The truth was simple and terrible. Ōtsutsuki Kaguya truly was turning people into White Zetsu, creating an army to wage war against her own clan. She remained silent, hiding the truth even from her sons.
If not for the Great Toad Sage's cunning intervention, history might have taken a different course. Driven by compassion, the Ōtsutsuki brothers would certainly have demanded an explanation from their mother. Having learned the truth, they might not only have ceased fighting, but even sided with her.
However, guided by the sage of Mount Myōboku, Hagoromo and Hamura never understood their mother's true motives. They acted blindly and recklessly sealed away the one who tried to protect them.
This is why the life of the Great Toad Sage was so crucial. One misguided advice, one oversight, and the fate of the world could have been ruined. What if somewhere in the wilderness, a hero capable of defeating Uchiha Yue was already growing up, but without the Sage's guidance, he would fade into obscurity? Such a mistake would be fatal.
"Old man, we are here."
At that moment, Fukasaku and Shima arrived at the Sage's side on the back of one of the giant toads.
Returning to Mount Myōboku, they remained unconscious for a long time. The battle in the Kingdom of Dead Silence had nearly cost them their lives, exhausting their bodies to the point of exhaustion. To save Jiraiya and themselves, they had squeezed every ounce of energy out of themselves, completely exhausting themselves. Had they lingered a moment longer, when not a shred of chakra remained in their bodies, they would have suffered the same fate as the fallen. They would have shared the fate of Kakashi from another timeline, burning to ashes from utter exhaustion.
Even canceling the Summoning Technique requires chakra, and they had none—every glimmer of energy was instantly devoured by the ominous jutsu. Otherwise, faced with mortal danger, they would have long ago broken the summoning and fled to Mount Myōboku, rather than collapse into a coma as soon as the technique ran out. Even the powerful chakra of senjutsu couldn't heal them instantly.
Only now did they regain consciousness, with difficulty.
They were lucky to survive—several Konoha shinobi sacrificed themselves to pull them out of the deadly trap. Without this sacrifice, they would have perished along with Jiraiya.
The Great Sage of Toads glanced at the exhausted Fukasaku and Shima and gave the order: convene a meeting of the Three Sacred Lands. Messengers immediately departed for Ryūchi Cave and Shikkotsu Forest.
What had happened was too serious. The Sacred Lands could no longer remain uninvolved. They had to join forces to find a way to confront Uchiha Yue, the living embodiment of disaster.
Soon, the White Snake Sage and Katsuyu appeared at the temple on Mount Myōboku.
"Old schemer, what is it this time?" the White Snake hissed, blowing a smoke ring from her pipe. "Have you finally decided to go to your ancestors and ask me to look after your big-headed offspring? Heh-heh!"
"Greetings, Great Sage of Toads," Katsuyu bowed politely, contrasting with the venomous politeness of her companion.
"No, it's far worse," the old toad's voice was dull and alarming. "The world is on the brink of destruction. A calamity unparalleled is coming. I've seen... I've seen a future filled with despair and dead silence. A future without a glimmer of hope!"
"What? Again?" the White Snake froze. The pipe fell from her mouth, and her voice was filled with disbelief. "Has Kaguya really been resurrected?"
The last time she heard such a prophecy was an eternity ago. And here it was again. She knew the old toad wouldn't sound the alarm in vain. Sages who had attained the heights of senjutsu mastery possessed unique abilities. The three of them had once given Otsutsuki Kaguya herself a most unpleasant surprise.
The White Snake closed her eyes, tuning into the echoes of events in the outside world.
The greatest shock of recent times was undoubtedly the destruction of the Uchiha clan and the near-total collapse of Konoha. And behind it all stood one man—Uchiha Yue. A peerless master, seemingly out of nowhere.
Ah, so that's it... The noise from Konoha. The foolish and greedy Danzo provoked the demon, and it revealed its monstrous power. Eyes rumored to rival Madara's legendary Mangekyō...
He didn't just defeat Danzo—he humiliated him. Even Sarutobi Hiruzen, Konoha's illustrious leader, fell at his hand. The village survived only because its cowardly defenders managed to flee.
Such was Uchiha Yue. A warrior who single-handedly crushed an entire hidden village. Power comparable to that once displayed by Madara... the very same one who nearly burned the world to the ground before the God of Shinobi cut him off.
What now? the Snake thought venomously. "Put the God of Shinobi back together so he can beat up another arrogant Uchiha again?"
She opened her eyes.
"Old toad, so you call this... boy a universal catastrophe?" Her forked tongue flickered through the air. "A mere man... is he ten thousand times more powerful than Kaguya?"
She stared coldly at the Sage.
"It seems you're not just old, you've become senile. Your vaunted prophecies are nothing more than senile ravings, and your eyes have gone blind!"
Just...