Confirmed by the giant Tenseigan scan and chakra signature.
Through the giant Tenseigan, Satsuki teleported into Rōran's most secret laboratory.
This laboratory had been built hundreds of meters underground according to her specifications, powered by the Ryūmyaku chakra, with the giant Tenseigan as the management terminal.
Here, hundreds of transparent cultivation tanks made of composite materials were arranged neatly in a square formation.
Each transparent tank was about the height of an adult, with a diameter of around one meter. For now, they were still empty, not yet filled with nutrient fluid.
This was because the experiment concerning the creation of the Hyūga clan was only in its first stage. The second stage, which involved filling the tanks with nutrient fluid, had not yet begun.
At present, the Hyūga creation plan remained at its initial step: cultivating cell tissue into biological embryos.
A being on the Six Paths level already possessed self-repairing capabilities, meaning they essentially had no weaknesses. For instance, even when Six Paths Madara took Might Guy's Night Guy head-on, he was unharmed shortly afterward.
From past failed attempts, it became clear: the reason the cells died was not because they were too fragile, but because they were too powerful, and insufficient energy supply caused cultivation failure.
Thus, for the proliferation and division of these cells, the question was not whether they could do so—it was whether Satsuki could provide sufficient energy for them.
The Ryūmyaku chakra was her chosen solution to this problem.
According to the records left by the puppets she had stationed here, it had been a week since the cultivation of the first batch of embryos. Visible cell colonies had already formed.
This was good news. At the very least, it proved that she had resolved the issue of energy supply.
The petri dishes were stored inside a large incubator, the temperature maintained at thirty-seven degrees. The culture fluid had to be replaced every two hours, while the Ryūmyaku chakra continuously recharged the discarded gelatin. Designated puppets added nutrients into it for reuse.
"Looks like things are going well."
Satsuki received the experiment logs and data from recent days. After reviewing them for a while, she estimated that in about another week, these embryos would develop into primitive biological embryonic tissue.
At that stage, the incubator would no longer suffice. The living embryos would need to be transferred into the cultivation tanks for the second stage of growth.
Having grasped the progress of the Hyūga creation project, Satsuki left the Rōran laboratory and summoned Candle Nine Yin.
"What information do you have on the Sage Clan?"
"Sage Clan?" Candle Nine Yin's voice echoed with doubt. "My lady, I have never heard of any Sage Clan."
Is that so.
It seemed this so-called Sage Clan did not have a direct connection to the sages.
Satsuki brushed aside a lock of hair near her ear and sat back onto her main seat in thought. In her plan, once the Hyūga creation project showed results, the next target would be the Sage Clan.
After all, this hidden shinobi clan deep within the world of Naruto seemed to possess no small amount of "black technology."
Based on her speculation, the Sage Clan likely had the ability to replicate the Six Paths treasured tools and might even have contributed to the development of the world's foundational jutsu systems.
She recalled that some of the space-time formulas on certain summoning scrolls had not been fully decrypted.
Although usable, Satsuki disliked relying on techniques she did not fully understand. Thus, visiting the Sage Clan was a necessity.
Since Candle Nine Yin had no intelligence on them, she would need to find another way.
"The Senju clan's intelligence network should be able to provide relevant information."
...
Senju residence, within the Iga settlement.
"Clan Head Butsuma, this is a secret letter from that person."
A middle-aged man, armored and wearing the Senju clan crest on his forehead, handed a sealed letter to Senju Butsuma, who was visiting injured clan members.
"Thank you for your efforts, Elder Katsuma."
After accepting the letter, Butsuma exchanged a few words with those around him before leaving the medical ward.
In recent times, the conflict between the Senju clan and the Uchiha clan had grown increasingly fierce, resulting in more and more casualties. To make matters worse, troubling news arrived: another unfamiliar clan, calling themselves the Hagoromo clan, had allied with the Uchiha. Together, they posed a grave threat to the Iga Alliance led by the Senju and Uzumaki clans.
Fortunately, during this period there had been logistical and financial support from Satsuki Ōtsutsuki. In addition, the Senju clan itself had, to a certain degree, inherited the Sage Body from Asura. While their offensive power was not particularly high, their vitality was extremely resilient. With support from the Uzumaki clan, they had managed to hold their ground in the clashes without falling behind.
But their allies had not been so lucky. Once populous clans such as the Inuzuka and the Aburame—indeed, any shinobi clans belonging to the Iga Alliance—were targeted by the enemy for indiscriminate slaughter.
