I'm Not Naruto, But I Got a Better Bloodline-Chapter 369: Finale

Time flowed on.

As the moon in the sky—restored to its original state by Kitagawa Gen, as if retraced back to its source—the world-ending war finally came to a complete end.

The impact this battle had on the shinobi world was simply too great. There was no one—no one at all—who would ever forget the brutality of that war.

Likewise, no one would forget the meaning it carried, and also...

"Gen-sama’s mercy, and the... foresight of the ’Great Sage’!"

Perhaps, for all the shinobi who had participated in the war, what they truly wanted to say was that the Sage of Six Paths was cold-blooded, heartless, and incomparably cruel, along with other such descriptions.

But when the words reached their lips, in the end they still turned into "foresight"...

No one could be certain what that Sage of Six Paths—who had already transformed into pure chakra—was truly thinking, nor where exactly he might be hiding while observing this world.

Thinking such things in one’s own mind was one thing, but actually saying them out loud—what if one were struck by heavenly lightning? That would hardly be a good outcome!

Gradually, the Sage of Six Paths came to be someone whose name was "not to be spoken directly," replaced instead by euphemisms like "you know who."

All in all, there truly was no one in the shinobi world who blamed Kitagawa Gen.

On the contrary, praise for his "benevolence" could be heard everywhere—after all, he truly had not resorted to merciless slaughter, whether before or in the final decisive battle.

"Exactly... he was influenced too deeply by the Great Sage..."

Thinking back on Kitagawa Gen’s final battle—those words so cruel that people likely would never be able to forget them—everyone could not help but sigh.

"Are you crazy? If you want to die, don’t drag me down with you!"

Of course, the moment someone said that, there would immediately be people terrified out of their minds.

Aside from that, no one knew how many people felt that saying those words out loud was simply too cool!

"Speaking truth while also making someone’s heart completely collapse—truly worthy of Gen-sama..."

"What a pity. Gen-sama is Konoha’s Fifth Hokage—how can Konoha be that lucky?!"

"What’s there to be afraid of? The shinobi world isn’t what it used to be. Aren’t we all the same now?"

No one knew how many people across the shinobi world were discussing Kitagawa Gen, because his influence on the entire shinobi world was simply too great!

What they did not know was that, at this very moment, Kitagawa Gen was rolling his eyes as he looked at Sasuke and Naruto in front of him.

"I’m telling you, are you two annoying or what? Disturbing someone’s sweet dream early in the morning is going to get you struck by heavenly lightning!"

"Hey, is it still early in the morning?"

Naruto raised his head and glanced at the sky. At this moment the sun hung high in the air—the sunlight was already shining right onto their butts—while Sasuke let out a sigh.

"Senpai, it’s not early anymore. It’s time to work..."

"What work? Are you annoying or what?!"

Kitagawa Gen immediately felt displeased. He stretched and rubbed his sleep-blurred eyes.

"I fought wars for most of my life—what’s wrong with resting for a bit? I didn’t even have people keep the music playing and keep the dancing going. Stop nagging me!"

"..."

Kitagawa Gen’s extremely irresponsible attitude immediately left Sasuke and Naruto speechless.

They truly had not expected that Kitagawa Gen could be this lazy—but awkwardly enough, they really did not dare say anything about it!

The final battle had left far too great an impact on them. Even after later learning that everything had been part of the "Sage of Six Paths’ conspiracy," they were still genuinely afraid that the "Sage of Six Paths’ conspiracy" might have become reality.

That kind of pain that sank into the bones and soaked into the soul was something they remembered all too vividly—something they feared they would never be able to forget for the rest of their lives.

Even though Sasuke had experienced the "night of the clan’s annihilation," he had then been struck head-on by "Impure World Reincarnation," and at the same time had completely resolved Uchiha Itachi himself.

That kind of grief had already been alleviated, but what happened with Kitagawa Gen had an even greater impact on him than the "night of the clan’s annihilation"!

Now that everything had been regained after being lost, he truly did not want to face that kind of pain again.

The same was true for Naruto—and the harm caused to him by what happened with Kitagawa Gen was likely even greater.

As the first person who had acknowledged him, as well as his best friend, mentor, and the forerunner on the path of his life—someone whose back he would need to chase for his entire life, and who had also helped him find his parents and enabled him to make even more friends.

