Chapter 398

The story Kaguya told was similar to what Orochimaru had known—yet different.

The process and outcome remained unchanged, but the cause was not what he had expected.

Her home was destroyed, her parents slaughtered before her eyes, and when she arrived on Earth, she was hunted down.

In the end, her own children misunderstood her, fought her, and sealed her away for a thousand years.

Orochimaru had long believed that Kaguya was not truly at fault.

But he had never imagined that her past was this tragic.

"…Pitiful?"

Kaguya's voice was cold.

"I do not need your pity."

Her gray eyes narrowed as she studied Orochimaru.

"You are neither my kin nor my descendant. Why, then, do you possess chakra so similar to mine?"

Kaguya's power came from the God Tree and the Divine Fruit.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru had collected Hagoromo's dōjutsu, the Sage Body, and replicated them through his own methods.

He had also copied the power of the Tailed Beasts.

At this point, excluding the Byakugan and Senjutsu, Orochimaru's power was nearly equal to Kaguya's.

Of course, he lacked her All-Killing Ash Bones ability.

After all, he had never copied Kaguya's direct bloodline, and Kimimaro's Kaguya clan bloodline was too diluted to serve as a proper template.

Orochimaru smirked.

"Black Zetsu should know better than anyone."

"Most of my power comes from scientific means."

His smile widened.

"Whether it's chakra, dōjutsu, or an army—everything I have, I obtained through research."

"…Scientific means?"

Kaguya's expression hardened.

Clearly, she did not understand the meaning behind those words.

Orochimaru spoke calmly.

"The details would take too long to explain."

"All you need to know is this, if your clan comes to Earth, you won't need to harvest chakra from others. I can help you deal with them."

Kaguya stared at him indifferently.

"You? Help me deal with them?"

She scoffed.

"Do you think you are capable?"

Orochimaru nodded without hesitation.

"Of course."

But Kaguya's gaze turned cold.

"You may have saved me, but you wish for me to abandon my chakra harvest? That is impossible."

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Isn't your goal simply to fight off your clan?"

Kaguya's eyes darkened.

"I despise Hagoromo."

"I despise the world he created."

"Why would I not destroy it?"

Orochimaru exhaled lightly.

"I see."

His lips curled.

"I may not be a good person, but I have lived on this world for many years."

He met her gaze fearlessly.

"If you want to destroy it…"

"…Then what?"

Kaguya's voice carried a faint warning.

Orochimaru spread his hands carelessly.

"Then, naturally, I will stop you."

---

No matter how cold-blooded a person was, humans were still social creatures with emotions.

If everyone else died, what would be the point of living?

There was no scenario in which Orochimaru would allow Kaguya to do as she pleased.

Kaguya's gaze chilled further.

"With your strength, you are no match for me."

Orochimaru's smile sharpened.

"That is exactly what I was about to say."

"…You are not my opponent, Kaguya."

---

Kaguya had not been an evil person.

She had only become a fallen goddess after consuming the Divine Fruit.

There was no limit to how far one could fall.

And the Divine Fruit itself carried its own corrupting influence.

Just like the Sharingan.

If one's body was too weak to handle it, the power would twist their mind, leading them toward madness.

---

Meanwhile—

In the canyon of the Land of Grass

The blood-red moon still loomed overhead.

Human bodies wrapped in the tendrils of the God Tree swayed lifelessly.

At this moment.

Only five people remained conscious.

Tsunade, Mikoto, Nonō, Jiraiya, and the barely breathing Guy.

Jiraiya's brows furrowed as he gazed at the entangled victims.

"Tsunade, are we really just going to stand here? Shouldn't we try to free them?"

His fingertips twitched.

He was tempted to tear apart the bindings, but.

Tsunade had stopped him earlier.

"Absolutely not."

"Why?"

Tsunade sighed, her tone firm.

"Orochimaru explained this already."

"Once a person is wrapped by the God Tree, it means they have fallen under Infinite Tsukuyomi."

"Their spiritual energy has already been linked to the God Tree, trapping them in an eternal dream."

She glanced at Jiraiya.

"If you forcibly separate them… it would be the same as tearing out their souls."

"They would die instantly."

Jiraiya's face darkened.

"…So if we try to save them, they die?"

"That's exactly it."

Jiraiya rubbed his forehead, frustrated.

"So we're just supposed to sit here and do nothing?"

"Do we have another choice?"

Tsunade folded her arms.

"Without the power of the Six Paths, there's nothing we can do."

"We have to wait for Orochimaru."

Jiraiya clicked his tongue.

"…Damn it. This is frustrating."

Nonō adjusted her glasses, a bitter smile forming.

"There's no need for Jiraiya-sama to be so discouraged."

"After all… I'm the most useless one here."

She glanced at the others.

Only four of them were still standing—aside from the unconscious Guy.

Tsunade and Mikoto's combat prowess was unquestionable.

One had the Sage Body and Wood Release.

The other had the Uzumaki vitality and Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

Their earlier battle performance had been exceptional.

As for Jiraiya—

Even without Sage Mode, he was at least at the Kage level.

With Sage Mode, he stood among the strongest Kage.

Compared to them—Nonō, who had long abandoned battle, felt insignificant.

"Nonsense."

Tsunade's lips curved slightly, about to reassure her.

But at that moment—

Two figures clad in white robes descended from above.

The very next second—

The entire scene shifted.

The dark canyon vanished, replaced by a blazing crimson world.

A wave of scorching heat hit them all at once!

"What… what's happening?!"

"Lava?! This is bad—!"

"Damn it! What just happened?!"

"Be careful!"

Their bodies plummeted rapidly toward the sea of molten lava below.

The spatial transition had been too sudden.

They had been caught off guard unable to react in time.

"Jiraiya-sama!"

Mid-air, Mikoto's eyes flashed, and her Complete Body Susanoo instantly materialized.

Its giant wings spread open, and it caught both Guy and Jiraiya.

Meanwhile—

Nonō spread her Black Iron Sand Wings, catching Tsunade before she could fall.

From above, Orochimaru chuckled softly.

"Quick reflexes."

His golden eyes gleamed.

"It seems I won't have to step in after all."

He turned his gaze toward Kaguya.

"Kaguya, there's no point in this."

"Even if you bring them here… you won't be able to touch them as long as I'm around."

(To be continued.)