Hamura had never imagined that his brother's recent disappearance and solitary training concealed such an astonishing secret.
Nor could he fathom that the God Tree—the very symbol of their mother's power and the foundation of her rule—might actually be a predator upon the world itself, a source of its eventual destruction.
The revelations were simply too overwhelming.
His mind nearly stopped working.
Hagoromo saw every change in his brother's expression.
He knew the truth would be difficult to accept.
But he had no intention of stopping.
His expression became incomparably solemn. Leaning forward slightly, he fixed Hamura with an unwavering gaze and spoke with a voice that carried both desperate pleading and unshakable resolve.
"So, Hamura... my brother..."
"Now do you understand?"
"Our mother's path... and the path of the God Tree... will drag all of us—this entire world—into an abyss from which there is no return."
"We have to stop her."
"We must sever the God Tree."
His voice trembled with emotion.
"I need your help."
"Hamura... I need you to stand with me."
"Only if we fight together can we change all of this..."
"...and save the world."
Every word rang with conviction.
He spoke like a man bearing the weight of the world's salvation, placing complete trust in his younger brother.
Yet after a long silence...
Hamura neither passionately agreed nor questioned the details immediately.
Instead, he slowly raised his head.
His eyes met Hagoromo's.
The moment their gazes crossed, Hagoromo's heart tightened.
Because those eyes...
Felt frighteningly unfamiliar.
Gone was the warmth, trust, and admiration with which a younger brother normally looked upon his elder sibling.
Instead...
There was profound confusion.
Deep-rooted doubt.
And an unmistakable sense of distance.
It was as though the person sitting before him were not his own brother...
But a stranger telling an unbelievable story.
After a long pause, Hamura finally spoke.
His voice was dry, yet calm and perfectly clear.
"Brother..."
"Everything you've told me..."
"About the God Tree stealing this world's vitality..."
"About it bringing destruction..."
"All of that came from the creature called Gamamaru..."
"Didn't it?"
Hagoromo hesitated before nodding.
Hamura continued.
His gaze was as sharp as a blade.
"Then let me ask you something."
"You say the God Tree is destroying this world."
"You say it will ultimately bring about the world's end."
"So tell me..."
"Where is that destruction?"
"What tangible evidence do you have?"
"Other than the words—or perhaps the prophecy—of that toad..."
"What real, observable, verifiable proof is there that the God Tree's existence, and Mother's actions, will inevitably destroy this world?"
He looked out toward the distant landscape.
"The world still stands."
"The mountains, rivers, sun, moon, stars..."
"Every living thing is still here."
"The peace under Mother's rule..."
"Even if it's the kind of peace you despise..."
"It has endured for all these years."
He turned back to Hagoromo.
"So isn't it rather hasty..."
"...to conclude that the world is doomed..."
"...based solely on the claims of an unknown being from beyond this world?"
Hamura's questions struck like icy water.
In an instant, they extinguished the blazing certainty burning within Hagoromo's heart.
Hagoromo stared silently across the table.
Within his crimson Sharingan, Hamura's calm, unwavering face was reflected clearly.
The room fell silent.
Only the faint sound of the wind outside drifted through the window.
After what felt like an eternity, Hagoromo slowly shook his head.
His voice became low and bitter.
"Hamura..."
"I never thought..."
"When faced with something that concerns the fate of this world..."
"...the future of our mother..."
"...and the future of all of us..."
"You would..."
"...choose not to believe me."
"I do believe you, Brother!"
Hamura's voice suddenly rose.
The words escaped almost instinctively.
Then he paused.
His expression remained steadfast, carrying the same relentless rationality as before.
"I believe your feelings."
"I believe your judgment."
"And I believe you're sincerely worried about this world."
"But..."
"If you want me to stand completely at your side..."
"To help you do something that is no different from betraying our own mother..."
"...then you have to show me undeniable proof."
He looked directly into Hagoromo's eyes.
"We can't reject everything Mother has done..."
"Or take up arms against her..."
"...simply because a mysterious toad suddenly appeared and told us a story."
For a moment, Hagoromo found himself speechless.
His brother's logic—
"I trust you, but I need evidence."
It left him with no immediate response.
The frustration and disappointment he had been suppressing suddenly erupted.
He rose abruptly to his feet.
His voice grew noticeably louder.
"Evidence?"
"The God Tree itself is the greatest evidence!"
"Hamura!"
"Open your eyes!"
"Use your own senses!"
Pointing toward the immense silhouette of the God Tree visible beyond the window, Hagoromo spoke with growing intensity.
"Why has it grown so unimaginably enormous?"
"Why does it contain such terrifying, boundless power?"
"That cold..."
"Overwhelming..."
"Devouring presence..."
"I refuse to believe you can't feel it."
He clenched his fist.
"Do you really think a thing like that could exist without a price?"
"Do you think that kind of power appeared from nowhere?"
"It has to be consuming something."
"It has to be draining something."
"Isn't that the clearest evidence of destruction?"
"Hamura..."
"Why won't you acknowledge the truth that's right in front of you?"
His questions came one after another.
Each carried anger...
Frustration...
And genuine incomprehension at his brother's refusal to accept what seemed obvious.
But Hamura also stood.
His expression remained solemn.
His eyes were as clear as ever.
He showed no sign of being overwhelmed by Hagoromo's intensity.
Instead, his resolve only strengthened.
"Brother..."
"I can sense the God Tree's immense power."
"I admit that its existence defies all common sense."
"But what does that actually prove?"
He paused briefly.
"Perhaps Gamamaru was right about part of it."
"Perhaps the God Tree truly is drawing energy from this world."
"But..."
His voice remained perfectly calm.
"Does absorbing energy automatically mean destruction?"
"Does it inevitably lead to the world's ruin?"
"I'm not convinced that conclusion follows."
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