That the once-revered Progenitor of Chakra would criticize herself so openly… was oddly heartwarming.
"Kaguya, how about making a bet with me?"
Kazuki smiled warmly and said in a calm tone, "Let's say one of my mortal friends manages to unleash power strong enough to suppress Isshiki, Hamura, or Hagoromo. If that happens, you'll agree to one request from me."
"If he fails, then I'll grant you a request instead—so long as it's something I can do."
Kaguya's interest was piqued. She smiled brightly and nodded. "Alright…"
After all, in her eyes, how could a mortal possibly threaten an Ōtsutsuki?
Surely he had to be joking!
What Kaguya didn't know was…
Kazuki had long since forged a secret weapon—Konoha's Blue Beast, crafted with his own hands over years: the one and only Mad Duy!
Thanks to years of proper physical maintenance, vast training resources, and a massively elevated talent ceiling…
Combined with the Mangekyō Sharingan technique Kanayano, which enhances physical power, and Yashiro's potential-amplifying dōjutsu Takemikazuchi, Might Duy's burning youth had reached its absolute peak!
Especially since…
He often sparred with Kazuki in taijutsu and had fully internalized the most important rule of hand-to-hand combat: Always aim for the head when you kick!
Would even the Ōtsutsuki be able to withstand a blow like that?
"Kazuki, no matter what you believe about your comrades' strength, you must still take care to keep your identity hidden…" Kaguya pleaded once more. With the situation as it stood, she had no confidence they could win a direct confrontation with the Ōtsutsuki.
"I understand, Kaguya. I promise you, I'll do just that."
Kazuki spoke softly, "The enemy hides in the shadows, while I stand in the light—slipping into the darkness unnoticed is, indeed, the wisest course."
Only then did Kaguya finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"Kaguya, your combat skills and real-world experience can't be left to rot like this. Let me help train you…"
Kazuki cast her a sidelong glance and said calmly, "I can tell you have poor control over your own power. You're barely using half your full strength—and that's not acceptable."
"You need to learn how to defeat powerful enemies under adverse conditions, not just rely on overwhelming chakra reserves to crush them. What if, someday, you encounter another Ōtsutsuki even stronger than you were after absorbing the Ten Tails?"
"Would you just surrender quietly and wait to be executed?"
Kaguya nodded awkwardly, her tone conflicted. "I've tried… but I really can't learn it. I just can't…"
"See? That's exactly what I mean—classic defeatist thinking."
Kazuki gently shook his head. "You have to believe in yourself. Every master of combat started with the basics. They built up their foundations step by step, until it all became second nature."
"Don't worry. If you train with me, nothing will go wrong. I won't throw anything difficult at you right away."
At that moment, if Kazuki had put on a pair of non-prescription glasses, he could've passed for the kind and patient high school teacher type.
Kaguya looked at Kazuki's warm and patient demeanor. Even though she still doubted her own ability, some strange impulse made her nod and murmur softly, "Then I'll give it a try…"
"I'll be in your care, Kazuki-kun."
Kazuki smiled and nodded, extending a hand to her.
Kaguya blushed slightly and clasped his hand tightly.
But after a moment, as Kazuki still didn't let go, a tremor ran through Kaguya's heart.
Wait… what is this?
Don't tell me—
Just then, Kazuki's puzzled voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Why haven't you passed me your chakra yet? Without it, I can't block the other Ōtsutsuki from sensing me…"
"Ah! Right!" Kaguya snapped out of her daydream, quickly purging the mess of nonsense in her head and began transferring chakra into Kazuki's body.
Kazuki smiled faintly as he allowed his body to gradually adapt to Kaguya's chakra…
Much like the chakra of Asura and Indra, this high-level chakra circulated within his body and significantly enhanced the development of his bloodline.
Right now, under the stimulation of Kaguya's chakra, his lineage was beginning to awaken—drop by drop, releasing bursts of hidden power.
A glimmer flashed through Kazuki's eyes as he layered himself in various chakra-masking barriers. His appearance shifted, transforming into that of an adorable young boy—looking just about the right age to enter the Ninja Academy.
Kaguya's eyes lit up. Though she certainly preferred the mature, adult version of Kazuki…
This cute little form was ridiculously lovable too!