Such a person actually becoming the final enemy who was going to destroy the shinobi world?

No matter how strong Naruto was, his heart had already been shattered at that time. Fortunately, all of this had merely been part of the "Sage of Six Paths’ scheme."

Its purpose had been for the sake of the entire shinobi world. In his heart, Naruto would not hate Kitagawa Gen, because he, too, had acted under the Sage of Six Paths’ commission.

In his heart, he inevitably harbored some complaints and dissatisfaction toward the Sage of Six Paths—but more important than anything was the fact that the person he had lost had been regained!

"But it’s really very late now..."

Naruto scratched his head, and Sasuke could not help muttering a complaint under his breath as well.

"And in weather like this, you wouldn’t get struck by heavenly lightning, right?"

"You two..."

Kitagawa Gen sat up, rubbed his chin, and looked toward the sky.

"Do you want to see a heavenly lightning strike? And have it aimed at you?"

"..."

Boom—

The next moment, the calm sky suddenly erupted with a thunderous roar, and a violent bolt of lightning streaked across the heavens!

Sasuke and Naruto immediately fell silent. The person before them truly could do exactly what he said.

"Alright, you two, stop talking so much. Konohagakure is full of talented people."

Kitagawa Gen smiled, then slowly continued.

"All the Hokage are here—they are all highly capable when it comes to governance."

"Besides that, there are Shikamaru and Shikaku-senpai; they can also handle all matters very well."

"There is also Kakashi-sensei, the Pervy Sage, and so on. With so many people around, all I need to do is give them a goal."

"Every field has its specialists. Handing matters over to the people best at them—that is what makes a qualified Hokage."

"Not only that, aren’t you two the same? You can do quite a lot as well. After all, do you really have no thoughts about becoming Hokage?"

"Isn’t now the best opportunity to give you two a chance to temper yourselves?"

Hokage?

Training?

Sasuke and Naruto immediately froze in place. Their gazes could not help but flicker, and it was unclear what exactly they were thinking.

"Alright, you two hurry up and get busy. Stop bothering me."

Kitagawa Gen stood up. His chakra trembled slightly, instantly making his body clean again.

"Just right—I also still have some other matters. Go take care of your own things."

Before the words had even finished falling, Kitagawa Gen’s figure began to grow hazy. However, as if he suddenly thought of something, he continued.

"Oh, right. Cleaning up and watering the flowers—don’t forget that."

In the next instant, his figure vanished abruptly, not giving Naruto and Sasuke any room to continue speaking.

Of course, the two of them had no intention of speaking at this moment anyway, instead looking at each other.

"Hey, you don’t also want to become Hokage, do you?"

After quite a while, Naruto spoke warily. This immediately made Sasuke reveal a disdainful expression.

"Hmph. That’s senpai’s attempt to sow discord. You really are an idiot!"

"Is that so?"

Naruto’s face immediately took on a fox-like look, as if he did not believe Sasuke at all.

"Kurama told me—you seem to be talking, huh?"

"Shameless bastard..."

Sasuke really had almost forgotten that Naruto had a physical "add-on." In his heart, he bitterly cursed the Sage of Six Paths for truly not acting like a human!

Not only had he created the largest "Chūnin Exams" in the history of the shinobi world, he also did not take away all this messy stuff.

At this point, he could not even be bothered to put on an act anymore. He went straight to fetch a broom and spoke with undisguised disdain.

"You are senpai’s subordinate, and so am I. And we are both members of the Shadow Guard Unit—so why shouldn’t I be allowed to give it a try?"

"Wah! Damn it! So you really do want to become Hokage!"

Naruto immediately panicked. Seeing Sasuke grab a broom only made him even more anxious, but Sasuke did not indulge him at all. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Senpai said I also have a chance. If that’s the case, then I definitely do. Why should I give it up?"

"You bastard!"

"Idiot!"

"Hey, do you want to fight?!"

"I’ll go all the way with you!"

It had to be said—Sasuke and Naruto truly were a pair of "bickering frenemies."

No matter how good their relationship was, they would inexplicably start making a fuss with each other...

In fact, it was not just them. There was more than one pair of such "bickering frenemies" in the shinobi world, and the reason they had become so was precisely the current environment.

