Hanekawa formed hand seals, channeling a torrent of pale green chakra toward the Death God. The energy enveloped the spectral figure, but nothing happened. He paused, reassessing.
Right. The Death God isn't flesh and blood—it's pure energy. Medical ninjutsu won't work.
He switched tactics. "Sage Art: Healing Palm."
Entering Sage Mode, Hanekawa's chakra transformed, infused with natural energy. The technique finally took hold. The Death God's form stabilized, the damage beginning to reverse.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki watched him intently, her gaze lingering on the distinctive markings around his eyes—the telltale signs of Sage Mode. She'd noticed them during his fight with Ōtsutsuki Urashiki but had been too preoccupied with consuming the Divine Tree's fruit. Now, observing the fusion of natural energy and chakra, something clicked.
How creative. This man truly is extraordinary.
She wondered if she could replicate it. In the past, she'd copied every technique Hanekawa performed at a glance. But Sage Mode... that was different. The balance required eluded her usual methods.
"After humans die, do you consume their souls?" Hanekawa asked once the Death God had recovered sufficiently.
"Only partially," the Death God replied. "Most scatter between heaven and earth."
"Can you draw them to you?"
"Yes. My ability attracts nearby souls, though it has limited range."
Hanekawa nodded. Perfect. Exactly as I thought.
"Excellent. Where do you normally exist?"
"A separate dimension. Where I was born."
An idea crystallized in Hanekawa's mind. If the Death God's dimension shaped it into what it is, then creating a proper Pure Land there should work. But I need to understand how native gods form in the first place.
"Take us there," he said.
The Death God extended two spheres of energy. Reality warped around them.
When Hanekawa's vision cleared, he stood in the Death Dimension. Cold assaulted him immediately—not the ordinary kind, but something that seemed to freeze the very soul. Even with his strength, the sensation was unsettling.
If a normal human's soul came here, it would crystallize. They'd lose all sense of time.
He glanced at Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. "Can you construct a Pure Land here? One that can absorb wandering souls and chakra?"
She considered this briefly. "Yes."
The prospect of absorbing more chakra appealed to her. She raised her hands, and endless power flowed outward. The Death God trembled as the sheer magnitude of her chakra washed over it.
This woman is truly the strongest.
The Death Dimension transformed. Darkness gave way to light. Mountains rose. Water flowed. Magnificent structures materialized from nothing.
"Yin-Yang Release is remarkable," Hanekawa murmured. I'm two-thirds of the way to unlocking that S-Rank entry. If I can get her to practice the seven nature releases with me...
He studied Kaguya Ōtsutsuki with renewed interest. Few people could provide the power boost he needed. But she definitely qualified.
Within thirty minutes, the transformation completed. Kaguya Ōtsutsuki gestured, and a branch extended from her palm. She wove hand seals, and it erupted into a towering tree—a weakened version of the Divine Tree, but unmistakably connected to it.
"The Divine Tree absorbs chakra," she explained. "I've used one of its branches as the core. It will continuously draw wandering souls from the ninja world. Through my connection to the tree, I can sense and control this Pure Land."
Hanekawa leaned close to her ear and whispered his plan.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's forehead Rinnegan opened. Scarlet light flashed.
The Death God fell into a trance.
"You will remain in the Pure Land and guide the dead," she commanded. "Your ability will be enhanced by the Divine Tree."
"Yes," the Death God responded, its voice hollow.
When she deactivated the Rinnegan, the Death God regained awareness—but her orders were now etched into its very being, impossible to resist.
Three lines of text materialized before Hanekawa's eyes:
```
[A-Rank Talent Entry: Lord of the Pure Land]
[Trigger Condition: Assist in creating a Pure Land]
[Effect: Ninja soul-based attacks are ineffective against you]
[Note: Cannot be synthesized]
```
A new entry. Not bad—soul techniques are notoriously difficult to defend against. The limitation to "ninja" is unfortunate, but for an A-Rank, I can't complain.
"Death God, return us," Hanekawa commanded.
Reality shifted. They materialized back in their home.
"The Pure Land is complete," Hanekawa said, pouring water for Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. "Now we wait to see if it functions as intended."
She accepted the glass, sipping thoughtfully. "There are too few people capable of wielding chakra. Roughly a hundred in the Ninja Clan. Insufficient."
"It is limited," Hanekawa agreed, watching water droplets cling to her lips. "Do you want to kiss?"
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki met his gaze directly. "May I?"
"Come here," she said after a moment's consideration.
He approached slowly. Their lips met—soft, deliberate. Unlike their previous brief exchanges, this time they lingered, exploring. Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's breathing deepened. Her heart accelerated in an unfamiliar rhythm. Confusion flickered across her pale eyes.
Why is this happening?
After several minutes, they separated. Kaguya Ōtsutsuki unconsciously licked her lips, a strange warmth blooming in her chest.
Kissing is... peculiar. But not unpleasant.
