"Quite ruthless, isn't it?"
Inside Hamura's temple on the moon, Natsuhiko stood quietly, gazing at the massive, faintly golden Tenseigan that pulsed with light.
Recalling everything Otsutsuki Hamura had told him, he shook his head slightly.
Ruthless was the only word that came to mind. Yet at the same time, Natsuhiko could not help but acknowledge how terrifying the methods and resolve of the two Six Paths brothers truly were.
He had always considered himself someone with considerable skill. After all, he had climbed from a minor ANBU operative all the way to the position of Fifth Hokage. But compared to the Six Paths brothers, his own maneuvering felt insignificant.
Those two had truly factored the entire ninja world's population into their calculations. They had not even spared their own son and nephew in pursuit of their goals.
Natsuhiko had no way of knowing exactly how much blood had been spilled across a thousand years of war. He had lived through the Third Great Ninja War himself, though his ANBU duties had kept him off the main battlefields. Even so, he had passed through battle-scarred lands and seen towns and villages devastated by conflict. The horrific scenes remained vivid in his memory—the numb, hollow expressions of the survivors had left a deep impression.
War was terrible. Natsuhiko had always known that, even if he felt little concern for the lives of people who meant nothing to him. As a transmigrator, he had still been affected by the sheer scale of suffering.
If the Third War had already been that brutal, then the wars that had raged for a full millennium must have been unimaginably savage. He did not even want to imagine it.
No matter how cruel it had been, Natsuhiko had to admit that what Otsutsuki Hagoromo and Otsutsuki Hamura had done was correct in its own way. Setting aside their personal grievances with Otsutsuki Kaguya and the consequences she had left behind, humanity had stood almost no chance against an invasion by the Otsutsuki clan.
The gap between individuals was simply too vast. The Otsutsuki were like gods—beings that truly stood above all else. A thousand years ago, humanity had only just been liberated from Kaguya. While chakra was a power that could protect them, people at that time had barely understood how to use it.
As a ninja, Natsuhiko knew full well that chakra required rigorous training to master, and the refined techniques of the present day were the result of a thousand years of development and refinement. Without the accumulation and tempering provided by those endless wars, the ninja of today would never have achieved such precise control over chakra.
War had always been the fastest way to forge strength, draw out potential, and accumulate combat experience. Driven by the conflict between Indra and Asura, the millennium of war had brought both destruction and hope to the ninja world.
Natsuhiko shook his head again, genuinely impressed by the brothers' resolve and methods.
He wondered—if he had been in their position, could he have been so rational and merciless?
After thinking it over, he concluded that he probably could have. He truly did not care about the lives of people who had no connection to him. But if it involved his own family, he suspected he would not have been able to make the same cold decisions.
Natsuhiko had never seen himself as some grand, selfless figure. He could never bring himself to sacrifice his loved ones for the sake of the world. As a transmigrator, those feelings were even stronger. In the end, it came down to a matter of belonging.
"Never mind. None of this has anything to do with me. I'll admit I was shocked, but for now, it doesn't affect me much."
Natsuhiko let out a quiet sigh and decided to stop dwelling on it. His own appearance had, in a way, helped the Six Paths brothers. Even though he had been born into the Senju clan and carried Otsutsuki blood, from the outside his growth looked like natural development through the trials of the ninja world. It proved that their faith in humanity's potential had not been misplaced.
Of course, Natsuhiko also knew he had caused them some trouble. His rapid growth had unintentionally drawn the Otsutsuki to the ninja world far earlier than planned, exposing the world to their gaze before it was ready.
"Either way, I can only keep moving forward. At least I'm far more troublesome to deal with now."
Natsuhiko muttered inwardly. The next moment, his system panel appeared before his eyes.
...