If it were in the past, they probably could only have been mortal enemies—just like Hashirama and Madara!

...

"Hey, why haven’t you approved my proposal yet?!"

Inside an office in the Hokage Building, Madara slammed his fist onto the desk, his expression extremely dissatisfied.

"Although the Ōtsutsuki of the shinobi world have already been wiped out, they definitely left behind a lot of ruins. Those things are extremely important to us—don’t you know that?!"

"Shut up. You’re a dangerous element!"

Tobirama had no intention of compromising at all. He stood up directly and confronted Madara head-on.

"You’ve said all of that—we know it, and we will also send people to look for them. But we absolutely will not let you go!"

"Bastard, are you looking to die?"

Madara glared angrily at Tobirama, his face filled with a cold sneer.

"Don’t think Kitagawa Gen can protect you. If I want to kill you, it wouldn’t take much effort at all!"

"Um... Madara, I can protect him..."

Hashirama, caught in the middle, looked somewhat awkward, but at this moment he still stood on his younger brother’s side.

"And compared to searching for ruins, I also lean more toward Tobirama’s view. We need to properly train the next generation, don’t we?"

"You bastard..."

Madara glared furiously at Hashirama. Sure enough, so-called "good brothers of chakra inheritance" were still no match for real "brothers."

"I know training the next generation is important, but are you planning to tie me down in Konohagakure?"

"What’s wrong with that? After all, you almost became the First Hokage—although that would have been a tragedy for Konohagakure."

Tobirama remained utterly fearless. He sneered as he stared at Madara and spoke.

"But no matter what, you are still a member of Konohagakure. Or are you planning to become a rogue ninja?"

"..."

Madara fell silent. Becoming a rogue ninja of Konohagakure now—he likely would not survive even the next second.

"The Sage of Six Paths’ scheme" had allowed him to witness true power, and had also made him realize that "humans" and the Ōtsutsuki were truly two different kinds of beings!

Perhaps they could, through their own techniques and tactics, inflict unimaginable damage upon the Ōtsutsuki—perhaps even kill them.

But when they encountered those who focused on combat—people like Kitagawa Gen—what were they supposed to do?

Were they really meant to become lambs waiting to be slaughtered, just like in the "Sage of Six Paths’ scheme"?

Madara truly did not want such a thing to happen. That was precisely why he wanted to search for the "Ōtsutsuki ruins," to see whether he could discover something.

That way, he could also improve himself...

Madara had always believed that having power firmly in one’s own hands was crucial—this was one point on which he deeply agreed with the Sage of Six Paths.

Of course, there was nothing wrong with inheritance either, but the premise was that he himself had to possess sufficient strength!

"Hmph, I have never been a rogue ninja."

After pondering for a moment, Madara finally spoke coldly, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Don’t forget—when I left Konohagakure, Hashirama never once defined me as a rogue ninja. Not once!"

"..."

Tobirama shot his older brother a glare. That really was the truth—Hashirama had even forbidden him from labeling Madara as a rogue ninja!

"I also agree with your plan, but I have always acknowledged something the Great Sage once said."

Madara continued. He did not dare to "speak his name directly"—that Sage of Six Paths was simply too terrifying!

"Power must be firmly held in our own hands. I am no longer afraid of death—at worst, it is merely a trip to the Pure Land."

"But if, in the future, our descendants encounter trouble, and we are summoned back, isn’t it important that we possess enough strength to deal with those beings from the heavens?"

"Tch..."

Tobirama was thrown off by Madara’s words. Once the Sage of Six Paths was brought into it, he really did fall for that line of reasoning.

The Sage of Six Paths was now his true faith—and he was a devoted disciple of the Sage of Six Paths!

"How about this—Madara, why don’t you first help us refine the shinobi world’s education system? Set up the training framework properly, and then you can go," Hashirama said, seeing the two at an impasse and stepping in to mediate.

"But Tobirama, don’t you think all of this is a bit too extreme?" he added. "Having their newest teacher hunt them down—isn’t that too cruel?"

"Cruel? No. This is tempering their will and forging their shinobi discipline!"

Tobirama bristled at the remark and immediately turned to snap back at his elder brother.

