into the magma below.
"Ushiki, don't think our restraint means we're afraid of you. The truth is, your body holds great importance. We simply prefer not to destroy it yet."
Hiroki said with slight mockery.
In the next instant, he, Kaguya, and Mineo vanished again, as if they had never been there at all.
Ushiki couldn't even sense a trace of their movements anymore.
Gritting his teeth, he realized now—he couldn't use his special pre-transformation abilities anymore.
Outside the battlefield.
"Where exactly did they go?" Inuyasha impatiently asked.
Others surrounded Indra and Ashura.
"Rather than worrying about that, shouldn't we focus more on those yokai gathering around us?" Indra remarked, clearly annoyed as his body regained mobility.
"Piece of cake," Inuyasha scoffed, before dashing off.
"Go help out too," Kagarubi told the other exorcists.
"Why would they take over this island, and why did they suddenly start fighting?" Kikyo finally got her turn to ask.
Indra was in a bad mood and didn't want to explain anything.
Ashura scratched his head. "Maybe it's hard for you to understand, but they're doing this to save this world."
Kikyo, Suzuhime, and the others all frowned upon hearing these words.
"There's a tree on this island called the God Tree, capable of devouring everything."
Suzuhime's frown deepened further. As a native of the island, how come she never remembered anything like this?
But looking at the expressions on everyone else's faces, none appeared surprised.
"But what does that have to do with you?" Kagarubi asked. He still couldn't grasp what they were trying to say.
"The God Tree was planted by that man we just saw transform."
"Once the God Tree is planted, it will only stop growing when its fruit ripens."
"Did you deliberately spread news about the God Tree?" Kikyo interrupted.
"That's right," Ashura nodded.
"Can't it be destroyed?" Kikyo asked again.
Indra gave a cold snort. "Not good enough?"
"Growth is its nature. If it lacks nourishment, it will transform into a monster that actively seeks prey."
"All who are drawn here are driven by greed and ambition. Their deaths will only benefit the rest of the world."
"You mean to use them as sacrifices to feed the God Tree?" Kikyo's voice grew colder.
"This is a win-win situation for everyone," Indra replied calmly while glancing at Kikyo and Suzuhime. "A Miko's duty is to rid the world of evil. We've done your job for you—shouldn't that be good?"
"Mineo came along with Ushiki. They were allies—how could they turn on each other?"
Suzuhime, who had remained silent until now, spoke up suddenly.
"That's none of your concern," Indra replied.
"Is the God Tree really nothing more than that?"
Kikyo stared deeply at him.
"If you don't believe us, you can stay here and help guard the God Tree," Ashura chimed in.
Indra couldn't help but smile. "However, I'd advise against entertaining thoughts of destroying the God Tree. Devouring is its nature. Get too close, and you'll simply be drained dry."
After he finished speaking, Kikyo and the others fell silent once again, apparently digesting the information they'd revealed.
Inside Kaguya's Origin World.
Ushiki's corpse lay on the ground, still maintaining the transformed crane form it had taken in its second state.
Its eyes were golden, and the third eye on its forehead was also golden.
Hiroki and two others stood nearby, examining the body closely and discussing its appearance.
"Can this eye revert to a red or blue Rinnegan form? Doesn't look particularly useful."
"In theory, yes."
"It's a transformation, not an upgrade or downgrade. The golden eye retains only the most fundamental ability of the Rinnegan while discarding more complex functions, focusing instead on maximizing speed and strength."
"I see."
"Ushiki is dead. So what's our next move? Should we stay here and wait for the Otsutsuki Clan, or keep hiding? If we return, can we really fool them?"
Hiroki stroked his chin, speaking with a serious expression.
"This isn't something to worry about for now," Mineo replied after a moment's thought. "According to their estimates, it will take at least five hundred years for this God Tree to bear fruit. There won't be any danger in the short term, nor should any other Otsutsuki appear. I don't need to think about returning to the Homeworld yet."
Kaguya immediately relaxed.
Hiroki nodded, then dug out the three eyes embedded on Ushiki's head.
"Let's go outside."
On Penglai Island, the yokai corpses eliminated by Inuyasha and his companions were piled high like mountains. Suzuhime and Kikyo were having heart-to-heart talks nearby. Indra and Ashura sat by the lakeside.
The scene felt oddly harmonious.
As a familiar figure appeared in the distance, Indra and Ashura immediately stood up and ran toward the others.
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