Name: Natsuhiko
Gender: Male
Birthday: Konoha Year 34, March 24
Level: Kage-level (system evaluation without using any abilities) (Chakra reserves abnormally vast)
Dojutsu: Jōgan (Second Stage) (Development: 1%)
Bloodline Development: Advanced (Senju Secret Techniques, Intermediate Yang Release Secret Techniques), Kekkei Tōta (Unnamed), Second Kekkei Tōta (Unnamed), Intermediate Shikotsumyaku, Beginner Yin Release Secret Techniques, Yin-Yang Release (improves alongside Yin and Yang Release)
Jinchuriki: Nine-Tails (Two-Tails, Three-Tails, Six-Tails, Eight-Tails) (Intermediate, can grow by devouring large amounts of special chakra; planting advanced Tailed Beast fruits accelerates growth)
Seeds: None
Fruits: Advanced Fire Release Fruit (10), Advanced Water Release Fruit (10), Advanced Earth Release Fruit (10), Advanced Lightning Release Fruit (10), Advanced Wind Release Fruit (10)
Mission: Become the True Big Boss of the Ninja World (Unique) (Progress: 91%), Ten-Tails Jinchuriki (Optional) (Already possesses Nine-Tails, Eight-Tails, Six-Tails, Three-Tails; mutual fusion progress 50%, overall fusion progress not yet activated)
...
Natsuhiko nodded as he looked over the panel.
The changes were minor. The only real difference was in his eyes. For him, that was more than enough. This trip had allowed him to meet someone he had long suspected existed, and he had obtained a great deal of information about the true state of the world.
Even without that information, he was satisfied with the results of his actions. His eyes had received a massive, genuine upgrade.
The enhancement was comprehensive. It would take time for Natsuhiko to fully adapt to the new power, as the strength of his eyes needed to feed back into his body so it could adjust and resonate with them. He would also need to train and apply these abilities repeatedly before he could wield them with precision.
Still, the power was already his. Even if he could not yet control it perfectly, he could already use it to its fullest extent in battle.
In the original timeline, Otsutsuki Toneri had been able to exert his Tenseigan's power to the maximum the moment it awakened. Although Natsuhiko's eyes were not a Tenseigan, they shared many similarities in certain aspects. He believed he could achieve the same—and if possible, do it even better.
The experience and intensity of this evolution were unlike anything before. Natsuhiko felt that if he faced Otsutsuki Urashiki again now, the fight would be far easier.
"After all, the abilities I gained this time are incredible."
The first time his eyes evolved, he had obtained four powerful techniques. Although three of them saw little use, the Truth-Seeking Orbs had given him an enormous boost. Without them, Natsuhiko was certain he would not have defeated Urashiki as cleanly as he had.
One of his Orbs had been damaged in that battle and could no longer be used. This new evolution had given him another chance to strengthen them.
According to the feedback from his eyes, once he fully absorbed and mastered their power, he would be able to manifest up to six Truth-Seeking Orbs at once.
Six Orbs meant he could fight with far greater composure against many opponents. More importantly, the Orbs would provide even stronger feedback to his body, greatly enhancing his Yin Release.
"At the very least, this feedback should bring my Yin Release up to the system's intermediate level."
Yin Release had always been a headache for Natsuhiko. As a member of the Senju clan, his talent in that area was naturally limited. Even though his personality and abilities resembled Tobirama's in many ways, he was not Tobirama. Yin Release remained his glaring weakness.
Although he possessed strong spiritual power as a transmigrator, that did not automatically translate into Yin Release. He had only obtained Yin Release by stripping power from a Sharingan. Without transplanting one himself, he had no steady source.
He sometimes regretted dealing with the Uchiha clan so quickly. He could have extracted more benefits first. But that was in the past. There was no point dwelling on it now.
Even without the Sharingan as a source, the Truth-Seeking Orbs were no inferior. In fact, they were superior for his current needs. The Orbs contained all chakra natures and could nourish every aspect of his chakra system, whereas the Sharingan could only enhance Yin Release.
Still, using the Orbs purely for Yin Release felt a bit wasteful—like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
"The process will take time. I'll just have to be patient. Besides, I gained four new abilities this time as well."
Aside from the strengthened Truth-Seeking Orbs, the other three abilities were equally interesting.
