"Kaguya?"
Hashirama furrowed his brow, raised a hand, and stroked his chin. "I've seen that name in Konoha's ancient texts. It's said she was the progenitor of Chakra."
"That's right."
Shun nodded, continuing, "She was the first Ōtsutsuki to arrive in the Ninja World. After consuming the God Tree's fruit, she gained immense Chakra and quelled the wars of that era and was eventually sealed away by her two sons working together."
"Her sons were the Sage of Six Paths and his brother, Hamura?" Madara interjected, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.
As the head of the Uchiha clan, he had heard whispers of this forgotten legend, but he hadn't expected such hidden details behind it.
"The Sage of Six Paths founded the ninja system, and Hamura went to the moon to accompany his mother Kaguya?"
"Precisely."
Shun's gaze sharpened, and the golden Chakra barrier subtly trembled with his emotional fluctuations.
"The eldest son, Hagoromo, also known as the Sage of Six Paths, distributed Chakra to humans, taught them how to use Ninjutsu, and established Ninshu. The second son, Hamura, was responsible for guarding his mother's seal, and afterward, he led his clan members to the moon."
"But this was not the end. The Ōtsutsuki clan has never given up on the Ninja World. The Chakra of the Ninja World is the most tempting prey for them."
He looked at Madara and Hashirama, his tone earnest. "You are the strongest experts in the Ninja World. Hashirama's Wood Release originates from the God Tree, and Madara's Sharingan contains the bloodline power of the Ōtsutsuki."
"If Hashirama can awaken the Rinnegan, the two of you, working together, will have the capital to contend with the Ōtsutsuki."
"Also, Nagato cannot unleash the true power of the Rinnegan. After returning the eyes to Madara, he can forge his own path based on his talent."
"I hope you can set aside past grievances, work together to get stronger, and join me in protecting the Ninja World, protecting this hard-won peace and prosperity."
Within the golden Chakra barrier, the atmosphere grew solemn.
The smile on Hashirama's face completely vanished, his eyes as firm as iron, his clenched fists trembling slightly, showing an undeniable resolve. "Protecting the Ninja World is my inescapable duty."
He pursued peace his entire life and absolutely could not allow the invasion of the Ōtsutsuki clan to destroy the tranquility of the Ninja World, nor could he let the prosperity of the Ancestral Star become a fleeting illusion.
The thought of those laughing children potentially repeating the tragic fate of ninjas ignited a fierce fighting spirit within him.
Madara remained silent for a long time, light flickering in his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, sometimes violent, sometimes grave.
He looked at Shun, then glanced at the high-spirited Hashirama beside him, letting out a cold snort, yet unable to hide the seriousness in his eyes. "Hmph, I won't let those unknown aliens destroy the world that I value. However, you can return the Rinnegan to me. Whether Hashirama wants my eyes is up to him. Even if he gets the Rinnegan, he still won't be able to beat me."
"What did you say?"
Hashirama immediately retorted indignantly, rolling up his sleeves, ready to argue, "If I awaken the Rinnegan, I can definitely beat you. Then I'll show you who the strongest in the Ninja World is."
"Ridiculous."
Madara raised an eyebrow, a competitive glint flashing in his eyes.
The two instantly reverted to their usual confrontational demeanor, but without the past animosity. Instead, it was more of a tacit rivalry, as if they were already looking forward to the days of working together.
Nagato slowly nodded, turning to exchange a glance with Konan, who gently nodded in support.
"As long as it protects this peace, I am willing to return the Rinnegan." Nagato's voice was calm yet firm.
He had long understood that true peace is not achieved through destruction, but requires strength to protect.
In the past, he used Pain's power to forcibly bring peace, but it only created more tragedies. Now that he had a chance to truly protect peace, he would not miss it.
Konan stepped forward, standing beside Nagato, her tone soft but resolute. "I will fight alongside Nagato, no matter who the opponent is, no matter where the battlefield is."
Her gaze swept over the prosperous scene of the Ancestral Star, and she secretly vowed in her heart never to let the tragedy of Amegakure repeat anywhere.
Shun looked at the four of them, a gratified smile on his face.
He raised his hand and dispersed the Chakra barrier. Sunlight streamed down on the five of them, warm and dazzling, casting long shadows.
"Very good. Next, we will rest on the Ancestral Star for a while. I will provide you with the most suitable training environment to quickly get stronger. As for the exchange of the Rinnegan, once you are ready, I will personally assist."
He turned to look at the tall buildings in the distance, a hint of anticipation in his eyes. "Moreover, some of the Ancestral Star's technologies might help you get stronger. For example, the Energy Conversion Device can more efficiently convert Natural Energy into Chakra, and there are Training Pods that simulate Ōtsutsuki Chakra, allowing you to adapt to the opponent's power in advance."
Hashirama immediately became interested, leaning close to Shun, his face full of eagerness. "Oh? There's such a good thing. What kind of technology is it? Is it more powerful than my Wood Release? Can you take me to see it now?"
"You'll know once you adapt to this environment."
Shun smiled, keeping them in suspense, and took the lead, walking forward.
"Come on, I'll take you to your resting place. There are rooms specially prepared for you, and some information about the Ancestral Star and the Ōtsutsuki clan. You can learn about them first."
Madara snorted and followed closely, but as he passed Hashirama, he whispered, "Don't drag us down, Hashirama. If your strength isn't enough then, I won't save you."
"You too."
Hashirama immediately retorted, but still quickly followed, not forgetting to wave back at Nagato and Konan.
"Nagato, Konan, hurry up and follow. Let's go see the training environment Shun mentioned."
Nagato and Konan walked side by side, conversing in low voices about the Ancestral Star's sights and the impending crisis, their eyes filled with anticipation and determination for the future.
A crisis concerning the survival of the Universe was approaching, and they would be the Ninja World's most steadfast defense.