However, he quickly recovered from the initial shock and began to seriously consider Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's proposal.
If he could truly bring Kaguya to heel, that would undoubtedly be an excellent outcome.
After all, her power existed on an entirely different tier—capable of things others could never achieve.
For Uchiha Hikaru, that kind of strength was a massive temptation.
After a long moment of contemplation, Hikaru finally spoke.
"Very well. I'll give you a chance."
"This is a seal I designed. If you're willing to let me inscribe it on you, then I'll let you live."
Upon hearing this, Kaguya was overcome with a complex wave of emotions.
She understood—this was her only chance. The cost would be tremendous, but at the very least, her life would be spared.
So she nodded without hesitation, indicating her willingness to accept Hikaru's condition.
And for her, that was enough.
Seeing her response, Hikaru slowly dispelled the longsword in his hand into nothingness.
Then, he flew to Kaguya's side and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
In that instant, countless golden inscriptions erupted around her, seemingly conjured from the void itself.
Moments later, the inscriptions came alive—suddenly latching onto her body.
She felt a surge of immense power flood into her, as though even her soul was being branded by the seal's mark.
The pain was excruciating, but Kaguya clenched her teeth and endured it. She knew this was her only hope of survival.
As time passed, she gradually felt her body adapting to the force.
The wild, rampaging energy had grown docile within her—like it had become a part of her.
At last, when the final rune seared itself into her skin, a wave of weakness washed over her, but she felt an unprecedented sense of ease.
It was then that Hikaru spoke softly beside her:
"This seal isn't particularly special. But if you ever betray me, it'll activate in an instant—and obliterate your soul into nothingness."
Kaguya shuddered.
She understood—this was his final warning. The verdict on her future had already been passed.
Lowering her head, her voice trembled slightly. "Understood."
With everything handled, Hikaru looked down at the Allied Shinobi Forces.
The moment his gaze fell upon them, many instinctively felt their hearts seize in fear, involuntarily stepping back.
Among the five Kage, the most senior—Shamon, the Kazekage—was pushed forward to negotiate with Hikaru.
Shamon took a deep breath, trying to steady the nerves and tension in his chest, and solemnly declared:
"Fifth Hokage, this time, Konohagakure has emerged victorious. We acknowledge that. Therefore, we are prepared to accept any conditions of compensation you might have."
Hikaru curled his lips into a cold, dismissive smile.
His eyes swept across the Allied Forces below and eventually settled on Shamon as he replied slowly:
"In truth, I don't have many demands. I simply hope… your shinobi villages disband. That's all."
Shamon's heart sank the moment he heard the condition.
Though he had mentally prepared for harsh terms, this was still beyond what they could easily accept.
Disbanding their villages would mean throwing away generations of effort and sacrifice—something they couldn't agree to lightly.
But when he recalled the absurdity of Hikaru's power—reviving the dead, obliterating the moon—Shamon felt a wave of powerlessness.
In his eyes, these were feats only gods could perform, and yet Hikaru had done them with ease. That alone proved his overwhelming strength.
The reality was now painfully clear: if they refused Hikaru's demand, they were signing their own death warrants.
Though bitter, Shamon knew they had no better choice.
His knees weakened slightly, and it felt like all strength had drained from his limbs. He sighed deeply and said with resignation:
"Sunagakure accepts the Fifth Hokage's condition. We surrender unconditionally."
With a leader stepping forward, the other Kage soon followed suit.
And when the Allied Shinobi Forces saw their Kage yield, they too secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
If a real battle broke out, who among them could hope to survive a head-on clash with Susanoo? Were they supposed to charge it with kunai?
With surrender declared, the gates of Konohagakure slowly opened. Personnel poured out from within to take charge of the post-war arrangements.
These operatives coordinated the reorganization and resettlement of the Allied Forces with flawless efficiency, ensuring everything went smoothly.
As for Uchiha Hikaru, the man at the center of it all—he chose to slack off.
He figured he'd worked hard enough. It was time to return home and enjoy life for a while.
All the tedious matters and problems could be left to his subordinates. He trusted them to handle everything properly.
And so, Hikaru turned and departed, looking forward to spending quality time with his beloved companions back home.
He was planning to enjoy some "grown-up games"—a little indulgence to unwind his nerves.
What he didn't notice, however, was that Kaguya had silently begun to follow him.
After all, a millennium had passed—and she no longer knew where to go.
So she could only follow the man who had defeated her, to see what kind of person he truly was.
Leaving behind Black Zetsu, who could only stare dumbfounded at his mother flying away into the distance.
The next morning, when Hikaru opened his door, refreshed and energized—
He discovered Kaguya still following him.
Her face was beet red, like a rabbit caught red-handed—awkward, flustered, standing there silently.
Seeing her like this, Hikaru immediately understood.
Clearly, the former Rabbit Goddess had spent the night using her Byakugan to peep on him.
Given her children were born through the division of chakra and divine blessings, she was unfamiliar with physical intimacy between men and women.
So it wasn't strange that her curiosity had been piqued.
Still, Hikaru didn't mind.
In his eyes, it wasn't a big deal—he hadn't lost anything.
However, even he couldn't help but marvel at Kaguya's strength.
Had it been anyone else spying on him during something like that, he would've incinerated them on the spot.
He typically didn't pay attention to his surroundings during private moments, but for Kaguya to watch the entire night undetected—her ability was undeniably impressive.
But Hikaru was no easy target.
After understanding what Kaguya had done, a teasing glint flashed in his eyes, and he stepped toward her with a smirk.
Just as his hand was about to touch her cheek, Kaguya yelped and staggered backward—
Then instantly used Yomotsu Hirasaka to escape the scene on the spot.
Watching her flustered retreat, Hikaru couldn't help but burst out laughing.