"Mother??"
Black Zetsu's eyes nearly popped out of its head. How could its mother, Kaguya, make such a move, using both hands to catch the opponent's weapon?
"Mother, let go and use another ability!"
Kaguya's expression showed some urgency, but she realized she couldn't move at all—her hands were stuck to the blade.
"I can't move," Kaguya admitted.
"What did this brat do to you?"
Black Zetsu, now worried, emerged from Kaguya's sleeve, forming a black spike from its body and swiftly attacking Yoichi.
Though Black Zetsu wasn't powerless, its combat ability was weak compared to top-tier fighters, depending heavily on the strength of its host. However, at this moment, Yoichi couldn't counterattack, so Black Zetsu's attack would rely on his physical toughness.
"Kamui!"
Just as Black Zetsu's spike was about to pierce Yoichi's heart, the blade was twisted by the Kamui technique, snapping in two.
"Obito?"
"No, it's me!" Yoichi said with a smile, and suddenly a Kamui clone appeared next to Black Zetsu, grabbing it and pulling it off Kaguya using the power of Yin-Yang Release.
With the chakra provided by the real body, the Kamui clone could still form a Truth-Seeking Ball or two.
"Let go of me!"
Black Zetsu struggled, but the Kamui clone wasted no time, transporting Black Zetsu to the Kamui dimension.
Black Zetsu was essentially Kaguya's remote control. Though it lacked strength, its strategic suggestions were often sharp.
Now undisturbed, Yoichi suddenly released the Truth-Seeking Ball sword he had been holding. In the next instant, his energy was completely drained—chakra and stamina vanished in a flash. Simultaneously, Kaguya regained control of her body, her hands finally free to move.
"Life energy!"
Though Yoichi had lost all his chakra and strength due to the Bare-Handed Blade Catching technique, he still possessed life energy. Having previously absorbed the life energy of three great beasts, he now used it all.
In an instant, his chakra and stamina were fully restored, and with Kaguya so close, it was time for his next move.
'This isn't good…'
Kaguya's emotions shifted to panic as Yoichi's hand approached her. She had long forgotten what panic felt like after all these years, but now the sensation returned in full force.
'Use Heaven's Subjugation to move to another world... it's too late!'
As the thought crossed her mind, Kaguya felt Yoichi's right hand grasp her wrist.
Zzt!
It was as if an electric current shot through her body. Kaguya froze, and then her entire body trembled uncontrollably.
"Ugh~!"
Kaguya let out a muffled groan as she lost control of her floating ability, beginning to plummet toward the ground.
Fortunately, Yoichi grabbed her in time, preventing her from crashing into the snow below.
For several seconds, Kaguya's body calmed down from the overwhelming sensation, but as soon as she tried to regain composure, another wave of electric-like energy surged through her.
Because Yoichi hadn't let go of her wrist, the ability continued to trigger.
This was a rule-based ability, and even someone as divine as Kaguya couldn't escape its effects.
"Kaguya, what did you mean by those words earlier? It seems like you know my abilities quite well..."
Before Yoichi could finish his question, Kaguya bit her lip again in frustration.
Seeing her reaction, Yoichi decided to let her down, bringing them both to the ground. While landing, he quickly marked three Flying Thunder God seals on Kaguya's body.
"Alright, now you can answer my earlier question. Have you met me before?"
Once they touched down on the snowy ground, Yoichi released his grip on Kaguya, though his hand remained only a couple of centimeters from her, ready to react.
The cold of the snow helped Kaguya regain some of her composure, and the pink blush on her face began to fade. The icy goddess of the moon returned, though her eyes still burned with a mix of anger and shame. This situation had brought back memories she would rather forget.
For the first time in over a thousand years, Kaguya felt genuinely emotional. Even when her sons betrayed her, she hadn't been this furious.
"I will never forgive you for this humiliation!" Kaguya spat, but before she could finish, Yoichi grabbed her hand again, sending another shock of energy through her body.
After two or three minutes, when Kaguya's body finally relaxed, Yoichi spoke up again.
"You better answer my questions properly, or I'll keep you in this state for three whole days, Kaguya. Think carefully before you respond!"
Kaguya, her body still trembling slightly, replied, "I understand."
As she looked at Yoichi's hand, preparing to extend toward her again, her once icy face showed a trace of panic.
"Good. Now, answer my question: you seem familiar with my abilities. Have you seen me before?"
"...Have you forgotten what you did to me?" Kaguya's normally serene white eyes looked at Yoichi with a hint of resentment, as if he had wronged her in some significant way.
"Thousands of years ago, you stole the secret techniques I had gathered in the Land of Ancestors and—"
"Alright, I get it. No need to explain further," Yoichi interrupted. He realized this must have been something his future self had done, possibly taking an artifact from that time.
But what did the future him have to do with the present him? After all, he hadn't committed those actions himself.
Next, Yoichi asked, "You didn't seem surprised by my bone-shattering ash bone technique. Why is that?"
"Isn't this the result of my prayers?" Kaguya answered, still unsure herself. After being freed from her seal, she had reflected on the fact that, though she was supposed to have no awareness while sealed, she had somehow prayed and received a response.
And the response had been from this man.
