241-249 (end)

Chapter 241: Sealing Technique (Part 2)

Despite her frustration with Shigeo Aburame's endless questions, Kushina Uzumaki earnestly taught him the *Reaper Death Seal*.

"The Reaper Death Seal is essentially a variation of summoning jutsu. Fundamentally, it works like summoning, with the chakra flow and activation process being similar. The main difference lies in the summoned entity, which changes the hand seals," she explained.

As she spoke, she demonstrated the hand seals for the Reaper Death Seal to Shigeo one by one.

"For a regular summoning jutsu, the hand seals are Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram. However, the Reaper Death Seal requires Ram, Rabbit, Dog, Rat, Bird, Horse, Snake. Finally, you clasp your hands together and release enough chakra to complete the technique."

Shigeo nodded. "Got it. Do I need to bite my finger before forming the seals?"

"No, you don't!"

Kushina shook her head firmly, her expression turning serious.

"Summoning jutsu involves a contract between a person and a summoning beast, a mutual agreement where blood is sufficient to call upon the beast. The Reaper Death Seal, however, is a contract with the Grim Reaper. This contract isn't equal; it demands the caster's soul as a price for summoning the Reaper."

"I see," Shigeo acknowledged, though his brow furrowed as a thought struck him.

"Is it possible to form an equal contract with the Grim Reaper, summoning it without sacrificing one's soul?"

"Impossible!"

Kushina's tone was resolute, but her face showed a hint of helplessness.

"The power of the Reaper Death Seal lies in the Reaper's attack capabilities. If the cost were so trivial, the Uzumaki clan wouldn't have been annihilated. But..."

Her expression turned complex as she gazed at Shigeo.

"Shigeo, you're the most unpredictable person I've ever met. If anyone could achieve such a thing, it might just be you."

"Thank you!" Shigeo replied, then asked, "So, where do I go to make this contract with the Grim Reaper? Do I need a scroll?"

"No, you need to visit the Uzumaki clan's shrine," Kushina said with a smile. "It's outside Konoha, a bit far from here. We'll head there after lunch."

"Understood!"

After eating at Minato Namikaze's home and taking a short rest, Shigeo followed Kushina out of the village to the Uzumaki clan's shrine.

He had expected a temple-like structure housing statues or plaques of the clan's ancestors.

Reality, however, was entirely different.

The Uzumaki shrine was simple and unadorned, devoid of statues or memorials. Instead, a wall hung with ominous, grotesque masks stood prominently in the room.

The wall bore three rows of masks, nine per row, totaling twenty-seven masks.

Kushina raised her hand, gesturing toward the masks.

"These are the contract objects. Choose one, and once you perform the seals, you'll summon the corresponding Grim Reaper."

"Corresponding Grim Reaper?" Shigeo paused. "You mean there are multiple Reapers?"

"Of course!"

Before Shigeo could finish processing this, Kushina elaborated.

"The Reapers exist outside the ninja world, similar to the summoning realm. While their numbers aren't vast, there are certainly more than one."

"So they're not deities, but a peculiar species, correct?" Shigeo asked.

Kushina's face displayed a mix of resignation and agreement as she nodded.

"Yes, you can think of it that way. But Reapers are so powerful that to us humans, they might as well be gods."

"Sure, if you say so," Shigeo remarked dismissively before steering the conversation back on track.

"I'm ready to form a contract. What's the next step?"

"It's almost like summoning jutsu."

Kushina approached the wall, took down a mask, and handed it to Shigeo.

"Take this. Write your name on the back and add a drop of your blood. The contract will be complete."

"That's it?" Shigeo scrutinized the mask carefully before asking, "Am I limited to contracting just one mask?"

"In theory, no. But..."

Kushina hesitated, her expression turning peculiar.

"But so far, no one has ever returned to contract a second mask."

Shigeo fell silent.

"So they died, huh?"

He suddenly felt less inclined to bind himself to a Reaper. Surviving this long wasn't easy, and risking it all just to deal with Otsutsuki Urashiki wasn't his style.

Setting the mask down slightly, he turned to Kushina.

"I want to stay here alone for a while. You can head back if you want, or wait outside if you're concerned."

"I'm not concerned," Kushina said with a wave of her hand. "Stay as long as you like. I'll head back first."

"Okay, thanks!"

Watching Kushina leave the shrine, Shigeo pulled out a *Wood Release Celestial Bug* and placed it beside the Reaper mask.

"Combine!"

Though he hadn't used this feature in a long time, his movements were as practiced as ever.

Unfortunately, the result wasn't ideal.

Crack!  

The celestial bug burst apart with a sharp sound, and a crack appeared on the Reaper mask, rendering it useless.

Despite losing a rare celestial bug and a precious Reaper mask, Shigeo smiled.

This was good news.

Based on his experience, if the gap between materials was too vast, the weaker one would be destroyed in a failed combination. When both were destroyed, it meant their levels were equal, but the synthesis lacked a necessary element.

After some thought, Shigeo picked another mask, wrote his name, and added his blood to complete the contract.

He then placed the mask with another celestial bug and repeated the process.

"Combine!"

A burst of white light enveloped the mask and bug, merging them into one.

When the light faded, a white beetle with a menacing mask-like pattern on its back stood before Shigeo.

"Did it work?"

Shigeo's eyes lit up as he absorbed the new *Reaper Parasite Bug* into his body.

As it integrated, knowledge about the bug flooded his mind.

A satisfied smile spread across his face.

"Just as I expected. This should settle things. Now I just need to wait for Urashiki to appear."

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 242: The Land of Snow*

Aburame Shigeo firmly believed that Ōtsutsuki Urashiki would reappear.

It wasn’t just because of his knowledge of the original storyline, but more importantly, because of Urashiki’s personality.

This was a figure of extreme greed and cunning—a true opportunist!

Most members of the Ōtsutsuki clan possessed the ability to traverse time and space. However, someone like Urashiki, who traveled through time specifically to eliminate his enemies during their weakest moments, was truly rare—like finding a scorpion leaving behind droppings—one of a kind!

Such a person would never give up until achieving his goals.

Shigeo recalled that in the original storyline, Urashiki had targeted Sasuke’s Rinnegan, even attempting to seize it by force.

“So, this time, the fact that he’s targeting Nagato is undoubtedly because of Nagato’s Rinnegan. To be safe, I’ll go handle this myself!”

With this in mind, Shigeo retrieved the Shinigami mask from the Uzumaki clan’s shrine, activated his Kaguya Mode, opened a dark portal using Yomotsu Hirasaka, and stepped through.

