"So this is the God Tree..."
Hagoromo stood before the God Tree, looking at the magnificent structure in front of him, and couldn't help but sigh.
"It is truly massive..."
After decades of growth, the God Tree was now far more magnificent than before.
On the vast wasteland, this solitary God Tree stood, yet it emanated an extremely terrifying aura, as if one were facing not a tree, but a deity towering into the heavens.
Terrifying Chakra flowed within it, carrying a massive amount of Natural Energy.
As Hagoromo stood before the God Tree, this aura resonated with the Chakra within his body.
Unnoticed by anyone, a faint outline of the Rinnegan emerged in his eyes, accompanied by a subtle purple hue.
But as Hagoromo turned around, this change completely disappeared, as if it had never occurred.
"I wonder how much more this God Tree will grow."
Beside him, his younger brother Hamura remarked.
As the sons of Minamikawa Yuu, they were privy to many secrets considered top secret by ordinary people.
Thus, they knew that the God Tree before them was still growing at a rapid pace each year.
For this purpose, the Land of Ancestors collected massive amounts of Chakra crystals from all over every year to nourish the God Tree.
But judging by the current situation, the growth of this God Tree was far from over.
The God Tree before them towered toward the firmament, its peak invisible at a glance.
Hamura also didn't know when exactly this God Tree would stop growing.
Perhaps, the growth of the God Tree itself was endless.
It was simply that, under normal circumstances, the energy contained within a world was limited and would often be drained by the God Tree very quickly.
"Is that... the fruit of the God Tree?"
The Hagoromo Brothers looked up at the God Tree.
In their line of sight, they could clearly see a fruit growing within the canopy.
The fruit had already taken shape and was gradually growing, nourished by massive amounts of Chakra, though it was not yet time for it to fully ripen.
The two stood there in silence for a long time before finally leaving the place.
This experience left a lingering impact on both of them.
That night, they inexplicably had a dream.
In the dream, they saw a toad.
The toad's body was massive, completely different from ordinary toads, and it emitted a dense aura of Natural Energy.
"Who are you?"
The moment they saw the toad, the Hagoromo Brothers immediately became alert.
"Is this a genjutsu?"
They quickly realized something was wrong, understanding that they were currently in a genjutsu space and no longer in reality.
"My name is Gamamaru. You two Highnesses may also call me the Great Toad Sage."
The giant toad in front of them watched the Hagoromo Brothers, and after a long silence, it spoke.
"I have been waiting for you for a long time."
"Waiting for us?"
Hagoromo asked in confusion.
"Why were you waiting for us? Is there something you want us to do?"
"Yes."
Gamamaru nodded.
"A crisis capable of destroying the world is approaching. In the near future, a great danger will emerge."
"And you two are the children of destiny chosen by the world, the ones destined to save it."
"A world-ending crisis?"
Hamura frowned and directly rebuked him.
"Nonsense!"
"Everything outside is so beautiful now, and the world is at peace. Where is this crisis you speak of?"
The current Ninja World was in an unprecedented golden age.
Even an ordinary civilian could grow up safely in this era without fear of calamity.
The Hagoromo Brothers had seen all of this with their own eyes.
Now that a mysterious giant toad had suddenly appeared claiming a great crisis was imminent, how could they believe it?
"Even if a crisis truly appears, Father's ability and Mother's power would be enough to handle it."
Hagoromo spoke, having great confidence in his parents.
In the many years of the Ninja World's history, Minamikawa Yuu's capability needed no further explanation. No matter how difficult or tricky the matter, it seemed like nothing to him.
As for Kaguya's power, it was the strongest the Hagoromo Brothers had ever seen in their lives.
No matter how terrifying the crisis, it seemed insignificant before these two.
"The Emperor of the Land of Ancestors?"
Hearing Minamikawa Yuu's name, a look of deep admiration appeared on Gamamaru's face.
"He is indeed a remarkable figure."
"In all the years this world has existed, this is the first time someone has been able to reach this level."
"Not only has he eliminated war, but even the monsters that ravaged the land have gone extinct..."
"Your Mother's power is indeed strong, enough to suppress any disaster."
"However, the one threatening the world is none other than your Mother herself..."
He spoke softly, letting out a long sigh.
The one destroying the world is our Mother?
Hearing this, the Hagoromo Brothers' expressions changed slightly.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo's expression instantly became serious.
He stared intently at Gamamaru, seemingly trying to see through him.
"What exactly is your purpose?"
Appearing before them uninvited, pulling them into this genjutsu space, and speaking ill of their mother.
Any normal person would find this unbearable.
The Hagoromo Brothers were no exception.
So at this moment, they stared intently at Gamamaru, looking as if they were ready to strike.
"What I speak is not falsehood, but a reality that truly exists..."
Gamamaru sighed and said.
"Beneath the light of the Land of Ancestors, darkness is also hidden. It is just that most of the time, this darkness is covered by the radiance, preventing you from seeing it clearly."
"But destiny will guide you to see everything clearly."
"When that time comes, you will naturally have the answer in your hearts."
As his voice fell, the genjutsu space before them rippled and then quickly collapsed.
With a crisp sound, the Hagoromo Brothers returned to reality, escaping the genjutsu.
"Great Toad Sage... just who was that?"
Hagoromo and Hamura wore grave expressions as this thought flashed through their minds.
After that day, the Great Toad Sage did not appear again.
Everything from that day was like a dream, leaving only a faint impression.
Just as the Hagoromo Brothers were about to forget that dream, a new development occurred.
On this day, the brothers were patrolling around the God Tree.
Suddenly, a convoy of prisoner carts approached from ahead, heading toward the forbidden central zone where the God Tree was located.
"Are those... prisoner carts?"
Hagoromo was surprised.
"Why would they be here?"