Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, several days had passed.
The incident where one-third of the moon was cut off and a shocking battle took place on its surface caused a massive stir in the ninja world.
Everyone was speculating—was it Otsutsuki Toneri or Uchiha Madara who cut off the moon?
No one suspected Izayoi or Nagato. After all, among the four super-standard combat forces, their strength was considered relatively weaker.
Especially Nagato—his Rinnegan had already been taken by Uchiha Madara. As for Izayoi, if he had the power to sever the moon, then he would have been the final victor in that battle instead of Uchiha Madara.
Due to the high-profile duel between Otsutsuki Toneri and Nagato, and the confrontation between the puppet army and the Impure World Reincarnation army, the Rinnegan and Samsara Eye were now widely recognized as powers above Wood Release.
Especially with the legend of the Sage of Six Paths in circulation, the mythical power of the Sage's Eye had become deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
Most believed it was Otsutsuki Toneri who cut the moon, since among the two divine eye users, the Rinnegan's power remained the most mysterious.
However, some believed the feat was Uchiha Madara's doing.
That's because there were still many ancient veterans from the Warring States Period who had heard the legend of Susanoo.
The god of destruction said to bring death just by being seen, whose power could reshape maps.
The Valley of the End, once a wide plain in the Land of Fields, was transformed into a famous landmark of the ninja world due to the battle between the God of Shinobi and the Asura of the Ninja World.
Now that Uchiha Madara had evolved his Sharingan into the Rinnegan, and could supposedly still use Susanoo, many speculated that the moon had been split by the combined power of these legendary eyes.
In short, the public had their own theories, men had theirs, women had theirs, and since no one came forward to clarify, it became one of the greatest mysteries in the world.
After this battle, the fame of Otsutsuki Toneri and Uchiha Madara surged even higher.
Regardless of who actually split the moon, the fact that both emerged alive from the fight meant that one of them had the power to cut the moon, and the other had the strength to survive it.
In the eyes of the ninja world, their strength had reached the legendary level of the Sage of Six Paths.
In myth, it was the Sage of Six Paths who created the moon.
Whether that was true or not, no one could say for sure.
But now, the entire world had witnessed the moon being split.
It was like myth had become reality.
Compared to them, Nagato and Izayoi, though still labeled as super-standard combat forces, merely had the power to reshape terrain—while Madara and Toneri wielded the power to destroy celestial bodies.
The Five Kage and the daimyos of the five great nations hadn't slept well for days.
The daimyos especially—formerly carefree, indulging in nightly card games and banquets—were now frequently waking from nightmares.
In past ninja wars, no matter how intense, their safety was never directly threatened.
After the deaths of Hashirama and Madara, the Five Kage had become the strongest figures in the world.
Even S-rank rogue ninjas like the White Fang or Orochimaru, while strong enough to be Kage, could still be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
Even the likes of the Third Raikage could be worn down by a force of ten thousand soldiers.
And even if a village lost a war, total destruction was never on the table—at worst, the daimyo would pay reparations.
But now, powers capable of reshaping terrain and destroying stars had appeared.
That level of strength could obliterate a country or a ninja village at will.
The very foundations of the daimyo's authority and power were being threatened.
If Izayoi wanted to, he could easily topple the Land of Fire's political rule—and the same went for Nagato.
As for Madara and Toneri, they had long surpassed the need to rule—they could simply destroy everything.
This made the daimyos panic.
Izayoi, as the only super-standard combat force within the Five Great Ninja Villages, now held influence second only to Hashirama Senju.
The daimyos repeatedly sent emissaries to Konoha, pretending to discuss military budgets with Tsunade, but really hinting that if she would just hand over power to Izayoi, they'd increase Konoha's welfare benefits.
At first, Tsunade didn't understand. After Nara Shikaku explained it to her, she couldn't help but laugh and cry.
From then on, whenever she went to Izayoi's house to mooch food and drink, she teased him about it.
As for giving up her seat—impossible, for now.
The political system was one country, one village—civil and military divided. As a shinobi, Izayoi couldn't legally hold both roles.
From the daimyos' perspective, Izayoi needed to lead Konoha immediately, for their safety.
But Tsunade felt that while Izayoi was powerful, he didn't have the experience to lead Konoha just yet.
She didn't know his identity as "Otsutsuki Toneri" or that he had lived two lives—she thought his strength was purely physical and he needed more time to mature.
Izayoi himself wasn't eager to be Hokage. He only agreed so Hinata could become the Hokage's wife.
His true goal was to break free from the constraints of mortality.
Since Tsunade didn't immediately hand over the title, he didn't mind waiting a few more years.
After the moon incident, life returned to normal for Izayoi and the three Hinata girls.
Hinata and Karin helped out at the Hokage's office, while Izayoi took Hanabi on missions to strengthen their bond.
Hyuga Hiashi didn't mind Izayoi taking his younger daughter out of the village.
Besides the three Hinata girls, he was the only one who knew the truth: it was his future son-in-law who had severed the moon.
