Members of the clan directly devoured people.
But the Sage of Six Paths… perhaps because he remained in the shinobi world, did not eat them outright—only controlled the world and collected chakra.
Tsunade felt as though she had uncovered the truth.
Sage of Six Paths: ????
The image of "Little Blackie" being turned into a fruit and eaten was seared into the minds of all who had witnessed it—a humiliation beyond measure.
"He actually dared to eat my Little Blackie?!! I won't forgive him for that!!"
The Fourth Raikage, A, slammed a fist into the ground, blasting out a deep crater. Lightning Release chakra crackled wildly around him, clearly on the verge of losing control.
Ōnoki shot him a sideways glance and sneered out of habit.
"Hmph. Brute. It's only because that Ōtsutsuki Graywhite is already dead—snapped in half by that crab… the Divine River Crab. If he were still alive, would you dare shout like that in front of him? The way he turned people into fruit—do you really think your Lightning Release Armor would've stopped him?"
"What did you say?! Old man, you want to fight?!" A snapped, fury instantly redirected at Ōnoki.
"Enough! At a time like this?!" Mei Terumī and Rasa spoke almost simultaneously.
Tsunade stepped forward as well, her sharp gaze forcing back the surge of chakra about to erupt between the two Kage.
This was not the time for infighting.
What they had just witnessed demanded far more attention than personal grudges.
Silence settled again.
After a long moment, the Five Kage and their core advisors reconvened to deliberate in earnest.
"Although the process was… unexpected. Even horrifying," Tsunade began, striving for composure—though the faint tremor in her fingers betrayed her unrest, "from the outcome alone… it seems, overall, to have benefited the shinobi world."
Mei nodded, her normally playful expression now entirely serious.
"First, the Ōtsutsuki who treated us as 'ingredients'—Ōtsutsuki Graywhite—was eliminated by the Divine River Crab. That's one clearly defined and extremely dangerous enemy removed."
"Second, the 'Natural Enemy of Chakra,' Wangcai, was also taken away—removing a potential world-ending threat."
"And more importantly," Rasa added quietly, voice steady but heavy, "the existence of the Ōtsutsuki—from hints in the Heavenly Curtain and ancient legends—has now become undeniable reality."
"They possess a power system beyond our comprehension. And they truly may view us as resources… or food. This is a fundamental threat to our survival."
Ōnoki stroked his beard, eyes glinting thoughtfully.
"That Divine River Crab… is even more critical. The level of power it displayed completely exceeds our understanding."
"Graywhite was utterly powerless before it. And from his dying screams, it sounded as though the Divine River Crab enforces some kind of… rule. Preventing beings from other worlds from 'running amok.'"
"That may be our only piece of good news," Tsunade said with a bitter smile. "At the very least, it seems our world is protected by some form of higher 'regulation'—or balance. Not every external force can simply barge in and treat us like an open buffet."
A's anger had not fully subsided, but he forced himself to think.
"But how many Ōtsutsuki like Graywhite are there? Are they all that… hungry?"
"And what exactly is that Divine River Crab? Does it only act when someone 'runs amok'? What qualifies as that? Why did it take Wangcai? And Karin—where did she go? Is she alive or dead?"
A cascade of questions tightened the room once more.
"The Ōtsutsuki must be classified as a top-tier threat," Tsunade concluded. "All nations must share any intelligence related to 'beyond the sky ,' ancient records, or anomalous energy phenomena. Border surveillance and monitoring of unusual events must be strengthened."
"As for the Divine River Crab—we need more information. It may not be an enemy, but it is certainly not a guardian we can rely on. We know nothing of its motives, logic, or allegiance."
"As for Wangcai being taken…" Mei said thoughtfully, "that may not be a bad thing. At least we don't have to worry about someone releasing it for now."
"And Karin…" she added, narrowing her eyes, "with her strange resilience, she's probably not dead so easily."
After a pause, Tsunade took a breath and made a decision.
She laid out, without reservation, all the intelligence Konohagakure possessed regarding the so-called "dangerous weapon."
At the same time, she placed the burden of how to handle it squarely before everyone present.
It was an act of trust.
And of testing.
And also, under the pressure of overwhelming uncertainty, a reluctant attempt to distribute responsibility.
Ōnoki's aged face grew solemn, his white brows furrowing deeply.
"You're saying Konoha not only knows of it—but may even possess the precise location of a 'dangerous weapon' jointly sealed by the Uzumaki Clan and the Senju Clan during the Warring States Period?"
"That relic is centuries old."
There was shock in his voice.
And beneath it—a faint trace of envy and caution.
Konoha's foundation truly ran deep.
The sealing prowess of the Uzumaki Clan.
The power and prestige of the Senju Clan.
Whatever those two had sealed together would be anything but ordinary.
Had Konoha not been weakened by generations of internal strife, the combined might of the other four great villages might never have shaken its dominance.
Tsunade nodded openly.
"The intelligence is relatively reliable and points to a specific location. The question now is—"
Her gaze swept across the room.
"This 'weapon,' clearly labeled as 'extremely dangerous,' 'difficult to control,' and 'catastrophic if mishandled'—how should we treat it?"
"Do we continue to seal it away and ignore its existence?"
"Or… do we attempt to investigate it? Perhaps even utilize it?"
The choice she presented was direct—and razor-sharp.
Mei almost immediately shook her head.
"I recommend we leave it untouched."
Her tone was decisive.
"If our predecessors used the highest level of Fūinjutsu to seal it and left stern warnings behind, there must have been good reason."
"At a time when we know nothing of its nature or risk—and when we already face external threats like the Ōtsutsuki—tampering with an unknown 'dangerous weapon' would be like playing with fire."
"It could even hand our enemies an opportunity."
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