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There were four individuals in total—three men and one woman. Two of them were elderly, with one appearing very old and the other in his sixties. The remaining man and woman seemed to be a couple, supporting each other as they leaned closely together.
All four gazed intently at Hyūga Iroha, particularly observing his eyes, as the two older men praised him repeatedly.
"Beautiful, truly beautiful. How can these eyes be so pure? It's incredible!"
"With such pure eyes, it's likely they're not far from the legendary eyes, right? Such purity is rare. I didn't expect that among those rebels, eyes of this caliber could appear."
The two spoke freely, seemingly unconcerned with Hyūga Iroha's reaction. If not for Uchiha Madara's presence, they might have acted differently, as Hyūga Iroha could see a glint of greed in their eyes.
"Humph!"
Uchiha Madara snorted softly, instantly silencing the two. They looked at him with visible apprehension.
"I didn't bring you here to give your opinions."
Uchiha Madara's voice was quiet but carried undeniable authority.
He continued, "Provide him with all the supporting ninjutsu for those eyes, including every secret about them. Do not withhold anything."
The oldest man hesitated briefly, then gritted his teeth and replied, "Understood, Master Madara!"
The other elder looked unwilling, but in this situation, he had no choice but to remain silent.
It was clear that the relationship between Uchiha Madara and these individuals was not one of cooperation but rather a superior-subordinate dynamic—and one that was not entirely stable.
It seemed likely that Uchiha Madara had subdued them by force, though they had not completely surrendered.
Hyūga Iroha stood and regarded the four with curiosity.
He couldn't resist asking, "Master Madara, who are these four?"
Uchiha Madara was straightforward, saying, "They are the Ōtsutsuki clan members who have been hiding on the moon."
"The Ōtsutsuki clan?"
Hyūga Iroha's eyes widened. He had heard of this name from Ishigami Hara. It was said to be a legendary clan from beyond the stars, rumored to include Ōtsutsuki Kaguya herself.
"It seems you're not surprised?" Uchiha Madara observed.
Hyūga Iroha took a deep breath and replied solemnly, "Yes, Lord Madara. I've heard tales of this clan, specifically about Ōtsutsuki Kaguya."
Uchiha Madara's expression remained unchanged as he explained, "Indeed. This clan has been hiding on the moon and hasn't appeared in the ninja world. Or rather, a portion of them did come to the ninja world and propagated here."
"Could it be…?"
Hyūga Iroha's thoughts raced as he glanced at the four again.
"As you've suspected," Uchiha Madara confirmed, "this is the moon, and they are the Ōtsutsuki clan. A faction of them entered the ninja world and took on the name Hyūga, which is the origin of your Hyūga clan."
Even though Hyūga Iroha had anticipated this, hearing it confirmed by Uchiha Madara still left him shocked. It was difficult to comprehend that the Hyūga clan's origin could be traced back to such a mysterious lineage.
"Does your clan still exist in the ninja world?" asked the eldest man.
Hyūga Iroha glanced at Uchiha Madara, who showed no reaction. Understanding Madara's intent, he nodded. "Yes, the clan is indeed thriving and has prospered greatly."
"Is that so? What a pity."
The old Ōtsutsuki shook his head, looked at Hyūga Iroha's eyes, and then said, "We will help you master the power of those eyes."
Upon hearing this, Hyūga Iroha felt a surge of excitement, and his eyes changed instantly. A bright blue light shone from his eyes as his Tenseigan manifested, focused intently on the four people.
Under the intensity of his gaze, the four didn't seem surprised; instead, their expressions grew stiff. The two elders opened their eyes wide, faces full of shock and disbelief.
"So… you have awakened these eyes. I see… so that's how it is," muttered one of the men. He turned to Uchiha Madara, speaking gravely, "Lord Madara, why did you keep this from us?"
Uchiha Madara sneered, casting a dismissive look at him. "Your Ōtsutsuki clan is nearly extinct. Only the four of you remain. Oh, and the unborn child she carries. What power could you possibly wield?"
The eldest Ōtsutsuki opened his mouth but only managed a bitter expression.
"Yes, we destroyed both the main family and ourselves. There is no hope left."
The other three wore similarly sorrowful expressions.
Hyūga Iroha, though not fully understanding, could hear the remorse in their words and sensed a deep regret.
"Let's set that aside," Madara interrupted. "This boy has awakened the Tenseigan, and your own Tenseigan can now be reactivated."
He continued, "We share the same vision. You seek to reshape the ninja world, and I wish to purify it. Afterward, I will secure a place in the ninja world for your survival."
A heavy silence followed.
At last, the oldest Ōtsutsuki sighed. "It matters little. For a place to survive, we can continue to live on the moon."
"Then do as you will."
Without further comment, Uchiha Madara turned to Hyūga Iroha. "In the coming days, you must master all the abilities of their clan, particularly those related to your eyes. Do not slacken."
Hyūga Iroha, uncertain of Madara's true intentions, simply nodded. "Understood, Madara-sama."
"Good. Go and rest. There is still more for you to accomplish."
"Yes!"
Hyūga Iroha left, guided by the puppet to his resting quarters. Only Uchiha Madara and the five Ōtsutsuki remained in the now-empty hall.
"I don't care what plans you may have," Madara said coldly. "Before my objective is complete, you will obey my orders without question. Do you understand?"
He continued, sneering, "You've hidden on the moon for so long. If not for the Gedo Statue, I might never have found you. But now that I have, you will comply with my commands."
The old man nodded, his expression unchanging, as if resigned to his fate.
"Then don't disappoint me. The task of extracting the chakra of the thousand Ōtsutsuki is yours to fulfill."
"Yes, Lord Madara!" The younger Ōtsutsuki man nodded quickly, casting a glance at the other two older men, relieved when he saw their steady expressions.