The rising sun pierced through the darkness.
Floating in midair, Danzo opened his eyes, a flicker of disappointment flashing through them.
That scheming old fox—is he really planning to pull a fast one?
The blue glow surrounding him gradually faded as he deactivated his sensory perception of the ninja world, withdrawing from his Six Paths state.
He hadn't expected Ōtsutsuki Kaguya to descend upon the world once more, yet the Sage of Six Paths had done absolutely nothing in response. After remaining on high alert all day yesterday, Danzo now felt as if he had thrown a punch into cotton—frustratingly ineffective.
A deep sense of irritation welled up within him.
...
In the blink of an eye, his body reappeared before the entrance of Kaguya's sleeping quarters.
"My lord," the two attendant maidens at the door immediately bowed in greeting.
"You may leave."
At his words, the maids quietly withdrew. Danzo stepped forward and pushed open the door without hesitation.
Inside, Kaguya sat cross-legged, floating above her bed. Her eyes opened, and compared to yesterday, they held a greater clarity.
There was also a newfound sharpness in her demeanor, an aura of cold detachment that warned others to keep their distance.
The way she looked at Danzo was complex—both intimate and hesitant, with a tinge of wariness.
"Mother, have you remembered everything?"
"Who exactly are you? Why do you possess my will and Hamura's presence?"
Danzo wasn't surprised by her reaction. Without any hesitation, he stepped closer, his entire being radiating a gentle aura.
Under Kaguya's wary and uncertain gaze, he took her hand.
"There is no need to worry, Mother. I will not harm you. After all, I came from you."
Feeling her tension ease, Danzo seized the moment.
"Do you remember when you were sealed away? A fragment of you was separated—me. At the time, I was weak, forced to wander and hide within the ninja world…
But Hamura and Hagoromo had inherited your power. It wasn't long before they discovered my existence.
They didn't destroy me, perhaps because I was too insignificant at the time.
Later, though, Hagoromo, for reasons unknown, decided to share chakra with humanity. At the same time, he used me as a tool to orchestrate various conflicts.
Under his surveillance, I realized that breaking your seal was impossible in such an environment.
Then, three hundred years ago, I devised a plan: using Yin-Yang Release, I split myself apart.
One part remained active in the ninja world, always in Hagoromo's sight.
The other completely vanished, lying dormant and gathering strength in secret.
To ensure I wouldn't be detected, even my main body erased the memory of this separation.
But perhaps because I was a temporary existence born from you, I was never a complete being.
When I used Yin-Yang Release to split myself, things went terribly wrong. The part of me that was divided lost all rational thought, driven only by survival instinct.
I wandered in that state for centuries…
Until over a decade ago, when by chance, I merged with this body and regained my full consciousness.
I am your will, Mother. But I am not entirely you."
Danzo finished speaking and gazed at Kaguya with a complicated expression.
"You have suffered… You are my child—I can feel it."
Tears welled in Kaguya's eyes as she pulled Danzo into her embrace, gently stroking his head. The bond of blood was unmistakably clear.
Danzo exhaled in relief, though he also felt somewhat awkward. He had been patted on the head before, but this… was different.
Gently, he placed his hands on Kaguya's shoulders and extricated himself from her embrace.
"Your revival was only possible thanks to Hamura on the moon…"
"Hamura…" Kaguya's expression turned dazed. Compared to the artificial existence of Black Zetsu, she had far deeper memories of the child she had raised herself.
But her nostalgia was soon replaced by a flicker of anger and pain. Her hands, which rested on Danzo's shoulders, unconsciously clenched.
"...Hamura tried many times to release you, but whether it was Hagoromo's interference or some other hesitation, he never succeeded.
In the end, when his life neared its end, he sealed the technique that could free you within his own eyes."
At these words, the fury and sorrow in Kaguya's gaze slowly faded, replaced by pure grief.
"Hamura…"
Watching Kaguya sink into sadness, Danzo couldn't help but reflect. Women's emotions were truly fickle—even someone of her power had not escaped this truth.
Yet, most of what he had said was true. Even the part about Hamura was factual—he had no need to steal credit for that.
As for the few minor deceptions mixed in? They were insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
He was certain that even if Black Zetsu were to return, he could stand his ground against him.
Would Kaguya believe that he had saved her?
And as for why he had interfered with Black Zetsu's plan? Simple—because the plan was unreliable.
Why did he have to consume Black Zetsu?
Because they were one and the same. There was no need for such an unpleasant term as "devour."
What? She didn't remember creating him?
That was because she had erased her own memory.
...
"How did he die? With his power…"
"Perhaps out of guilt toward you, he chose to let himself fade away naturally."
Danzo sighed. Fine, he could play the role of the son for now. Consider it an honorary adoption.
He stepped forward once again, embracing Kaguya and gently rubbing her back, soothing her grief.
Feeling that her emotions had settled, Danzo began laying the groundwork for the next step.
"We must remain cautious. I can sense that Hagoromo is watching from the shadows… He attempted to stop me multiple times while I was preparing to free you. I doubt he will give up so easily."
"Hagoromo… I gave him everything, even half of my power… Why…?"
Kaguya's fury surged again, her pale eyes flaring with chakra as veins bulged at the corners.
Though she no longer resented Hamura, her thousand-year grudge had not faded. Instead, it had simply found a new target.
Held in Kaguya's embrace, Danzo could clearly sense her anger—and the way her chest rose and fell against him.
He had to admit, there was something there.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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