Just the matter of distributing condolence payments gave Butsuma Senju a massive headache. But he could not avoid it, for it had been his secret mission that had drawn the enemy there in the first place.
The fact that these clans had not pursued accountability for his unauthorized action was already giving him face. If he failed to handle the aftermath properly, the Senju risked censure and alienation from their allies.
That was something Butsuma Senju could not allow.
Thus, this was one of the reasons he had been compelled, reluctantly, to lean on Satsuki. And now, facing a letter personally sent by her, he naturally treated it with utmost seriousness.
So he returned home early.
"Big brother, father's back."
Among Butsuma's sons, Tobirama had the keenest sensory perception. He detected their father's return the moment he entered the residence.
"Oh, really? That's great." Hashirama's face lit up with joy, only to be instantly drenched head-to-toe by one of Tobirama's Water Release jutsu.
Watching nearby, Kawarama shouted loudly: "Tobirama-nii is so sneaky!"
"This is called tactics. I'm not like big brother, the kind of shinobi with only one track in his head," Tobirama said smugly, deflecting Hashirama's hurled shuriken with a kunai.
At this time, Hashirama—sporting a hopelessly rustic hairstyle—had been about to use his signature "Clap My Hands, Anything Comes" technique, but upon hearing those words, he instantly slumped, visible black lines rising from his body.
"So I'm really just a one-track-minded big brother…"
Tobirama, most exasperated by this flaw of his brother's, snapped irritably: "There you go again! Big brother, when are you ever going to get over this habit of moping for no reason?"
Before Tobirama could finish his rant, a wooden branch suddenly shot up from the ground, binding him in place.
In a flash, the dejected Hashirama transformed into a different person, his face breaking into a goofy grin. "Heh heh, even if I'm a one-track-minded big brother, I still won this match, hahaha!"
At those words, flames of fury almost shot from Tobirama's eyes. Even Kawarama, watching from the side, felt that their big brother was being insufferably infuriating.
"Let me go! I'm serious—father really is back!"
"I'm not falling for that one so easily, Tobirama." Hashirama folded his arms and laughed loudly.
"Hashirama, it's rare to see you all so lively."
A familiar voice came from behind the triumphant Hashirama. The self-proclaimed "God of Shinobi" froze instantly, as though caught by a Shadow Imitation jutsu.
"Father!"
When Hashirama Senju realized that the man behind him truly was his father, he immediately returned to a steady and reliable demeanor.
Released from the Wood Release binding, Tobirama and Kawarama also came over, and the three greeted Butsuma together.
"Father, you're back so early today. Is something the matter?"
As expected of the future Second Hokage, who would master Water Release and countless forbidden techniques, Tobirama's mind was the sharpest of the three brothers.
"Haha, just a small matter to handle. But I also wanted to see how your training is going."
Butsuma looked at Hashirama in slight surprise. "Hashirama, what was that jutsu you just used? It didn't seem like one commonly practiced by our clan."
"Oh, that—"
Just as Hashirama was about to boast to his father about the Wood Release he had unintentionally developed, Tobirama jumped in to cut him off.
"That's just some Wood Release jutsu big brother came up with while fooling around. It can't even restrain anyone. One explosive tag and it's blown apart."
"Hmph, that's a powerful jutsu! If I had more chakra, I'd show you. Once I've got enough, I'll catch a tailed beast for you myself!"
Kawarama stuck his tongue out at Hashirama. "Big brother's bragging again."
The three little rascals bickered and scuffled once more, while Butsuma watched with a smile. "Haha, catching a tailed beast is no simple task."
"Don't worry, Father. I'll train hard and help you capture all the tailed beasts in this world!" Hashirama promised with a pat on his chest.
"Hmph~~ always showing off." Tobirama turned his head with a tsundere snort. "When the time comes, I'll just have to clean up your mess again."
The youngest, Kawarama, stood timidly behind his brothers, whispering, "I… I'll be like my big brothers too."
"Mm, Kawarama. As the eldest, you must protect your family well." With that, Butsuma turned. "I still have matters to attend to. Continue your training."
"Yes!" ×3
After bidding farewell to his sons, Butsuma had his guards patrol the perimeter of the house, then brought only Elder Katsuma into his secret intelligence chamber.
"Elder Katsuma, are you certain this letter came directly from that lady?"
