Things never go as expected.
Jiraiya had originally thought that no matter how strong his former student was, leading the Akatsuki, their battle against the Rikudou Sennin and the Great Toad Sage would at least be fierce and hard-fought. But in reality, the overwhelming power difference made him finally understand the meaning of "a frog at the bottom of a well." And the worst part? The frog in the well… was him.
Especially seeing the Rikudou Sennin, who had tried to escape after his sneak attack failed. Even in his spiritual form, he was still pinned to the ground by that supposedly "ordinary" sword summoned by Nagato.
This was the power of the Sun God Kingdom. This was the strength of the organization that maintained stability in the shinobi world.
He should have been honored to have once been the teacher of such an organization's leader. And yet, at this moment, his emotions were… complicated.
"So Nagato had already started investigating Myoboku before you even noticed? That does sound like him."
After listening to Jiraiya's summary, Orochimaru glanced at the Akatsuki members cleaning up the battlefield and spoke.
"But don't take it too hard. You weren't meddling unnecessarily. If everyone in the shinobi world had the same awareness as you, Nagato's job would be much easier."
Orochimaru paused, then glanced at Jiraiya and rolled her eyes.
"But in situations like this, it's best to report directly to the Sun God Kingdom's security department. Acting on your own can just make things worse. I get that it's frustrating, but the truth is, our time is over. The younger generation is far stronger than us now."
The legendary "Three Sannin of Konoha"?
That title doesn't hold much weight anymore. If they were the "Three Sannin of the Sun God Kingdom," now that would sound far more impressive.
"My time is over. You and Tsunade are a different story, though."
Jiraiya chuckled bitterly.
Nagato had started looking into Myoboku long before Jiraiya even realized there was an issue. Even if that weren't the case, his reckless trip to Myoboku and his subsequent defeat could have led to intelligence leaks and delayed the response, nearly ruining everything.
People have to accept getting old.
But strangely enough, everyone except him—Orochimaru, Tsunade—still looked just as young as before. Especially Orochimaru, who had somehow turned into a beautiful woman.
"By the way, why are you using a female body now?"
In the end, Jiraiya couldn't hold back and asked the question that had been on his mind for ages.
That was just the surface question, though. What he was actually curious about was how it felt to be a woman—but he didn't dare to ask that directly.
"As a great scientist, I have many topics to explore in my lifetime. And the man I once looked up to was always particularly obsessed with the female form. Researching that mystery became one of my subjects."
Orochimaru replied calmly.
"Besides, compared to a male body, a female body is simply more convenient for me."
Convenient?
Jiraiya glanced at Miss Snake's... *rather large* assets, almost rivaling Tsunade's.
Oh well, as long as she's happy.
Shaking his head, Jiraiya returned to a more serious demeanor. He took this chance to catch up with Orochimaru—after all, Orochimaru had been extremely busy with work, and it had been a long time since the two of them had a proper reunion. It was a good opportunity to reminisce about the past.
The events at Mount Myoboku had shaken Jiraiya deeply. It almost felt like his entire belief system had collapsed. But at the same time, he came to a realization—people's fixed impressions can deceive them. Even someone as highly respected as the Great Toad Sage could turn out to be a danger to the ninja world.
Both eyes and feelings can be deceiving. The only way to truly see someone for who they are is to look at them objectively.
At first, he thought the Great Toad Sage had been manipulated by someone else. But now, he realized it was actually the other way around—the sage had been the one manipulating others. The sense of betrayal was overwhelming. If his mind hadn't been strong enough, he might have completely broken down, not knowing what to do next.
But a true hero remains a hero. As long as the tale of the legendary ninja hadn't ended, he would find something meaningful to do. Seeing what had become of Nagato, he suddenly felt the urge to take up teaching again. But this time, he wouldn't impose his own ideals on others.
While Jiraiya and Orochimaru were catching up, the cleanup at Mount Myoboku was nearly complete under Akatsuki's organized efforts.
After a thorough investigation, Nagato confirmed that the incident had been orchestrated by Gamamaru, with the cooperation of Rikudou Sennin Otsutsuki Hagoromo and his two sons.
Aside from a few core elders who had been directly serving Gamamaru, the other toads had been under some form of control and had no idea what was happening. Many of them were shocked when they learned Gamamaru had been planning to sabotage the Great Ninja Tournament. However, after regaining his senses, Elder Shima was unable to accept the fact that he had personally killed his lifelong companion. Overcome with grief, he chose to follow Fukasaku into the afterlife. This left Nagato feeling somewhat emotional.
