"We should head back soon enough."
Ushiki's corpse was tossed toward the God Tree as Hiroki and Kaguya discussed their plans.
"Let Ashura and Indra stay here to oversee Kikyo and the others in locating the Chrono Tree and constructing the 'Door.' With the Door, not only can permanent pathways be established between worlds, but even the flow of time will synchronize."
"Hayato and Hamura will guard the Ninja World."
"That means we can return first. We'll use the Shikon No Tama as our guide—it can hear the voices deep within people's hearts."
Kaguya remained silent; she naturally understood exactly what place he referred to.
Am I finally going to meet my future self?
Konoha.
It was autumn.
Rain drizzled endlessly outside the window, producing a constant pitter-patter that filled Kaguya's heart with unease.
(In order to distinguish them, from this point onward in the story, Kaguya from the normal timeline will still be written as Kaguya, while Kaguya from the parallel dimension will henceforth be referred to as Kaguya Moon.)
Two years had already passed. Hanabi had entered the Academy, and Hinata's classmates would graduate in just a few months.
Shinno and Yusui had been brought back to Konoha.
Even Danzo Shimura, who had hidden himself within the ruins of Amanogakure Ninja Village, had been captured by Konoha ninja.
However, no one who had entered the Dragon Vein ever returned.
Not even him, or Namikaze Minato before him.
If it weren't for her fear of breaking their promise, she'd have ventured into the Dragon Vein long ago.
Besides her, Naruto also felt deeply anxious and troubled. After two full years without seeing Minato, even the densest person would know something had gone wrong.
"Where did Dad go?" He wouldn't stop asking Gamamaru over and over again.
Gamamaru couldn't answer.
The steady patter of rain masked Kaguya's quiet sighs as she gazed intently in one direction, her eyes narrowing at a certain point on the ground.
From beneath the earth, White Zetsu slowly emerged.
"Do you have any new findings?" Kaguya glanced at him sideways, asking indifferently.
No one dared disturb her unless it was truly important.
"The… group led by Hiroki… has returned."
White Zetsu's comical face wore an awkward expression as he hesitated to speak.
"They're back..." Kaguya muttered softly.
He completely missed the point!
Mentally sighing, White Zetsu tried to explain further, "Tha—"
Before he could finish speaking,
A black vortex suddenly appeared within the room, expanding rapidly until it grew large enough to form a tunnel-like portal.
Kaguya immediately froze in shock.
Why does this feel so familiar? Have the Otsutsuki Clan arrived already?
Just as she tensed up, figures began emerging from the dark passage.
White pupils, crimson lips, and flowing long hair.
Even the cold arrogance on her face mirrored Kaguya's own expression.
"She is the woman who arrived alongside Hiroki. Even the aura around her feels exactly the same as yours," White Zetsu whispered respectfully from beside her.
"And where is Hiroki?" Kaguya asked.
"He is safe." Kaguya Moon stepped forward onto solid ground, her voice calm. Her Rinne Sharingan unfolded upon her forehead as she answered.
Then, a slight smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "How about… we merge?"
"What's mine will become yours, and what's yours will become mine. Together, we shall grow stronger."
White Zetsu flickered his gaze between the two.
Kaguya wore a cold expression as she flatly refused, "I'm not willing."
The one who knows you best is yourself.
There's no such thing as merging; anyone proposing it must be in a dominant position.
When one is strong and the other weak, it can only result in consumption.
By then, she would have nothing left.
"Where did you hide him?" Kaguya asked.
Kaguya Moon let out a cold snort.
"He was knocked unconscious," White Zetsu whispered cautiously.
Kaguya Moon shot him a frigid glare.
White Zetsu carefully shrank into the ground.
Completely useless!
Kaguya quickly ran through her options.
She couldn't establish contact with him, meaning he wasn't in this dimension.
White Zetsu said he saw him, but she hadn't experienced it herself. It seemed he'd just returned before being knocked out.
"You're already this powerful; is there really something you still can't obtain?"
Kaguya smiled playfully, having already figured out most of her intentions.
"Pity you arrived too late."
Even as she said that, realizing she might not be his match at this stage, Kaguya immediately flew away without hesitation.
"…" Kaguya Moon clenched his teeth.
"Hinata, go to the Moon and bring Gaara back."
In a classroom at the Ninja Academy, Hinata heard a voice in her mind.
She was momentarily stunned. "Who is Gaara?"
"You'll know when you get to the Moon," Kaguya continued.
"But—"
Before she could finish speaking, Kaguya interrupted, "Don't worry, I'm Kaguya. I've already spoken with Tsunade."
Hinata followed instructions and waited until class ended before dashing toward the Hokage Building.
Inside the Hokage's office, alongside Tsunade was another person waiting for her.
Izumi Uchiha, her eyes covered by a white cloth.
Slight anxiety appeared on Hinata's face. Before she could even open her mouth, Izumi walked up to her, taking out a Forehead Protector and tying it onto her head.
"Hinata, great job graduating!"
"…" Hinata was briefly stunned again.
"Yes, from today onwards, she will be your team leader," Tsunade added beside them.
Hinata couldn't help but look at Izumi suspiciously, especially staring at her face. "Teacher Izumi, are your eyes okay?"
"My eyes aren't good, but yours still work, don't they?"
With a calm tone, Izumi took Hinata's hand and walked out of the Hokage's office.
She walked steady and confident, heading straight to her destination.
Not showing any sign of eye problems whatsoever.
As the pair left, Tsunade tried contacting Kaguya.
"Kaguya-sama, why suddenly send them out to gather the Tailed Beasts?"
"…"
"Kaguya-sama?"
"Don't interrupt."
"What now? In a bad mood again?" Tsunade muttered to herself.
Meanwhile, Izumi pulled Hinata along the road heading toward the Ninja Academy.
"Teacher, isn't this the direction going outside the village?"
"Be patient, we still need to pick up Kimimaro and Karin."
"They're also our teammates?" Hinata asked curiously.
"Exactly."
On their way home from school, the two ran into Kimimaro and Karin.
Then came another Forehead Protector tossed to each, as Izumi announced, "Great job graduating!"
"Congratulations on your graduation."
Kimimaro and Karin were both a little stunned.
Kaguya Moon's Origin World.
Hiroki rubbed his neck and stood up from the ground, looking around with confusion.
"Shouldn't I have transmigrated already?"
"The Dragon Vein should have activated by now, right?"
"Kaguya?"
"Where is she?"
Hiroki stood there, continuing to ponder.
After what seemed like an indefinite period, Kaguya Moon finally appeared.
Meeting his questioning gaze, Kaguya Moon's eyes flickered slightly.
"Kaguya, I assume you're the one who knocked me out?"
"We've arrived in a strange world. It's very dangerous outside—I don't want you to get hurt. Hiroki, stay here for now. I'll handle everything outside."
Kaguya Moon explained, her tone calm but evasive.
"..."
"Hiroki, I need the power of the Shikon No Tama."
"The Shikon No Tama only amplifies power against minor yokai—it has no effect on us."
He stared at her without pulling out the Shikon No Tama, suspicion plain on his face.
"...I want to use it to bring [Indra] and the others over."
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