Naruto: The Tale of an Otsutsuki

Black Zetsu's voice broke through the chaos, snapping Kaguya back to a sliver of rationality.

The reason she had pursued power so relentlessly was to protect herself from the Otsutsuki main family, who sought retribution for her theft of the Divine Tree's fruit. That fear had triggered her immediate reaction when she saw Kirito—a response akin to fleeing.

"Mother, this is the seedbed," Black Zetsu warned, its voice emerging from Kaguya's long sleeves. Its orange eyes fixated on Kirito. "If you start a battle here, the seedlings could be damaged."

The sudden shift in Black Zetsu's tone didn't go unnoticed by Naruto and Sasuke, who were still bound by Kaguya's hair.

"That guy… doesn't sound as creepy as before," Naruto muttered.

"Yeah, he's talking more like White Zetsu now," Sasuke added grimly.

Though Kaguya paused her assault momentarily, Kirito didn't capitalize on the opening. He refrained from attacking, knowing that Naruto and Sasuke were still tightly bound by her hair.

Now calmer, Kaguya's gaze fell on the Rinne Sharingan on Kirito's forehead. She showed no visible surprise but turned to Black Zetsu.

"Only one? Another being with such power on this planet?"

Black Zetsu responded slowly, "I'm not sure. But it definitely isn't the fruit of this planet. The Divine Tree didn't bloom again before your resurrection."

Hearing this, Kaguya scanned the environment. The vines suspended in the air, full of life energy, were evidence that her preparations to restore her power and create an army of White Zetsu were nearly complete. She couldn't afford any more disruptions.

"This nursery is precious. I can't allow it to be damaged further," Kaguya said, her tone icy as she locked eyes with Kirito. "I'll eliminate you in one strike."

She activated her Rinne Sharingan, intending to transfer the battlefield to another dimension.

But she immediately hesitated, realizing that Kirito's strength far exceeded her expectations. Her current chakra reserves weren't enough for such a feat.

Kirito, sensing her hesitation, smirked. "Trying to use Amenominaka? Do you even have the chakra for that?"

Kaguya's eyes narrowed. "Not enough. I need more chakra…"

Her gaze shifted to Naruto and Sasuke, still entangled in her hair. "I'll take back all the chakra from these descendants."

"Mother, be careful!" Black Zetsu warned.

The Counterattack

Kirito's body ignited with white flames as he launched himself like a streak of light toward Kaguya.

Kaguya raised her hand, releasing a thin, sharp gray bone spur from her palm. Though the bone spur moved slowly, it was aimed with precision, poised to strike Kirito as he charged at impossible speed.

To Kaguya, it seemed the perfect counter. She hoped her opponent's arrogance would compel him to rely on his body to block the attack.

But as the bone spur left her hand, a rift appeared in midair, swallowing the projectile.

"Yomotsu Hirasaka?" Kaguya muttered, her eyes narrowing. "But I didn't activate it. Could it be his ability? The speed of that portal… too fast!"

Before Kaguya could react, Kirito's fist came barreling toward her face.

Snap!

Kaguya leaned back at the last second, narrowly evading the full force of Kirito's punch. Instead, the blow barely grazed her cheek, more like a slap than an actual strike.

Naruto Breaks Free

As Kaguya moved, her Byakugan revealed a startling discovery. The hair connecting her to Naruto had been severed and was rapidly crumbling as if weathered by time.

"The All-Killing Ash Bones I used earlier… could it have been redirected?"

Realizing the danger, Kaguya immediately discarded the disintegrating hair.

Naruto, now free, quickly retreated behind Kirito. "Thanks! If it weren't for you, I'd have been drained dry!"

He shuddered, glancing at the crumbling strands. "But what was that? Those bone spurs are terrifying!"

"That's Kaguya's weapon," Kirito said without turning. His eyes remained locked on her as he continued, "Don't let them touch you. If they do, there's no saving you."

Naruto nodded, summoning his Truth-Seeking Orbs once more. "Got it. Let's stick to the plan—I'll distract her and free Sasuke."

Kirito nodded subtly, his focus unbroken.

Kaguya Gathers Power

"Mother, the chakra absorption rate here is too low," Black Zetsu cautioned. "We should move to a more suitable dimension."

"No," Kaguya replied coldly. "He's using Yomotsu Hirasaka. If we move, he'll find the nursery."

As if to punctuate her refusal, a black rift opened before Kaguya. A powerful kick emerged from the void, slamming into her midsection before she could react.

Boom!

The force of the blow sent her flying backward. She skidded across the fractured ground before regaining her balance and floating back into the air.

"Mother's movements are still rusty," Black Zetsu observed. "We must fully restore her strength."

Kaguya's expression hardened. "More chakra. I need more chakra!"

She stretched her hands skyward, assuming a posture of command. The Divine Tree responded immediately, pulsating as it drew massive amounts of chakra from the entrapped shinobi.

The Cost

Sasuke, still bound by Kaguya's hair, screamed in pain as his chakra was drained visibly.

"Damn it! Stop her! If this keeps up, everyone will die!" Naruto yelled.

He charged forward, hurling his Truth-Seeking Orbs at Kaguya in a desperate attempt to disrupt her.

"Enough," Kaguya said, her voice chillingly calm.

"Amenominaka!"

Without warning, the entire battlefield shifted.

(End of Chapter)