"Kaguya…"
"Who?"
Inside the sealed space, Kaguya abruptly raised her head, her gaze sharp and piercing.
Even though she was sealed, she was still the progenitor of chakra—Ōtsutsuki Kaguya-hime.
Who dared underestimate her?
Even her sons, who had sealed her twice, always approached her with extreme caution.
"Oh, it's me—your beloved Uchiha Funan!"
Kaguya: "…"
"You? What do you want? Why are you here?"
Kaguya's voice was ice-cold.
"Don't make that face," Funan chuckled. "You and your son joined forces to try and seal me. But in the end, it was me and your son who ended up sealing you. So what are you angry about? Victory goes to the strong—you know that, right?"
"Victory goes to the strong…"
Kaguya repeated the phrase coldly. "Then what do you want now?"
Funan smiled faintly. "Your son, the Sage of Six Paths, is a bit tricky to deal with. So I want your help—let's kill him together. Of course, if you still consider him your son, then just pretend I never said anything."
"Help you? With Hagoromo?"
Kaguya gave a cold snort, her expression filled with disdain.
"What? You find it strange that I'm asking you?" Funan chuckled again. "Or would you prefer to stay sealed like this?"
Kaguya frowned slightly. "And what—if I help you, you won't seal me again?"
She was certain of one thing: whether it was Hagoromo or Funan, once one defeated the other, they wouldn't let her off the hook.
Asking for her help now was almost laughable.
"Why would I seal you?" Funan laughed heartily. "If you're willing, we could go back to the way things used to be. You hide away somewhere in seclusion, and I'll occasionally send a batch of White Zetsu your way. How about that?"
Kaguya fell silent.
No more sealing. Occasional deliveries of White Zetsu.
Compared to her current state… was that even a question?
Funan continued, "Of course, Hagoromo must die—or be sealed. His existence makes me uneasy, and I absolutely cannot tolerate that."
The Sage of Six Paths was deep and calculating.
And his strength… it surpassed even Kaguya's.
If Hagoromo remained free, he posed far too great a threat.
To put it plainly, Funan didn't dare leave him alive. He had to eliminate him.
After a brief silence, Kaguya nodded and said, "Fine. I agree. Uchiha Funan… just don't let me down."
Funan let out a chuckle. "Pleasure doing business, Kaguya-hime!"
Kaguya let out a cold sneer but said, "So, when are you planning to undo my seal?"
"How do I unseal it?"
Kaguya instantly fell silent. After a long pause, she gritted her teeth. "You're asking me?"
"It's your son's seal. If I don't ask you, who else would I ask?"
Funan was just as troubled by the seal as she was.
"You and Hagoromo cast the seal together. But since your hearts weren't aligned, if you attempt to undo it, you'll be able to release half of it."
Kaguya didn't really want to talk to Funan, but this was about her own freedom—so she couldn't afford to hold back.
Kaguya sighed helplessly. "If you undo half of the seal, I'll be able to gradually break free on my own."
"Pfft."
Funan scoffed. "I need you to deal with Hagoromo. If you're going to take your sweet time breaking free, then what's the point? By the time you unseal yourself, I'll have already finished the job. You might as well stay sealed."
Kaguya clenched her fists, taking deep, controlled breaths.
"Then what do you propose?" she said angrily. "The level of Chibaku Tensei Hagoromo used—it's an incredibly powerful sealing technique. Escaping it is no easy feat. Unless…"
In that instant, both Kaguya and Funan thought of the same person.
Madara.
It was through Madara, as a vessel, that Black Zetsu had managed to summon Kaguya.
"A powerful shinobi—and they must be the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki!"
Funan felt a chill run down his spine.
That complicated?
So what was even the point of reviving Kaguya?
If he had that kind of time and energy, he might as well just go deal with Hagoromo directly.
Right then, Kaguya's instincts kicked in. She immediately said, "Wait, Uchiha Funan, don't leave yet. I still have something to say."
"Speak."
Funan's voice had turned cold and emotionless.
What a joke!
The chance of reviving you is this slim, and I'm still wasting time here?
Kaguya took a deep breath. "Actually… there is one more way."
"If you've got something to say, then just say it all at once. Why keep dragging it out? Who do you think you're trying to keep in suspense?"
Funan's voice was full of irritation.
Kaguya's veins popped again in silent fury.
This damn man…
Just moments ago, when he still thought she might be useful, he spoke so gently and politely.
Now that he thought reviving her wasn't worth the trouble, just listen to his tone—he sounded ready to bury her for good.
"First, you release half of the seal," Kaguya said seriously. "Then, you can summon me."
"Summon?"
"Yes," Kaguya said helplessly. "The Summoning Technique."
"Summon you?" Funan was stunned.
He never thought he'd hear those words come out of Kaguya's mouth.
Just imagine it—him slapping the ground and Kaguya popping out from underground…
But then again—
The more he thought about it, the more it made sense.
Because in many ways, Kaguya was the Ten-Tails.
And the Ten-Tails was Kaguya.
She could be considered a tailed beast.
And summoning a tailed beast—wasn't that normal?
