Chapter 208: Ōtsutsuki—The Sixty-Eighth Stage
Every word from Hiruzen Sarutobi reflected a single truth:
He was a disciple worthy of being a second-generation Hokage.
Takigakure wasn't part of the Konoha Alliance. If they got hit, well… that was on them. In fact, sometimes someone taking a hit was good for the ninja world. Pain made people pay attention—and attention meant respect. Sacrificing Takigakure wasn't such a huge problem after all.
"You've been teaching… what kind of people?"
After everyone left, Hashirama Senju muttered under his breath.
"I remember that monkey used to be decent. How did he become like this?"
"Hmph. What do you mean, 'become like this'?"
Tobirama Senju sneered, unconcerned.
"This is exactly what a proper Hokage needs to be. Sometimes, you have to think about the bigger picture. You can't give your care to everyone!"
"You really are insufferable, Tobirama."
"Many people dislike me. I don't care what Konoha's people think of me."
"You're impossible."
"Well, tell me, if you cared so much, why didn't you pacify the ninja world back then? That way, there wouldn't be so many villages, and so many wars."
"…."
"I remember Madara Uchiha thought similarly. When he had a good idea, you rejected it?"
Tobirama's words left Hashirama silent. Looking at the results, maybe he really should have acted differently. After all, endless war followed his death—if only he had pacified everything back then…
"Stop with useless hypotheticals. We didn't have enough people to hold everything together, and too much blood was already spilled."
Hashirama sighed, shaking his head lightly. Tobirama remained cold.
"If we had spilled other people's blood back then, we wouldn't have had to spill Konoha's later. You're just making excuses."
At this, their conversation stalled. They each had their own beliefs and wouldn't regret their past decisions. Even Hashirama had killed Madara Uchiha for the village. Only those with unwavering conviction could reach this point.
"Enough. Let's drop it."
Tobirama sighed and switched topics.
"Let's find that Uchiha stone tablet first. I'm very curious about it."
"I just hope they don't cause too much trouble."
Hashirama smiled wryly.
"Jiraiya, Kakashi's team—especially Gen. Are the five of you really just going as a visiting group?"
"Don't overthink it. Visiting means visiting."
Tobirama said firmly, though a hint of doubt crossed his mind.
"By the way, is your mind clear now?"
"What do you mean?"
Hashirama frowned, and Tobirama pressed on.
"Are you sure Madara Uchiha actually told you about that Uchiha stone tablet?"
"I'm sure. He said it."
"Then our Senju clan really doesn't have anything like that?"
"…."
"Not even something like a stone tablet? What Gen said about the bark? Or at worst, a stick?"
"…."
"Seriously, another mission?"
Stretching lazily after leaving the ANBU base, Jiraiya muttered.
"And it's with you, Gen. Somehow, I feel uneasy."
"Hospital visit?"
Gen blinked, and Tsunade, standing nearby, said:
"Going to the hospital isn't a problem. With me around, Konoha's medical system won't be as terrible as before."
"…."
Hiruzen rubbed his forehead, troubled.
"You two haven't done much anyway—one peeps all the time, the other follows the First Hokage to the gambling den. Do you think I don't know?!"
"Hehe."
Jiraiya laughed, and Tsunade remained indifferent. Following the First Hokage wasn't a problem, and she didn't believe her teacher would object. Besides, she wasn't there—her great-grandfather still was.
"But old man, when will my stipend be paid? And even though my grandfather is an Edo Tensei, he still works and was a Hokage, so their stipend…"
"…."
"Remember to give it to me. I'm heading back."
"…."
Seeing Tsunade act like this, Hiruzen was exasperated, but couldn't say anything. Only Gen shook his head, sighing.
"Stipend thieves… Konoha has issues not only in governance but also in finances!"
"You better not say too much."
Hiruzen looked at Gen, feeling drained.
"Your team is ready, but when do you plan to leave?"
"Anytime."
Gen stroked his chin, thinking briefly, then gave his answer. Jiraiya agreed after thinking.
"Then let's prepare a bit. Maybe send a letter to Takigakure, then we go."
"That works best."
Kakashi nodded. Last time, things had been awkward.
"Travel shouldn't take long anyway."
