"Oh? Although we didn't deliberately conceal this place, for someone to reach us through the energy transfer channel... this uninvited guest is rather fortunate," came a voice, distorted as though transmitted through encrypted electronic signals, emanating from the raised fingers of the colossal giant.
The speaker was Ruri, who stood at the 'Void' position. At this moment, she was fully concealed under layers of illusion, her appearance masked by techniques similar to Illusory Projection. (Incidentally, Satsuki and the Three Kings present were also cloaked in illusion.)
"Ordinary beings shouldn't be able to traverse the energy channels... and yet, I sense the power of onmyōdō emanating from him," explained the Great Brahma King, who was maintaining the flow of energy through the channels, glancing at the immobilized Ashiya Dōman, whose will had been forcibly subdued.
"It seems more like a puppet controlled remotely through spiritual projection—don't tell me this world has shinobi as well?" asked Ranzuki Ōtsutsuki from the 'Three' position, looking curiously at the white heron. "Though judging by its energy, this one's quite weak."
"The human controlling it may be weak, but the so-called great yōkai of this world possess remarkable power—some rivaling that of the tailed beasts," said Shirakumaru Ōtsutsuki—calmly. "I've only seen comparable energy once before—within the Nine-Tails of the Uchiha clan's domain."
Tenjin Hyūga, whose white eyes glimmered faintly, nodded in agreement. "Within the Uzumaki clan's archives, we've found data regarding the tailed beasts. That enormous dog demon indeed possesses power not inferior to theirs."
On the 'North' position, Suzuki Kaguya—though his long-standing bloodline illness was cured—retained his habitual cough. "Cough... cough... everyone, perhaps the more pressing matter is to question this intruder's identity?"
"That's simple. Though I can't use genjutsu interrogation across planes, reverse-tracing the energy source is trivial for these eyes," said Ranzuki, his tone casual as he prepared to activate the secondary Tenseigan in his sockets.
However, before he could proceed, a calm, ethereal voice, faintly distorted by illusion yet unmistakably commanding, echoed through the grand hall.
"That's enough. Playtime is over."
At once, Ranzuki froze, obediently lowering his hands and standing still like a scolded child.
The speaker was Satsuki. Her gaze shifted toward Ashiya Dōman as she said, "An onmyōji of Kyoto, daring to trespass alone into the Lunar Palace—such courage is admirable. For that, I'll grant you one question."
Under the gaze of ten beings whose power far surpassed anything he could imagine, Ashiya Dōman—one of Kyoto's most renowned onmyōji—felt his heart tremble with dread. The sheer pressure of their presence was suffocating. The fact that he hadn't severed the link between himself and his shikigami was already a testament to his iron will.
—Though, even if he tried, the Phantom Spirit King would hardly allow him to escape this state.
"You... beings of the Lunar Palace—what exactly are you planning?"
That was all Ashiya Dōman could manage to utter, his voice steady only through sheer force of will.
"Onmyōji, is that your question?" Satsuki replied faintly, as she controlled one of the nine dragons to absorb the energies of the Shikon Jewel and the Great Dog General. "Very well—there's no harm in telling you our goal."
Her words immediately seized Dōman's attention. Yet in his vision, the dark silhouette before him remained featureless, save for a faint outline and a pair of eyes—eyes in which entire worlds seemed to be born and destroyed in eternal rhythm.
The figure met his gaze unflinchingly, speaking in a detached tone. "To reshape this world—that is our purpose."
"To... reshape the world?!"
Ashiya Dōman's expression twisted with disbelief. If she had said destroy the world or conquer it, he might have been less surprised.
As one of Kyoto's foremost onmyōji, Dōman was no stranger to the existence of the Lunar Palace. In fact, he had already instructed his subordinates to investigate them. The Three Kings had not gone to great lengths to conceal their movements in earlier operations—each of their actions had been grand and unmistakably public. Combined with the widespread circulation of the black magatama, the presence of the Lunar Palace was hardly a secret anymore.
However—no one truly knew how many members the Lunar Palace had, whether they were humans or yōkai, or what their ultimate goal might be.
Speculations abounded, but no conclusions had ever been reached.
The only confirmed fact—based on all gathered intelligence—was that every being claiming affiliation with the Lunar Palace possessed power surpassing that of a Great Yōkai.
