"What did you want to talk about?" After a moment, Kaguya's voice rang out in Shin's mind again. Though still cold, it no longer carried quite the same lofty arrogance.
Shin smiled. "That's more like it. I've always believed that communication is the best way to solve problems. There's nothing in this world that can't be negotiated."
"Cut the nonsense. Isn't your time running out?" Kaguya snorted, her attitude far from friendly.
"Fine, let's talk business. Kaguya, the backup plan you left behind—the so-called Black Zetsu—is already dead by my hand. I know you hate me to the bone right now. If the seal is lifted, the first thing you'll probably do is fight me to the death. But I hope you recognize one thing: Black Zetsu's death is already a fact. Now, the only person who can release you—the only one capable of releasing you—is me. That is the foundation of our cooperation." Kaguya lowered her head. The surroundings had been reduced to ruins by her earlier outburst, but she paid it no mind. With a casual wave, scattered stones gathered into a stone block, and she sat upon it. "That makes a lot of sense, but how can I trust you? Cooperation always comes with demands from both sides. Your demand seems clear from the start: you merely want to escape. But what about you? I can't think of any reason for you to cooperate with me."
Maintaining the Time Eye Technique, Shin smiled. "It's simple. I have my own objective as well. If nothing else, we share the same enemies." Chakra continuously transformed into the power of time, freezing the immense force that kept trying to close in and crush him back into the seal. He had not been lying. Kaguya's violent assault had set the entire