Before Black Zetsu could even open his mouth, Kaguya had already made her move.
Fine veins suddenly surfaced around her Byakugan, and her pure white pupils became extraordinarily sharp in an instant.
A tremendous pressure erupted from within her body. The trees throughout the desolate forest bent under the invisible force, their branches and leaves trembling violently.
Byakugan: Intimidate!
Within a radius of several hundred meters, the birds and other creatures in the surrounding forest suddenly found all the strength drained from their bodies. They could no longer even flap their wings and fell directly from the branches to the ground.
This was the oppressive presence belonging to the Rabbit Goddess.
Even though Kaguya had been weakened to approximately the level of a peak Super Kage, the overwhelming aura of the woman who had once devoured a Chakra Fruit and ruled the entire shinobi world by herself still remained.
Kiyohara's expression did not change in the slightest.
A pale blue-green chakra belonging to the Tenseigan appeared across his body, completely blocking Kaguya's oppressive force from reaching him.
The pressure that would have forced ordinary shinobi to their knees disappeared without a sound. It could not even move the hem of Kiyohara's robes.
Kaguya's brows furrowed slightly.
Her eyes fell upon Kiyohara's irises, which had already transformed into a pale blue color. A trace of undisguised astonishment flashed deep within her pupils.
"The Tenseigan."
It was an extremely rare dōjutsu among the Ōtsutsuki clan. Even in her clan, it was not something that everyone could awaken.
This man was not only a fellow member of the Ōtsutsuki clan, but he also possessed the Tenseigan.
With that thought in mind, Kaguya decided that she could no longer afford to hold back.
Several gray-white bone spikes suddenly emerged from the palms of her hands.
All-Killing Ash Bones!
This was one of her strongest killing techniques.
As long as one of the bone spikes merely grazed its target, the target would begin to disintegrate at the cellular level. Even a body created through Impure World Reincarnation could not escape its effects.
The bone spikes tore through the air.
They were so fast that several gray-white afterimages were left behind as they shot toward Kiyohara.
Kiyohara's figure suddenly disappeared from his original position.
Hayatama Sonkou!
The instant this dōjutsu was activated, his movement speed, attack speed, and hand-seal speed were all elevated to a realm far beyond what ordinary shinobi could comprehend.
From Kiyohara's perspective, the several deadly bone spikes looked as though they had been submerged in transparent gelatin. They passed by his body at an extremely slow pace.
Kiyohara could clearly see the patterns on the surfaces of the bone spikes. He could even see the tiny ripples in the air caused by their passage.
Therefore, there was no possibility of those bone spikes touching him.
Kaguya's eyes widened slightly.
She had not even been able to see how Kiyohara had moved.
"Have I really been weakened to this extent?"
Kaguya frowned.
At this moment, her desire to recover her chakra became even stronger.
The next instant, Kaguya suddenly swung her right hand to the side.
Five sharp chakra claws extended from the tips of her five fingers, attempting to seal off Kiyohara's possible escape routes.
Kiyohara accelerated once again.
The air around his body was violently torn apart by his incredible speed, producing a piercing howl.
His figure darted left and right through Kaguya's dense barrage of attacks.
Every movement was precisely calculated, slipping through the gaps between her attacks.
Whether it was her Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack or her Rabbit Hair Needle, not a single technique could even graze the corner of his clothing.
The faster he moved, the more the resistance of the air resembled solid iron.
Every sudden change in direction subjected his body to an enormous backlash.
However, Kiyohara's physical body had already been tempered by the chakra of the Nine Tailed Beasts. His physical strength had long since surpassed the endurance limits of an ordinary Ōtsutsuki.
The backlash from moving at such speeds was nothing more than a slight warmth spreading through his muscles and bones.
Outside the area where the two were fighting, Black Zetsu hid behind a dead tree.
He was so anxious that his entire face had practically twisted into a knot.
He had waited a thousand years to resurrect his mother.
Yet the first thing his mother did after finally coming back to life was start fighting Kiyohara.
"Mother! Kiyohara! Stop fighting!"
Black Zetsu's voice was torn apart by the powerful wind pressure generated by the two combatants' movements.
Unfortunately, the two had already become increasingly fierce in their battle.
