Hikaru had only planted two seeds so far.
Both had come from Ōtsutsuki Urashiki.
As for this harvest, Hikaru honestly did not know whether he should be satisfied or disappointed.
He had spent months cultivating them on the moon, consuming a chunk of Urashiki's flesh and one of his eyes, only to end up with two seeds.
If their names had not sounded impressive, Hikaru might have been thoroughly disappointed.
Source Power.
Extreme Byakugan Power.
Just hearing those names gave Hikaru the sense that these things were extraordinary.
Although he still did not know what the so-called Source Power meant, Extreme Byakugan Power gave him some clues.
The eyes used by the Ōtsutsuki Clan had always been the Byakugan.
Their so-called Rinnegan was, in truth, something produced after consuming the fruit of the God Tree and undergoing mutation.
Urashiki's eye transformation had already proven that he had definitely consumed a fruit before.
Otherwise, he would never have possessed such power.
Now, the only thing Hikaru needed to care about was what exactly this "Extreme Byakugan Power" would give him.
Would it be the pure Byakugan power of the Ōtsutsuki?
Or would it be the mutated power Urashiki's eyes had gained after merging with the God Tree's fruit?
Of course, Hikaru desired both.
"Because no matter which kind of power it is, it will greatly improve my eyes.
"After all, I've already reached the final step of the second stage!"
Over the past five years, even without combat, Hikaru's Jōgan had continued to transform and adapt.
Naturally, this transformation and adaptation had been helped by his repeated visits to the moon to absorb chakra from the giant Tenseigan.
But no matter what, his body had already adapted to and resonated with his current eyes.
His body had also been strengthened even further.
In particular, with the help of the Truth-Seeking Balls, his Yin Release had finally entered the intermediate stage.
Intermediate Yin Release and intermediate Yang Release blended together, causing Hikaru's Yin–Yang Release to improve tremendously.
To put it bluntly, any technique Hikaru now used with Yin–Yang Release alone could rival the power he once achieved by combining Jōgan chakra, senjutsu, and Yin–Yang Release together.
If Hikaru now activated Jōgan Chakra Mode, its power would become even more terrifying.
After all, this was already the second stage of the Jōgan.
If compared to the Tenseigan's three fetal movements, Hikaru was only one final step away from pushing his eyes to their true limit.
Once he reached that limit, Hikaru could absolutely say that he no longer needed to worry too much about the Ōtsutsuki.
"Maybe by then, I'll already be an Ōtsutsuki myself."
The power of the Ōtsutsuki was absolutely enviable.
Others might not have many opportunities to reach that level, but Hikaru already possessed a trace of their bloodline.
After obtaining Yin Release, as his strength continued to rise, his system also helped reinforce and elevate his bloodline power.
However, over the past five years, Hikaru had gradually begun to sense a barrier from his bloodline.
He could vaguely feel where the ceiling of his power stood.
And this ceiling had been passively created because of his bloodline.
Hikaru could also sense that there were not many ways to break through this "ceiling."
It was unusually solid.
The simplest method was to merge with the ceiling itself and completely melt it away.
Once that happened, every problem would naturally be solved.
The other method was also simple.
Simple in operation, at least.
That was to use the most violent method possible and forcefully smash through the ceiling.
Once that happened, the road ahead would naturally be wide open.
But breaking through a ceiling so firm it inspired despair was easier said than done.
A wall built by bloodline was always the most suffocating thing.
Unless one could surpass the limits of bloodline through one's own power.
The shinobi world did have such a method.
That was to fuse all chakra natures and create one's own Kekkei Mōra.
Only this method could break all bloodline restraints without relying on an inherent bloodline.
Hikaru was already walking this path.
Unfortunately, he had not obtained anything else capable of fusing chakra.
"Forget it. No need to think about that.
"At least I have my own road.
"And if nothing else works, I can still take the Tailed Beast route, can't I?"
Hikaru gently shook his head.
He had always been fairly open-minded.
At worst, he could follow Obito's route and become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki.
He could forcefully rely on the Ten-Tails to ignore all bloodline limitations and directly raise his power level to a higher realm.
