Naruto: Uchiha is not Raikage!

Gamamaru then played a video for the Otsutsuki Sage and Otsutsuki Hamura.

In the semi-transparent image,

The divine tree took root and grew on the Earth's surface. As time went by, the green forests gradually faded and turned yellow.

Finally, a radiant fruit appeared at the top of the divine tree and was picked by an Otsutsuki.

That planet, however, is now lifeless.

"This is one of the futures my dream foreshadowed."

"It's a toad," Gamamaru said slowly.

“There is no need for the existence of a divine tree. Even if you say your father and mother would not do such a thing, it should still be destroyed, otherwise it will be used by someone with ulterior motives sooner or later.”

Hamura Otsutsuki clenched his fist:
“Our parents would never do that! Our father taught us to protect this world, and although our mother was cold, she never harmed the innocent!”

"Perhaps they have their own plans."

Gamamaru responded calmly.

"But the essence of the divine tree will not change. Have you seen the land around the divine tree? It is barren and its vitality has been completely drained. That is the result of the divine tree's roots spreading. It is just that it is currently limited to a small area. As time goes by, the impact will become greater and greater."

Hagoromo Otsutsuki fell into deep thought.

He recalled the scene around the sacred tree, the exposed dark red soil...

"My father said that the divine tree can draw energy from the universe..."

"Otsutsuki Hagoromo murmured."

"Yes, but what about vitality? That still requires living beings to contribute."

Toad paused for a moment, then continued:
"The divine tree will eventually need to take root on the planet. Its roots will continue to penetrate deeper and reach the core of the planet. At that time, the life force of the entire world will be bound to it, and all things will have their life force extracted."

The quiet room fell silent.

Complex emotions surged within Otsutsuki Hamura and Otsutsuki Hagoromo.

They respected and loved their father, Kiyoshi, and their mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki, but the scenes before them and their conclusions all pointed to a disturbing one.

"Why……"

Hamura Ōtsutsuki's voice sounded somewhat hoarse.

Why didn't Father tell us?

"Perhaps he thought this was a necessary sacrifice."

Gamamaru sighed.

"Perhaps he has his own plans, but in any case, as residents of this world, you have the right to know the truth and the right to make choices."

It looked directly into the brothers' eyes:
"You can continue to believe in your parents and protect the sacred tree, or you can choose another path and protect this world."

"What should we do?"

"I asked, my voice low," said Hagoromo Otsutsuki.

"No decision needs to be made now."

Toad Pill shook his head.

"Go back and observe, think, and verify whether what we said is true. The divine tree is not yet mature; you still have time. When you need help, the Toad Kingdom will always welcome you."

Hamura Otsutsuki and Hagoromo Otsutsuki exchanged a glance, both seeing the confusion and suspicion in each other's eyes.

They certainly wouldn't readily believe what these toads said.

"We...we'll head back now."

Hagoromo Otsutsuki stood up.

"Thank you for your honesty."

Hamura Otsutsuki added, albeit in a complex tone.

Hamano and Hamamaru escorted them to the entrance of the valley.

"remember."

Before parting, Gamamaru said his final words.

"True protection sometimes requires questioning; blindly following may bring greater disaster."

The barrier closed again, and the scene of the Toad Kingdom disappeared behind the ripples.

On the way back, both Otsutsuki Hamura and Otsutsuki Hagoromo remained silent.

Their hearts were filled with questions, like heavy stones pressing on their chests.

If what the toad said is true, why didn't Father destroy the sacred tree?
If the divine tree really will destroy this world, then what is the point of their current protection?
"Brother..."

Hamura Otsutsuki finally spoke.

Do you believe what they say?

Hagoromo Otsutsuki gazed in the direction of the divine tree in the distance. Under the cover of the barrier, only the endless mountain peaks could be seen.

He took a long time to answer:

"Whether it's true or not, we should think more and observe more."

"if……"

Hamura Otsutsuki hesitated.

"If the day truly comes when I have to make a choice..."

We'll talk about it on that day.

Hagoromo Otsutsuki interrupted him, his tone firm.

“Before that, we were still our parents’ sons, and still the guardians of the sacred tree.”