The next moment, he found himself in an endless snowy wasteland.

Looking around, Shigeo didn’t see any sign of people or sense any chakra.

“Wow, it’s really desolate here!”

As he gazed at the snowflakes falling from the sky, Shigeo sighed. A thickset man wearing glasses came to mind, and his expression turned a bit complex.

“Fūn Kazahana, huh? Don’t worry. Whether for public or personal reasons, I’ll avenge you. As for your daughter, Koyuki Kazahana, I’ll bring her under the shogunate’s care. Rest in peace!”

As if acknowledging his words, the snowfall ceased, and the sun broke through the clouds, casting a warm ray of light.

Under the sunlight, Shigeo deactivated his Kaguya Mode.

Ōtsutsuki Urashiki could appear at any moment, and walking around in Kaguya’s form was far too conspicuous.

Returning to his usual appearance, Shigeo trudged through the snow, his footsteps crunching loudly, as he slowly moved forward.

After walking for about half a day, a rundown wooden hut appeared in his view.

Shigeo approached the hut to ask for directions to the Land of Snow’s capital. After leaving some dry rations for the family, he set out again.

He didn’t leave money, knowing that in such a desolate place, leaving wealth could bring harm to the family.

After clarifying the route to the Land of Snow’s capital, he picked up his pace. Like lightning, he reached the gates of the capital before nightfall.

To avoid alerting the enemy, he loitered outside the city for two hours. Only after night fell did he sneak into the capital under the cover of darkness.

Once inside, he didn’t act immediately. Instead, he found a modest house in the outer district to stay in.

He avoided the inns near the city center because he knew that, after Kakashi rescued Koyuki Kazahana, Fūn Kazahana must have filled the city with spies.

In comparison, staying in a civilian home in exchange for a bit of dry rations was far safer than any other option.

And as expected, Shigeo’s predictions proved accurate. He stayed in the Land of Snow for nearly half a month without encountering a single Snow Ninja sent to investigate.

However, soldiers came several times to extort the locals, ransacking nearby homes and leaving while cursing loudly.

The outer city residents were too poor to offer much. Forget money—even decent food was hard to come by.

Shigeo could have easily dealt with these soldiers, but he refrained, knowing it would be a temporary fix and not a long-term solution.

The Land of Snow was sick. To restore its health, the only solution was to cut out the root cause.

Shigeo adjusted his sunglasses and looked toward the royal palace of the Land of Snow.

“Based on the timeline, Nagato should be arriving soon. Fūn Kazahana, enjoy your remaining days while you can!”

---

Shigeo’s calculations were correct. A few days later, Nagato arrived.

And he made a grand entrance, descending from the sky.

“Fūn Kazahana, your judgment day has come. Come forth and face divine retribution!”

Nagato’s voice echoed throughout the entire capital, reaching even Shigeo in the outer city.

With such a loud declaration, there was no way Fūn Kazahana, deep within the palace, wouldn’t hear it.

In a flash, hundreds of Snow Ninjas poured out, shouting at Nagato.

“Who are you?”

“How dare you address His Majesty by name! Do you have a death wish?”

“Kill him!”

The Snow Ninjas cursed loudly, some even hurling vulgar insults.

Nagato frowned and addressed the Snow Ninjas below.

“I am here to kill Fūn Kazahana. He usurped the throne, violating the shogunate’s rules. The gods demand he be punished. If you value your lives, leave now.”

“Hahaha!”

Hearing Nagato’s words, the Snow Ninjas burst into laughter as if he had told the world’s funniest joke.

Amid their laughter, a man in futuristic armor emerged from the palace and looked up at Nagato in the sky.

“I am Fūn Kazahana. Are you the so-called god here to punish me? Enough theatrics—die!”

He raised his fist toward Nagato.

“Ice Release: Black Dragon Blizzard!”

Instantly, a black dragon formed from frost and snow, its blood-red eyes glaring menacingly as it roared toward Nagato.

Seeing this, Fūn Kazahana and the Snow Ninjas grinned cruelly.

To their shock, instead of being consumed by the dragon, Nagato raised a hand and absorbed the technique completely.

*Chakra Absorption Seal!*

A power of the Rinnegan, it could nullify any chakra-based technique, making it a formidable ability.

Fūn Kazahana’s face twisted with rage upon seeing his technique nullified so easily.

“Damn it! I don’t know how you did that, but there’s no way you’ll withstand this—Ice Release: Double Black Dragon Blizzard!”

He unleashed two dragons this time, which rushed at Nagato with ferocious speed.

The result was the same.

The two dragons were effortlessly absorbed by Nagato’s Rinnegan technique, vanishing into thin air.

Realizing the vast difference in power, Fūn Kazahana turned and bolted toward the palace gates, intending to hide inside.

But how could Nagato let him escape?

“Universal Pull!”

With a low command, Fūn Kazahana felt an overwhelming force drag him back toward Nagato.

In an instant, he was pulled into the air, right before Nagato. Before he could say anything, a black rod pierced through his body.

“Argh!”

Fūn Kazahana let out a scream and shouted desperately.

“It wasn’t my fault! Someone ordered me to do it! I was just following orders—please, spare me!”

“Following orders?” Nagato frowned. “Whose orders?”

Before Fūn Kazahana could answer, a voice sounded behind Nagato.

“Mine!”

(To be continued...)

*Chapter 243: The Stalked Becomes the Prey*

Out of nowhere, behind Nagato appeared none other than the one who had been tailing him all along—Ōtsutsuki Urashiki!

Hearing the sound from behind, Nagato instantly threw aside Kazahana and spun around, unleashing a powerful Shinra Tensei.

"Boom!"

A massive repulsive force erupted from his hand, instantly blasting Urashiki away.

However, as Urashiki was flung backward, he swung his glowing red fishing rod. Despite being dozens of meters apart, the hook flew with precision and latched onto Nagato's body.

"Haha, come here!"

Urashiki laughed heartily and yanked his fishing rod, causing the line to go taut in an instant.

"Whoosh!"

With a gust of wind, a massive orb of crimson chakra was ripped out of Nagato’s body by the hook.

As soon as the chakra was extracted, Nagato’s body faltered, and he plummeted from the sky.

Down below, Kazahana, impaled by black rods, along with the remaining Snow Ninjas, erupted in celebration.

"Excellent!"

"We got him!"

"Quick, finish him off!"

They paid no mind to the airborne Urashiki, likely believing that the enemy of their enemy was a friend.

But reality proved otherwise: an enemy's enemy could also be a foe.

Before they could make a move on the falling Nagato, Urashiki swung his fishing rod again.

