This Puppeteer Is Bit Too Strange

...Terrifying!

When that face, half-occupied by a woman, looked over, Black Zetsu felt a fear piercing to the marrow and even soul. His entire body couldn't help but tremble slightly.

This half of a woman's face, Black Zetsu was all too familiar with... skin deathly pale, horns on the forehead, eyes white pupils. All these characteristics indicated her identity.

It was the mother Black Zetsu had yearned for for who knows how many years… Otsutsuki Kaguya.

But, it was a bit strange.

In Black Zetsu's memory, although his mother always had an indifferent expression, she had never given him such fear.

After all, he was a part separated from his mother's body. No matter how powerful her aura, how terrifying her strength, Black Zetsu wouldn't feel threatened.

No, rather, that would make him feel even more secure.

But at this moment, aside from feeling fear, Black Zetsu felt nothing else... It seemed as if his mother was not his mother.

"Master!"

Aka called out worriedly, her right hand lifting slightly before being lowered.

Using his own body as a vessel for Kaguya's descent, using his own body as a cage to bind Kaguya, then finally using the God Tree seed to devour Kaguya as nourishment to bear a new Chakra Fruit... This was Ryuji's plan against Kaguya.

Kaguya was immortal... This was actually what the Sage of Six Paths and his brother believed because they didn't understand the intelligence about the Otsutsuki Clan.

The Otsutsuki Clan possessed the ability to transform themselves into Chakra and possess suitable vessels, then gradually awaken and seize control of the vessel to revive… 'Kama'!

Its function was somewhat like an enhanced version of the combination of Orochimaru's Cursed Seal and Living Corpse Reincarnation.

In short, with this ability, the Otsutsuki Clan wouldn't die as long as they could find a vessel.

In Naruto and even Boruto, although many Otsutsuki were defeated, only one Otsutsuki, carefully trapped Otsutsuki Isshiki, truly died.

The reason Madara was instantly had his body control seized by Kaguya, aside from Black Zetsu stabbing him in the back, was also because he had absorbed the Ten-Tails.

The Ten-Tails was Kaguya; Kaguya was the Ten-Tails. The two had long since merged into one.

Madara absorbing the Ten-Tails into his body was equal to absorbing Kaguya into his body. Even without Black Zetsu's stab, he would eventually have his body gradually seized by Kaguya.

But conversely, as long as one could bind an Otsutsuki, preventing them from escaping even after transforming into Chakra, one could completely kill them.

Just like Otsutsuki Isshiki in Boruto.

Therefore, Ryuji designed this plan.

Using his body as a cage to prevent Kaguya from escaping, using the God Tree's Seed as a weapon to completely kill Kaguya.

But the risk was having his body taken over by Kaguya before he could kill her.

Aka was perfectly clear about the entire plan, so seeing her master's half-face and even body being occupied, she was very worried.

But Ryuji had given instructions beforehand to absolutely not touch him while he was fighting Kaguya.

Because Kaguya could likely use it as a medium to directly transfer into Aka's body.

By then, Kaguya's Chakra, plus the perfect human body... Once the situation developed to that state, then even with all the preparations, it would be all over.

On the contrary, she had to watch closely Black Zetsu, not letting him touch and rescue Kaguya.

"Hum~"

Amidst her thoughts, an intimidating aura emanated from Ryuji's body, making even space itself tremble.

Forced by this aura, Aka couldn't help but step back twice, her eyes widening perfectly round.

Black Zetsu even lay flat on the ground, a complex mix of emotions… disbelief, confusion, ecstasy appearing on his face.

"This Chakra!?"

Chakra... If circulated wildly, it would overflow through all the body's acupoints and pores. Then, even those without sensing abilities could feel it.

If the Chakra was strong enough, it would materialize, visible to the naked eye.

But Ryuji wasn't circulating wildly; he wasn't even circulating it at all. It was just that the Chakra within his body was too strong.

That vastness, immeasurable like the starry cosmos or an unfathomable abyss, even without any movement, was as conspicuous as a bright lamp in the dark night.

Not just Aka and Black Zetsu, everyone within the Mechanical City and even the entire Shinobi World felt this unprecedentedly powerful Chakra, involuntarily showing expressions of shock and awe.

"This is too exaggerated!"

A Tailed Beast's Chakra was already rare in the world.

But certain individual powerful individuals could still match or even far surpass it with a mortal body.