"The Sun God is merciful. The masterminds behind this incident have already been captured, so there will be no mass extermination of all the toads in Mount Myoboku. However, the place will remain under close watch. You'd better behave."
Nagato cast a glance at Gamamaru, who was now restrained by the mechanical puppet created by Sasori. After confirming that Rikudou Sennin's spirit had been sealed away, the mission was officially complete. He then issued a stern warning to the remaining toads, making them all extremely anxious.
Hyuga Hitoshi was not a cruel man. He didn't care about Mount Myoboku's traditions. In his view, a diverse ninja world was a better ninja world. The large toads of Mount Myoboku had, for the most part, been innocent in this situation, so there was no need for a complete purge. It wasn't that the Sun God Kingdom lacked the authority to do so—Hitoshi had zero tolerance for those who intentionally sought to overthrow his rule or harm the ninja world. But those who had merely been controlled were another matter.
However, once Gamamaru was put on trial and Rikudou Sennin's identity was exposed, the impact on the ninja world would be massive. The backlash alone would be enough to crush Mount Myoboku. The title of a "Sacred Land" would become meaningless. After planning for thousands of years, Gamamaru had ultimately achieved nothing. Compared to the White Snake Sage, his level of foresight was embarrassingly lacking.
That being said, Gamamaru wasn't without his own struggles. Truth be told, he had long envied Ryuuchi Cave for being able to produce three divine snake priestesses who could transform into human forms. He also found it unbelievable how Hyuga Hitoshi had such an insatiable appetite—he even took in baby snakes as part of his harem. Achieving a humanoid form, even if it was only maintained through chakra, was no easy feat.
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The White Snake Sage spent over a thousand years to cultivate three little ones with the right talent. She never planned to use them to seduce the Sun God, but since he was truly starving, things ended up working out by accident, just like how Xu Xian mistakenly fell into that situation.
But the Ryūchi Cave could use snake beauties to get closer to the Sun God Kingdom. Shikkotsu Forest, on the other hand, was already tied to the Sun God Kingdom because of Tsunade and her unique healing techniques. But what about the toads? What would happen to Mount Myōboku? Even if Hyuga Hitoshi was really starving, he wouldn't go looking for a toad beauty, would he?
Since forming an alliance was impossible, and because of their connection to the Sage of Six Paths, they had long been on the opposite side of Kaguya, the Divine Concubine. Sooner or later, they would clash with the Sun God Kingdom. Gamamaru had no choice but to look for a way to break the deadlock, which led to the current situation.
Now, as he was being sent to the Sun God Kingdom's dungeon to await judgment, with everything reported and about to be made public, Gamamaru could only sigh at how mysterious fate could be. He finally understood how hard it was for a toad like him to manipulate the human world.
Someone else who shared the same thoughts was none other than the Sage of Six Paths, Otsutsuki Hagoromo.
As a legendary figure who had once sealed his own mother with his own hands—imprisoning Kaguya, the Divine Concubine—his treatment was naturally special.
But even for him, this was an experience he had never gone through before.
Inside a passage that seemed to stretch across endless time, revealing the vast universe, the Sage of Six Paths stood in shock, impaled with chakra-suppressing stakes. His gaze darted around in disbelief. Beside him was Nagato, the one responsible for escorting him to the Sun God Star.
As the Sun God Star moved in sync with Earth's orbit, the tunnel connecting the two planets remained stable. In this space, they could truly grasp their own insignificance. Compared to the entire universe, the shinobi world was nothing more than a speck of dust.
Nagato glanced at the shocked Sage of Six Paths but remained indifferent.
It was important to understand one's place, but Otsutsuki Hagoromo clearly lacked that awareness. The only reason he could witness this grand sight and catch a glimpse of the universe's vastness was because of the crimes he had committed.
Of course, if the Sun God and Kaguya weren't both on the Sun God Star at this moment, the Sage of Six Paths might have never realized just how vast the universe truly was.
Even though the moon itself was a result of his Six Paths: Chibaku Tensei, back when he used that technique, he probably believed the universe wasn't much bigger than what he could comprehend.
Still, if even a "failure" like the Sage of Six Paths could create the moon, then if the Sun God went all out, could he actually create an entire planet?
Wait, no—Six Paths: Chibaku Tensei doesn't actually create anything. It simply gathers and compresses matter from the ground into a sphere. That logic seems flawed.
No one would understand Nagato's train of thought. The Sage of Six Paths, who was being escorted, certainly had no idea that the one guarding him was currently contemplating the mechanics of Chibaku Tensei and whether it could be used to form a planet.
