When Minamikawa Yuu arrived at the place where Kaguya was, he was also shocked by the scene presented there.
On a flat stretch of land, it was filled with the color of blood; the once intact area was now covered with the remains of flesh and blood, making it completely unrecognizable.
Even observing from a distance, one could feel a nauseating, hellish atmosphere.
"Where is Kaguya?"
Minamikawa Yuu strode forward, and just as he was about to continue, he was eventually stopped by someone.
"Your Highness, you cannot go."
Several clan elders firmly blocked him, earnestly trying to persuade him: "The Lady has been possessed by an evil spirit and has now turned into a demon. Your Highness, you cannot go over there!"
"Move aside!"
Minamikawa Yuu didn't bother wasting words with them; he pushed them aside directly, forcing a path through.
He strode forward, stepping over the flesh and remains to reach the center, where he saw Kaguya.
Having reached this point, he also understood what the clan elders were talking about.
Kaguya stood silently ahead, seemingly still in a daze.
But even so, the scent of blood clinging to her body did not dissipate, and that terrifying sense of pressure could be easily felt even without being too close.
Although the Kaguya of the past also had an inhuman aura, she never gave off such a feeling.
Now, however, it was vastly different.
Coupled with the two horns growing from the top of her head and the Rinne Sharingan at the center of her brow, it was no wonder people thought she was possessed by an evil spirit.
Minamikawa Yuu, however, paid no heed to this.
Under the horrified gazes of those around him, he strode forward.
"Kaguya!"
When the familiar voice rang in her ears again, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya instinctively looked up.
The figure of a young man came into view; it was none other than the person she was thinking of in her heart.
In the next moment, her figure was embraced, held tightly in someone's arms.
Without the slightest bit of distaste for the bloodstains or the fierce aura on Kaguya's body, Minamikawa Yuu pulled her directly into his embrace, holding her firmly.
"Yuu..."
Feeling her lover's familiar scent, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya gradually relaxed, her eyes beginning to mist over: "You're alright."
"I'm sorry for making you worry."
Minamikawa Yuu held Kaguya and spoke seriously: "Come back with me."
Kaguya didn't say anything, only nodding gently.
A crisis was thus averted and vanished into thin air.
However, this incident also served as a major warning to Minamikawa Yuu.
The influence of Bi Country was still a bit too powerful.
Despite Minamikawa Yuu's efforts over several years, Bi Country's influence within the Land of Ancestors remained immense.
This time, taking advantage of his absence from the Daimyo's City, someone was actually able to rally a troop within the city to attack Kaguya.
Without the cooperation of personnel from within the Land of Ancestors, this would have been absolutely impossible.
Ultimately, many people within the Land of Ancestors held a sense of awe and fear toward Bi Country, or were even secretly people of Bi Country, maintaining close ties with it.
Minamikawa Yuu had originally known about this, but the reason he hadn't moved against these fellows was simply to continue misleading the Daimyo of the Country of Hi and buy himself some time.
But looking at it now, it was about time to take action.
Having made up his mind, Minamikawa Yuu did not hesitate and immediately took action.
Within the Land of Ancestors, he launched a vigorous and grand purge.
All those clan elders and ministers who had previously favored Bi Country were suppressed by him, all becoming criminals.
In the course of the purge, even though Minamikawa Yuu exercised some restraint, over a thousand people were ultimately implicated, and it was unknown how many were affected.
Not long after that, the Daimyo of the Country of Hi finally reacted.
Envoys from Bi Country arrived in the Land of Ancestors, demanding that the Land of Ancestors hand over the murderer who killed their samurai.
Otherwise, they would dispatch troops to annihilate the Land of Ancestors.
This news caused a massive uproar in a short amount of time.
"You mean... you want me to hand over Kaguya?"
Inside the Daming Residence, Minamikawa Yuu looked at the retainer before him, his expression seemingly very calm.
"Yes, Your Highness."
The old man before him spoke respectfully: "Previously, the samurai of Bi Country died within our borders. If we don't give the Daimyo of the Country of Hi an explanation, war will likely break out immediately."
"This is something we should try our best to avoid."
"They were the ones who took the initiative to attack Kaguya."
Chen Ziming's gaze was fixed on the old man before him, his expression appearing neither sad nor joyful.
"But, it is indeed a fact that Bi Country's samurai died here,"
the old man before him earnestly persuaded: "Neglecting national affairs for the sake of a woman is not good behavior."
"Furthermore, Lady Kaguya is indeed too abnormal now. In my humble opinion, it would be better to send her away."
He not only suggested that Minamikawa Yuu bow his head to Bi Country but also had a strong opinion against Kaguya.
In the past, even if Kaguya's appearance was different from ordinary people, it was still within an acceptable range.
But after that night, Kaguya's appearance underwent a massive change.
Minamikawa Yuu had no problem with this, but others were different.
The rumor that Lady Kaguya was possessed by an evil spirit lingered for a long time within the Land of Ancestors.
"You mean, you want me to send Kaguya away?"
At this moment, Minamikawa Yuu smiled.
In front of the surrounding attendants, he stood up and then suddenly drew his longsword.
In the next moment, the longsword swept out, slashing forward.
Bolstered by Chakra, in just an instant, the old man before him was pierced by the longsword.
Meeting Minamikawa Yuu's cold gaze, he was somewhat incredulous, and then his body slumped weakly to the ground.
"National affairs have not yet reached the point where others must be sacrificed."
Minamikawa Yuu spoke calmly: "Sacrificing one person to benefit the world—what if that person being sacrificed were yourself?"
"Truly ridiculous."
Even if what the other party wanted wasn't Kaguya, but just an ordinary person by his side, he still wouldn't have agreed, let alone when they were demanding Kaguya.
Minamikawa Yuu knew in his heart that after consuming the chakra fruit, with Kaguya's current strength, she alone was enough to suppress the world.
The Daimyo of the Country of Hi daring to make such a request was nothing more than seeking death.
"It's about time to break off relations."
Standing there, he looked at the distant lights, murmuring to himself in his heart.
Previously, he had no intention of breaking with Bi Country and planned to keep his head down and develop for a few more years.
However, since the other party was actively seeking death, he would fulfill their wish; that was also perfectly fine.
The following month, the army of the Land of Ancestors launched a surprise attack on Bi Country.
Bi Country's border city fell, and the two countries officially went to war.
For a time, the four directions were shaken.
Toward Bi Country, the Land of Ancestors had always been very respectful, and the relationship between the two countries had been very good in the past.
No one expected that the Daimyo of the Country of Zu would break with Bi Country for the sake of a mere woman.
What was even more unexpected was that Bi Country actually fell into a disadvantage in the great war.
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