After testing her basic combat capabilities, Satsuki used space-jump to return directly to her secret base on Earth.
With the plan having progressed to this stage, the overall situation was already in her grasp. Now, she merely needed to continue guiding events toward her desired outcome—slowly, steadily, just as before. The difference now was that her enhanced personal strength gave her the confidence to think: If it works, I'll keep going; if not, I can simply overturn the table.
Still, Satsuki had always held a clear understanding of power, just as she often said:
"Strength is always a relative concept."
When a genin becomes a chunin, they may feel excitement but not arrogance—they are still only part of the lower-to-mid tiers of the shinobi world's power structure. When a chunin rises to jonin, they step into the high tier, and their mindset inevitably shifts. When a jonin reaches Kage-level—or a Kage reaches beyond to Super Kage—pride and expansion of ambition become nearly unavoidable.
They become one of the rarest few in the world, with access to dozens or even hundreds of times more resources than before. And with far less chance of dying by accident, the combination inflames desire and ambition.
Since ancient times, no one has escaped this pattern—it is simply human nature. Whether it was Amaru, the jinchūriki who obtained the Zero-Tails, or Madara Uchiha after absorbing the Ten-Tails and reaching Six Paths level, both were ultimately blinded by their own newfound power and fell to ruin.
Were they strong? Absolutely. Were they successful? No.
This principle applies not only to individuals, but also to organizations. An organization's collective will is nothing more than human nature scaled up.
To truly recognize one's limits—and to surpass this hurdle of human nature—requires more than power. It demands both opportunity and the clarity of rational self-reflection.
That is the value of wisdom: it tells you your true place and what you should actually do.
Now, Satsuki stood at the very ceiling of the shinobi world's power. Yet she still used wisdom to restrain herself, knowing what she could and could not do. This self-discipline was her most terrifying trait.
When her strength climbed steadily over three years—from genin to near-Kage-level—and when she developed her wireless signal transmission and control system, she still maintained restraint. But now, having leapt in a single step from near-Kage-level to Six Paths level, the leap was so great that even her near-superhuman mental clarity was tested.
Upon returning to her base, she shut herself inside her secret senjutsu sanctuary to calm and mend the imbalance in her heart.
However, she also had other matters to address. Though the giant Tenseigan could monitor any corner of Earth, maintaining it required constant focus, and it could not perform fine interference. She would need to appoint a representative to act openly in her place for a while.
During this period, she would fully familiarize herself with the Tenseigan's powers and, using her intellect, develop even more advanced abilities.
Her golden eyes turned toward the two human puppets she had stationed within.
Kiyomaru, a lightning-nature user, had returned from his Uchiha mission and undergone basic maintenance before training to absorb natural energy in this secluded sanctuary. But his talent was middling, and without aids like toad oil, he had yet to make any progress.
The other was the wind-natured Ranzuki. This female human puppet was the only one to survive the brutal Sage Puppet Formation while retaining full bodily vitality. Strengthened early on with natural energy, she had already begun to show the aptitude to train in Sage Mode.
Satsuki's gaze settled on Ranzuki.
A surge of immense ocular power from Satsuki's Tenseigan poured into Ranzuki. Her energy signature spiked sharply, but soon after, her body began showing signs of imminent collapse.
"It seems that even a body enhanced with senjutsu chakra can't withstand too much Tenseigan ocular power." Satsuki ceased the infusion, though a flicker of expectation crossed her face.
Fortunately, the experiment had succeeded—barely.
More importantly, under the infusion of Tenseigan power, Ranzuki's individual consciousness fully awakened. While tethered to Satsuki's Tenseigan, it retained independent thought and decision-making.
This was precisely the result Satsuki had hoped for.
Wisdom is not born from a single mind working in isolation, but from the clash and exchange of different people, perspectives, and ideas. This was why she had not pursued further research into Edo Tensei. In truth, she valued this Tenseigan ability far more.
When Ranzuki opened her eyes again, the mutations of Sage Mode were gone, replaced instead by a pair of dazzling Tenseigan, blue as the brightest stars.
"Test your new ability."
"Yes, Mother."
Reborn, Ranzuki nodded, then rapidly wove hand seals before her chest.
A flood of brilliant blue chakra erupted, enveloping her body. Behind her, three glowing Truth-Seeking Orbs took shape.
Tenseigan Chakra Mode.
Satsuki summoned her own orbs, shaping three into a shield that hovered before Ranzuki.
Ranzuki understood. Her right hand clenched, the three orbs forming a golden sword that cleaved down toward the shield.
"Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion."
Boom—
The vast sage land shook violently. A massive shockwave burst outward from the clash of golden blade and shield. Except for a few areas Satsuki had deliberately shielded, the surrounding terrain was leveled by three feet.
The storm ripped through the land. Trees were torn up by their roots, boulders hurled into the air, ponds and lakes lifted from their beds and shattered into spray.
The independent-space sage land looked as though part of it had simply been erased—leaving only devastation and emptiness.
Of the two who had unleashed the strike, Ranzuki had already released her Tenseigan Chakra Mode and stood silently aside. Satsuki, after gauging the force of the blow, nodded.
Originally, Satsuki had intended to use human puppets trained in the Eight Gates and Sage Mode to squeeze out short bursts of Six Paths-level power.
Now, with her own Tenseigan, she had found a better way.
The only drawback was its limitation: at present, she could grant Tenseigan Chakra Mode to only three human puppets at a time.
The technique bore some similarity to the Rinnegan's Limbo: Border Jail, but with stricter requirements. For example, Kiyomaru was currently unqualified. And for now, Satsuki could only maintain three such empowered existences.
This was her initial development of the Tenseigan's creative power—an advanced evolution of her infinite signal transmission and control technology.
Her earlier idea of Eight Gates human puppets was now almost unworthy of mention.
She named the technique: Heavenly Wheel Reincarnation.
"Enough. You now have the right to bear my surname. From today onward, you may call yourself Ranzuki Ōtsutsuki."
Now conscious and highly intelligent under the Tenseigan's empowerment, Ranzuki Ōtsutsuki knelt in gratitude. "Thank you, Mother."
Though her soul was nearly middle-aged, Satsuki, still unmarried, felt awkward at being addressed that way. "Just call me Satsuki."
"…Yes, Lady Satsuki."
It seemed the honorific would remain. That was fine—this was not an equal relationship.
Satsuki did not dwell on it. Using her Tenseigan's creative power, she restored the ravaged terrain. Within a few breaths, natural energy once again filled the space.
"Ranzuki."
"Your daughter… your subordinate is here."
Quick to learn. Satsuki's eyes narrowed faintly, but her expression soon returned to calm composure.
"Stay here and familiarize yourself with your new power. That is your current task."
Satsuki spoke evenly, summoning a miniature projection of the giant Tenseigan. "I've inscribed your authority into this Tenseigan. If you need training advice, you can contact me through it—but I expect you to solve problems yourself. With the giant Tenseigan's support, you can enter Tenseigan Chakra Mode at any time."
"Understood," Ranzuki replied eagerly. "I will not disappoint you, Lady Satsuki."
"Mm." Satsuki waved her hand, then vanished from the sage land.
Though she had gained the Tenseigan, her mind remained clear. One matter needed her attention.
The imminent war between the Uchiha and Senju clans—a war she herself had set in motion.