This time, unlike before, the red fishing rod cast out over a hundred hooks, each accurately latching onto a Snow Ninja’s body!

With a single pull, Urashiki extracted chakra orbs of various colors from the Snow Ninjas, swiftly collecting them in the glowing red basket behind him.

"Thud, thud..."

A series of bodies hit the ground as the Snow Ninjas collapsed. Stripped of their chakra, they had lost their ability to be ninjas forever—it was a permanent loss.

Kazahana, spared from the fishing hook, watched in horror as his subordinates dropped like flies. He immediately fell to his knees, pleading to Urashiki in the sky.

"Master, these are my men. You..."

Thunk!  

Before he could finish, a glowing red hook pierced his chest.

Seeing the hook, Kazahana's face twisted in disbelief.

"Why… Master, why..."

Whoosh!  

Urashiki didn’t bother to answer. He casually reeled in his rod, pulling out Kazahana's chakra and stowing it in his glowing basket.

"Thud!"

Kazahana fell lifelessly to the ground, his eyes wide with disbelief. Devoid of chakra, he succumbed to the injuries inflicted earlier by the black rods, blood gushing from his mouth.

In moments, his life ended.

The remaining Snow Ninjas, witnessing this terrifying scene, scattered like frightened animals.

Watching them flee, Urashiki smirked and cast his fishing rod again, reeling them in one by one and stripping them of their chakra.

Using his convenient teleportation skill, Yomi Hirazaka, Urashiki casually pursued and subdued the Snow Ninjas, draining them of their chakra in under two minutes.

None were killed, but they were all reduced to powerless civilians.

Disinterested in further effort, Urashiki returned to Nagato’s side.

As a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, Nagato possessed an enormous chakra reserve and rapid recovery. Despite being drained of his chakra, he remained conscious, though unable to move.

Seeing Urashiki approach, Nagato furrowed his brow.

"Who… are you?"

Urashiki smirked, looking down at Nagato.

"In your terms? I am a god. And now, I’ve come to collect your offering."

With that, he reached out with three fingers, aiming for Nagato’s eyes.

Perhaps confident in his success—or relishing the moment—his movements were slow, almost taunting.

Nagato could feel immense pressure as Urashiki’s fingers crept toward his eyes. Sweat trickled down his temples.

Savoring the tension, Urashiki slowed his movements even further.

After several agonizing seconds, his fingers touched Nagato’s closed eyelids, pressing against the eyeballs beneath.

"It’s over!"

He prepared to extract the Rinnegan, anticipating the look of despair on Nagato’s face.

But to his surprise, Nagato suddenly smiled.

"You're right. It is over."

At that moment, Nagato sprang into action.

"Banshō Ten'in!"

A powerful gravitational pull dragged Urashiki toward him.

Simultaneously, Nagato conjured a black rod in his other hand and drove it toward Urashiki with lightning speed.

At such close range, escape seemed impossible.

But Urashiki was no ordinary opponent.

As the black rod struck, his body dissolved into countless glowing red butterflies, scattering in every direction.

A teleportation technique!

Nagato was momentarily stunned as Urashiki reappeared several meters away, casting his fishing rod again.

Whoosh!  

The glowing hook latched onto Nagato once more, and with a pull, a smaller chakra orb was extracted.

This time, Nagato couldn’t endure. He passed out, his body collapsing.

Urashiki sneered mockingly.

"How foolish."

He teleported back to Nagato’s side, reaching out once more for the Rinnegan.

Whoosh!  

His fingers touched Nagato’s eyelids again, ready to pry the eyes free.

"They’re mine now!"

A triumphant grin spread across his face as he prepared to claim his prize.

But just then, an icy chill enveloped him.

Before Urashiki could react, his body was paralyzed, and a searing pain shot through his soul.

He turned his head with great difficulty and saw a horrifying sight: a semi-transparent ghostly claw, covered in black spots and adorned with red beads, had pierced his back, pulling out a massive orb of blue chakra.

Urashiki recognized it immediately—it was his soul!

His expression twisted in terror.

"What… what is this thing?!"

(Chapter End)

*Chapter 244: Temporal-Spatial Artifact*

After Ōtsutsuki Urashiki’s soul was gripped by the Reaper Death Seal, his movements became sluggish and strained. Even turning his head seemed to exhaust all his strength.

Seeing this, Aburame Shigeo let out a long sigh of relief.

“Finally… it worked!”

He had spent half a month preparing for this moment. For the plan to succeed, he had held back multiple times earlier, only to strike decisively when he sensed Ōtsutsuki Urashiki’s guard was at its lowest.

And as expected, the attack landed successfully!

“I’ve won!”

Gazing at Ōtsutsuki Urashiki, now struggling to even move his head, Shigeo, who was clasping his hands together to channel the sealing technique, couldn’t help but smirk.

“The biggest drawback of the Reaper Death Seal is its difficulty to hit. But once it does, no matter how strong the opponent is, there’s no escaping it.”

In the original storyline, the only person to escape the grasp of the Reaper Death Seal was Orochimaru.

But that wasn’t because the Reaper couldn’t contain him—it was because the caster, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had reached his limits. All he could do with his remaining strength was seal Orochimaru’s arms.

This proves that while the Reaper Death Seal is immensely powerful, it’s ultimately just a sealing technique. Its effectiveness depends entirely on the caster’s capability.

A weak ninja, even if they learned the Reaper Death Seal and managed to trap a jonin, might not have the strength to pull the opponent’s soul out.

The weak cannot wield its true power. The strong, however, can use it to slay gods!

Aburame Shigeo was undoubtedly such a strong individual.

“Come out—now!”

With a shout, Shigeo unleashed a massive amount of chakra.

Under his relentless manipulation, the Reaper’s hand tightened its grip and forcibly pulled a large portion of Ōtsutsuki Urashiki’s soul out!

“Damn it!”

Ōtsutsuki Urashiki roared in anger, his Byakugan transforming into blood-red Rinnegan!

With the Rinnegan active, his control over himself intensified. The soul, which had been pulled out significantly, started to retract slowly.

Shigeo, naturally unwilling to let this happen, let out a cold snort.

“Hmph, still resisting? Get out here!”

He growled, releasing chakra like a torrential flood.

The chakra overflowed around him, forming a blue "aura shield." Supported by the immense chakra, the Reaper’s hand grew even stronger, pulling Ōtsutsuki Urashiki’s soul out inch by inch.

“Nooo—”

The unbearable pain and overwhelming helplessness drove Urashiki to scream in despair.