"Don’t forget—this is part of the Sage’s trial for the shinobi world. They’ll learn the truth eventually anyway. What’s the problem with that?!"

"Hmph. I even think it’s still not enough."

Madara couldn’t help chiming in at this point. He stroked his chin as he spoke.

"When I controlled Kirigakure back then, I had the graduates kill each other—only those who survived were allowed to graduate. Wouldn’t that be even better?"

"You two bastards..."

Hashirama couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst out in curses.

"You’re far too extreme. Are you trying to destroy the shinobi world’s education system?!"

"Bullshit. Your soft policies are what destroyed Konoha’s education. Just look at what shinobi quality has become now!"

"And what about Gen—didn’t Gen come out of exactly this kind of educational environment?!"

"But even the Sage has said that the shinobi world’s education system has already collapsed. What more do you have to say?!"

"..."

"So shut up. We’re rebuilding the shinobi world’s education!"

"..."

The three of them argued with tremendous gusto, while Kakashi and the others off to the side watched with splitting headaches.

"Hey, Kakashi."

Guy couldn’t help rubbing his chin as he asked in a low voice.

"Isn’t this a bit too extreme? Doing it like this—it feels like it’ll make the shinobi world’s education collapse."

"Hah..."

Kakashi stared at his friend with dead fish eyes, while inside he couldn’t help but complain.

Hadn’t Konoha’s education system collapsed a long time ago?

Now that it was spreading to the entire shinobi world, it didn’t really seem like something impossible to accept.

"Forget it. I don’t think we really have a right to speak here."

Jiraiya also couldn’t help complaining from the side. He let out a helpless sigh.

"After all, this is all done by that ’Sage.’ And Gen gave us a vivid lesson—maybe this really is the best way."

"Maybe..."

Kakashi shook his head in distress. To be honest, he understood Kitagawa Gen too well.

To put it bluntly, from the time Kitagawa Gen graduated up to now, the person who had spent the longest time with Kitagawa Gen was him!

When he combined that with Kitagawa Gen’s past "glorious track record," he always had the feeling this kid was just doing it because he wanted to play around.

And along the way, he dumped all the blame onto the Sage of Six Paths!

Of course, that was only a guess, and he wouldn’t say it out loud.

Because no matter how you looked at it, the starting point wasn’t actually bad—though what they were doing was really too nasty!

And his mind was very quick; he wouldn’t say anything that was bad for unity anyway...

"I really didn’t expect the Six—cough, cough, cough, cough!"

Hiruzen held his smoking pipe and let out a sigh of emotion, but before he could finish, thunder suddenly roared outside the window!

Boom—!

The massive lightning and thunder made Hiruzen’s eyes widen. At that moment, he remembered—

That one was an existence whose name must not be spoken directly!

He immediately launched into a bout of tactical coughing, and only then did he speak again, his tone turning solemn.

"No matter what, this is the ’Sage of Six Paths’ showing goodwill toward the shinobi world. We just need to do our part. After all, this is also for the future."

"..."

Kakashi, Guy, Jiraiya, and Hiruzen all stiffly turned their heads to look out the window, then couldn’t help but nod in deep agreement.

"That’s right, that’s right—the ’Sage of Six Paths’ is doing all this for the shinobi world, all for our future!"

"Exactly—the ’Sage of Six Paths’ has worked tirelessly..."

"Truly admirable, the ’Sage of Six Paths’..."

That clap of thunder also made Hashirama, Madara, and Tobirama stop arguing. They raised their heads and looked out the window in confusion.

The sky was perfectly clear, with no sign of rain at all, which only deepened their puzzlement.

"What’s going on?"

"Could it be that the Sage has manifested?"

"More likely some fool who doesn’t know their place offended the Sage’s authority."

"Hmph. Daring to offend the Sage’s authority—truly deserves death."

"..."

Kakashi and the others immediately fell silent, able only to exchange looks with one another.

Meanwhile, inside Konoha, at the Yamanaka flower shop, Ino was tidying up the flowers while chatting casually with the visiting Hinata.

It was just that the topic they were chatting about was rather awkward—but fortunately, at that very moment...

Boom—

A sudden peal of thunder exploded in the sky, making both of them lift their heads to look upward.

"That’s really strange. Thunder even with weather like this?"

