Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Beyond the Six Paths? The Lonely and Desolate Kaguya
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In the blink of an eye, several months passed.
As Mito's belly grew larger day by day, Kyōsuke fully prepared himself to welcome the arrival of new life. His excitement was palpable, and the warmth of anticipation filled their home.
Skilled medical-nins conducted thorough examinations and confirmed the baby's gender—it was a boy.
This joyful revelation allowed the couple to finalize the name they had prepared in advance.
Uchiha Haruto—Kyōsuke decided on this name through a playful draw of lots. Ever the doting father, he placed a hand on Mito's belly and asked the unborn child, "What do you think, little one? Is this name to your liking?" Since there was no objection, the matter was settled with a laugh.
Aside from supporting his wife and delving into his study of ninjutsu, Kyōsuke had another significant responsibility:
That was to console a lonely, empty-hearted woman.
At first, Mito, with her signature bun hairstyle, couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. The thought of her husband offering comfort to another woman stirred a mix of emotions within her.
But Kyōsuke, persistent and sincere, appealed to her empathy. "As a woman, haven't you ever felt lonely, empty, or cold at some point in your life?" he asked.
He continued, his tone filled with quiet sadness. "Think about it—a mother, sealed away by her sons, trapped for a thousand years without release. How tragic is that?"
Moved by his words, Mito's resistance softened. After careful consideration, she chose to stand by what Kyōsuke called the "correct path."
Of course, Mito's magnanimity wasn't entirely altruistic. Thirty percent stemmed from her inherent kindness, but the remaining seventy percent was likely due to the youth-preserving secret technique gifted to her by this lonely woman.
This pitiable, isolated soul was none other than Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, trapped for millennia within her seal.
One day, sensing the immense power of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Kaguya had drawn Kyōsuke into the altar within her seal.
Her two sons, Hagoromo and Hamura, had sealed her away for the greater good of the Shinobi world, ensuring peace for future generations. Yet, despite their resolve, they had not subjected their mother to excessive suffering.
The seal allowed her limited freedom of movement within a confined range, though she spent most of her time in a deep, restless slumber, isolated from the flow of time.
When Kyōsuke appeared, Kaguya initially mistook him for a savior sent by Black Zetsu, her loyal creation, tasked with orchestrating her eventual release.
After all, the odds of someone with the bloodline powerful enough to awaken the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan reaching the Moon altar by mere coincidence were astronomically low.
Kyōsuke, ever perceptive, revealed little. Instead, he used his silver tongue and natural charisma to gain Kaguya's trust.
Currently, Kyōsuke found himself constrained by his limitations—he lacked the necessary skill and range of the Flying Thunder God Technique to traverse the vast space between the Moon and Earth freely, As such, his ambitions relied heavily on his ongoing research into space-time barriers.
He aimed to utilize space-time barriers to reopen the passage between Earth and the Moon.
And who better to guide him in this endeavor than the Otsutsuki Kaguya herself?
Carrying a meal personally prepared by Mito, Kyōsuke teleported into the secluded cave where the altar lay hidden. After performing a series of intricate seals, he successfully entered the confines of Kaguya's prison.
If Black Zetsu were to learn of this, he would undoubtedly fall to his knees, fervently pleading for Kyōsuke to liberate his revered mother.
However, despite all his cunning and potential, Kyōsuke was still far from possessing the power required to break the seal placed by the Sage of Six Paths and his brother, Hamura.
The seal was a monumental work of power and foresight, designed to suppress Kaguya's immense strength indefinitely. To even attempt to break it, Kyōsuke would need to ascend to a level far beyond his current abilities—one equal to or surpassing the Six Paths level.
For now, he could only continue his—"PUA"—ahem, no, he meant using his genuine sincerity to ease this woman's loneliness and gain her trust.
[P.S: PUA means when a man who studies and practises special techniques that are intended to be effective in attracting potential sexual partners.]
"You're here, Kyōsuke." After months of interaction, a sense of familiarity had developed between them. Kaguya, having regained much of her rationality and conversational ability, greeted him warmly when he arrived.
"This is a meal prepared by Mito herself," Kyōsuke replied, placing the plate carefully on the ground. Without waiting for a response, he moved to a corner of the altar and began practicing the intricate space-time barrier technique Kaguya had been teaching him.
Kaguya, the ancestor of chakra, picked up the chopsticks with elegant precision, a far cry from the desperate way she had devoured meals when they first met.
While eating, she didn't forget to offer guidance on Kyōsuke's training.
"That seal there—adjust it. It can be optimized."
