In a simple thatched hut in Great Yamato Toyo-Akitsu, the Netherworld gods and Yu, the Great Lord God of Reed Plain Country, convened a war council regarding the seizure of Takamagahara's Deva Path.
Attendees from the Netherworld: Youtan Poluo Rin, Youtan Poluo Isshiki, the Netherworld Eight Envoys, Tongtong, and Subichini.
Attendees from Reed Plain Country: Uchiha Riu, Shikaku Nara, and Tobi.
Attendee from Takamagahara: Urashiki Otsutsuki.
Yu raised his eyes toward the rafters.
The Three-Eyed Spider hung from the beam by a strand of silk.
The Three-Eyed Spider was Yama's embodiment of law enforcement. During the bloody battle in Yellow Springs, it had been injured by Huiyao while saving Xue'er, and had since taken up residence within Xue'er.
Before the battle of Takamagahara, Youtan Poluo had intended to use Xue'er as a hostage to restrain Yu, so Xue'er had not participated in the battle. Afterward, Yu narrowly escaped death at Hannya King's hands, and only then did Youtan Poluo formally step into the open, becoming Yu's true ally.
As such, Xue'er's status as a hostage no longer seemed so important.
After the battle of Takamagahara, Xue'er learned that Naruto, Sasuke Uchiha, Tornado, and the other participants had fallen into a subspace of the Seventh Spacetime due to the Spacetime String vibrations caused by the battle. She went to rescue them and had yet to return.
The Three-Eyed Spider hanging from the beam was the avatar she used to communicate with Youtan Poluo.
Everyone took their seats in order. Subichini poured tea, Zashiki-warashi recorded the meeting, and Tongtong made mischief off to the side.
Urashiki's legs had gone limp. Amanojaku and Wanyudo had supported him from either side and carried him to his chair. After taking his seat, Urashiki stared blankly ahead, every inch of him wracked with torment and trembling.