Of course, that was the last resort among last resorts.
Hikaru would never allow himself to stagnate.
He needed to keep moving forward.
"And that Source Power might be another opportunity.
"The Source Power of the Ōtsutsuki…
"Even if I don't know exactly what it means, it is still worth looking forward to."
The phrase Source Power carried a strange appeal.
Hikaru was no exception.
He had cultivated that thing for five full years.
He had poured enormous amounts of chakra into it, and even now, it was only a little over ninety percent complete.
Calling such progress slow was no longer enough.
In all his years as a shinobi, he had never encountered anything like this.
But his many years of planting experience told him that the longer something needed to be cultivated, and the more chakra it consumed, the higher the quality of the final result would likely be.
Especially when the thing he sought exceeded his current level of strength.
In that case, the time it required would increase dramatically.
Whether it was the Byakugan Power or this Source Power, both had consumed five years of Hikaru's time.
How could Hikaru not look forward to powers that were about to mature, powers that might bring him a massive improvement?
"And with these five years passing, my unique mission has already reached ninety-seven percent.
"Maybe it won't be long before I complete it!"
This unique mission had followed Hikaru ever since he received the system.
Although the system had clearly stated there would be no penalty even if he did not complete it, Hikaru still hoped to finish it.
He did not know what the reward would be.
But it was still worth anticipating.
After all, this was the only unique mission the system had given him.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Hikaru's brows furrowed slightly.
His gaze turned toward the distance of its own accord.
…
While Hikaru quietly waited for his seeds to mature and for his unique mission to complete, a man dressed as a monk silently examined everything on Konoha's outskirts.
Konoha's outskirts no longer looked like the hellish wasteland they had become years ago.
With the help of craftsman shinobi from various countries, everything here had recovered quickly.
However, because the battle between Hikaru and Ōtsutsuki Urashiki had been too intense, the terrain surrounding Konoha had been permanently altered.
To avoid the bottomless chasms and river valleys that had been carved open by force, the roads around Konoha had completely changed.
And with the joint efforts of Hikaru, Senju Hashirama, and Yamato, who was hidden inside ANBU, forests had been planted using Wood Release.
Now, the environment around this place was exceptionally beautiful.
Even the ravines and river valleys that had been forcibly created had become tourist attractions.
Most amusingly, someone had once suggested to Hikaru that one of the canyon walls should be carved into a statue of him, so the world would remember him more clearly.
That suggestion had genuinely tempted Hikaru.
But in the end, he rejected it.
It felt far too embarrassing.
Even after so much time had passed, even after everything here had changed, the aura left behind from Hikaru and Urashiki's battle still lingered.
That aura was extremely terrifying.
Back then, it had greatly affected the construction shinobi working here.
Now, it had mostly dissipated and no longer affected ordinary people.
However, there were still people who could sense it.
For example, shinobi with exceptionally sharp sensory abilities.
Or the man dressed as a monk standing here now.
This monk-like man had a strange appearance.
His face bore peculiar markings, and his eyes looked complicated and eerie.
After a long while, he sighed faintly.
Then his gaze turned toward Konoha in the distance.
"It is indeed the aura of an Ōtsutsuki.
"And the one who fought him also used the power of an Ōtsutsuki.
"It is also the same person whose power was sensed years ago.
"Could the owner of this power be Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, who quietly escaped from her seal?"
At the mention of that woman, the monk's expression became subtle.
A twisted expression and a calm one intertwined across his face.
Only after a long while did he return to normal, and a thoughtful look appeared on his tattooed face.
Years ago, he had sensed an unimaginable eruption of power from a distant place.
That incident had terrified him.
Or rather, it had terrified the terrifying existence inside him, the one constantly changing his personality.
At that time, they had sensed that the owners of those powers were very likely Ōtsutsuki.
However, they had been too weak back then.
Even if they had noticed something, they had not dared do anything.
Waiting silently.
Recovering quietly.
That was all they could do.
After more than five years, he had changed enough.
Although he knew very well that the more he changed, the less he resembled himself.
His consciousness had gradually become alienated.
