Though Sarutobi Zan's face still retained the innocence of childhood, his eyes were astonishingly mature and composed.
He nodded firmly.
"Father, I'll remember."
"I, Sarutobi Zan, swear that I'll devote everything I have to restoring the Sarutobi Clan to its former glory!"
"And it won't end with avenging ourselves against that monster, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki."
"Anyone connected to her... anything associated with her... and everyone who inherits that evil power..."
"...will remain the eternal enemy of the Sarutobi Clan."
Hearing his son arrive at such a "profound" understanding, Sarutobi Hi felt both comforted and heartbroken.
He looked at the boy and asked,
"Then tell me, Zan... what do you intend to do? The road to vengeance is long and perilous."
There wasn't the slightest trace of childish excitement or anger on Zan's face.
Instead, he answered with a frightening calm.
"For now... we're too weak."
"So I'll serve at Lord Hagoromo's side like the most loyal and humble attendant."
"I'll earn his trust."
"I'll learn everything he knows."
"And I'll discover their weaknesses."
He paused, a cold intelligence flashing through his young eyes—one completely at odds with his age.
"Father, you once taught me that no one can stand forever atop the highest mountain."
"Not even gods."
"So I'll wait."
"I'll wait patiently."
"I'll wait until they reveal an opening."
"I'll wait until cracks appear between them."
"And then..."
"I'll wait for the opportunity that belongs to us."
Listening to words so far beyond his son's years—words filled with patience, calculation, and long-term planning—Sarutobi Hi found himself speechless.
He gazed into the boy's tranquil eyes.
Within them, he saw the Sarutobi Clan's true hope for the future.
Yet he also saw the chilling ruthlessness that only a cruel reality could force upon a child.
After a long silence, he let out a heavy sigh and pulled his son tightly into his embrace.
"Zan..."
"You've truly grown up."
"Entrusting the future of the Sarutobi Clan to you..."
"...allows me to rest easy."
Father and son embraced.
The scene slowly froze.
On the Heavenly Curtain, the Sarutobi Clan's cold and unwavering plan continued to unfold like the gears of a perfectly crafted machine, quietly turning within the shadows where no one noticed.
On the surface, everything appeared normal.
In fact, life seemed happier than ever.
Guided by Butterfly's deliberate efforts and Hagoromo's sincere feelings, their relationship grew steadily closer.
To Hagoromo, Butterfly had become the only light in an otherwise bleak world.
She alone understood him.
She alone brought warmth into his life.
She rekindled his faith in humanity...
...and in the possibility of mutual understanding.
The time they spent together became his greatest comfort amidst his mother's oppressive rule and the growing conflict between his ideals and reality.
Until one day...
Butterfly sought him out.
A complicated expression lingered on her face—one that blended deep attachment with quiet resolve.
She told Hagoromo that she needed to travel far away to visit an ailing relative.
She might not return for quite some time.
Although reluctant to see her leave, Hagoromo understood.
Holding her hands, he smiled with complete sincerity.
"Don't worry."
"Travel safely."
"I..."
"I'll be right here waiting for you."
Hearing his heartfelt promise, Butterfly's eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
But she quickly forced them back.
Looking at him, she gave the brightest smile he had ever seen—
A smile that seemed to wish this moment could last forever.
"I know you will, Lord Hagoromo."
Hagoromo couldn't help smiling as well.
His heart was filled only with anticipation for their reunion.
He had no idea that behind her smile...
...lay a carefully planned farewell.
Only a few days later...
Another routine sacrifice to the God Tree began.
The chosen victims lined up in numb silence as they walked toward the towering tree that devoured all life.
Among them stood one figure unlike the others.
Her eyes were unwavering.
She showed not the slightest fear of death.
Just before the pale light swallowed her consciousness...
Just before her body was drawn into the branches of the God Tree...
Butterfly's lips moved ever so slightly.
"...I'm sorry..."
"But..."
"...the clan comes first."
The next instant...
The white light consumed everything.
Butterfly disappeared.
Another silent cocoon hung suspended upon the God Tree.
Throughout the shinobi world, every viewer felt a chill crawl down their spine as they witnessed the ultimate sacrifice at the heart of the Sarutobi Clan's scheme.
"Butterfly..."
"She's truly terrifying."
A shinobi from Kumogakure inhaled sharply.
"No."
"The entire Sarutobi Clan is terrifying."
"For the sake of avenging their clan..."
"For the sake of driving a wedge between Kaguya and her son..."
"They were willing to sacrifice even their own daughter as a pawn."
"And not by forcing her."
"They raised her to willingly walk toward her own death."
"Just how deep does that hatred run?"
"And just how terrifying is their resolve?"
"As expected of the Sarutobi Clan..."
Someone muttered with mixed emotions.
"No wonder she's the 'founding ancestress' of Hiruzen Sarutobi."
"I can already picture what's about to happen."
"When Hagoromo learns that the woman he loves was consumed during his mother's sacrifice ritual..."
"...what will he think?"
"He'll assume Kaguya discovered their relationship."
"Or perhaps that she simply hated Butterfly and murdered her without mercy."
"The misunderstanding..."
"The rage..."
"The grief..."
"And all the resentment he'd long buried toward his mother's rule..."
"It'll all explode at once."
"Their relationship as mother and son is beyond saving."
Yet while everyone was convinced they were about to witness a divine conflict born from deception and misunderstanding...
Someone raised a far more practical question.
"Even so..."
A sensory-type Jōnin from Kirigakure frowned thoughtfully.
"There's one thing I don't understand."
"How exactly is Hagoromo supposed to fight Kaguya at this point?"
"With the strength he's shown so far?"
The question immediately sparked widespread discussion.
"Exactly."
"Hagoromo is far stronger than ordinary people right now..."
"But he's nowhere near the legendary Sage of Six Paths we know."
"He doesn't even possess the Rinnegan yet."
"Right."
"Maybe he'll awaken it because of some future event."
"But at this point, he clearly doesn't possess the power to shake the sky and split the earth."
"And even if he does awaken the Rinnegan..."
"He's only inherited part of Kaguya's power."
"The gap between them is still enormous."
"I don't think the Rinnegan alone would be enough."
"What if he and Hamura fight together?"
"But even the two brothers combined don't seem strong enough."
"Kaguya exists on an entirely different level."
"Unless..."
"Something happens that we don't know about."
"Or perhaps overwhelming grief and fury awaken his hidden potential."
"Or maybe..."
"...he gains another source of power."
The debate continued.
But nearly everyone arrived at the same conclusion.
Based solely on the strength Hagoromo had displayed so far...
Challenging Kaguya Ōtsutsuki head-on would be no different from an ant trying to topple a giant tree.
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