At the same time, his gaze locked onto Shigeo, filled with venomous hatred.

“Damn worm, what have you done to me?”

“…”

Shigeo ignored him, focusing entirely on controlling the Reaper’s hand to drag out and seal Urashiki’s soul.

After experiencing an Ōtsutsuki Karma Mark once, he had learned the true danger of the Ōtsutsuki clan.

These beings couldn’t truly be killed. If one tried, they’d simply implant a Karma Mark, allowing them to resurrect and take over the host’s body later.

Sealing them was the only solution.

“If you have the guts, resurrect inside the Reaper’s belly!”

With this thought, Shigeo exerted even more strength. The Reaper’s hand pulled another large portion of Urashiki’s soul free.

By this point, over half of Ōtsutsuki Urashiki’s soul was exposed. He couldn’t even move his head anymore.

It wouldn’t be long before his entire soul was dragged out, sealed completely.

Ōtsutsuki Urashiki didn’t understand the Reaper Death Seal, but his instincts screamed that if he didn’t act now, there would be no second chances.

“Damn, damn, damn it!”

He cursed loudly, his gaze at Shigeo brimming with hatred.

“Damn worm, I’ll remember you! The next time we meet, I won’t let you go… Iri, take me back!”

At his shout, a peculiar turtle emerged from his arms.

The turtle had a blue shell and a pink body. Once outside, its shell began disintegrating layer by layer, releasing golden light that enveloped Ōtsutsuki Urashiki.

Seeing this, Shigeo’s face fell.

“Not good! This guy has a temporal-spatial artifact, and it’s even a high-level one with consciousness!”

A temporal-spatial artifact—an item capable of traversing space and time.

The artifact before him, possessing its own consciousness, could activate its abilities independently, without needing its owner’s input.

If it succeeded, Ōtsutsuki Urashiki would escape unscathed!

Worst of all, Shigeo had no way to stop it!

“No way! I can’t accept this ending!”

A flash of determination crossed Shigeo’s eyes.

“If I can’t stop his escape, then I’ll make sure he leaves something behind… Hmph!”

With a cold snort, Shigeo controlled the Reaper to grab its blade, which it had been holding in its mouth, and swung it down at Urashiki’s exposed soul!

“No… Aaargh!”

Ōtsutsuki Urashiki let out a final, agonized scream before vanishing into the golden light along with the artifact.

But a large chunk of his soul, severed by the Reaper’s blade, was dragged into Shigeo’s chest, leaving behind a swirling seal mark.

“Hiss—”

The sound of searing flesh echoed as Shigeo winced in pain, gasping sharply.

“Ugh… damn, that hurts! Half my body’s numb. Ōtsutsuki Urashiki sure packs a punch!”

Glancing back at the terrifying Reaper’s shadow behind him, Shigeo’s expression turned complicated.

“This was all thanks to that thing. Luckily, after merging it with my insects, the side effects are manageable. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared to use it. Damn it… the chakra consumption is no joke!”

With that, he deactivated the Reaper Death Seal, causing the Reaper’s shadow to vanish.

At the same time, the Death God Symbiotic Insect he had created half a month ago flew out of his body with a soft “whoosh” and fell to the ground, lifeless.

This was the price Shigeo had to pay.

Using the Reaper Death Seal through the Death God Symbiotic Insect meant that the insect would die after the technique was used.

Shigeo had acquired 27 Death God masks from the Uzumaki clan’s shrine. After failing once, he had used up another mask this time, leaving him with 25.

This meant he could synthesize 25 more Death God Symbiotic Insects and use the Reaper Death Seal 25 more times.

With a sigh, Shigeo muttered, “Guess I’ll have to use them sparingly from now on. I’ll save them for the Ōtsutsuki clan. This technique is perfect against them. Now, let’s save Nagato!”

Walking toward the unconscious Nagato, Shigeo noticed two items nearby—a fishing rod and a basket, both glowing red.

“These… could they be…”

His eyes lit up as he examined the objects.

(To be continued…)

Chapter 245: Handling the Aftermath

Aburame Shigeo recognized the two objects lying on the ground—they were the prized tools of Ōtsutsuki Urashiki: the Crimson Light Fishing Rod and the Crimson Light Fishing Basket!

Upon seeing them, his previously gloomy mood, caused by Urashiki's escape, instantly brightened.

“Haha! That guy Urashiki actually abandoned these two treasures. Seems like the Reaper Death Seal really did a number on him. Hahaha!”

Shigeo deduced this because he knew how vital these tools were to Urashiki.

“If he had any capability left, there’s no way he’d leave these behind. The most likely explanation is… he lost his hands!”

In the original storyline, Hiruzen Sarutobi had also used the Reaper Death Seal to seal Orochimaru’s hands, leaving him unable to perform hand seals or ninjutsu.

It seemed that a similar fate had befallen Urashiki.

However, unlike Orochimaru, who eventually found a way to undo the seal by summoning the Shinigami with a mask and cutting open its stomach to retrieve his hands, Urashiki wouldn’t have such luck.

The reason? Each Reaper summoned by the Reaper Death Seal is linked to a unique mask, and the one connected to the Shinigami that had sealed a part of Urashiki’s soul had already been transformed into the Reaper Beetle by Shigeo.

Now, with the sealing complete, the Reaper Beetle was dead as well, and even Shigeo had no idea how to undo the seal.

Barring a miracle, Urashiki might be forced to fight using his feet for the rest of his life.

“Let’s hope he stays strong in the future!” Shigeo muttered with fake sympathy before swiftly pocketing the Crimson Light Fishing Rod and Basket.

“These are mine now! Finally, I have two treasures worth showing off. Heh heh… Hmm? What are these?”

Shigeo noticed that the Crimson Light Fishing Basket contained various colored orbs.

He paused, then a look of delight appeared on his face.

“I see! These must be the chakras he collected but hadn’t used yet. Perfect! Let me see… which one is Nagato’s? Not this one… not this either…”

Digging through the basket, Shigeo eventually pulled out a dark red chakra orb and exclaimed, “This is it!”

Without hesitation, he extracted the orb and threw it onto Nagato, whose body absorbed the glowing red chakra instantly. Moments later, Nagato slowly opened his eyes.

Seeing him awake, Shigeo immediately asked, “Nagato, how are you feeling?”

Staring at Shigeo, Nagato blinked in surprise. “Shigeo-senpai? Why are you here? Where’s the enemy?”

“I drove him away, but he left these behind!” Shigeo smirked, showing off the Crimson Light Fishing Rod and Basket.

“Look, they’re mine now!”

