"It's you!"
Upon seeing Shūichi, Kaguya immediately stood up, the veins around her eyes bulging as she activated the power of her Byakugan.
Shūichi's golden Rinne Sharingan manifested, countering her Byakugan with a Shinra Tensei.
"Kaguya, you should know your abilities can't affect me," Shūichi said with a faint smile. "This world is one I created."
"Even at your peak, you'd struggle to defeat me, let alone now when all you have left is your soul, cut off from your source of power."
Kaguya glared coldly at him. "After your death, I will still find a way to escape."
Shūichi remained calm. "You're referring to the Ōtsutsuki Clan's Main Family, aren't you?"
"The very existence you fear."
Kaguya's expression slightly shifted. "You can read my memories?"
Shūichi neither confirmed nor denied it. "In fact, we share a common enemy, don't we?"
Kaguya said nothing, her gaze fixed on Shūichi.
Unbothered, Shūichi took a step closer, studying her intently. "I know about the Ōtsutsuki's so-called 'Karma Seal.' It requires certain conditions to carry your power, especially for someone like you with immense strength."
"But I also have a way to partially 'revive' your consciousness."
Kaguya's expression remained indifferent. "You want to subdue me?"
"Or do you want to possess me?"
Shūichi replied calmly, "No, I only want to cooperate with you and learn from you."
"You want my abilities?" Kaguya asked coldly.
"That's impossible."
Shūichi chuckled lightly. "That's my problem to solve."
"If you work with me, I can give you a limited resurrection, and together, we can deal with the Ōtsutsuki Clan."
"I suspect that even if the Main Family kills me and you escape, they won't let you go. You'll become a sacrifice for the Ten-Tails, won't you?"
Kaguya fell silent.
What Shūichi said was true. After consuming the God Tree's fruit, there was no way the Ōtsutsuki Main Family would spare her. Her ultimate fate would undoubtedly be to serve as the Ten-Tails' sacrifice.
In fact, her birth had already sealed her destiny—she was born to be a sacrifice for the Ten-Tails.
It was her unwillingness to accept this that drove her to ambush Isshiki Ōtsutsuki and betray the clan.
But the overwhelming power of the Ōtsutsuki Clan instilled fear in her, prompting her to sacrifice countless individuals to the God Tree, hoping it would bear fruit again while also creating an army to protect herself.
Yet, this had ultimately led to her falling out with her own sons.
"Hamura, Hagoromo…"
As memories of the past resurfaced, Kaguya couldn't hold back her tears.
Shūichi watched her and couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "Those who are hateful must have their pitiful side."
Still, he wasn't about to be swayed by her tears.
Although Kaguya's uniqueness was indeed captivating, stirring a certain rogue impulse within him…
And while the idea of becoming the Sage of Six Paths' stepfather sounded amusing, the fact remained that any resurrection would only restore a fragment of her former self, which didn't feel entirely appealing.
Shūichi's sole purpose for being here was to master the Dōjutsu techniques Kaguya possessed.
With the [Prodigy] Tag's buff, anything within his capabilities could be learned.
As the wielder of the Rinne Sharingan, Shūichi could theoretically master any Dōjutsu technique, whether it was from the Rinnegan, Sharingan, or even Kaguya's Rinne Sharingan.
And, of course, the Byakugan.
On Earth, the most advanced Byakugan undoubtedly belonged to Kaguya.
This was also why he hadn't bothered acquiring the Byakugan from the Hyūga Clan earlier.
Firstly, his focus back then had been on the Sharingan.
Secondly, since he'd already decided to confront Kaguya, why settle for anything less?
The Ōtsutsuki's Byakugan possessed capabilities comparable to the Tenseigan, such as the power to control consciousness and will.
...
Looking at the tears streaming down Kaguya's face, Shūichi spoke:
"I'm not certain about Hamura Ōtsutsuki, but as for Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths, you might have a chance to meet him again someday."
Kaguya, still teary-eyed, replied, "I will reclaim my chakra."
Shūichi shook his head. "If you really think about it, it's not your chakra, nor does it belong to the Ōtsutsuki Clan. It belongs to this planet."
"You're outsiders."
The tears faded, and Kaguya looked directly at Shūichi. "You're no match for the Ōtsutsuki Main Family."
Shūichi laughed lightly. "Then you're even less of a match."
"I'm not an Ōtsutsuki descendant, yet I can awaken the Sharingan and the Rinnegan. And it's not just because I acquired the Ten-Tails' power."
"This is my unique ability."
