"This is the place."
A figure appeared high in the sky, where Momoshiki and Kinshiki had stopped.
Jigen glanced around, a hint of confusion on his face.
"Why aren't they here?"
Space rippled.
Danzo's figure emerged from the void, with Kaguya appearing right behind him.
"Well, this is a surprise," Danzo said with a cold smile. "I was planning to track you down again, but it looks like you've come straight to me."
The moment Danzo appeared, Jigen immediately split into several afterimages—streaks of light scattering in all directions.
He unleashed all the power he had built up over the years, fleeing at full speed without holding anything back.
Terror twisted his expression.
He had been lurking in the shadows all these years, carefully studying the cracks in this world.
He was well aware of the truth behind it all—Otsutsuki Hagoromo, the God Tree saplings Hagoromo had been nurturing in secret, and the ideas he'd been experimenting with.
Much of it came from Jigen himself.
All he had to do was complete his perfect resurrection and claim the fruit of this long-term cultivation.
But everything had changed.
Even the Pure Land had vanished.
Desperate, he had repeatedly sent signals, seeking help from his former rival, Momoshiki.
So when he saw Danzo appear, he immediately guessed what had become of Momoshiki and Kinshiki.
His footsteps quickened, but—
"Hmph."
A low grunt echoed behind him.
Suddenly, Jigen felt a crushing force clamp around the back of his neck.
His feet left the ground.
"You didn't even say hello," Danzo's voice whispered by his ear. "So rude."
"But I should thank you for bringing those two here. Saved me the trouble of waiting."
Black markings began to spread rapidly over Jigen's body.
His aura flared violently, but before he could break free, a pair of Rinnegan eyes—each with nine tomoe—appeared in Danzo's mindscape.
Jigen's strength faltered. His once-fiery gaze turned vacant, his body limp like a puppet with its strings cut.
It was like holding a chick by the scruff of its neck.
A massive windfall. A perfect catch.
Danzo's eyes sparkled as he stared at Jigen—or rather, at the true identity behind him: Otsutsuki Isshiki.
They were incredibly valuable.
Not only could their bodies be refined into chakra fruit through the God Tree…
Even their souls were a tremendous boon to Danzo.
It was like receiving a super-tier system reward.
Even Kaguya looked at Danzo strangely after witnessing that.
This was a power the Otsutsuki clan had never possessed.
...
Six months later.
Kaguya's estate had become a restricted zone in Konoha. Almost no one dared approach.
Tsunade and the clan heads had some idea that a terrifying presence resided within.
Three years earlier, Danzo had asked Nono Yakushi to arrange for two attendants to serve Kaguya in her daily life.
Many clans had volunteered, especially the Hyuga clan—greedy for any chance to get closer to Kaguya, who possessed the Byakugan.
At one point, even the Hyuga brothers had come to Danzo in secret, hoping to earn the honor. Danzo told them the truth plainly.
That only made them more eager.
If their clan could latch onto such a powerful figure, they could secure prosperity for generations.
As someone who had participated in Kaguya's resurrection, Uchiha Shisui knew more than most.
Backed by several elders of the Uchiha, he personally contacted Nono and offered to have the Uchiha clan serve Kaguya as well.
The two clans nearly came to blows over it.
In the end, Kaguya chose Uchiha Mikoto and a young Hyuga girl.
Danzo had been slightly surprised, but didn't interfere.
...
The End
(T/N: That's it, the fanfic has come to an end! I really hope you enjoyed it as much as I did translating it. Thanks for sticking with me through the whole journey. If you spot any mistakes, feel free to drop a comment under this or the first chapter so that future readers can have an even better experience.
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