Ino paused for a moment, then smiled as she spoke, and Hinata nodded along with her.

"Yeah. Thunder in weather like this is really strange."

"Actually, the question you asked is what’s strange."

Ino looked at Hinata with some amusement. She rubbed her brow and said, "What kind of person Gen-senpai likes—I honestly don’t know either."

"I’m really sorry..."

Hinata immediately stood up, her face reddening, and explained helplessly, "It was Father who wanted me to ask, because..."

"I know—the Hyūga clan’s heirloom, right?"

Ino gave a faint, knowing smile. Even so, this was a question she couldn’t easily answer.

"To be honest, I’m not very sure either. Gen-senpai has only ever told me what kind of flowers he likes. As for anything else, he really hasn’t said."

"Flowers?"

Hinata blinked. She seemed to recall how, during the "final battle," Ino had charged toward Kitagawa Gen without hesitation.

That kind of resolve was hard to imagine—and at the time, the conversation between her and Kitagawa Gen had spread across the entire battlefield.

"Didn’t you once say that what you like most are those flowers that seem ordinary—flowers that don’t mind growing alongside other plants, don’t think themselves noble, and can bloom at any time?"

"And didn’t I also say that what I like most are flowers that bloom on cliff edges?"

"Actually, I had already made up my mind long ago—to take that step toward the sky!"

Those few short sentences were enough for everyone who had taken part in the battle to remember forever—to remember this truly brave girl who had "taken the final step."

And what those words carried with them was also the reason Hinata had been helplessly summoned here by her father.

Even though Hinata felt it was highly inappropriate—felt that it was far too disrespectful toward Ino—in the end, she still decided to try, to see whether there would be any result at all.

"All right, thinking about it so much doesn’t really mean anything anyway. After all, no one knows what he’s thinking."

Ino let out a sigh, helplessly setting aside the flowers in her hands. Then she smiled and spoke to Hinata, "Maybe you could go ask Gen-senpai yourself. That would be more straightforward."

"Ask me what?"

Just as she finished speaking, a familiar voice suddenly sounded behind them.

"Gen-senpai!"

In that instant, both of them turned around at once. They saw Kitagawa Gen, dressed in black, standing outside the flower shop, looking at the two of them with an amused expression.

"Being all secretive—what are you talking about?"

"We..."

At that, the two of them fell silent, seeming not to dare raise their heads to look at Kitagawa Gen.

That reaction, however, struck Kitagawa Gen as rather amusing. He rubbed his chin and smiled at Ino as he spoke.

"How strange. That girl who once dared to face me alone—who even risked her life to stop me, taking a step toward the sky on the edge of a cliff—actually..."

"Don’t say it!"

Ino’s face instantly flushed red. Blushing, she cut Kitagawa Gen off.

"That was all the Six—the ’Sage of Six Paths’’ arrangement! Gen-senpai, it’s not like that at all!"

"Tsk, tsk—still calling me senpai, huh?"

Kitagawa Gen looked Ino up and down, the smile on his face growing ever broader.

"Didn’t I tell you a long time ago that just calling me Gen was fine? You even changed how you addressed me before—so why now..."

"You’re the Hokage now..."

"So what?"

"Uh..."

"And besides, it seems I haven’t even officially announced my inauguration yet. How annoying—did they just prop me up out of nowhere? Did my pay at least get raised?"

"..."

Kitagawa Gen’s sideways banter instantly lightened the mood. Even Hinata seemed far less tense at that moment.

Although Kitagawa Gen did indeed carry an oppressive presence born of the ’Ōtsutsuki,’ as someone whose Ōtsutsuki development had likewise reached ninety-one percent, he himself already represented nature.

Interacting with him could make one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze at any moment, letting people set aside everything in their hearts.

"All right, stop asking, Gen..."

Ino said with a smile, quietly dropping the final "senpai."

"This is girls’ talk—don’t pry so much."

"Fine, fine. It’s nothing important anyway."

Kitagawa Gen shrugged, though he could roughly guess what it was about.

"Honestly, the best way might be for Hiashi or Hizashi to meet me. Wouldn’t that resolve things more directly?"

"Yes... I understand."

Hinata immediately nodded. She truly didn’t want to do something like this, and her face began to redden again.

