"Since you've decided to stay in the Ninja World, then our next itinerary will naturally need to change as well,"
Ōtsutsuki Hagaku said with a soft chuckle, completely ignoring the complicated expression on Ōtsutsuki Toneri's face.
"Do you still plan on going to Konoha?"
This child—
did he really think he knew who Ōtsutsuki Hagaku was?
He was Ōtsutsuki Toneri's father.
Wasn't it only natural for him to worry about his own son?
Still, since Toneri had chosen to remain on this continent to temper himself, then the route truly did need adjusting.
"Yes. I want to go to Konoha," Toneri replied after settling his emotions.
Turning his face slightly toward the sky, he continued calmly,
"I want to see that branch of our kin."
The Hyūga Clan.
They were the direct bloodline left behind in the Ninja World by Ōtsutsuki Hamura, inheritors of the purest Byakugan lineage.
As for the Ōtsutsuki on the moon—
They had inherited Hamura's pure Ōtsutsuki bloodline itself.
The relationship between the two was, in truth, much like that of Hagoromo's two sons—
The Sage's Eyes, Indra, and the Sage's Body, Asura.
The Hyūga Clan was a place Toneri had to visit.
His eyes—
What he needed were the purest Byakugan of the Hyūga.
"If this is your wish, Toneri, then as your father, I will naturally support you,"
Hagaku said, nodding in understanding before speaking solemnly.
"However, since you've made this decision, I will not be accompanying you further. Do you understand?"
No matter how worried he was about his son, since he had already agreed to let Toneri remain in the Ninja World, Hagaku would not continue to stay by his side.
There were still many matters awaiting him on the moon.
He could not remain here for long.
After all, his original intention had merely been to bring Toneri to the Ninja World for a brief look—nothing more.
"That's only natural. Father, you may leave with peace of mind,"
Toneri replied with a nod and a faint smile.
Hagaku's departure would not affect him in the slightest.
With Toneri's current strength, in an era where true monsters had yet to appear, self-preservation was more than enough.
"…Be careful in everything. If—"
Hagaku paused, then sighed softly, swallowing the rest of his words.
"Never mind. Konoha isn't far from here."
He took out a scroll and handed it to Ōtsutsuki Kyokusen.
"This is a map of the Ninja World. Kyokusen, take it. Take good care of Toneri."
Only now did Hagaku finally understand why Toneri had insisted on bringing Kyokusen along.
This child…
He had planned everything from the very beginning.
"Yes, Clan Head,"
Kyokusen accepted the map and replied solemnly,
"I swear I will not allow anything to happen to the young master."
Though she was also surprised by Toneri's decision, for her, as long as she could remain at his side, nothing else mattered.
"Father…"
Seeing Hagaku preparing to leave, Toneri hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.
"Please… take care of yourself."
…It should be fine, right?
Toneri thought silently.
In the original course of events, the Ōtsutsuki branch family and the main family slaughtered one another until nearly none remained.
In the end, the branch family annihilated the main family using a colossal Tenseigan formed from countless fused Byakugan.
Which meant—
The branch family had technically won.
Though in truth, it was hardly different from mutual destruction.
After all, in the end, only Ōtsutsuki Toneri remained.
Toneri frowned slightly, deep in thought.
Originally, he had planned not to interfere with Ōtsutsuki affairs at all—
Let them fight among themselves, clash like dragons and tigers, and perish together.
But…
"Don't worry, Toneri,"
Hagaku said after a brief pause, then smiled calmly.
"As your father, I will not lose."
Leaving behind those confident words, he turned and departed.
He naturally understood Toneri's meaning—
Be wary of the main family.
But in Hagaku's eyes, the branch family's victory was assured.
This was the bearing of Ōtsutsuki Hagaku,
and the unwavering faith of an invincible strongman.
"…If I return to the moon one day, and you're still alive,"
Toneri sensed Hagaku's presence fading into the distance and sighed inwardly,
"I won't stand by and watch."
His will as a strong individual would not easily waver.
Yet even so—
Hagaku's fatherly love still stirred something within him.
It didn't matter.
That was a matter for the future.
For now, it was far too early to think about it.
Toneri and Kyokusen continued onward.
Now truly free, Toneri's mood was noticeably lighter.
By the time they reached the continent's interior, it was already approaching afternoon.
Toneri decided to find somewhere to eat first.
After all, he was still flesh and blood.
Though he possessed the purest Ōtsutsuki lineage, his current strength had not yet reached the level where he could ignore the need for food.
They found a restaurant.
Kyokusen glanced inside—
it was crowded, but there was still an empty table in the corner.
"Young Master, let's sit there,"
Kyokusen said, gently guiding Toneri forward.
Though Toneri's sensory perception had already reached an extremely high level, Kyokusen still took care of every detail for him.
"Heh—look at that. Can't even open his eyes. That kid's actually blind."
"Hahaha, that cripple must be from some big family, right? He's pretty cute, though."
"Tsk tsk… that little girl beside him is really something—fresh and delicate."
…
As soon as the two entered, nearly everyone eating inside turned to look.
Whispers followed immediately.
Both Toneri and Kyokusen were far too refined in appearance, dressed in flowing, elegant robes reminiscent of immortal sages. Their bearing alone made them impossible to ignore.
Kyokusen's delicate expression darkened.
Though the whispers were quiet, with her strength, she heard every word.
And if she could hear them—
Then that meant—
Ōtsutsuki Toneri could hear them too.