"Father…"
The moment Minamikawa finished speaking, the entire hall fell into stunned silence.
Hagoromo and Hamura stood frozen, unable to process what they had just heard.
Granting territories…
Making them kings…
And not just them—
Even their children had been given lands.
This was no small matter.
It was enormous.
"This is too much…"
Hagoromo stepped forward instinctively, his voice filled with hesitation.
He wanted to refuse.
But before he could say anything—
Minamikawa simply shook his head.
"It's nothing."
His tone was calm.
"Just two remote islands."
"They don't mean much to the country."
"It's only right to give them to the next generation."
His expression didn't change.
As if he had already made up his mind long ago.
Then—
He looked at Hagoromo and Hamura again.
"And the same goes for you."
"You've trained long enough."
"It's time."
The words landed heavily.
"I will grant you both land."
"The territories that once belonged to Bi Country… and Bird Country."
"From today onward—"
"You will rule them as kings."
Silence.
Complete silence.
This time, even the air felt heavy.
Because unlike the islands given to Indra and Ashura—
These lands were different.
They were vast.
Fertile.
Populated.
Prosperous.
They were not wild territories.
They were established regions.
Important ones.
"Father…"
Hagoromo's voice lowered.
His heart felt conflicted.
Of course, he felt honored.
Trusted.
Recognized.
But at the same time—
Something didn't feel right.
This wasn't just a reward.
It felt like something else.
Something deeper.
Something… final.
Minamikawa continued speaking.
"As for the future…"
"If Hamura has children…"
"I've already prepared lands for them as well."
He looked at Hamura with a faint smile.
"The documents are ready."
"When the time comes, just claim them."
That was it.
That was the moment.
The feeling became clear.
This wasn't normal.
This wasn't just generosity.
It felt like Minamikawa was preparing everything in advance… as if he might leave at any time.
"Father…"
Hamura frowned slightly.
He wanted to ask.
Wanted to understand.
But the words never came out.
Something held him back.
And so—
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Unspoken.
After a while, Minamikawa waved his hand.
Servants stepped forward and respectfully led the Hagoromo brothers and their families out.
Only after they left—
Did the atmosphere in the hall begin to ease.
Then—
Hagoromo stopped.
He turned back.
His expression serious.
"Mother."
This time—
His voice carried weight.
"We didn't come back just to visit."
"We came to warn you."
The air froze again.
"The God Tree…"
"It's absorbing too much natural energy."
"It has already reached its limit."
Hagoromo stepped forward.
His voice calm, but firm.
"If this continues—"
"The world will collapse before your enemies even arrive."
Hamura stood beside him.
Silent.
But his gaze said everything.
He agreed.
Completely.
Hagoromo continued.
"Please…"
"Stop this."
"Or at least slow it down."
"Give the world time to recover."
For a moment—
No one spoke.
All eyes turned to Kaguya.
Waiting.
Then—
She finally answered.
"Are you trying to stop me?"
Her voice was cold.
Emotionless.
Her pale eyes showed no warmth.
"For the sake of those insignificant beings?"
"Those… ants?"
The word echoed.
Ants.
Hagoromo's expression tightened.
"It's not forcing."
"It's persuasion."
"These are people."
"They have lives."
"Families."
"Dreams."
"We don't have the right to decide their fate."
Kaguya's expression didn't change.
"And if I refuse?"
Her voice dropped.
"What will you do?"
Silence.
A long pause.
Then—
Hagoromo took a deep breath.
His voice became firm.
"Then…"
"We will stop you ourselves."
The moment those words fell—
Everything changed.
His aura exploded outward.
The calm presence he once had disappeared.
In its place—
Was something powerful.
Terrifying.
And then—
His eyes changed.
Purple ripples formed.
Circles within circles.
Endless.
Deep.
The Rinnegan.
A power that carried the same origin as Kaguya herself.
But…
Different.
Stronger.
More refined.
"And me."
Hamura stepped forward.
Golden light burst from his body.
His aura rose rapidly.
Becoming something completely different.
His eyes changed as well.
From pale white—
To a deep, endless blue.
The Tenseigan.
Two brothers.
Standing side by side.
Radiating power that could shake the world.
For the first time—
Kaguya's expression changed.
"Rinnegan… Tenseigan…"
Her voice slowed.
Filled with disbelief.
"Hagoromo… Hamura…"
"You've grown this much…"
This was beyond her expectations.
Far beyond.
These were not the children she once knew.
These were warriors.
Powerful enough to stand against her.
If things had been different—
If she had not consumed the chakra fruit—
Then perhaps…
She wouldn't even be able to face them.
For a long moment—
She said nothing.
Then finally—
She spoke again.
"Turn back."
Her voice softened slightly.
"Obey me."
"And I will pretend this never happened."
She wasn't just thinking about now.
She was thinking about the future.
The enemies from beyond the sky.
The Ōtsutsuki who would come.
If she stood alone—
It would be difficult.
But if these two stood with her—
Then everything would change.
And if Minamikawa also awakened fully…
Then they would have four powerful beings.
Four.
Enough to form a force strong enough to stand against the clan itself.
---
And beyond them—
Indra.
Ashura.
The next generation.
This…
Could become a powerful lineage.
That was why—
For the first time—
Kaguya showed patience.
But Hagoromo didn't waver.
"Give up."
His voice was steady.
Unshakable.
"As long as you continue like this…"
"We will not stop."
His eyes burned with determination.
"This world… will not be destroyed by our hands."
Then—
He moved.
"Let's do this."
His hand rose.
Black orbs formed behind him.
Floating.
Shifting.
Truth-Seeking Orbs.
In the next instant—
He thrust his hand forward.
The attack launched.
And just like that—
The conflict began.
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