"To think… that the one who understands me would be a descendant a thousand years later."
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's gaze softened as she looked at Satsuki. Whether such understanding came late or not, for someone who had only just been resurrected, it was an indulgence far beyond expectation.
Though Kaguya's mind had matured over the centuries, she was still a mother at heart. When it came to cold calculation, she was not even a tenth as ruthless as Satsuki had been upon her first descent into the shinobi world.
Back then, Satsuki had been perfectly capable of harvesting both ninja and ordinary people alike for her forbidden research—all without so much as a flicker of hesitation.
However, while Satsuki could understand Kaguya's intentions, she found the execution of her plan far too crude.
Leaving aside her failure to control the movements of the sages, even at the level of personality, to expose such obvious weaknesses as Hagoromo and Hamura was something Satsuki would never have allowed herself to do.
For Satsuki, leaving any exploitable "weakness" was unacceptable.
Yet, it was precisely because she understood weakness so thoroughly that she could also use it.
What Kaguya lacked was that same comprehension—especially when such understanding came from one of her descendants.
Fortunately, Satsuki was not like the treacherous progenitors of old. Her only demand from Kaguya was the main family's starfield coordinates. Otherwise, with a few more words, this naive, pure-hearted Kaguya might have already been deceived once again.
"It is precisely because I understand that I also know where the greatest danger lies in that world," Satsuki said coolly. "But passive defense can never resolve the root problem. I've spent a long time gathering strength, and now that the time has come, I must act."
Hearing Satsuki's words, Kaguya sighed softly and slowly floated back to rest upon the Zero position of the Gedo Statue.
"My descendant… Though you've gathered many powerful beings here, it still won't be enough to challenge the Ōtsutsuki main family."
She gestured toward the Three Kings. "Aside from those three and yourself, none of the others would stand much of a chance against even the upper echelons of the main house. As for the full extent of their power… even I do not know."
"Which is exactly why we need information," Satsuki said as she returned to her Jewel position. "It's been over a thousand years since the last Ōtsutsuki incursion. We cannot view them with outdated eyes. Whether the main family has grown stronger or weaker, we must understand them."
"…It seems your resolve is set." Kaguya looked at Satsuki with the tender gaze of a mother watching her child come of age. She could see that her descendant had made up her mind to defy the main family. "Very well. Then I shall transmit the Ōtsutsuki starfield coordinates to you."
With that, Kaguya closed her eyes. The Rinne Sharingan upon her forehead focused upon Satsuki, and instantly, an immense torrent of information surged through their energy link, flowing into Satsuki's eyes.
Within her sea of consciousness, a vast star map appeared.
It was inscribed with an immense array of data—marking regions that had once been invaded and plundered, with the final destination being the very planet where the shinobi world resided.
Beyond that, the Ōtsutsuki domain was represented by a sweeping expanse of red that blanketed nearly half a nebula. Though much of it comprised dead stars or colonies in the process of consumption and transformation, the main family's homeworld had been distinctly marked.
Even though the data was nearly a thousand years out of date, and no doubt subject to the distortions of time, it was still sufficient to provide Satsuki with valuable strategic reference.
"Thank you."
Kaguya's willingness to so readily share the main family's star map pushed Satsuki's plan significantly forward.
Yet much remained to be done—and would take time.
For instance, one of her long-term objectives: the creation of the Sky Fox Division within the future Hyūga Clan, which would serve as the core combat unit against the Ōtsutsuki main family.
After all, to challenge an interstellar civilization, both quality and quantity were indispensable.
Once, Satsuki had envisioned using puppets as low-tier forces, the Hyūga's Sky Fox Mode as the main combat unit, and herself and the other leaders as the apex of power.
But now, the plan had room for improvement.
After all, she had recently obtained a wealth of new information and witnessed many new powers—resources that could now be seamlessly integrated into her existing system.
—Particularly the Rinnegan data provided by Satsuki.
This power was not only one of her current trump cards but also the greatest weapon of the Ōtsutsuki main family.