But both of them knew in their hearts that some things had changed.

Once the seed of doubt is planted, it will take root and sprout.

…………

Meanwhile, in the land of the ancestors.

Kiyoshi and Kaguya Otsutsuki stood in front of a newly built temple, their expressions quite different.

This temple is located in the center of the capital of the Ancestral Kingdom. It is not large in scale but quite exquisite.

Above the temple gate hangs a wooden plaque with the three large characters "Immortal Temple" engraved on it.

The temple is divided into two halls. The left hall enshrines a stone statue of Kiyoshi, and the right hall enshrines a stone statue of Kaguya Otsutsuki.

Both statues are carved to lifelike detail; Kiyoshi's statue is austere, while Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's statue is serene and noble.

Interestingly, the incense in front of the stone statue in front of the priest was more abundant.

"The Goddess of the Rabbit..."

Kaguya Otsutsuki looked at her stone statue, a hint of confusion flashing in her pure white eyes.

Why did they erect my statue?

"Because they also need faith. The totems they made up before are no different from gods or immortals to them."

Qing Si smiled and reached out to brush a wisp of dust from the stone statue's shoulder.

"Human beings need faith and something to rely on. You give them hope, and they will worship you as a god."

The daimyo of the Land of Ancestors rushed to the scene upon hearing the news, and upon seeing the two, hurriedly knelt down in obeisance.

"Our ancestor and Goddess of the Rabbit, we were unaware of your arrival and have failed to greet you properly!"

"No need to be polite."

Qing Si waved his hand. "The temple is well-built."

Da Ming was flattered and overwhelmed:

"Thanks to the protection of the Ancestor and the Goddess, we were able to repel the invading spirit beasts!"

Qing Si nodded, his gaze sweeping over the back of the temple:

"What's there?"

“Reporting to the Ancestor, that is a palace prepared for the two of you.”

Daiming answered respectfully.

"This is already the best palace in our country. If you two do not mind, you may rest here at any time."

Kiyoshi looked at Kaguya Otsutsuki:
"Want to take a look?"

Kaguya Otsutsuki nodded slightly.

The two passed through the temple and arrived at a separate palace at the back.

Others dared not enter at will, and could only wait outside the palace.

Kiyoshi waved them away, telling them to go and get busy rebuilding the country.

"Yes, Ancestor."

The daimyo of the Ancestral Kingdom spoke up.

At the same time, I felt relieved.

With the Ancestor here, those spirit beasts should dare not attack again.

……

Meanwhile, Kiyoshi and Kaguya Otsutsuki had already entered the room.

The environment here is serene, a stark contrast to the bustling temple in front.

The palace contains several rooms, which are clean, tidy, and extremely luxurious. Many of them are made of gold, exuding an air of extravagance, and are fully furnished with all kinds of furniture and household items.

It was certainly much more comfortable than the makeshift shelter they had built near the sacred tree.

"Where's Hako Otsutsuki?"

Kaguya Otsutsuki suddenly discovered that her daughter was missing.

"They went out to play."

Kiyoshi said.

"She said she wanted to see a human market."

Kaguya Otsutsuki shook her head:

"This child..."

From the window, you can see a small pond in the courtyard, where several koi carp swim leisurely.

"They certainly know how to enjoy life."

Seiji commented.

Kaguya Otsutsuki entered the room, her gaze sweeping over the surroundings before finally settling on the soft bedding spread on the bed.

She reached out and gently touched the smooth silk fabric.

“It’s different from where we lived next to the sacred tree.”

She said.

"Of course it's different."

Kiyoshi sat down at the table and poured himself a cup of tea.

"That place was only temporarily opened up, while this place is a long-term residence. It must have been built at great expense and cost. Humans are good at creating comfortable environments for themselves."

Kiyoshi said.

However, driven by their faith, those craftsmen were willing to work even if they lost money.

After all, Qing Si really brought a lot of benefits to this country.

The spread of chakra is constantly expanding.

Many of the summoned beasts of the past were killed by people with chakra using jutsu.

This greatly reduces the crisis facing humanity.

Kaguya Otsutsuki sat down on the edge of the bed, her posture upright and her back straight. Even in this private space, she maintained her innate nobility and aloofness.

