Chapter 344: Is Bayakushi a Traitor?
Bayakushi sighed, but his expression darkened slightly.
When he integrated Shibai's cells, it hadn't been as easy for him as it was for Kaguya. He had experienced rejection symptoms, requiring Lord Isshiki to regulate them with chakra.
And yet, the person standing before him was just a Hyuga clansman.
Did this mean that, in terms of bloodline, this Hyuga was closer to Shibai than Lord Isshiki? A mere half-breed, surpassing an Otsutsuki in purity?
What a joke!
Bayakushi couldn't accept it, but the truth was right before his eyes, leaving no room for denial.
Suppressing the urge to kill Kaguya on the spot, he silently observed her "evolution," secretly gathering his chakra.
Senju Hashirama's cells could grant a massive boost to an ordinary ninja, let alone the cells of an Otsutsuki.
By perfectly merging with Shibai's cells, this ninja would undoubtedly grow significantly stronger—perhaps even to the point of developing rebellious thoughts.
When that time came, he could kill her with a valid excuse, tying up loose ends with Nagato.
As for the vessel for the Divine Techniques?
He could simply create a clone from her cells.
That had been his plan all along. Dangerous Divine Techniques couldn't be entrusted to outsiders. The safest and most controllable approach was to find a suitable candidate, harvest their cells, and create a clone to inherit the techniques.
Kaguya was immersed in the exhilarating sensation of power surging through her, oblivious to Bayakushi's malice.
The cells of Hamura's descendants, the chakra of Otsutsuki Kaguya, and the divine cells of Otsutsuki Shibai—when mixed together, they seemed to trigger some kind of chemical reaction.
She could feel her body undergoing a transformation, as if she were experiencing a complete rebirth.
Chakra surged through her, intertwining with the power of the foreign cells, producing a strange effect.
Her Byakugan activated involuntarily. Veins bulged around her eyes, and then—one of them began to change. The sclera darkened, while the iris shifted to a pale blue.
Bayakushi, who had been watching her intently, froze in shock.
"The Tenseigan?!"
Nagato frowned. "Tenseigan? Some kind of special dojutsu?"
"Just think of it as an evolved Byakugan." Bayakushi suppressed his excitement and spoke calmly, "I can confirm that she meets my requirements. I need some time. We'll discuss our cooperation later."
Nagato raised an eyebrow but said nothing, turning to leave.
Bayakushi was a servant of the Otsutsuki Main Clan. The Otsutsuki on the Moon had been observing the ninja world for a thousand years and had far greater knowledge than he did. It wasn't surprising that Bayakushi knew of unique dojutsu.
But for him to be this excited…
It seemed the so-called Tenseigan was extremely important to him.
An evolved Byakugan… Was this the form that preceded the Tenseigan?
…
Once Nagato left, Bayakushi stared at Kaguya's Tenseigan, unable to hide his excitement.
Although it was astonishing for a Hyuga ninja to awaken the Tenseigan, now was not the time to dwell on such matters.
What was the Tenseigan?
It was a symbol of pure Otsutsuki bloodline!
And this was a Tenseigan born from Shibai's cells. That meant she was an ideal candidate for Divine Technique transplantation.
Perhaps… not just one Divine Technique.
If he could gather all of Shibai's Divine Techniques in one place, wouldn't that create a second Otsutsuki Shibai…?
Bayakushi quickly snapped back to reality, exhaling quietly.
Unfortunately, she was a Konoha ninja. Unless she willingly joined the Otsutsuki Clan, he couldn't let her inherit all the Divine Techniques.
Frowning slightly, Bayakushi spoke to Kaguya, who was now rising to her feet.
"From this moment on, you are an inner member of Kara. Your new name is Otsutsuki Shizuka. Remember, you are a natural-born Otsutsuki. Forget everything about Konoha."
His tone remained cold, but it was noticeably less harsh than before.
He had decided to keep Kaguya. The Tenseigan was too valuable, and in a way, it signified Shizuka's status.
In this cold and ruthless ninja world, apart from the traitor Otsutsuki Kaguya and Hyuga Fuji, she was the closest to the Otsutsuki Clan. Even his own bloodline wasn't as pure as hers.
Moreover, the Tenseigan couldn't be replicated. Cloning technology couldn't reproduce it, so keeping her was clearly the better option.
Noticing Bayakushi's change in attitude, Kaguya seized the opportunity to ask, "Those cells just now… what were they?"
"That was Lord Shibai's power. You're not qualified to know more yet. Dismissed."
Waving his hand, Bayakushi collected a sample of Kaguya's cells and summoned a clone to escort her to her quarters.
Kaguya remained silent, adjusting to her newfound power while processing what she had just learned about Shibai.
Otsutsuki Shibai…
She had heard his name in countless legends.
He was the god of the Otsutsuki Clan.
Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that the cells she had transplanted belonged to that divine being.
Still, considering how superior those cells were compared to her own, she could understand it.
But…
How had Otsutsuki Shibai's corpse ended up in the ninja world?
Had he visited this world when he was alive?
Unlikely. If Otsutsuki Shibai had come here in person, this place would have been reduced to a dead world, and she wouldn't have had the chance to plant the God Tree.
That left only one possibility—Isshiki brought it here!
The only Otsutsuki to have set foot in this world were herself and Isshiki. If she hadn't brought it, then it had to be him.
Kaguya frowned slightly.
Although Isshiki held a high status within the Otsutsuki Clan, she never expected that he had possession of Shibai's corpse.
If she had known earlier, she would have been more cautious, handled Isshiki with greater care, and taken that corpse for herself. She wouldn't have given him the chance to resurrect…
Wait… Isshiki had already revived in Hyuga Fuji's body.
Nagato and this man, Bayakushi, were clearly hostile toward him.
So how did they obtain Shibai's corpse?
There was no way they could have defeated Hyuga Fuji in a direct confrontation…
Kaguya's expression turned strange.
Isshiki… Bayakushi…
She suddenly understood.
Bayakushi had once been Isshiki's subordinate. He might have even been granted his name.
But he didn't stay loyal.
He betrayed Isshiki, stole Shibai's corpse, and allied with Nagato against him.
As she recalled that Bayakushi first appeared on the battlefield of the Land of Earth, opposing Hyuga Fuji, Kaguya became more certain of her theory.
Bayakushi was a traitor—just like her.
Perhaps they could work together.
Having committed the same kind of betrayal herself, Kaguya didn't find it hard to accept. She had no qualms about cooperating with Bayakushi—at most, she just found it amusing.
Isshiki was betrayed a thousand years ago.
A thousand years later, he was betrayed again.
Some people just never learn.
…
Bayakushi had no idea that, in Kaguya's mind, he had become Isshiki's traitorous subordinate.
Nor did he expect that the traitor he despised—Kaguya—had now become a core member of his organization.
Once Kaguya left, he immediately immersed himself in preparing for clone production.
As the incubation chambers activated one by one, a flicker of emotion passed over Bayakushi's face.
If only Lord Isshiki had lived a little longer.
With Otsutsuki Shizuka and her clones, they would have been the perfect vessels.
But when he thought of Isshiki's death, his rage toward Hyuga Fuji reignited.
Just wait.
Once I complete the Divine Techniques and gain Kaguya's power, I'll make you pay for what you did to Lord Isshiki!
(End of Chapter)