"I only ask that you help me save Obito!"
Zetsu knelt down with a crisp sound, proving the hardness of Yin Yang Release.
"Is that so..."
Aomi nodded thoughtfully: "So, the feelings between you and Obito surpass your loyalty to Kaguya?"
Zetsu's gaze faltered.
It knew that it wasn't just Aomi watching it now, but also the invisible presence of Kaguya...
Yet Aomi's soul-searching question had to be answered.
The drama was nearing its end, and Aomi's summation was both the essence and the conclusion of the play...
"You're right... I don't think about Kaguya anymore, I just want Obito to live, no matter what it takes, even if it means sacrificing Kaguya!"
Aomi's eyes flickered, recording the moment silently with Genjutsu.
Perhaps, in the future, he could show this precious record to Obito as a special gift.
"I understand."
Aomi flicked his finger, and a wisp of Chakra swiftly entered Zetsu's body.
"Go back and wait for news. When I need you, I will contact you," Aomi waved his hand, indicating Zetsu could leave.
As he waved, Aomi subtly winked at Zetsu.
Zetsu instantly understood; this was Aomi telling it that the performance was a success...
"Always awaiting your call."
Zetsu lowered its head: "Rest assured, the method I offer will surely enable you to quickly overcome Kaguya's resistance..."
With that said, Zetsu's Mangekyo Sharingan sparkled for a moment and it left.
"Doesn't even use Mayfly Jutsu anymore, having acquired the Mangekyo of that wild man, how impressive!" Kaguya cursed vehemently, almost driven to madness.
She understood now.
Zetsu, this genderless being, had inexplicably awakened the femininity in its heart for an Uchiha man during their daily interactions!
Thus, it completely turned away, forgetting her as its mother!
Outrageous!
"Kaguya, do you have anything you want to say to me now?"
Suddenly, Aomi appeared in front of Kaguya, his handsome features showing a hint of exhaustion: "I've grown weary of stories of betrayal like this."
Kaguya, who just a moment ago wore a distorted expression due to her anger at Zetsu, forcefully composed herself in front of Aomi, barely managing to appear normal.
But even if her expression passed muster, Kaguya didn't know what to say...
Zetsu is a quintessential example of loyalty and betrayal.
Who would have thought that a creation of Yin Yang Release would abandon its mother, the Ancestor of Chakra, due to this very human emotion of growing fond over time?
For a moment, Kaguya, unable to respond to Aomi, wept two lines of tears.
Many thoughts flashed through her mind.
She thought of the Six Paths Sage and Otsutsuki Hamura, another pair of brothers who had decisively betrayed her back then, all for those inexplicable mortals...
Was her life destined to be one of betrayal?
Finally finding someone like Aomi to entrust her heart, she yet laid the minefield of trust from the start, which, once detonated, became irreparable.
"Kaguya, there's no need to grieve..."
Against Kaguya's expectations, Aomi didn't mock her or condemn her as a betrayer; instead, like in the past when there was no rift, he gently moved closer, whispering softly:
"The world is like this... In fact, I understand, although you lied to me at the beginning, it was also because I mistakenly sealed you..."
"It's normal for you to have some apprehensions towards me."
Aomi naturally held Kaguya's hand: "After you didn't explain to me later, you were probably hesitating, right? I know you didn't intentionally hide it from me."
"Perhaps you wanted to tell me for a long time, but our days together were so joyful... So you were afraid of disrupting those beautiful days and kept delaying, weren't you?"
Kaguya felt as if she were dreaming, feeling her hand being gently held by Aomi.
How could this be happening?
A kind of ecstatic joy swept through her insides, as if she were on a euphoric cloud, afraid that this was merely a fantasy.
The previously cold Aomi, how suddenly had he restored his gentle demeanor?
And each word struck right at her heart...
What Aomi wanted to say was exactly what Kaguya had never had the chance to express all along.
How could she have ever intended to deceive Aomi...
"Aomi... Aomi!" Kaguya had many things to say, but at this moment, no words could convey her inner excitement better than calling the name of the one she loved.
Kaguya opened her arms, hugging Aomi's firm body tightly, her tearful eyes rubbing against the sturdy chest, and her nostrils inhaled deeply the scent of reassurance and love.
What was thought to be the beginning of Hell due to Zetsu's backstabbing, turned out to be a twist of fate, reconciling her with Aomi.
This intense contrast made Kaguya's emotions fluctuate like a roller coaster, constantly rising, falling, reversing, anxiety, anger, excitement, and surprise intertwining, nearly causing her to faint.
——"Final confrontation with (Otsutsuki Kaguya) completed"!
"You have permanently gained all the fundamental attributes such as double Chakra, bloodline purification, and soul intensity from Otsutsuki Kaguya. When you release her signature Ninjutsu, efficiency and power will double"!
——"Greedy Snake Soul" has successfully deployed Soul Engraving, the current host is Otsutsuki Kaguya.
"Soul Engraving": Otsutsuki Kaguya's soul is permanently engraved with your mark. As long as this mark exists, her soul, body, and consciousness are completely under your control.
When you fall in battle, you can naturally resurrect through the location of the Soul Engraving.
Hearing the long-missed electronic voice, Aomi embraced Kaguya back, gently stroking her back, softly saying: "Don't cry, it's all over, it's over..."
Kaguya tried her hardest to keep her emotions in check, but upon hearing Aomi's comforting words, she cried even more loudly.
On her abdomen, the faint purple engraving of Aomi's name shimmered with a mysterious glow, flashing and fading...
Aomi didn't do as he previously mentioned to Zetsu, taking advantage of the backstab to torment Kaguya over the so-called betrayal and loyalty...
Instead, he chose to do the opposite.
At Kaguya's saddest, most furious, helpless and confused moment, he decided to forgive her.
In Aomi's view.
For Kaguya, there were many who backstabbed her, many who were ruthless to her, whether the harsh Otsutsuki Clan or the progeny like the Six Paths Sage...
They were all the same.
But those who genuinely accepted Kaguya, there were none.
Only Aomi.
Therefore, Aomi didn't abandon this path, instead, using the emotional gap brought by Zetsu, he cleverly played a reversal move, reaching the summit in Kaguya's heart!
"Aomi, why, why..."
Kaguya sobbed, tearfully looking at Aomi, hoarsely asking: "Why did you forgive me all of a sudden..."
Aomi sighed gently, softly wiping away Kaguya's tears.
Gazing at that snow-white face, Aomi gently leaned closer, planting a kiss on Kaguya's eyelid.
"When I saw your angry, confused, and scared state because of Zetsu's betrayal, my heart was torn, too."
Looking at the stunned, yet rapidly blushing Kaguya, Aomi softly said: "This is what my heart feels..."
"Beyond betrayal and loyalty, since my heart tells me that I love you..."
"I don't want to dwell on those narrow-minded thoughts—I believe that my judgment in choosing my beloved is not wrong, and you have given me this confidence."
Aomi cupped Kaguya's cheeks with his hands.
"I'm sorry, Kaguya... for the suffering..."
The word suffering hadn't left his lips when Kaguya's lips stopped Aomi's mouth.
And as for the departing Zetsu.
At that moment, it sighed in guilt.
Kaguya should be undergoing Aomi's interrogation now, shouldn't she?
But, it couldn't be helped.
Because all of this was part of the plan...