Chapter 18: The Sky Islands and Kaguya’s Domain

The moon hung low in the sky as Team 7 prepared to embark on a journey unlike any they had experienced before. After weeks of training and preparing for the next inevitable Ōtsutsuki clash, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stood before an imposing portal—a swirling rift in the fabric of space itself.

"Are you sure about this?" Sakura asked, her eyes scanning the mysterious vortex.

"Yeah, we don't really know what we're walking into," Sasuke said, his expression serious. "But it's the only way to get answers, and I don't think we have the luxury of time."

Naruto clenched his fists. "We need to understand what Kaguya's up to. She may be the key to understanding the Ōtsutsuki and how to stop them."

After a brief nod from each of them, the trio stepped forward. With a flash of light, they were pulled through the portal.

The other side was unlike anything they had ever seen.

They found themselves floating above a vast expanse, their feet not touching solid ground. They were surrounded by islands—massive floating islands that drifted in the sky like colossal, ethereal remnants of a forgotten world.

Some islands were lush and vibrant with greenery, while others had barren rocky landscapes, almost as if they were in the midst of perpetual storms. From the floating cliffs, waterfalls cascaded into the endless void below, their waters sparkling like silver threads in the moonlight.

"This… This is Kaguya's world?" Sakura whispered in awe.

"Not just any world," Sasuke muttered. "This is Kaguya's domain. The place where she's been hiding… and building her power."

As they gazed around, something caught their attention—a small group of beings at the edge of a massive floating island. White Zetsus. Thousands of them, scattered across the island, training and sparring.

Some of them were practicing hand-to-hand combat, while others seemed to be focusing on chakra control and elemental techniques. The air crackled with energy, as the White Zetsus' abilities seemed to grow stronger by the moment.

"They're training like soldiers," Naruto said, his voice filled with a mix of awe and curiosity. "But… aren't these the same creatures that Kaguya created?"

Sasuke observed them closely, his Sharingan activated. "They're more powerful than before. And it's not just the numbers—these Zetsus have chakra. And their training… it looks advanced."

Naruto frowned. "But why is Kaguya training them? She has Black Zetsu. Isn't that enough?"

Before Sasuke could respond, the air shifted—Black Zetsu appeared before them, emerging from the shadows as if he had been watching their every move.

"Well, well. Look who decided to show up," Black Zetsu's voice was a low hiss, dripping with disdain for their presence. "You really think you can just waltz into her world and ask questions? How naïve."

Naruto's eyes narrowed. "We need answers, Black Zetsu. We need to understand what's going on here. Why all of this? Why create an army of White Zetsus?"

Black Zetsu's eyes flickered with a faint gleam of something—what could only be described as twisted amusement. "Answers? Perhaps. But understand this: Kaguya's creations will surpass anything you could imagine. These Zetsus are her new army—her way of ensuring the Ōtsutsuki will never have the upper hand again. They are infinitely more powerful than when you last saw them, and every one of them has the potential to grow stronger."

"Why train them so intensely?" Sasuke asked, his Sharingan still analyzing their movements.

Black Zetsu chuckled darkly. "The Zetsus you knew were nothing more than tools, pawns. But now, with their infinite potential, they can become much more. They will serve Kaguya's will, ensuring that nothing stands in her way. They are no longer mere shadows of the past. They are the future."

As they absorbed the information, a figure appeared in the distance—Kaguya herself. Floating down from one of the islands, her presence was almost overwhelming. The wind seemed to bend around her as she landed before them, her eyes cold yet filled with something akin to calculation.

"You came," Kaguya said, her voice serene but laced with a quiet, terrifying power. "I see you've learned a little about my world. My Zetsus. My plans."

Naruto stepped forward, his expression resolute. "We need to understand you, Kaguya. What do you want from us? What is it you're trying to achieve? We can't stop Isshiki or the Ōtsutsuki if we don't understand where you stand."

Kaguya's gaze shifted between Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. "What I want is to protect this world from the Ōtsutsuki," she replied slowly, her voice cutting through the air with chilling precision. "I want to ensure that no one else suffers as I did. My children betrayed me, and they cast me aside. But I will not allow the same fate to befall this planet."

Sakura took a step forward. "What do you mean? You can't expect us to just trust you. After everything you've done… how can we know you're not just planning to use us as pawns in your game?"

Kaguya's expression softened, but only slightly. "I have no need for pawns. I only seek power to protect this world, to ensure its survival when the Ōtsutsuki come again. If that means using my creations to fight for it, then so be it."

Black Zetsu remained silently in the background, his form flickering like a shadow. He never once spoke but his presence was heavy, a constant reminder of his unwavering loyalty to Kaguya.

Sasuke, ever the skeptic, was quiet for a moment before speaking. "And what do we do? Do you expect us to help you? You know we can't just let you have your way."

Kaguya's eyes glinted with something hard to read, a glimmer of the resolve she'd held for centuries. "You don't have a choice. The Ōtsutsuki will come for everything. And when they do, you will either stand with me—or fall beneath their power. But I will not allow them to destroy this world again."

A tense silence stretched between them, the weight of her words hanging in the air.