The Shinobi World.
High in the night sky.
Two members of the Otsutsuki clan, clad in flowing robes, floated silently in the air as they gazed down in surprise at the brightly lit world below.
One was tall and powerfully built, his entire body exuding raw strength.
The other was short and slender, carrying an almost delicate, feminine air.
If Yuzuru had seen them, he would have recognized them at a glance.
Otsutsuki Momoshiki and Otsutsuki Kinshiki.
After watching for a while, Kinshiki said in a deep voice, "Momoshiki-sama, I never expected this planet to be so prosperous. It is truly incredible."
On their journey from the Otsutsuki homeworld, they had passed through countless planets.
Whether they were dead worlds or planets inhabited by lifeforms, most remained in a primitive state, barely beyond eating raw meat and drinking blood. Even the few that had developed civilizations were only marginally more intelligent than beasts.
Yet this planet before them had nearly reached the level of the Otsutsuki homeworld.
Hearing Kinshiki's remark, Momoshiki nodded.
"Indeed. It is surprising that these lowly races of the universe could develop to such an extent."
"But with creatures like them..."
"Do they even deserve it?"
Momoshiki sneered, his voice thick with contempt.
"No matter how hard they struggle, they are nothing more than nourishment for our growth."
"Once I absorb the immense life energy on this planet, I may be able to advance to the level of Kekkei Mōra."
"This is a gift prepared for us by the heavens. Hahahahaha!"
Hearing Momoshiki's crazed laughter, Kinshiki replied in a muffled voice, "Momoshiki-sama, I believe we should investigate first."
"After all, this is the place where both Otsutsuki Isshiki and Otsutsuki Kaguya vanished without a trace. We should proceed carefully."
Isshiki and Kaguya had each been among the finest of the main and branch families of the Otsutsuki clan. Both were considerably stronger than Momoshiki and Kinshiki.
For such a pair to disappear mysteriously on this planet, they could not afford to be careless.
Momoshiki merely snorted.
"Isshiki and Kaguya were nothing more than two lucky pieces of trash."
"If I had possessed the resources of their planet, how could they possibly have surpassed me?"
Kinshiki smiled and nodded at those words.
"Momoshiki-sama is right. However, I have sensed several related marks. They should be traces left behind by those two."
"We should take a look first."
Momoshiki considered it briefly, then said nothing more. He simply sat atop Kinshiki's broad shoulders.
"Then let's go."
"Yes."
As soon as the words fell, the two transformed into a streak of light and vanished beyond the horizon.
The southernmost region of the Shinobi World.
The Great Medley Strait.
Momoshiki and Kinshiki descended from the sky.
"This is the final altar."
Kinshiki stepped onto the altar, scanning the area as he began deciphering the Otsutsuki writing carved into the walls.
Before long, however, his expression darkened.
"It is the same as the previous altars. They all record the same matter."
Momoshiki sneered.
"That woman Kaguya certainly had some nerve. She actually dared to betray the Otsutsuki clan!"
Over the past few days, they had traveled across the Shinobi World and inspected every site that bore the Otsutsuki clan's marks.
The records detailed everything that had occurred after Isshiki and Kaguya arrived in the Shinobi World.
They included Kaguya's ambush on Isshiki, her decision to consume the Divine Tree's fruit alone, and her cultivation of "weapons" in preparation to resist the Otsutsuki clan.
The records continued until Kaguya was sealed away by her two sons. One son settled on the moon, while the other grew old and died. Then the account abruptly ended.
After reviewing the contents on the stone wall once more, Momoshiki let out a mocking laugh.
"That idiot Kaguya was actually sealed by her own two children."
"Those two children were fools as well. Instead of using the Ten-Tails to pursue immortality, they chose to divide it apart and scatter the power of chakra among these lowly native inhabitants of the Shinobi World..."
"Hmph! What a disgrace to the Otsutsuki clan."
The more Momoshiki spoke, the angrier he became.
He had wondered how a planet could develop to a level comparable to the Otsutsuki homeworld.
So this was what had happened.
Kinshiki stood awkwardly at the side without saying a word.
After all, Kaguya, a lower-ranked member, had attacked Isshiki, a superior-ranked member.
As someone who was also lower-ranked, Kinshiki naturally dared not speak carelessly.
"We've finally found you."
"Hey! You two are members of the Otsutsuki clan, right?"
Two voices came from behind them.
Momoshiki and Kinshiki both turned around.
Two men who looked somewhat alike, yet possessed completely different temperaments, were walking slowly toward them from the distance.
Momoshiki frowned.
"Who are you?"
The two exchanged a glance and smiled at the same time.
"Uchiha Sasuke."
"Uchiha Naruto."
Ever since advancing to the Six Paths level, Sasuke and Naruto had been investigating the altars left behind by Kaguya.
The moment Momoshiki and Kinshiki began examining the altars, they had already noticed them.
However, they had also been curious about what the altars recorded, so they allowed the pair to investigate every altar first.
The result, though, left them deeply disappointed.
Their father had already told them everything recorded on those altars.
"Uchiha..."
"Native inhabitants of the Shinobi World who inherited the Sage of Six Paths' power?"
Kinshiki raised a brow as he looked at Sasuke and Naruto's Rinnegan.
Momoshiki, however, wore a look of utter disdain.
"Judging from your tone, you came here specifically to find us?"
Naruto laughed loudly before saying in a grave voice, "Of course. We've been waiting for you two for a very, very long time. At last, we can finally make a name for ourselves."
Sasuke said coldly, "Defeating you will ensure that Brother's efforts were not wasted!"
Sasuke and Naruto were indeed powerful, but the Shinobi World had remained peaceful for far too long. They had never been able to shake off the label of "Emperor's Sons."
After waiting painfully for so long, they had finally received an opportunity to establish their achievements.
As long as they defeated Momoshiki and Kinshiki, their prestige would undoubtedly rise dramatically.
However, upon hearing their words, Momoshiki could not help but burst into laughter.
"You two lowly ants actually want to hunt the noble Otsutsuki clan?"
"Interesting. How truly interesting."