Because she seemed to realize as well—that the person involved had learned about the topics they had been talking about.

"Gen, you came this time to...?"

Ino quickly changed the subject, sparing Hinata further embarrassment. At the same time, she was genuinely curious.

"I’m planning to buy some flowers and pay visits to a few people."

Kitagawa Gen shrugged and said with a smile.

"Even though it doesn’t really seem necessary, it should at least be done properly—so I had no choice but to come to you."

"Buying flowers, huh? I understand."

Ino smiled. Everything seemed to return to how it used to be—and that was exactly what she had always longed for in her heart.

In the final battle, she had truly been afraid—terrified.

"The Sage of Six Paths’ arrangements" had lingered like a shadow in her heart. She had been genuinely afraid that scene might be real.

Fortunately, it had all been false. Fortunately, Gen was still there. Fortunately...

"Take your time choosing. The people I’m going to visit probably don’t have very good tempers."

Kitagawa Gen patted Ino on the shoulder, still wearing that relaxed smile.

"But there’s no need to worry too much. Even if they don’t like it, I’m here."

"So go ahead—choose boldly. That girl who was already prepared to bravely step toward the sky—I’ll catch you..."

At that point, Kitagawa Gen stopped. Ino’s body stiffened slightly.

In the next instant, a smile bloomed across her face—brilliant, like the vivid flowers themselves...

And while Konohagakure was steeped in peace and harmony, the atmosphere inside the Akatsuki base in the Land of Rain was instead somewhat heavy.

"Tch, seriously."

Hidan looked at everyone with clear displeasure, especially at this very moment when Nagato was making arrangements, and he shouted loudly, "Why does this kind of thing get dumped on us? Kirigakure, Iwagakure, and Konohagakure—can’t they go do it instead?!"

"Because we’ve been the villains from beginning to end."

Kakuzu spoke indifferently as he counted the bills in his hands. Beside him, Orochimaru licked his lips and said with a smile, "The ninja world has achieved peace, but peace ultimately still needs tempering. The will forged through a thousand years of bloodshed bloomed in the final battle—but how to pass it on, isn’t that a problem as well?"

"So we’re supposed to play that role?"

Hidan said unhappily, hoisting his scythe, thoroughly dissatisfied.

"Damn it! I was saying I could just enjoy life and devote everything to Jashin-sama—turns out I still have to work!"

"Do you believe that if you dare to recklessly offer other people to Jashin, the one in Konohagakure will directly kill you together with your Jashin?"

Nagato raised his head at this moment and spoke coldly. That sentence made Hidan stop talking nonsense.

For them, it wasn’t only the Sage of Six Paths who was a taboo not to be spoken of lightly.

Likewise, Kitagawa Gen was an existence whose name was ’not to be spoken aloud’!

That was someone who, in the truest sense, had smashed the entire ninja world apart—someone who had truly driven the world into despair.

Even though all of that had merely been the ’arrangements of the Sage of Six Paths,’ no one would ever doubt his ability given such power!

"All right, all right, I get it."

Hidan let out a sigh, then perked up again and shouted.

"Then let’s keep being our ’villains.’ Anyway, it’s basically destined! At least it’s not us who are that unlucky—Kumogakure is just as unlucky."

"True. Kumogakure is unlucky too."

Biwa Jūzō and Kurosuki Raiga both nodded. Kisame looked at Orochimaru with curiosity.

"Come to think of it, why does the one in Konohagakure hate Kumogakure so much? Not giving them any chance at all."

"Wavering back and forth, self-righteous—anyone would hate that."

Orochimaru licked his lips and spoke with a face full of amusement.

"Tsk, tsk—either way, it’s none of our business. And we aren’t even bad now—being able to live properly, change our appearance, and even go to Konohagakure to rest; why not enjoy it?"

"Perhaps..."

The other members of the Akatsuki all nodded. After all, they had also contributed in the final battle.

And now they were also carrying out the ’will of the Sage of Six Paths,’ properly tempering the ninja world—so Konohagakure naturally gave them some preferential treatment.

"Tch, once we finish this early, I’m going to Konohagakure too!"

Hidan immediately stood up and shouted in annoyance.

"That damn kappa—he still hasn’t told me who their damn dead last actually is!"

"Who the hell is it, bastard?!"