"Kaguya, do you have a better option right now?"
"Cooperate with me, and you'll have a chance at a full rebirth in the future. Refuse, and you'll either remain sealed here forever, or if I'm killed by the Ōtsutsuki Main Family, you'll be unsealed only to become their offering for the Ten-Tails."
"Oh, by the way, here's some information for you. I've confirmed that the Ōtsutsuki Isshiki you ambushed isn't dead."
Kaguya's face showed shock for the first time. "What?"
Shūichi nodded. "That's right. Isshiki isn't dead. He's waiting for the right moment to revive, gather Ten-Tails chakra, and replant the God Tree."
Kaguya fell silent. After a moment, she suddenly asked, "Why haven't you chosen to become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki?"
"With the Ten-Tails' power, you could wield the same abilities as me."
Shūichi shook his head. "That wouldn't be my own power."
"Besides, I made a promise to the Tailed Beasts. They help me, and in return, I grant them freedom."
Kaguya gazed at Shūichi before suddenly declaring, "I'll work with you!"
"My condition is that you resurrect me and fight the Ōtsutsuki Main Family alongside me until they are annihilated."
A broad smile appeared on Shūichi's face. "No problem!"
"Taking down the Ōtsutsuki Main Family is something I'd gladly do."
"Because they possess something I need, and I must also protect my home from being destroyed by them."
"Of course, I agree, but you must abide by my conditions as well."
"I'll decide when to resurrect you, and you're not allowed to seize someone else's body without my permission."
Kaguya frowned slightly. "Then how will you find me a suitable body?"
Shūichi chuckled. "Don't underestimate the power of us so-called 'locals.'"
"I'll make sure it's satisfactory."
Kaguya neither agreed nor disagreed, but she said nothing further.
For her, this was a choice with no alternatives.
The partnership was sealed.
Shūichi immediately sat cross-legged on the ground and smiled. "Alright, let's begin our first training session."
Kaguya looked at him with confusion, but followed his instructions to sit across from him, raising her arms with her palms facing his.
Shūichi raised his palms to meet hers, and thus began their joint meditative training.
This was a purely spiritual and mental exchange. Under Shūichi's guidance, Kaguya completely opened her heart, allowing him to explore freely.
Even Shūichi was momentarily stunned. She was so... naive.
Unlike Asuka back then, or even Shizune, who initially tried to hide some small secrets, Kaguya offered no resistance.
This delighted Shūichi.
It saved him a lot of trouble.
Kaguya's mastery of her Bloodline Limits was extraordinary.
From Infinite Tsukuyomi to All-Killing Ash Bones, Yomotsu Hirasaka, Amenominaka, Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack, and Rabbit Hair Needles—every single one was a divine skill.
---
Time in the mental training space passed quickly, but in the real world, it moved at a normal pace.
By noon, a well-rested Konan woke up, just as Shūichi opened his eyes as well.
Their eyes met, and Konan's mind was instantly flooded with memories of the intimate moments they shared earlier. She immediately turned her head away.
"What are you avoiding? From now on, you're my woman," Shūichi said as he leaned down to gently bite her ear.
Konan gasped softly, her body trembling. "Don't… no more…"
Shūichi kissed her lightly on the cheek and smiled. "Let's get up and have lunch together."
"This afternoon, I'll be heading back to Konoha."
Hearing this, Konan quietly breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. Then she let out a startled yelp as Shūichi scooped her up and carried her into the bathroom.
…
At 1 PM, Shūichi returned to Konoha from the Land of Rain and immediately sensed that Kushina Uzumaki, his teacher's wife, had returned from Mount Myōboku.
Without delay, he headed to the Hokage's office, where Kushina happened to be present.
"Kushina-san, where's Naruto?"
Shūichi asked with a smile.
Kushina replied, "Shūichi, Naruto is already three years old now. He can play with other kids on his own."
"Time flies so fast!"
Shūichi sighed with emotion.
Kushina teased with a grin, "Yes, and next year, you'll be a father too!"
Thick-skinned as ever, Shūichi looked over at his teacher, Minato Namikaze, and joked, "Sensei, you'd better step up. Soon, I'll have more kids than you."
Minato could only respond with an awkward smile.
Whether they had more children or not wasn't entirely up to him.
Besides, how could Kushina alone compete with Tsunade and the others?
Kushina's red hair flared as she raised her fist.
Shūichi immediately straightened his expression. "Sensei, Kushina-san, let's begin the Nine-Tails extraction now!"