Kaguya's gaze was a mixture of complex emotions—shame and anger. She had been subdued by this man yet again.
Before she could fully process her thoughts, Yoichi once more grabbed her hand, and the familiar electric current surged through her.
"What kind of look was that? Remember, I can seal you at any time. Whether or not I do depends on my mood."
Yoichi's warning forced Kaguya to nod reluctantly. He now wondered what to do with her.
Killing her was impossible, as even the Yin-Yang Release couldn't finish Kaguya off. Sealing her would require splitting her chakra, body, and consciousness with the Six Paths Chibaku Tensei.
Kaguya was different from a weakling like Ōtsutsuki Urashiki. She had consumed the strongest Divine Tree fruit, not only gaining immortality but also distributing her power to Hamura and Hagoromo, elevating them to the Six Paths level.
But if he wanted to go through all that effort, why revive Kaguya at all? He could have just eliminated Madara and gathered all the tailed beasts himself.
'Let's see what the strategy guide says.'
Yoichi opened the Strategy Guide, and after reading the suggestion, he made up his mind.
"Kaguya, what do you plan to do next?"
"I... I want to reclaim the chakra," Kaguya answered, briefly glancing at Yoichi, before lowering her head again, like a servant trying to avoid eye contact.
"You plan to reclaim the chakra to fight against other Ōtsutsuki enemies? If that's the case, you don't need to. The other Ōtsutsuki are my targets as well!"
With that, Yoichi pulled out the eyes of Urashiki from his dimensional storage—a pair of Byakugan infused with powerful eye strength.
"This is…"
Kaguya was surprised, sensing the powerful eye energy within them. Only someone who had consumed a Divine Tree fruit could possess such a level of ocular power, though it was still far weaker than her Nine Tomoe Rinnegan.
"These are the eyes of one of your kin, Ōtsutsuki Urashiki. He's already dead. But I know your greatest enemy is Isshiki, and he's still alive, hiding somewhere in the ninja world."
Hearing Isshiki's name made Kaguya's face tense up with fear.
"He's dead. There's no way he's still alive."
"Think about his eye technique and your clan's life force, Kaguya."
Yoichi cut off Kaguya's denial. If Isshiki were to fully recover his strength, he'd be the most powerful Ōtsutsuki that Yoichi knew of.
But he'd never get the chance to do so.
"Now, you have two choices: either be sealed again, or become my subordinate like Urashiki did. Don't worry, I won't use you to feed the Divine Tree or make you into medicine."
Yoichi looked down at Kaguya, who was still sitting in the snow, as he presented her with the options. Sealing her would be a waste of her strength. It would be better to follow the Strategy Guide's advice.
"I... I..." Kaguya hesitated, but before she could finish her sentence, she felt Yoichi grab her hand once more, and that familiar electric sensation rushed through her body again.
This cold feeling was the only thing that could snap her out of the moment.
"Kaguya, think carefully before you answer."
Yoichi warned her. Even in this freezing snow world, he could sense her fear.
After that, Kaguya answered all of his questions without resistance.
Neither her chakra nor her constitution could withstand his ability.
"Your answer?"
"I... I will serve you as your protector."
Kaguya's voice trembled, with a hint of reluctance, completely devoid of her usual cold demeanor. She had been coerced in the most humiliating way to become the subordinate of her ancient enemy.
"That's the right answer, Kaguya. As my subordinate, at least you won't have to worry about being fed to the Divine Tree. Even if Ōtsutsuki Shibai shows up, you'll be safe."
Yoichi smiled. Shibai wasn't even on this planet, so exaggerating things was easy.
"How do you know—"
Before Kaguya could finish her sentence, she stopped. This man seemed to know more than she did, yet he never revealed anything. She decided not to ask any more questions.
Despite her anger, Kaguya felt a slight sense of relief. Long ago, she had fought Isshiki to avoid being sacrificed to the Divine Tree, but now…
"Kaguya, tell me what you've been up to since I left."
"Could we move somewhere else first? I... I want to…"
Kaguya mumbled, avoiding eye contact.
Noticing her unease, Yoichi agreed. "Fine. Go ahead."
Swoosh!
As Yoichi released his hold on her, Kaguya quickly teleported away into a different dimension, taking only herself with her.
"How naive!"
Yoichi smirked, sensing the Flying Thunder God markings he had placed on her. Just in case Kaguya tried to flee to another dimension, he had prepared three seals and even hidden them away.
The six dimensions connected to Heaven's Subjugation were all linked, meaning Kaguya couldn't escape!
In the primordial space, Kaguya bit her lip, angered and humiliated. "I will... I will have my revenge."
"Revenge? On me?"
A familiar voice came from behind her, causing Kaguya's face to show panic. Before she could react, a hand rested on her shoulder.
"Mm...!"
"No, I... I won't…"
"You can't escape, Kaguya. Think carefully before you act!"
"Fine... I understand."
This time, Kaguya was genuinely afraid.
Afterward, Kaguya returned to Yoichi's side without saying another word.
"Take me out of here first. Once we leave, recall all of the Divine Tree."
"I understand."
Her response was flat, with an almost imperceptible hint of bitterness. With a wave of her hand, Kaguya used Heaven's Subjugation to transport both of them back to the ninja world.
(End of Chapter)
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