The first was called "Spatial Manipulation." Natsuhiko was not yet entirely sure how it would manifest in practice, but he knew one thing for certain—his Flying Thunder God Technique had likely become obsolete.
Flying Thunder God worked fine against ordinary opponents, but against powerhouses like Senju Hashirama or Otsutsuki Urashiki, its performance had been disappointing, even embarrassing at times. The technique itself was excellent, but the need to place seals in advance created unavoidable delays. Even with his improvements, that limitation remained. These days, he mostly used it for travel.
Now he had obtained Spatial Manipulation. Although it required activating his Jōgan, that was no longer a major issue. As his enemies grew stronger and more numerous, he had been using his Jōgan in combat with increasing frequency. Being able to wield spatial power more effectively while his Jōgan was active was exactly what he needed.
Natsuhiko understood the strength of spatial abilities all too well. Even Urashiki's constant use of them to escape had caused him considerable trouble. In the original timeline, Sasuke had demonstrated powerful spatial ninjutsu with his Rinnegan. Natsuhiko hoped his own ability would be more than just support.
"Even if it's primarily supportive, spatial power is still something to be feared. When used well, it's nearly unbeatable."
He was looking forward to exploring this new ability. As a transmigrator who had seen countless works of fiction, he already had several ideas for how spatial power could be applied. But first he needed to understand its exact limits and mechanics.
In addition to Spatial Manipulation, he had received a complementary offensive technique: "Jōgan Piercing Slash."
The name was rather plain compared to something like "Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion," but its effect was exactly what Natsuhiko wanted. The technique allowed him to pierce through space itself and strike an enemy directly.
This was perfect. He had not forgotten how much trouble Urashiki had caused by hiding in or fleeing through space. With this ability, he no longer needed to worry about opponents who relied on spatial evasion or defense.
"Combined with the power born from my Kekkei Tōta and this new ability to break through space, my weaknesses are becoming fewer and fewer."
Natsuhiko was genuinely pleased. Even without testing it yet, he trusted that the technique would not disappoint him. Since obtaining the Jōgan, it had never let him down.
He had to admit that the Jōgan was a true treasure and his greatest assurance against the Otsutsuki. Without it and the abilities it provided, he would never have been able to defeat Urashiki.
"The name I gave it might be casual, but its power has never failed me."
Natsuhiko turned his attention to the final ability granted by this evolution.
This last one seemed somewhat redundant at first glance. Similar to how his Jōgan's first stage had given him mental control, sealing techniques, and chakra absorption—abilities he did not particularly need—this new power was a Summoning Technique.
According to the feedback, it allowed him to summon an extremely powerful being to aid him in battle. However, Natsuhiko already possessed summoning techniques, and he doubted any summoned creature could be that overwhelmingly strong. Even the giant lizard he had summoned during the Nine-Tails' attack had been impressive but not world-shaking. In the original timeline, even the stone statue summoned by Otsutsuki Toneri through the Tenseigan had not been particularly overwhelming—Natsuhiko had already dealt with similar creatures during his first raid on the moon.
Moreover, he carried a complete Nine-Tails inside him. If necessary, he could summon it to fight alongside him. So this new summoning ability felt rather unnecessary.
"I'll check it out later. I can only judge its actual value once I've summoned whatever it is."
Natsuhiko's figure flickered and reappeared beside Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, and Uchiha Madara.
Although he had obtained Spatial Manipulation, he was not yet confident enough to use it casually. He would wait until he had properly adapted to his eyes' new power.
...
"You're out?"
Hashirama smiled the moment Natsuhiko appeared. The three of them had continued setting up the laboratory while keeping an eye on his situation. They had sensed the surge of power earlier and wondered why he had not emerged immediately afterward, but they understood that the best thing they could do was wait. Natsuhiko's eyes were still too unfamiliar to them.
"Yeah."
Natsuhiko nodded with a faint smile.
"Everything went smoothly. It's all over, and I got what I wanted."
He hesitated for a moment, wondering whether he should share what he had learned from Otsutsuki Hamura with the three men. He trusted Hashirama and Tobirama completely. Even telling Madara would not worry him—Madara currently lacked the power to cause real trouble, and even at his peak, Natsuhiko would not be overly concerned.