The Rinnegan, standard among the main family's members, was a common trait—many possessed more than one pair. Its abilities were diverse and unpredictable, and its mastery over chakra-based ninjutsu made it almost insurmountable in direct combat.
Thus, from the very beginning, Satsuki had made one principle clear: her army's training would prioritize taijutsu and senjutsu. Genjutsu would be mitigated through the power of jinchūriki techniques or sage modes, while ninjutsu would only be studied to a basic degree. Advancement would come through the study of Yin-Yang Senpō and Eight Gates Taijutsu. Even the development of standard combatants and expendable units had to become part of her larger agenda.
Moreover, if in-depth research on the Rinnegan could be achieved—even if human adaptability prevented universal replication—it would still provide invaluable data for future warfare.
...
For someone of Satsuki's intellect, these thoughts aligned instantly. Within moments, she had already issued new directives through the massive Tenseigan.
Once her tasks were complete, Satsuki officially declared the current operation concluded—the first assembly of the Lunar Palace had ended.
The consciousness projections of Ranzuki, Sakutsuki, Suzuki Kaguya, and Tenjin Hyūga dispersed, releasing their jutsu and fading from the chamber.
Only the Three Kings, Satsuki, Ruri, and Kaguya remained.
Soon after, the Three Kings departed to resume their assigned duties, while Ruri returned to the yōki vortex to continue deciphering the secrets of Tamamo-no-Mae's tails.
"What do you intend to do with my Ten-Tails?" Kaguya asked, her gaze turning toward the God Tree. "To make it bear fruit again, the energy of this planet is far from sufficient."
With her Rinne Sharingan, Kaguya's sight could pierce through the heavens. She had already discerned that this was not the same planet as before—nor the moon where her two sons had sealed her.
"I'm not lacking in combat power for now," Satsuki replied calmly. "Leaving it as it is will suffice."
The Ten-Tails God Tree, under Kaguya's reawakening, had begun to recover its strength. Yet since the moon held no vital energy to feed upon, the creature remained dormant. Apart from its nine eerie, ever-turning eyes, it sat unmoving—like a colossal stone giant, frozen in silence.
"Let it remain here for the time being," Satsuki continued. "Also, now that you've been resurrected, Ancestor—what do you plan to do next?"
Kaguya fell silent for a long moment before turning her gaze toward the distant blue planet beyond the lunar horizon.
"…Perhaps," she said softly, "I'll go there first—to take a little walk."
...
When Satsuki accompanied Kaguya from the Lunar Palace back to Earth, Kaguya had already altered her appearance using illusion techniques.
The horns atop her head had vanished, and the Rinne Sharingan on her forehead was concealed by the illusion, unseen by others. Aside from a few subtle adjustments, her overall appearance hadn't changed too drastically.
Satsuki's original appearance closely resembled that of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, yet when the two now stood side by side, the differences were evident. Kaguya possessed crimson lips, delicate brow markings, and flowing white hair. In contrast, Satsuki—bearing partial human lineage—had a warmer skin tone, normal slender brows, and black hair.
After descending to Earth, the white-haired Kaguya hovered three feet above the ground, her Byakugan scanning the surrounding landscape.
From within her sleeve, Zetsu peeked out and muttered, "This world… it looks quite similar to that one. It holds abundant natural energy—an excellent environment for cultivating a God Tree."
"Unfortunately," Satsuki replied coolly from the side, "this planet has already been claimed by me. Ancestor, you may need to find another plantation."
But Kaguya merely shook her head. "I have already betrayed the Ōtsutsuki clan. Cultivating another Ten-Tails is no longer my duty. For now, I simply wish to wander this world in peace."
"I see. If that is your will, Mother," Zetsu responded obediently. Though in the shinobi world he was a master manipulator, he had never once defied his mother's wishes. Hearing her words, he quietly retreated into the folds of her sleeve—perhaps content simply to remain by her side once more.
"In that case," Satsuki said softly, "let us wander as we please."
...
Meanwhile, as Satsuki and Kaguya descended to Earth—
In the western lands, the gravely wounded Sesshōmaru slowly regained consciousness.