Kaguya's attacks came down like a violent storm.
The entire desolate forest was repeatedly swept by the shockwaves of their battle. The ground was covered in countless corrosive craters created by the All-Killing Ash Bones, while the air was filled with the scorching aura of chakra.
Kiyohara was in no hurry to counterattack.
Kaguya's strength had indeed been reduced tremendously.
At her peak, Kaguya had possessed enough power to overwhelm the entire world.
However, the Kaguya standing before him currently possessed only around the amount of chakra belonging to a peak Super Kage.
After casually using several high-intensity techniques, more than half of her chakra would be consumed, and her recovery speed was nowhere near what it had been at her peak.
Because of this, she quickly realized that something was wrong.
She was running out of chakra.
And at that very moment, Kiyohara's offensive finally began.
The skeletal frame of the Susanoo instantly unfolded around his body.
Bones appeared first.
Then muscles formed around those bones.
Then armor covered the muscles.
The enormous chakra warrior continued expanding.
Countless thick, wooden arms began growing across its surface.
Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands was covered with the armor of the Susanoo, transforming into a true Thousand-Handed Buddha.
A thousand arms covered in chakra armor spread out behind the enormous Buddha.
They blocked out the heavens and the sun, casting the entire desolate forest into shadow.
Kaguya's pupils contracted.
She had seen this technique before.
Or rather, she had seen something extremely similar to it.
Before she could react, Kiyohara formed a hand seal with one hand.
Sealing Art: True Several Thousand Hands!
Black chakra chains suddenly wrapped around all one thousand arms.
These were sealing chains Kiyohara had developed using the sealing properties of Gyūki's ink.
Countless black chains shot out from the thousand arms at the same time, resembling a thousand dark lightning bolts that intertwined across the sky and formed an enormous net.
Kaguya attempted to use Amenominaka to enter another dimension and escape.
However, before she could even open the black portal, the chains had already sealed off every possible route of retreat.
Before she could fully react, her limbs, waist, abdomen, and shoulders were all tightly wrapped by black chains.
Her entire body was bound in midair, leaving her completely unable to move.
Kiyohara stood atop the head of the Thousand-Handed Buddha and looked down at her from above.
"The current world is far more dangerous than you imagine. There is more than one Ōtsutsuki hiding here, and there are also humans who can wield the power of the Ōtsutsuki."
"If they sense your chakra, you will not be able to survive in your current condition. I did not come here to fight you. I came here to help you. We can cooperate."
Kaguya's brows remained tightly furrowed.
She was suspended in midair, bound by the black chains. Her moon-white hair hung messily down her body, reaching almost to her calves.
Her usually emotionless and cold expression now contained a rare trace of embarrassment and anger.
Angry as she was, however, she knew very well that Kiyohara was telling the truth.
This new body was simply too weak.
Using only a few techniques was enough to nearly exhaust her chakra, and her recovery speed was nowhere near what it had been during her prime.
Facing her fellow clan members from beyond this world in such a state would be no different from seeking death.
Furthermore, this man clearly could have killed her while she was weakened.
Yet instead of doing so, he had deliberately stopped.
He had even claimed that he wanted to help her.
But Kaguya would never trust him so easily.
A thousand years ago, Isshiki had also told her that they were partners.
And what had happened in the end?
She had nearly been sacrificed as the vessel for the Ten-Tails.
Black Zetsu finally found an opportunity to rush out from behind the dead tree.
He stumbled and rolled his way toward Kaguya, his half-black, half-white face filled with anxiety.
"Mother, everything Kiyohara said is true. The shinobi world really is filled with dangers now. Kiyohara told me that Ōtsutsuki Isshiki is still alive. He has been parasitically living inside a human body, hiding in the shadows for a thousand years while continuously accumulating his strength."
"There is also an even more terrifying fellow called Ōtsutsuki Shibai. Although he has already transcended this universe, his remains and cells are still here, and Isshiki has control over them. If Kiyohara had not been working behind the scenes all this time, there would have been no way for us to resurrect you."
Kaguya's eyes widened slightly.
Isshiki was actually still alive.
And he was hiding somewhere within this very shinobi world.
The moment Kaguya had been resurrected, the fluctuations of her chakra had inevitably leaked out.
