"You all felt the changes in the Tenseigan, didn't you?"
On the moon, within the Hamura Shrine.
After sending Toneri Ōtsutsuki to rest, the three elders gathered together.
They stared at the massive Tenseigan, shimmering with golden light, their faces heavy with concern.
"Yes, we felt it. Someone has been spying on us."
The Second Elder sighed, his expression deeply conflicted.
"It seems things are becoming complicated. What exactly is that person's goal?"
"At this point, I'm starting to doubt whether they're truly one of the 'Heavenly People'!"
The Third Elder growled angrily, his teeth clenched.
"They've been stealing the power of the Tenseigan all along. How could someone like that be a 'Heavenly Person'?"
"That only proves the Tenseigan is powerful enough."
The First Elder shook his head, interrupting. His face was the most grim of all.
"Of course, whether they're a 'Heavenly Person' or not is something we should question. But what concerns me more right now is their ultimate goal."
These words plunged the three elders into silence.
This was their greatest fear.
If the intruder had merely been using the Tenseigan's power, they might have been able to turn a blind eye.
After all, the intruder had some level of access. They could endure the "salami slicing" approach, as they lacked the energy to deal with it directly.
But now, the thief's gaze had turned toward them. The situation was no longer the same!
"In truth, we've always known this day would come."
The First Elder sighed as he broke the silence, looking at the other two.
"But it came far too quickly. That person is likely already plotting a way to come up here."
"We did anticipate this, but none of us wanted to face the reality."
The Second Elder wore a bitter smile. From the moment the Tenseigan's power was first stolen, they had understood what was coming.
"Can we even deal with this person?"
"Hmph! Are you really so defeatist before they've even arrived?"
The Third Elder, the most hot-tempered of the three, snorted coldly.
"Forget whether they can break through our barrier or not. Even if they do manage to come here, do you think I'd be afraid of them?!"
As he spoke, the Third Elder turned to the First Elder.
"I'm the youngest among us. If they really do come, I'll be the one to face them!"
"If they're after the Tenseigan's power, then let them die by it!"
Hearing the Third Elder's words, the First and Second Elders remained silent.
Their thoughts were aligned at this moment.
Even if they poured all the Tenseigan's power into the fight and sacrificed their lives—
"Can we really win?"
They didn't know the answer.
But they knew they had to make the necessary preparations.
Toneri was their only hope. Even if it cost them their lives, they had to ensure his survival.
"Great Sage, why'd you summon me again?"
At Mount Myōboku, within the Sage Palace.
Jiraiya appeared groggy, clearly still hungover.
The previous night's celebration had been wild—he had drunk quite a lot.
After all, resolving such a massive problem had brought him immense relief.
War was a heavy topic.
Having experienced so many battles and witnessed countless deaths, Jiraiya carried deep emotional scars.
Even though he had remained silent when the three great ninja villages decided to team up against Kumogakure, he understood it was necessary.
Now that it was over, even though many issues remained, the worst had been avoided.
What he hadn't expected was to be dragged to Mount Myōboku by the Great Toad Sage the very next day.
"Little Jiraiya, I didn't want to disturb you either."
Gamamaru sighed helplessly. He knew it wasn't ideal to keep summoning Jiraiya like this, but he had no choice.
"But there's something you must be informed about—something you all need to pay attention to."
"Hmm?"
Jiraiya perked up at Gamamaru's serious tone, his curiosity piqued.
"What is it?"
"In the direction of Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning, Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki has appeared."
Gamamaru spoke gravely.
"I've already sent frogs to investigate. Kumogakure is nearly destroyed, with heavy casualties. And I heard you were planning to go to war with Kumogakure, so..."
"Wait, Kumogakure?"
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
After a moment of silence, he asked in a low voice:
"When did this happen?"
"The night before last."
"The night before last? Then the destruction of Kumogakure might not be related to Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki..."
"Hmm?"
Gamamaru was taken aback.
What did Jiraiya mean by that?
Wasn't Kumogakure destroyed by Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki?
How did Jiraiya know otherwise?
"Actually, Kumogakure's downfall was Kitagawa Minamoto's doing."
Noticing Gamamaru's confusion, Jiraiya scratched his head and explained.
"Minamoto snuck out and used Wood Release to launch an attack on Kumogakure."
"Wood Release? Hashirama Senju's Wood Release?"
"Yes, and from what Tsunade told me, he used the First Hokage's ultimate technique."
Jiraiya, seemingly unaware of Gamamaru's slip of the tongue, continued with a tone of deep admiration.
"That technique is called True Thousand Hands. It summons a thousand-meter-tall Buddha. They admitted it themselves—two Tailed Beasts and Kumogakure fell because of it."
As he spoke, Jiraiya couldn't help but imagine the earth-shattering scene.
Under such overwhelming power, who could possibly resist?
"True Thousand Hands... Kitagawa Minamoto?"
