During the years Chinatsu had relentlessly "attacked" Kaguya with kindness, conversation, and countless little tricks, the once aloof Otsutsuki progenitor had long since fallen victim to the irresistible "true fragrance" phenomenon.
Sitting inside her cage, Kaguya no longer rejected Chinatsu as she once had.
"Back when I ambushed Isshiki and consumed the Chakra Fruit from the Divine Tree, I also thought about what I would do if the Otsutsuki Main Clan eventually came."
Her voice was calm as she recalled the distant past.
"I considered countless possibilities... but in the end, I chose the safest, though least desirable, solution."
"Creating White Zetsu."
She lowered her eyes.
"By producing enough White Zetsu, I believed I could overwhelm the Main Clan with sheer numbers and increase my chances of victory."
She paused before continuing.
"Unfortunately... my assumptions were wrong."
"The enemies I imagined weren't nearly as powerful as the Main Clan truly is."
"Against opponents of that level... White Zetsu would accomplish nothing."
"That's why I never suggested that plan to you."
Chinatsu listened quietly.
"So you have another idea?"
Kaguya nodded slowly.
"Before I ever considered creating White Zetsu... I had another thought."
"If it succeeded..."
"I was confident I could defeat anyone from the Main Clan."
"Anyone."
"But..."
"I never dared to attempt it."
Sitting cross-legged inside the cage, Kaguya looked directly at Chinatsu.
The conversation concerned Chinatsu's future—and whether she would be able to continue enjoying the peaceful, lazy life she had worked so hard to obtain.
Over the past few years...
She had become addicted to that peaceful life.
She wasn't willing to lose it.
"The Otsutsuki cultivate Divine Trees across countless worlds," Kaguya explained.
"The Divine Tree absorbs the life and energy of an entire world, condensing everything into a Chakra Fruit."
"After consuming a sufficiently high-quality Chakra Fruit, an Otsutsuki's strength rises dramatically."
"When I became the progenitor of chakra in this world..."
"I discovered something."
Her expression gradually became serious.
"This world's potential... wasn't exhausted."
"The Chakra Fruit I consumed, despite being of extraordinary quality, wasn't the limit."
"This world still possessed an even greater source of power."
Chinatsu unconsciously leaned forward.
"What kind of power?"
Kaguya looked straight into her eyes.
"To obtain it..."
"You must become this world's god."
"Not merely the Progenitor of Chakra."
"Not merely the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki."
"But the true god of this world."
Silence filled the mental space.
"Completely merge your chakra with the land beneath your feet."
"Become one with the world itself."
"Once that happens..."
"You will become something akin to the Creator God."
"In a world completely under your control..."
"No matter how powerful the Otsutsuki Main Clan may be..."
"They will be nothing."
"..."
Chinatsu's mind went blank.
Her mouth opened slightly.
Even in this spiritual world, where body and soul had become one, she felt as though her thoughts had completely stopped.
Becoming Kaguya's Jinchūriki was already outrageous enough.
Immortality.
Eternal youth.
Power beyond humanity.
And now...
Become the god of an entire world?
Would she even remain human after that?
"No."
Kaguya answered before Chinatsu even voiced the question.
Although innocent in many ways, Kaguya had once betrayed the highly intelligent Otsutsuki Clan and seized an entire world's power for herself.
She had already asked herself the same question long ago.
"If I truly merged with this world..."
"I'm not certain what the final outcome would be."
"The most likely possibility..."
"My individuality would disappear."
"My consciousness would dissolve."
"I would become one of this world's laws."
"The risk is simply too great."
"That's why I abandoned the idea."
Her tone remained calm.
She was merely explaining a possibility.
The one who had to choose... was Chinatsu.
"..."
Chinatsu's expression gradually became strange.
For some reason...
This ending sounded incredibly familiar.
She searched her memories for several seconds before her eyes widened.
"...Madoka Magica."
Seriously?
This was practically the ending of Puella Magi Madoka Magica.
She couldn't help sighing.
"The Sage of Six Paths really is your son..."
"The sealing technique he left me was already a desperate gamble."
"And now you've given me something even more outrageous."
Kaguya remained silent.
After spending so much time together, she genuinely didn't want Chinatsu to choose this path.
She hoped Chinatsu would choose something else.
Run.
Escape.
Hide.
"If we leave..." Kaguya said softly.
"With my abilities..."
"And your intelligence..."
"I believe we could avoid the Main Clan's detection for at least a thousand years."
"I remember you once saying..."
"'Develop quietly. Don't be reckless.'"
"We can do exactly that."
"As long as we continue hiding..."
"Eventually, one day..."
"No."
Chinatsu gently interrupted her.
"I appreciate your concern."
"But I won't run."
She smiled faintly.
"The ninja world is our home."
"It's also the place where we're strongest."
"If we abandon it..."
"We'll never have a better chance than this."
Kaguya fell silent.
She knew Chinatsu was right.
If they fled into the unknown, the advantage of the Divine Tree, the world's natural energy, and every preparation they had made would disappear.
The odds would only become worse.
Chinatsu slowly lowered her head.
Then, after a long silence...
She raised it again.
The hesitation in her eyes had vanished.
Only determination remained.
"So..."
"You've really decided?"
"If there were a better choice, I'd gladly take it."
"But there isn't."
She smiled.
"I've actually been pretty lucky throughout my life."
"Sure, I got stabbed in the back a few times at the beginning..."
"But after that..."
"I've basically been carrying the whole game."
"The Sage of Six Paths gave me a sealing technique."
"I gambled."
"And I won."
"So..."
"Let me gamble one more time."
"My final gamble."
She straightened her back.
Her smile grew brighter.
Yes.
What she was doing definitely felt like raising a death flag.
But...
Wasn't there such a thing as a reverse flag?
Besides...
Main characters were allowed to set flags.
They usually survived.
At least...
That was what Chinatsu chose to believe.
She would make one final wager.
Not only to become the true guardian of the ninja world...
But also to protect the peaceful, carefree life she had fought so hard to obtain.
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