The shinobi world was never as simple as it appeared on the surface.
On the surface, it seems small, weak, almost fragile—so much so that even a single Kage-level shinobi could dominate.
Yet, when we look across thousands of years of history, the true titans have never dared to act recklessly upon this land.
Nagato, wielder of the Rinnegan, built his power slowly in the Land of Rain.
Obito, inheritor of Madara's will, advanced with extreme caution.
Black Zetsu schemed, corrupting the Ninja Creed
Isshiki Ōtsutsuki waited in silence for millennia.
Hagoromo and Hamura, the brothers who defeated their own mother, became rulers of this world.
And yet—Hagoromo split the Ten Tails, scattering its chakra.
Hamura guarded the moon, watching over the shinobi world for a thousand years.
None of them acted wantonly. Each restrained themselves, each laid down meticulous plans.
All of it—born of fear.
All of it—born of restraint!
Nagato feared the power of the great nations.
Obito feared the combined might of the Kage—and of Yuki Yoru.
Black Zetsu feared the Six Paths brothers within the Pure Land.
And even the brothers of the Six Paths feared the seal upon their mother… and the existence of the Ōtsutsuki clan itself!
Layer upon layer of restrictions. Shackles upon shackles.
Every powerhouse forced to restrain themselves, every unseen weight pressing down from the void. And so, what should have been a shark tank where even super-Kage were nothing but ants… turned into a kindergarten playground where Kage reigned supreme.
The most terrifying thing of all: while everyone hid their power and probed the depths of others, there was someone even more secretive!
In the unseen corners of history, there existed a being who had lurked silently in the shinobi world for a thousand years, recovering his strength—
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki!
Until the sudden rise of Minazuki Yoru, which shattered the balance.
This noble member of the Ōtsutsuki main family—who had descended to the shinobi world alongside the Rabbit Goddess herself and lived here for a thousand years—finally revealed his presence under Yoru's pressure.
"I never imagined… that one of Mother's own kin had already come to the shinobi world long ago, secretly observing everything."
In the Pure Land, the Sage of Six Paths, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, spoke with a heavy expression.
"If not for that man, Yuki Yoru, I would never have discovered his presence… nor mother's hidden contingency."
"One of the Rabbit Goddess's kin?!"
Gamamaru's eyes widened in shock at Hagoromo's words.
Compared to the Six Paths brothers who had remained in the Pure Land, weaving their schemes, Gamamaru of Mount Myōboku had an even deeper grasp of the shinobi world, and knew far more.
He had noticed Yuki Yoru's emergence the moment the man appeared.
And he had long been aware of the existence of the Goddess's third son—who moved in secret beyond Hagoromo and Hamura's sight.
To Gamamaru, these two powers had been tools to counterbalance Hagoromo.
So he had kept silent.
He had not interfered.
Let the clam and the mussel fight, and the fisherman will profit.
But now… he had overplayed his hand. He could no longer play the fisherman.
Truthfully, aside from Yuki Yoru's monstrous rate of growth, and Black Zetsu's scheme progressing faster than expected, Gamamaru's original reasoning had not been flawed.
But never had he imagined… that there was yet another hidden master in the shinobi world!
The kin of the Rabbit Goddess—this revelation struck Gamamaru like a thunderclap, leaving him reeling.
"What in the world is going on!" Gamamaru glared fiercely at Hagoromo. "You and I both know what the Rabbit Goddess's kin truly means!"
"Yes. Of course I know."
Hagoromo nodded slightly. No one understood better than him the terror his mother's kin represented. They were the true nightmare.
"All these years, even from within the Pure Land, I have used chakra to conceal the shinobi world's presence, to avoid being detected by our mother's kin before my plans could unfold."
"Then why is one of them still here—in the shinobi world?!"
"Because he has always been hiding here." Ōtsutsuki Hamura finally spoke, his tone heavy.
"Even before my brother and I were born… he was already in this world."
"Before the two of you were even born…"
Gamamaru murmured, his mind flashing with images. His twilight-colored eyes shrank sharply, as though he had recalled something utterly terrifying.
"No… impossible. It can't be him."
"He should have already died at the hands of the Rabbit Goddess. This is impossible!"
Gamamaru could hardly believe it, yet the more he thought about it, the more everything seemed to fall into place.