Gamamaru, however, fell silent.
Ever since Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki's appearance, he had felt his dreams were being influenced, making him doubt his own prophecies.
Now, with Kitagawa Minamoto's emergence, it felt as though something was being foretold—something he couldn't ignore.
"Could it be... this child is the true savior?"
As the thought crossed his mind, Gamamaru's perspective began to shift.
"Konohagakure..."
Outside the village, Black Zetsu gazed at the altered landscape and the still-standing village in the distance.
He couldn't help but sigh.
It was absurd that Konohagakure remained unscathed after such a battle.
But he knew it was thanks to Kitagawa Minamoto's use of the Flying Thunder God Barrier.
Without it, Konohagakure would have been reduced to rubble!
"What a genius... What's the deal with this guy?"
Black Zetsu couldn't figure it out.
From the moment he first visited Konohagakure with Obito Uchiha, he had noticed that Kitagawa Minamoto was far from ordinary.
There was an indescribable familiarity about him—one that reminded Black Zetsu of his mother!
Even now, he couldn't shake the thought.
After all, this boy was simply too extraordinary.
"He even defeated Nagato..."
Black Zetsu murmured to himself.
Even though Nagato's power had been scattered at the time, Kitagawa Minamoto had relied on Sage Mode and the Flying Thunder God Technique to prevail.
"How many people in the ninja world could accomplish that?"
On top of that, Kitagawa Minamoto had developed Ice Release on his own, learned Dust Release after just a few observations, and—most astonishingly—mastered Wood Release.
He had even unleashed True Thousand Hands!
"Even the reincarnations of Indra and Asura weren't this terrifying. Who is this boy, really?"
Black Zetsu sighed, frustrated by his inability to find answers.
He had speculated that Kitagawa Minamoto might be a descendant of Hamura Ōtsutsuki from the moon.
Though he lacked the Byakugan, Kitagawa Minamoto's appearance in Sage Mode was truly unique.
"Maybe his Byakugan only manifests in Sage Mode..."
Black Zetsu couldn't make sense of it, but a new idea began to take shape in his mind.
"I can't just focus on Obito Uchiha and Madara Uchiha anymore. I need new blood and new power!"
Since encountering Kitagawa Minamoto, the sting of endless failures had haunted him.
Coupled with the sudden arrival of Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki, Black Zetsu knew he had to change his strategy.
"What are you thinking about, Black?"
White Zetsu's voice broke his train of thought.
"You've been standing here for ages. Aren't we going in?"
"We will, but not now. Konohagakure is heavily guarded—it's too dangerous."
Black Zetsu shook his head, unbothered by the interruption.
"But no matter how dangerous it is, we have to go in. Konohagakure's archives hold a wealth of information—perfect for our research."
"Oh."
White Zetsu nodded, though he didn't fully understand.
Black Zetsu, however, had made up his mind.
"Let's hide for now and wait for the right opportunity."
"Oh."
"This time, even if we remain in the shadows, we will seize the initiative."
"?"
White Zetsu stared at Black Zetsu, puzzled.
But Black Zetsu offered no explanation.
His intentions were clear: to manipulate Kitagawa Minamoto into confronting Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki and regain control of the situation.
All in preparation for his mother's return.
"Huh? Minamoto-senpai, what brings you here?"
Amid the turbulence of the ninja world, at the Yamanaka Flower Shop in Konohagakure, Ino Yamanaka looked at Kitagawa Minamoto in surprise.
Her initial shock quickly turned to delight as she ran over with a smile.
"Welcome, welcome! Are you here to buy flowers again?"
"Yes."
Kitagawa Minamoto nodded, then helplessly pointed at Naruto and Karin behind him.
"These two managed to overwater and kill my potted plants, so I need replacements."
"..."
Ino was speechless. She hadn't expected something like this.
Naruto and Karin, meanwhile, looked thoroughly embarrassed.
Fortunately, Inoichi Yamanaka walked in at that moment.
"Oh, Minamoto! Here to buy flowers?"
Inoichi's eyes lit up when he saw Kitagawa Minamoto.
"It's been a while since you last visited."
"I couldn't help it. Kakashi-sensei and Lord Jiraiya haven't been hospitalized recently."
Kitagawa Minamoto replied honestly.
"Not just them—even the Hokage hasn't been, so..."
"..."
Inoichi's smile froze.
While Kitagawa Minamoto wasn't wrong, did he have to say it so bluntly?
No wonder the Third Hokage kept lamenting that Konohagakure's education system had issues!
"Take your time choosing, Minamoto."
Shaking his head, Inoichi dismissed the thought and smiled at Kitagawa Minamoto and Ino.
Then he turned to Naruto and Karin.
"You two, want some snacks? Come with me."
With that, he led the two away, leaving Kitagawa Minamoto and Ino alone.
