Takuhata Chijihime no Mikoto watched Ame no Uzume no Mikoto's wound slowly heal, a chill ran through her heart.
The black threads are Amaterasu's black flames. This Takamagahara wields her powers with unparalleled skill.
It can not only change shape at will, but also control the temperature inside.
When not flaring up, it lies dormant like lukewarm water; once it flares up, it instantly transforms into black flames that can burn anything.
But has it really come to this? Amaterasu is actually using such methods to control her subordinates.
Takuhata Chijihime no Mikoto hesitated for a moment, looking at Ame no Uzume no Mikoto's almost pleading eyes.
"I truly do not know where my brother is. I believe you understand that, with his intelligence, if he wanted to hide, no god could find him."
Despair filled the face of the Ame no Uzume no Mikoto. She could already imagine that when she returned to report, she would be reduced to ashes by the black flames in her heart.
Takuhata Chijihime no Mikoto continued, "However, I can provide a clue."
A glimmer of hope flashed in the eyes of the Ame no Uzume no Mikoto for a fleeting moment.
"If Kukurihime-no-Kami can't find my brother, then please turn your attention to someone else."
Ame no Uzume no Mikoto frowned. " Akaruhime? A god who turned from stone into a woman?"
"That's right, her name is Akaruhime."
However, rumors in this world often contain the truth.
Akaruhime was not a god who was actually formed from stone.
Her ability is to change her own form.
It's not just about appearances; it's a fundamental change. If the brother wants to disappear completely, he will go to her.
I don't know where she is, but I believe you should be able to find her using your methods.
Ame no Uzume no Mikoto remained silent for a moment, then bowed slightly to Takuhata Chijihime no Mikoto.
She turned around and walked towards the courtyard gate. This time, her steps were much faster than when she came.
The silver bells rang urgently, like a restless heart. Takuhata Chijihime no Mikoto stood in the courtyard, watching her figure disappear into the woods.
She looked down at her hands. Invisible threads were still wrapped around them.
She slowly clenched her fists. Brother, what are you doing? Is it what I think?
Ame no Uzume no Mikoto traveled without stopping. She crossed wastelands, climbed mountain ridges, and forded streams.
She is incredibly fast, Physical Body Control allows her to move forward in the most energy-efficient way on any terrain.
With each step she took, she could feel the thin black flame thread inside her heart trembling slightly.
Hopefully, this outcome will allow me to survive.
A few days later, she arrived at Mount Myōboku.
Mount Myōboku is quieter than before. After the gods of Takamagahara dispersed, far fewer people came to Mount Myōboku seeking immortality.
Gamamaru and Heipi were guarding the entrance. When they saw Ame no Uzume no Mikoto, Gamamaru's antennae twitched.
" Ame no Uzume," Gamamaru said, " Amaterasu is waiting for you down there."
Ame no Uzume no Mikoto followed Gamamaru through that familiar passage, heading downwards.
The moss on both sides of the stone path still glowed green, but the air inside the cave was colder than before. When she reached the stone chamber at the end, Amaterasu was sitting on the stone platform.
Kukurihime-no-Kami sat beside her, her eyes half-closed.
The light from the luminous pearl cast the shadows of the two people onto the stone wall, like two Fudo old statues.
The Ame no Uzume no Mikoto Kneel and Pay Respects.
"Found it?" Amaterasu asked.
"We found Chihime Kagahata," said Ame no Uzume no Mikoto Takuhata Chijihime no Mikoto. "But she said she doesn't know where Omoikane is."
Amaterasu tapped her knee lightly with her fingers. The air in the stone chamber grew even colder.
"However," Ame no Uzume no Mikoto continued, "She provided a clue."
She said that if Kukurihime-no-Kami couldn't find Omoikane, then Kukurihime-no-Kami should go see a god named Akaruhime.
Takuhata said, "If Omoikane wants to disappear completely, he will go find her."
Amaterasu turned her head and looked at Kukurihime-no-Kami.
Kukurihime-no-Kami. Her face was paler than before, and her eyes were sunken, as if she hadn't slept in a long time.
She slowly raised her hands, palms facing each other. The light in the stone chamber flickered on for a moment, then went back to darkness.
Her breathing became shallow and long, and she sank into the river that only she could see.
Amaterasu looked at her without urging her.
After a long time, Kukurihime-no-Kami's brows slowly furrowed.
Her lips trembled slightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. Then her fingers suddenly tightened.
"I saw it."
"What?"
" Akaruhime," Kukurihime-no-Kami's voice trailed off, as if muffled by a thick veil, "She's in a place. A very quiet place. There's someone lying next to her."
"Who?"
" Kushinadahime."
Amaterasu was stunned. A moment of silence fell over the stone chamber.
" Kushinadahime?" Amaterasu repeated the name, "The woman who farmed alongside Madara Uchiha?"
"Yes."
Amaterasu's fingers remained on her knees, motionless.
Her gaze fell on the lamplight reflected on the stone wall, as if she were processing something.
She spoke, but very slowly.
" Kushinadahime. That woman who only knows how to farm. Shouldn't she be by Madara Uchiha's side?"
Why did he reappear Akaruhime? Could it be...?
Kukurihime-no-Kami nodded.
Her breathing was still shallow, but her eyes were brighter than before. That brightness wasn't excitement, but a clear-headedness from finally grasping something.
" Amaterasu, have you thought of that too?"
Amaterasu's expression was a half-smile, as if she had just solved a long-hidden mystery, or perhaps a silent mockery.
" Akaruhime's ability is to change form. It changes a person from the root. If Omoikane goes to her and makes her completely transform herself into another person—a woman!"
Amaterasu spoke, she suddenly burst into laughter.
At first, she was mindful of her manners, covering her mouth with her slender hand.
The laughter grew louder and louder until she could no longer hold back and burst into laughter.
Amaterasu slowly stood up. She walked to Kukurihime-no-Kami and looked down at her.
" Kukurihime, am I right? Omoikane has transformed herself into Kushinadahime?"
"Yes," Kukurihime-no-Kami said, " Kushinadahime is Omoikane."
Omoikane is Kushinadahime. They are the same person.
Akaruhime used her powers to transform Omoikane-no-Kami into a woman in the truest sense.
Therefore, the Omoikane-no-Kami has never been present in my prophecies.
She should now be called Kushinadahime.
The stone chamber fell completely silent. Amaterasu stood in the light of the luminous pearl, her face filled with undisguised shock and absurdity.
After a long silence, she finally spoke.
"So what exactly is Omoikane plotting? And why has she transformed herself into a real woman?"
At this point, a mocking look appeared on Amaterasu's face, "She even got pregnant with Madara Uchiha's child!"
Silence fell once more in the stone chamber, the three goddesses struggling to accept this absurd truth.
The once high Takamagahara god of Takamagahara actually transformed into a woman for an outsider and even became pregnant with his child.
Amaterasu believed that with the wisdom of Omoikane, she would not do anything futile.
So why did he make such a huge sacrifice?