But in the end, Earth wasn't that far from the Sun God Star. Before long, the two of them emerged from the passage, arriving in a place filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers.
Unlike Naruto and Sasuke, who were overwhelmed when they first arrived, neither Nagato nor Otsutsuki Hagoromo wasted time looking around.
As a devoted follower of the Sun God, Nagato always felt a sense of tension and restraint in the presence of true divinity. Those with strong minds sometimes ended up persuading themselves. Looking back at how Hyuga Hitoshi and Nagato interacted, the clan leader had never deliberately tried to manipulate him. However, after witnessing the stark contrast between false gods and a true god, Nagato naturally became a devout believer. He even developed his own clear distinctions between gods and mortals, along with a personal code of conduct when facing the divine.
What else could Hyuga Hitoshi say?
He was simply pleased with Nagato's dedication. As expected, he upgraded Nagato's access level for the Sun God Seal and then invited him—who was both honored and overwhelmed—to experience an exclusive Infinite Tsukuyomi dream crafted just for him.
Everyone has regrets. Nagato had an incredibly strong heart, but there were still voids that needed to be filled. Unlike Naruto and Sasuke, whose trials in the limited Tsukuyomi were filled with hardships, the version prepared for Nagato was purely for relaxation—a dream designed to fulfill his regrets. It wasn't exactly a reward, since it was just a dream, but it would show him the different outcomes of different choices.
Hyuga Hitoshi had already known everything happening on Earth. After all, even though Jiraiya's delayed report to Orochimaru arrived late, it still made it through. At that time, Orochimaru had been quietly watching from the studio as Hitoshi and Kushina had an intense debate.
And Kushina was still Kushina—no matter how great the Sun God was, she still managed to make sarcastic comments from time to time.
But because the Sun God was simply too powerful, her face had turned frighteningly red. Clutching a certain spot, she glared at Hyuga Hitoshi with an expression that looked as if she had just been wronged.
"Not bad."
With a slight motion of his hand, the great Sun God's face glowed with a divine radiance, his warm presence making those around him feel at ease.
The way a god speaks to his followers is, of course, different from how he talks to his women. Especially in front of fanatical believers—even if Hyuga Hitoshi didn't deliberately try to act superior—he still carried an unmistakable aura of compassion and greatness toward mortals.
Even though he was lazily leaning against Yugito, his presence was striking. Little Chili, who was standing nearby, was shocked by how quickly the clan leader's demeanor had changed. Was this really the same shameless rogue who, just moments ago, had been acting so indecently with his maid after Orochimaru left?
If she hadn't coughed to interrupt him back then, who knows what would've happened…
So… is this his true self?
At this moment, thanks to the Sun God's effortless display of authority, Little Chili found herself growing curious about him.
But Hyuga Hitoshi didn't care about that. He was still focused on praising his subordinates.
"Having you and the Akatsuki in the ninja world is both its fortune and mine. The safety of the ninja world will need your strength in the days to come."
Nagato had done well this time. He sensed the danger before Toad Maru and the Sage of Six Paths made their move, and he managed to avoid causing any unnecessary trouble. Hyuga Hitoshi was quite pleased.
"For the Sun God!"
Nagato placed a fist over his chest with a solemn expression, looking as if he was ready to give his heart at any moment. Hyuga Hitoshi, not wanting to dampen his enthusiasm, gave him a few more words of encouragement before shifting his gaze elsewhere.
Compared to the lively atmosphere here, the air on the other side felt so heavy that even a stray dog passing by would shake its head.
The reason was simple.
Nagato wasn't admiring the beauty of the Sun God's star. As a devout believer, he wouldn't dare let his mind wander in the presence of his god—paying attention to anything other than divine power would be disrespectful. This was his own strict self-discipline, a mindset as unwavering as Might Guy training in the Eight Gates technique.
Just like how even someone as fiery as Rock Lee could settle down and have a family, yet you'd never see Might Guy looking for a partner—this was a matter of sheer willpower, an absolute form of self-control.
So, you really couldn't ask more of someone who already pushed himself to the limit once every three years.
Of course, Nagato's restraint wasn't the only reason for the tense atmosphere.
Otsutsuki Hagoromo wasn't looking around at the Sun God's star either, but for a different reason.
The moment he and Nagato stepped out of the passageway, he noticed someone standing in the distance, facing the mountains with her back to them. The Moon Goddess.
It seemed she had been waiting for them for a long time.
