"They conduct periodic sacrifices, offering living people as victims. But maintaining their reign of terror is only part of the reason," Gamamaru continued. "The deeper purpose is to use the immense life force of those sacrifices as a catalyst—or as nourishment—to stimulate the God Tree into extracting the world's essence more efficiently. Perhaps... it also serves to delay a backlash or gradual exhaustion of the world's life force that Kaguya herself has sensed."
"The chakra you enjoy—that seemingly limitless source of power—is founded upon the plunder and conversion of this world's very life force. It is not a gift."
"It is an advance payment taken from the future."
Every word Gamamaru spoke branded itself into Hagoromo's soul—and into the hearts of everyone watching throughout the shinobi world.
For the first time, they realized that chakra...
The God Tree...
Kaguya's rule...
Even the entire shinobi system they relied upon...
All of it concealed a terrifying crisis that threatened the very existence of the world.
Hagoromo collapsed to the ground, his face utterly drained of color.
His dream of changing the world and saving its people had suddenly taken on a far heavier—and far more desperate—meaning.
The enemy he had to confront was no longer merely his mother's tyranny.
It was her relentless exploitation of the world itself—a process that could hasten the world's destruction.
To save the world...
It had never been an empty slogan.
A long time passed.
Even the roar of the waterfall seemed unable to drown out the turmoil raging within Hagoromo's heart.
Sitting upon the cold stone, pale as death, he struggled to process the horrifying truth Gamamaru had revealed about the world's eventual demise and the God Tree's true nature.
The burden of that truth was far greater than anything he had imagined.
This was no longer a family tragedy.
Nor was it merely a dispute over how the world should be ruled.
It concerned the survival of the entire planet.
Together, Kaguya and the God Tree were draining the world's life force like a ravenous parasite.
Yet after the overwhelming shock and fear...
A purer, stronger resolve began to take root within him, like the first shoot breaking through frozen earth.
Hagoromo suddenly raised his head.
The confusion and grief in his eyes had been replaced by burning determination.
Clenching his fists until his knuckles turned white, he spoke with a trembling voice that nevertheless carried unwavering conviction.
"I..."
"I have to stop Mother."
"No matter what happens..."
"I cannot allow her to destroy this world."
"This is our world."
"It is the home of countless living beings."
Turning toward Gamamaru, the scarlet Sharingan in his eyes shone with unwavering resolve.
"Gamamaru!"
"Please tell me."
"What must I do?"
"How can I obtain the power necessary to stop her..."
"And set all of this right?"
Seeing that Hagoromo had not been crushed beneath such an overwhelming revelation—but had instead strengthened his resolve and embraced the responsibility before him—Gamamaru's deep eyes finally revealed a trace of quiet approval.
He nodded slightly.
"Hagoromo."
"Now that you understand the gravity of the situation and have made your resolve..."
"That is one of the reasons fate chose you."
"Following fate's guidance, I shall pass on to you the two forms of power I have spent my entire life mastering."
"Two powers completely different from the God Tree's system."
Two forms of power.
Power capable of standing against the God Tree itself.
Gamamaru's words were like rain falling upon a land long parched by drought.
Hope returned to Hagoromo's heart.
His spirit was instantly renewed.
Straightening his back, he fixed an unwavering gaze upon Gamamaru, filled with greater focus and longing than ever before.
Without further delay, the tiny golden toad began to explain.
An even more mysterious aura seemed to radiate from his small body as he spoke the name of the first power.
"The first..."
"...is called Senjutsu."
"...Senjutsu?"
Hagoromo quietly repeated the unfamiliar word.
The name itself carried an extraordinary air, as though it belonged to a power that transcended the ordinary.
"Correct."
Gamamaru nodded, his voice carrying the solemn pride of one entrusted with an ancient tradition.
"I am able to speak the language of humans."
"I am known as the Great Toad Sage."
"And I can glimpse fragments of fate."
"All of this is because I practice Senjutsu."
He paused, allowing the concept to settle before continuing.
"Senjutsu is not a technique for plundering or converting external energy."
"It is the art of communicating with nature, guiding its power, living in harmony with it, and borrowing its strength."
"The world is filled with an invisible force known as Natural Energy."
"It is not like chakra, which possesses distinct spiritual and physical qualities."
"It is older."
"Vaster."
"And far more impartial."
"It is the fundamental force behind the wind and rain..."
"Lightning..."
"Mountains and rivers..."
"The flourishing and withering of all vegetation."
"It is the very breath..."
"And heartbeat..."
"Of this world."
Gamamaru's gaze grew distant.
"The first step in mastering Senjutsu is learning to perceive this omnipresent Natural Energy."
"You must communicate with it."
"Gradually bring your body and spirit into harmony with the rhythms of nature."
"When you can steadily draw in Natural Energy and maintain perfect balance with your own chakra, you will wield power far beyond that of ordinary people."
"Your sensory perception will increase dramatically."
"Your body's recovery will improve."
"And your affinity with the natural world itself will deepen."
He looked directly into Hagoromo's eyes.
"But more importantly..."
"The power of Senjutsu comes from the world itself—not from exploiting it."
"Using Senjutsu does not accelerate the world's decline."
"On the contrary, it resonates with nature and may even help preserve its balance."
"That..."
"...may be one of the greatest keys to opposing the God Tree's power, which is founded upon plunder."
Hagoromo listened with surging excitement.
At the same time, he could not help but feel how profound—and how difficult—this path sounded.
To perceive invisible Natural Energy...
To resonate with heaven and earth...
Compared with molding chakra, this seemed infinitely more abstract and challenging.
Yet that was precisely what drew him to it.
This was an entirely different path.
A path that existed in harmony with the world instead of exploiting it.
"...I understand."
Taking a deep breath to calm both his excitement and reverence, Hagoromo bowed deeply.
"Master Gamamaru..."
"Please teach me Senjutsu."
Gamamaru accepted the more respectful form of address with a satisfied nod.
"Teaching Senjutsu cannot be accomplished in a single day."
"First, you must find a place where Natural Energy is exceptionally abundant and stable enough for training."
"Second..."
"You must possess great patience."
"Exceptional aptitude."
"And the resolve to face failure..."
"...or even death."
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