Now Funan was conflicted.
Holy crap. A beast?
Then what does that make me?
I was planning to become Hagoromo's stepfather someday…
If I end up with Kaguya… doesn't that make it all a bit too weird?
"Yes, summoning," Kaguya confirmed. "If we form a contract, then after you undo half of the seal, you'll be able to summon a portion of me."
"A portion?"
"Relax," Kaguya said calmly. "Even if it's just part of me, it still holds the majority of my power. When it comes to dealing with Hagoromo, it should be enough to help you."
That part—Funan believed.
Even with only half her power, Kaguya was still a massive force.
Funan stroked his chin, deep in thought over the feasibility of it all.
Summoning a mostly-unsealed Kaguya… yes, that was technically correct.
Once she helped him, the seal would be loosened. Even if she couldn't break free immediately, she'd eventually find a way to squeeze herself out.
It was a setup where both sides got what they wanted.
Whether by coincidence or calculated intent on Kaguya's part, it was hard to say.
Funan's clone glanced at her.
"Wait a second!" Funan suddenly snapped to attention. "That bastard Hagoromo—he hasn't been in touch with you, has he? If I let you out, you're not gonna team up with him and stab me in the back, are you?"
Veins twitched violently on Kaguya's forehead.
Kaguya forced herself to speak calmly. "I've already formed a contract with you. What do you think?"
"True. You're about to become my summoning beast, after all."
Kaguya swore that if it weren't for the promise of freedom, she would've gone all out against him on the spot.
A summoning beast?!
Fine… it wasn't entirely wrong. But did he have to say it out loud like that? Just to piss her off?
Kaguya stayed silent, face dark and sullen.
Funan didn't speak further either.
He was doing it on purpose—to remind Kaguya of her current status.
Last time, he hadn't treated her badly. He'd boosted her power, given her White Zetsu, and in return, she and Hagoromo tried to pull a fast one on him.
Well, forget kindness then.
A little reminder of her place was just the beginning. If she stepped out of line again, he had plenty of ways to deal with her.
"You agreed then?"
"Of course!" Funan nodded quickly. "With a summoning beast that powerful, who in their right mind would say no?"
Kaguya took a deep breath and passed the contract to Funan. In no time, the pact was sealed.
…
Back on the battlefield, as Funan clashed with Hagoromo, his gaze flickered.
The pact was done.
And it was time to put it into effect.
"Release!"
With a single slash, Funan forced Hagoromo back, then clapped his hands together and formed a seal.
Instantly—
Funan released the moon from Kamui space, then the moon that sealed Kaguya lit up with a blood red glow.
"Uchiha Funan!" Hagoromo's eyes widened in shock. "What are you doing?!"
"I helped with your damn sealing technique, didn't I?" Funan chuckled coldly. "Now I'm unsealing it. Tell me—who do you think your mother's more pissed off at? You… or me?"
Hagoromo stared at him in silence.
He didn't believe a single word Funan said.
But—
The seal on Kaguya was indeed unraveling. That was a fact.
If he didn't re-seal it quickly, Kaguya would reappear.
"Move aside, Uchiha Funan!" Hagoromo roared, slashing several times to push him back before charging toward the moon.
[Snap!]
A long chakra rope lashed out, wrapping tightly around Hagoromo.
"Get back here!"
Funan yanked hard, dragging him down from the sky.
"You're fighting me, and you still dare get distracted?!"
Funan lunged with a savage grin.
"Stop this, Uchiha Funan!" Hagoromo bellowed. "Mother is about to emerge—don't you realize what she'll do?!"
"How would I know? I'm not a parasite in her brain!"
Funan burst into wild laughter.
"Fine!" Hagoromo growled, his expression dark. "You're releasing Mother… and you really believe she'll attack me first? You're not even worried she and I might join forces and wipe you out first?"
"Give it up, Hagoromo—cut the act."
Funan sneered. "Your mother's coming out? Out of what, exactly? And from where?"
"This seal has only been partially undone. Even if Kaguya wants to break free, it'll take her at least a few months. By that time, one of us will already be dead."
His laugh turned cold. "Putting on that anxious act—what's your game? Trying to sneak in an attack?"
Hagoromo didn't answer. But the force behind his strikes suddenly grew much heavier.
Just as Funan had said.
He wasn't worried about his mother breaking out.
[BOOM!!]
Another heavy blast rang out.
Hamura was once again sent flying.
He let out a heavy sigh.
He couldn't win.
Not anymore.
After being injured by Funan and Guy, there was no way he could face the reincarnations of the impure world.
Hamura couldn't help but feel uneasy—
As if chakra even mattered to them!
They just kept unleashing big techniques, one after another!
[RUMBLE!]
[SPLURT!]
After another wave of massive jutsu from Nagato's trio, Hamura was finally wounded again. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
"This is it…"
Panting heavily, Hamura gasped, "I can't win. Brother… I'm sorry. I really can't beat them."
[Whoosh!]
The next moment, Hamura transformed into a streak of starlight, fleeing the battlefield and soaring beyond the shinobi world.