Seeing Seiki return, The Third Star Shadow anxiously stepped forward and asked, "Venerable Seiki, our illness... is it truly connected to The Star?"
Seiki nodded solemnly. "The Star is the source of everything!"
Upon hearing this suspicion confirmed, a wail of despair rose from the crowd.
"Why? The Star we've cherished as a treasure is actually the origin of all calamities?"
"This isn't a god's blessing, but a devil's temptation!"
It's not that no one had thought of this possibility before—it was just that they had refused to believe it.
On one hand, Star Chakra was the source of power for Hoshigakure. On the other hand, the physical enhancement gained from cultivating Star Chakra usually produced positive effects, leaving them clinging to hope.
Now that Seiki had exposed the truth, they could no longer fool themselves.
At that moment, The Third Star Shadow seemed to age ten years in an instant. He blamed himself, "If only I had stopped Star Training earlier, none of this suffering would have happened to everyone!"
However, Seiki shook his head slightly. "Ceasing cultivation can only prevent future tragedies, but existing illnesses won't disappear!"
"Illness won't vanish just from stopping cultivation? That explains it!" The Third Star Shadow bitterly smiled. "I was actually thinking that maybe two years of ceased training just wasn't long enough!"
Afterward, he asked again, "Venerable Seiki, can our illness still be cured?"
Under the anxious and expectant gaze of everyone present, Seiki nodded. "Yes, but the cost is... you'll never be able to use Star Chakra again!"
At this point, the smile just emerging on The Third Star Shadow's face froze, but quickly turned into a sigh. "I've asked for too much. Just being spared from suffering is blessing enough... Besides, this old man has lived this long and gotten used to the pain. There's no need to trouble you for treatment."
Upon hearing his request, everyone was startled.
"Star Shadow, you..."
They quickly realized—Star Shadow was saying this in order to preserve the power needed to protect the village!
Realizing this, several determined voices rose from the crowd.
"I... I won't use it either!"
"After enduring this pain for so long, being free of it actually feels strange!"
"This village has gained something precious through its suffering," Seiki mused silently. Looking at The Third Star Shadow, he continued, "As for worrying that losing The Star means losing strength, there's no need. Konoha has opened all its mid-level and low-level Ninjutsu resources. You can replace [Peacock Mystical Technique] with these techniques."
Mid-level and low-level Ninjutsu might not be valuable to the Five Great Hidden Villages, but to small ninja villages like this one, even a single C-ranked technique could be considered extremely precious.
However, The Third Star Shadow gave a bitter smile. "If possible, we'd like to try changing as well. But Hoshigakure is a place 'blessed' by stars. Other than cultivating Star Chakra, we simply lack the aptitude for cultivating any other Ninjutsu!"
"I understand," Seiki said calmly. "The Star is also the reason you can't cultivate other Ninjutsu!"
"What?"
"The Third Star Shadow exclaimed in surprise, 'So it's not because of our lack of talent?'
Seiki said, 'When I went to the shrine earlier, I discovered that the Star's power is extremely domineering. It won't allow you to have excess energy for practicing other ninjutsu, which is why your attempts to learn other techniques are guaranteed to fail!'
'Damn it!' Even the composed Third Star Shadow couldn't help but curse at this moment.
This Star Meteorite is just too treacherous! Was what the First Star Shadow brought back really a treasure or a curse?
At this moment, Seiki spoke again, 'Actually, your concerns are somewhat justified. Learning new techniques takes time, and during that period, it gives others opportunities to take advantage... Well then, I'll leave you with the Flying Thunder God Technique Form. If you encounter danger, I'll come immediately!'
He hadn't even gathered the nerve to ask, yet Lord Seiki had already offered it willingly. The Third Star Shadow felt touched deeply by this gesture. 'Lord Seiki, I really... I really don't know how I should thank you!'
Everyone else was also filled with gratitude.
'Ah, I wish Lord Seiki was part of our Hoshigakure!'
'Of course, we all know that's impossible. We might as well talk about Hoshigakure merging with Konoha!'
'Eh eh?'
The Third Star Shadow coughed a few times, pointedly ignoring these remarks. 'Lord Seiki, we Hoshigakure don't have anything valuable to offer as a gift. Maybe the only thing we can give is the Star itself!'
After saying this, he hurriedly added, 'I'm not trying to repay kindness with ingratitude. I just think Stars are indeed rare treasures. It would be a shame to just throw it away. If it's you, Lord Seiki, perhaps you wouldn't have to worry about contamination from the meteorite?'
'A Star?' Seiki asked deliberately, feigning surprise. 'I wouldn't mind taking it, but isn't Hoshigakure named after the Star itself? Is it really okay to give it to me?'
The Third Star Shadow waved his hands frantically. 'No matter how precious the Star might be, I dare not keep it in the village anymore. If it can help you, Lord Seiki, that would be perfect!'
The people around them also spoke up.
'Lord Seiki, please don't hesitate at all!'
'Worst case, we'll just rename ourselves Clearleaf Village in the future!'
With things having reached this point, Seiki decided not to decline further. 'Then I shall accept it!'
The people from Hoshigakure all let out a breath of relief. At last, the nuisance was finally out of their hands!
Seiki also exhaled in relief. He had finally obtained the Star Meteorite!
Of course, Seiki hadn't lied.
The Star Meteorite was indeed a nuisance to Hoshigakure, and even posed certain risks to Seiki himself. However, it represented an opportunity to study the Otsutsuki, so naturally he had no intention of giving it up.
After finishing their conversation, Seiki directly created two Wood Clones — the Three - Day Moon Style Medical Ninjutsu was returning to the ninja world!
[Gift Token – Consider it a token of goodwill!]
...
Meanwhile, outside of Hoshigakure.
Jigen warped through space and appeared on a tall tree.
'Is that guy healing someone?' He didn't care much about Seiki's act of 'deleting data.'
After all, he had never expected the meteorite to find him a suitable 'vessel.' Throwing the meteorite outside had merely been a playful gesture, to see if he could lure out any big fish.
What concerned him, however, was exactly how much longer the other party would continue healing?
"As if I'd wait out here forever?" At that thought, Jigen was tempted to charge in headfirst.
But he held himself back. "Killing them would be easy enough, but ensuring no soul slips away... that's no small task. If even one gets away, that punk Hagoromo could track me down from the Underworld!"
"Fine. I'll just wait a little longer. I've already waited through Kaguya's Infinite Tsukuyomi, so what's a little more waiting now?"
And so, he waited. Three entire days passed like this!
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