Beyond the ninja world, on Yangshen Star.
Otsutsuki Hagoromo, this imitation Otsutsuki, had no idea what exactly Hyuga Hitoshi meant by his "proposal."
Kaguya, on the other hand, opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something. But in the end, after looking at her resurrected son, then at Hyuga Hitoshi, she chose to remain silent.
In a way, by devouring Hamura's soul, Hagoromo did qualify as a sacrifice for the Ten-Tails' growth. But for a man as powerful as Hitoshi, finding a real, fresh Otsutsuki wasn't difficult. The real reason he was doing this was more about helping Kaguya vent her anger.
If you think about it, the Ten-Tails in Isshiki's possession was originally meant to be the one Kaguya sacrificed herself to. And now, instead, Rikudou Sennin was the one being offered up. In a way, it was like he was taking her place in suffering.
Besides, Hyuga Hitoshi wasn't lying to Hagoromo. The Ten-Tails under Isshiki was a ready-made experiment. Studying how different sacrifices affected the growth of the Ten-Tails was exactly the research Orochimaru had been discussing with Hitoshi before he left.
This was an alternative approach based on the information Kaguya had provided about the Divine Tree's growth. It was a significant step forward for the ninja world. Rikudou Sennin had once been willing to seal his own mother for the sake of the world. Now, sacrificing himself for the ninja world's future wasn't all that different.
With a casual wave of his hand, Hyuga Hitoshi sealed away Rikudou Sennin's power and handed him over to Nagato, who stood nearby. Then, he patted the visibly conflicted Rabbit Goddess on the shoulder.
Kaguya let out a small sigh and leaned into Hyuga Hitoshi's embrace. But after a moment, she felt uncomfortable, so she used her size-changing ability to shrink down and burrow directly into his chest.
Seeing her son again after all these years brought back complicated emotions. At this moment, only the warmth of the great Yangshen Lord could fill the emptiness in her heart. After all, she had spent so many years hanging from Hyuga Hitoshi's belt that she was already used to it.
"Is that really Rikudou Sennin?"
Even though dealing with Hagoromo was just a trivial matter for Hyuga Hitoshi, his sudden appearance was enough to shock every ninja in the world.
But what shook Kushina even more was that this man had casually revived Rikudou Sennin in his spiritual form!
What kind of terrifying power was this? No wonder he could rule the ninja world and create the Sun God Kingdom, something unprecedented in history.
"Yeah, Otsutsuki Hagoromo. He may have the Otsutsuki name, but at best, he's just a knockoff."
Hyuga Hitoshi commented indifferently before casually waving at Nagato, signaling him to take Hagoromo away. Earlier, when he had rewarded Nagato, he had mentioned that Nagato could come by later to experience the Limited Tsukuyomi—a little perk for his subordinates.
"If Rikudou Sennin is a knockoff, then what does that make us ninjas?"
Kushina let out a bitter laugh. At that moment, she felt just like Jiraiya-sensei had—completely left behind by the times.
"Well, it's just a minor issue. Don't let the dirty side of the ninja world distract you from what's important."
Hyuga Hitoshi waved his hand dismissively and pointed toward the projection in front of them. Right now, Naruto and Sasuke's Limited Tsukuyomi had reached a critical stage, just moments away from its climax. Compared to the mess Rikudou Sennin and Gamamaru were stirring up, he was far more interested in how those two would perform in the upcoming events.
After all, the former had already been dealt with. Both Gamamaru and Rikudou Sennin would face their judgment soon enough. Though their fates would shake the ninja world when the news spread, their narrow worldview had already doomed them to be failures. There was nothing more to be concerned about. That was why Hyuga Hitoshi didn't even bother arguing with Rikudou Sennin.
Mocking a loser wouldn't bring him any satisfaction. And looking down on Rikudou Sennin's misunderstanding of his mother from an omniscient point of view wasn't necessary. Becoming the Divine Tree's sacrifice was simply the best outcome for him.
But Naruto and Sasuke's Limited Tsukuyomi was different. That was a completely unique world running on its own logic, filled with endless possibilities. The anticipation was through the roof!
Of course.
This was only from Hyuga Hitoshi's perspective.
In reality, after learning the truth about the situation and the identities of Gamamaru and Hagoromo, Pepper's reaction was actually the most normal one.
Her shock was simply a reflection of how the entire ninja world felt.
"Now for an urgent news broadcast."