“That’s great, Shigeo-senpai!” Nagato smiled sincerely, happy for him. He knew how powerful these tools were and felt genuine joy for Shigeo.

“With these treasures, you’ll have an extra trump card against tough enemies.”

“Pfft, a trump card? These are nothing more than amusing toys,” Shigeo scoffed dismissively.

Amusing toys? Nagato was at a loss for words. Shaking his head helplessly, he turned his attention to the lifeless body of Kazahana Doto nearby.

“That guy’s really dead. He got off easy. What should we do with him?”

“Feed him to the dogs!” Shigeo spat angrily before shaking his head again.

“Forget it. His body is probably so rotten even dogs won’t touch it. Just burn it and toss the ashes into the cesspit.”

“Uh… alright.”

Nagato nodded and then glanced at the defeated Snow Ninja scattered around them. “What about these guys? Should we deal with them too?”

“No need,” Shigeo waved dismissively. “They’re useless now, but killing them would be wasteful. The mines in the northern Earth Country need workers. Send them there—they’ll be put to good use.”

Nagato: “…”

That was certainly one way to recycle.

Realizing these Snow Ninja likely wouldn’t survive their new assignment, Nagato gave them a brief look of pity but felt no need to intercede.

After all, this group had been intent on killing him earlier. Sparing their lives was mercy enough.

Standing up, Nagato turned to Shigeo. “Shigeo-senpai, what’s the plan for the Land of Snow?”

“For now, find someone to manage the country temporarily,” Shigeo said with a sigh. “Kazahana Koyuki is still too young to rule such a large nation.”

He paused, seemingly thinking of something, then added, “The people here have suffered enough. Get rid of the corrupt officials, and try to appoint someone kind and just to oversee things.”

“Understood,” Nagato nodded. “Anything else you need me to do?”

“Nope. Handle things here and then head back. I’m leaving now!”

With that, Shigeo vanished with a Body Flicker Technique.

Watching him disappear, Nagato smiled faintly. But when his gaze fell on the unconscious Snow Ninja around him, his smile vanished.

“You disgusting lot. Enjoy your redemption in the mines.”

With a wave of his hand, he used Bansho Ten'in to gather the Snow Ninja into one spot before shouting towards the palace.

“Kazahana Doto and his lackeys are defeated! I am Nagato, advisor to the Shogun. All officials of the Land of Snow, come out immediately to receive orders!”

Soon, a swarm of court officials in elaborate robes poured out of the palace.

They had been watching the battle from within and knew what had transpired. As they approached Nagato, they prostrated themselves and pleaded.

“Honored envoy, we beg your forgiveness for our tardy welcome!”

“We were forced to obey Kazahana Doto. Please, show mercy!”

“Yes, esteemed envoy! It was all Kazahana Doto’s doing…”

Listening to their frantic excuses, Nagato chuckled coldly.

“Heh… now I understand what the Shogun meant by ‘corrupt vermin.’ No need to explain. You’ll all join the others in the mines.”

“Uh…”

*(End of Chapter)*

Chapter 246: Economic Development

Born in the Land of Rain, Nagato harbored extreme hatred toward anything that caused hardship for the people.

After obtaining Aburame Shigeo's permission, he carried out a ruthless purge in the Land of Snow.

Anyone who sided with Kazahana Nadare to oppress the people or engaged in excessive exploitation was sent to the mining zones of the Land of Earth.

Half of these individuals were assigned to the infamous "Death Mines."

The "Death Mines," officially known as the "Northern Death Shafts," were the most perilous mining zones, notorious for frequent accidents, extreme labor intensity, and strict oversight.

Anyone sent there was invariably guilty of heinous crimes.

The fortunate ones might perish in a mining accident, while the unlucky ones would succumb to exhaustion in the sunless shafts.

The mere existence of the Death Mines was so terrifying that local parents would warn their children, "If you misbehave, the bad men will send you to the Death Mines."

The deterrent power of the Death Mines was unmistakable.

Despite their harrowing nature, the Death Mines annually produced several times more minerals than other mining zones, generating hundreds of billions of ryo in revenue each year.

This single source of income was sufficient to cover decades of expenses for Aburame Shigeo’s shogunate and the daimyo’s government in the Land of Lightning.

The northern mining regions of the Land of Earth collectively accounted for more than half of the country’s total income, bringing in trillions of ryo annually.

The loss of such a critical economic pillar was a devastating blow to the Land of Earth.

Aburame Shigeo targeted the elite and ninja village of the Land of Earth, not its ordinary citizens.

After appointing Sarutobi Hiruzen as the Fourth Tsuchikage of the newly established Iwagakure, he reopened ordinary mining zones, providing extensive employment opportunities for the people of the Land of Earth.

In addition, he facilitated cooperation between the new Iwagakure and Sunagakure, encouraging Sarutobi Hiruzen to make extensive use of the recently allied Kamizuru clan.

Earlier, he had brokered collaboration between Sunagakure and Amegakure, launching the East-to-West Water Transfer Project to address Sunagakure's water shortages.

With a stable water supply, Sunagakure established numerous greenhouses, cultivating flowers and fruits that became highly sought after in other nations.

Now, with the partnership between Iwagakure and Sunagakure, the Kamizuru clan, once abandoned by the old Iwagakure, was revived.

Specializing in insect control, the Kamizuru clan used their bee-manipulation techniques to manage greenhouses effectively, achieving yields far beyond the norm.

Their bees not only boosted greenhouse harvests but also produced premium honey, prized by nobles across the nations.

The revenue generated by the Kamizuru clan alone accounted for 60% of the new Iwagakure's total income.

This economic revival granted the Kamizuru clan newfound respect and recognition, both in Iwagakure and Sunagakure.

Even the Fourth Kazekage extended an olive branch, inviting the Kamizuru clan to settle in Sunagakure, though this offer was respectfully declined to maintain their newfound loyalty to Iwagakure.

Meanwhile, Aburame Shigeo continued to implement wide-reaching economic reforms across the Five Great Nations:

- Mining in the Land of Earth,

- Livestock in the Land of Lightning,

- Fisheries in the Land of Water,

- Flower and fruit cultivation in Sunagakure,

- And a diversified economy in the Land of Fire.

The shogunate's efforts eradicated warfare, fostering steady economic growth not only in the major nations but also in surrounding smaller countries.

The Ninja World and the shogunate entered a period of rapid development.

However, while others were hopeful for the future, Aburame Shigeo remained vigilant.

He relocated Aburame Chien and Gaara to a separate residence to ensure their safety in the event of conflict.

