Yuzuru's Name

"Your lordship knows of Mōryō as well?"

Chimimōryō cautiously asked Jigen. Mōryō was a monster from the same otherworld as him, but Mōryō was a higher-ranking existence—effectively his superior—and possessed a unique ability to take form that Chimimōryō lacked...

"I know a little."

Jigen nodded and proceeded to ask several more questions about Mōryō. Naturally, Chimimōryō answered everything he knew without holding anything back.

After Jigen had learned what he wanted, he fell into thought. Chimimōryō naturally did not dare disturb him and stood quietly, as docile as a well-behaved puppy.

After a long while, Jigen released Chimimōryō and left the house. Chimimōryō hurried after him. Having been cowed by Jigen's strength, he certainly did not have the nerve to run away.

Once outside, Chimimōryō saw Jigen raise his head and look into the distance. There stood a bizarre, enormous tree hundreds of meters tall, with a bewitching purple flower bud growing atop its crown...

"When did that thing appear?"

Jigen did not turn around as he asked Chimimōryō behind him.

"My lord, that thing suddenly grew out of the ground about a year ago, and it's very unusual..." As an old-timer who had descended upon the Shinobi World, Chimimōryō knew quite a bit about it. At the very least, that bizarre tree definitely had not existed there before.

"It seems like a living creature. Once it took root, it began madly devouring and absorbing this world's Natural Energy. It even ate some nearby yokai and intelligent beings who cultivated Natural Energy. I believe it may be an existence similar to me, except it seems to be bound by certain restrictions and cannot go out to hunt on its own..."

Chimimōryō carefully explained to Jigen. In truth, after that bizarre giant tree had sprouted a year ago and begun devouring vast quantities of Natural Energy, some yokai he had dealt with before, along with certain intelligent beings who cultivated Natural Energy, had gone to challenge it in dissatisfaction. Yet there had been only one outcome: they were eaten by the bizarre tree!

For that very reason, the other yokai and intelligent beings cultivating Natural Energy in the Shinobi World had all kept their distance from that bizarre tree. With those examples before them, they understood that it was an exceptionally dangerous high-ranking yokai...

"Since the God Tree has already been successfully planted, what are you preparing to do next, Kaguya?"

After hearing Chimimōryō's words, Jigen showed no reaction. He merely muttered to himself.

After the God Tree was planted, it would take roughly a thousand years to bear fruit. Jigen remembered that Kaguya Ōtsutsuki had once appeared in an ancient human kingdom, fallen in love with the emperor of the Land of Ancestors, and given birth to two children: Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki and Hamura Ōtsutsuki...

"Still, none of this has anything to do with me anymore..."

Jigen withdrew his gaze from the God Tree, sensed the state of his body, and spoke softly again.

At this moment, Jigen was actually Bai Yang. The real Jigen was already dead. Once the host implanted with Karma died, Karma would directly allow Bai Yang to reincarnate and revive within the host's body. That was also why Bai Yang had awakened directly from his slumber.

Before his original body had become unusable, Bai Yang had not only implanted Karma into Jigen's body, but had also fed all the remaining energy from his ruined body back into Jigen, using it to alter and strengthen his body. Over time, it would gradually make Jigen's body even stronger, facilitating Bai Yang's smooth reincarnation in the future.

However, Jigen's accidental death had disrupted Bai Yang's plans, forcing him to reincarnate prematurely. The result of that reincarnation was undoubtedly terrible. Even though Jigen's body had been strengthened by Natural Energy and partially altered by Bai Yang's energy beforehand, too little time had passed. Jigen's body still could not withstand all of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's power!

Fortunately, after devouring Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's Spirit Body, Bai Yang had gained more precise control over his own energy. During the reincarnation process, he directly sealed and restricted most of his power, allowing himself to reincarnate more or less normally without Jigen's body developing problems from his overwhelming energy.

According to Bai Yang's own estimates, as long as he did not unseal that restricted energy, he could continue using Jigen's body indefinitely. He might even live for thousands of years like the Ōtsutsuki Clan.

But that also meant Bai Yang might not be able to wield even half of his original strength. In such a state, he naturally did not dare compete with Kaguya for the God Tree fruit that would mature in a thousand years. Besides, even if Bai Yang dared release the seals restricting his power, he might not necessarily defeat Kaguya. After all, the Ten-Tails that had transformed into the God Tree was Kaguya's pet. His authority over it was far inferior to Kaguya's. That was why Bai Yang had spoken so dejectedly...

"Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki and Hamura Ōtsutsuki..."

"Heh heh, it seems I can only rely on you two to deal with Kaguya for me!"

However, Bai Yang, who knew the history of the Shinobi World, suddenly chuckled. He could not deal with Kaguya himself right now, but her two precious sons could act on his behalf. A thousand years later, Kaguya would be sealed away, Hagoromo would spread Ninshū and die of old age, and Hamura would go to the moon and leave the Shinobi World...

Then all he needed to do was quietly wait until Kaguya's entire family could no longer pose any threat to him. That would be the moment Bai Yang could truly emerge into the world!

For now, he should just keep a low profile...

That was what Bai Yang thought to himself.

"My lord?"

Chimimōryō called out softly, causing Bai Yang to frown and turn around. His pair of distinctly unusual, oppressive eyes immediately fell upon Chimimōryō.

"What is it?"

Bai Yang asked.

"This humble one wishes to follow you forever, my lord, and serve you with all my strength. Should I harbor any disloyal thoughts, may my soul scatter and may I die a miserable death!"

Under Bai Yang's gaze, Chimimōryō immediately spoke in terror, as though swearing an oath.

"Interesting."

Bai Yang looked at Chimimōryō, the corner of his mouth curling as he smiled.

Seeing this, Chimimōryō immediately pressed his advantage and said with a fawning smile, "This humble one still does not know how to address you, my lord..."

"My name?"

Bai Yang tilted his head slightly. He did not answer at once, but only after thinking for a moment did he slowly utter two words.

"Yuzuru."

"From now on, my name will be Yuzuru!"

Bai Yang muttered to himself. His fate had become tied to Jigen, and his life continued through him. Therefore, the name Yuzuru was only fitting.

"Yes, Lord Yuzuru!"

Upon hearing this, Chimimōryō immediately called out respectfully to Bai Yang... no, to Yuzuru.