At the same time, while Nagato was escorting the Sage of Six Paths to prison, an urgent news report was immediately broadcast across the entire ninja world through the Sun God Network. Everyone turned to their screens in confusion, but what they saw left them in shock.
"During the Ninja World Tournament, the special operations group 'Akatsuki,' under the command of His Eminence the Sun God, uncovered a conspiracy targeting the Sun God Kingdom, the ninja world, and the tournament itself. The mastermind planned to use the Reanimation Jutsu to revive the dead and attack tournament participants, aiming to create chaos and disrupt the competition. The ultimate goal was to use unfair methods to eliminate rival competitors and secure the top rewards."
"The Reanimation Jutsu was originally created by the Second Hokage of Konohagakure, Senju Tobirama. Later, the Sun God's research division refined it for ethical purposes—helping families find closure, reuniting war orphans with their ancestors, and even allowing people to ask deceased relatives about hidden family assets. The Sun God Kingdom encourages the proper study and use of ninjutsu. In addition, the Reanimation Jutsu is also utilized to revive major criminals and put them to work in labor camps, making it an advanced, cost-free labor solution unique to the ninja world. However, its use for illegal purposes is strictly prohibited."
"Furthermore, due to advancements made by the research division, a new version of the Reanimation Jutsu now includes a signal detector. Any activation of the civilian-use Reanimation Jutsu will be instantly reported to the Sun God Network, triggering an immediate investigation. Therefore, do not use it without proper authorization and registration—violation is at your own risk."
"Finally, after investigation, the mastermind behind this violation of Sun God law was identified as Gamamaru of Mount Myoboku. The executors were the Sage of Six Paths, Otsutsuki Hagoromo, and his two sons, Indra and Ashura—figures who, a thousand years ago, sealed away Lady Kaguya and the Goddess of Myo. Their goal was to eliminate all competitors standing in Indra and Ashura's way while shifting the blame onto Uchiha Madara, the last person to have had contact with Root's leader, Danzo. Thanks to the efforts of Nagato, leader of Akatsuki, and its members, this conspiracy has been completely crushed."
Otsutsuki Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths, and Gamamaru, the self-proclaimed Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku, have been captured. Indra and Ashura resisted fiercely and were killed on the spot.
"The Sun God's decree: Let this be a warning to all. The Sun God is watching. Do not entertain thoughts of escaping justice. If you commit a crime, be absolutely sure of the consequences. Do not follow in the footsteps of the Sage of Six Paths and Gamamaru."
The urgent broadcast was accompanied by live footage from the scene. The ruins of Mount Myoboku were clearly visible, along with the dazed and confused toads. Most striking, however, was the sight of Gamamaru being arrested and the Sage of Six Paths impaled by suppression weapons.
Of course, the bodies of two tournament participants, who had been killed after fiercely resisting, also caught people's attention.
The combination of live commentary, visuals, and detailed subtitles meant that almost everyone instantly grasped the full story of this incident.
However, regarding Jiraiya's unexpected involvement, Nagato consulted Hyuga Hitoshi and ultimately chose to spare his former teacher some dignity. No reports mentioned the 'Legendary Hero,' as Jiraiya had played no real role in the situation and had only caused Orochimaru to waste a trip.
After all, despite everything, Jiraiya had once raised and mentored him. Without Jiraiya, the Akatsuki that once upheld its ideals might never have existed. Nagato didn't want Jiraiya to become a subject of ridicule in his old age, even if Jiraiya himself wouldn't have cared.
That said, this incident had nothing to do with Jiraiya to begin with.
Once the broadcast ended, the brief silence that followed was soon broken as everyone fully absorbed the truth about the Sage of Six Paths and Gamamaru.
It was shocking.
Utterly shocking.
A thousand-year-old conspiracy, a sinister plot targeting the Ninja World Tournament—it was as if, for the first time, people realized that so-called 'sacred lands' could be just as dirty as anything else. But what shook them even more was that this tournament had managed to unearth the darkest schemer of them all—the Sage of Six Paths himself!
And what left them even more dumbfounded was the fact that all the legends had turned out to be true. The Sage of Six Paths was still alive, still watching over the ninja world, and, incredibly, he was even interested in the tournament's grand prize!