As the father-in-law of one of the strongest in the world, Hiashi now walked with pride—no longer the leader of a declining clan.
This winner-in-life aura made the heads of other noble clans gnash their teeth, muttering how Hiashi had just gotten "lucky."
"When one person succeeds, the whole family benefits"—this had never been more true than for Hiashi and the Hyuga clan.
…
The Land of Rain – a remote paradise.
A clear stream ran beside a wooden house.
Konan pushed Nagato along the stream in a wheelchair.
The two chatted about old times, smiles on their faces.
Konan had always dreamed of returning to the simple life they had once lived with Jiraiya in that little wooden home.
But to support Yahiko and Nagato's ambitions, she had long buried that dream.
Unexpectedly, Nagato had shared the same thought.
This made her feel truly happy.
Just then, Nagato raised a hand to stop her.
His eyes, covered in bandages, turned slightly toward the nearby woods.
"Madara, come out," he said.
Konan's expression changed as Uchiha Madara emerged from the trees, specks of origami stuck to his body.
She was ready to fight—but Nagato gently reassured her, "Don't worry, Konan. He means no harm."
Uchiha Madara chuckled, "Your perception has grown, Nagato. I thought a peaceful life might dull your strength."
He then added with some regret, "It's a pity you won't transplant new eyes. With your power and Afei's help, you'd be second only to Hashirama. That kid from Konoha wouldn't stand a chance against you."
Nagato smiled. "I'm satisfied with this life. No more ambition, no more pressure. My Sage Mode is even more attuned to nature now."
Madara gave a rare compliment. "Your Kagura's Eye is no weaker than Mito's."
Back in the Warring States Period, besides Hashirama and Tobirama, the only person Madara truly acknowledged was Uzumaki Mito, the perfect Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Nagato remained unfazed and calmly asked the question on everyone's mind:
"That night... when the moon was cut off—was it you fighting Toneri?"
"Yes," Madara nodded.
"Was that blow yours or Toneri's?"
"It was Otsutsuki Toneri."
Madara smiled. "He blasted me from the moon all the way back to Earth."
Nagato and Konan were stunned.
Nagato gave a bitter smile. "I knew he was hiding his strength… I just didn't think it was that deeply hidden."
"He may not have even completed his evolution back then," Madara said. "What I saw on the moon was completely different. He had horns, entered a special state, and used black spheres to create natural disasters from nothing."
"That blow that sent me flying? Even the Rinnegan's Hungry Ghost Path could barely absorb it."
"Most likely, that state and those black spheres are part of his Rinnegan's unique power."
Nagato was silent.
After a while, he asked, "Why are you here today?"
"I want you to teach me Sage Mode," Madara said. "And I want your help."
Nagato blinked in surprise, then chuckled. "I can teach you Sage Mode, but I'm done being a ninja."
"Don't be so quick to refuse. I've learned a secret on the moon," Madara said. "See for yourself."
With that, Madara unleashed Yin Release chakra from his eyes.
It flowed into Nagato's senses and pulled him into an illusion world.
There, Nagato witnessed ancient history—the truth of Kaguya Otsutsuki, the God Tree, the Chakra Fruit, the Infinite Tsukuyomi, and the identity of Black Zetsu.
He saw how the White Zetsu were created—and his expression darkened.
Then came the memory of Black Zetsu entering Madara's body.
Nagato's lips twitched.
The illusion continued.
This time, it was a conversation between Madara and Otsutsuki Toneri.
By the time it ended, Nagato looked grim.
When he emerged from the illusion, Madara asked, "What's your decision?"
"Is all of that real?" Nagato asked.
"Which part?"
"Both."
"I'm not sure about the first part myself," Madara admitted. "That's why I won't abandon the Moon Eye Plan. I want to confirm the truth myself."
"As for the second part—it seemed very real."
He pulled Nagato back into the illusion and said solemnly, "That guy won't let me become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki easily. I need to grow stronger, recruit powerful allies, and train exceptional subordinates."
"I won't let him destroy this world."
The illusion faded.
Nagato used Kagura's Heart Eye to stare at Madara for a moment.
Then he suddenly smiled. "Alright. I'll help you."
Madara smiled in return. "Welcome back, Nagato."
…
Somewhere in the ninja world.
"Lord Madara, where are we going now?" Black Zetsu asked.
Holding a map, Uchiha Madara replied, "Looking for ruins. I don't know where they are."
"Wouldn't it be faster to leave that to me and White Zetsu?"
"These ruins might only be revealed through my Rinnegan," Madara replied with a sly smile. "Besides, I'm just a wooden clone. Just like you were created from the will of the original body. I'm a tool—it's fine if I get tired."
"Hehe… That's true," Black Zetsu chuckled awkwardly—but his heart sank.
Madara clearly didn't trust him anymore.
Otherwise, why send a clone?
Madara must be scheming something behind his back.
The rhythm was completely out of control.
After thousands of years of scheming and guiding Indra's reincarnations, everything was about to collapse in Madara's generation.
"Uchiha Obito, I ***!"