Kaguya still couldn't forget the soft and smooth sensation, like the finest silk, slipping through her fingers almost too easily.
Unfortunately, she might never experience that feeling again. Kaguya Ōtsutsuki had already been devoured by her within the myriad colorful purple rays of light, absorbed into her own being.
Well, there was no feeling in touching oneself. It's only when touching others that one feels something.
No, wait, there are still many people who like to touch themselves.
"Mother, what are you thinking about?"
The cat-eared loli's crisp voice, tinged with a hint of softness, brought Kaguya back from her reverie.
"What's wrong? Is there something you need?" Kaguya blinked her eyes, reaching out to stroke the loli's head with a smile.
"It seemed like you were lost in thought." The cat-eared loli extended her small hand to hold Kaguya's, curiously asking.
"Nothing much, I just suddenly thought of something," Kaguya said, playing with her hair with fingers as delicate as green onions. Her hair twirled playfully in her hand as she gracefully walked forward. "Let's go. It's getting late."
"Okay."
Meanwhile, the cat-eared loli fiddled curiously with the demon mask in her hands, poking it several times with her white fingers.
"Behave and wear it properly." Black Zetsu loli frowned like a crescent moon, extending her small blue-patterned folding fan, and with a "snap," she smacked it on the loli's head.
"Ah." The cat-eared loli's head shrank, and a look of grievance appeared on her face as she quickly hid behind Kaguya.
"Enough of that," said Kaguya, who wore a mask. "Let's eat something first; you must be hungry."
It seemed that with Kaguya backing her up, the cat-eared loli's courage grew considerably. She sneaked her head out from behind Kaguya, blinking her big, watery eyes, and stuck her tongue out at Black Zetsu loli, making a face.
A flash of cold light passed through Black Zetsu loli's eyes, which scared the cat-eared loli into shrinking back again.
"Don't always bully her," Kaguya said helplessly. "She is your sister, after all."
"I refuse to acknowledge such a dim-witted little girl as my sister," Black Zetsu loli snorted lightly, pouting. "Mother, you shouldn't spoil her. She needs to be disciplined properly; otherwise, she'll become unruly."
Kaguya looked at the serious Black Zetsu loli, then at the cowering cat-eared loli. She almost laughed out loud. She often had the illusion that Black Zetsu loli was a virtuous wife and loving mother.
"Mother," Black Zetsu loli seemed to notice Kaguya's expression and puffed up in annoyance.
"Ahem," Kaguya quickly coughed a few times to cover it up, then said, "It's getting late. Let's go inside."
With Kaguya's powerful mental control abilities, ordinary ninja couldn't resist at all. Not just ordinary ninja—even elite Jōnin could be controlled without realizing it. Perhaps only those with Kage-level strength or sensory ninja with the Sharingan could potentially see through her.
Upon entering Konoha, she realized how much it had changed. In just a year, it was already vastly different. The low and simple buildings were now rare; looking around, skyscrapers stood in clusters, creating a sense of modernity that made Kaguya feel as if she had returned to the modern world.
Now the sky was dark, and the night was hazy. A small crescent moon gradually rose from the horizon, casting its cold, silvery light across the earth. The hazy clouds shimmered faintly under the moonlight.
The city lights began to shine, and neon lights glowed brightly. These lights were no longer oil lamps or incandescent bulbs; they were now neon lights, vibrant and dazzling, adding a touch of urban atmosphere.
"Dango! It's dango!" The cat-eared loli's eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had discovered a new continent. She hurriedly tugged at Kaguya's sleeve, excitedly shouting.
"Children will be children," Black Zetsu loli sighed. "This is the sort of thing only children..." Suddenly, Black Zetsu loli seemed to think of something, using her folding fan to cover her mouth and cough lightly to hide her embarrassment. She realized that her mother, too, seemed to really like eating such things.
Sure enough, Kaguya's eyebrows lifted, and her beautiful eyes curved into crescents. Waving her white arm, she said, "Let's go eat!"
"Can dango really be considered a main meal?" Black Zetsu loli muttered to herself. Maybe she was the only one who didn't like eating dango because she disliked sticky foods; it was just too unpleasant.
"Hey, sis, why do you always have that expression?" The long-haired girl complained to the girl beside her. "I came specifically to treat you to dango, but from the moment we reached the shop, you've had that look."
The girl had crescent-shaped eyebrows and eyes like clear autumn water, with a cute and charming face. She had long black hair with two strands tied on either side of her body, adorned with pink bows. She wore an orange short kimono with red flames embroidered along the edges, and her chest was full. Her waist was tied with a light green sash, revealing her fair legs, and on her feet were pink clogs.
Though she was still young, with traces of childhood on her face, she already exuded a charm unique to young girls. Upon closer inspection, she was Hinata's sister, Hanabi.
"I'm sorry, forgive me," said the long-haired girl with a black mane as she hurriedly apologized. "Hanabi, but..."
The girl before her had hair like a waterfall, eyebrows like distant mountains, and eyes clear as a pool of autumn water. Her skin was as flawless as white jade. She was Hinata.
"That person also really liked eating dango," Hanabi said with a slight smile, reflecting. "But have you not forgotten about her even now? You know she might already be dead."
"No way!" Hinata shouted anxiously, propping her arm on the table. "Sister would never die!"
"Anyone could die," Hanabi sighed. "Besides, after experiencing such an earth-shattering explosion, she was severely injured and forcibly used the Outer Path—Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique. It's hard to survive that."
"No," Hinata bit her lips, a misty look in her eyes. She clasped her hands together gently at her chest, whispering, "I have a feeling that sister won't die. She will definitely come back."
"But it's been so long, and there's still no news of her," Hanabi sighed. "Honestly, I used to be quite afraid of her. She always had this intimidating aura about her, which is why I never dared to approach her. But she was always kind to me, often guiding and teaching me many things, though she would also do strange things to me."
For some reason, Hanabi seemed reluctant to call Kaguya "sister," and it was rare to hear her refer to Kaguya as such.
Hinata said nothing, just gently shook her head. Hanabi rested her pale hand against her forehead, looking troubled and helpless. "Sister, it's just your imagination. You know she's—"
At that moment, three people wearing strange masks brushed past them. Judging by their slender figures, they appeared to be three girls, or perhaps one girl and two lolis.
Hanabi's eyes blinked, showing a moment of confusion. She felt an odd familiarity, as if a name was on the tip of her tongue, but when she tried to grasp it, it vanished like a mist.
"What's wrong, Hanabi?" Hinata noticed her sister's strange expression and asked curiously.
"Nothing, nothing," Hanabi turned her head and smiled. "Maybe it was just a hallucination."