Her long white hair cascaded down like a waterfall, shimmering faintly in the light streaming through the window.

The kimono draped over her voluptuous and perfectly curvaceous body, every undulation revealing the charm of a mature woman, yet her icy demeanor made her seem untouchable.

“Those people outside are worshipping the stone statue two kilometers away.”

Kaguya Otsutsuki suddenly spoke.

"It feels... strange."

Kiyoshi put down his teacup and sat down next to her:

"What's weird?"

"Because it has never been worshipped."

"Is this so..."

Kiyoshi said.

He reached out and gently brushed his fingertips through the hair at the back of Kaguya Otsutsuki's head.

The movement was natural, yet it caused Kaguya Otsutsuki's body to stiffen almost imperceptibly.

"Since I met you, many things have changed..."

"for example?"

“For example…” Kaguya Otsutsuki frowned slightly.

“For example, I think about why, for example, I am sitting here now, so close to you, no one in the tribe has ever been like this before.”

Kiyoshi's fingers continued to wander through her hair.

"dislike?"

Qing Si casually remarked.

Kaguya Otsutsuki wanted to retort, but suddenly felt a slight numbness in the back of her neck.

She turned her head sharply and saw tiny, almost invisible arcs of electricity dancing on Kiyoshi's fingertips. If it weren't for her keen observation skills, she wouldn't have noticed them at all.

"you……"

"Let me teach you something new."

Kiyoshi's lips curled up slightly.

"A more advanced Lightning Release ninjutsu, the kind that incorporates natural energy."

Before he finished speaking, the tiny electric arc suddenly intensified!
It wasn't ordinary lightning chakra, but rather a sage art lightning chakra infused with exquisite natural energy.

The electric current wasn't violent, but it penetrated Kaguya Otsutsuki's defenses with incredible precision, reaching right into her body.

"Uh!"

Even Kaguya Otsutsuki, being an Otsutsuki, couldn't help but tremble slightly in the face of this Sage Art: Lightning Release, which surpassed S-rank.

She opened her eyes wide, her pure white pupils appearing even paler under the electric current stimulation.

This isn't an attack, but rather a form of...teaching?
Kiyoshi controlled the intensity and frequency of the current, keeping it just at the edge of the limit that Kaguya Otsutsuki could withstand.

He could feel the chakra within her body resonating strangely under the stimulation of the electric current, and some deep potential was being quietly activated.

"Relax."

Qing Si whispered.

"Feel how natural energy combines with lightning. Feel the trajectory of electric current flowing through your body."

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki clenched her teeth, her body trembling uncontrollably from the electric current, making the curves beneath her white kimono even more pronounced. Sweat seeped from her forehead, sliding down her delicate jawline and disappearing deep into her collar.

In her white-eyed vision, she could clearly see the exquisite structure of the lightning escape immortal technique, but at the same time, her body's instinctive reaction made her want to break free from this restraint.

After an unknown amount of time, the current finally stopped.

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki lay limp on the bed, her chest heaving violently, her long white hair disheveled.

Her eyes were still pure white, but they seemed to have gained a layer of moist luster.

"you……"

She was panting, her voice unusually trembling.

"What exactly... do you want to do?"

Kiyoshi bent down and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead with his fingers.

"To give you some...new feelings."

His smile remained unchanged.

"As an Otsutsuki, you live too much like a ruthless gardener, don't you?"

In Kiyoshi's view, the Otsutsuki clan was a group of gardeners who constantly planted trees and then harvested the fruits.

If I had to say, I'm no different from a farmer.

Kaguya Otsutsuki stared at him, remaining silent for a long time.

Finally, she slowly sat up and began to tidy her disheveled kimono and long hair. Every movement regained her usual elegance and composure, as if her earlier lapse in composure had never occurred.

But Kiyoshi noticed that her fingers were trembling slightly.

"I'm going to check on Hagoromo Otsutsuki."

Kaguya Otsutsuki stood up and walked outside.

She paused at the door, but didn't turn around.

"Next time... I'll let you know in advance."

Kiyoshi chuckled lightly:

"it is good."

…………

The next morning, when Kiyoshi opened his eyes, he found Kaguya Otsutsuki already sitting by the window.

