Though Richard spoke truthfully, Kaguya's face remained filled with disbelief. From her perspective, Richard had implanted the magical crystal solely to enslave her.
After a few seconds of silence, Kaguya said, "Very well, then."
She turned to examine the living room.
"You may go anywhere except the basement," Richard informed her. "If you have questions, find me in my study."
Kaguya didn't answer verbally, merely nodding.
Richard said nothing more, turning toward his study. After arriving, he closed the door and settled into the chair behind his desk. Then, he opened the information panel visible only to him.
[World Challenge Completed]
[Challenge Reward Sent]
[First Template: Sephiroth (Fusion Degree 85%)]
[Do you want to return to the original universe now?]
Without hesitation, Richard decisively selected "No." Though he had completed this world's challenge, he had no intention of immediately returning to the Marvel Universe.
After closing the information panel, he opened his attribute display to check the fusion degrees of his Superboy-Prime and Vergil templates.
[Second Template: Superboy-Prime (Fusion Degree 42%)]
[Third Template: Vergil (Fusion Degree 80%)]
Over the past few years, Richard hadn't deliberately focused on improving his template fusion degrees. Nevertheless, the Superboy-Prime template had increased from 17% to 42%. The Vergil template, however, remained unchanged.
Though the Superboy-Prime template represented the most powerful among his three templates, increasing its fusion degree proved considerably easier than the others. Sunbathing! Simply absorbing solar energy naturally improved the Superboy-Prime template.
After reviewing these fusion degrees, Richard closed the system panel with a helpless sigh. Though completing the Naruto world challenge had successfully raised his Sephiroth template to 85%, he still hadn't awakened the One-Winged Angel form.
Though the system provided no further explanations, he felt certain these abilities would only unlock after exceeding 90% fusion. As for Supernova and Seraphim forms, he estimated they required 100% fusion.
After dismissing the system panel, Richard considered briefly. Then, he used Flying Thunder God to leave his study and return to the Valley of the End—now transformed from its original state. Specifically, he approached Obito and Black Zetsu.
After losing the Ten-Tails, Obito hadn't died immediately. When Richard departed with Kaguya, Black Zetsu possessed Obito, sustaining him.
Upon seeing Richard, Obito—his right side blackened—said, "I wondered when you'd return for my eyes."
From Obito's perspective, Richard's only reason for returning would be to claim his dōjutsu.
"Let's not discuss the Rinnegan," Richard replied. "Your Mangekyō Sharingan holds significant value as well. Leaving them unused would be wasteful. However, I have no interest in your life—only your eyes."
"Are you sparing me?" Obito rose from his seated position on the ground. "Aren't you concerned I'll cause future problems?"
"I have nothing to fear. Should you attempt anything, I'll simply kill you," Richard answered casually.
He knew Obito maintained a collection of Sharingan. But even if Obito transplanted these, he could never restore his original power.
Hearing Richard's words, Obito sighed and said calmly, "Continue then."
Richard said nothing further. He extended his right hand, wrapping chakra around his fingers, and directly extracted both Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan and Rinnegan, placing them in a specialized specimen container.
Throughout the extraction, Obito remained silent, as though the eyes being removed weren't his own.
After storing the specimen container in his system space, Richard addressed the now-blinded Obito. "Let Black Zetsu guide you back to your base. I'm aware you've collected numerous Sharingan there."
"You truly intend to release me?" Obito asked.
"As I stated, your life holds no interest for me."
With that, Richard executed Flying Thunder God again, vanishing from Obito and Black Zetsu's presence.
Rather than returning to his study, he transported himself to the Hokage's office.
As usual, Tsunade reviewed documents recently delivered by Shizune, who stood before the desk awaiting further instructions.
Richard's arrival immediately drew their attention. Seeing him employ Flying Thunder God, Tsunade set aside her documents and asked, "Do you need something from me?"
"Yes," Richard confirmed.
Hearing his affirmative response, Tsunade addressed her assistant: "Shizune, please deliver these reviewed documents first."
"Of course, Lady Tsunade." Recognizing that Tsunade intended a private conversation with Richard, Shizune gathered the reviewed documents and promptly left, closing the door behind her.
Once only she and Richard remained, Tsunade continued, "Didn't you mention handling important personal matters requiring immediate attention?"
Before departing for the Valley of the End, Richard had informed Tsunade he needed to leave Konoha for personal business, though he hadn't specified the nature of these matters.
"That situation has been resolved," Richard replied, looking at her with unusual seriousness. "I've come because there's something you should know."
"What is it?" Noting his grave expression, Tsunade's demeanor likewise became serious.
Richard organized his thoughts, then concisely detailed the circumstances involving Obito and Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
Though Tsunade trusted him implicitly, his account still left her incredulous.
First was Obito. Though officially declared dead during the Third Shinobi War, his name wasn't unfamiliar to her. She never imagined the supposedly fallen shinobi had not only survived but eventually emerged as the true Akatsuki leader, became the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, and battled Richard at the Valley of the End.
Learning of Obito's survival and transformation into the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki alone would have astonished her. But to hear that Kaguya had been resurrected, defeated by Richard, and now resided in Konoha with him—this transcended her imagination entirely.
Though she'd never encountered Kaguya's name directly—merely knowing of her existence—she was certainly familiar with Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths.
Asura, the Sage's second son, had inherited his father's "body" and founded both the Senju and Uzumaki clans. Though few members of either clan survived now, during Tsunade's childhood, the First Hokage had shared numerous stories about the Sage of Six Paths, Asura, and Indra.
Nevertheless, she struggled to accept that Kaguya—the Sage of Six Paths' mother—had been resurrected and battled Richard.
