Chapter 897

If she didn't want to continue being kept in the dark, imprisoned within the moon, then for a long time to come, she would have to rely on this frail, youthful body of Lin Cheng's.

"I've already been preparing this for a long time!" Hearing her mother's words, little Jue answered eagerly as if seeking credit, and beside her, the White Zetsu who had been waiting a long time surfaced once more, along with a person whose entire body was wrapped in a black robe.

"The conditions for full activation aren't met yet, but the prototype of the Eye of the Moon, I've basically completed it. Mother, allow me to introduce the people of the Eye of the Moon."

What on earth is going on?

Let us rewind the time to three days ago.

They've already entered the Byakugan's observation range, and they can only be seen clearly when they're this close. As expected, too much time has passed; the bloodline's power grows ever weaker.

The group, led by Leaf Anbu who had changed shifts several times, walked into the residence where the Water Country's Daimyo was truly hiding. Lin Cheng, now with a different core—more precisely, already Kaguya's Lin Cheng—frowned slightly. She had always been walking at the very back of the group, and only when her gaze swept over Young Yuanzi did her brow ease just a little, a soft glint flashing in her eyes as she relaxed.

"Lin Cheng, what's wrong?" As if sensing the gaze, the moment Kaguya withdrew her eyes, Young Yuanzi up ahead turned to look at her.

"N-no… it's nothing, I just—" Seeing that aside from the young one no one was looking this way, Kaguya secretly glanced back and met eyes for an instant with little Jue, who had turned around in response, then immediately looked away again..

"It's just that my stomach suddenly feels a bit uncomfortable."

"Th-this, really? Then shall I keep you company?" Receiving Lin Cheng's concern, Yuanzi's face flushed red in an instant—she really shouldn't have lost composure like this.

Her emotions had also become more easily swayed by the outside world. Young Yuanzi was a little annoyed at her own expression; honestly, it was bad enough.

"Sure." Kaguya took in every bit of Young Yuanzi's expression, a teasing smile quietly curling at the corner of her lips. Without the slightest hesitation she agreed, then, giving the other no chance to refuse, walked straight toward the side hall.

"This way."

"Cough… Huh? Lin Cheng, how did you know?" Having no choice but to brazen it out, Young Yuanzi awkwardly took a step, closely following Kaguya as she deviated from the route, while frantically searching for a topic to seem less ill at ease.

"Because my eyes—those are Byakugan, which have the function of 'see-through,' you know."

"Ugh." It seemed she'd asked a question that made her look even more foolish. Young Yuanzi, following behind Kaguya, covered her face with her hand.

Only the best of friends would arrange to go together to a place with an "all-around view." Kaguya naturally took all of this in. She suddenly discovered that the tiny Yuanzi could be this much fun. Though the topic seemed a bit improper, if it was with Yuanzi, it didn't really matter.

"N-no, no, stop, I get it." Young Yuanzi only felt her face burning like fire. Counting on her fingers, she was hardly young anymore, and now she was actually accompanying a little Miss—sigh… a lifetime's fine reputation ruined! For some reason, Young Yuanzi suddenly began to feel grateful that she was currently in her child form rather than her true appearance.

As for Kaguya, of course her stomach didn't really hurt. She was simply looking for a chance to make an excuse to leave. Now that Young Yuanzi had followed along, it was a bit of a surprise, but she only thought about it for a moment before turning the surprise into a pleasant one. A perfect alibi, wasn't it?

In the small partitioned room, Lin Cheng slowly raised her right hand. The space directly in front of her underwent a strange change, and the instant a bizarre crack had just opened, she spoke.

"Phew, Lin Cheng, not done yet? Then I'll wait outside for a bit." Having only used the washbasin water to cool her cheeks, Young Yuanzi raised her head and glanced at the partitioned room Lin Cheng had walked into.

Still locked tight. Seeing how urgently she'd rushed over just now—mm, she must have eaten something bad on the way here.

The Water Country's Daimyo sat in the reception hall. He had already received prior notice from the Konoha Leaf Anbu that his daughter was being escorted over. Restlessly propping his cheek with one hand and leaning sideways against the armrest, his mind was nonetheless working hard to recall when exactly he had ever had such a daughter.

"Of course you have a daughter." Suddenly, from behind him came a woman's—no, a girl's—utterly flat voice. How could that be!?

Before the Water Country's Daimyo could figure it out, behind him, the black space that had at some unknown point replaced his surroundings, a hand reached out, grabbed him by the collar, and before he could cry for help, dragged his entire body in. The next instant, the rift vanished without a trace. A White Zetsu poked its head out from underground, looked around to confirm there really were no Leaf Anbu, and after hearing the commotion and breaking through the window to rush in, within a few breaths transformed into the appearance of the Water Country's Daimyo.

"Exhausting!" Unbuckling her heavy ninja tool bag and tossing it carelessly aside, Naruko threw her body hard onto the soft bed, hugged the fluffy pillow, and couldn't help showing a thoroughly enjoying expression on her face.