And now, before Ashiya Dōman's very eyes, stood ten such individuals. That alone meant that the Lunar Palace had at least ten beings whose strength exceeded the Great Yōkai class.
With such might, conquering the current world would be no challenge at all. Unless humanity and the yōkai united as one, there would be no hope of resisting the Lunar Palace.
Yet, unwilling to yield even in defeat, Ashiya Dōman forced a smirk and said, "Reshape the world? Do you Lunar Palace people truly have the power to do that?"
At his provocation, Satsuki's shadow let out a faint laugh. "How amusing. It seems not all onmyōji are worthless—you even understand how to use provocation as a tool."
Having been seen through, Dōman did not attempt to deny it. Instead, he met her gaze and continued boldly, "I've already fallen into your hands. Kill me or torture me—it's your choice. Why should I cower now?"
"Onmyōji, you are a clever man—and I don't dislike clever people," Satsuki said evenly. "In fact, this time, I shall release you. You will return and tell the world of our existence—and our purpose."
"..."
Her composure, her absolute confidence—it struck dread into Dōman's heart.
Such demeanor could only belong to those utterly assured of their supremacy. The Lunar Palace clearly believed themselves invincible—even if they stood against the entire world.
But how? How could such a powerful organization exist without his ever hearing of it before? Ten beings of that magnitude—how could they have appeared, gathered, and remained hidden from all knowledge?
Ashiya Dōman wished to ask more, but the opportunity was gone. The cold, commanding voice spoke again:
"That's enough, Onmyōji. We will cross paths again soon. For now—Phantom Spirit King, send him back."
"Yes."
One of the shadowed figures raised a hand. Instantly, a beam of blue light descended upon Dōman's will projection.
A wave of dizziness overwhelmed him, and the next moment, his consciousness snapped back into his physical body.
He awoke surrounded by dozens of onmyōji, each holding sacred instruments, maintaining protective wards around him.
Without hesitation, Dōman forced himself to his feet, ignoring the lingering disorientation. His face hardened into unprecedented severity as he turned to Izumo Nōka.
"Quickly—summon an emergency council. I have critical intelligence concerning the Lunar Palace."
...
"This guy... you let him in on purpose, didn't you?"
Zetsu maintained the technique with one hand while speaking in his usual low, shadowed tone.
It had only taken him a brief moment to adapt to the Rinnegan—far quicker and more naturally than Nagato, whom Madara Uchiha would one day choose as his vessel.
Still, that didn't stop Satsuki's sharp tongue from activating.
"With your level of intellect, you shouldn't be asking such a question. Or do you have a different opinion?"
"..."
Having once endured the "black room," Zetsu fell silent.
Although he now possessed the Rinnegan, Zetsu was acutely aware of the sheer might of those surrounding him. The memory of how Satsuki had effortlessly created the Rinnegan moments ago was still fresh in his mind.
To perform such a feat so casually—it drove home an undeniable truth: unless he succeeded in resurrecting his mother, he held no leverage whatsoever when dealing with the Lunar Palace.
And yet, even Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's resurrection itself was under Satsuki's control. This realization left Zetsu trapped in complete passivity.
"It seems... nothing can change until Mother is revived."
For perhaps the first time, the mastermind of the shinobi world could only entrust his fate to the hands of destiny.
Still, though Satsuki herself paid him little mind, not everyone in the hall shared her patience.
"Hey, who do you think you are, talking to Lady Satsuki like that?"
From the 'Three' position, Ranzuki Ōtsutsuki's tone was indignant. "You, black blob—just looking at you screams troublemaker."
Though Ranzuki had long cultivated the aura of a superior being, whenever the topic involved Satsuki, she reverted instantly to the temperamental woman who once suspended a group of rogue shinobi in midair for days with her gravitational powers.
"Heh... I'm called Zetsu. Just a nobody, really," Zetsu replied, his tone slyly self-effacing.
Truly, few in the shinobi world could rival his instinct for survival—that ability to "play dead" for millennia was a skill in itself.
"To adapt to the Rinnegan so quickly... your origins clearly aren't ordinary," said Shirakumaru Ōtsutsuki—his own Rinnegan glinting faintly. "At the very least, the blood flowing through you shares lineage with the Uchiha."
"Hmph... the Uchiha, you say?" Zetsu let out a low, derisive laugh, offering no further comment.