She changed into a new white kimono, her long hair meticulously combed, gleaming like pearls in the morning light.

She sat upright, her profile as perfect as a sculpture, the voluptuousness of a mature woman and her aloof temperament blended wonderfully together, creating a breathtaking beauty.

"you're awake."

Kaguya Otsutsuki did not turn her head; her voice remained calm.

"You've been sitting the whole time?"

Kiyoshi sat up.

"Ah."

Kaguya Otsutsuki gave a simple response.

"Not much sleep is needed."

Kiyoshi got out of bed and walked to her side. Up close, he could appreciate her features more clearly: fair skin, long and thick eyelashes, a high nose bridge, and pale pink lips.

Her beauty was not delicate and pretty, but rather a cold, aloof perfection.

"I've become increasingly strange since I met you."
Kaguya Tsutsuki suddenly spoke, her pure white eyes finally turning to him.

"What's weird?"

“There will be emotional fluctuations.” Kaguya Otsutsuki frowned slightly.

"They will think about questions unrelated to survival. They will... care about your existence."

Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow slightly.

Kaguya Otsutsuki is really honest.

Or rather, she doesn't hide her emotions.

To some extent, the stronger a person is, the simpler they are.

Because they won't be exposed to the dark side of the world.

Any danger was simply crushed with force.

"If you don't like it, you can stop."

Kiyoshi looked at Kaguya Otsutsuki's face.

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki remained silent for a long time.

"Do not."

She finally said.

"I don't... dislike it."

Kiyoshi's smile deepened:

"That's good. Let's go back to our own place today. Otsutsuki Hagoromo and Otsutsuki Hamura should be back by now."

The two left the temple in the Land of Ancestors and found Otsutsuki Haeko, who had been sleeping all night and was now curiously looking around the market.

The little girl held a candied hawthorn in one hand and a windmill in the other. When she saw her parents, her eyes curved into crescent moons.

"Father, Mother, look, humans have given me so many things!"

Kiyoshi ruffled her hair:
"Because you are cute."

"Whee!"

Otsutsuki Haguro hugged Kiyoshi's leg and looked up at Otsutsuki Kaguya.

"Mother looks especially beautiful today!"

Kaguya Otsutsuki's expression was inscrutable.

"Let's go."

The three returned to their lodging near the sacred tree.

Although not as exquisite as the temples of the Ancestral Kingdom, they are more natural and blend into the surrounding environment.

Hagoromo and Hamura were already in the courtyard. Upon seeing the three return, they stood up and bowed.

"Father, mother."

Kiyoshi nodded:

Has anything unusual happened in the last few days?

The two brothers exchanged a glance.

"No."

Hagoromo Otsutsuki replied, "Everything is normal."

But there was a hint of hesitation in his tone.

Kiyoshi keenly noticed this, but didn't point it out.

"That's good."

Kiyoshi said, turning to Kaguya Otsutsuki and Hagoromo Otsutsuki.

"I'll cook a meal today."

Otsutsuki Hagoromo cheered:

"it is good!"

A hint of anticipation flashed in Kaguya Otsutsuki's eyes.

As an Otsutsuki, she doesn't need to eat, but when Kiyoshi occasionally cooks, the food is indeed... impressive.

Kiyoshi entered the simple kitchen and began to prepare.

Chop vegetables, start a fire, and season.

Before long, a meal was ready: the grilled fish was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the vegetable soup was fragrant, the rice was perfectly cooked, and there were several delicate side dishes.

The five people sat around a stone table in the courtyard, the afterglow of the setting sun shining on the table.

Otsutsuki Hagoromo eagerly picked up a piece of grilled fish and put it in her mouth, her eyes immediately lighting up:
"So delicious! Father is amazing!"

She ate with great relish, her cheeks puffed out like a little hamster.

Hagoromo and Hamura Ōtsutsuki also ate in silence. Even with their minds filled with doubts, they could not deny the excellence of their father's cooking.

Kaguya Otsutsuki, on the other hand, ate slowly and deliberately.

She served a small portion of each dish on a small plate and savored them carefully.