And while they were chatting idly, atop a high tower in the Land of Rain outside the Akatsuki base, Konan stood together with Yahiko.

"What do you think—about the world as it is now?"

"It’s not quite how it was imagined, but..."

Yahiko lifted his head and looked up at the sky.

"Maybe this is the best outcome after all?"

"Perhaps. At least peace has finally arrived."

Konan smiled as well. Yahiko had been summoned after the war through Impure World Reincarnation, and as for true resurrection, it seemed unnecessary.

The passage between the Pure Land and the human world had long since been opened, and the Pure Land itself was created by the Sage of Six Paths—prepared specifically for the future great war.

In that case, summoning some people and leaving others behind was perfectly normal.

"It’s just..."

Yahiko scratched his head and spoke with deep emotion.

"I really didn’t expect the truth of the world to be like this."

"Yes."

Konan nodded along—but in the very next moment, Yahiko’s words caused her expression to change abruptly.

"The Sage of Six Paths is really far too cruel. Even after everything is over, he still has to—"

Boom—!

Before Yahiko could finish speaking, a thunderous roar suddenly erupted across the sky!

That violent peal of thunder seemed to pierce through the world itself, exploding heavily right above their heads.

The scene left Konan and Yahiko staring in shock—and it also frightened the Akatsuki members into rushing out.

"What’s going on?"

"I don’t know—maybe some bastard was badmouthing the Sage of Six Paths."

"Yeah, probably. Truly a fool courting death. Don’t they know what kind of existence the Sage of Six Paths is?"

"Alright, enough chatter. As long as it’s not an attack, we should focus on our own preparations."

Seeing that nothing was wrong—just a peal of thunder in the truest sense of the word—the members of the Akatsuki turned around one by one and returned to their rooms.

Only Konan and Yahiko were left behind, standing amid the fine drizzle of the Land of Rain, a rain that seemed as though it would never cease...

Upon the moon, Kaguya gazed down at the shinobi world below, countless thoughts surging through her mind.

The war was over, and she and her three "precious" sons had, for the time being, reached a reconciliation.

Reconciliation—perhaps it was the best choice.

At the very least, Hagoromo had proven the thoughts and intentions he held; at least in her eyes, Hagoromo had indeed won!

As for what to do next, she had yet to decide. She had no interest in entering the Pure Land like her "precious" sons.

And she was also deeply curious about what the future of the Ōtsutsuki would be like, though she was unsure whether she herself could even leave this place.

"After all, to the people of the shinobi world, I truly am the Rabbit Goddess."

Kaguya shook her head, unable to suppress a quiet sigh in her heart. Yet at that very moment, she suddenly sensed something.

"What are you thinking about?"

She turned her head, only to see a black hole appear in space. In the next instant, Kitagawa Gen stepped out of it, holding flowers in his hand.

"Let’s make this clear first—don’t start backing away the moment you see me. Am I really that terrifying?"

"..."

Kaguya’s figure stiffened at once. She really had almost instinctively stepped backward.

After all, the guy in front of her really was far too terrifying!

"How did you come here..."

Only after quite a while did Kaguya finally manage to speak.

"But it really is rare—you actually came here to see us."

"Come on, this isn’t a prison. It’s just that for now you’re staying here."

Kitagawa Gen smiled as he walked over. He shrugged and continued, "Don’t forget—I split the moon in half with a single sword strike. Even though I restored it, everything inside still needs someone to run it, so..."

"It’s basically built already. Hamura and Hagoromo are still fairly at ease with it," Kaguya said, but her gaze shifted to the flowers in Kitagawa Gen’s hand, and for a moment she felt inexplicably puzzled.

"These flowers..."

"If I’m coming to see you, I should at least make some preparations, right?"

Kitagawa Gen handed the flowers over, and Kaguya accepted them with a blank look on her face.

In that instant, even she found it strange—because in her memories, back in ancient times, when humans gave flowers to someone of the opposite sex, it seemed to carry a different kind of meaning...

"What, you don’t like them?"

Seeing Kaguya standing there in a daze, Kitagawa Gen was also a bit baffled.

"At least they’re the best flowers. And didn’t I tell you to adapt to human life? If you’re like this, how are you going to go to the shinobi world?"