"Inoichi-san is really hospitable."
Kitagawa Minamoto raised an eyebrow, amused.
"Let's focus on the flowers."
Ino, slightly embarrassed, quickly regained her composure.
"What kind of flowers are you looking for this time, senpai?"
"I'll leave it to your recommendation. I don't have too many requirements."
Kitagawa Minamoto rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Just something easy to care for—I don't always have a lot of time."
"That makes sense. You've already surpassed everyone's imagination, after all."
Ino nodded lightly, her head lowering slightly.
Though her father rarely spoke about Kitagawa Minamoto, only revealing bits when pressed, she knew that he had reached heights beyond ordinary comprehension.
Especially since her friend Shikamaru often shared information with her—and his intel was always abundant.
Shaking her head, Ino sighed inwardly before speaking again.
"Actually, you could choose some more exotic flowers. After all, you're probably close to..."
"No need to complicate things, Ino."
Kitagawa Minamoto tilted his head with a smile, shaking it lightly.
"Simplicity is better."
"But..."
"Ino, you've cared for so many flowers. Surely you understand that flowers are much like people, don't you?"
"Huh?"
Ino blinked, then nodded hesitantly.
Kitagawa Minamoto crouched in front of a pot of flowers, smiling.
"Flowers are like people. Some may see themselves as superior and prefer noble yet delicate flowers. Others, however, are different—they appreciate the ordinary flowers that can survive against all odds."
"Like you, senpai?"
"Just call me Minamoto. Yes, I prefer these flowers. To me, they're even better."
Kitagawa Minamoto paused before continuing with a smile.
"They may seem humble, but they don't mind coexisting with other plants. They don't consider themselves superior, yet they seize every opportunity to bloom. Isn't that wonderful?"
"That's... true."
Ino glanced at Naruto and Karin, who were chatting with her father, then back at Kitagawa Minamoto.
Her gaze seemed to hold a new depth, but Kitagawa Minamoto simply chuckled.
"And they're less trouble. Those two idiots won't be able to kill them by overwatering. My last ones took years to grow!"
"..."
Ino was momentarily speechless but soon burst into laughter.
"So, Minamoto, aside from these, are there any other flowers you like?"
"Flowers, huh?"
Kitagawa Minamoto hesitated, pondering for a moment before recalling a saying.
He smiled softly.
"If I had to choose, I'd say the flowers that bloom on cliffs."
"Huh?"
Ino was puzzled, and Kitagawa Minamoto stood up, still smiling.
"I admire those flowers because most people stop at the edge of the cliff. But these flowers, unafraid, take a step toward the sky."
"A step toward the sky..."
Ino's eyes grew dreamy at his words, her cheeks faintly reddening.
Kitagawa Minamoto, however, found it odd that Ino had suddenly gone quiet.
Before long, Ino had helped Kitagawa Minamoto pick out some new flowers, and the group prepared to leave.
Inoichi gave Kitagawa Minamoto and the others a warm farewell, though he couldn't help but glance curiously at his daughter.
"Goodbye, Inoichi-san!"
Naruto waved enthusiastically, while Kitagawa Minamoto and Karin also nodded in farewell.
Once they were out of earshot, Naruto couldn't help but comment.
"I never thought Ino's dad would be such an interesting guy."
"Ha..."
Karin glanced at Naruto, then at Kitagawa Minamoto.
Interesting? He was only being polite because of Minamoto-senpai!
"Inoichi is indeed impressive. Many intelligence ninjas look up to him."
Kitagawa Minamoto nodded, smiling casually.
"Every time I see him, he's kind and caring. Though sometimes, he cares a bit too much."
Like when I went to meet Kisame, and he disabled the surveillance for me...
"I really envy Ino."
Naruto sighed suddenly, and Karin seemed to understand his sentiment, sighing as well.
Kitagawa Minamoto, however, wasn't particularly moved.
He glanced at the two of them and couldn't help but sigh.
"She is lucky. After all, the three of us can't even piece together a complete family."
"..."
"..."
Karin didn't know how to respond to such a grim comment, while Naruto, ever resilient, retorted:
"You're such a jerk sometimes!"
But after saying that, Naruto sighed again.
"It's a shame. I've always wondered what having parents would feel like."
"Well, maybe you'll find out someday."
Kitagawa Minamoto replied casually, but then he froze, his expression stiffening.
[Exclusive Side Quest: Naruto's Mission #2] [Task: Guide the Jōnin on a Home Visit] [Objective: Meet Naruto's parents and address Naruto's issues] [Note: Exclusive Side Quests do not interfere with regular side quests.] [Accept? Yes/No]
"..."
This quest... was even more hellish than what he had just said.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~ The story isn't over...🤔 Want to know what happens next to the characters? 🤫 Eager to explore the untold secrets of this world? ✍ Ready to read more of my wildest stories?✨patreon.com/GoldenLong