Natsume and the other two reached the Land of Swamps's Sealing Shrine quite smoothly.
It was extremely remote, tucked deep in the mountains.
The shrine priestess guards were delighted at their arrival and prepared the best rooms.
They looked pretty plain, but as shinobi, they weren't picky.
All that was left was to wait for Mōryō or the Gang of Four to show up.
But Natsume definitely wasn't going to just sit and wait.
Before the eyes of the Cloud shinobi, he'd let Mōryō kill the Two-Tails' jinchūriki, Yugito.
That way, no one could fault him for anything.
Of course, Natsume could take the chance to rake in some Fate Points too.
"Kaguya, I need to head out for a bit."
If it were anyone else, he wouldn't need to explain.
But Kaguya was… special.
Plus he needed to ask her to keep an eye on Hinata.
"What is it?"
A ripple flickered through Kaguya's snowy white eyes.
Natsume found it a bit unbelievable.
Given her previous personality, she would never have cared what he was doing.
Unless it involved chakra.
After his surprise came delight.
Being fussed over by the ultimate final boss felt pretty good.
How to put it?
It gave him a sense of security.
After thinking it over, Natsume said, "Going to teach a lesson to those shinobi we ran into yesterday."
Kaguya nodded slightly, her expression unchanged.
Now that she knew what he really was, she had a grasp of him.
With how Yugito Nii behaved, there was no way he'd just laugh it off.
"Go ahead," Kaguya said evenly.
While Yugito was a jinchūriki, with Natsume's strength there was no danger fighting her.
He wouldn't even need much time; he could be back within a day.
"While I'm out, help guide Hinata," Natsume said carefully, revealing his true aim. "If you could take her as a student, that'd be even better."
Kaguya didn't answer; she just looked at him.
Natsume tensed up immediately.
He had anticipated that Kaguya might refuse.
Even if Hinata was her descendant, who knew how many generations removed. Why would she have any feelings about it?
In the entire shinobi world, only Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, Ōtsutsuki Hamura, and Natsume could make her spare an extra glance.
"I have a condition."
Just when Natsume thought Kaguya didn't want to, she suddenly spoke.
"What condition?"
He wanted to agree instantly, but given her power, he might not be able to fulfill whatever condition she proposed.
So he had to ask first.
"A month."
Kaguya's lips curled faintly.
"…?"
Natsume was dumbfounded.
It was only few words, but he already understood what condition Kaguya meant.
He never imagined he'd one day fall to paying with… physical labor.
No—wait.
Lady Kaguya, you've gone bad!
You weren't like this before.
How did the adorkably innocent turn smart all of a sudden?
Ahem.
He wasn't saying Kaguya was dumb; she just used to lack this kind of awareness.
The only thing she cared about was chakra.
And now she was plotting about him.
Natsume liked it, but this kind of deal was too much to handle.
His mind raced. He wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzled her, and smiled. "I think that's unfair."
Kaguya lowered her head to look at him; her previously good mood soured a little.
But Natsume was different after all.
She didn't get angry. She asked calmly, "What's unfair?"
Seeing she'd stepped into his trap, Natsume asked with a smile, "What is Hinata to you?"
Kaguya answered without thinking, "Nothing."
"If that's the case, isn't a month unfair in exchange?"
Natsume blinked. "How about ten days?"
A month was too long.
Even with Kaguya's chakra healing, mental fatigue was inevitable.
Ten days would be just right.
Not too miserable, and he could enjoy it.
A true reward.
Kaguya was slightly startled, then realized.
She was probably being tricked, right?
She thought for a moment. "Ten days then."
Natsume let out a breath of relief.
In the end, Kaguya wasn't some vicious fiend.
"Ten days."
Just as he thought he'd won, Kaguya spoke again.
Expressionless, she said, "The ten days I mean aren't ten days in the Starting Sphere Space."
Her tone was flat, but to Natsume it was pure killing intent.
The kind that took lives.
Natsume's smile froze, and he trembled.
Help!
She's moving the goalposts!
"How could you say something so… so…"
Natsume's heart bled.
Literally bled, as the saying goes: a drop of that costs ten drops of blood.
"Is there a problem?"
Watching his adorable reaction, Kaguya couldn't help but laugh.
Her cool, exquisite face bloomed like a night flower, breathing out a heart-stealing smile.
Natsume, however, couldn't appreciate it.
She was a demon!
"You never said which world's ten days," Kaguya said, extending her hand to stroke his cheek. She finally nipped his lips lightly. "Go and come back quickly."
Seeing the sudden, mesmerizing glimmer in her eyes, Natsume paused.
That look meant Kaguya was suppressing her emotions.
Like seeing an ocean of chakra and being unable to claim it.
Natsume sighed inwardly.
Among all the women he knew, Kaguya was the only one who looked at him like that.
It really was… hard to refuse.
Fine!
If I don't go to hell, who will?
Well, not exactly hell.
Aliens felt pretty great, to be honest.
Natsume smiled, brushed her lips, and said, "I'll be back as soon as possible."
Kaguya released him and opened her hand in front of him.
A faint breeze gathered.
A black orb formed in her palm.
Natsume narrowed his eyes.
Truth-Seeking Ball.
Formed by Yin–Yang Release to give shape, infused with the seven chakra natures of Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements.
Its power was immense, capable of wiping out a vast forest with ease.
It could also transform into weapons according to the user's preference.
For example, the Sage of Six Paths' staff and the Heavens' Lance—i.e., the divine blade Uchiha Obito, as Ten-Tails jinchūriki, formed.
Kaguya glanced at him, and under her control, the Truth-Seeking Ball elongated into a black staff.
It looked very much like a black receiver rod.
Black rods were a product of the Rinnegan or Yin–Yang Release.
