This time, the celebration went on until very late.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't personally called it to a stop, they might well have carried on until dawn.
But that wasn't hard to understand—Kumogakure already had a notorious reputation in the shinobi world.
Not only did the smaller nations harbor deep hatred toward Kumogakure, but even Konohagakure had suffered bitter losses at their hands.
For Kitagawa Gen and the other two to have crushed Kumogakure this time—well, that was something worth raising spirits over!
Of course, none of the three sides' leaders went into too much detail.
After all, they were allies now, and one had to leave the other a bit of face.
When the celebration finally ended, Kitagawa Gen simply headed straight home. Mei and Deidara, however, weren't so lucky.
"How exactly did you manage to pull it off this time?"
In the deep silence of the night, inside the guest embassy reserved for foreign visitors in Konohagakure, Elder Genji looked at Mei with a grave expression.
"Even though Kumogakure no longer has its Kage, I heard that the Wood Release has appeared?"
"I'm afraid the truth is far more astonishing than Genji-sama imagines."
Mei let out a bitter smile, recalling all that had transpired, and sighed.
"Wood Release really did appear. And I think I finally understand why the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, was called 'the shinobi who pacified an age of chaos.'"
In private, there was little need for concealment. Mei gave a detailed account of everything that had happened.
She described especially in detail the colossal figure that had towered over a thousand meters high, its fists the size of tailed beasts, striking with a force that seemed as though it would bring down heaven and earth—the True Several Thousand Hands.
Elder Genji fell into complete silence. He too had lived through that era.
He naturally understood the terror of those two men. He truly hadn't imagined that such a figure would appear in Konohagakure once again!
"Genji-sama, I believe we must maintain our relationship with Konohagakure."
Only after she had finished everything did Mei speak again, her tone heavy.
"It cannot be only about them helping us capture Uchiha Obito, or this presently vague alliance."
"Yes… it truly must become stronger."
Though still dazed, Elder Genji fully agreed with Mei's words. A moment later, however, he gave a wry smile.
"Who would have thought someone's words would become prophecy? Konohagakure really is returning to what it was decades ago."
It had been Ōnoki who had said Konohagakure would return to decades past. And in this moment, Elder Genji could not agree more.
But the one who felt this even more strongly than anyone else was Ōnoki himself.
"Old man, that's pretty much how it went."
In another room, Ōnoki listened to Deidara's recounting of the operation.
He sat stiffly, dumbstruck, unable to utter a single word. At his side, Akatsuchi scratched his head, unable to make sense of what exactly a thousand-meter giant Buddha was supposed to be.
"That big? You're not making this up?"
It was Kurotsuchi who couldn't help but interject, unable to comprehend any of what Deidara was describing, half-convinced he was bragging.
"Cheh, what do you know?"
Deidara gave a short, disdainful snort, arms crossed over his chest.
"I was there the whole time watching. That mountain ridge near Kumogakure was smashed into collapse, you idiot. Hmph!"
"Stop arguing."
Ōnoki rubbed at his brow in frustration, cutting Kurotsuchi off just as she looked ready to snap back.
"You can't possibly comprehend the power of Senju Hashirama. When those two fought back then, they even reshaped the terrain of the entire shinobi world."
"Huh?"
Kurotsuchi's face was full of disbelief, while Deidara only nodded, as if unsurprised, though curiosity flickered in his eyes.
"Come to think of it, old man, between Gen and that First Hokage guy—who's stronger?"
"Don't ask such pointless things. All you need to know is that they were both from Konoha."
To Ōnoki, the question was foolish. Since they were both from Konohagakure, comparing them was meaningless. Even so, he couldn't help but sigh.
"It seems our relations with Konohagakure will have to be readjusted. I never imagined things would come to this."
Yet even as he sighed, something else crossed his mind.
"But if that's the case, maybe Kitagawa Gen really can stand against that Ōtsutsuki Genshiki!"
Ōnoki still couldn't forget the sheer destructiveness of that man.
Especially considering how elusive Ōtsutsuki Genshiki was, how immeasurably strong, and how disturbingly interested he was in the tailed beasts.
If someone like that couldn't be opposed, it would spell disaster for the entire shinobi world!
"But still…"
A sour taste filled Ōnoki's mouth as his eyes slid to Deidara, who was already laughing and joking again.
At once he felt that familiar sting—why is someone else's child so outstanding, while mine's a good-for-nothing? His fists clenched tight.
"Why can't you put in even a little effort, you brat?"
While Ōnoki and Elder Genji could hardly get a proper night's sleep, Kitagawa Gen rested soundly.
He had even hoped to sleep in a little longer, but at first light he was jolted awake by noise.
And not by Sarutobi Hiruzen or anyone from his group.
