Shinji's sudden declaration left the assembled Ōtsutsuki stunned.
Because his words carried an unmistakable meaning.
This was no simple favor. He was, in effect, designating the next clan heir.
What had just happened? How had things turned out like this?
Yes, Toneri had obtained a pair of Byakugan from the Hyūga clan of the ninja world, but that alone should not have warranted such importance from the Clan Head.
Confusion spread quietly among the clansmen.
Meanwhile, in Konoha—
After Shigure completely devoured the power of the Golden Tenseigan, his entire presence underwent a drastic transformation.
The surge of Six Paths power within him was overwhelming. Even the simplest ninjutsu he could now perform was on an entirely different level compared to before.
It was a complete, earth-shaking change.
As Shigure stepped out of the chamber where the Golden Tenseigan had been stored, he glanced toward Hyūga Hiashi.
Hiashi stared at him in shock.
Shigure's appearance had not changed, yet there seemed to be a faint, flowing radiance surrounding his body.
"Lord Shigure… you… what is this…?" Hiashi stammered, struggling to find the right words.
Haku and Ringo also sensed Shigure's presence and hurried over. But the moment they saw him, they froze.
The light around him was subtle, yet impossible to ignore.
"Lord Shigure… what happened to you?" Ringo asked, clearly unsettled.
Shigure frowned slightly. "Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Hiashi swallowed. "Lord Shigure… your body… something's different."
"My body?" Shigure looked down at himself, puzzled. He did not notice anything unusual.
Haku spoke up, her voice cautious. "There's light… coming from you."
"Light?"
Shigure's brows furrowed.
Great Sage, is there really something like that?
[Great Sage: The host's Six Paths power has reached a level where it passively manifests as a visible radiance. The host cannot perceive it, but it is clearly visible to others.]
Shigure paused.
So that was the case.
Can it be suppressed?
[Great Sage: Yes.]
In the next moment, the Great Sage sealed the excess radiance. The glow around Shigure gradually faded until it completely disappeared.
Haku and the others visibly relaxed.
No matter how one looked at it, Shigure's previous state had been far from normal.
"Lord Shigure," Hiashi said, unable to contain his excitement, "have you become stronger again?"
Shigure smiled faintly and patted his shoulder. "We can talk about that later."
After Tsunade had been brought back to Konoha by Guren and the others, she had been settled in one of the few intact buildings. Medical ninja had been treating her continuously, and her condition had gradually stabilized.
Now that Shigure had finished with the Tenseigan, it was only natural for him to visit her.
As he made his way there, he was accompanied by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, with a large number of Kirigakure ninja following behind.
The sheer presence of the group immediately drew attention.
Many Konoha ninja, still recovering from the aftermath of battle, straightened as they saw Shigure approaching.
Had the Mizukage of Kirigakure finally come out of that strange structure?
And judging by his appearance, he seemed completely unchanged.
Shigure stopped at the entrance and looked at Kakashi.
"Kakashi-sensei, I'd like to see Tsunade-sama."
Kakashi nodded. Tsunade had already regained consciousness earlier and had specifically ordered that Shigure be informed as soon as he awoke.
Clearly, she had been waiting for this meeting as well.
Once Shigure entered, the medical ninja inside quietly withdrew.
Two Kage meeting in private, Mizukage and Hokage. There was no place for others to interfere.
Even Kakashi chose to remain outside.
Inside the room, Tsunade watched as Shigure approached and raised his hand.
The moment his chakra flowed, her eyes narrowed slightly.
This was nothing like conventional medical ninjutsu.
Shigure's technique, enhanced by his Six Paths power, was almost mystical in nature. In mere moments, the injuries within her body were rapidly restored, as if time itself had been reversed.
In the blink of an eye, she was nearly fully healed.
Not only did Shigure heal Tsunade's visible injuries, he also completely removed the lingering damage within her body.
The old hidden ailments caused by years of battle and overuse of chakra were all wiped away, as if they had never existed.
Tsunade slowly stepped down from the bed and clenched her fist. Feeling the strength returning to her body, she looked at Shigure with a complicated expression.
"It seems… you've grown even stronger, Shigure."
Shigure smiled faintly. "Of course."
Tsunade studied him for a moment before asking, "What exactly is going on with those people?"
She had already heard fragments about the Ōtsutsuki from the Kirigakure ninja, but secondhand information always left too many gaps.
Shigure gave a brief explanation, outlining the situation as simply as possible.
After listening, Tsunade frowned.
"So, in simple terms, they're dissatisfied with the current state of the ninja world. They want to destroy it and rebuild everything from scratch?"
Shigure nodded. "That's about right."
Tsunade let out a cold snort.
"These people are completely delusional. They think destroying the world will somehow create a better one?"
She turned to look directly at Shigure.
"You're going to deal with them."
Shigure nodded without hesitation. "Of course."
"And Konoha will be involved as well," Tsunade added, her fists tightening.
Looking at the devastation around the village, the anger in her chest surged again.
This destruction… this humiliation…
It would be repaid.
Shigure gave a small nod. "Alright. Then, Tsunade-sama, let's start by restoring order in Konoha."
Tsunade paused, then shook her head with a faint smile.
"This will be my final act as Hokage."
Shigure blinked. "What do you mean?"
Tsunade's gaze softened slightly.
"The First Hokage and the Fourth Hokage have both returned. Naruto and Kakashi have also grown into capable leaders. There's no longer any need for me to continue as the Fifth Hokage."
She stepped closer and lightly poked Shigure's forehead.
"Besides… wouldn't my little brother still need someone to look after him?"
Shigure froze for a moment.
It seemed the strange aftereffects from before had not completely disappeared.
Still, he simply smiled in response.
At that moment, a voice called from outside.
"Lord Mizukage! Lord Mizukage! Urgent report!"
Shigure's expression shifted instantly. He turned and stepped out.
"What is it?"
A Kirigakure ninja knelt before him, breathing slightly heavily. The urgency on his face made it clear this was no trivial matter.
"Speak."
"Lord Mizukage, we've received intelligence that Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure have each mobilized thousands of their most elite ninja."
"They are advancing rapidly toward Kirigakure…"
The messenger hesitated for a fraction of a second before finishing.
"It appears they intend to launch a joint attack on the Hidden Mist."