The so-called shinobi world, the so-called Earth—
At its core, it was all just a matter of the Otsutsuki clan.
Using interstellar colonization methods, they relied on the Ten-Tails to absorb all the chakra from a planet, then harvested the chakra fruit to refine it into pills.
That was the Otsutsuki clan's way of doing things.
And they had always done it like this.
A problem arose when it was Kaguya Otsutsuki's turn a thousand years ago.
To cultivate the Ten-Tails and turn it into a God Tree, the Otsutsuki clan needed a young and healthy member as a living sacrifice. However, being sacrificed didn't mean death—Otsutsuki could use their own methods to implant a "Karma" mark into a host. Once the host's body matured, the Otsutsuki could resurrect themselves.
But this kind of resurrection had its limits. It was similar to taking over someone else's body—Kaguya found it unsettling. She felt that if she used the Karma mark, then after reviving in the host's body, she wouldn't be entirely herself.
To put it simply, the Rabbit Goddess worried about something: If she used a host to revive and encountered a blasphemer again—one who overpowered her and forced her into an unspeakable situation—would it be *her* who suffered, or would it be the host's body?
If it was her, then her original, pure, untouched body had already been sacrificed to the God Tree. But if it was just the host, she would still *feel* everything the host felt.
And if she gave birth to a child using the host's body, would the child call *her* mother or the *host*?
It was all too confusing. She just couldn't wrap her head around it.
Just like how Isshiki didn't want to be the one sacrificed, he also didn't want to return to his wife in someone else's body. He wouldn't be able to face her.
So before coming to Earth, he pulled some strings back on the home planet and became one of the "guarded" rather than a "sacrifice." When it came to bodies, nothing beat using your own.
Kaguya realized that being a sacrifice for the God Tree was *not* a good thing. She didn't want that fate, so at a critical moment, she launched a surprise attack on her companion—her supposed guardian, Isshiki Otsutsuki. She left him severely wounded and on the brink of death, then went into hiding with the young Ten-Tails they had brought from their home world.
Meanwhile, Kaguya stole the chakra fruit from a God Tree that had already been planted on Earth by previous Otsutsuki. This gave her new power.
Yes, the first God Tree on Earth wasn't planted by Kaguya and Isshiki—it was left behind by other Otsutsuki. Their mission was to plant a second Ten-Tails, grow another God Tree, and drain the planet's energy.
From a cosmic perspective, Earth was clearly special. It seemed that even *one* God Tree wasn't enough to fully absorb the planet's energy. This place was a paradise for humans—but the Otsutsuki had set their sights on it long ago.
Hyuga Hitoshi had already realized that he would inevitably clash with the Otsutsuki.
Earth's Isshiki, the future Momoshiki, Kinshiki, and Urashiki—he would have to deal with them one by one. Fortunately, he now had the power to challenge them: the Tenseigan, a powerful body, and items from other dimensions thanks to his golden finger.
Despite the constant infighting in the ninja world, whenever an external enemy appeared, people would instinctively unite to fight back. That was the fundamental difference between humans and other creatures—they understood what they needed to survive.
And since ordinary ninjutsu had little effect on the Otsutsuki—since normal chakra was nothing more than a power source for them—Hyuga Hitoshi had long been preparing specialized Taijutsu and Sage teams.
For Taijutsu, he specifically recruited Might Guy as the Eight Gates instructor. He also strengthened his own body. A few years ago, he even had a conversation with Shinnō, the leader of the Sky Ninja, and casually absorbed the Zero-Tails into his Tenseigan. This scared Shinnō so much that he immediately handed over the secret technique of Body Revitalization.
Later, Hitoshi worked with Orochimaru and Shinnō, combining Body Revitalization with Purple Rose's Seven-Day Breathing Method from the Sand Village. They also enhanced it with the meteorite from the Star Ninja Village and integrated the Peacock Secret Technique.
The result? An advanced version of the Eight Gates far beyond the original—one with extreme regeneration and limitless stamina.
This new Eight Gates greatly reduced the strain on the body, but Body Revitalization wasn't invincible. It was said to allow indefinite activation of the Eight Gates, but it still depended on how much energy the techniques consumed.
For example, Might Guy's Night Guy—if he kicked three or four times in a row, he'd still run out of stamina and have to stop. To recharge, he would rely on the Star Village's meteorite to stabilize his energy.
Lately, Hyuga Hitoshi had been refining the Sun God Seal, aiming to turn Night Guy into a standard attack move. This was his special gift for the Otsutsuki. For now, only the elite Taijutsu squad of the Sun God Kingdom had mastered it—it hadn't been widely spread yet.
Aside from Taijutsu, there was Sage Mode.