After Ōtsutsuki Urashiki’s escape, Shigeo developed a heightened sense of impending danger. He believed Urashiki would inevitably return for revenge and that this confrontation would occur soon.

Given the Ōtsutsuki clan's mastery of space-time tools, no matter how much time they spent in their original dimension, they could appear at his doorstep in the blink of an eye.

This was the terrifying power of time manipulation.

While Shigeo felt confident in his abilities, having merged the remaining 25 Shinigami masks into Shinigami Insects capable of unleashing the Dead Demon Consuming Seal 25 times, he suddenly realized a grim possibility:

What if Urashiki wasn’t alone?

In the original story, Urashiki appeared alongside Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki and Ōtsutsuki Kinshiki.

Given the pairing of Ōtsutsuki Kinshiki as Momoshiki’s guardian, it was likely that Urashiki also had a guardian.

“Does this mean I might face at least four Ōtsutsuki at once?”

This chilling thought left Shigeo deeply unsettled.

  *(End of Chapter)*

Chapter 247: Twin Dragons Assembly

To prevent the potential of facing a 1v4 battle, Aburame Shigeo decided to take some precautions—such as training a pair of allies.

One of them, naturally, would be Nagato.

Despite his previous brief skirmish with Ōtsutsuki Urashiki, which ended in defeat, Nagato gained some valuable combat experience. For Shigeo, this made him a worthwhile choice. Most importantly, there were few shinobi in the current ninja world stronger than Nagato.

As for the second ally, Shigeo chose himself—or, more precisely, the version of himself in this timeline.

"That guy has been hiding in Amegakure for so long, he should have gathered plenty of Mokuton Bugs by now. Once I share the synthesis formula for Sage Bugs with him and give him a few Reaper Bugs, he should be able to handle one of the Ōtsutsuki's guardians," Shigeo thought.

His plan was for Nagato and his current-timeline counterpart to hold off the guardians of Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki and Ōtsutsuki Urashiki, while Shigeo himself would take on both Ōtsutsuki leaders.

Of course, even though it was technically 1v2, Shigeo suspected it would ultimately be a 1v1 fight.

During their last encounter, he had ambushed Urashiki using the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. Although Urashiki narrowly escaped using a time-space artifact, half of his soul was severed and sealed away.

For most shinobi, such damage would result in a fate worse than death. While the Ōtsutsuki Clan's vitality was remarkably strong, soul damage was another matter entirely.

As a result, Urashiki was likely reduced to a mere "pathfinder," with Momoshiki being the primary threat.

"If that's the case, it might be more manageable," Shigeo thought to himself.

Based on the story he knew, Momoshiki was highly arrogant, even looking down on Urashiki. If he regarded his own kin with disdain, there was no chance he would take humans seriously.

Due to this overconfidence, it was unlikely Momoshiki would fight with his full strength from the start. After all, humans were no more than insects to him—hardly worth the effort.

And therein lay the opportunity! Shigeo decided that when he did strike, he would use his full strength to achieve victory in a single blow—just like he had against Urashiki.

"But that's a matter for later. For now, the priority is convincing my timeline counterpart to help," Shigeo mused.

Leaving the affairs of the Shogunate in Nagato's capable hands, Shigeo set out for the Land of Rain.

Using Yahiko as a contact, Shigeo quickly arranged a meeting with his counterpart in a secret base left behind by Jiraiya.

This base, now nearly twenty years old, was a relic of the past. The perpetually rainy climate of the Land of Rain had rendered the wooden structure decrepit, with vines overtaking its interior and a hole in the roof that appeared to have been caused by an explosive tag.

Inside, a set of warning plaques still hung on the walls, displaying the names of Shigeo and Konan. Both plaques had been flipped to the "Home" side, marked in red.

As Shigeo stared at the plaques, a wave of nostalgia washed over him.

"It's been so long since I came back here. It feels so familiar and comforting."

"I think I should be the one saying that!"

The Shigeo of this timeline couldn't hold back his sarcasm.

"You look ten years younger than me, like you did when we first left this place. How did you do it? Is the future me really that powerful?"

"Of course!"

Shigeo nodded enthusiastically, his expression full of encouragement and approval.

"Believe in yourself. Future-you is incredibly strong! Not only did you create bugs that can grant eternal youth and a millennium of life, but you also defeated Ōtsutsuki Urashiki…"

"I defeated Urashiki?"

This timeline's Shigeo was momentarily stunned before his expression shifted to surprise.

"You mean to say Urashiki crossed into this timeline and was defeated by you?"

"Bingo!" Shigeo gave a thumbs-up. "You got it, full marks!"

"Spare me the praise. I don't need it," this timeline's Shigeo said, adjusting his sunglasses as he scrutinized his future self.

"You didn't come here just to brag, right? If you have something to say, spit it out—we're both busy men."

"Straightforward! That's what I like about me!" Shigeo said, giving another approving nod before cutting to the chase.

"Basically, I didn't finish Urashiki off, and I’m worried he might return with reinforcements, so—"

"Can't help, not interested, goodbye!" This timeline's Shigeo fired off a rapid refusal and stood up to leave.

Panicking, Shigeo pressed him back down.

"Wait, wait, wait! I’m not asking you to take on all the Ōtsutsuki. Just hold off Kinshiki or an equivalent guardian for me!"

"Still can't. Goodbye!"

Seeing no other option, Shigeo unveiled his trump card.

"Wait! I have Reaper Bugs. They allow you to use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal without harm. Tested and proven! I used them to seal half of Urashiki’s soul. Help me, and I’ll give you two of them."

"Deal!"

This timeline's Shigeo spun around, hand extended.

"Hand over the Reaper Bugs, and the bugs for youth and longevity—right now!"

"Tch… Always so pragmatic. That's why I like me," Shigeo muttered, summoning two Reaper Bugs and handing them over.

"These are Reaper Bugs. To use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, the seals are Serpent-Boar-Goat-Rabbit-Dog-Rat-Rooster-Horse-Serpent, followed by the prayer gesture."

"Got it," the other Shigeo said with a nod. "And the youth bugs?"

Shigeo sighed and explained.

"First, combine Toad Oil with Mokuton Bugs to create Nature Bugs. Then, mix a Nature Bug with another Mokuton Bug and a Wood Clone to create a Mokuton Sage Bug. Sage chakra repairs cells, extending youth and lifespan."

"Interesting. Thanks for the recipe," the other Shigeo said, taking note.

"Don't mention it. Your achievements are my achievements!" Shigeo said with a grin before turning to Konan, his gaze softening.

"Right, Konan?"

