Chapter 373: The Stats Monster vs. The Mechanics Monster
From Kaguya's perspective, continuing this fight with Isshiki was pointless.
Isshiki couldn't do anything to her, and she likely couldn't do anything to him either.
It would be better to let him leave while she seized the opportunity to harvest the shinobi world's chakra, study Shibai's power, and explore her future path.
As for whether letting Isshiki return to the Ōtsutsuki clan was akin to releasing a tiger back into the mountains, or whether he would gather reinforcements against her—Kaguya didn't care.
When she betrayed Isshiki and stole the Chakra Fruit, she had already prepared herself to face the Ōtsutsuki clan's pursuit.
One more Isshiki or one less Isshiki made no difference to her.
In the end, the only reason she had initially wanted to protect the shinobi world was because of Hagoromo and Hamura, but both had betrayed her. Now that she had finished harvesting the world's chakra, there was no reason to stay.
The universe was vast, and even the Ōtsutsuki, in their entire lifetimes, could never reach its edge. As long as she left, they would never be able to track her down in the boundless sea of stars. Without the shinobi world holding her back, she could go anywhere.
Looking back now, she realized how foolish she had been—actually thinking she could stay in the shinobi world and fend off the endless waves of Ōtsutsuki invaders. She had even thought White Zetsu could help her deal with them… laughable.
Now, with Shibai's cells and divine techniques guiding her way, she could seek out more life-bearing planets to grow stronger. Kaguya was confident she could reach an even higher level. There was no reason to remain in the shinobi world and risk facing the Ōtsutsuki's wrath.
"Let me leave?"
Hyuga Fuji muttered to himself, the corners of his mouth curling up. Suddenly, an eye appeared in his palm.
"I originally wanted to experience more of the Bloodline Network's abilities, but since you're unwilling… I'll just end this quickly."
"The Rinnegan?"
Seeing the eye in his hand, Black Zetsu suddenly recalled something.
After Jigen's death, Madara's Rinnegan naturally ended up in Hyuga Fuji's possession. But why was he bringing it out now?
Black Zetsu looked at Hyuga Fuji's Tenseigan and felt an ominous premonition.
Before Kaguya revealed Isshiki's identity, he had always considered this man to be his second brother. But if this was Ōtsutsuki Hamura… could he possess a method to counter Kaguya?
The Six Paths — Chibaku Tensei…
A look of horror flashed in Black Zetsu's eyes, and he urgently warned Kaguya,
"Mother, quickly take that eye away! He's trying to use the Six Paths — Chibaku Tensei!"
Kaguya hesitated, frowning in confusion. "By himself?"
She wasn't surprised that Isshiki had learned the Six Paths — Chibaku Tensei. After all, that sealing technique had been developed by her two "rebellious sons" in the heat of battle. For the Ōtsutsuki, understanding its principles wasn't difficult.
After all, Chibaku Tensei was originally a Rinnegan ability, and the Six Paths version's requirement lay in Yin-Yang power.
But Isshiki was an exceptional Ōtsutsuki, possessing the Black Eye, having taken Hamura's power, gaining the Tenseigan, and now holding the Rinnegan in his hand. How could he not gather the necessary Yin-Yang power?
So she understood Black Zetsu's concern.
But the problem was, Isshiki was alone, and the Six Paths — Chibaku Tensei required two people—one wielding Yin power, the other wielding Yang power. How could he possibly activate it?
His Shadow Clones, while difficult to distinguish, were too fragile to replace a real caster. They would shatter with a single strike, unable to get close to her.
"No, Mother! The ability of that Rinnegan is—"
Before Black Zetsu could finish speaking, a black hole appeared in Hyuga Fuji's palm, and the Rinnegan's power was absorbed into it.
The next moment, the eye on his forehead gradually transformed into a Rinnegan, his Tenseigan's power converging into his right eye, while his left eye turned into a Black Eye.
At this sight, a deep, bone-chilling fear surged through Kaguya.
The Black Eye, the evolved form of the Byakugan—the Tenseigan, and now the Rinnegan… This form—she had heard of it before.
It was said that the legendary Ōtsutsuki Shibai's ocular abilities were composed of these three powers!
At the same time, Black Zetsu's unfinished warning finally reached Kaguya's ears:
"Its ability is Limbo—it can summon shadow-like clones that exist in a parallel dimension, far sturdier than Shadow Clones!"
Against Kaguya, Shadow Clones could last only a few exchanges before being destroyed—they were too fragile to serve as the core of a sealing jutsu. But Limbo Clones were different.
If Hyuga Fuji found the right opening, the consequences would be…
As Black Zetsu was still worrying, Kaguya's eyes suddenly sharpened. She stepped forward and struck behind her with a powerful palm thrust.
The howling chakra fist didn't hit any living target but obliterated a mountain that had reverted to its original size due to Sukunahikona. Yet in Kaguya's vision, she had clearly seen a miniaturized Hyuga Fuji in that exact spot—his form tinged with a grayish-white hue.
A Limbo shadow?
Realizing this, Kaguya's expression turned grim.
They wanted to seal her again?!
For the first time, Kaguya, who had believed Isshiki stood no chance of winning, felt a sense of urgency.
Her main body rushed forward while activating her ocular techniques.
"Yomotsu Hirasaka! All-Killing Ash Bones!"
Bone blades shot forth, aiming to reduce Hyuga Fuji and his Limbo shadow to ash. But in the next instant, a spatial shift occurred—two shadow clones swapped places with them, taking the fatal blow instead.
Flying Thunder God — Mutual Teleportation!
Kaguya's face darkened instantly, while Black Zetsu's eye twitched.
That annoying space-time ninjutsu again!
This had happened multiple times. Whenever Hyuga Fuji faced an unavoidable attack, he would swap places with a clone and escape unscathed.
This man was like an eel—slippery and impossible to pin down.
Sukunahikona allowed him to shrink and evade small-scale attacks, ambush from unexpected angles, while Flying Thunder God — Mutual Teleportation let him swap out of inescapable attacks using clones as sacrificial decoys.
Combining this with the exotic artifacts he had collected in the cosmos, Daikokuten, and other shinobi techniques like Shadow Clones and Dust Release, Hyuga Fuji, despite lacking the raw strength to match Kaguya, was holding his own in battle.
If Black Zetsu were to use modern shinobi gaming terminology to describe this fight:
Kaguya was a "Stats Monster"—boasting overwhelming HP, attack power, and defense, with devastating techniques but a straightforward fighting style.
Hyuga Fuji, on the other hand, was a "Mechanics Monster"—relying on intricate tactics, unpredictable techniques, and skillful use of space-time ninjutsu to counter Kaguya, the progenitor of chakra.
Now realizing the genuine threat of being sealed, Kaguya went berserk, abandoning her strategy of waiting for Hyuga Fuji to exhaust his chakra. Instead, she unleashed an onslaught of devastating techniques.
To prevent him from sealing her with Chibaku Tensei, she also frequently teleported to shift battlefields.
The scene resembled the legendary battle between Kaguya and the Sage of Six Paths' brother.
Their fight raged across the shinobi world, leaving devastation in their wake.
Space itself began to fracture from the escalating clash.
Watching from nearby, Black Zetsu grew increasingly anxious.
Kaguya possessed overwhelming strength, but against an opponent like Hyuga Fuji, she seemed… clumsy.
Her attacks, though immensely powerful, were often neutralized with ingenious counters, leaving her unable to fully utilize her strength. Meanwhile, Hyuga Fuji still had a trump card that could finish the fight…
"This can't go on… What should I do? What should I do?!"
(End of Chapter)