"Onii-chan, it's time to get up! It didn't snow today, so we should go on the mission!"
As usual, Hanabi pushed open the door to Izayoi's room, climbed onto his bed, and prepared to tickle him awake by brushing her bangs against his nose.
The next moment, she saw Izayoi lying there with a white bandage over his eyes. Her expression instantly turned anxious. "Onii-chan, what's wrong with your eyes? Are you hurt? I'll call Sister and Sister Karin right now!"
She was so worried, tears were about to fall.
Before she could jump off the bed, Izayoi reached out and pulled his sister-in-law into his arms with a smile. "Onii-chan is fine. My eyes just evolved."
"Evolved?"
Hanabi was stunned. Then she lay on top of Izayoi, puzzled. "Onii-chan, you have eye techniques too?"
"Yeah, it's Onii-chan's biggest secret. Right now, only Hinata and Uncle know." Izayoi smiled. "Want to find out, Hanabi?"
"Yes!"
Hanabi nodded eagerly and asked with anticipation, "Is this related to what Father and Onii-chan talked about last year?"
"Pretty much," Izayoi nodded. "Onii-chan won't be able to see for a few days. During this time, I'll be at my weakest. You can't tell anyone, Hanabi. Before Hinata gets back, I'll be counting on you to take care of me."
Hanabi's eyes sparkled. "No problem! Hanabi will take good care of Onii-chan!"
"I'll create a shadow clone to tell Father that you'll be living here for the next few days."
Just like Hinata had two years ago.
Hanabi was practically raised by Izayoi. In her heart, he was a towering, reliable hero.
The sense of security he gave her even surpassed that of her father.
So, having someone who had always taken care of her suddenly need her care felt novel and fun.
Compared to Hinata, who shouldered responsibilities, Hanabi thought this was enjoyable.
She used the techniques for taking care of children during D-rank missions and treated Izayoi the same way.
"Onii-chan, are you thirsty? Want Hanabi to get you some water?"
"Onii-chan, tired of lying down? Should Hanabi use the Transformation Jutsu to help you walk outside?"
"Onii-chan, want something to eat?"
"Onii-chan…"
Hanabi chirped like a sparrow by Izayoi's ear.
At first, she lay beside him patiently.
Then she started crawling around his bed, changing positions constantly and bombarding him with questions like a hyperactive child.
Izayoi understood she genuinely wanted to take care of him and didn't let her down.
Whenever she asked something, Izayoi would smile and nod, "Okay, I'll trouble you then, Hanabi."
"Hehe... It's not trouble at all, Onii-chan. Just tell Hanabi what to do!" she said excitedly, her emotional value full.
So Hanabi kept pouring him water and snacks, transforming her height to help Izayoi walk around.
In truth, Izayoi didn't need any care.
This was the final fetal movement of the Samsara Eye.
Once it was complete, Izayoi's strength would surpass Super Kage level and truly reach another dimension—the Six Paths level.
To ensure the process went smoothly, Izayoi recalled half of the Wood Clones to the underground base. They rotated shifts, teleporting to Yin-Kurama to absorb chakra, then returned to infuse Earth with Wood Release chakra, monitoring for any lurking White Zetsu clones.
Other Wood Clones used Samsara Eye's farsight and x-ray vision to monitor everyone in Konoha for suspicious behavior.
If anything was off, a Wood Clone would immediately use Wood Transformation to capture and seal the target.
One more Wood Clone kept watch over Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Obito, and Otsutsuki Toneri.
Traditional barriers were reactivated.
Unless someone could peer in from another space and had the power to threaten the Wood Clones and puppet army, no one could interrupt Izayoi's final evolution.
Uchiha Madara's Chakram Shadow might be able to, but Izayoi's own Samsara Eye could see through it—confirmed when Madara used Chakram to discipline Uchiha Itachi.
Besides, this fetal movement only temporarily suppressed the power of the Samsara Eye. It didn't affect his Wood Release or other abilities.
He was still Super Kage level.
Even if there were those who could threaten him in the ninja world, they couldn't catch him—he had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique.
So this time, unlike when he hid underground cautiously, Izayoi acted relaxed on the surface while staying extremely vigilant behind the scenes.
That afternoon, Hinata and Karin returned from work to cook.
When they saw Izayoi's bandaged eyes, Karin rushed over in a panic. "When did this happen? Quick, bite me! Maybe my chakra can help heal you!"
Hinata, pouting slightly, glanced at her sister joyfully serving Izayoi and felt a hint of jealousy.
There goes my exclusive mission…
But her mood brightened again quickly.
Hanabi explained, "Sister Karin, Onii-chan is fine. He's just awakening an eye technique."
"Eye technique?"
Karin was surprised. "But Izayoi-kun's from the Senju and Uzumaki clans. How does he have eye powers?"
"Onii-chan, what's going on?" Hanabi also looked confused.
"You'll know when I'm better," Izayoi smiled.
Hinata warned sternly, "This is Izayoi-kun's biggest secret. No one else can know. Not even Lady Tsunade or Shizune!"
Karin immediately understood and nodded. "Don't worry, I won't say a word."
"Onii-chan already warned me." Hanabi also nodded.
Satisfied, Hinata asked, "Want me to take time off and come take care of you? Or leave a shadow clone at home?"
"No need. I have a feeling it won't take long this time." Izayoi smiled confidently. "I've got everything prepared. Let Hanabi handle it—you keep things normal."
"Okay."
Hinata and Karin didn't insist. As secretaries to the Hokage, they couldn't just take leave without suspicion.
So Hinata pulled Hanabi aside to teach her how to take care of Izayoi.
Once she understood Izayoi needed quiet rest and not to be disturbed unless he initiated, Hanabi suddenly felt guilty.
After that, she transformed from an ADHD child to a super well-behaved girl.
