The branches and leaves of the God Tree swayed gently in the wind, their golden halo bathing the entire starry sky in a warm glow.
Having just devoured the Chakra of Momoshiki and Kinshiki, the God Tree's aura had reached its absolute peak. Its massive frame, over 9,500 meters tall, stood amidst a cluster of meteorites, its roots digging deep into the subterranean rock layers to extract the last remaining energy.
Shun held Kaguya by the waist as they floated quietly beneath the God Tree. The ferocity of the recent battle had long since dissipated, leaving only the calm that follows a great storm.
Shun asked, "Tired?"
Kaguya shook her head and leaned gently against his shoulder.
"Fortunately you were here. If I were alone, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to defeat the combined strength of Momoshiki and Kinshiki."
Shun's heart softened, and he tightened his arm, pulling her closer.
He knew all too well the loneliness Kaguya had endured over the years—betrayed by her clan, misunderstood by the world, and even opposed by her closest kin. To have her rely on him so completely now was the greatest blessing of his life.
"With me here, no one will ever hurt you again. From the lingering soul memories of Momoshiki, I've uncovered many secrets. This so-called 'Ōtsutsuki God Race' has been rotten to the core for a long time."
Kaguya slowly raised her eyes to look at him, a complex expression flickering in her clear gaze.
That was her clan, her former home. Even though she had been betrayed and hunted by her own kind, and even though she had long since become disillusioned, her heart still stirred slightly upon hearing him mention it.
She remained silent for a moment before nodding softly. "Shun, I trust you. Tell me whatever you wish to say."
When it came to decisions involving her clan, she was more willing to trust the man before her, who had protected her with his life.
Shun cast his gaze toward the far reaches of the starry sky, as if his vision could pierce through the endless nebulae and darkness to see the planet hidden in a corner of the Universe.
What he was about to reveal was the most hidden essence of the Ōtsutsuki clan, and its most unsightly truth.
"The current Ōtsutsuki clan is no longer as grand as it once was. They were once embroiled in a brutal civil war. A faction of extremists within the clan, in pursuit of what they called 'Final Evolution,' actually turned their fangs against their own kind. They captured ordinary Ōtsutsuki clansmen en masse and forcibly fed them to the God Tree to accelerate the ripening of the Chakra Fruit."
"This civil war and fratricide caused the Ōtsutsuki population to plummet. According to Momoshiki's memories, there are fewer than a few hundred Ōtsutsuki left today. Most are oppressed low-ranking members, the upper echelon who actually hold power and control the clan's direction number fewer than ten."
This number, along with such cruel internal details, caused Kaguya to startle slightly, her breath hitching for a moment.
The Ōtsutsuki clan in her memory—haughty, controlling the life and death of countless planets, and viewing all things as ants—was now reduced to such a small population.
She lowered her eyes, looking at her fingertips, an indescribable feeling rising in her heart.
After all, that was the place of her birth, the place she once thought was her 'home'.
Sensing her distress, Shun gently patted her back. "I know this is hard for you, but there are truths you must know."
Kaguya took a deep breath, the melancholy in her eyes gradually fading. "Shun, I'm fine. Please continue."
"Actually, we both know that the essence of the Ōtsutsuki clan isn't some innate 'God Race.' They are simply a group of humans with special physiques."
Shun's fingers gently toyed with her long hair. "Toneri has pure Ōtsutsuki bloodline, yet he has no horns on his head. Then there are the androids Ada and Daemon, created using the genes of Shibai, they also look like normal humans. This proves that without God Tree's Chakra in their bodies, the genes of the Ōtsutsuki and ordinary humans are quite similar."
Upon hearing this, Kaguya fell into silence.
She thought of her own past. Her parents were members of the Otsutsuki Upper Echelon, and she had been bestowed with God Tree's Chakra before she was even born. Later, her parents lost power in the internal struggles, and she was sent out to plant a God Tree. Now, in the blink of an eye, over a thousand years had passed, and the Ōtsutsuki Clan had declined.
Seeing the sorrow in Kaguya's eyes, a chilling killing intent flashed through Shun's gaze.
"Kaguya, give me some time, and I will execute all the current Otsutsuki Upper Echelon. It was these leaders who not only orchestrated the atrocity of feeding their own kin to the God Tree but also, to maintain the clan's false 'divine right,' continuously sent clansmen across the Universe to find Life Planets to plant God Trees and plunder Natural Energy."
He waved his hand, and a series of semi-transparent phantoms spread out across the starry sky, sketching out one shocking scene after another.
On vibrant blue planets, as God Trees suddenly erupted from the ground, the green would fade within a mere thousand years. Rivers dried up, mountains crumbled, and countless beings wailed in despair as they died.