Inserted into an opponent, they could seal off chakra points for molding chakra and disturb the opponent's chakra.
But weapons made from a Truth-Seeking Ball were different, of course.
"For you," Kaguya offered. "You gave the bow to Hinata before, so I'm giving you another weapon."
Natsume blinked, then couldn't help hugging and kissing her again. "Thanks."
What could he say—Lady Kaguya was truly wonderful.
Once you entered her heart, she was actually quite affectionate.
The type of peerless woman who gives her whole heart to one person.
Mainly, her mind was simple—or rather, pure.
In her world, there was only chakra and Natsume.
Everything and everyone else didn't merit her concern.
Kaguya patted his head. "Don't give this sword to anyone else."
You call this a sword?
Well, whatever Lady Kaguya says is right.
Natsume gripped the black staff, and information flooded his mind.
He paused slightly.
This weapon had three functions:
It could change shape at will.
Inserted into an enemy, it would absorb chakra.
It was indestructible.
No wonder Kaguya called it a sword.
Fair enough.
Natsume thought about it and decided to call it the Golden Staff.
"I won't give it to anyone else," Natsume said with a smile. "Something this good is for me."
Kaguya nodded.
She didn't say anything, but Natsume could tell she was satisfied—happy, even.
He let go and willed the Ruyi to turn into a ring, slipping it onto his ring finger.
Nice—very convenient.
"I'll go call Hinata over."
Natsume left the room.
Hinata was practicing in the courtyard.
Seeing Natsume, she stopped at once. "Natsume-nii."
"What do you think of Shinobu?" Natsume nodded back and got to the point.
"She's incredible," Hinata answered instantly.
She hadn't seen Kaguya fight, but Kaguya's insights into Gentle Fist were astonishing.
Hinata felt even her father, Hyūga Hiashi, couldn't compare at all.
"So, if I asked you to be her student, you wouldn't refuse?" Natsume ruffled her hair, smiling.
Hinata froze.
After a moment, she waved her hands. "I'm Natsume-nii's student. I don't need a new teacher."
Natsume was surprised.
He didn't expect her to refuse.
After all, having two teachers was pretty normal in this world.
"But are you sure you only want to be my student?" Natsume rolled his eyes and teased.
Hinata looked puzzled.
Then, noticing his expression, she realized what he meant.
If not a student, then what?
Almost instantly, her face flushed from cheeks to ears.
In the Land of Swamps's cold climate, she literally steamed.
Her breathing quickened, puffs of mist escaping.
Natsume hurriedly caught her as she fainted.
"Hinata?"
He shook his head.
Looks like she still needs more training.
After a moment, Hinata slowly came to.
"Sor… ry."
She kept her head down, not daring to look at Natsume.
Her mind still buzzed from his earlier remark.
"No need to apologize for that," Natsume pinched her warm, soft cheeks. "Come meet Shinobu with me."
"Mm."
This time, Hinata didn't refuse.
They went to Kaguya's room.
Natsume knocked and entered.
"Sensei," Hinata said earnestly, dropping to both knees.
In shinobi etiquette, a bow was enough.
Kneeling was above and beyond.
Kaguya glanced at her, then let her eyes fall on Natsume without saying anything.
Given her personality, that counted as consent.
Natsume smiled at her, then helped Hinata up. "I'm heading out for a bit. Listen to your sensei."
"Okay," Hinata said, nodding hard.
Seeing that, Natsume didn't linger. He used Flying Thunder God to appear in the Land of Demons.
He'd already checked the locations of the two sealing shrines, so it didn't take long to find his target.
…
"Not started yet?" Natsume arched a brow.
In front of the shrine, Yugito Nii and the others seemed relaxed, waiting for the Gang of Four to come knocking.
He rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment.
Yomi, in the original story, wasn't that strong.
At most a jōnin.
Only after stitching Mōryō's soul into himself did he gain tailed-beast-level power.
Meaning, he couldn't beat Yugito Nii.
Even with Shimura Danzō added, same outcome.
Not that Natsume looked down on the Pot Kage, but Danzō wasn't at his peak now.
And he wouldn't risk his life for Yomi.
So they needed his help.
With that in mind, Natsume entered Sage Mode.
Since the sealing shrine was their target, they were very likely nearby.
He just needed to avoid the sensory types.
But Sage Mode's sensory range was dozens of times greater.
With Natsume's strength, he easily locked onto their location.
…
An unknown valley.
A figure flashed by.
It was Natsume.
He glanced at the guards at the cave entrance and summoned a slug.
"Lord Natsume."
A slug no bigger than an ant landed on his palm.
Seeing it reminded Natsume of something else.
He needed to talk with the Slug Sage about destroying Mount Myōboku.
A thousand years ago, it could be an inside agent; a thousand years later, it still could.
The little slug crawled into the cave, found a secluded spot, and used Reverse Summoning.
Natsume appeared in a puff of smoke.
"Slug Sage, in a while, I'll come consult you on something."
"Very well," Slug nodded and returned to the Shikkotsu Forest.
The cave interior had been turned into the Gang of Four's base.
Natsume sensed around—there were nearly thirty people.
But their strength was pretty mediocre.
He made his way to a lab.
He didn't knock; he just opened the door.
"Didn't I say? No one is to disturb me!"
Yomi spun around angrily from an operation, and froze at the sight of an unfamiliar Natsume.
Natsume couldn't be bothered to talk. He activated his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
Yomi's face went blank for a moment, then returned to normal.
"Let's go. Inform everyone and gather to head for the sealing shrine."
In his perception, Natsume was now his trusted subordinate.
[Because of your actions, Yomi's fate has changed. You gained 19 Fate Points.]
Natsume smiled, changed his face casually, and followed Yomi out of the lab.