That being had existed long before the Six Paths brothers. By the time the Rabbit Goddess descended upon the shinobi world, he was already here.
Not only he—White Snake and Slug had also known, had also witnessed that era, when all living creatures of the shinobi world despaired.
The Twin Gods descended, and the world wept.
After crushing every being that dared to resist, the Rabbit Goddess slew the other god… and then planted the God Tree.
So, if there truly was an Ōtsutsuki still hidden in this world, then it could only be the one who was "killed"—or rather, grievously wounded—by the Rabbit Goddess herself.
The reason was simple.
It was in their very nature!
He had seen it, so he understood. Gamamaru knew all too well what those beings were. They fed on planets. They were noble Celestials. They were true gods.
And to them, everything on this world—life, values, ideals—was utterly meaningless.
To say one of them had lurked in secret, observing the shinobi world for a thousand years? Don't be ridiculous!
Even Hagoromo and Hamura had done all they did only for their own designs. If given the chance, they too would devour everything without hesitation!
"It seems you know something important, Gamamaru," Hagoromo said, watching his reaction.
"It must be him," Gamamaru finally said, taking a deep breath. "Though I always believed he had perished long ago… if there is truly an Ōtsutsuki hidden in the shinobi world, it can only be him."
"One who descended with the Rabbit Goddess, was struck down by her hand… yet did not die, but lingered in the shadows, healing his wounds."
"Ōtsutsuki Isshiki."
...
"Uchiha Obito has joined forces with Sarutobi Hiruzen to raid Hueco Mundo. They've seized the Seven-Tails."
Inside the Land of Fire, the Sixth Division Captain—Second Mizukage, Hōzuki Gengetsu—spoke around a toothpick, glancing at the girl beside him.
"Everyone knows Hiruzen's ties with Danzō. Whatever's happening in Konoha, Obito can't be unrelated."
"I understand, Lord Gengetsu," Hinata said with a small nod. She knew full well that Danzō's summoning her back to Konoha wasn't simple—there was likely grave danger behind it.
But her greater worry was her father.
"I can't just ignore Father's safety, Lord Gengetsu." Though her voice was soft, her tone was resolute. "My teacher once told me—the most important thing in a person's life is their unwavering conviction. And mine… is to protect them!"
"My strength may not be enough to protect everything—an entire village, the Hyūga clan… But my teacher, my father, my little sister—those three, I will protect even if it costs me my life!"
What a good child, Gengetsu thought, clicking his tongue.
"Right now, Konoha is cloaked by an unfamiliar chakra. That's why our Garganta could only open to here, not directly into the village."
"When we step into Konoha, that chakra will sense us immediately. If battle breaks out…" He squinted. "I might not be able to look after you."
The reports from inside the village claimed that Hiruzen had completed the Chimera Technique, and his strength now even surpassed Tsunade's. Danzō likely wielded similar power.
If a fight erupted, Gengetsu would not fear Danzō—but he would have no attention to spare for anyone else.
"You needn't worry for me, Lord Gengetsu," Hinata said softly, her tone firm. "My teacher said it himself—I'm very strong!"
For a moment, Gengetsu blinked at those pure white eyes. He had almost forgotten—this girl was not only the Hyūga clan's heiress, but also Yuki Yoru's one and only disciple… and a member of his personal guard.
The Second Mizukage reached out and ruffled Hinata's hair.
"Let's go."
Because Konoha was shrouded in an unknown chakra, the two didn't force their way in but instead headed toward the main gate.
After all, they had been invited back by Danzō—entering through the front made perfect sense. And with the current state of Konoha so uncertain, meeting whatever came as it came—soldiers block soldiers, water covers water—was the best approach.
"Stop!"
"Identify yourselves!"
The moment they appeared at the gates of Konoha, two figures blocked their path.
Unhurried, Hōzuki Gengetsu pulled out a scroll from his robes and tossed it over.
"By the Fourth's orders, I am escorting Hyūga Hinata safely back to the village."
One of the gate guards eyed Gengetsu carefully, then let his gaze linger briefly on Hinata's pure white eyes before opening the scroll for inspection.
After a moment, he respectfully returned it.
"Lady Hinata may enter. As for this man… I must ask that you accompany me to the Hokage's office."