What was terrifying was that, had Gamamaru's scheme succeeded, the outcome of the Ninja World Tournament would have been unimaginable. Even worse, the report had revealed that Uchiha Madara—who had inherited Root Village—had never actually interacted with Danzo's envoy, the Second Tsuchikage. But if things had gone as planned, Madara would have been framed for the entire affair!
Even if he wouldn't be condemned outright, he would at least be subjected to an investigation. And the tournament itself would undoubtedly suffer a massive impact.
It was horrifying how well this conspiracy manipulated human nature. And to think that the mastermind behind it all was none other than the so-called Great Toad Sage, the one whose prophecies were supposedly never wrong!
Then again, no one really knew what the Great Toad Sage had actually predicted in the past, or which of his 'prophecies' had been real and which were just nonsense. But that no longer mattered. He had been captured and would soon be put on trial. No matter that his plan hadn't even begun—the sheer malice of his intentions and his willingness to go through with them left no room for redemption. Death was the only fate awaiting him.
Without a doubt, the emergence of the Sage of Six Paths made one thing abundantly clear to the ninjas of the world: this tournament was on an entirely different level. It also showed just how far some people were willing to go to obtain the Sun God Seal.
This only reinforced one fact—even sages coveted divine power. And it further proved just how irresistible the Sun God Seal truly was.
After the initial shock wore off, people began to reflect seriously. Tournament participants, in particular, started pushing themselves even harder. Ironically, the Sage of Six Paths himself probably never imagined that his actions would end up making the competitors train even more rigorously.
"You owe Nagato another favor for this one."
The urgent broadcast mentioned many familiar names, but for Senju Hashirama, most of them didn't matter to him personally. Except for one—his best friend, Uchiha Madara, had once again appeared in the headlines. But this time, Hashirama could only feel relieved.
At the rear training grounds of the Sun God's Second Construction Unit, the First Hokage glanced at Madara, who was silently wiping his katana, and gave him a subtle warning, as if to make him realize the gravity of the situation.
"The Reanimation Jutsu did end up in my hands," Uchiha Madara muttered after a brief silence, pulling out the scroll that the Second Tsuchikage had once handed over after being freed from Danzo's control.
It was indeed the Reanimation Jutsu.
Back then, Madara had considered using the technique, but after realizing the absolute power gap between himself and the Sun God, he abandoned the idea. By now, he had long since come to understand what the Infinite Tsukuyomi truly was, and any desire to overthrow the Sun God Kingdom and become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki had already faded.
"But you do realize that if Gamamaru's plan had actually worked, you would have been the first suspect, right?"
Senju Hashirama sighed softly.
People's preconceived notions are difficult to change. Even though Madara had defeated Indra and demonstrated overwhelming strength, earning himself many new supporters, his title as the 'Demon of the Ninja World' and his past actions—once brought to light—
"—would be just like how the Uchiha were never truly trusted in Konohagakure?"
Uchiha Madara smiled, but his eyes carried a hint of mockery and disdain.
"I admit I owe Nagato a favor, but Hashirama, you still don't seem to understand the true nature of the shinobi world. I bet the Sun God Kingdom won't treat me like Konohagakure treated the Uchiha. After all, His Radiance the Sun God isn't you."
You bastard.
That sounded harsh, but Senju Hashirama never took Madara's taunts to heart. Besides, he understood what Madara meant—he was telling him not to worry. No matter how bad things got, in the end, he would be proven innocent. That was just how Hyuga Hitoshi was. That was what made the shinobi world under His Radiance different.
As for Uchiha Madara, it seemed he had started to lean toward Nagato's way of thinking. Ever since returning from the Sun God Star, he had never called Hyuga Hitoshi "that guy" again. Whether in private or in public, he always addressed him as "His Radiance," and his demeanor had become increasingly respectful.
"As for Nagato... not thanking him, not disturbing him, is the best way to repay him."
Setting down his katana, Uchiha Madara glanced at Hashirama and suddenly felt annoyed. He had always considered himself equal to Hashirama, but after gaining true clarity, he realized there was something he could never surpass him in.
That was the fact that this guy could openly say he was the elder of His Radiance the Sun God. Even though he never bragged about it, there was no denying it—he was Tsunade's grandfather. Even that annoying Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, was the same.
From Sasuke's perspective, Madara treated him like a younger brother, which, without question, made him Hashirama's great-grandson. From His Radiance's perspective, Madara was just a subordinate, while Hashirama was the grandfather of His Radiance's woman. No matter how he looked at it, he was on the lower end of the hierarchy.
