Kaguya stared directly at Senju Haruto, unable to comprehend the situation before her.
She was the progenitor of chakra itself, the Ten-Tails incarnate.
Black Zetsu was the will she had created before her sealing, a fragment of herself designed with one purpose — to bring her back.
And the condition for her resurrection was simple: her will had to be infused into the Ten-Tails.
In other words, upon revival, she should have reclaimed all chakra as her own.
But what was happening now?
Inside Haruto, she sensed not only the same power as hers but something more complete, more perfect.
Beyond that, she could feel the powers of Yin and Yang within him — the same divine forces that had once belonged to Hagoromo and Hamura.
"Mother, hurry and deal with him…"
Pinned helplessly to the ground by the black rod, Black Zetsu could do nothing but shout anxiously as Haruto drew closer to Kaguya.
"This power belongs to me."
Kaguya ignored him, extending her hand toward Haruto, determined to seize back the energy he carried.
If Haruto truly wielded both Yin and Yang, then he possessed the means to seal her away again.
And that was something she could never allow.
Yet to her astonishment, just as her hand was about to brush against him—
He vanished.
"I'm over here."
Haruto's calm voice echoed from behind her.
Kaguya spun instantly, widening the distance, her body tense as she fixed her eyes on him.
It was because of Yin and Yang that Hagoromo and Hamura had once sealed her.
Back then, one had carried Yin, the other Yang. She had only needed to split them apart to keep them from succeeding.
But Haruto…
He held both powers at once, and not only that — chakra that rivaled, perhaps even surpassed her own.
That was what made Kaguya afraid.
"Mother… afraid?"
Black Zetsu, still pinned to the earth, noticed her hesitation and spoke in disbelief.
"Why does Haruto… possess the power of Yin as well…?"
His expression darkened as he realized the reason for her fear: if Haruto touched her with both hands, the sealing could be completed instantly.
And unlike her, the progenitor of chakra… Kaguya had never mastered ninjutsu.
In speed and reaction, she was no match for him.
"I will not seal you, Kaguya."
Haruto's deep voice broke through her thoughts.
He could sense her fear, and he knew he had the upper hand.
At this moment, Senju Haruto stood at the absolute pinnacle of the shinobi world.
Even Kaguya herself no longer surpassed him.
If he wished, a single shunshin could close the distance, and with both palms pressing to her chest, the forces of Yin and Yang would lock her away forever.
"Why?"
Kaguya narrowed her eyes, gazing up and down at him, her tone betraying confusion.
"There's no special reason. I understand your past. I know why you were sealed."
Haruto's voice was steady, unyielding.
"As long as you do not endanger this world, I will allow you to stand upon this earth."
"Why should I obey you?"
"Because you have no choice," Haruto replied bluntly.
"You either do as I say — or I seal you away this very moment."
He clapped his hands together, his stance shifting into the form of Chibaku Tensei.
"At worst, I'll just make another moon — a bigger one."
Kaguya fell silent.
She could tell he wasn't bluffing. He had no need to lie.
Before her was not one Hagoromo, nor one Hamura — but their power combined within a single body.
And she knew all too well: her body was still incomplete.
A portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra was missing from within her.
"So… what is your answer?"
Haruto's words pressed down like iron. He let the silence linger before continuing,
"If you do as I say, I will grant you protection… and freedom."
"As long as you do not harm others, you may act however you wish."
Haruto's approach was deliberate — the threat of overwhelming force followed by the gift of freedom.
A slap, and then a sweet fruit.
Kaguya, for all her terrifying strength, had a mind that was startlingly simple.
In the original shinobi history, her actions had always been guided — even manipulated — by Black Zetsu.
Without him, her power weakened drastically.
Now, hearing Haruto's offer, she felt no desire to continue fighting.
But… could she truly trust a stranger like him?
"How can I believe you?"
Her lips parted, her voice cautious yet curious.
Haruto's mouth curled into a faint smile.
He slowly opened his palms, releasing the seal formation of Chibaku Tensei.
"This."
"I have no reason to deceive you. If I wanted you sealed, I'd have already done it. I am stronger than you now."
"If my intent were truly to bind you, there would be no need for words."
His tone was light, almost casual, but each word struck with unshakable certainty.
"After all, I'm not very good at deceiving people."
With that, Haruto fell silent, patiently awaiting her response.
Down below, every shinobi tilted their heads upward, watching tensely.
Though Haruto spoke calmly, they knew they were witnessing a clash of gods.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki — the mother of chakra.
Senju Haruto — the man who now stood beyond even Hagoromo.
The scale of their confrontation was so far above them that they could not even begin to comprehend it.
Who was stronger? Who was bluffing? They could not tell.
To them, Haruto's words might have been truth.
Or they could have been nothing more than intimidation.
Lacking information, they could not know that their world was about to fuse with another entirely.
Nor could they know that Haruto's true aim was to keep Kaguya by his side for what was to come.
But Kaguya could tell.
Her heart knew he was not lying.
"I understand," she said at last.
"As long as I do not strike at the humans below, you will not seal me. Is that correct?"
She exhaled slowly, her gaze lowering.
The Infinite Tsukuyomi had been her means to gather strength — to prepare against her own kin.
But with Haruto standing before her, there was no longer a need for it.
And above all, she could not bear the thought of being sealed once more.
So, in this way, their agreement was forged.
Haruto and Kaguya — neither allies, nor enemies, but bound by terms of coexistence.
And as their pact was sealed, the two worlds drew ever closer.
The shinobi world began to merge with the Marvel universe.