"I have a question," she said, her expression returning to its usual calm.
Hanekawa suppressed a smile. She's like a beautiful doll learning about the world. Dangerous, but fascinating.
"What is it?"
"How do you combine chakra and natural energy?"
He'd expected this. "I call it Sage Mode. Would you like to learn?"
"Yes."
"Then do me a favor first," he said, thinking of his S-Rank Yin-Yang Release entry.
"Produce offspring?" she interrupted. "I agree."
Hanekawa's mind went blank. Wait. What?
"You are qualified to reproduce with me," Kaguya Ōtsutsuki continued matter-of-factly. "After this month together, you have earned my recognition. You are capable, intelligent, and beneficial to my goals."
"Thank you," he managed, his brain still processing.
"Teach me Sage Mode," she said.
Did I just... agree to that? Or did she?
"I'll start by teaching you to absorb natural energy," Hanekawa said, extending his hand. Natural energy gathered visibly before them.
"Is that natural energy?" Kaguya Ōtsutsuki activated her forehead Rinnegan, perceiving it clearly.
"The key is balance," he explained. "Your chakra is so vast it could overwhelm natural energy. You need control."
She absorbed the energy carefully, then began integrating it with her chakra. The first attempt failed—her power was simply too immense.
"Failure is normal," Hanekawa assured her.
She tried again. And again. By dusk, her eyes brightened.
"I succeeded."
"I've never seen anyone synthesize Senjutsu Chakra in a single day," Hanekawa said with genuine admiration.
"I am very powerful," she stated, meeting his eyes.
He kissed her again. This time, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki responded with surprising enthusiasm, her lips moving against his with curious intensity. When they parted, a hint of obsession lingered in her gaze.
"I need to retrieve Tsukihime," she said, standing.
Hanekawa watched her disappear, then returned to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
---
At the Ninja Sect training grounds, Hanekawa's shadow clone dispelled as evening fell. Many students remained, absorbed in their practice.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki bypassed the grounds entirely, appearing in Hanekawa's office. Her perception spread, locating Tsukihime's residence.
She found the girl's room and knocked.
Tsukihime opened the door and froze. "Lady Goddess!"
"I have questions," Kaguya Ōtsutsuki said calmly.
"Please, come in! Ask anything!" Tsukihime practically vibrated with excitement. The Goddess herself!
"How do humans reproduce?"
Tsukihime's expression froze. "I... what?"
"How do humans reproduce?" Kaguya Ōtsutsuki repeated patiently.
"Lady Goddess, I..." Tsukihime's face burned. She's asking me about... that?
"You do not know?"
"Wait! Please wait!" Tsukihime rushed from the room and returned moments later with a book. "This explains it."
The cover read: Matters Between Men and Women.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki accepted it without comment. "Forget this conversation."
Chakra flashed. Tsukihime's eyes glazed over.
When awareness returned, she stood alone at her door, confused about why she was there.
---
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki found Tsukihime at the training grounds. The girl's progress had been remarkable—dozens of techniques mastered in a single day.
"Mom!" Tsukihime ran to her. "Where's Dad?"
"Cooking."
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki touched her head, mimicking Hanekawa's gesture. "Let's go home."
Using space-time teleportation, they returned in minutes.
Hanekawa was still in the kitchen. "Tsukihime, go see your father," Kaguya Ōtsutsuki said, retreating to her room with the book.
She read carefully. Her eyes widened at certain passages.
"To touch a person with your lips is to show affection and love."
So kissing means... he likes me? That is logical.
She continued reading, her confusion growing.
This is how humans reproduce? How strange.
A knock interrupted her. Hanekawa stood in the doorway. "What are you reading?"
"Nothing," she said, concealing the book.
"Dinner's ready."
At the table, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki savored the chicken, her cold expression softening slightly. Besides chakra, there are other sources of happiness in this world.
"How will you expand the Ninja Clan?" she asked.
"Yuori and Futami can travel with chakra seeds," Hanekawa suggested. "They'll spread our influence beyond the ancestral lands."
"They are weak. Can they succeed?"
"Weakness is relative. With chakra, they're stronger than ordinary humans. Add ninjutsu, and they're formidable." He paused. "If gods attack them, we'll intervene."
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki nodded. He has considered everything.
"I want to go too!" Tsukihime announced.
"With your abilities, you'll be fine," Hanekawa said, ruffling her hair. "Even gods won't pose a threat."
He thought briefly of the Dragon God and Death God—roughly tailed beast level. Tsukihime's Rinnegan would make them trivial.
I should also consider the three sacred summoning sites. The Great Toad Sage and his prophecies could become problematic. But with Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's power, it's manageable.
His real concern was more immediate: how to seal Kaguya Ōtsutsuki away for a thousand years without her noticing.
Theoretically, sealing and removal were equivalent. She simply needed to vanish from the ninja world for a millennium.
But that's a problem for another day.
---
---
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