Chapter 247: Return to Ryūchi

'How does this human know about these things? This happened over a thousand years ago!'

Kaguya's wariness toward Obito deepened even further.

Not only did he know everything she did—he even knew things she didn't!

ヽ(*.＞Д＜)o゜

Terrifying!

"How do you know all this?" Kaguya couldn't help but ask.

Obito's lips curled into a faint smirk, his eyes reflecting endless years of experience.

"This world is too small. If I want to know something, nothing can escape my sight."

A sense of detachment, as if he'd transcended worldly concerns, emanated from him.

For a brief moment, Kaguya felt like the human before her wasn't human at all—

Rather, he resembled the most exalted members of her clan, those who had long since risen above the mundane.

Madara clicked his tongue in annoyance.

'Hmph. That brat, Obito, dares to put on a show without including his grandfather?'

'Though, I do wonder how he knows all this... I'll ask him later.'

Kaguya lightly pursed her crimson lips, carefully processing what Obito had just revealed.

'This human is telling the truth. At this point, he has no reason to deceive me.'

'Isshiki, you really are hard to kill. I should've been more ruthless back then.'

Kaguya weighed the pros and cons of Obito's proposal in her mind.

It didn't take long for her to make a decision. She looked at Obito again and said,

"I have long been in an irreconcilable conflict with Ōtsutsuki Isshiki. I have no objections to this plan."

"I can provide you with several coordinates to alternate dimensions where Isshiki may be hiding."

After reporting a series of dimensional coordinates, Kaguya continued explaining Isshiki's abilities.

"Aside from space-time portals and taijutsu, Isshiki possesses two unique dōjutsu: Sukunahikona and Daikokuten."

[Sukunahikona: A dōjutsu that allows the user to instantly shrink and restore themselves or any non-living object.]

[Daikokuten: A dōjutsu that stores shrunken objects in a separate dimension and summons them at will.]

Hearing Kaguya's explanation, Madara furrowed his brows in deep thought.

'What an incredible and eerie dōjutsu... So this is the power of the Ōtsutsuki Clan?'

'A foe stronger than Hashirama... Damn, just thinking about it gets my blood pumping!'

Obito gave a slight nod, clearly pleased with Kaguya's cooperation.

"Princess Kaguya's intelligence is invaluable. This will save us a lot of unnecessary trouble."

"From here on, leave the rest to me and Grandpa Madara."

"For now, you should stay here and wait for our good news."

Kaguya offered a small, mesmerizing smile and performed a graceful bow.

"I haven't been of much help, but I shall humbly accept your gratitude."

Obito chuckled, saying no more, and left the Tsukuyomi world alongside Madara.

Watching them depart, Kaguya whispered softly to herself,

"My dear children, I hope you succeed in taking down Isshiki."

"Otherwise, I'll have no choice but to consume you both and deal with him myself."

Regardless of who won, she would never come out the loser.

...

Inside Kamui's dimension.

Madara hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.

"Obito, are you sure about working with an Ōtsutsuki?"

Obito scratched his head, looking somewhat helpless.

"We don't have much choice right now, Grandpa. We need her help."

"As for what happens later, I'll leave that decision to you."

Satisfied, Madara nodded slightly before his gaze turned cold and resolute.

"Outsiders will always have ulterior motives. That woman must not be allowed to live!"

"As soon as we have the power to stand against the Ōtsutsuki, we won't need to keep her around any longer."

"Is Madara mad because Kaguya rejected his advances and treated him like a grandson instead?"

"Yeah, I'd be pissed too. I treated you like a goddess, and you saw me as a child? Unacceptable."

Having spun up a reasonable internal narrative, Obito patted Madara on the shoulder, giving him a knowing look.

"I understand. I fully support you on this!"

Madara ruffled Obito's hair before curiously asking,

"Obito, how do you know so much about the Ōtsutsuki Clan?"

Obito pointed at his Rinnegan with a grin.

"I managed to extract parts of Kaguya's memories. That way, she wouldn't dare lie to me."

"Then, using my dōjutsu and the Sage of Six Paths' inheritance, I pieced together enough information to determine that Isshiki is most likely still alive."

Madara accepted this explanation and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Obito, since Isshiki is stronger than Kaguya, have you considered working with him instead?"

In Madara's view, a failed Ōtsutsuki mission meant severe punishment upon their return to their homeworld.

Under those circumstances, perhaps Isshiki could be used to their advantage.

Obito recalled something and shook his head.

"Grandpa, Isshiki is a hundred times trickier than Kaguya. If we have to keep one of them around, let's choose the easier one to control."

"If we let them both live, I fear they might team up and wipe out humanity first."

Madara thought for a moment before nodding in agreement.

"You're right, Obito. It's best to eliminate him sooner rather than later."

"But since he's an Ōtsutsuki, we can't act recklessly…"

Madara paused and then continued.

"Alright, let's head back to Ryūchi first."

"We need to fully master our abilities and come up with countermeasures before we attempt to hunt down Ōtsutsuki Isshiki."

Obito gave him an "OK" gesture.

"Sounds like a plan. You really do think things through, Grandpa."

Madara smirked proudly, crossing his arms behind his back.

"Of course. All of this wisdom comes from surviving countless life-and-death battles."

Obito nodded in admiration.

"That's true. Your battle experience is second to none, Grandpa—perhaps only Lord Hashirama could compare."

Madara huffed, his pride flaring up.

"Hmph! Hashirama is still a step behind me!"

"Though I suppose, back then, he was the only one worthy of being my rival…"

"Madara is such a proud little rose. It seems only Hashirama can truly handle him."

"Wait, if he tries a little harder, could I end up with another grandfather?"

Suppressing a mischievous grin, Obito took Madara and exited Kamui's dimension.

The moment they arrived at Ryūchi Cave—

A small figure suddenly dropped from the sky and landed straight into Obito's arms.

"Master! It's you!"

Ichikishimahime's eyes sparkled with joy.

"So that terrifying commotion just now… was your doing, Master?!"

Obito awkwardly peeled the little girl off him.

"Ahem… Ichikishima, act normal. My grandpa is right here."

Ichikishimahime completely ignored his words and Madara's presence.

Instead, she snuggled back into Obito's chest, rubbing against him while sniffing deeply.

"(╯▽╰) Master, you smell so good~ I just want to eat you up~~"

Madara watched with an amused expression, his thoughts running wild.

"No wonder Obito likes this snake princess. She's got so many tricks up her sleeve."

"I'd better get out of here before things get awkward."

With that, Madara took the initiative to walk away, waving a hand without looking back.

"Obito, you two take your time. I'll go train."

"I'll find a place where I can't hear… or see anything."

Obito held one hand against Ichikishima's face to keep her from biting him while rubbing his forehead with the other, clearly exasperated.

"Grandpa Madara definitely misunderstood. There's no explaining this now."

Meanwhile, Ichikishimahime beamed with excitement.

"Master, while you were gone, I learned a special massage technique!"

"You should try it! Even Manda and Shinga said it felt amazing!"

Good grief!

Obito's eyes widened.

"Did you go learn snake massage techniques at Hogwarts' Slytherin house or something?"

Looking at the eager little girl, he hesitated before saying,

"Uh… I guess I'll give it a try?"

"Yay! Let's start!"

And so, the ancient snake princess began her massage services…

----------------

Pls Drop some Power Stones

Fanfic is finished on Patreon (316 chapters in total.) 

Patreon(.)com/Jixo (for only $4.50, read this entire fanfic)