But there was nothing he could do. Uchiha Madara had never been weaker than anyone in his life—except when it came to having descendants. And not just any descendants—female ones.
Uchiha Madara asked seriously. The maid selection tournament allowed backdoor entries, but beauty was the currency. No one would complain as long as the candidate was stunning.
"On our homeworld, my sister is the number one beauty. That... wretched, I mean, great Rabbit Goddess Kaguya only ranks third."
Momoshiki said proudly, though his tone carried a trace of frustration.
But it seemed like this situation wouldn't last much longer.
At the very least, he could move up from being just a great-grandson.
That night, after parting ways with Hashirama, Uchiha Madara returned to the Second Squad's headquarters. As he watched his subordinates, the Admirals, enter the room one after another, a rare look of satisfaction appeared on his face.
"Captain."
The moment he stepped in, Otsutsuki Urashiki lowered his head and respectfully greeted Uchiha Madara.
It wasn't for any special reason—just the proper courtesy of a guardian toward his charge. As the protector of Otsutsuki Ryūshiki, it was only natural to show deference to someone carrying his mark. Even if Uchiha Madara was merely Ryūshiki's vessel, formalities had to be observed. After all, no one knew if Ryūshiki was watching.
"Ahem, Captain Madara, let's get straight to the point. We need your recommendation."
Isshiki couldn't afford to be polite right now. He first glanced at Momoshiki, whose expression wasn't too great, then got straight to business.
"To prove our loyalty to Earth and show that we genuinely want to join the Sun Guard, we've decided to send Momoshiki's sister, Otsutsuki Myouyou, to the upcoming maid selection tournament."
"But as you know, our status makes things a bit awkward in the shinobi world. We don't have many connections. The only person we really got to know was you, since we worked on your construction site for a while. So, we hope you can give us a recommendation—preferably one that ensures Myouyou can..."
That was about as direct as it could get!
This was the last resort for the three of them.
They had been hesitating until just now. Even though they had already made a plan, they weren't eager to take the risk of opposing the Otsutsuki homeworld. So, they kept debating whether to go with the surrender strategy and calculating the chances of successfully obtaining and analyzing the Sun God Seal.
Then they heard the emergency broadcast's final announcement.
It was a message from His Radiance himself.
His Radiance is watching you!
Don't think you can get away with anything!
Wasn't that a direct warning?!
With their nerves completely shaken, the three finally made up their minds. It just so happened that Momoshiki's sister, Myouyou, was about to arrive on Earth.
Maybe it was time to put their infiltration plan into action!
But they hit a roadblock as soon as they got started.
The problem?
The maid selection tournament, in some ways, had even stricter rules than the shinobi tournament. In fact, some of the promotion methods used in the shinobi tournament were borrowed from the maid selection.
After all, how many times had the shinobi tournament been held? The maid selection had been running for over a decade!
For those wanting to participate, the usual method was to register before the tournament started. But registration had already closed. To get in now, they'd have to pull some strings. And even then, there was one unspoken rule—looks mattered. If you weren't attractive enough, even getting in through connections wouldn't work.
His Radiance the Sun God didn't need to marry ugly noblewomen to stabilize the court. He wasn't some powerless emperor forced into political marriages. His final selection standard was simple.
"Is your sister pretty?"
After hearing that, Urashiki rolled his eyes helplessly and added, "The top three... It's hard to rank them exactly, but they're probably on the same level as Lady Kaguya, and they have two horns."
As long as they look good, that's all that matters.
But Uchiha Madara clearly didn't care about the two-horn thing. He was only interested in one question.
"What does he call Ryūshiki? Brother or little brother? What's Ryūshiki's seniority in your clan?"
Uh.
Why does this Earthling care so much about Ryūshiki's seniority?
Momoshiki gave Madara a suspicious look, then thought for a moment.
"Ryūshiki is distantly related to our bloodline. If she were my sister, then in formal settings, we'd have to address him as... well, in Earth terms, he'd be something like a 'seventh great-uncle.'"
That settles it!
Uchiha Madara immediately stood up, grabbed Momoshiki's hand, and nodded firmly.
"Don't worry, I, Uchiha Madara, will definitely help with this!"
Ryūshiki, Momoshiki—what's the difference? If Ryūshiki is his, then isn't everything Momoshiki's also his?
At worst, he could just ask Black Zetsu for a little backdoor help, and that'd be that!