Kazuki narrowed his eyes, mimicking the chakra signatures he had sensed, and transmitted them to the now-relieved Kaguya.

"Kaguya, I sensed three streams of chakra seeping from an alternate space. They're similar to yours—most likely all Ōtsutsuki..."

Kazuki said seriously, "Take a look. Are they Isshiki, Hamura, and Hagoromo?"

Kaguya's eyes lit up.

As expected of Kazuki... and of her own judgment.

The moment she entrusted her power to him, the results were immediate.

Just moments ago, Kaguya had tried her hardest to detect the Ōtsutsuki invaders—yet had come up with nothing.

And now?

In such a short time, Kazuki had already pinpointed the enemy's location!

But as Kaguya sensed the chakra Kazuki had simulated, her expression abruptly changed. Her entire body began to tremble!

"They... they're already here... They came even faster than I imagined!"

She suddenly clutched Kazuki's arm, her eyes filled with fear. "We have to run, Kazuki! Please—I'm begging you, take me and run!"

Kazuki looked at her, confused, and gently gripped her trembling hand. He spoke steadily: "Don't panic, Kaguya! Don't lose control. Remember what I told you—fear only drains you from within. It will never bring victory!"

"Now, tell me—what exactly did you sense?"

The firmness in Kazuki's gaze and the strength of his hand helped Kaguya calm herself, if only a little.

"Kazuki, it's not Hamura and Hagoromo, those traitors! And it's not the incomplete Isshiki either. The three chakra signatures... they belong to other Ōtsutsuki—I recognize them."

Kaguya gritted her teeth. "Momoshiki, Urashiki, and Kinshiki! Kazuki, these three are the cruelest of the Ōtsutsuki. Don't think for a second you can move them with compassion. The only language they understand... is power!"

"They came here to hunt me down… I've been keeping the Chakra Fruit hidden for a millennium—of course the clan would have noticed by now..."

"Let's run, Kazuki! If it were only Isshiki, Hamura, and Hagoromo, the two of us might still be able to reason with them. But now, with them here too, there's no chance at all!"

"Kazuki, with your talent… if you can just survive, you'll have a chance—someday—to avenge the entire shinobi world!"

Kaguya's fragile confidence, just beginning to take root, was shattered in an instant by the sudden arrival of the three Ōtsutsuki. She raised the white flag of retreat, pleading with Kazuki to flee with her.

"Kaguya, these so-called Momoshiki, Urashiki, and Kinshiki—how strong are they? Stronger than you were when you obtained the Chakra Fruit?"

Kazuki frowned. "To be honest, from the fluctuations in their chakra… I don't actually think they're significantly stronger than you are right now. Even without the power of the Ten Tails' God Tree."

Kaguya shook her head, a trace of fear in her eyes. "Their dōjutsu counter me completely. Without my techniques working properly, I have almost no chance against them in close combat."

"Even if I could hold my own against Momoshiki and Urashiki, the fact that they're here already means the clan knows what I've done. If they fail to handle me, the main family will send even stronger enforcers…"

"So our only option… is to run!"

Kazuki nodded in understanding.

Now that he knew the hidden Ōtsutsuki were Momoshiki, Urashiki, and Kinshiki, he actually felt somewhat relieved.

He had intel on all three.

If they had turned out to be unknown Ōtsutsuki, the situation would've been far more troublesome.

In battles like these, information was invaluable—especially when both sides were on equal footing...

And as for Kaguya's lack of confidence in facing them—Kazuki could understand that too.

Judging by her fighting style, her taijutsu was… practically nonexistent.

As a fighter more akin to an immobile turret-style mage, she was terribly countered by the likes of Momoshiki and Isshiki—

One could manipulate the size of non-living objects, the other could absorb large-scale chakra techniques. Kaguya was the perfect target for both.

After all, she had almost lost to Hamura and Hagoromo. What chance did she stand against Momoshiki, Urashiki, and Kinshiki working together?

"Kaguya… I have a question."

Kazuki lowered his voice.

"If I were to awaken Gaia's Will... and the Ōtsutsuki clan were to send even stronger pursuers than Momoshiki and the others—do you think I'd be able to defeat them?"

"Be honest. This matters—to both you and me."

Kaguya wanted to say that she believed in Kazuki's potential to awaken Gaia's Will—but she knew it wasn't something that could happen overnight.