His body had also become increasingly damaged, all to adapt to the power of the being inside him.
But through such impatient reconstruction, he had finally gained some room to move.
He knew his condition had already deteriorated to an unimaginable degree.
Yet he had no ability to resist.
All he could do was silently endure everything.
In truth, perhaps death would be a true release for him.
After five years and some recovery of strength, they had begun searching for traces of that eruption.
Following the direction of the power, they had arrived here.
Naturally, they knew this was the territory of the Land of Fire.
More specifically, this was Konoha's territory.
Although this place no longer showed the full appearance of that terrifying battle, he had lived for a thousand years and had been to the Land of Fire countless times.
So he immediately recognized the changes here.
He also immediately understood what kind of terrifying battle had occurred here.
To transform the terrain into this state was already unimaginable.
And even more terrifying was that such hellish destruction had not touched Konoha itself.
It was as if Konoha had been separated by an invisible wall.
No matter how terrifying the power was, it had failed to truly break through that place.
"Looks like it really should be him."
The monk muttered silently.
Finally, he sighed faintly.
He suspected that one of the people who had unleashed that unimaginable power was Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
However, he was still uncertain who the vessel Kaguya was currently using might be.
This visit had another purpose.
To confirm exactly who that vessel was.
He knew Ōtsutsuki Kaguya had been sealed by her own sons.
After all, he had lived in this world for over a thousand years.
Many things others had forgotten, he had not.
The longer one lived, the more one naturally knew.
Even if he did not wish to live this long, he truly had no choice.
Actually, while traveling here, he had already heard more than enough intelligence about the Fifth Hokage.
He knew how exaggerated this Hokage had become.
He also knew how unbelievable this Hokage's power was.
However, he and the person inside him had only been suspicious.
They had not thought of this Hokage as one of the two combatants.
Senju Hashirama was someone he knew of as well.
In their initial view, this new Hokage from the Senju Clan was probably just another Senju Hashirama.
But now it seemed that the situation was completely different.
This boy might not be a simple "new Senju Hashirama."
He might very well be "Ōtsutsuki Kaguya."
"It should be him.
"You really hid yourself well, you wretch."
At that moment, the monk's condition changed slightly.
He suddenly seemed even more arrogant and cold.
And within his emotions, there was endless hatred.
"Still, now is not the time to alert the enemy.
"If it were only this one person, that would be manageable.
"But charging into his territory and fighting so many so-called shinobi would be too much for Jigen's body to bear.
"However, I have seized the initiative this time.
"At least I have identified your vessel.
"Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, we can properly settle our old grudge in the future!"
…
Jigen's current state clearly showed that the being inside his body had surfaced.
If Hikaru were here, he would certainly be stunned to discover that an Ōtsutsuki was hidden inside this man.
Of course, he would only be stunned.
After all, Hikaru had already come into contact with so many Ōtsutsuki that discovering another half-dead one would not truly shock him.
Besides, Hikaru already knew of the existence of Karma, and he had made guesses about its purpose.
So if Hikaru saw this man, he might even be happier.
Because it would prove that his guess was completely correct.
Jigen did not act impulsively.
After understanding and confirming certain things, he chose to leave.
He needed to make a more detailed plan.
After all, the person he wanted to deal with was by no means simple.
He truly did not have enough confidence to handle him easily.
In the end, this person had even killed an outsider Ōtsutsuki.
His current self could not even display half of his full strength.
If he went to cause trouble now, the final outcome would most likely be death.
He was not that foolish.
Naturally, he would not do something so foolish.
And to prevent his movements from being noticed by Konoha shinobi, he did not even intend to remain in the Land of Fire.
Even if he stayed here, he would choose a more remote and quieter place.
Ōtsutsuki had strong mutual sensitivity toward one another.
Their characteristics were also far too obvious.
Once he was discovered, the trouble would definitely be serious.
If that person were someone like Senju Hashirama, perhaps he would risk his life to protect the village.
But if he was Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's vessel, then things would definitely not be that way.
"Although this person protected the village, that time should have been when something Kaguya left inside him erupted.
"It gave him the strength to defeat the enemy and protect the village at the same time.
