"Alright, I understand," Ye Liang said, releasing the villager.
He turned toward Ichiro Matsushita. "What exactly happened? Which countries attacked you?"
Ichiro Matsushita gave a fist salute.
"I don't know either. When I left, there hadn't been any attack yet. It must've happened after I departed."
After you left, huh?
Ye Liang thought for a moment.
"They're using the trick of drawing the tiger out of the mountains!
Let's go!
Check what happened to the other villages!"
The two immediately headed toward other villages.
As expected, fire was burning everywhere. Upon questioning survivors, these soldiers didn't kill or loot.
They only set fires before heading straight for the capital.
Ichiro Matsushita looked puzzled. If their goal was to occupy the country, wouldn't it be better to attack nearby villages first?
They're just setting fires?
"What exactly are those guys trying to do?"
Ye Liang frowned. Suddenly, he slapped his head.
"Darn it!"
...
In the Ancestral Nation.
In the Capital.
Inside the Daimyo's mansion.
Old Lady Matsushita nervously hid Kaguya Hime inside a secret basement chamber.
"Just stay here and don't come out!"
Kaguya felt scared.
Today was strange—no sooner had Ye left than multiple groups of soldiers launched an assault. They only set fires, without killing anyone.
A group charged straight for the Daimyo's mansion!
After giving her instructions, Old Lady Matsushita left alone.
Kaguya looked around.
This was an abandoned wine cellar hidden beneath the kitchen of the Daimyo's mansion. As it was underground, few people passed through.
After Old Lady Matsushita left, this place became even more desolate.
"Don't worry, Kaguya-sama.
As long as Aye is here, no one will harm you."
There was also a personal servant within the wine cellar.
She had been specially sent by Ye Liang to attend to Kaguya Hime's daily needs.
"Hmm. You should be careful too. Once that jerk comes back, everything will be okay," Kaguya Hime said.
The "jerk" she referred to was naturally Ye Liang.
Ever since Ye interrogated her, she kept calling him a jerk.
The two huddled together for warmth.
Meanwhile, soldiers searching the Daimyo's mansion finally arrived at the kitchen. They flung open cabinets, crawled up chimneys—no place was spared, not even the rice cooker!
"What exactly are these guys looking for?" Kaguya tightly gripped the servant girl's mouth.
Unlike Kaguya, the servant girl lacked experience in the world. Kaguya feared she'd scream from fear.
Soon, the soldiers finished searching.
They hurriedly walked outside.
Kaguya let out a sigh of relief.
She relaxed her tense hand—but just then, a rat squeaked loudly as it jumped out of half a broken wine jar.
It landed right on the servant girl's face.
"Ahh!"
The servant girl screamed.
The soldiers who just left immediately turned back!
"Oh no!"
Kaguya rushed out of the wine cellar with the servant girl, right into the returning soldiers!
"We found her! This is the person!" shouted a soldier excitedly. One of them quickly ran out of the house, yelling toward soldiers outside!
Kaguya froze on the spot.
She looked at the soldiers, each holding a picture in their hands—the face on it was unmistakably hers.
"What's going on? These people are looking for me!"
She was shocked.
The remaining few soldiers quickly rushed over.
"Aye, stay behind me! I'll protect you!" She pushed the servant girl behind her. Her eyes glowed and the surrounding soldiers collapsed one after another.
[Hypnotism]!
A unique Dojutsu of the Otsutsuki Clan.
Seeing no immediate danger, Kaguya immediately grabbed the servant girl's hand and dashed out of the kitchen!
Outside, soldiers who heard the commotion blocked their path.
A voice bellowed loudly as many more troops were rushing over.
Kaguya activated her Dojutsu once again!
[Hypnotism]!
"Boom!"
Before the servant girl could react, the soldiers blocking the way dropped to the ground unconscious. This time though, Kaguya felt somewhat drained.
The Dojutsu of the Otsutsuki Clan required consuming energy.
Originally, Kaguya could endlessly use her techniques by relying on the God Tree—but that pathway had been severed by Ye Liang!
Now she had to depend on physical strength alone.
"Are you okay, Lady Kaguya?" The servant girl hurried forward to support Kaguya, who seemed a bit dizzy.
They had formed a bond already.
After all, Kaguya had always been easygoing.
Since being assigned by Ye Liang, the two had gotten along so well that Kaguya particularly liked this servant girl.
There was always a special ease between mistress and maid.
"Okay? We must hurry up and leave before there are more soldiers!" Both of them rushed toward the main gate of the Daimyo's mansion while more soldiers started chasing from behind.
"Halt! Stay right there!" The soldiers shouted from behind. One of them even pulled out a bow and arrow.
"Woosh! Woosh!"
Several arrows whistled past the pair.
One grazed Kaguya's arm!
"Are you okay, Lady Kaguya!" Aye yelled anxiously. Without time to check Kaguya's wound, she was dragged onward by her.
Kaguya wasn't just any ordinary woman.
As they continued running, almost reaching the Daimyo's main gate, three groups stood waiting outside!
Two middle-aged men and an elderly man!
With a wave of the three leaders' hands, the soldiers behind them surrounded Kaguya immediately.
"This must be the witch mentioned by the Great Mage—the one without pupils. How strange!" The old man stepped forward, but before he could get a good look at Kaguya's beauty, the other two middle-aged men abruptly pulled him back.
"Be careful! Don't forget she has magic!" One middle-aged man wearing wooden sandals warned.
Another portly middle-aged man nodded gravely.
"The Great Mage warned us about her," said the second man. No sooner did they finish speaking than the soldiers around Kaguya began collapsing one after another—as if they had taken a sleeping potion!
In a short time,
only half the number remained standing.
The three leaders gasped in shock.
Kaguya staggered unsteadily and nearly fell backward. Aye reacted swiftly and caught her from behind.
When she looked closely at Kaguya's face, alarm flashed in her eyes!
Kaguya's eyes began to bleed—a thin streak of crimson slowly oozing outward, even mixed with a hint of black.
She had overused her Dojutsu!
"Princess Kaguya, you mustn't use any more divine jutsu! You're not strong enough!" the servant girl pleaded urgently.
Kaguya dazedly rose to her feet and pushed the servant behind her protectively.
She pushed again with all her strength—
A fresh wave of dizziness crashed over her.
She couldn't do it anymore!
"It seems she's used up all her strength!" The old man noticed none of the soldiers falling and quickly felt relieved. He and the fat middle-aged man hurried forward.
Both held sharp blades in their hands.
Heavy killing intent surged forth!
"Who exactly are you people? Why are you trying to kill me? We've never even met!"
Kaguya was confused.
"Hehe! We are the direct disciples of the Great Mage. He promised us eternal life if we killed you!"
"The Great Mage?" Kaguya asked, puzzled. When had she ever crossed paths with someone called the Great Mage?
"Who is he?"
The old man smirked, "Since you're about to die anyway, we'll let you die knowing the truth.
His name is Jigen!"
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
Want to read the subsequent content in advance?
Please follow my Patreon:patreon/Tansnovel
Tans Novel - The Fastest-Updating Naruto Fanfiction Account
Read 100+ chapters in advance, with at least 3 new chapters updated every day! More free chapters! 20+ Naruto fanfictions!
Just three steps:
1. Download and open the "Patreon" app
2. Search for "Tans Novel"
3. Click on the collection and enjoy to your heart's content
<><><><><><><><>