"You're overcomplicating it—it'll hurt the barrier's efficiency."
"There, yes, there! No, no! Ugh, how can you be this clumsy?"
Kyōsuke's eyebrow twitched as he felt his patience fray. Mentally, he resolved to ask Mito to add a touch more salt to the next meal to subtly convey his frustrations.
Still, the dynamic between teacher and student created an unexpectedly warm and harmonious atmosphere. Even with the occasional jabs, there was an undeniable sense of mutual understanding.
Through their interactions, Kyōsuke came to a realization: Kaguya didn't simply see him as her savior or tool. Hidden within her eyes was a faint trace of familial affection, as though she saw a shadow of Indra in him.
It was this same sentiment, perhaps, that explained her tears upon seeing Naruto and Sasuke in the distant future—a rare glimpse of the emotions buried beneath her godlike exterior.
Watching Kaguya carefully arrange the dishes after their meal, Kyōsuke sighed deeply and asked, "Must the Divine Tree be planted for the chakra fruit to be condensed?"
At his words, Kaguya paused, glanced up, and responded with a calm yet somber tone. "I was once a servant to Isshiki. My mission was to be sacrificed to the Divine Tree, to become its nourishment."
She looked down for a moment, her fingers lingering on the dish before her. "Unwilling to accept my fate, I took advantage of his carelessness, launching an attack that ultimately thwarted his mission to obtain the chakra fruit."
Kyōsuke listened intently as she continued, her voice carrying a weight of regret. "Now, after so many years, the Otsutsuki clan will undoubtedly send a second team to investigate."
She hesitated, her expression darkening. "If my actions are discovered, I will face endless pursuit from the clan."
History proved Kaguya's fears to be well-founded. The second team sent to Earth by the Otsutsuki clan was none other than Momoshiki and Kinshiki.
At this thought, Kyōsuke could no longer hold back his curiosity. He had longed to know the answer to a question that had been bothering him for some time. "Is the Otsutsuki Clan truly that powerful?"
Who, then, was Kaguya?
She was a being with an indestructible body and unyielding will. Even after being sealed for countless years, she still possessed unparalleled strength.
If not for her somewhat inexperienced combat awareness, she might have defeated the Sage of Six Paths and his brother long ago.
For someone like her to experience fear meant that the strength of the Otsutsuki Clan must indeed be terrifying. Yet, Kyōsuke had no idea just how terrifying they were.
Hearing his question, Kaguya fell silent for a long while. Her gaze seemed to drift, her thoughts returning to distant memories.
"Our clan is unique," she began slowly, her voice carrying the weight of ancient knowledge. "We are born with extraordinarily long lifespans and possess the ability to reincarnate, allowing us to gain new life through our vessels."
She paused, as though measuring her words carefully. "Yet, even in the vastness of the universe, filled with countless dangers, we are not immune to the threat of death."
"By a twist of fate, our ancestors stumbled upon a unique lifeform. By cultivating this lifeform, we learned to convert an entire planet's life force into the chakra fruit, a powerful and consumable resource."
Kaguya's expression softened, her thoughts momentarily lost in the distant past. "Consuming a chakra fruit ignites the Divine fire within, awakening unimaginable divine abilities."
She met Kyōsuke's gaze then, her voice steady. "No matter if the body perishes or the soul withers for millennia, as long as the divine fire burns, we shall live forever."
Through her explanation, Kyōsuke roughly pieced together the truth.
Consuming a chakra fruit granted one the ability to surpass physical limitations, igniting the divine fire within and transforming the consumer into an immortal being.
The manifestations of the divine fire varied from individual to individual. For example, Kaguya's "Rinne Sharingan," the powerful eye on her forehead, was one such visible sign of its awakening.
This divine fire also awakened extraordinary abilities, such as "Amenominaka."
In a broader sense, those Otsutsuki who had consumed chakra fruits truly embodied the traits of gods and could be considered gods in their own right.
Kyōsuke, his mind racing with the implications of Kaguya's words, couldn't help but ask, "So, does that mean the Otsutsuki Clan has many beings at the divine fire level?"
Kaguya's expression darkened, and she nodded solemnly. "Yes. Especially the clan's enforcement squad. They are all terrifying experts who have ignited the divine fire."
At the mention of the enforcement squad, a palpable sense of fear seemed to seep into Kaguya's words, the weight of her past experiences heavy in the air.
Kyōsuke, sensing the gravity of the situation, pressed on with another crucial question.
"Otsutsuki Isshiki—did he eat a chakra fruit?"
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[Chapter End's]
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