"Hey, blondie, what the hell are you doing?!"
"I'm watering the flowers. What, even this you want to take from me?"
"Cut the crap—I already told you this is my job from now on!"
"Look at how you're watering them. You've drowned them all!"
Hearing the ruckus outside his window, Kitagawa Gen rubbed at his temples.
He had thought he'd managed to avoid both the blond and the redhead, yet here they were, making a scene at the crack of dawn.
"Don't you two ever sleep? What are you yelling about this early in the morning?"
With a helpless look, Gen opened the window and stared down at Naruto and Karin, who were butting heads again.
He really couldn't understand it. They were both of the Uzumaki clan—so why did they never get along?
"Morning, senpai!"
The moment she spotted Gen, Karin's whole demeanor changed, while Naruto only shot her an exasperated look.
"Hey, Gen, your flowers—she killed them."
"…"
Gen stared at the potted plants, dumbfounded. Sure enough, the flowers had been drowned to death.
"What are you two doing here at the crack of dawn anyway? Shouldn't you be off training, or at least checking in at the Medical Corps?"
"Cheh, even the Pervy Sage isn't awake yet."
Naruto snorted, sulky, while Karin suddenly turned meek and well-behaved.
"Tsunade-sama told me I could come in later today, so…"
"…"
Kitagawa Gen understood. Odds were, these people had gone a bit wild with the celebrations last night, and now they were all skipping work.
He couldn't help but feel a little baffled. More and more, Konohagakure struck him as nothing but a ramshackle troupe.
'What's happened to Konoha? If they're willing to skip duty just because of one celebration, I can't even imagine what the future holds!'
Gen thought grimly that the administrative system of Konohagakure really needed a heavy hand…
"You look like you haven't even woken up yet."
While Gen's thoughts grumbled away, Naruto gave him a curious once-over, which instantly drew Karin's irritation.
"Idiot. Senpai just got back from Kumogakure—he hasn't fully recovered yet. What's so strange about that? Stop bothering him."
"Cheh. What's with the sudden change of tone?"
Naruto shot Karin a glare, then turned to Gen with an equally sour look.
"And you! Damn it, how could you leave me out of something like that? If I'd gone, it would've been even easier!"
"Shut up, you idiot. You can't even guarantee passing the Chūnin Exams!"
Karin's retort made Naruto bristle immediately.
"Damn it, I'll pass for sure!"
"I wouldn't be so sure."
"Hmph, at least I'm taking the exam. You? I don't recall seeing you there!"
"That's because I don't need to. Senpai didn't take the exam either, and he still advanced."
"What?! You brat!"
"Well, that's on you for being useless…"
As the two started bickering again, Gen couldn't help but chuckle. The two of them truly had boundless energy.
Unlike him. He was just exhausted…
'Looking back, last night may have been a bit too radical—but whatever the case, the outcome was good.'
Hiruzen had originally wanted to corner him for questions, but the atmosphere had been too lively.
And since Gen was still in Konohagakure, Hiruzen had simply decided to let him enjoy a night of rest. That was why no one had bothered him.
Naturally, once everything ended and he returned home, the very first thing he did was explore that passage to the moon.
His eyes had ceased absorbing chakra, and that strange "stirring" sensation was proof enough of his current state.
He could wait for his eyes to finish brewing on their own—but he had no intention of waiting.
The moon was there, holding that colossal eye, and he had already waited so many years. Having reached this point, how could he possibly stop now?
So, after returning home last night, he decisively used his own eyes once more to link with the moon.
And this time, not only did he comprehend more—he saw more!
For the first time, through the Tenseigan, he glimpsed everything inside the moon.
He saw three aged, white-haired elders, a massive library, and even a boy without eyes!
'Ōtsutsuki Toneri.'
Kitagawa Gen was certain of it—there was no mistaking who that boy was.
'But they were sharp as well. The moment they sensed my gaze upon them, they immediately cut me off, did they?'
Gen rubbed his chin, though he wasn't especially surprised.
Since they had managed to use the Byakugan of the main family to forge the Tenseigan, of course they would also have means prepared for controlling it.
Because he possessed the Tenseigan himself, he could resonate with that giant eye, even wrest a measure of control from it.
But that didn't mean those Ōtsutsuki on the moon would truly be helpless if they fought with all they had.
'Unfortunately for them, I'm no longer afraid. And now that I've more or less pinned down the direction, a little searching is all it will take to reach my goal.'
In this exploration, besides spying on those people, he had also, through the colossal Tenseigan, identified several suspected points that might be spatial passages.
His plan was to wait just a little longer—until the "Divine Tree's Source" within him grew more stable.
Then he would act at once—striking the people inside the moon with overwhelming force!
'My eyes… it's time they evolved as well.'
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