Somewhere in the ninja world.
Or rather, perhaps calling it the "ninja world" isn't quite accurate. This place existed between illusion and reality, between life and death, a realm where few living beings could remain for long.
In that endless expanse of white, a figure sat suspended in the air. Beside him lay a jet-black Six Paths staff, and behind him floated nine Truth-Seeking Orbs, slowly rising and falling.
His name was Otsutsuki Hagoromo.
Known throughout the ninja world as the Sage of Six Paths.
At that moment, a ripple suddenly disturbed the white void, and another figure emerged, walking steadily toward him.
The newcomer bore a resemblance to Hagoromo, though his eyes were different, not concentric ripple patterns, but pure white pupils.
He was the Sage's younger brother: Otsutsuki Hamura.
Hamura stopped before Hagoromo and looked at him solemnly.
"He's already begun tampering with the Rinnegan," Hamura said in a calm but serious tone. "Are you still going to stand by and do nothing?"
The Sage of Six Paths slowly opened his eyes and looked at Hamura, but said nothing.
Hamura's voice grew more resolute. "If he obtains the Rinnegan, he might also gain your power… I understand you believe the dead should not interfere with the world of the living. But he is different. He does not belong to this world, he, like our mother, came from beyond the stars."
Hagoromo reached for the staff beside him and gently tapped the white ground. The surface rippled like water, revealing a view of the ninja world.
Gazing down at the scene, Hagoromo spoke in a calm, measured voice:
"Must we cast out all who come from the outside? His presence has indeed brought great upheaval to the world… but also great progress. Even Kurama, the Nine Tails, gets along with him, something exceedingly rare. Perhaps he will lead this world to peace."
"No."
Hamura's voice was firm. "That may just be a façade. Perhaps he came for the Divine Tree's fruit. If we ignore him, sooner or later, he'll seek that power for himself. Your indifference is reckless, brother. It could lead to this world's destruction!"
As his voice fell, Hamura turned and began to walk away.
Hagoromo's brows furrowed. "Hamura, what are you planning to do?"
"I'm going to stop him," Hamura replied, glancing sideways at his brother.
The Sage of Six Paths shook his head. "To create an ideal world, there must be change. Perhaps his presence is the catalyst. We are already dead. We should not interfere with the world of the living."
Hamura had always been more conservative. Out of fear that Kaguya Otsutsuki might one day return, he had even left descendants on the moon to guard her seal for generations. He preferred a peaceful, steady path for the ninja world, one with as little disruption as possible.
Hagoromo, by contrast, placed more value on evolution and change. Even the events involving Black Zetsu had gone largely unopposed by him, for he sensed they might be the spark of transformation the world needed.
At the very least,
Without change, peace would never come.
"Brother…"
Hamura frowned, staring at Hagoromo. After a moment of silence, he made up his mind.
"This isn't the same as with Black Zetsu. Maybe things will unfold as you hope, but the danger is too great to ignore. I can't just sit back and watch!"
As his voice faded, a pulse of chakra surged from Hamura's body, rippling outward through the space until it vanished.
Having broken through Hagoromo's suppression, Hamura had sent part of his chakra into the world below. As a result, his own presence instantly grew much weaker.
"Hamura, you, "
Hagoromo's expression shifted slightly.
Looking at him, Hamura said solemnly, "Since you refuse to interfere as one of the dead, then I've sent my chakra into the world, just as you did with Asura and Indra. My chakra will stop him from gaining the power of the Six Paths!"
Hagoromo held the staff in his hand, frowning as he considered acting, but in the end, he lowered it and shook his head.
"Forget it."
"Maybe your actions are part of the change, too."
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Ninja World
Konoha
Two figures approached the outskirts of the Konoha.
"It's been a long time since I came back to Konoha," Tsunade said, exhaling deeply as she took in the unfamiliar landscape. "Things have changed so much I barely recognize the roads."
Shizune followed behind her with her head drooped, feeling utterly embarrassed.
Tsunade had been losing badly at gambling lately. So badly, in fact, that she owed a fortune all over the place. Worse still, her secret "youthful transformation" technique had been exposed, making it harder to dodge creditors. With no better options, she was forced to return to Konoha to lay low for a while.
If Kaede found out about this, who knew what kind of strange expression he'd make? Just imagining it made her sigh… though a small part of her also felt a flicker of anticipation.
Rumor had it that Kaede was now the Fifth Hokage.
She'd never doubted he would reach that position, someone as exceptional as Kaede had no rivals. But still, she hadn't expected it to happen so soon. He was only fifteen now, and already he stood at the very peak of the village.
In her mind, she imagined him in the Hokage's ceremonial robes and hat, and momentarily lost herself in the thought. So much so that she nearly tripped over a tree root.
Thunk!
She stumbled and accidentally bumped her head into Tsunade's back, only to realize that Tsunade had come to a sudden stop.
"T-Tsunade-sama?"
Having followed Tsunade for years, Shizune instantly sensed her master's sudden tension.
On high alert, Shizune quickly drew a kunai and leapt to Tsunade's right, eyes scanning their surroundings.
And then,
She froze on the spot.
Not far ahead, just beside the village, lay a massive fox, its nine tails spread lazily across the ground.
"N-N-N-Nine Tails?!"
Shizune's eyes nearly popped out of her skull. Now she understood why Tsunade had gone completely stiff.
But what truly shattered her understanding of reality was what she saw next: children were climbing all over the Nine Tails' tails, playing like it was some giant jungle gym.
On the beast's back, a few ninja were grooming its fur with huge brushes. A small tuft of orange fur atop its head twitched happily, as if expressing contentment.
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