"Tch. This guy's like a dead pig that doesn't feel boiling water. Forget it—it's not worth wasting breath. He's nearly out of usefulness anyway."
Standing at the 'Void' position, Ruri looked around with lively curiosity. Clearly, she was enjoying the gathering more than anyone else. "Anyway, everyone, I'm quite familiar with all of you, though you might not know me. Allow me to introduce myself—I'm Lady Satsuki's shikigami. You may call me Ruri."
"Ruri? I've never heard Lady Satsuki mention that name," remarked Satsuki Ōtsutsuki, his Rinnegan focusing on her. "Still... the energy flowing through you does seem familiar."
"I was created by Lady Satsuki, modeled from the chakra of the Nine-Tails. So it's natural you'd find my aura familiar."
"And these others?" Ranzuki shifted her gaze toward the silent figures standing at the 'Azure,' 'Vermilion,' and lower positions.
At her question, the Three Kings exchanged glances, remaining silent until Satsuki's Aspect of the Demon Buddha gave a faint nod of approval. Only then did they begin their introductions.
"H-Hello everyone... my name is Lana," said the Great Brahma King softly. "If you ever feel unwell, please come to me. I can restore you to your best condition."
Her timid, gentle voice was barely audible, and her petite form exuded a delicate charm like that of a shy younger sister.
"Oh~ a medical specialist, huh? That's a rare profession indeed. Alright, I've decided—aside from Lady Satsuki, I'll be the one looking after you! If anyone bullies you, come straight to me!"
Ranzuki's fondness for the small and endearing Lana was immediate—perhaps due to some subconscious connection between her own golden hair and Lana's blue eyes.
"Mm..." Lana responded softly, her voice as faint as a whispering breeze.
Then came the introduction from the 'Vermilion' position.
"I am En'ō," said the Wheel Yama King, his tone dramatic and self-assured. "The blade that cleaves all in service of Lady Satsuki."
As he spoke, the crimson wings upon his back spread wide, glowing with radiant red light. "It's an honor to fight beside you all."
None of the beings present were ordinary. From the crimson radiance emitted by En'ō's wings, they all sensed a terrifying force—one that made even them shiver.
And the one most attuned to that sensation was none other than Suzuki Kaguya, currently advancing through the stages of Kekkei Tōta evolution.
"Are you perhaps of the Kaguya clan?" Suzuki asked cautiously.
He had sensed a familiar aura from En'ō's crimson light. After all, the All-Killing Ash Bones possessed the property of instantaneous death—an effect strikingly similar to En'ō's Instant Death Authority.
"I am not from your world," En'ō replied calmly.
It was rare for Suzuki to speak so directly during a meeting. Despite his usual composure, he still carried deep affection for his clan. In the shinobi world, his relentless research into curing the bloodline disease was not only for himself—but for the survival of the Kaguya lineage.
In the shinobi world, the weak had only one way to survive: to become strong. The Kaguya clan, who worshiped battle as their very reason for existence, embodied that philosophy to the extreme.
From an outsider's perspective, such extremity could only yield two fates—domination or annihilation.
And for the Kaguya, the latter had long since become inevitable.
After all, during the Battle of the Valley of Clouds and Lightning, it was the Senju and Uchiha clans who clashed most fiercely—yet it was the Kaguya and Mizukage's line who suffered the greatest loss.
As the former head of the Kaguya clan, Suzuki Kaguya could not bear to watch his people march blindly toward extinction. The only path left to him was to seek another way forward for them.
Next to introduce himself was the man stationed below, maintaining the flow of transferred energy—Karan.
His demeanor was ordinary, his tone measured—his self-introduction the very image of a typical middle-aged office worker. Yet amidst such an atmosphere, that very normalcy felt almost absurdly out of place.
"Hello everyone, my name is Karan. I'm forty-three years old. My hobby is enjoying a cold beer after a satisfying day of work."
...
"Pfft—"
The perfectly mundane, straight-faced introduction was simply too much. Standing at the 'South' position, the youngest of them, Tenjin Hyūga, couldn't help but laugh.
Realizing his loss of composure, Tenjin quickly formed a hand seal and bowed deeply toward Karan. "My apologies, Mr. Karan. I've undergone strict discipline training, but I simply couldn't hold it in..."
"...It's fine," Karan replied mildly. "Happens all the time."
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