It was no wonder Obito was shocked. If Yuzuru hadn't already been mentally prepared the moment he heard the name, he might have been startled as well.
Just like in the original story, Haku looked exactly like a gentle, sweet girl.
Yuki seemed long accustomed to people misunderstanding Haku, so she simply said softly, "Haku is a boy. He just happens to look a bit like a girl."
Because of Haku, Yuzuru found himself somewhat interested in the two of them and took the initiative to speak.
"It seems this trip wasn't a small gain. We've unexpectedly acquired two people who have awakened the Ice Release kekkei genkai."
"I assume neither of you are shinobi. Once we return to Konoha, you should start learning the basics."
Yuki bowed repeatedly, her face brimming with excitement. "Thank you, my lord!"
With that, she led Haku away.
Watching their departing figures, Yuzuru fell into silent contemplation.
In this timeline, Obito had never become Madara's successor, nor had he manipulated Yagura Karatachi into running amok in Kirigakure.
On top of that, with his own deterrence in place, Yagura had merely suppressed the kekkei genkai clans in the Hidden Mist rather than exterminating them.
As a result, Haku had not become an orphan like in the original story, nor had he been taken in by Zabuza.
Unexpectedly, fate had delivered him straight into his hands.
With Haku's looks, arranging a marriage alliance with a member of the Uchiha clan in the future would hardly be difficult.
The Ice Release kekkei genkai would be within easy reach.
Terumi had no idea what Yuzuru was thinking and offered an explanation instead.
"Because the village has long suppressed shinobi with kekkei genkai, many small and weak clans treat members who awaken bloodline limits as if they're some kind of disaster. Situations like this aren't rare here."
Less than half an hour later, the villagers returned, each of them wearing expressions of excitement.
Obito said nothing. He directly opened a portal to the Kamui space and transferred all the villagers inside.
Even someone as well-informed as Terumi couldn't help but feel astonished at the sight.
The Uchiha clan's Mangekyō Sharingan was truly bizarre—able to accomplish something like this.
Fortunately, Yuzuru was fundamentally a good person. His goal of unifying the shinobi world was simply to allow its people to live prosperous lives.
Otherwise, with just the ability Obito had displayed, which hidden village could possibly stand against him?
By the time you were still stationing troops at the border, he could already have a spatial portal open right in front of your Kage's office.
The Yuki clan numbered fewer than a hundred in total, so it didn't take long before all of them were transferred into the Kamui space.
Yuzuru spoke again. "Terumi, take me to the next place."
Terumi nodded, then gave a reminder.
"The Kaguya clan is different from the Yuki clan. Every one of them is a battle maniac."
"Getting them to settle in Konoha won't be as smooth as before."
Yuzuru smiled. "People who love fighting? That's good. I enjoy fighting too."
Terumi froze for a moment before letting out a bitter laugh and shaking her head.
Right.
The man before her was the Shura who had terrified the entire shinobi world through slaughter. Even the Kaguya clan's lunatics likely wouldn't dare act recklessly in front of someone like him.
———
After passing through a long, narrow valley, the three of them arrived at the place where the Kaguya clan had lived for generations.
In the dense forest, a vast clearing had been carved out, upon which wooden huts were built in chaotic disorder.
The ground was crisscrossed with crimson grooves, and the air was thick with the lingering stench of blood.
When they saw Yuzuru, Terumi, and Obito, more than a dozen Kaguya clan members in loose robes slowly surrounded them.
They sized up the trio freely, mockery written across their faces.
But in the very next second, a gust of wind shook the branches.
Everyone felt their vision blur.
The man at the front had already been seized by the throat by Yuzuru.
Crack!
With a crisp snap of breaking bone, Yuzuru casually tossed the Kaguya clansman—his neck crushed—onto the ground.
"I don't like being looked at like that."
At his words, the remaining Kaguya clansmen immediately revealed vicious expressions, their faces twisted as if ready to devour someone whole.
"Bastard!"
They tore off their loose robes, sharp bone spikes erupting from all over their bodies as they roared and charged at Yuzuru.
Obito raised a brow and was about to move.
Yuzuru pressed a hand to his shoulder. "No need. I've been itching for a fight anyway."
With that, he swung his blade.
"Kamui: Rift Cleave!"
A black arc of blade light expanded forward. The Kaguya clan's bone spikes—prided for both offense and defense—shattered like paper the instant they touched the black glow.
Slash!
Slash!
Slash!
…
Accompanied by a series of screams, more than a dozen Kaguya shinobi were severed cleanly at the waist in a single instant.
Birds scattered. Blood flowed like a river.
Yuzuru stepped forward with a smile, calling out loudly, "If anyone's dissatisfied, come at me. We'll talk after we've killed to our hearts' content."
As his voice fell, dozens more Kaguya clansmen rushed out.
They shrieked as they charged him, their expressions utterly deranged.
The Kaguya clan's Shikotsumyaku was both offensive and defensive, possessing formidable lethality and powerful protection.
Combined with their reputation for fighting like madmen, heedless of their lives, few shinobi were willing to confront them head-on.
But Yuzuru cared little for that. Every Kaguya who rushed forward was cut down with a single strike.
He lost count of how many he had killed. The corpses of Kaguya clan members had already piled into a small hill at his feet.
At last, everything fell into deathly silence. No more Kaguya stepped forward.
They were madmen—but not fools.
The previous battle had made one thing clear.
They were ruthless. Yuzuru was even more ruthless.
He killed without blinking, seeming to grow more exhilarated with each life taken. By the end, he had begun laughing openly—more like a lunatic than they were.
Most importantly, despite losing so many, they hadn't even managed to brush the corner of his clothes.
If the fight continued, it was entirely possible the Kaguya clan would be wiped out.
A robust man who looked to be around forty stepped forward and spoke in a deep voice.
"Lord Yuzuru, please cease the killing. We are willing to discuss settling in Konoha."
After he spoke, the rest of the Kaguya clan stood in silence.
Seeing this, Terumi's eyes widened.
The Kaguya clan's madmen… had actually yielded?