NOVEL NEXT Chapter 162: The Judgment of the Gods
Kuro Zetsu, that so-called filial son, was actually quite incompetent.
It had taken him more than a thousand years just to bring back Kaguya.
And even then, once she returned, she was treated as the enemy and beaten down.
Truth be told, if Kuro Zetsu had been more cunning at the time, maybe the Uchiha or even the people of Konoha would have released Kaguya themselves. After all, with her unleashed, she could have helped them fight against the Otsutsuki.
But, just like his mother, Kuro Zetsu lacked flexibility in thought.
"Encouragement, fine, I'll take it as encouragement for them!"
Kaguya let out a helpless smile.
"Alright, let's go. To their palace—I want to see how these people react when they truly see us standing in their halls."
Kaede smiled in return.
"Yes, let's go."
Kaguya nodded, stepping forward first.
Kaede followed behind her, his eyes drawn to her flowing silver hair and white robes.
Indeed, she looked like a breathtakingly beautiful woman.
No wonder Minister Suzaku of the Land of Ancestors had been captivated by her.
Casting aside stray thoughts, Kaede and Kaguya appeared directly inside the palace of the Land of Ancestors.
The emperor had been discussing matters with his ministers, but when he saw the two suddenly materialize, he froze.
The next moment, he shouted for his guards.
"Guards! Guards!"
Soldiers rushed in, attacking without hesitation. But their methods were primitive—bows, arrows, and spears.
None of it could touch Kaede or Kaguya.
Kaguya merely waved her sleeve, and the arrows and spears turned back along their original paths.
Cries of pain echoed through the hall, yet she hadn't killed them—only robbed them of movement.
Clearly, she no longer sought to take lives casually.
If it had been Kaede acting, those men would already be dead.
"If you don't want needless death, then stop this at once."
Kaguya's voice was calm.
"Wh-who are you?"
The emperor collapsed onto the floor, trembling.
Around him, ministers cowered in terror—some even losing control of their bladders, filling the chamber with a disgusting stench that made Kaede and Kaguya frown.
One minister, recognizing them, cried out,
"Your Majesty! This is the one who slew Minister Suzaku—the divine spirit of the Land of Ancestors!"
"Gods… fallen spirits!"
The emperor was stunned. To think divine beings had descended upon his land, and in a blink crippled his soldiers.
"Yes," Kaguya spoke coldly. "We are gods. Your nation defied our warnings and struck at the Land of Ancestors, which we protect. You have suffered divine punishment—your armies annihilated. As for you, the culprits, you too must face divine retribution. That is why we are here."
Kaede continued, his tone harsher.
"When we came here, we intended to give you one last chance. If you had knelt before us, admitted your sins, and sworn never again to invade the Land of Ancestors, we would have spared you. But you chose instead to attack us. That insult cannot be forgiven. Your lives end today."
It was a plan they had agreed upon earlier: Kaede would play the stern role, Kaguya the merciful one. This way, the nation could be subdued without a massacre, and the people's favor would lean toward Kaguya. Perhaps, in future tales, she wouldn't be remembered as a cruel villain.
"N-no, divine ones, it wasn't like that!"
The emperor stammered in desperation. "I only called for my guards—I never ordered them to attack you! That was their mistake, not mine. Goddess, I beg you, please convince this immortal beside you not to kill us!"
His face was pale with horror, his words frantic. He believed every word Kaede and Kaguya said—after all, if they could unleash divine punishment, they could easily take his life. And he did not want to die.
"I do not wish to kill either," Kaguya replied softly, "for killing brings sin. But you have offended the gods. If no punishment is dealt, then others will dare to offend us as well. Tell me, how should we act then?"
The emperor, seizing on her words, bowed his head quickly.
"I am willing to offer everything, if only the gods would spare us."
His ministers, seeing this, fell to their knees as well.
"Yes, we are willing to offer everything! As long as the gods forgive us, we will do anything! If we must go to the Land of Ancestors to apologize and offer compensation, we shall!"
All eyes turned toward Kaede and Kaguya, filled with desperate hope.
Kaguya looked back at Kaede, asking,
"What do you think? Should we spare them?"
Kaede's gaze was cold.
"We can… but on conditions. In addition to what you've promised, you must erect her statues and worship her. Your people must believe in us. And above all—you must merge with the Land of Ancestors to become one nation. Only then will your lives be spared."
The emperor didn't hesitate.
"Yes, of course! We accept!"
He bowed his head again, relief flooding his face.
(End of Chapter)
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