Simply put, Sage Chakra was just natural energy. For those with the Sun God Seal, it didn't require deliberate training. But he didn't want his clan to become too dependent on it—they still needed to be familiar with natural energy at the very least.
When it came to natural energy, the Slug Sage of the Shikkotsu Forest and the White Snake Sage of Ryuchi Cave were relatively cooperative.
The three goddesses of Ryuchi Cave had been serving as instructors in the Sun God Kingdom ever since Hyuga Hitoshi took them from the cave. Word was that the White Snake Sage had arranged this as a gesture of goodwill.
Only Mount Myoboku remained silent.
After the Sun God Kingdom stabilized, the toads stopped spreading the rumor that Hyuga Hitoshi was a harbinger of disaster.
But he doubted they had given up—they were probably planning something in secret.
Not that he cared. As long as everyone minded their own business, he was fine.
And if they wanted to start trouble, he had no problem squeezing every last resource out of the ninja world for his own gain.
At Konohagakure, inside the Sun God Hall that Fugaku had specially prepared, Hyuga Hitoshi leaned back and looked down at the Rabbit Goddess with a serious expression.
Well, the familiar presence made her tense up as well.
Honestly, how did this woman manage to nearly kill Isshiki with a sneak attack? And why did she think using Infinite Tsukuyomi to create White Zetsu was some kind of long-term plan?
Did she really believe White Zetsu could handle future Otsutsuki?
And how did Isshiki, a guy who got *wrecked* by Kaguya's sneak attack, later become strong enough to slap Naruto and Sasuke around like they were nothing?
Then again, trying to make sense of a world powered by chakra was pointless.
Hyuga Hitoshi wasn't going to waste time thinking about it.
Instead, he decided to mess with the mute goddess.
"Look at Isshiki, the guy who came to Earth with you. Then look at yourself. I don't even know what to say."
Hyuga Hitoshi glanced at her, his words carrying a hint of mockery.
"He got ambushed and nearly died, yet he still managed to build a solid organization. His people are well-organized, and the outer members are so brainwashed they actually believe his group is trying to advance science for the good of the world.
When in reality, the guy just wants to grow a Ten-Tails and eat chakra fruit.
He's thriving, living the good life as the boss.
And you?
You became the ruler of the ninja world for a brief moment, only to get sealed away by your own chakra.
You've completely ruined the Otsutsuki name, you know that?"
**Shut up!**
Enraged, the mute goddess kicked Hyuga Hitoshi's leg.
But the recoil from her own attack sent her stumbling backward, landing flat on her butt with a soft thud.
"You see, now you're getting worked up."
Hyuga Hitoshi spread his hands.
"I'm not wrong, though. That guy might not be great in other areas, but he's definitely keeping up with the times."
Compared to Kaguya, who was stuck in the past, Jigen—controlled by Isshiki—was really into the scientific advancements of the ninja world. He had mastered the use of scientific ninja tools to the point where they had become standard equipment for Kara. Science was truly changing the way ninjas lived.
Now that Isshiki had shown up earlier than expected, it seemed strange and unexpected, but there were clear reasons behind it.
Ever since the Sun God Kingdom became the number one divine nation in the ninja world, thanks to the efforts of the Snake Minister and Hyuga Hitoshi, technology had been advancing rapidly. Scientists were emerging, and nations had shifted from military competition to technological competition, which was only getting more intense. Chakra-powered scientific ninja tools were constantly evolving.
In the original story, Kara's Outer members were made up of scientists and their cloned experiments. This perfectly matched the current trajectory of the ninja world's development. It made perfect sense that Isshiki was starting to look for a suitable vessel earlier than before.
But what Hyuga Hitoshi couldn't understand was his terrible taste in picking one. He actually chose Obito—a guy who had a history of betraying his own master. Was Isshiki really not worried that Obito would backstab him, take his power, and become the boss himself?
This was a true deal with the devil. Both of them were the type to risk everything. This was also the beginning of the story completely falling apart.
"Besides, think about it. You got sealed away, and the mess you left behind is just ridiculous."
Hyuga Hitoshi poked the soft, mute doll in his hands with a look of disgust.
"Forget about your unfilial son, Otsutsuki Hagoromo. He's probably plotting something big right now. You ambushed Otsutsuki Isshiki back then, yet you didn't finish him off? Now he's back for revenge. And then there's Senju Hashirama—your grandson's former reincarnation—showing up again. If that's the case, Uchiha Madara probably isn't far behind. And he's your grandson's reincarnation too."
Tsk.
What a massive headache.
Kaguya was stunned after hearing all that from Hyuga Hitoshi. She suddenly realized that she had no way to argue against him. The mess the ninja world had become was, in many ways, connected to her.