Nagato wouldn't dare guess what the Goddesses were thinking, but the Sage of Six Paths—
A bead of sweat formed on his forehead.
Just from seeing her back, he felt an overwhelming pressure unlike anything he had ever experienced before.
"...Mother."
At last, as if the heavy silence had reached its peak, Otsutsuki Hagoromo couldn't hold it in any longer. He lowered his head in shame and called out.
What a nostalgic way to address her.
But…
She gently touched her lower abdomen. The feeling of truly carrying a life inside her—this wasn't something as simple as separating chakra. Without the process of nurturing, birth was incomplete.
The Moon Goddess slowly turned her body and looked at the child she had once been so proud of.
In that moment, she admitted to herself that she was fragile—not someone who could just forget everything and move on.
If she didn't know that too much emotion could affect the new life growing inside her, she might have already shed tears.
A thousand years had passed.
She had spent so long by the side of the so-called "heretic," watching him rise from an ordinary man to a true god. Naturally, Kaguya herself had changed too.
Perhaps, a thousand years ago, she had been wrong in some ways. From the perspective of justice, Hagoromo and Hamura's actions had their reasons as well.
But people are different from one another.
Just as the "heretic" once said—when you choose justice over family, you may earn respect, but you will also create distance.
Deep down, Kaguya had already let go of the fact that her son had sealed her away.
But seeing him again—her heart was filled with nothing but sadness.
"Your brother, Hamura… where is he?"
With Kaguya's abilities, she could easily sense traces of Hamura in Hagoromo.
It was an Otsutsuki technique—one that devoured others, just like how Momoshiki had consumed Kinshiki.
Kaguya could feel the same aura on Hagoromo.
But she couldn't accept it right away, so she still asked.
Yes, in the Pure Land, when Hamura failed to stop Hagoromo, he was ultimately devoured by his brother in the final moment—just as Kaguya had suspected.
However—
"Oh, I kept his ashes."
The heavy atmosphere was bound to be broken sooner or later.
Hyuga Hitoshi, having finished praising Nagato, casually strolled over while holding an urn.
His relaxed attitude was no different from how he had almost scattered the ancestors' remains all over the moon back in the day.
Without much thought, he placed Hamura's ashes on the ground, then wrapped an arm around Kaguya's slender waist.
Looking at the Sage of Six Paths, he asked,
"Do you really think his existence is worth more than a single one of your mother's tears?"
Because, in the end, shedding tears over someone like that… wasn't worth it.
Hyuga Hitoshi deeply respects those who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good, even to the point of turning against their own family. But sometimes, doing so doesn't necessarily mean you're upholding justice.
From an omniscient perspective, if it weren't for Kaguya, Earth would have been doomed a thousand years ago, and Rikudou Sennin wouldn't have had the chance to save the ninja world. And to be honest, the battle where Rikudou Sennin and his brother fought against Kaguya lasted for months. The number of people who died during that time was probably higher than those weakened by the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Can you really see him as a hero?
"That guy..."
Not far away, Kushina glanced at Kaguya, a hint of envy flashing in her eyes. Hyuga Hitoshi really knew how to talk. What did he mean by "someone like that isn't worth even a single tear from your woman"? Is this how he managed to marry over ten wives and still keep them from fighting each other?
"But still, I have to say, I admire your sense of duty. A man as devoted to the greater good as you must be willing to contribute your strength and value to the growth of the ninja world, right?"
Hyuga Hitoshi's tone suddenly shifted, and a strange glint appeared in his eyes. For a brief moment, Rikudou Sennin felt an eerie chill run down his spine.
What was even more unsettling was that when Hitoshi raised his hand, Hagoromo—who was originally in a spiritual form—suddenly began to take on a physical body. Even his clothes started to materialize!
He had come back to life in just a matter of seconds!?
Rikudou Sennin was utterly shocked. He had heard rumors that Hyuga Hitoshi had control over the forces of life and death, but he was Rikudou Sennin, a true Six Paths-level being. And yet, he was resurrected just like that?
And why did this guy bring him back? As someone who always planned ahead, he knew better than to believe in free favors.
"Relax."
Hitoshi smiled and said,
"Isshiki's Ten-Tails needs a way to be activated. It requires a fresh Otsutsuki. While you're a downgraded version of one, that doesn't mean you won't work. This is all just an experiment for the sake of strengthening the ninja world, to help it prepare for powerful enemies."
"You're the kind of man who, a thousand years ago, had the resolve to seal away his own mother for the sake of the world. I doubt you'd refuse this little favor from your 'stepfather,' would you?"