And the aggregate of all Tailed Beasts, the 'Ten-Tails'… the Chakra it possessed compared to these individuals or single Tailed Beasts was again a difference as vast as heaven and earth.

Then, comparing the Ten-Tails to the current Ryuji, there was again a gap as vast as heaven and earth. The latter could cover it with one hand.

This was precisely why Black Zetsu reacted this way.

Because only his mother possessed such immense Chakra.

But what confused him was that, as a part split from Kaguya's body, he would be affected by Kaguya's power.

'Could it be that because separated for too long, I and Mother have become two separate individuals?'

Black Zetsu didn't know, but the bad premonition in his heart grew stronger and stronger.

It seemed everything was developing towards a bad situation.

…

Boom, boom, boom...

Violent collisions made the world tremble, as if it could shatter at any moment.

With a thought from Ryuji, the Sea of Consciousness turned into crimson lotus flames, boiling the seas, turning everything to ashes.

But within the sea of fire, the woman with deathly pale skin, horns on her forehead, and a single nine-tomoe Rinne-Sharingan vertical between her eyebrows remained unharmed.

Her Byakugan stared intently at the surroundings, an invisible aura spreading, forcing the flames unable to approach.

— Pressure!

This was the Byakugan's ability.

Developing the Byakugan to the extreme allowed one to emit immense pressure that could stun people unconscious and even cause damage to space.

In the original work, only Kaguya and Otsutsuki Hamura could use it.

Under this immense pressure, not only was the sea of fire parted, the mental space also trembled more violently.

But no matter how violently the world trembled, there were no signs of shattering at all.

"To think someone would set their sights on me while sealed." Kaguya stared intently at the red-haired youth a hundred meters away, as if wanting to memorize all his appearance characteristics.

Ryuji paid no attention at all, instead chuckling lightly. "Precisely because you are sealed, I would set my sights on you! Otherwise, wouldn't that be seeking death?"

Kaguya's strength goes without saying. In terms of raw power, she was undoubtedly first.

If they fought outside, the outcome would truly be hard to say.

But within the mental space, with consciousness entities fighting... Whether it was the Chibaku Tensei, Amenominaka, or Yomotsu Hirasaka... all secret techniques, Kekkei Mora, Dojutsu were unusable. Only the most primordial spiritual power could be used.

And the spiritual power Kaguya could use was only the Byakugan's pressure. The rest was just pure spiritual power clashes.

If the opponent was only Ryuji, then it naturally wouldn't be much threat.

But because of the existence of artificial souls and the Sea of Consciousness created by linking identical points, Ryuji could effortlessly combine the spiritual power of tens of thousands of puppets for use. Even if the opponent was Kaguya, who had lived for who knows how many years, she was no match.

"My long-cherished wish has yet to be realized. I absolutely will not die here!" Kaguya waved her hand grandly. Powerful spiritual fluctuations rippled out, opening a path in front of her, then she charged at Ryuji.

Ryuji showed no fear at all, waving the vast and boundless Sea of Consciousness forward in a surge.

Bam!

The 'seawater' exploded. Kaguya parted the ocean, her immense spiritual power transforming into countless sharp needles shooting forth.

Ryuji waved his right hand. The seawater roared, sweeping away everything.

Splash!

The seawater splashed, gradually calming down.

Kaguya gradually surfaced from a position ten thousand meters away, looking at him with a gloomy expression.

Ryuji didn't need to win at all.

The God Tree's Seed that had merged with him was devouring her Chakra to grow. As long as he delayed time, she would grow weaker and weaker until completely died.

And Ryuji would grow stronger and stronger until evolving into an existence surpassing hers.

'I have to find a way settle it quickly!'

Kaguya's mind raced, seeking a way to break the situation.

And Ryuji showed a confident smile.

"Just me alone isn't safe enough. Let everyone join in!"

As he spoke, consciousness entities appeared one after another in the Sea of Consciousness.

Tanks, aircraft, gatling guns, dragon-hunting ballistae, Railguns, Golden Figures... bizarre-shaped spiritual entities were arranged in a scientific distribution behind Ryuji.

Densely packed, as far as the eye could see.

Kaguya's expression grew even gloomier.

Although these were all weak trash that could be destroyed with a wave of her hand, waving her hand still took time!

With this number, a few more waves, and she would be weakened by a few points.

Although because her Chakra was too vast, the God Tree's Seed's devouring speed was still slow.

