The only good news was that Kaguya's hidden card had already been used.
From this point onward, Hagoromo could begin planning around it, preparing countermeasures in advance.
In truth, the Sage of Six Paths, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, had always believed he was standing on the highest layer.
All he needed to do was wait for Black Zetsu to take the bait. Then, at the final moment, he would appear as a savior and resolve everything.
That should have been enough to save the world.
But now?
The Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Ren, had appeared out of nowhere and overturned every arrangement Hagoromo had made.
For the first time, Hagoromo felt as if the situation had slipped beyond his grasp.
Because all signs pointed to one thing.
The Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Ren, was not merely seeing a few steps ahead.
He was playing on a level far beyond Hagoromo's reach.
Just thinking about it made Hagoromo feel miserable.
However, neither Hagoromo nor Hamura knew that their original plan had actually succeeded once before.
In the original course of events, during the Fourth Great Ninja War, Hagoromo appeared in the spiritual worlds of Naruto and Sasuke as a remnant of chakra.
He told them about his two sons—
Indra, the gifted and arrogant elder brother.
Asura, the once-ordinary younger brother who grew stronger through perseverance.
He explained that their chakra had never truly disappeared, but had instead been inherited from generation to generation.
Asura's chakra had reincarnated into Naruto.
Indra's chakra had reincarnated into Sasuke.
Their conflict was merely the continuation of an endless cycle that had begun with their predecessors.
After asking the two what they intended to do and receiving their answers, Hagoromo had appeared sorrowful on the surface.
But in truth, he had been delighted.
He directly granted his power to Naruto and Sasuke, entrusting the future to them.
After receiving Hagoromo's chakra, Naruto and Sasuke each obtained the Sage of Six Paths' power.
Naruto gained the Yang Power seal on his right palm, awakened Six Paths Sage Mode, and learned to use Yin–Yang Release. With it, he saved Might Guy after the Night Guy and restored Kakashi's left eye.
Sasuke gained the Yin Power seal on his left palm, while his left eye evolved into a six-tomoe Rinnegan. He also awakened a perfected Susanoo capable of resisting the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
In the end, it was through Naruto and Sasuke's efforts that Kaguya was sealed once again, saving everything.
"Brother, let's continue staying hidden for now."
Seeing Hagoromo's complicated expression, Hamura took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice.
"The shinobi world has completely changed. We should move step by step and only act when the timing is best."
"That way, our benefits will be maximized."
"No problem."
Hagoromo agreed without hesitation.
There was nothing else to say.
Back then, he had failed to eliminate Uchiha Ren before he grew. That single mistake had led to everything now.
Hagoromo felt bitter.
More than bitter, he felt helpless.
"By the way, Brother…"
Hamura seemed to remember something and looked slightly embarrassed.
"After Mother revives, do you think she'll come after us?"
"We are still her sons, after all."
"If she beats us in public, it will be rather difficult to save face."
"What are you afraid of?"
Hagoromo smiled coldly.
"Everything we did was forced by Mother herself."
"If she wants to punish us now, then let her try."
"Yes, Brother."
Hamura laughed awkwardly and said nothing more.
"Prepare for war."
Hagoromo looked into the endless dimensional space and spoke heavily.
"No matter what, we cannot lose."
"If we lose, the consequences will be severe."
"Mm."
Hamura nodded decisively.
At the same time, as the shinobi world erupted into turmoil, especially after Kumogakure, Otogakure, and Iwagakure formed an alliance and launched their offensive against the forces led by Konoha, the entire world seemed to sink into an undercurrent of tension.
It felt as though a terrifying storm could rise at any moment.
"The shinobi world has completely gone mad."
"More than mad. I have a feeling Konoha will use this war to unify the entire world."
"The Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Ren, is an eternal god. Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Otogakure are nothing but trash."
"Trash? They're worse than that. They're just a group of useless people clinging together out of fear, dreaming of overthrowing Uchiha Ren's rule."
"Hahaha! Let's watch the show. I want to see how the Fifth Hokage crushes Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Otogakure. I heard even Uchiha Madara has been revived. This time, Madara can get beaten along with them."
Across the shinobi world, countless voices rose in heated discussion.
Many people openly mocked the shinobi alliance formed by Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Otogakure.
In their eyes, Orochimaru, the Fourth Raikage A, and the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki were nothing more than fools walking toward death.
After all, ever since the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Ren, appeared, he had displayed strength that surpassed even the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama.
On the night of the Uchiha massacre, he killed Uchiha Shisui, then annihilated Konoha's corrupt higher-ups—Danzō Shimura, Koharu Utatane, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Homura Mitokado.
Only after that did he ascend to the position of Fifth Hokage.
More importantly, after becoming Hokage, Uchiha Ren defeated Senju Hashirama, who had been revived by the Great Toad Sage.
He crushed the Akatsuki.
He unified Amegakure, Kirigakure, Ancient Loulan, the Land of Demons, and more.
Because of this, countless people held absolute confidence in Uchiha Ren.
They were not afraid of the coming war.
On the contrary, they were waiting for it.
They wanted to see how the Fifth Hokage would crush one rebel after another.
And then—
they wanted to witness him truly unify the shinobi world.
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