"Oh?" Gengetsu narrowed his eyes. "And what exactly does that mean?"
"Forgive us. We are simply carrying out the Hokage's orders. Please don't make this difficult." The guard's tone was polite, but his fingers moved subtly. His comrade nodded faintly and vanished in a flicker.
A dangerous light flashed in Gengetsu's eyes, but beside him, Hinata tugged lightly at his sleeve.
"It's alright, Lord Gengetsu. I can handle everything."
"…Hinata. Very well. Then I'll trouble you to lead the way." Gengetsu said no more. He trusted her. And besides, if Danzō truly intended anything, Hinata's presence would make it harder for him to act rashly.
"This way, please."
The Konoha shinobi vanished into the village. Gengetsu followed close behind, while Hinata quickly made her way toward the Hyūga compound.
According to intel from Yuki Aki, her father was most likely under a genjutsu. If that was all, she only needed to dispel it, and everything would be resolved.
But if it was something more…
Father. Hanabi…
Hinata clenched her small fists, her steps quickening.
Inside the Hokage's office—
Watching through the crystal ball as the two split up just as he had planned, Danzō toyed with the Hokage's hat, saying coldly:
"I'll handle Hōzuki Gengetsu. As for that little girl he wants—will you go yourself?"
"Yes. Her abilities are special. I'll take care of it. But don't underestimate Gengetsu—his strength is considerable."
"Heh…"
Danzō gripped the hat and placed it on his head.
Do you know who I am? I am the Sixth Hokage!
If Hiruzen could surpass Tsunade, the Fourth Division Captain, and seize the Seven-Tails… how could Danzō not deal with a mere Sixth Division Captain?
The two figures vanished from the Hokage's office.
Gengetsu and the Konoha shinobi sped through the village, weaving between buildings until they emerged in the Forest of Death.
"When did the Hokage start conducting business in a place like this?"
"This forest is the work of the First Hokage," came a calm reply.
From behind a massive tree stepped Danzō, cloaked in the Hokage's robes and wearing the Hokage's hat.
"For generations, when dealing with… smaller problems, Hokage have often chosen this place."
"Smaller problems, huh?"
Gengetsu grinned, his hand already resting on the hilt of his Zanpakutō.
"You youngsters always seem to have such inexplicable confidence—right up until you've seen what true power looks like."
"True power?"
Danzō sneered. As the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu had indeed lived in the same era as the First and Second Hokage. Calling him a "youngster" wasn't entirely wrong.
But as for true power…
He had already grasped it!
With a cold sneer, Danzō's figure vanished in an instant. A short blade appeared in his hand at some unknown moment, wrapped in a sharp gale as it slashed fiercely toward Hōzuki Gengetsu's neck.
The speed was terrifying—so fast it was beyond prediction, a velocity even the Mangekyō Sharingan couldn't fully track!
The blade fell—Gengetsu's neck shattered like flowing water, spraying droplets everywhere.
And along with it, the Second Mizukage's lips curved in a mocking smirk.
"Boom!!!"
A deafening explosion tore through the forest, engulfing Danzō's form in a storm of fire and smoke.
But when the dust finally cleared, a jet-black silhouette emerged from the haze—terrifying in appearance, exuding overwhelming might.
"Susanoo?"
Gengetsu, still gripping his Zanpakutō, tugged at his little moustache with a wry grin.
"So… you, too, like Hiruzen Sarutobi, completed the Kegare Ritual, eh?"
"That earlier move—was that your specialty, Steaming Danger Tyranny?"
The dark Susanoo expanded outward, swelling in moments to its fourth stage.
Beneath the demonic giant's shadow, Danzō's eyes twisted into the eerie pattern of the Mangekyō as he sneered:
"If that's the best you've got, then the head of the Sixth Division Captain… will be mine today!"
"You're certainly fired up, I'll give you that."
Gengetsu's playful tone hardened, his blade pointing directly at Danzō.
"But I've never actually fought a Mangekyō wielder before… When this kind of monster explodes, it should be quite the spectacle, don't you think? …Shikai!"
A surge of vast spiritual pressure erupted.
The Zanpakutō in his hand dissolved into a dreamlike stream of pure white mist, merging seamlessly into Gengetsu's body.
"Roar—Gen'ō!" (Mirage Phantom)