"Six Paths…?"
Kaguya watched them, a dull stillness passing through her eyes.
She hadn't expected Shuoye Uchiha and the others to possess strength on this level—but her pride didn't waver.
"You're not my opponents. Don't waste time."
Shuoye laughed. The sound carried through the night sky, sharp with challenge and contempt.
"Then let's find out."
The next moment, four torrents of chakra erupted at once—four surging floods colliding in midair and scattering sparks like falling stars.
The sky shuddered, as if it could barely withstand the pressure.
"Kaguya," Shuoye said, voice low and heavy, "you're wrong. They—and I—aren't enemies you can defeat so easily."
Kaguya's lips curved in scorn, as if she'd heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.
"Oh? Then show me what you can do."
Before the last word faded, the air pulsed with violent chakra.
Madara and Indra—both monsters in their own right—unleashed their power at the same time. Chakra crashed through the space like a stormfront, making the very dimension tremble.
"Kyōka Suigetsu!"
Shuoye didn't retreat. His eyes narrowed. His hands moved in a blur, and the technique took hold.
Illusory figures flickered across the space—so convincing it was impossible to tell real from false.
And Shuoye's true body slipped into an unexpected angle, blade arcing toward Kaguya's vital point.
Kaguya's gaze tightened.
She hadn't anticipated his illusion technique would deceive even her.
But as an Ōtsutsuki, her reaction was instant.
Her form blurred—and she slipped into the different space opened by Yomotsu Hirasaka, dragging Madara and Indra in with her.
"Pathetic tricks… Susanoo!"
"Limbo: Border Jail!"
Inside the separate space, Madara gave a cold laugh and manifested Susanoo.
The colossal warrior stood like a mountain. His Rinnegan spun—shadowy strikes snapped out like the sweep of a reaper's scythe, aiming straight for Kaguya's life.
Kaguya didn't panic.
She deflected Madara's assault with effortless precision, then met him head-on—black rods clashing as the two tore into each other at close range.
At the same time, she used Yomotsu Hirasaka again—banishing Indra to another space entirely.
"This kind of brawling truly has no meaning," Shuoye said from outside, his tone icy. "But I do need you to understand something."
His gaze fixed on her, calm and merciless.
"The current Kaguya… is the weaker one."
"Arrogant insect!"
Kaguya's anger flared. No one had ever belittled her like this.
But the next instant—when she saw what Shuoye was about to unleash—disbelief crept across her face.
"Insect?" Shuoye's voice was flat. "You're the one who's arrogant."
He brought his hands together.
"Let's end this quickly. Madara—move."
In a heartbeat, a terrifying Susanoo condensed behind him.
Its eyes glowed with a frost-like radiance.
"Bankai."
Shuoye drew Hyōrinmaru from the void itself.
A pair of icy wings unfurled from Susanoo's back, as if a frozen archangel had descended into the battlefield.
"Hyōrinmaru—Bankai. Susanoo—Ice Angel Form. Conqueror's Coating. Shatter the Heavens!"
His shout rang out.
Hyōrinmaru gathered the cold of heaven and earth into its edge, and with a single slash—
The lava-red ground of the entire separate space froze solid.
"This power… impossible!"
Kaguya stared blankly at the scene before her, as if her eyes had betrayed her.
She had never seen strength like this—never imagined she could be forced back by a human of this world.
"You… who are you?"
Her voice carried a tremor of shock.
And as she sank into that disbelief—
A familiar figure burst from a裂 in space like a wraith.
Indra.
His eyes burned with resolve. The weapon in his hand carved brilliant arcs through the void, striking straight for Kaguya's weak points.
Kaguya's heart jolted. She twisted aside, barely avoiding the sudden blow, her face filled with disbelief.
"Indra… you—how can you use Yomotsu Hirasaka?!"
Indra's mouth lifted into a cold smile, contempt plain in his eyes.
"Don't underestimate people, Grandmother. You think only you can master space-time techniques?"
His voice stayed steady.
"I've never stopped fighting. I've never stopped learning."
Kaguya's shock deepened.
She understood what Yomotsu Hirasaka meant—understood exactly how dangerous this was.
And she had no time to think further.
Indra's attacks clung to her like a shadow, forcing her full attention.
Then Shuoye's voice sounded beside her ear—calm, absolute.
"Now… can we talk?"
Kaguya snapped her head around.
Shuoye's blade tip rested lightly against her throat.
The chill of it cut straight through her.
What shook her even more was the aura flowing along his sword—Yin–Yang Release.
A sealing force.
He could seal her.
"You…"
With death pressing against her skin, Kaguya drew a slow breath, forcing down fear and unwillingness.
"With strength like yours… you do have the right to negotiate with me."
Shuoye smiled faintly and withdrew his blade.
He knew it wasn't true surrender—only a concession to reality.
But it was enough.
Because in truth, Kaguya was also a traitor to the Ōtsutsuki. It was her ambush of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki that had set the stage for the shinobi world in the first place.
Without question, she was a target for Ōtsutsuki retribution as well.
After that, Shuoye, Indra, and Madara brought Kaguya through a series of complex space transfers, returning to their village.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi and the senior leadership saw the four of them arrive together, every face went slack with shock.
"This… is this real? Shuoye and the others actually defeated Kaguya head-on?!"
Hiruzen's voice trembled with disbelief.
He knew what Kaguya represented.
The mother of the Sage of Six Paths—said to be the "god" who brought chakra into the world.
In the central meeting chamber, Kaguya, Shuoye, Indra, and Madara sat around a table, the atmosphere heavy and severe.
Kaguya studied Shuoye for a moment before finally speaking.
"Shuoye. What is your plan? We can't keep waiting passively for the Ōtsutsuki clan to arrive."