"Kaguya, I'll be taking the place of a young Uchiha orphan named Uchiha Kei," Kazuki explained cheerfully. "Once I sneak into the village, I'll put him under hypnosis and ensure he's safely relocated. He's just about to enroll in the Ninja Academy."
With a wide smile, he continued: "Since your fundamentals are severely lacking, I plan to start you from the very beginning—basic body substitution, chakra control, elementary taijutsu. Then we'll move on to mastering the Five Basic Chakra Natures, transformation techniques, and eventually advanced combat strategies."
"You'll be a model student of the Konoha Ninja Academy—and with effort, you might just graduate and become a proud genin!"
Kaguya didn't fully understand what a genin was or what the Ninja Academy entailed…
But if Kazuki had transformed into a child of that age to enter it, then it had to be a training ground of the most fundamental kind!
No way…
I am Ōtsutsuki Kaguya—the Progenitor of Chakra in the shinobi world! The one who ambushed a main family member and devoured the Chakra Fruit!
And you want me to go to ninja school?!
Sure, my combat technique might be weak… but not that weak!
Under Kazuki's gentle gaze, Kaguya hesitated for a long moment, then finally nodded in resignation.
"…Alright. I suppose… it doesn't have to be that basic. I can handle something a bit more advanced."
But Kazuki shook his head.
"No, you can't. As you said yourself—among the main family, your bloodline talent was considered excellent. But because your combat technique and real-world performance were so poor, you were cast into the branch family."
"You've been on the wrong path from the beginning. It has to be torn down and rebuilt. Some combat instincts and awareness need to be etched into your bones, and that can only be cultivated little by little."
Kaguya nodded in confusion.
She didn't fully understand what Kazuki meant… but if this mortal could overpower her as she was, then whatever he said must be reasonable.
It was one of those I don't get it, but it sounds impressive moments.
"Come on, Kaguya," Kazuki said softly. "I'm not just going to teach you how to fight from scratch—I'm also going to help you understand the complexity of the human heart."
"Your thinking is far too extreme. If you want to be recognized by the Gaia Consciousness as its guardian, I believe you first need a basic understanding of humanity."
"The human heart is complicated. It holds a darkness that can make you despair of the world… but also a brilliance that can outshine anything. When you've witnessed both the good and the bad—and you still feel this world is worth loving, and want to protect it from the bottom of your heart…"
"I believe that's when this planet will finally acknowledge you."
As she listened to Kazuki's gentle words, Kaguya felt a quiet warmth ripple through her heart.
Even though she was deceiving him…
At least in this moment, Kaguya could sincerely feel that Kazuki truly wanted to teach her something valuable.
And that he genuinely trusted her.
I'm sorry, Kazuki… she thought, taking a deep breath. I won't kill you. As compensation—when I take over your body, I'll make sure to find a way to let you survive…
A glint flickered in Kazuki's eyes. Swirling spatial turbulence wrapped around them like a fragile leaf, and in the blink of an eye, they vanished from the Blackwater Nine-Dragon Coffin—teleporting into Kazuki's personal dimension, and from there, to Konohagakure.
That very night, a boy named Uchiha Kei was quietly sent to the capital of the Land of Fire, where he began a peaceful new life as the pampered son of a wealthy family—never to walk the ninja path.
And Kazuki, after so many years, returned once more to the Ninja Academy.
Only this time, things were different.
Instead of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, residing within his body, it was now the Rabbit Goddess herself—Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
On the way to school, Kazuki said with a smile, "By the way, today's first class is a lecture on the Will of Fire. Make sure you pay attention!"
Kaguya looked around Konoha with curious eyes and asked, "The Will of Fire… What is that?"
"That's the founding principle of Konoha," Kazuki replied.
And in his heart, he added: It's also the strongest genjutsu in existence—one that surpasses even Infinite Tsukuyomi.
They stepped into the classroom.
Kazuki looked up and chuckled softly.
The instructor for today's class was none other than Asuma—who had just become a jōnin and was still in his teens—teaching the Ninja Academy students their very first lesson on the Will of Fire.
And sitting in Kazuki's class were two particularly notable students…
One was Uchiha Itachi.
The other, Kabuto.
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