"I will have to leave eventually…"
Back inside his palace residence, Minamikawa stood quietly, staring at the faint glowing panel that hovered before him.
A countdown was displayed clearly.
There were only about ten years left.
That number felt small.
Too small.
After spending so long in this world, he had finally understood something important—
Reincarnation wasn't without limits.
Every time he entered a new life, there was a maximum time he could stay.
Fifty years.
That was the limit.
It wasn't that he couldn't remain beyond that point…
But if he did, something far more dangerous would happen.
Time itself would begin to collapse.
Or more accurately—
The balance between worlds would break.
This world and his original world existed like parallel lines.
Under normal circumstances, their flow of time was completely different.
But the mysterious panel had altered everything.
Because of it, no matter how long he stayed here—
When he returned, only a single moment would have passed in his original world.
It was almost like cheating fate.
But even that power had its limits.
Once he crossed fifty years—
The two timelines would synchronize.
And that meant…
Time in his original world would start moving normally again.
Minamikawa closed his eyes for a moment.
He could choose to stay here forever.
That option existed.
But the price?
His original body…
Left behind in another world…
Would slowly die.
Possibly from starvation.
Possibly alone.
Thinking of that outcome, he let out a quiet sigh.
"Will I ever be able to return here again?"
The thought crossed his mind naturally.
Almost instantly, the panel responded.
Information flowed into him.
Yes.
It was possible.
The panel could bring him back.
It could even allow his original body to enter this world completely.
But the cost…
Would be enormous.
A massive amount of points would be required to fully connect the two worlds.
Minamikawa's expression eased slightly.
"I see…"
"That's not so bad."
At least there was a way.
That alone was enough.
His gaze sharpened.
"Then for the remaining time… I need to gain as much as possible."
He turned slowly, already beginning to plan his next steps.
---
At the same time, far away from the palace…
The two brothers had also begun moving forward.
They sought out the Great Toad Sage.
After meeting him, they explained everything their father had said.
"I see…"
The Great Toad Sage listened quietly, then nodded with a thoughtful expression.
"Such a broad and generous heart… truly worthy of the ruler of the ancestral land."
He had expected something completely different.
He had thought Minamikawa would oppose them.
That he might imprison them.
Or even stop them by force.
He had even prepared himself for the worst—
Ready to step in and rescue them if needed.
But instead…
Minamikawa had done the opposite.
He had supported them.
Encouraged them.
Even knowing that their growth might one day stand against him.
"That's just how Father is."
Hamura spoke calmly, breaking the silence.
"I said it before… he would never act against us."
Even if things became complicated…
Even if their paths crossed in conflict…
He still believed in him.
"Even if he stands with Mother…"
"He wouldn't harm us."
Their relationship with their mother had grown distant over time.
But with their father—
It was different.
There was trust.
Understanding.
And something deeper.
Hagoromo nodded.
"Father was never that kind of person."
The Great Toad Sage smiled.
"It seems I worried too much."
Then his expression turned serious.
"Since you've come back… I assume you've made your decision."
Hagoromo stepped forward.
"Yes."
"We will follow you to Mount Myoboku and learn Senjutsu."
His voice was steady.
"No matter what happens in the future… we must become stronger."
"So that if Mother ever loses her way…"
"We will have the power to stop her."
The Great Toad Sage nodded.
"Then come with me."
But he gave them one warning.
"Training there is not easy."
The brothers didn't hesitate.
"You don't need to remind us."
Their expressions were calm.
Determined.
They had already made their choice.
There was no turning back.
---
And so—
The Hagoromo brothers left for Mount Myoboku.
There, they began their training.
Senjutsu.
The art of using natural energy.
At first, it was difficult.
Dangerous.
One wrong step could turn a person into stone.
But the two brothers were different.
Their talent was extraordinary.
Their understanding was sharp.
And their will—
Unshakable.
It didn't take long before they mastered the basics.
Then the advanced techniques.
Soon—
They completely grasped the power of Senjutsu.
From there, they continued refining it.
Building their own strength.
Day by day…
They grew stronger.
Faster than anyone could have imagined.
---
Time passed.
Years went by quietly.
And the world itself began to change.
In the Land of Ancestors—
Life improved.
Human sacrifices decreased.
They were replaced with livestock.
People began to live more peacefully.
More individuals awakened chakra.
Every year, the number increased.
Chakra crystals became more abundant.
Everything was moving forward.
Toward a better future.
But…
Not everything was improving.
At the same time—
Natural disasters began to increase.
Earthquakes shook the land.
Tsunamis swallowed entire regions.
Destruction appeared again and again.
If not for the fact that most people now possessed chakra—
The damage would have been catastrophic.
Even so—
Countless lives were still lost every year.
The cause of all this…
Was hidden deep beneath the surface.
The God Tree.
As it continued to grow—
It absorbed more and more natural energy.
The balance of the world was slowly breaking.
The natural energy that once protected the land was disappearing.
And in its place—
Disaster.
Chaos.
Destruction.
---
On this day—
Two figures stood before the towering God Tree.
They looked up at it silently.
"The natural energy it's absorbing…"
Hagoromo spoke slowly, his expression serious.
"It's becoming worse. Much worse."
The God Tree had grown massive.
More powerful.
More terrifying.
Standing beneath it felt suffocating.
Beside him, Hamura remained quiet.
But his gaze never left the tree.
Through his eyes…
He could see everything.
The flow of energy.
The imbalance.
The danger.
And deep down—
Both of them understood the truth.
Something was coming.
And time…
Was running out.
--------------------------------
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