In the end, he decided against it. The three of them were fundamentally different from him. As natives of this world, their emotional ties to it ran much deeper. This matter also involved Hashirama and Madara's own complicated history as reincarnations of Ashura and Indra.
Those two had essentially been the main catalysts for a thousand years of conflict in the ninja world. Though they bore no real blame, they had been little more than pieces pushed along by greater forces—the three sons of Otsutsuki Kaguya.
For them, there had been no escaping or resisting that fate. They could only walk the predetermined path until everything reached its conclusion. Their destinies were truly tragic.
Still, it was an unchangeable fact. Perhaps one day they would learn the truth. For now, Natsuhiko chose to remain silent.
I'll tell them once they've fully played their roles. Or maybe it won't even matter anymore. The new Indra and Ashura have already changed, after all.
Natsuhiko set the matter aside. Hashirama, Tobirama, and Madara visibly relaxed once they saw he was unharmed. They knew he needed time to familiarize himself with his new power, so after a brief conversation, they left him alone. Even Madara, who was eager to return, understood the priority and did not disturb him.
Natsuhiko was satisfied with their consideration. Over the following days, he focused on adapting to the enhancements from his eyes while beginning to train his new abilities, particularly Spatial Manipulation and the Jōgan Piercing Slash.
Spatial Manipulation exceeded his expectations. Within the range he could influence, he became the absolute ruler of space. He could alter its stability, cause drastic changes, or even shatter specific sections of space to tear enemies apart with spatial rifts.
The power was tremendous, even if it was currently limited to a small area. And his eyes were still growing. There was no telling how vast the range might become in the future.
The Jōgan Piercing Slash was equally impressive. Its core function was to strike directly through space, rendering any spatial defense or hiding technique useless. When combined with his Spatial Manipulation, the two abilities complemented each other perfectly.
Furthermore, the technique synergized exceptionally well with one of the Jōgan's passive abilities.
"The Jōgan already possesses extraordinary insight, and that insight continues to evolve as my strength and eyes improve. After gaining spatial abilities, the insight now allows me to perceive far more—even things hidden within space."
While training, Natsuhiko made an unexpected discovery. He could now clearly see Tobirama's movements through space when the man used Flying Thunder God. This confirmed just how advanced his Jōgan's perception had become. With this, he would have a much easier time dealing with anyone who relied on spatial techniques.
"Still, while my eyes have grown significantly, those seeds are taking forever. That's a bit annoying."
Although his eyes had improved dramatically, progress on the seeds was frustratingly slow. While familiarizing himself with his new power, Natsuhiko had taken Urashiki's Byakugan and a small piece of his flesh. He had found a secluded spot inside the moon and planted both inside trees he created with Wood Release, surrounding the area with multiple layers of seals.
Two full months had passed, yet nothing had happened. He had worried at first that trees created by ninjutsu might lack the vitality needed to nurture the seeds, but when he detected strong chakra fluctuations within them, he realized Wood Release was perfectly capable. The delay was likely due to Urashiki's overwhelming power increasing the time required for gestation.
Natsuhiko had plenty of time. He could afford to wait. The shinobi world appeared stable for now—his shadow clones would alert him immediately if anything went wrong.
"I wonder what I'll get this time."
He had only planted two items: one of Urashiki's Byakugan and a fragment of his flesh. These were the best materials available from the Otsutsuki. Natsuhiko had no idea what the results would be, but he was confident they would not disappoint him.
"It's about time I checked on them. It's been long enough."
After finishing his training, Natsuhiko decided to visit the "plantation" he had set up on the moon. Like the one in the ninja world, it was heavily protected by seals. With two individuals of extraordinary sensory ability present on the moon, he could not afford any carelessness.
His chakra stirred. In the next instant, he appeared at the far end of a forest deep within the moon.
The moment he arrived, his expression changed slightly.
Inside the sealing barrier, an immense surge of chakra was already gathering.