Minato's smile faded as he turned to Kushina, who lowered her fist and smiled. "Alright, let's start. I completely trust Shūichi's abilities!"
Shūichi grinned. "Don't worry, Kushina-san. I guarantee you'll live a long and healthy life!"
Kushina nodded with a smile. "Of course!"
Minato stepped to his wife's side, gently supporting her.
Shūichi raised his hand, and black chains materialized, snaking their way into Kushina's abdomen.
Faced with these chains, the Eight Trigrams Seal dissolved quietly.
Inside the seal, the Nine-Tails had been anticipating this moment and allowed itself to be bound by the chains.
Clang!
The chains rattled as the Nine-Tails was effortlessly pulled out of Kushina's body.
Kushina's face turned pale, and sweat rolled down her forehead.
However, her remarkable constitution allowed her to stand steadily, even without Minato's support. Her hair color remained unchanged, further showcasing her incredible resilience.
Unlike other Jinchūriki who would enter a near-death state—or die outright—after losing their Tailed Beast, Kushina remained stable.
Even Naruto in the original story couldn't achieve this feat, proving that his physical constitution wasn't as robust as his mother's, despite being the reincarnation of Asura.
Shūichi had long understood that the souls of Asura and Indra didn't inherently grant their reincarnations a massive chakra reserve. Their influence was more about destiny and the essence of chakra.
As the Nine-Tails was extracted, a Truth-Seeking Orb materialized and flew into Kushina, replenishing her lost vitality.
Sizzle!
Amid rising smoke, the Truth-Seeking Orb merged with Kushina, restoring her strength.
"Amazing!"
Kushina exclaimed, "I feel even stronger than before."
Shūichi smiled. "Of course. This is power that surpasses Kekkei Genkai and even Kekkei Tōta, comparable to Kekkei Mōra."
"Besides, I'm currently the strongest medical ninja in the shinobi world."
After ensuring Kushina's recovery, Shūichi turned to the Nine-Tails. The Tailed Beast extended a paw, touching Shūichi's hand.
In the next moment, the Yin Nine-Tails from Shūichi's body merged with the Yang Nine-Tails, restoring the beast to its peak state.
Though the Hokage's office was limited in space, the Nine-Tails kept a smaller, cuter form that looked oddly adorable.
Shūichi asked, "Kurama, what are your plans now?"
Kushina leaned down and tugged at the Nine-Tails' ear. "Kurama, how about staying with Naruto?"
Kurama glanced sideways and said flatly, "That kid is too dumb!"
Kushina's temper flared instantly as her red hair danced. Hands on her hips, she yelled, "Too dumb? Naruto is the prophesied savior of the Great Toad Sage!"
Savior?
Shūichi was puzzled.
Had Gamamaru been dreaming again?
Why was he still seeing Naruto as the savior?
Minato explained, "It might be related to what you mentioned about the Ōtsutsuki Main Family."
"So, Shūichi, be careful."
Shūichi quickly understood and smiled. "Don't worry, Sensei."
"But…"
He rubbed his chin and said, "It's actually very likely that Naruto will become the savior."
Minato, Kushina, and Kurama were all stunned.
Shūichi elaborated, "Naruto is the reincarnation of Asura, the Sage of Six Paths' younger son."
"What?"
The trio was shocked. Minato hurriedly asked, "Wasn't the First Hokage Asura's reincarnation?"
Shūichi explained, "The First is already dead, so Asura's soul naturally reincarnated again. The same goes for Indra's soul."
"So Naruto has immense potential."
"Of course, it'll still depend on his own efforts. Being Asura's reincarnation doesn't guarantee anything."
Kurama, now deep in thought, hesitated.
Shūichi added, "Kurama, remember when I said you'd have the chance to meet the Sage of Six Paths again?"
Kurama nodded.
Shūichi continued, "Staying with Naruto increases that possibility."
"The bond between Asura and Indra persists. Their reincarnations will inevitably cross paths."
"When Asura's and Indra's powers unite, they can manifest the Sage of Six Paths' chakra."
"The Sage of Six Paths' soul isn't in the Pure Land!"
Kurama was startled but quickly nodded. "I see."
"If that's the case, I'll stay for now."
"But if that brat wants me as his summon, he'll have to pass my test."
Minato smiled. "That's fair."
With Kurama's decision made, Shūichi asked, "Sensei, what about the other Tailed Beasts?"
(End of Chapter)
❇❇❇
This novel is completed on my Patreon, iƒ anyone interested in reading ahead :)
patreon.com/RedX43
❇❇❇