"Subdued with just one move... that was truly incredible..." Hinata murmured in admiration, staring at the massive stone sarcophagus before them.
"If only I had that kind of power... then I could become a truly great shinobi..."
"Hinata, you possess the Byakugan — a Kekkei Genkai. It is certainly not impossible for you to reach great heights in the future. I will help you achieve that..."
Kaoru smiled gently at the look of envy on her face, though his tone carried a thoughtful note. "I never realized you desired strength so deeply..."
"It is because... you are simply far too powerful. Meanwhile, I am not even a Jōnin. Standing beside you, I feel so very small and insignificant. That is why..."
Hinata clenched her fists tightly at her sides. "That is why I wish to improve my own strength... so that I might one day be worthy of standing by your side..."
"Worthy of me?" Kaoru couldn't help but give a wry smile upon hearing her words. She really does suffer from a lack of confidence...
"If that is truly how you feel... then I suppose I shall help you increase your strength."
Kaoru shook his head lightly, then turned his gaze toward the giant crab trapped within the stone prison, a new thought occurring to him.
"It appears this summon has never formed a contract with a human before..."
"In that case... how about we take the very first step toward strengthening you? Let us have this crab sign a summoning contract with you. What do you think?"
Kaoru suggested to her. This creature possesses incredible defense and immense physical strength — comparable to summons like Gamabunta.
But more importantly, its ability to release those bubbles that trap anyone they touch in an illusion is extremely formidable.
If you form a contract with it, you will undoubtedly gain a powerful ally and a lethal trump card.
"Mm..." Hinata nodded in agreement. Although the crab's appearance was somewhat less than pleasing to her eyes, she couldn't deny that its abilities were genuinely powerful.
"What say you to this proposal... great beast?" Seeing Hinata agree, Kaoru turned his attention to the giant crab sealed inside the stone coffin.
"If you are willing to serve her... move your claw to show me."
Krr-kkk... Krr-kkk...
This giant crab was an intelligent summon. Although it had lived in isolation within these empty caverns for ages, it possessed the wisdom to understand human speech.
Furthermore, the overwhelming power Kaoru had displayed had already broken its will to resist.
Hearing the question, it frantically waved the massive claw sticking out from the stone casing.
"Excellent..."
Seeing the creature wisely submit to his authority, Kaoru nodded in satisfaction. He waved his hand, dissolving the massive sarcophagus back into loose earth and rock.
Reaching into his ninja pouch, he pulled out a blank scroll and guided Hinata through the ritual of forming the summoning contract.
As the contract was sealed, a bright, joyful expression spread across Hinata's face. She finally had her very first personal summon.
"I can see that makes you very happy..." Kaoru chuckled softly at the sight, shaking his head with amusement.
Only after successfully helping Hinata secure the contract did Kaoru finally have time to properly observe their surroundings.
Just like the previous cavern, jagged rocks resembling quartz crystal were strewn everywhere.
However, unlike before, this cave had an opening near the ceiling, like a skylight.
Surprisingly, looking up through the opening, one could see what appeared to be the sun itself positioned at a precise angle above, perfectly resembling the pupil of a giant eye.
"Let's head up there." Kaoru pointed toward the exit high above and began climbing first.
As they emerged from the opening and stepped onto the cliff edge, it felt as though they had entered an entirely new world.
Hinata, having seen little of the world beyond her clan compound, stared in disbelief at the scenery unfolding before her.
Stretching out endlessly was a vast, rippling blue ocean. Far in the distance, a large landmass could be seen.
But the most astonishing sight was a second landmass — floating high in the sky above them.
"How can there be a sun inside a cave... and what is that island doing floating in the sky...?" Hinata murmured, gazing up in wonder.
"That 'sun' is likely an artificial one, created long ago through ninjutsu. As for the island above... it is a mirage formed by light refracting off the sea surface. It is actually the same landmass you see across the water there..."
Having already witnessed the dimensions created by Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, Kaoru remained calm and unfazed by these magical sights.