"But since I'm a handsome and kindhearted clan leader, I guess I could help you deal with them."
Hyuga Hitoshi smiled slyly, leading Kaguya off track as he glanced meaningfully at the mute doll.
If you want my help dealing with your enemies, you have to give me something in return, right?
After spending so much time with Hyuga Hitoshi, Kaguya had grown a lot. She immediately picked up on the meaning behind his words.
She tilted her head, then suddenly thought of something. Her eyes trembled as she glanced at Hyuga Hitoshi's waistcloth. Her already pale face turned even whiter, and she raised a shaking finger, pointing at herself, then at Hyuga Hitoshi.
Then she frantically shook her head, making it absolutely clear that it was impossible. Her body language perfectly expressed what "this will literally kill me" meant, leaving Hyuga Hitoshi speechless.
For heaven's sake, he wasn't a pervert! He had never done anything to the mute doll. But the problem was, the mute doll was extremely curious. The humanoid summoning beast living next door to Hyuga Hitoshi had long since stopped relying on just hearing things. Every night, she would activate her Byakugan, watching while snacking on potato chips and making comments like it was some kind of review show. It had basically become her nightly routine.
She even started rating each of the divine concubines' performances, analyzing their weak spots, and making notes for Hyuga Hitoshi. She had truly become corrupted beyond saving.
"I would die!"
Hyuga Hitoshi was so frustrated that he made the mute doll speak again. Her pale face even started turning red.
"Not now."
...Which meant maybe later.
With his perfect reading comprehension, Hyuga Hitoshi naturally understood what the mute doll was implying.
But heaven help him, he had never intended to force the Rabbit Goddess into anything. If anything, she was walking herself into this situation. After all, Hyuga Hitoshi was the undisputed ruler of the ninja world. The Sun God Kingdom stood above all other nations, big or small.
Whether it was the Sage of Six Paths' prophecy about a savior, Uchiha Madara's Infinite Tsukuyomi, or Isshiki's plan to plant the Divine Tree and drain Earth dry, all of them were fundamentally at odds with him.
Of the three, only Uchiha Madara truly wanted peace in the ninja world, so maybe they could at least have some common ground. But the other two were direct threats to the ninja world's ownership.
There can't be two rulers on the same planet.
...Unless one is male and the other is female.
Kaguya was female. And judging by the fact that she had already… planted the seeds, the choice was pretty obvious.
But as he watched the Rabbit Goddess looking all flustered, clearly lost in some strange fantasy, Hyuga Hitoshi had no idea why, but something came over him. Before he could stop himself, he blurted out—
"You're such a tease."
Silence.
A long pause.
The furious doll snapped back to reality and realized the weight of that word. Clenching her fists, she launched a flurry of punches and kicks at Hyuga Hitoshi.
The Rabbit Goddess was getting more and more violent, but the Sun God Palace remained filled with laughter. Compared to Senju Hashirama, his granddaughter was much easier to get along with, which made Uchiha Mitsu breathe a sigh of relief. Feeling at ease, she started chatting with Tsunade about games. However, she didn't really understand how slot machines worked or why Tsunade liked them so much.
Still, everyone was easy to talk to. Even though they had just met, Uchiha Mitsu was starting to understand what "friends" really meant. Their conversations were still awkward at times, and she often struggled to keep up, but she tried clumsily to fit in. It was her way of showing that she wanted to live life seriously. No one laughed at her for it, and because of that, she smiled a little more.
And the one who freed her from her cage—
There was no doubt about it.
She looked at Hyuga Hitoshi, who was playfully teasing the mute goddess, and felt a deep sense of peace.
This was the life she wanted.
Konohagakure was brightly lit, its streets full of life.
For the clan leader Hitoshi, the night was just beginning. He wasn't the type to sit still—if nothing stopped him, he would soon be busy again.
Fugaku was the same. Right now, he was organizing his forces, gathering his subordinates while speaking about something important. Beside him stood Senju Tobirama and Senju Hashirama, both looking somewhat ashamed.
"Our mission is simple—capture that useless Danzo and bring him in!"
With his arms crossed, Fugaku finished speaking and then pointed at Senju Tobirama.
"The Second Hokage has already confirmed Danzo's location. Just follow his lead when the time comes."
Konohagakure had been attacked out of nowhere.
Even though they had prepared in advance, keeping losses under control, Fugaku wasn't going to tolerate this any longer.
Tobirama had insisted that he would handle Danzo himself. But years had passed, and Danzo was still alive. Not only that, but he had even summoned reanimated bodies to attack the village. It was unacceptable.
Now that the opportunity had come, Fugaku was determined to bring him to justice. Tobirama was also ready to settle this matter once and for all, before reporting on the mysterious organization behind everything.