"Uh…"

Caught off guard by Shigeo’s affectionate look, Konan blushed, visibly flustered.

After all, while this younger Shigeo was also her husband, he was a future version of him, and she didn’t know how to respond.

At that moment, her Shigeo stepped in, shielding her from his future self’s gaze.

"Hey, future me! Konan is my wife, so show some restraint. Your look is inappropriate!"

"Inappropriate?!"

Shigeo burst into laughter.

"She’s also my wife! There’s nothing I haven’t seen. I even know how many moles she has on her butt. Want me to prove it?"

"Go ahead!"

"Three—one on the left, two on the right. One of the right ones is red!"

"Huh, you really know! Impressive!"

"Of course!"

Just as the two were getting carried away, a cold killing intent filled the room.

Turning, they saw Konan’s face dark with fury. White paper wings extended from her back, heralding her Dance of the Shikigami technique.

"You two have said quite enough! Reflect on your behavior—Paper Coffin!"

Wrapped in a mass of white paper, the two Shigeos screamed in unison.

"Nooo!"

"Yamerooo!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 248: The Arrival of the Ōtsutsuki*

Shared hardships are one of the best ways to cultivate friendships.

Two versions of Aburame Shigeo, from different timelines, experienced this firsthand when they were wrapped in a cocoon of paper by Konan and nearly suffocated.

After escaping, the two quickly reached an understanding and headed to the Land of Lightning together.

Following discussions, Shigeo from the current timeline remained in the shogunate, while his future self assumed the role of Daimyō of the Land of Lightning, represented by a Wood Clone.

Having merged with the Wood Style Sage Insect, the Shigeo of the current timeline regained the appearance of a 17-year-old. The resemblance between the two was so striking that no one noticed the difference.

Nagato, aware of the truth, couldn’t discern which Shigeo belonged to which timeline. To simplify things, he referred to both as “Senior Shigeo.”

The situation was most awkward for Konan. With an additional husband suddenly appearing, she didn’t know how to face them both. Choosing to avoid the matter, she took her adopted son, Gaara, her daughter, Chion Aburame, and the newly formed “Shogunate Choir” on a tour across the ninja world.

Both Shigeos supported this decision.

With an impending battle, it was unwise to leave a potential vulnerability for the enemy to exploit. Furthermore, staying informed about enemy movements was critical.

Taking action, Shigeo assumed the form of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya and commanded Black Zetsu to monitor the entire ninja world.

Black Zetsu, eager to obey, activated thousands of secretly cultivated White Zetsu, dispersing them throughout the ninja world.

This created an intelligence network spanning the entire world. Under Black Zetsu’s coordination and the surveillance of the White Zetsu, Ōtsutsuki Urashiki would have no chance of evading detection if he appeared.

As for Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki, such precautions weren’t necessary.

Given his arrogance, he would surely reveal himself in a grand fashion without any attempt to conceal his presence.

Time proved this judgment correct.

Half a year later, during the third anniversary of the shogunate’s founding and the final round of the Chūnin Exams for the entire ninja world, Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki and his companions suddenly appeared above the venue.

The small-statured Momoshiki sat on the shoulder of the hulking Ōtsutsuki Kinshiki, while the wheelchair-bound Urashiki accompanied them.

“Is that him?”

Momoshiki’s pale eyes locked onto Aburame Shigeo on the podium, veins bulging around his gaze.

“Oh? What do we have here? This lower lifeform’s body contains the chakra of that disgrace to our clan!”

The “disgrace” he referred to was undoubtedly Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.

Hearing this, Urashiki venomously added, “I didn’t expect the vessel of that lowly woman to appear here. This is the perfect chance to eliminate them all.”

“Of course!”

Momoshiki sneered, shooting a disdainful glance at Urashiki.

“Unlike you, I’m no weakling who would let a lower lifeform reduce me to this sorry state. You’re the true disgrace of the Ōtsutsuki!”

“You!”

Urashiki was about to explode with rage but restrained himself upon seeing Momoshiki’s menacing expression. He lowered his head in silence, though his eyes burned with hatred.

With a dismissive snort, Momoshiki leapt off Kinshiki’s shoulder and landed gracefully. He then turned to the dense crowd surrounding the venue.

“Such a multitude of lower lifeforms—it’s infuriating just to look at them!”

“Shall I clean them up for you?” Kinshiki asked promptly.

“Do it.”

Momoshiki nodded.

Kinshiki’s fingers ignited with crimson chakra flames as he thrust them into the ground.

“Boom!”

The earth trembled violently, rippling outward from the center of the arena. The ground began to crack and collapse, with massive fissures forming in the stands.

Seeing this, Shigeo immediately understood Kinshiki’s intent.

“He plans to bury everyone alive? Does he think I’ll just stand by? What arrogance!”

Furious, Shigeo abandoned his initial plan of ambushing Momoshiki with the Reaper Death Seal.

“I’ll deal with this brute first!”

Standing up, he turned to Nagato.

“Evacuate everyone within 30 minutes.”

“Understood!” Nagato replied, disappearing instantly via the Body Flicker Technique.

Meanwhile, Shigeo activated his Kaguya Mode, flying above Momoshiki and his group. He unleashed the ultimate taijutsu technique—

“Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack!”

Countless powerful shockwaves rained down, engulfing Momoshiki and his companions.

Shigeo knew Momoshiki’s main ability was absorbing ninjutsu and retaliating with double the power.

Such a skill was enough to alarm Kaguya, who wasn’t adept at direct combat.

Moreover, as a member of the Ōtsutsuki’s main family, Momoshiki had ample ways to suppress branch members like Kaguya.

In Boruto, even the weakest of the trio, Urashiki, could unseal Kaguya, seize her Rinne Sharingan, and evolve his own Rinnegan to a golden state.

This demonstrated the significant dominance the main family held over branch members.

However, with Shigeo’s intervention, Urashiki had been rendered ineffective, preventing the rise of the golden Rinnegan.

Even so, Urashiki avoided Shigeo’s Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack using Yomotsu Hirasaka.

Momoshiki also used Yomotsu Hirasaka, not just to evade but to spectate.

To him, Kinshiki alone was enough to handle Kaguya-level opponents.

As the dust settled, only Kinshiki remained on the battlefield.

“Boom, boom, boom…”

Shigeo’s Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack struck Kinshiki, smashing through him into the ground and creating a series of deafening explosions.

But when the attack ended, Kinshiki still stood.

This was unreasonable.

The Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack could shatter Sasuke’s Perfect Susano’o and overwhelm Naruto’s Six Paths clones.