But as she grew weaker, the God Tree's Seed's devouring would speed up.

Moreover, if the consciousness entity was injured, it would also accelerate the devouring speed.

But,

Even knowing the situation was like this, she was helpless.

She had been sealed all along, knowing nothing about the outside situation, unable to make preparations.

Coming out and immediately falling into the opponent's carefully prepared trap, facing such a situation was also natural.

"Damn it!"

Kaguya's calm expression became somewhat ruined, even uttering words that were considered curses for her.

She gnashed her teeth, waving her long sleeves as she charged at Ryuji.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

Boom, boom, boom...

Bam, bam, bam...

The mechanical puppets opened fire with full force, releasing various spiritual attacks.

Although each strike for Kaguya was like tickling, tens of thousands of attacks, dense and numerous, sweeping over like a tidal wave... No matter how ticklish, it could scrape off a layer of skin.

"Ha!"

With a glare from the Byakugan, pressure spread out, blasting away countless attacks.

But still, innumerable attacks descended.

Kaguya had no method but to swing her fists to block.

Various pleasing-to-the-eye yet would make the Hyuga Clan blush with shame Gentle Fist techniques were unleashed, defending so tightly not even a drop could leak through. Even attacks hundreds of thousands of times her number had not the slightest effect.

Even a Golden Figure capable of punching with nuclear explosion force was swept aside by her with a punch, even backhanding a palm strike through the air piercing its chest.

Such power, if it were a real-person fight outside, she would likely be defeated before long.

But this was enough.

Ryuji didn't think he could kill her with these mechanical puppets. Delaying time was enough.

Rumble...

The earth trembled. Kaguya defended while advancing. After about five minutes, she finally reached within less than around ten meters of Ryuji.

However, Ryuji waved his hand grandly. The Sea of Consciousness surged like a tsunami. And Kaguya was once again washed away to ten thousand meters away.

"Bastard!!!"

…

Real world.

The aura on Ryuji's body grew even stronger, his Chakra grew even more unfathomable. Not just the air, even the Floating Continent began to tremble.

Black Zetsu lay on the ground, looking up at Ryuji. The body half-occupied by a woman was gradually returning to normal.

Seeing this, Black Zetsu widened his eyes, finally understanding where the unease deep within came from.

"Could it be, this guy is fighting mother for control!?"

"Impossible, impossible, impossible..."

"Mother's strength is absolute. Under the circumstance of absorbing the Ten-Tails, even an opponent of the same level couldn't stop the erosion of mother's Kama. How could Senki Ryuji fight Mother for control for so long!?"

"You, shut up!"

Accompanied by an angry shout, Aka stomped his head into the ground, then immediately used Ice Release to freeze his entire body.

She knew Black Zetsu excelled at Earth Release. She couldn't let this guy escape via earth.

Although the Floating Continent was currently tens of thousands of meters in the air, even if he escaped, he couldn't get away in the end.

But letting him escape might lead to unexpected developments.

Time passed bit by bit. Ryuji's body returned to normal bit by bit.

Suddenly, a streak of rosy light shone down from the horizon. Ryuji opened those pure black eyes.

"Master?"

Aka didn't approach. Instead, she looked at him warily.

Ryuji smiled slightly, saying, "What's wrong, haven't seen me for a night, don't recognize your master?"

"Master, welcome back."

Hearing the familiar voice, Aka was extremely excited, overjoyed, she stepped forward, hugging Ryuji tightly.

Ryuji was stunned.

Only when he heard the sound of her sobbing with joy by his ear did he come back to his senses, a knowing smile appearing on his face.

"Mhm, I'm back."

"Ah, ah... Yes, I'm sorry, I was rude."

Hearing the gentle voice by her ear, Aka suddenly thought of something and hurriedly left Ryuji's embrace, bowing to him in apology.

"Nothing to apologize for!"

Ryuji said with a smile, wrapping his arms around the stunned Aka, murmuring softly by her ear, "Although beforehand, after countless precise calculations, I knew this operation wouldn't be dangerous. But when truly facing Kaguya, I still had the thought 'maybe this is the last day'. Now seeing you, I can't help but feel like having narrowly escaped death, and also feel the joy of reuniting with family."

"Fa..., family..."

Aka opened her mouth. Her joyful expression dimmed slightly.

"Of course. Without your attentive care all these years, who knows what my life would have been like!" Ryuji paused, then continued, "Would you like to spend the rest of your life with me and Pakura?"