If Isshiki was still alive, there was no doubt that he had already sensed them.
The enemy was hidden while she was exposed.
She had only just been resurrected, yet her position had already been revealed.
Meanwhile, she knew nothing about what Isshiki had been planning during these thousand years.
A cold sense of unease slowly rose from the depths of her heart.
Kiyohara jumped down from the head of the Thousand-Handed Buddha and landed in front of Kaguya.
The Buddha and the countless sealing chains behind him transformed into a vast shower of light and slowly dissipated.
Once the chains disappeared, Kaguya was free.
Yet she did not launch another attack.
She simply stood where she was.
For the first time, an extremely complicated emotion appeared within her pure white eyes.
"You... why are you helping me?"
At that moment, an almost transparent spirit slowly emerged behind Kiyohara.
The figure of Jōgan Kiyohara had already become so faint that only the final layer of his outline remained.
Yet his special Jōgans were still clearly visible.
Pale blue pupils.
Pitch-black sclera.
He looked at Kiyohara and could not help smiling.
"You finally fulfilled my final last will."
Jōgan Kiyohara's spirit could only be seen by Kiyohara.
Even Kaguya could not see him.
"You certainly made me work for that will."
Kiyohara replied.
Jōgan Kiyohara chuckled softly.
"Indeed."
The next moment, the faint outline of his spirit began disappearing from the edges.
It transformed into countless tiny points of light, resembling fireflies being scattered by the wind.
The lights slowly rose from behind Kiyohara and merged into his body.
Jōgan Kiyohara's final last will had finally been fulfilled.
Kiyohara could feel an enormous amount of spiritual energy pouring into the depths of his consciousness.
At the same time, his eyes began changing uncontrollably.
The black pupils faded away.
His pale blue pupils became even clearer and more translucent, while the sclera surrounding them was completely covered by a layer of deep, ink-like blackness.
The Jōgan.
The Jōgan on its complete state!
Kiyohara could clearly feel that the power of his eyes had increased tremendously.
Kaguya suddenly took half a step backward.
Her expression underwent countless changes within that brief moment.
From vigilance to shock.
From shock to disbelief.
"The Eye of Destiny..."
Kaguya recognized those eyes.
Kiyohara could feel his chakra increasing once again.
If his chakra had previously been like an enormous sea, then at this moment, another vast sea had become connected to it.
For Kaguya, it was as though a fragrant, soft cake had suddenly been coated with a layer of golden, translucent honey.
The temptation it radiated was deadly enough to drive any Ōtsutsuki into madness.
Kaguya subconsciously swallowed.
She stared at Kiyohara's eyes for a long time.
Then she slowly spoke.
"I... agree to cooperate with you. For now."
Kiyohara nodded.
He stepped forward and extended his hand toward Kaguya.
"First, hide your chakra. Your current chakra fluctuations are far too obvious. The residual fluctuations from your resurrection have already spread out. If you do not want Isshiki or someone else to locate you, you must first suppress your aura."
Kaguya lowered her head and looked at her faintly glowing palm.
She had never learned how to suppress or conceal her chakra.
During her prime, she had never needed to hide anything because there had been no one in the entire world capable of threatening her.
But now, she was the one who needed to hide.
Kiyohara extended his hand and touched the back of hers, gently intertwining his fingers with hers.
Kiyohara's aura washed over her.
Kaguya's entire body trembled slightly.
It had been far, far too long since anyone had touched her in such a manner.
Black Zetsu had worked desperately for a thousand years to resurrect his mother.
And now, right in front of him, Kiyohara was holding his mother's hand with their fingers intertwined.
Black Zetsu opened his mouth.
He wanted to say something.
However, Kaguya raised her other hand and gestured for him to remain silent.
Black Zetsu could only shut his mouth.
Kiyohara's aura drew closer and closer.
Kaguya could feel her heartbeat unconsciously accelerating.
However, she quickly regained control of herself and forcibly suppressed the strange fluttering that had risen from deep within her chest.
Then she suddenly noticed something.
There was a chakra within Kiyohara's body that she was extremely familiar with.
Ashura.
He was the younger son of Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths, and the brother of her grandson, Indra.