For Kinshiki to withstand it physically was absurd.

Shigeo hesitated, then recalled Kinshiki’s unique ability—a phasing technique resembling Obito’s Kamui.

Realizing this, he abandoned taijutsu and drew Urashiki’s glowing red fishing rod.

“Let’s see how you handle this!”

He cast the line, sending the hook flying toward Kinshiki.

(To be continued...)

Chapter 249: Victory (Grand Finale)

Before his time-traveling adventure, Shigeo Aburame was already an experienced fisherman. Although he often came back empty-handed from wild fishing trips, his casting and bait-throwing accuracy were impeccable, achieving a success rate of nine out of ten.

Now, with the Kaguya Mode activated, Shigeo wielded his glowing red fishing rod with unmatched precision. The rod's red hook split into dozens of phantom images, creating an impenetrable net that sealed off every escape route for Kinshiki Ōtsutsuki.

Watching from a distance, Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki furrowed his brows and glanced disdainfully at Urashiki Ōtsutsuki by his side.

"To think even your treasure was snatched away. You’re pathetic. No—calling you pathetic would be an insult to the word. You're utterly useless, a waste of space!"

"..."

Urashiki remained silent, his head lowered, his eyes filled with venomous resentment. He bit his lip so hard that blood began to trickle down.

The companion he once relied on now hurled insults at him, making him feel an even deeper hatred for Momoshiki than for Shigeo. Yet, he buried this hatred deep within, waiting for the right moment to unleash his vengeance.

Momoshiki, however, ignored him and instead shouted angrily at Kinshiki, who was under siege below.

"Kinshiki, you worthless fool! Kill him already!"

"...Understood!"

Hearing Momoshiki’s command, Kinshiki had no choice but to abandon his defensive phasing. As his intangibility dissipated, he transformed the red ring on his back into a massive glowing red axe. With one swing, he deflected Shigeo’s fishing hook, his body emanating crackling lightning.

“Zap... Crackle…”

Electric currents danced over Kinshiki’s skin, accompanied by a sound that sent chills down the spine.

Seeing this, Shigeo squinted slightly.

"Interesting. Is that a lightning armor technique similar to the Fourth Raikage’s? Let’s see how fast it really is—"

Before he could finish his thought, Kinshiki flashed forward, his axe swinging straight at Shigeo’s face.

“Boom!”

Shigeo blocked the strike with his fishing rod, but the force pushed him back two steps.

Kinshiki raised his axe to press the attack, but as he took his first step, his body froze abruptly, unable to move.

"Finally worked!"

From within the crowd, a figure cloaked entirely in black robes clasped his hands together, a grin spreading across his face as he addressed Shigeo.

"Haha, my mission’s complete. The rest is up to you… Seal of Yin Release—Open! Reaper Death Seal—Bind!"

With a shout, an overwhelming surge of chakra burst from the cloaked figure, sending a powerful gust that blew back his hood. Beneath it was a handsome face, hidden behind dark sunglasses.

It was none other than Shigeo Aburame!

With a final roar, the Reaper summoned by the Death Seal reached into Kinshiki’s chest, yanked out his soul with a hiss, and sealed it into Shigeo’s body, forming a spiral-shaped mark.

“Thud!”

Kinshiki’s now-soulless body collapsed to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

Watching this, Momoshiki flew into a rage.

“Useless! Absolutely useless!”

He pointed his palm at Kinshiki’s corpse, his Rinnegan glowing intensely in his palm.

“Swish!”

Kinshiki’s body rose as if pulled by an invisible force, disintegrating into a mass of red chakra that formed into a fruit resembling a peach.

Without hesitation, Momoshiki took a bite of the chakra fruit, consuming it in several greedy gulps.

“Crunch... Crunch…”

As he finished the fruit, his body erupted in a cloud of white smoke.

“Boom!”

When the smoke cleared, Momoshiki had transformed. His body grew significantly, his once-childlike form now towering like an adult’s. His eyes, once white, gleamed gold, and a golden Rinnegan appeared on his forehead.

Suspended in mid-air, his long hair billowed like writhing tentacles. Glaring at Shigeo, who had just sealed Kinshiki, his gaze was filled with murderous intent.

"Now it’s your turn!"

"Whoosh!"

Before Momoshiki could react, Shigeo vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.

"..."

Momoshiki froze in disbelief.

How could someone strong enough to defeat Kinshiki just run away without even leaving behind a threat?

Left fuming, he turned his gaze to Shigeo in Kaguya Mode, standing a short distance away.

“See that? Your subordinate is a disgrace, fleeing like a coward mid-battle! You—"

"Whoosh!"

Before he could finish, Shigeo in Kaguya Mode disappeared as well.

"..."

They ran?

Momoshiki stood dumbfounded, realizing far too late what had happened.

Just as he processed their escape, an icy sensation spread across his back. He froze as a ghostly claw, inscribed with dark runes, reached into his body, dragging out a translucent blue substance—his soul.

Turning in horror, he saw the black-cloaked Shigeo standing behind him, hands clasped in a summoning gesture, the fearsome Reaper at his command.

“What… what is this thing? How can it touch my soul?!”

Momoshiki struggled to repel the claw, but another ghostly hand pierced his chest. Turning again, he saw Shigeo in Kaguya Mode summoning a second Reaper.

Realizing he’d been lured into a trap, Momoshiki roared in fury. But it was too late. The two Shigeos tore his soul apart, sealing it into their bodies.

“Thud…”

Momoshiki’s lifeless body fell, his golden eyes fading into darkness.

Shigeo turned to Urashiki, a sly grin on his face.

"Your move, Urashiki. Do you plan to betray the clan too?"

"Doesn’t matter. I have no other choice now!"

Urashiki descended in his wheelchair, meeting Shigeo face-to-face.

"Kaguya, let’s join forces. Help me overthrow the main branch, and I’ll take back everything you stole from me—everything!"

"Fine," Shigeo said with a nod. "But tell me, how will you help me?"

Urashiki began to reply, but froze mid-sentence. A familiar chill crept up his back as a ghostly hand emerged, pulling at his soul.

“Why?” he asked weakly, turning to face Shigeo. "Didn’t you agree to cooperate?"

"I changed my mind," Shigeo replied with a smirk, his other self joining in to finish the job.

Within moments, Urashiki’s soul was torn apart and sealed.

As his body fell to the ground, Shigeo and his doppelgänger exchanged a glance, their faces breaking into wide grins.

“Haha…”

“Hahaha…”

“Hahahahaha…”

“Hahahahahaha…”

(The End)