His condition was worse than ever before. His armor was shattered, his kimono torn to ribbons, and his once-luxurious fur pelt was ragged and matted with dirt and ash—its snowy sheen dulled beyond recognition.
Sesshōmaru tried to gather his strength to rise, but even that simple motion proved impossible; half his body had lost all sensation.
Were he human, such wounds would have been fatal. Fortunately, though Sesshōmaru possessed beauty enough to rival mortals, his essence was still that of a powerful demon. With a few days of rest, he would recover.
However, during those few days, he would be at his weakest—and almost completely defenseless.
"Lord Sesshōmaru… Lord Sesshōmaru…"
Through the haze of his fading consciousness, Sesshōmaru heard a familiar yet irritating voice echo near his ear. Instinctively, his self-defense reflexes flared.
"Rrrghhhh!"
A ferocious growl erupted from his throat as his golden eyes snapped open, glaring toward the source of the sound. Yet, pitifully, his display was so feeble that even a human child would not have been frightened.
"Ahhhh—!"
The approaching figure, however—not human but a small demon—was startled out of his wits.
A moment later, from the nearby thicket, a familiar, diminutive creature scrambled forth.
"L-Lord Sesshōmaru! You've finally awakened~! Waaahhhh!"
"Jaken…? Why are you soaking wet?" Sesshōmaru asked, frowning. He detested the feeling of dampness.
"D-don't worry about me, Lord Sesshōmaru! I—I brought you food and water!"
The moment before, he had been weeping. Now, Jaken sprang to action, scurrying to Sesshōmaru's side and setting down a pile of fruit and some hastily roasted fish.
As a river imp, his diet mainly consisted of such fare—so to find suitable food, he had clearly ventured into the river himself.
"Jaken…"
"Yes, Lord Sesshōmaru?"
"Go elsewhere and dry yourself."
"But… Lord Sesshōmaru, can you even eat properly in such a state? If eating causes your condition to worsen, that would be terrible. My life isn't worth much—getting a bit wet is nothing. Please don't endanger your recovery on my account."
Jaken's speech poured out like a torrent of loyalty and flattery, words so polished from practice they flowed effortlessly.
Sesshōmaru, however, was unmoved.
"…I told you to leave because I wish to recover properly."
"Eh? L-Lord Sesshōmaru, what did you say?"
At Jaken's feigned confusion, Sesshōmaru's face darkened dangerously.
"A-ah! Understood, understood! I'll go dry myself right away!"
Sensing impending doom, Jaken grabbed his Staff of Heads and scurried off to the other side of the clearing, putting several bushes between them. He then removed his little hat and garments.
"Staff of Heads!"
He used the staff to ignite a small campfire and began slowly drying his body and clothes.
"Achoo~!"
Rarely enough, Jaken actually sneezed while warming himself.
"How strange… How could I catch a cold? Could it be because I haven't gone swimming in so long?" he muttered to himself. Ever since becoming the leader of the kappa tribe, Jaken had no longer needed to hunt for food personally—such trivial tasks had long been delegated to his underlings. All he did was enjoy the fruits of their labor.
"Well, occasional exercise isn't bad after all~ Achoo!"
...
When he returned, fully dry, to Sesshōmaru's side, most of the food he had brought was already gone.
"Ah, such a shame… I missed witnessing Lord Sesshōmaru eating," Jaken thought regretfully.
"Jaken," Sesshōmaru said in his usual cool tone, "if I ever again smell strange odors coming from you, I will kill you."
"Eh~? There's a strange odor on me? How could that be?" Jaken's first reaction was not fear for his life, but puzzlement at how such a scent could cling to him.
Sesshōmaru turned his gaze elsewhere. Though he appeared calm, a deep unease churned within him.
During his battle with Ryūkotsusei, he had not held the advantage—in truth, he had been suppressed the entire time. Yet his opponent had chosen to withdraw voluntarily in the end. That alone set off alarm bells in Sesshōmaru's mind.
"Lunar Palace… What is your true purpose?" he thought grimly.
At that moment, a familiar scent drifted through the air—from somewhere high above.