"Wait."
Kaguya narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Why do you possess Ashura's chakra within your body? Are you my grandson?"
Kiyohara shook his head.
"I merely happened to collect this chakra. I am not Ashura's actual reincarnation in this era."
Black Zetsu quickly added, "Mother, it is true. The current reincarnation of Ashura is Namikaze Naruto, while Indra's reincarnation is Uchiha Sasuke. The Ashura chakra inside Lord Kiyohara's body is not the same chakra as the Ashura chakra inside that Namikaze Naruto."
Kaguya's brows slowly relaxed.
She looked at Kiyohara in silence for a moment.
Then she slightly turned her head and exposed the back of her neck to him.
A layer of extremely thin sealing barrier spread outward from her fingertips.
Faint golden sealing patterns extended along her skin like vines, gradually spreading throughout her entire body.
The moment the barrier was completed, it became completely transparent.
It merged with her own chakra, leaving no visible trace from the outside.
The tremendous chakra fluctuations within Kaguya's body contracted the moment the barrier took shape.
The vast ocean of chakra was compressed into something resembling a calm lake.
"Done. From now on, as long as you do not deliberately release a technique that exceeds the barrier's limit, your chakra will not be detected by any sensory technique."
Kiyohara withdrew his hand and stepped back.
Kaguya raised her hand and looked at the sealing pattern on the back of it, which had already faded until it was almost impossible to see.
Her chakra had been restrained.
But in exchange, she had gained a temporary space in which she could move around safely.
She raised her head.
Her pure white eyes remained fixed on Kiyohara for a long time.
Then she slowly spoke, her voice several degrees softer than before.
"Mm."
Kiyohara turned around.
His gaze swept across the desolate forest, which had been devastated beyond recognition by the aftermath of their battle.
The commotion caused by their fight had been considerable.
They needed to leave as soon as possible.
"Let's return to Konoha first."
Kiyohara turned back toward Kaguya and extended his hand.
"Once we reach Konoha, I will have someone prepare some clean clothes and a place for you to stay. After you have settled down, we can discuss everything else in detail."
Kaguya looked at the hand extended toward her.
She remained silent for a moment.
Then she placed her hand into his palm.
The two figures suddenly disappeared from the desolate forest.
Only the chaotic traces of their battle remained behind, along with the chakra residue that was slowly dissipating from the air.
"Damn it. Kiyohara actually left without taking me."
Black Zetsu froze for a moment.
He could only make his own way toward Konoha.
At the same time, Black Zetsu silently wondered about something.
When Kiyohara had held his mother's hand just now, had his movements been a little too natural?
...
Konoha, Hokage's Office.
The instant Kiyohara pushed open the door, Kurenai, who had been dozing with her head resting on the desk, suddenly raised her head.
Her slightly wavy black hair had become somewhat messy from rubbing against the desk. A few loose strands stuck up over her forehead.
She rubbed her eyes.
Her ruby-like eyes were still clouded with the haziness of someone who had not fully awakened from sleep.
However, her professional instincts immediately kicked in.
The moment she saw the unfamiliar woman standing behind Kiyohara, she became completely awake.
That woman was extremely tall.
Kurenai herself was already considered tall among the female shinobi of Konoha.
Yet this woman was nearly a head taller than her.
Her moon-white hair fell straight from the top of her head all the way down to her calves. The ends of her hair drifted gently through the air as though they were being supported by an invisible current.
Her facial features were so exquisite that she hardly looked human.
But what made it impossible to look away were her eyes.
They were completely pure white.
They looked exactly like the Byakugan of the Hyūga clan.
Could this woman be a member of the Hyūga clan?
Confusion appeared in Kurenai's heart.
Her gaze moved between the woman and Kiyohara twice.
Then it finally landed on Kiyohara's hand, which was still holding the woman's wrist.
Her eyebrows rose slightly.
"Kiyohara."
Kurenai stood up from behind the desk and folded her arms across her chest.
"Who is this?"
"Kaguya."
Kiyohara released Kaguya's wrist.
"She needs to remain in Konoha temporarily and receive Konoha's protection. Her identity and existence are the highest-level secret in Konoha. For the time being, do not let anyone else know."
(End of Chapter)