Ultimately, these Life Planets were transformed into lifeless celestial bodies. The massive fruits produced at the top of the God Trees were harvested by Ōtsutsuki clansmen and brought back to the Ōtsutsuki Ancestral Land to be offered to the upper echelon as nourishment to increase their strength.
With suppressed rage, Shun said solemnly, "Every chosen Life Planet carried countless vibrant lives. What the God Tree absorbs has never been just simple Natural Energy. It is the planet's Life Origin, the vitality of countless beings."
"Those high-ranking officials have their hands stained with the blood of billions. The blood debt they carry is enough to condemn them to eternal damnation. They enjoy long lives built upon the sacrifice of others. Such people must not be allowed to remain."
Kaguya gazed at the shattered phantoms in the sky. Her eyes gradually turned cold, and a piercing chill radiated from her, seemingly freezing even the stellar wind around them.
The reason she had been willing to stand against her entire clan back then was precisely because she didn't want to see the Ninja World follow in the footsteps of other Life Planets, nor did she want the beings of the Ninja World to become fodder for the God Tree.
Now, hearing that the actions of those high-ranking officials had never ceased and that countless Life Planets had suffered this calamity over the years, the last shred of belonging she felt for her clan completely vanished. All that remained was pity for those innocent lives and a bone-deep loathing for the cruel actions of the upper echelon.
"How... how dare they...?"
Shun frowned with a cold sneer, the killing intent in his eyes deepening. "For power and immortality, what wouldn't they dare? In their eyes, all life besides themselves is nothing but a stepping stone."
"As for the adult clansmen at the bottom..."
Shun's tone softened slightly, yet it still held no mercy. "They may not have been the masterminds of the atrocities, but most participated in the planting and harvesting of God Trees, or assisted the upper echelon's crimes by guarding captured kin or transporting plundered resources. In my view, they are accomplices, and their hands are also stained with blood. Leaving them would only be a risk for the future. It's better to..."
He didn't finish his sentence, merely pointing his finger at the God Tree beside them.
As soon as he spoke, the God Tree seemed to sense his will. Its leaves trembled slightly, and the golden halo circulated more rapidly, emitting a strong aura of longing.
It was a thirst for Chakra and life energy, yet it carried a hint of solemnity, as if performing some sacred judgment.
Kaguya instantly understood his meaning. The final destination for those adult clansmen would be to become nourishment for this God Tree, using their Chakra and lives to atone for the sins their clan had committed.
She remained silent for a moment before nodding gently, her eyes showing no hesitation. "This is the retribution they deserve."
This was perhaps the most cruel end, yet it was also the most just disposition.
"However, we don't need to wipe them out entirely."
Shun changed the subject, the killing intent in his eyes receding slightly, replaced by a complex light.
He raised his hand, and the phantoms in the starry sky faded, replaced by a scene of children playing.
These were several young Ōtsutsuki playing on the grass of their home planet, their eyes pure and free of any Impurities.
"The sins of the Ōtsutsuki clan should not be borne by innocent children. Those underage Ōtsutsuki have not yet been assimilated by the clan's corrupt ideology, nor have they had the chance to come into contact with the God Tree's Chakra or participate in any atrocities. At this moment, they are no different from ordinary human children."
Kaguya gazed at the phantoms of those children, her gaze gradually softening, and the ferocity in her heart dissipated further.
She remembered herself as a child. Back then, although the clan had already shown signs of greed, it hadn't yet reached such a maddening degree. She too had once had carefree times.
"Leaving them allows the Ōtsutsuki bloodline to be passed on, so this ancient clan doesn't completely vanish from the Universe. Secondly, it can be considered leaving a small margin for atonement for these heavy sins."
Shun took her hand, feeling its soft texture. "Once we've dealt with the high-ranking officials, we can bring these children to the Ninja World. We can let them grow up in an environment without killing or greed, and teach them to distinguish right from wrong. Let them atone for their clan's sins in their own way."
Kaguya leaned against his shoulder, listening to his words while pretending not to care.
"Shun, I will listen to you in everything."
Shun knew Kaguya had complex feelings toward the Ōtsutsuki clan, especially after learning that their essence was just that of special humans and that their decline stemmed from fratricide. These feelings would likely become even more complicated.
"Kaguya, I promise you that once I defeat the Ōtsutsuki clan in the future, I will properly settle these remaining children. We will discard the corrupt rules of the Ōtsutsuki's past and let them grow in the right way. Moreover, I will increase the Ōtsutsuki population, helping the clan escape its state of decline, and then teach them to atone by rehabilitating the Life Planets."