"I never thought he'd fall this far. I was too focused on Uchiha Mitsu's situation, so I didn't deal with them properly."
Hashirama scratched his head awkwardly. This mess was partly his fault. Ever since he had been revived, he had only embarrassed himself. Not only had he almost caused trouble for the village, but he had also been beaten into the ground. If Tsunade hadn't begged for mercy on his behalf, he might still be lying there, unable to get up.
As the First Hokage, he had returned to see if the village was strong enough to handle disasters. But watching from the sidelines without doing anything? That didn't sit right with him. He had to reflect on his actions.
"It's in the past now, big brother. The new Konohagakure and the shinobi world need your strength."
Tobirama patted his brother's shoulder in comfort. At least now, Hashirama wasn't the only former Hokage to suffer a humiliating beating. Tobirama finally had someone to share the burden with.
"Yeah, I should help out... Though my grandson-in-law already put me in a construction crew to build houses."
Hashirama narrowed his eyes. Was his brother mocking him? He had no proof, but he was suspicious.
"Relax, big bro. Even I have to help mix cement sometimes. We get paid, and if we earn enough work points, we might actually have a shot at real resurrection."
Tobirama had never seriously considered being brought back to life. His original plan was simple—hunt down Danzo, eliminate his former student, and then disappear for good.
But the shinobi world had become far more interesting than he had expected.
And if he had the chance, he wanted to do his part for Konohagakure and the current shinobi world.
To put it bluntly—if he could stay alive, why would he choose to die?
Reanimated bodies just weren't the same as being truly alive.
With the orders given, the squad set out to capture Danzo.
In terms of power and scale, their lineup was overwhelming—both the First and Second Hokage, Shisui, the controlled Uchiha Kagami with his Mangekyou Sharingan, and the elite of the Uchiha police force.
Danzo wasn't just dealing with some random group—he was up against legends.
But then something unexpected happened.
They had barely left Konohagakure when they saw an old man standing in the middle of the road.
He seemed to have been waiting for them.
Compared to the shock and fear he showed when he first saw Hashirama alive, Danzo now looked completely calm—almost as if he had accepted his fate.
But don't get the wrong idea.
Danzo was definitely not the type to face death with courage.
It was just that, when he tried to break out of Fire Temple, he suddenly realized—
His escape route had been cut off.
Every possible path out of the Land of Fire was blocked.
There was no way out.
Unless—
Danzo stood there, looking calm on the surface, but his mind was elsewhere. During the previous battle, as more and more Edo Tensei bodies were sealed away, he finally gained full control over the power of the Second Tsuchikage, Mū. Just before Mū was sealed, Danzo successfully split him apart and used the Dustless Bewildering Cover to escape at high speed.
He wasn't trying to use Mū's power to fight his way out. In fact, after the split, Mū couldn't use Dust Release anymore, and his strength had dropped significantly. The only advantage left was his ability to fly and hide, which Danzo used to carry out a move that could turn the tide. And when it came to stealth, Mū was truly skilled.
He managed to fool Konoha's sealing team and even tricked Tobirama's sensing abilities, as well as the ninja blocking his escape route. Under Danzo's control, Mū finally found the last gift the masked man had prepared for him.
"Just one last step."
But now, Danzo realized he might not live to see the support of his ultimate weapon. And even if he did manage to revive it, he wasn't sure if it would follow his orders.
Yes, at this point, Danzo had lost even the most basic confidence. He was filled with doubt, wondering if he had ever truly controlled Edo Tensei in the first place. His repeated failures had shattered his belief in himself.
An uncontrollable wildcard?
That might not be so bad.
With a crazed look in his eyes, he lunged forward, straight into Tobirama's kunai, letting it stab into his chest. If he was going down, he was taking these disobedient pawns with him.
---
Graveyard of the Ninja World.
The moment Danzo fell into madness, Mū, whose will had been completely erased, suddenly regained clarity.
He looked around in confusion, realizing that he could no longer sense the caster's control over him. That could only mean one thing—the caster was dead.
Other than that…
He glanced down at his kneeling posture and the two hands stretched out in front of him, deep in thought.
Who would need the caster to force them to kneel in order to summon a revival? He didn't get it.
But he could see clearly—his left hand was holding a scroll with the words "Edo Tensei" written on it, and in his right hand was a letter that hadn't even been sealed with wax yet.
The title on the envelope was clear:
"From the First Root Shadow, Shimura Danzo, to the Second Root Shadow, Uchiha Madara."
Well, now he knew who it was.
Mū slowly raised his head.
And his eyes met a gaze filled with absolute indifference, as if looking at an insect—just like he remembered from the past.
Mū let out a bitter laugh.
This ninja world was getting more and more chaotic.
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