"I... can leave here?"

Kaguya’s gaze grew even more peculiar, but Kitagawa Gen nodded with a smile and said, "Didn’t I tell you? This place isn’t a prison. If you want to go, of course you can. It’s just that I think it’d be better to go to the shinobi world instead."

"Why?"

"Because if you’re outside, you’ll run into the Ōtsutsuki. In the shinobi world, I can protect you—don’t forget, we’re allies."

"..."

Kaguya seemed to ignore the last sentence. Her gaze grew even stranger as she looked at Kitagawa Gen.

Protect her?

Thinking it over carefully, Kitagawa Gen saying something like that did not feel out of place at all—because he was a man destined to become the God of the Ōtsutsuki.

And more importantly, she had long been thinking about whether it was emotion that had allowed Kitagawa Gen to become so powerful.

Bloodline was naturally important, but the intense emotions that erupted from human will—and the power that burst forth with them—she had seen clearly as well.

Kitagawa Gen, this Ōtsutsuki born of the human world, had accepted everything about humanity, just like her two sons.

’So that kind of emotion can draw out even greater power—whether it’s Hagoromo and Hamura, or Kitagawa Gen as well...’

Kaguya pondered silently in her heart, and the way she looked made Kitagawa Gen feel puzzled as well.

"What’s wrong? Why do you look like you’ve got something on your mind?"

"Nothing."

Kaguya came back to her senses, shook her head decisively, and then spoke.

"The shinobi world, huh. It is indeed a suitable place. Should I go with you?"

"If you want to, then of course there’s no problem."

Kitagawa Gen raised an eyebrow. He always felt that this Rabbit Goddess was acting a bit strange.

"But this is fine too. After all, the human world needs getting used to, and I can help you. Back when you were chakra inside my body, you should’ve already adapted, right?"

"That was then. This is now. It’s not the same."

Kaguya shook her head, then asked with a faintly amused tone, "Speaking of which, back then, did you really never think about eating me?"

"Eating?"

Kitagawa Gen scratched his head. The word "eat" carried different meanings in different contexts, and in the current context it really left him speechless.

"I don’t eat people, thanks."

"I’m not a person."

"..."

"Momoshiki, Urashiki, and Isshiki—you could deal with them too, couldn’t you?"

"..."

"Or is it that you have some other purpose?"

"..."

Kitagawa Gen couldn’t be bothered to keep arguing with this neurotic god. No wonder, once her bloodline continued on, it produced the Kaguya clan and the Uchiha clan—those two infamous lunatics of the shinobi world!

The source—finally found...

Besides, even when it came to "eating" Isshiki, Urashiki, and Momoshiki, he had done so through the absorption of chakra, not in the literal sense of "eating" at all.

’Still, come to think of it, that Momoshiki guy seems to have gotten away. The half of his body he left behind actually managed to imprint a ’Kāma’ onto a White Zetsu.’

Walking inward as he spoke, Kitagawa Gen stroked his chin in thought.

’But if he returns to the Ōtsutsuki clan, what will happen then? And that ’Karasuki’ is also in my hands—maybe I can still do something with it.’

"Oh, right—don’t be surprised later."

Just as they were about to reach the innermost area, Kaguya, who had been following behind Kitagawa Gen while holding the bouquet of flowers, suddenly spoke up.

"Hm?"

Kitagawa Gen found it odd and asked curiously, "Surprised by what?"

"You’ll know in a moment."

Kaguya opened her mouth, but in the end said nothing more, which only made Kitagawa Gen even more curious.

What new trick had this Ōtsutsuki family of three—or four—come up with on the moon this time?

And when they walked inside, they immediately saw a figure floating in midair, turned with his back to everyone.

An indescribable sense of loneliness slowly drifted off him!

"Hm? Gen?!"

Hamura stood off to the side, looking somewhat troubled, but upon noticing Kitagawa Gen entering, he couldn’t help calling out.

That shout immediately drew a reaction from the figure floating in midair with his back to the world!

"Kitagawa Gen!"

With a low shout, he turned around and revealed his face—it was the Sage of Six Paths.

But in the very next moment, he let out a wailing, hysterical roar, "I didn’t do it! No, I didn’t! It wasn’t me! I really didn’t do it!"

"..."