"But Ōtsutsuki power is not something so easily obtained.
"To gain such power means opening a gap.
"These powers will devour his heart and erase his will.
"The fact that this person erupted with Ōtsutsuki power already explains everything.
"Kaguya's will has probably already descended.
"He is truly respectable… and pitiful."
Jigen walked while muttering silently in his heart.
At this point, he had become increasingly close to the Ōtsutsuki inside him.
In the past, that being could control his body, but it required forceful methods.
Now, however, that being could easily exchange wills with him and take control of his body.
Strangely, his former self had been filled with fear and disgust.
He had hated that being for seizing his body.
But now, he had already been "assimilated."
He no longer cared about this happening.
He no longer cared about what that being did.
This was terrifying.
It was strange enough to make him uneasy, yet he would not resist it at all.
He knew this was likely the effect of that so-called Karma.
His current self was not exactly "Isshiki," but he had basically been assimilated into "Isshiki."
"Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
"The Ōtsutsuki Clan…
"They truly are terrifying beyond measure."
The strength of the Ōtsutsuki Clan had already been deeply carved into his soul.
Even if one of them died, they still had a way to revive themselves.
Karma was the best proof.
He himself was also the best proof of Karma.
He had been corroded by Karma, constantly evolving toward an Ōtsutsuki.
Yet because his body was too weak, and Isshiki was also nearing his limit, he had become the pitiful unlucky one chosen out of helplessness and necessity.
The fact that he now sincerely acknowledged the Ōtsutsuki—was that not also the effect produced by Karma?
After all, he himself was already moving toward becoming an Ōtsutsuki.
So in his view, Konoha's Fifth Hokage was probably also someone "favored" by Karma.
That Hokage had unleashed such power.
That already indicated that he had begun walking a different path.
And such a beginning was also the start of him no longer belonging to himself.
Since he had already become an Ōtsutsuki, how could such a transcendent person still be compared to the man he was when he served as Fifth Hokage?
Cold-blooded.
Cruel.
This was Jigen's understanding and judgment of the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
Even the being lodged inside him was the same.
Jigen gently shook his head and stopped thinking about these things.
He knew there was no benefit to thinking about them.
What he looked forward to most now was the end of everything.
Because he was truly too tired.
A thousand years of being possessed by Ōtsutsuki Isshiki was equivalent to a thousand years of torment.
He truly wanted to die.
Unfortunately, he did not even have the right to die.
He naturally knew that Isshiki's disgust toward him was no less than his own disgust toward Isshiki.
Because in Isshiki's eyes, his existence was a symbol of humiliation.
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki had been heavily injured and had forcibly left Karma on his body.
According to him, he had simply had no choice.
He had never looked favorably upon Jigen's body.
Because in his eyes, Jigen's body was utterly unable to withstand Ōtsutsuki power.
Even though Isshiki had forcefully modified Jigen's body over the past five years, allowing it to use his power, Jigen knew that this reconstruction had already pushed his body toward destruction.
Once Isshiki truly revived using his body, that man would not be far from death.
"I'm actually looking forward to Senju Hikaru forcing you to that point.
"That way, you can remember what happened a thousand years ago."
"You think I will be the same as I was a thousand years ago?
"A thousand years ago, I was ambushed.
"And you cannot imagine my power."
"True.
"But after you use your own power, won't you fall into slumber again?"
Jigen's words were filled with mockery.
He seemed to be talking to himself.
Two tones.
Two voices.
It appeared so torn, so strange.
However, his words silenced Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
Because Jigen was right.
Once Isshiki revived using his body, he would only have a few months left to live.
During that time, he would have to find a new body to place Karma on.
Otherwise, he would truly be doomed.
"I wonder which Ōtsutsuki that woman killed.
"And did he leave behind his Karma?"
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki slowly pondered this.
Meanwhile, Jigen continued walking swiftly outward step by step.
Several kilometers behind them, space suddenly trembled.
The next moment, a black hole only a dozen centimeters wide appeared in midair.
Inside the black hole, a pair of radiant blue eyes stared in the direction they had left.
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