"Come then... let's head toward that landmass first and take a look..."
...
At the very moment Kaoru and Hinata emerged from the cave and stepped into this mysterious realm...
Far away, deep within an unknown palace on the surface of the Moon...
"Hmm? Has someone entered the ancestral grounds we once used on Earth?"
Inside the luxurious and magnificent hall, a middle-aged man with silvery-white hair seemed instantly aware of the intrusion. He sat upon an ornate throne, speaking softly to himself.
"Ah well... there is nothing of value left there anyway. It matters not..." The man rested his hand casually on the armrest of his chair.
"We can deal with them later. Just ensure they are killed before they manage to leave the area..."
"Father..."
At that moment, a young man of sixteen or seventeen years of age walked out from the inner depths of the palace and looked up at the man. "What is happening?"
What was truly chilling was that the young man's eye sockets were pitch-black, hollow and empty — devoid of the eyeballs that any normal person should possess.
"Nothing of great importance, Toneri..." Seeing his son approach, a gentle, affectionate smile appeared on the man's face.
"Just a few little rats that have scurried into our old family grounds..."
"Is it the Earth...? Then why do we not simply destroy the planet right now and create a brand new world from scratch...?" The young man asked, sounding confused.
"Destroy the Earth...? Not yet... we must wait a while longer..."
The man whispered softly. In his mind, he recalled the immense surges of chakra he had sensed emanating from Earth not long ago — signs of terrifying battles involving power on a scale rarely seen.
"The time is not yet right. We must wait until the situation on Earth becomes completely clear... and until we are certain there are no remaining forces capable of obstructing us..."
"Only then... shall we unleash the full power of the Tenseigan... and destroy the entire Earth... and wipe away this flawed world created by the Sage of Six Paths..."
As if everything were already perfectly under his control, the man gazed out silently from the ancient, opulent palace.
Floating islands drifted slowly in the air outside, creating a scene unlike anything found in the mortal world.
Upon one such island sat a colossal statue. Inside its shrine, a massive Tenseigan was enshrined, radiating a profound and mysterious light that swirled slowly within...
...
More than ten minutes later, Kaoru and Hinata arrived at yet another vast forest.
"This place is enormous... I never imagined there could be such vast forests and oceans hidden inside a cave..."
Hinata remarked in confusion as they swiftly leaped and flew between the towering trees.
"If I am not mistaken... this was once the ancestral homeland of the Ōtsutsuki clan..." Kaoru replied.
His body floated effortlessly as they sped forward. Through the penetrating sight of his Rinne Sharingan, he had already spotted a settlement roughly twenty kilometers ahead.
"The Ōtsutsuki clan?" Hinata asked, unfamiliar with the term.
"Mm. The Ōtsutsuki existed long before even the Sengoku Era. It was the clan belonging to Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki — the Sage of Six Paths himself..." Kaoru explained.
Being a traveler from another world, he possessed knowledge of these hidden histories better than anyone alive.
"The Sage of Six Paths' clan..." Hinata whispered, her mouth slightly agape. She struggled to comprehend what kind of existence such a lineage represented.
"Come to think of it... this is actually quite closely related to you, Hinata..." Kaoru said as they continued flying forward, glancing back at her with a meaningful look in his eyes.
"Related... to me?" Hinata looked back at him, astonished.
"I think you will understand very soon..." Kaoru smiled mysteriously and increased their speed. The village ahead was growing closer and closer, now visible to the naked eye.
In the blink of an eye, they arrived before a range of tall hills. Spread across the slopes was a sprawling settlement of buildings.
"It really does look like a shinobi village..."
Walking down the main street, Hinata picked up an old, rusted weapon lying on the ground, one that had clearly been abandoned for ages.
"And yet... there is not a single person anywhere..." she added, looking around the empty streets without spotting a soul.
"Think of it as a sightseeing trip," Kaoru replied, maintaining his calm smile.
He released the full range of his Rinne Sharingan's power, instantly locking onto a specific location of interest deep within the ruins.
____________________
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