Had anyone other than Richard relayed this information, Tsunade would have dismissed them as delusional. She couldn't conceive of any explanation beyond insanity.
"Are you telling me the truth?" Tsunade regarded Richard skeptically.
"Kaguya is at my residence now. Would you like me to take you to meet her?" Richard offered.
"Sure!" Tsunade replied without hesitation.
She immediately approached Richard, taking his right hand and allowing him to hold her slender waist. Though Richard could execute Flying Thunder God through mere hand contact, she habitually positioned herself this way.
Richard said nothing further and promptly activated Flying Thunder God. In an instant, they vanished from the Hokage's office, reappearing in his residence's living room.
Upon arrival, Tsunade immediately spotted Kaguya, who stood before the television, regarding it with confusion.
Though Richard and Tsunade made no sound, Kaguya sensed them instantly and turned to face them.
Is this truly the Sage of Six Paths' mother?
Observing Kaguya's appearance, Tsunade unconsciously frowned. She had anticipated an elderly woman, but her expectations proved unfounded. Judging solely by appearance, Kaguya seemed to be in her twenties or thirties.
Though Kaguya possessed numerous inhuman characteristics—pale skin, the Rinne Sharingan on her forehead, and sharp horns protruding from her head—her overall impression remained remarkably youthful.
Seeing Richard appear with the attractive, curvaceous Tsunade, Kaguya immediately inquired, "Is she your woman?"
Richard nodded and explained, "Her name is Tsunade Senju. She serves as Konoha's Fifth Hokage. The Senju clan descends from Hagoromo's second son, Asura."
They're descendants of Hagoromo's second son, Asura?
Hearing Richard's introduction, Kaguya frowned immediately. Though unfamiliar with concepts like Konoha and Hokage, she recognized that descendants of the Sage of Six Paths and Hamura Ōtsutsuki were, from a bloodline perspective, her own descendants as well. After all, she was mother to both brothers and the original source of their lineage.
Kaguya said nothing, examining Tsunade carefully with her Byakugan.
"Not bad," she finally remarked. "Her chakra reserves and vitality are quite impressive."
Hearing this assessment, Tsunade responded seriously, "Thank you."
If Tsunade had harbored doubts about whether Kaguya truly was the Sage of Six Paths' mother, they dissipated upon observing Kaguya's Rinne Sharingan and distinctive horns.
Firstly, the Sage of Six Paths himself possessed two horns, though not as lengthy as Kaguya's and different in shape. Secondly, the Sage wielded the Rinnegan and bore a red, eye-like marking on his forehead corresponding to Kaguya's Rinne Sharingan. Finally, Tsunade experienced tremendous pressure in Kaguya's presence—unlike anything she'd felt before.
"He called you the Fifth Hokage of Konoha," Kaguya addressed Tsunade. "What exactly are 'Konoha' and 'Hokage'?"
"Konoha is a hidden village within the Land of Fire, and Hokage is the title given to Konoha's leader," Tsunade replied promptly.
As soon as she finished speaking, Kaguya gestured toward Richard: "He is evidently far stronger than you. Why isn't he Hokage? Shouldn't the strongest individual lead the village?"
Well...
Tsunade momentarily found herself without a suitable response.
At this juncture, Richard intervened: "Because I'm not from Konoha—merely a foreigner who settled here."
Foreigner?
You're clearly extraterrestrials from another planet! Kaguya mentally objected.
Though aware that Richard, like herself, came from beyond this world, she had no intention of exposing him. Instead, she continued: "You didn't bring her here merely for introductions. Tell me, what do you truly intend?"
Hearing Kaguya's question, Richard calmly responded: "Nothing significant. I simply want you to witness the world Hagoromo created after sealing you."
Though he planned eventually to bring both Tsunade and Kaguya back to the Marvel Universe, before departing, he intended for Kaguya to thoroughly experience the current shinobi world.
Kaguya didn't respond immediately. After several seconds, she said, "I have no objection. I'm curious to see what my disobedient sons transformed this world into after sealing me."
Hearing Kaguya's answer, Richard addressed Tsunade: "I'd appreciate if you could acquaint her with the current state of the world."
"No problem," Tsunade agreed without hesitation.
Time passed swiftly. Before anyone realized, a month had elapsed.
During this period, Richard maintained his leisurely, indulgent lifestyle in Konoha. By contrast, Tsunade remained extraordinarily busy throughout the month.
Beyond fulfilling her Hokage duties and managing village affairs, she educated Kaguya about the world while addressing her numerous inquiries.
These questions ranged widely: Why was the Uchiha clan exterminated? Why had the Senju clan abandoned their surname and integrated into Konoha? Why hadn't Konoha eliminated all other villages? Why did shinobi require hand seals to perform ninjutsu? Why was the Hyūga clan divided into main and branch families? Why had their Byakugan development progressed so poorly? And many more.
Had Kaguya limited herself to innocent curiosity, like a child learning about the world, Tsunade could have understood. After all, Kaguya had been sealed long ago and only recently resurrected.
However, some of Kaguya's actions proved genuinely problematic for Tsunade.
Upon discovering that only the Hyūga clan had inherited the Byakugan, and that even children of other clans couldn't develop it, Kaguya directly confronted Hiashi Hyūga, the clan head. Before numerous clan members, she severely beat both Hiashi and Hinata. After this display, Kaguya demanded the Hyūga clan's complete obedience to her commands going forward.
Though Kaguya possessed tremendous power, the Hyūga clan wasn't weak. Had Richard not arrived promptly, the Hyūga might have shared the Uchiha clan's fate.