Seated at the head of the room, Butsuma lit a candle. In its flickering glow, both men's faces reflected stern expressions.
"Butsuma, I know the weight of such matters. I can assure you this letter was indeed sent by her personally."
"My apologies, Elder Katsuma. After the last plan was exposed, I've been on edge."
During that tailed beast contest, the Uchiha had intervened at a suspiciously precise moment. Their objectives were unmistakably clear, as if they already knew from the start that the Senju were after the tailed beast.
At that time, Butsuma realized his operation had been completely exposed. If not for the contingencies he had prepared, that battle might have spelled the Senju's end on the shinobi stage.
"No matter. After that incident, a bit more caution is a good thing."
Rip~
Tearing open the envelope, Butsuma read the Ōtsutsuki's demands. His brows gradually furrowed, as if weighing something, and the atmosphere grew heavy.
Minutes passed before Elder Katsuma could no longer hold back.
"Clan Head, is it something difficult?"
"Oh, it's merely a request for intelligence on the Sage Clan." Butsuma handed the letter over.
"Sage Clan?" Katsuma read the brief words written inside: "Within three days, submit all information on the Sage Clan you possess."
Beyond those words, there was no signature or seal.
"Simply providing intelligence on the Sage Clan isn't particularly difficult." Butsuma folded his arms. "What I don't understand is why she wants it."
What he left unsaid was more troubling: how did she know about the Sage Clan at all, and how did she know of the connection between them and the Senju?
After all, the ties between the Senju and the Sage Clan had always been hidden in the shadows. Even the name 'Sage Clan' was something he had only learned of recently.
Given that this person knew the term "Sage Clan," Butsuma reasoned that only someone who had already dealt with those mysterious beings to some extent could be aware of such a name.
Yet from the contents of the letter, it was clear that this mysterious Ōtsutsuki possessed no intelligence on them.
This contradiction was precisely why Butsuma had fallen into deep thought upon first reading the letter.
"There's no need to overthink. Since she has stated she will not interfere in our internal affairs, nor has she made excessive demands, we'll handle this as official business."
Katsuma Senju did not know much about the Sage Clan. That line of contact had been handled almost exclusively by Butsuma himself, so his stance remained neutral.
If only Gokuma were still alive…
At times like this, Butsuma could not help but miss that clansman who had always stood by his side.
With a sigh, Butsuma burned the secret letter in the candle's flame, then ordered: "Elder Katsuma, inform the intelligence division of this command. In three days, compile a full report on everything we know."
After speaking, he rose, drew an ordinary-looking scroll from a bookshelf, and handed it over. "This records several locations where I met with the Sage Clan. Include them when presenting the information."
"Yes."
Katsuma bowed, accepted the scroll, and departed instantly.
Only Butsuma remained, sitting alone in the secret chamber. After a long while, he picked up the envelope that had wrapped the letter and carefully tore it apart.
Inside, on the inner layer of the envelope, another line of text was written.
The moment Butsuma read it, his pupils dilated, and his normally stern face revealed shock.
"Something like this… could it really be possible?" he murmured. "Hashirama is actually the chakra reincarnation of that esteemed one?"
...
"Troublesome."
Within her fortress, Satsuki glanced at the sky to estimate the time. Then she carefully placed a half-man-high, gray-black bone spear into a glass container—one she had extracted from Suzuki Kaguya's body, a product of his Shikotsumyaku.
When she had rushed to rescue Ranzuki, the moment she first touched this gray-black bone, she immediately sensed its extraordinary power.
She had taken note then—Suzuki Kaguya, as the source of these bones, was worth saving. The boy called Maei Kaguya, however, had been left as a piece in reserve.
To study the unique force within this bone, Satsuki had tried various methods of analysis. But whether chakra or senjutsu energy, all were erased by the mysterious power it contained.
Thus, she resolved to act personally.
Forming seals with both hands, golden Tenseigan chakra surged from her body, while nine golden Truth-Seeking Orbs floated behind her.
For the first time in a long while, Satsuki entered Tenseigan Chakra Mode.
"If ordinary chakra and natural energy are rejected by this mysterious force, then let's see what happens with Tenseigan chakra imbued with the power of the Six Paths."
She extended a hand through the glass container, aiming at the gray-black bone within. Her golden Tenseigan eyes gleamed brilliantly, pouring vast chakra through the glass and into the bone.
"Let me see… what the true source of this power really is."