"It is not your father who wishes for this…"
"It is your mother."
"Kaguya Ōtsutsuki."
The voice came without warning.
Calm.
Ancient.
Carrying a weight that made the air itself feel heavier.
Hagoromo and Hamura turned immediately.
Standing quietly near the temple…
Was the Toad Sage.
No one had sensed when he arrived.
No footsteps.
No presence.
As if he had always been there, silently watching everything unfold.
"Kaguya Ōtsutsuki…"
The Toad Sage spoke slowly, his eyes deep and unreadable.
"She is not of this world."
"She came from the heavens."
"To her…"
"This world is nothing more than land to be claimed."
A faint wind passed through the sacred ground.
The branches of the Divine Tree swayed slightly.
"If she is not stopped…"
The Toad Sage continued,
"She will bring disaster to this world."
"And in the end…"
"She will destroy it."
Hagoromo frowned.
His expression grew serious, but doubt still remained.
"That's… too much."
His voice was steady, but firm.
"Yes, what she's doing is cruel."
"Yes, using people as sacrifices is wrong."
"But saying the world will be destroyed?"
He shook his head.
"That's an exaggeration."
---
After all…
Even now, the number of people sacrificed—
Was small compared to the total population.
Tragic, yes.
But not enough to threaten the entire world.
---
"I am not exaggerating."
The Toad Sage shook his head slowly.
"The Divine Tree… is the root of all calamity."
---
Those words landed heavily.
---
"It does not only consume human life."
"It also consumes something far more important."
---
He paused.
Then said—
---
"Natural Energy."
---
The brothers fell silent.
---
"The energy of the world itself."
"The force that sustains all life."
"It is being drained…"
"Little by little…"
"Until nothing remains."
---
The Toad Sage's gaze seemed distant.
As if he was looking far into the future.
---
"When that day comes…"
"This world…"
"Will become a wasteland."
---
Hagoromo's eyes narrowed.
For the first time—
He felt something shift inside him.
---
Then—
The Toad Sage stepped forward.
From his sleeve, he took out a small container.
Inside was a thick, strange liquid.
---
"This is toad oil."
"It allows you to sense Natural Energy."
"Use it… and see the truth yourself."
---
Hamura hesitated.
"Brother…"
His voice carried clear concern.
"We don't know him."
"This could be dangerous."
"If something goes wrong—"
---
"I trust him."
---
Hagoromo spoke before he could finish.
---
He didn't know why.
But looking at the Toad Sage—
He felt no deception.
No malice.
Only truth.
---
Without hesitation—
He took the oil.
And applied it to his arm.
---
The moment it touched his skin—
Something changed.
---
"Hiss—!"
A sharp sensation spread instantly.
Not pain…
But something intense.
Something overwhelming.
---
"Brother!"
Hamura stepped forward immediately.
His Byakugan activated at once.
A pale glow filled his eyes as he carefully observed Hagoromo.
---
What he saw—
Made his heart skip.
---
Hagoromo's arm…
Was slowly turning to stone.
---
"Stop! This isn't safe—!"
---
"It's fine."
Hagoromo raised his hand, stopping him.
His voice remained calm.
"Don't worry."
---
Then—
His expression changed.
---
His eyes widened slightly.
Filled with realization.
---
"So this… is Natural Energy…"
---
He could feel it.
Everywhere.
Flowing through the air.
Through the earth.
Through every part of the world.
---
And instinctively—
He moved.
---
His chakra surged.
But this time—
It was different.
---
It blended.
Merged.
Combined with the Natural Energy around him.
---
"Take this!"
---
He struck forward.
---
BOOM—!!!
---
The ground trembled violently.
A massive force exploded outward.
In the distance—
A hill was pierced through instantly.
Shattered.
Reduced to nothing.
---
Silence followed.
---
Hamura stood frozen.
Shock filled his eyes.
Even the Toad Sage looked slightly surprised.
"Impressive…"
He murmured.
"As expected… the child of Kaguya."
"Such power…"
"And such natural talent."
---
But Hagoromo said nothing.
---
He turned slowly.
And looked at the Divine Tree.
---
This time—
He wasn't just seeing it.
---
He was feeling it.
---
Even with limited control…
The toad oil allowed him to sense everything clearly.
---
And what he felt—
Made his heart sink.
---
"…It's true."
---
The Divine Tree…
Was not just consuming life.
"It's devouring Natural Energy as well…"
A constant pull.
Relentless.
Endless.
---
And inside it—
Was a terrifying amount of energy.
---
A vast accumulation.
Built over time.
---
All for one purpose—
"The fruit…"
Hagoromo whispered.
The Divine Tree was gathering everything.
Preparing.
Waiting.
And if this continued—
"The entire world… will be drained dry."
Hagoromo slowly closed his eyes.
Then opened them again.
"What happens…"
"If all Natural Energy disappears?"
The Toad Sage answered without hesitation.
"Then…"
"The world will collapse."
His voice was heavy.
Certain.
"Natural Energy is the foundation of existence."
"It is created as the world functions."
"The stronger the world…"
"The more energy it produces."
"But if it is all taken—"
"Everything will begin to break down."
"The land will wither."
"Disasters will spread."
"Balance will be lost."
"And in the end…"
"The world will destroy itself."
Those words echoed deeply.
Hagoromo and Hamura stood in silence.
Their hearts felt heavy.
Their thoughts… shaken.
This was no longer just cruelty.
This was destruction.
"Then…"
Hamura finally spoke.
His voice low.
"Why would Father allow this?"
"If the Divine Tree is this dangerous…"
"Why doesn't he stop it?"
That question lingered in the air.
Because the truth it pointed to—
Was far more terrifying than anything else.
--------------------------------
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