"Enter the village."
At that command, Uchiha Gen let his Susanoo dissolve into shimmering fragments. Across from him, Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama exchanged a brief glance and dispelled their own constructs, the vast Susanoo and the towering True Several Thousand Hands fading into the wind.
Kyouki swooped in to catch Madara and Hashirama as they descended, while Gen drifted through the air toward the gates of Hidden Cloud Village.
Behind them, the six… no, the seven Tailed Beasts also released their forms, shrinking back into human shapes one after another.
As Gen and his group approached, the Fourth Raikage could only stare with a stiff, bitter expression.
"Lord Hokage, First Generation, Second Generation… and Uchiha Madara weren't already dead?"
Gen answered with practiced calm. "They died long ago, but Konoha possesses a technique that can bring them back whenever needed."
He lifted a brow. "Besides, without their help, do you think your village could've resisted?"
The Fourth Raikage shook his head with a strained grimace. They all knew the truth. Madara, Hashirama, and Tobirama were terrifying additions, but the true terror had been the Fifth Hokage himself, a man who had hidden the depth of his power far too well.
"And how does Lord Hokage plan to deal with our Hidden Cloud Village?"
"As long as your village behaves, I won't carry out any large purge." Gen's voice remained composed, almost conversational. "If you don't behave… don't blame me for being ruthless."
"We'll discuss the details once we're inside."
With that, Gen led the group into the village. Each step he took carried a quiet authority, and to the onlookers, he seemed more like the actual master of the land than any Raikage before them.
The Raikage and the villagers trailed behind. Their faces were pale, hollow, as though all spirit had been drained from them.
Gen ignored the uneasy stares from all corners of Hidden Cloud Village. He walked the streets with ease, guiding his people straight toward the Raikage Building. He had visited the village once before; even after several years, the layout remained clear in his memory.
Inside the Raikage Building, he gestured for the Fourth Raikage to lead the way to the main conference room.
Once they entered, Raikage's secretary Mabui brought in staff to serve tea. After everything was arranged, she began stepping back to leave.
"You don't need to leave," Gen said. "You'll record the meeting minutes for your side."
Mabui stiffened. Meeting Gen's gaze, she quickly lowered her eyes. "Yes."
Konoha's delegation settled on one side, while the people of Hidden Cloud sat together. Even Temari and Kankuro had been given seats.
Gen lifted his cup, about to begin, when something tugged faintly at his senses. His eyes drifted toward the southeast.
Hashirama noticed immediately. "What's wrong?"
Gen composed himself with a light shake of the head. "Nothing. Just looking. The meeting begins now."
But in the air southeast of the building, a translucent figure hovered.
Two horns, brown hair, a white coat with six magatama across the chest, a red spiral on the back, and nine magatama beneath it in a perfect grid.
The Sage of Six Paths, Otsutsuki Hagoromo, watched from above.
"This boy sensed me?"
"How could he?"
"Unless I reveal myself intentionally, no one but my brother should be able to notice my presence."
Hagoromo narrowed his eyes and extended a thread of perception into the conference room to test him.
Hashirama didn't notice.
Madara didn't notice.
Tobirama didn't notice.
Kurama and the other sharp-sensed individuals didn't notice.
No one reacted.
Gen continued speaking in a normal tone, showing no hint of awareness. Hagoromo relaxed slightly.
"It must've been coincidence…"
"Old man, stop playing around."
The voice echoed directly inside Hagoromo's mind. Not spoken aloud, but a pure mental transmission.
The Sage almost jolted. He steadied himself at the very last moment to avoid embarrassing himself floating there like a startled cat.
Suppressing his surprise, he asked, "You can actually perceive me?"
Below, Gen continued outlining his demands to the room, all while holding a casual conversation with the Sage.
"That's not difficult, is it?"
Hagoromo was silent for a moment.
This young man is insufferably bold. Let me take a closer look…
He extended his perception again. This time, Gen consciously opened himself to the scan.
A sharp hiss escaped Hagoromo's thoughts.
Such overwhelming force. His natural energy… endless, like an ocean. His spiritual power… glaring, brilliant, like the sun.
"Remarkable," Hagoromo murmured within his own mind.
"You've stepped off the path I created. You're walking an entirely new one."
Gen responded modestly. "I still rely on what you built. Your Chakra system and Senjutsu system helped me tremendously."
He added, "By the way, did Hamura-senpai not mention me to you?"
"You know Hamura?" Hagoromo asked, startled.
"My soul drifted into the Pure Land once by accident. During that time, I had the honor of meeting him."
"I see. I haven't returned to the Pure Land for quite a while."
Right… Hamura-senpai is probably holed up somewhere, too lazy to send a message.
Then again, for them, a few years might as well be an afternoon nap.
"Old man, what brings you here?"
"Don't worry," Hagoromo replied. "I don't intend to interfere with the shinobi world's current state. Even if my philosophy doesn't perfectly align with yours."
"I sensed a surge of Chakra and came out of curiosity."
The Sage's philosophy leaned naturally toward Ashura, but he didn't reject Indra's heirs exploring different ideas. If Gen brought peace, good. If not, then the world would keep searching.
He had always preferred to let the world run on its own. Personally handling things? Never.
That passive attitude had, unfortunately, also allowed a thousand years of conflict to bloom.
Hearing this, Gen let out a quiet breath of relief. Knowing the Sage's nature was one thing. Confirming it personally was another.
If Hagoromo chose to intervene, things would get complicated.
Gen wasn't afraid of Hagoromo's strength, but defeating him right now would be extremely difficult. And if Hagoromo summoned Otsutsuki Hamura, the situation would tilt heavily against Gen. Even the Hyuga and others might turn on him.
"Thank you, old man."
"Would you like to see Kurama and the others while you're here?"
"No," Hagoromo replied gently. "They've grown. They should walk their own paths."
"My only request is that you treat Kurama and the others well. Especially Kurama."
Gen resisted the urge to laugh. So Kurama really was the favorite child.
Well… that tracked.
It was more likely the Sage simply wanted Kurama to act as the leader among the nine Tailed Beasts. Since their Chakra was evenly split, no one had the natural advantage. Someone needed to guide the group.
"What request are you referring to?" Gen asked aloud.
"Hamura told you, didn't he? You carry the blood of my eldest son's lineage," Hagoromo said. "You're part of the Uchiha. Naturally, I hope you'll honor that."
Gen bowed his head slightly. "Old man, you're the ancestor of our clan. I'll follow your wishes."
Hagoromo was pleased. Strength hadn't made this young man arrogant. He remained respectful, steady.
If Indra had possessed even half this temperament, the world would've been a much different place.
"Good. Do what you think is right."
"If you have time, visit the Pure Land. I'll be returning there soon."
"It would be my honor."
"I'll take my leave," Hagoromo said.
"Old man, take care," Gen answered.
And with that, the Sage of Six Paths faded from the air like mist dissolving into sunlight.