The aroma of grilled fish, the freshness of vegetable soup, the sweetness of rice... every flavor was clearly presented in her mouth.

With simple ingredients, Kiyoshi made a very delicious dish.

"how?"

Kiyoshi asked with a smile.

Kaguya Otsutsuki put down her chopsticks and looked at him with her pure white eyes:

"very good."

It was just two simple words, but coming from her mouth, it was the highest praise.

Kiyoshi poured himself a glass of sake that he had taken from the sealed scroll and sipped it slowly.

His gaze swept over Hagoromo and Hamura, noticing the thoughts hidden between their brows.

"You seem to have something on your mind today."

He pointed it out directly.

Hagoromo Otsutsuki paused, while Hamura Otsutsuki lowered his head.

"Father……"

Hagoromo Otsutsuki hesitated before speaking.

"What exactly is the Divine Tree?"

Kiyoshi put down his wine cup.

"Why do you ask?"

"Just...curious."

Hagoromo Otsutsuki avoided his father's gaze.

"The Divine Tree draws energy from the universe to bear chakra fruits, but what happens after that? What will become of the Divine Tree? What will become of this world?"

The yard suddenly became quiet.

Even Otsutsuki Hako sensed the change in atmosphere, stopped chewing, and her big eyes darted back and forth between her father and brother.

Kiyoshi remained silent for a long time before finally speaking slowly:
"Once the Divine Tree matures, it will bear a fruit containing a vast amount of chakra, which is the goal pursued by the Otsutsuki clan."

"What about the divine tree itself?"

Hamura Otsutsuki pressed for an answer.

What will happen to the divine tree after the fruit is picked?

"We will wait for the next result."

"And what about the land where it is rooted?"

Hagoromo Otsutsuki's voice was somewhat tense.

Will it recover?

Kiyoshi looked at him.

"What did you see? Or...heard?"

The two brothers froze simultaneously.

Kaguya Otsutsuki also looked at her sons, a hint of doubt appearing in her pure white eyes.

Finally, it was Otsutsuki Hamura who broke the silence:
"We... encountered a toad who claimed to be the king of the Toad Kingdom, and said... that the Divine Tree would drain the life force of the planet, and even if we could draw energy from the universe to replenish it, it would only slow down the process."

He finished speaking in one breath, then nervously awaited his parents' reaction.

Surprisingly, Kiyoshi didn't get angry; instead, he smiled.

"The Toad Kingdom... those guys from Mount Myōboku really did come knocking on our door."

He shook his head.

What else did they say?

Hagoromo Otsutsuki mustered his courage:
"They said that the Otsutsuki clan planted divine trees on many planets in the universe, and that the planets would wither after the fruit ripened. They also said... that Father and Mother may not have told us the whole truth."

Silence fell over the courtyard once again.

The sun had completely set, and twilight was falling.

Kiyoshi raised his hand, and fire-style chakra flew out from it, lighting the candles and illuminating everyone's faces.

"They are right."

Kiyoshi finally spoke.

"The divine tree does indeed draw life force from the planets and the life force of those living beings. In the void of the universe, there is only natural energy."

The faces of Hagoromo and Hamura turned pale instantly.

"However, all living things will eventually die, and the divine tree is merely absorbing that part of their life force."

Qingsi shook his head.

Moreover, he also planned to establish a "pure land" to feed the sacred tree with souls.

Of course, such an approach might still seem extreme to Hagoromo and Hamura.

"But this..."

Hagoromo Otsutsuki had doubts.

Seeing this, Qing Si offered a few more words of comfort but said no more.

Anyway, if they're going to follow the same path as in the original story, then so be it.

Just then, Kiyoshi wanted to see if he could trigger any new descriptive terms.

As for Mount Myōboku, Kiyoshi plans to visit it again.

The loss of Mount Myoboku will indeed have an impact on the future.

He also learned "divine arts" at Mount Myoboku.

However, killing off a batch won't have much of an impact.

"Anything else?"

Kiyoshi looked at Hagoromo Otsutsuki and Hamura.

"Father, we have no more problems."

Hagoromo and Hamura exchanged a glance, finished their meal, and quickly left.

Kiyoshi watched their retreating figures silently. (End of Chapter)