Shuoye smiled slightly, thoughtfulness settling deep in his eyes.
"A plan exists. But before that, I need to understand something."
He leaned forward a fraction.
"How many Ōtsutsuki are still on earth right now? Besides you, is anyone else moving in the shadows?"
Kaguya's expression turned complicated.
"When I came to this planet, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki came as well. I severely wounded him with an ambush back then. For the short term, he shouldn't be a threat."
Her gaze hardened.
"What we truly need to guard against are the new Ōtsutsuki who may descend at any moment."
"Understood."
Shuoye nodded, thinking quickly.
Then he shifted to another name—one even more critical.
"Then what about Ōtsutsuki Shibai? How much do you know about him?"
Kaguya's face flashed with surprise.
"You… how do you know Ōtsutsuki Shibai? He is the one closest to a god among the Ōtsutsuki—his strength is unfathomable!"
Shuoye used the Rinnegan as an excuse and brushed it off with casual ease.
"My Rinnegan grants a special ability—insight into secrets ordinary people can't perceive."
Kaguya still seemed doubtful, but she didn't press.
She took a breath and continued.
"I know little. Only that he has devoured an unknown number of chakra fruits. His power has surpassed dimensions. Some even say he has only a shell left—while his true soul travels the endless universe."
"So… the chances of him being in this world right now should be low."
Shuoye felt his mind ease slightly.
Shibai was terrifying, but he didn't seem like an immediate threat.
That allowed Shuoye to focus on the crisis in front of them.
At that moment, Indra couldn't help speaking.
"Shuoye. What's the next step? We can't just sit and wait."
Shuoye's gaze swept the room and settled on Kaguya.
"The next step… requires Kaguya's help."
Kaguya frowned.
"What can I do?"
Shuoye answered steadily.
"We need you to train everyone in the Hidden Leaf—including Madara and Indra."
He didn't soften the truth.
"They must become familiar with how the Ōtsutsuki fight. Their strength needs to rise. Only then can we seize the initiative when the future battle comes."
"You want me to be a sparring partner?"
Hesitation flickered in Kaguya's eyes.
She understood what this meant—training them was also a form of restraint placed upon herself.
But for the larger picture, she finally nodded.
"Fine. I will do what I can to help the Hidden Leaf improve."
Shuoye felt a quiet relief.
This was the right move.
With Kaguya involved, the village's strength would jump by leaps and bounds.
And that meant they were one step closer to truly standing against the Ōtsutsuki.
With her agreement secured, a fierce surge of pride rose in Shuoye's chest.
He knew the road ahead would be hard—but it wasn't hopeless.
Then, as if remembering something, he turned back to Kaguya.
"Don't worry. You won't work for nothing."
His tone stayed calm.
"You can learn every jutsu the Hidden Leaf has. That includes the Uchiha clan's unique Haki—and the method to awaken Zanpakutō."
"The strange power you used before?"
Kaguya's eyes widened, her expression turning complex.
She couldn't understand why Shuoye would share something like that.
Wasn't he afraid she'd betray him?
Shuoye simply nodded and gave a small laugh.
"Just a bit of sincerity for cooperation. If you become stronger, it benefits us too."
In truth, the Zanpakutō system and Haki training both originated from Shuoye. Anyone in the shinobi world who cultivated that path was, in the end, working for him.
But Shuoye had no intention of announcing that to everyone.
Kaguya fell silent for a moment, then nodded without saying more.
Seeing that, Shuoye didn't delay.
He looked at everyone, resolve shining in his eyes.
"In this world, there are still certain Sage powers we can use."
He spoke plainly.
"I'm going personally. And I'll capture the final Tailed Beast—the Seven-Tails—preparing to become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki."
Kaguya gave a small nod.
The Ten-Tails' power couldn't be ignored. Against the Ōtsutsuki, this was the baseline.
She knew Shuoye's move wasn't just ambition—it was for the future of the entire shinobi world.
"Go," she said softly. "I'll keep watch here."
Shuoye nodded and said his farewells.
Before leaving, he placed a Flying Thunder God formula, ensuring he could return at any time to support them.
He wasn't naïve enough to trust Kaguya without a safeguard. Whether it was Madara or Indra, both were unstable factors.
After completing those preparations, he left the meeting room with Kushina Uzumaki.
This trip also required searching for the Seven-Tails—so bringing Kushina, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, was perfect.
With the Rinnegan, Shuoye could use the Tailed Beast's aura to locate similar chakra signatures.
Kushina became his chakra "detector."
Of course, Shuoye would never admit he also wanted some time alone with Kushina on the road.
Not far outside the village, Kushina followed close behind him, nervous and excited in equal measure.
"Where's our first stop?" she asked, curiosity and anticipation in her voice.
Shuoye smiled and pulled out a scroll.
It was the summoning scroll Orochimaru had given him—marked with the route to Ryūchi Cave.
He unfurled it and pointed to the diagram.
"Ryūchi Cave. Powerful snake sages live there. Before we hunt the Seven-Tails, I'm paying a visit."
"The White Snake Sage?"
Kushina's eyes flashed with surprise.
She'd heard the legends, but never imagined she'd step foot there herself.
Shuoye tore the scroll.
The scene before them warped and shifted—
And in the blink of an eye, they appeared within a vast forest.
They moved swiftly, and soon reached the entrance to Ryūchi Cave.
A mysterious cavern, its mouth veiled in thin mist, unfathomable and eerie.
The sight ahead made both of them feel their hearts tighten—
Countless bones lay scattered around the entrance. Every fragment seemed to whisper of brutal deaths.
Just as they were about to enter, three figures appeared before them.
Three women draped in exquisite snake scales, beautiful and dangerously alluring—
Ryūchi Cave's three great Snake Princesses.
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