Unless Izayoi started a conversation, she would sit quietly beside him, resting her chin on her hands, admiring his peaceful appearance.
When he got bored, she would cheer him up by playing around.
When he was tired, she'd help him bathe or give him massages using pressure points.
Two days passed.
Before the Samsara Eye finished evolving, Izayoi's Otsutsuki bloodline unlocked a new entry:
"Ding! Your body has undergone an abnormal change. You have obtained the talent entry [Flying (Gold)]. This entry cannot be decomposed."
At that moment, Izayoi felt as if a weight had lifted. His body became as light as a feather.
He no longer needed to manipulate gravity—he could now float in the air by sheer will.
Before, his "flight" was just manipulating gravity with chakra control, similar to Earth Release. It wasn't fast and couldn't dodge quick attacks—Nagato even used mechanical acceleration to enhance his flying speed.
This was why Izayoi hadn't dared fly to the moon.
Now, however, he truly possessed the ability to fly freely.
Having grown horns and unlocked the third trait of a pure-blooded Otsutsuki, Izayoi had finally broken free from the food chain and become a being of another dimension.
In the original story, only characters with horns or chakra modes could fly. The rest used ninjutsu.
But flying was a natural ability of the Otsutsuki clan.
With it, Izayoi could even reach the moon without spatial coordinates.
Still, he didn't play around with the new toy—he waited patiently for the final fetal movement of the Samsara Eye.
Perhaps due to his Otsutsuki bloodline, it only took three days.
January 9, Year 62 of Konoha. Night.
Under the eager gaze of Hanabi and Karin, Hinata helped Izayoi remove his bandage.
When he opened his eyes, their stunned expressions were instantly visible.
"Izayoi-kun, you, you…"
"Onii-chan, are you…"
"Yes, I am Otsutsuki Toneri."
Izayoi grinned with confidence.
His hair faded from black to white. Two sharp horns grew from his forehead.
Holding the girls' chins in his hands, he smiled. "Sorry to keep you waiting. This is my true form."
"So handsome!"
Hanabi and Karin stared blankly for a few seconds before cheering and leaping into his arms.
"Izayoi-kun, you hid this from even us!" Karin pouted, then ran her fingers through his hair with a smile. "But white hair suits you!"
"Onii-chan, are these real horns?" Hanabi touched them. "Why are they so small and sharp?"
Without answering, Izayoi closed his eyes and activated the Corpse Bone Vein.
"They're getting bigger—so big and thick…"
Hanabi and Karin exclaimed.
Opening his eyes, Izayoi looked into a mirror floating toward him.
The horns had grown into full dragon horns.
Then, inspired, Izayoi manipulated them—just like Wood Release form changes—they twisted and formed a beige crown hovering above his head.
"Wow… it's like magic!" the girls exclaimed.
Izayoi smirked.
Horns are bones. If they grow out, I can manipulate them with the Corpse Bone Vein.
That was excellent news.
It meant the horns weren't decorative—they could become deadly weapons tougher than steel.
If Izayoi ever mastered All-Killing Ash Bones, he could even shoot bones from his horns.
Imagine fighting hand-to-hand, and suddenly firing a fatal shot from your head…
Kaguya Otsutsuki, with zero combat IQ, never thought of this.
Such wasted potential.
"Move aside, I want to test my new power."
Izayoi stood and pushed the girls gently away, ready to try out the final Samsara Eye ability.
Just as Madara said, its evolution was like the Sharingan: from Three-Tomoe to Mangekyō, then Eternal Mangekyō, and finally transcending dimensions.
The Byakugan and Samsara Eye's previous evolutions were just "standard" powers—still within the limits of human capability.
This final stage… was transcendence.
From man… to god.
Izayoi floated into the air. A green chakra flame enveloped him.
His horns morphed into a glowing crown.
"What a magical sensation…"
Hovering, Izayoi looked down at the stunned girls, then at his hands. "It feels like I can do anything."
Just like entering Sage Mode, his body and mind became still—as if merging with the world.
Before he could fully appreciate it, a system prompt rang out:
"Ding! Your body has mutated. The talent entry [Flying (Gold)] has sublimated."
Frowning slightly, Izayoi summoned his personal panel.
[Host: Izayoi]
[Talent Entries: Otsutsuki bloodline (color), Bloodline Limit · Samsara Eye (color), Sage Body (red), Aerial Control (red), Six Paths Aptitude (red), Bloodline Limit · Wood Release (gold)...]
"It's gone…"
The Byakugan Prince (Red) and Sage Eye (Red) had disappeared.
Only three red entries remained: Sage Body, Aerial Control, and Six Paths Aptitude.
Izayoi smiled in realization.
No wonder I completed three fetal movements before entering the growth phase. It was thanks to the Sage Eye (Red).
If he'd fused with Uchiha Sasuke's bloodline (purple), the Sage Eye (Red) would've accelerated the Sharingan, not the Byakugan.
Without the repulsion and wireless puppet control, he couldn't have reached this level.
One choice can shape the future.
That's the butterfly effect.
Now, understanding the new entry's power, Izayoi's eyes lit up.
No wonder it wasn't called [Flying (Gold)], but [Flying (空中)(Gold)].
The potential wasn't just flight—but spatial manipulation.
The upgraded [Flying (Red)] gave him direct spatial control.
Now he didn't need gravity to move or weaponize the space around him.
Eventually, he could open portals like Otsutsuki Hamura, or even create space channels to the moon.
This entry… was the key to the Bloodline Network.
"Otsutsuki… you're really just a walking cheat code," Izayoi thought.
Only now—after unlocking both Otsutsuki bloodline (color) and Samsara Eye (color)—could he grasp the true difference between himself and the Otsutsuki brothers, Hagoromo and Hamura.