It would require the perfect convergence of timing, environment, and fate...

If this planet didn't have the potential to awaken Gaia's Will… then no matter how hard he tried, what was the point?

Yet seeing the seriousness in Kazuki's expression, Kaguya still chose to answer truthfully: "If you truly manage to awaken Gaia's Will, Kazuki… then yes, we would likely be safe. According to the information I've gathered, planets with an awakened Gaia are designated as forbidden to approach—no matter how much power they contain..."

"But Kazuki… Gaia's Will is incredibly rare. Even after everything I tried a thousand years ago, I couldn't awaken it. It's not something we should pin our hopes on!"

Having answered Kazuki's question, Kaguya quickly grew anxious again.

This battlefield was far too dangerous. That distant, dream-like concept of Gaia's Will—it wasn't something they could afford to dwell on now!

"If that's the case, then I understand, Kaguya…"

Kazuki spoke slowly, yet with quiet certainty. "We'll be safe."

Kaguya still wanted to persuade him to retreat, but Kazuki simply shook his head. His stance was firm, and his message to her clear: You need to observe the battles of these great warriors with the mindset of a student.

If you retreat the moment things get difficult, how will you ever truly grow?

Kaguya deeply regretted it now...

She shouldn't have lied to Kazuki!

At the very least, she shouldn't have woven such an elaborate tale—one that Kazuki now believed wholeheartedly.

A planet awakening Gaia's Will, choosing a Guardian to protect it...

It was like one of those myths mortals in the Shinobi World whispered about the Sage of Six Paths. Even among the Ōtsutsuki, while most had heard of such things, none had ever witnessed it.

As for how one might accomplish it—Kaguya had no clue whatsoever.

She now cursed herself for having tried so hard to curry favor with Kazuki by declaring he was the most likely to awaken Gaia's Will!

And now look what had happened—six enemy Ōtsutsuki had appeared, and still Kazuki refused to retreat...

How could he possibly win against that?

Kaguya's mind raced. She had to think of a way to get Kazuki off this battlefield!

His talent needed time to mature—he couldn't afford to clash with these Ōtsutsuki prematurely. As for the mortals of Konohagakure, Kaguya frankly didn't consider them worth worrying about.

If they died, they died. That was just how things were.

She was terrified Kazuki might rush off to save them—dragging himself into danger in the process.

After all, they were dealing with six Ōtsutsuki! From Kaguya's perspective, any mortal who died facing that kind of force… should consider it an honorable death.

But how was she supposed to tell Kazuki that?

Kaguya trusted Kazuki's character deeply. She didn't believe he would ever betray his comrades. That was exactly why the Rabbit Goddess had entrusted so much to him.

But...

Kaguya only wanted him to be that loyal—to her. As for everyone else? They should be abandoned without hesitation!

[Feeling that Sasuke, from another time and space, has an intense exploratory instinct towards the host. Linked as a target!]

'Well now,' Kazuki thought, amused. 'Not just the three Ōtsutsuki—now we've got a Sasuke showing up too...'

'Where did he come from? And why is he so focused on me all of a sudden...?'

'But this is fine. This timeline just didn't have enough high-value players. The more that appear, the better...'

'The knowledge inside the heads of those Ōtsutsuki is incredibly valuable. And if even stronger ones are going to follow, I'll need to fully understand the strength of the next wave...'

Kazuki turned to glance at Uchiha Obito nearby.

Unlike the chaotic clashes occurring across the battlefield, Shisui, Might Duy, and Obito were simply glaring at each other—none making the first move.

'Black Zetsu has merged with Obito… Looks like he's urging Obito to launch a surprise attack later. They're conserving their strength...'

Would Black Zetsu give up on saving Kaguya?

Absolutely not!

'This war's trajectory,' Kazuki analyzed, 'is going to hinge on the outcome between Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Izuna, Senju Tobirama, and Senju Hashirama.'

'After one of those sides wins, Obito will make his move.'

'And when Obito appears, he'll be facing off against Isshiki... If Might Duy can hold his ground, then Night Guy is going to strike Isshiki head-on...'

'Once the nested drama of the Shinobi World ends, the curtain will rise on the Ōtsutsuki from alternate timelines.'

Kazuki murmured inwardly, 'You are my cherished actors… Go ahead and unleash your full strength on this stage. Those invading Ōtsutsuki won't take your lives—'

'Not while I'm here.'

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