Kakashi glanced at Gen. Not only were they fast, but Gen had left teleportation marks all over the Land of Water. Traveling there would be easy.
"No problem."
Sasuke and Naruto nodded obediently. Experienced enough after three years of missions, they weren't overly excited—especially since this was just a visiting group.
"Alright, it's settled. Return and prepare. We leave early tomorrow."
Gen nodded.
"Dismissed."
"Yes!"
Sasuke and Naruto nodded, exchanged glances, then vanished in an instant.
"Damn! Again?!"
Naruto glared at Gen, as if blaming him for corrupting Sasuke. He didn't dare complain, sighing helplessly as he disappeared.
"Sasuke's really becoming a proper ninja."
Gen smiled. Kakashi, however, was speechless.
"Proper ninja?"
"I've taught them that a ninja spares no effort. Sasuke has understood this fully."
Gen said seriously.
"The Second Hokage may have had issues, but his vision aligns with mine. Sasuke has a good teacher."
"…."
Hiruzen and Kakashi were reluctant to speak, only feeling the future of Konoha weighed heavily on them.
No loss would occur with Gen around; Konoha would grow stronger. The younger generation had matured, and things would improve—but how low education might fall troubled them. After all, bad leadership breeds bad results.
"I'll prepare now."
Gen waved cheerfully, sensing their silence.
"Don't worry about them. Focus on Konoha's governance and finances instead."
"…."
"Too slack. We must strike hard to curb this poor work ethic!"
Looking at the three with blank expressions, Gen felt confident they'd listened. He waved and left, leaving the three exchanging glances and sighs.
Back home, Gen split off a divine tree clone, then vanished from the room.
Earlier, the system alert wasn't a mission. It was something he had waited three years for—it was ready.
In a blink, he arrived in 'Amenominaka'. Three years had allowed him to expand it, though it remained largely a desert.
He began to wonder whether the world of Amenominaka needed to be divided, but for now, it actually worked better this way.
Because…
"Not bad at all."
Gen Kitagawa nodded with satisfaction as he gazed at the enormous tree within his Amenominaka.
The tree had grown massive, almost filling the entire space! At the top, a gigantic bud—seemingly cradling a Rinnegan—stood tall, yet it still hadn't bloomed.
"Maybe it needs a moon? Or perhaps the tailed beasts haven't been gathered yet… but Kaguya's chakra can still be used like this?"
Gen murmured to himself. Three years ago, he had tried fusing the chakra of Kaguya—obtained from Black Zetsu—into this tree.
After all, he couldn't fully absorb it, and Kaguya had devoured the fruit herself. Perhaps her chakra would benefit the divine tree.
"Besides, the divine tree needs an Ōtsutsuki to mature. I can't sacrifice myself… so why not try using a portion of chakra?"
The experiment worked.
Kaguya's chakra genuinely interacted with the tree's core. Her power made the divine tree's energy surge wildly, absorbing chakra with frenzied intensity.
It wasn't just Kaguya's chakra—dragon veins, tailed beasts, even the chakra of reincarnated eyes were all being devoured relentlessly.
"And it's been absorbing for three years."
Over three years, the tree had consumed Gen's resources at an incredible pace, which indirectly left his development at only 62%.
"But now… it seems to have finally slowed down."
Looking at the massive tree and feeling the raw power radiating from it, Gen allowed a satisfied smile to spread across his face.
Though its "rank" hadn't changed, its strength now was incomparable to the previous Divine Tree Core.
"Maybe the rank depends on the tailed beasts—after all, it can only bloom once they're all collected."
He thought this quietly as he slowly descended onto the divine tree.
"After three years of consuming so much of me, it's about time to give something back."
Though Gen had been studying other things over the past three years, it hadn't been a waste of time.
Yet the Divine Tree Core existed to help him grow stronger. After three years of devouring, it had matured—it was time for it to give back.
Placing his hand gently on the tree, a sudden surge of roaring power coursed through his body.
A blood-pumping, unstoppable force consumed him entirely, an indescribable energy erupting within.
Countless streams of information flooded his mind, and at that moment, his interface refreshed.
[Name: Kitagawa Gen]
[Bloodline: Ōtsutsuki Clan (Development: 68%)]