The black rods condensed from the Truth-Seeking Orbs had the ability to disrupt chakra.
Even the Ōtsutsuki clan wasn't immune to this interference.
Moreover, their bodies consisted purely of chakra, without an independent life force like that of the Tailed Beasts.
As a result, once immobilized by Orochimaru, they wouldn't even have the chance to resist.
"Leave him alive. He'll be useful later."
"Understood!"
---
Two hours later…
This wasn't the same square where the teleportation portal had been located earlier.
This was a proper town square, one that truly belonged to this settlement!
The plaza was so vast that its boundaries were impossible to see at a glance.
Ordinarily, it would appear empty, stretching endlessly into the distance.
But now, surprisingly, a large crowd had gathered.
At a rough estimate, there were at least several thousand people.
Most of them wore tattered clothes, their appearances reflecting a life of hardship.
There was no doubt—they were ordinary humans, kept in captivity by the Ōtsutsuki clan.
Living under the rule of a race that relentlessly pursued power, their lives were naturally miserable.
At this moment, the captives had formed a loose circle, murmuring amongst themselves as they observed the scene at the center.
Their expressions varied—fear, anxiety, shock, disbelief, hope—an array of emotions flickered across their faces.
"Wait… aren't those two from the Ōtsutsuki clan? Why are they…"
"Yeah, he actually killed his own kind! What's going on?"
"Is this going to affect us?"
"Who knows… maybe they're here to help us?"
"Don't be ridiculous. Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki's power is far beyond anything mere mortals can resist!"
"Exactly! If anything, we should be afraid…"
"Wait… that woman… she looks familiar. Where have I seen her before?"
"Huh? Now that you mention it, she does look familiar!"
"Ah! I remember! That's Ōtsutsuki Kaguya! I've seen her portrait before! She was once a princess of the Ōtsutsuki clan!"
"What?! A princess of the Ōtsutsuki clan?!"
"Yes! And I've heard that she was… different from the others."
"Is she here to save us?"
As the crowd whispered among themselves, Orochimaru, seated at the center of it all, paid them no mind.
At the moment, he was leisurely sipping tea.
Two chairs, a table, and a tea set rested before him.
Pouring himself another cup, he casually slid one in front of Kaguya.
"Want a drink?"
"I'm not thirsty," Kaguya replied coldly.
With her divine body, she no longer needed to eat or drink. It wasn't a lie—it was simply unnecessary.
"Even a god should know how to enjoy life." Orochimaru smirked. "And as for our situation… don't be nervous. We will win this battle."
"Are you that confident?"
Kaguya cast him an indifferent glance.
She possessed the purest Byakugan, yet even she couldn't see the source of Orochimaru's power.
Could he really help her kill these clan members without using chakra?
It was utterly incomprehensible.
"Of course." Orochimaru's lips curled into a grin. "If I didn't have that level of confidence, I wouldn't have come here."
"Orochimaru… you truly are a peculiar man."
Expressionless, Kaguya lifted the teacup and took a sip.
"You've said that many times." Orochimaru chuckled. "What? Have you become my admirer?"
"Not even close," Kaguya replied flatly.
"Then tell me, what are you thinking about right now?"
"Nothing in particular."
"Hah… you really are a cold and boring woman." Orochimaru laughed, shaking his head before rising from his seat.
In the center of the square, a massive wooden cross stood tall.
Nailed to it with black rods—like some kind of blasphemous effigy—was Ōtsutsuki Takeshi, completely drained of chakra.
At the foot of the cross, eight lifeless bodies lay scattered across the ground.
As Orochimaru stood, the chattering of the onlookers came to an abrupt halt.
The massive square fell into eerie silence.
Orochimaru gazed at Takeshi, who now looked no better than a dying dog, then smirked and casually raised a hand toward a disheveled man in the crowd.
Before the man could react, Orochimaru lifted him into the air with ease.
"If you don't want to die, leave immediately!"
With that, he tossed the man aside.
Orochimaru hadn't lowered his voice, ensuring that everyone in the vicinity heard him loud and clear.
These ordinary humans had never even considered resisting the Ōtsutsuki clan.
The sight of all those corpses had simply been too shocking, drawing them in despite their fear.
But now, upon hearing that their own lives were at risk.
How could they possibly stay?
Within moments, the square emptied as the terrified captives fled in all directions.
However, a handful of bolder individuals chose to remain, watching cautiously from a distance, eager to see what would happen next.
Before long, a spatial rift tore open.
Several robed Ōtsutsuki clan members stepped forth.
"Hahaha! Finally, they've arrived!"
Orochimaru chuckled softly, completely unbothered by their appearance.
Kaguya, too, remained seated, expression calm as she gently blew on her tea.
After spending half a year on Earth alongside Orochimaru, she had come to understand chakra and natural energy better than ever.
The difference between chakra infused with natural energy and chakra without it was like night and day.
Back then, even when Hagoromo and Hamura had only received a fraction of her chakra, their power had surged after learning the Senjutsu of Mount Myōboku, allowing them to rival her in battle.
And now, facing these Ōtsutsuki clansmen, who had never learned Senjutsu, even in her current weakened state, she was confident in her ability to defeat them.
Let alone Orochimaru, who possessed Senjutsu-enhanced chakra!
The newly arrived Ōtsutsuki members, however, did not attack immediately.
Instead, they remained standing in place, their heads slightly lowered, as if awaiting the arrival of someone of great importance.
Then, emerging from the spatial rift.
A familiar yet unfamiliar figure stepped forward, radiating authority, like the stars surrounding the moon.
"Kaguya? So it really is you?"
A sinister chuckle echoed through the square.
"Heh… I never thought that a coward who only knows how to run away would actually dare to return!"
(To be continued.)