Within the range of his sensory perception, Kawaki Aoba observed the scene with a calm smile.
So… Naruto is about to be born. It really is the Night of the Nine-Tails.
But this was a very different Nine-Tails incident. Not only did no one in Konoha perish, but the village was holding an unprecedented celebration—a festival of light and victory.
From this night forward, Konoha would be proud not only of its strength, but of its unity.
The village stood as the strongest and safest in the shinobi world.
And Kawaki Aoba… would ascend to godhood tonight.
Once, Hashirama Senju had been hailed as the "God of Shinobi." But tonight, Kawaki Aoba would surpass even the Hokage. He would become Konoha's Guardian Deity—an untouchable peak.
---
Meanwhile, the so-called "Loser Trio" had returned to Amegakure via Kamui's spatial marking.
Staring at the remaining Kamui Sharingan that Black Zetsu had presented to him, Madara Uchiha's expression was grim.
"Without a host, the remaining ocular power in this eye will soon be depleted," he muttered.
"Black Zetsu, summon that fool Tobi. This eye will belong to him now. Also… gather all information available on that kid—Kawaki Aoba. I need to know exactly what's going on with his eyes."
Black Zetsu bowed respectfully and vanished to carry out the order.
Though Madara tried to maintain composure, he was seething. The failure of this operation stung deeply—not because of strategy, but because of personal pride.
Black Zetsu, however, could not mistake what he had seen in Aoba's eyes.
The Tenseigan—the eye of Hamura Ōtsutsuki, long thought extinct. It had once evolved from the Byakugan, and its power was said to rival the Rinnegan.
But why? Such an eye should not even exist.
For over a millennium, no member of the Hyūga clan had evolved a Tenseigan. Why had this boy succeeded?
Could it be linked to the Ōtsutsuki remnant on the moon?
Why now, of all times—on the eve of the best chance to resurrect "Mother"… Kaguya Ōtsutsuki?
This boy, Kawaki Aoba, had already surpassed Madara Uchiha in raw power. Worse, he appeared to be actively searching for him—repeatedly probing with a strange sensory ability.
At this rate, the Eye of the Moon Plan would be doomed.
Madara Uchiha's incompetence was to blame. How could he be this ineffective?
Despite his growing dissatisfaction with Madara, Black Zetsu dutifully followed orders—while also sneaking in some of his own research: fragments of ancient myths related to the Tenseigan.
He was good at this sort of thing.
"Tenseigan… the eye of Hamura Ōtsutsuki. Techniques like the Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion and Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion… it all matches."
Madara frowned as he scanned the scrolls Black Zetsu had retrieved. "Where did you find this? Why now?"
Black Zetsu bowed his head.
"These are records I recently compiled from ancient mythologies, Lord Madara."
It was technically true. Ancient records—but recently arranged. Still, the content was legitimate.
Madara waved him off. "If it's mythology, no wonder we overlooked it… but mythology or not, it's relevant now."
He stared at the scrolls a moment longer, then murmured to himself, "So even the stories of the Sage of Six Paths and his brother might contain truth…"
Still, chasing ancient myths wouldn't fix the current problem.
What mattered now was finding a way to counter that boy—Kawaki Aoba.
As much as he hated to admit it, Aoba's strength was overwhelming. If something wasn't done, the entire plan—the culmination of Madara's life—would fall apart.
Unacceptable.
"Nine-Tails. Five-Tails…" Madara muttered the names like a mantra, eyes glinting with plans yet unspoken.
---
Back in Konoha, Tobirama Senju finally returned to his quarters, fatigue washing over him.
Tonight, Kawaki Aoba had become a hero of the village.
But Tobirama couldn't help but think—weren't he and Fugaku Uchiha also heroes in their own right?
Though their dual Mangekyō Sharingan had merely provided backup during the crisis, their contributions had still been tremendous.
Setting aside that monster Aoba, the Uchiha had shown themselves to be a force to be reckoned with.
Especially Fugaku.
Who would've thought that the usually meek, cautious Uchiha clan leader actually possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan?
Even Tobirama had been fooled.
No—he hadn't been deceived. That was simply Fugaku's nature.
A careful man. Shrewd. But to think he hid something like that… Tobirama chuckled softly.
He'd once considered ousting Fugaku and reclaiming leadership of the clan himself. But now?
There was no need.
With the Mangekyō Sharingan and a stable temperament, Fugaku was exactly the leader the Uchiha needed. He might even prove useful in Tobirama's long-term plans.
A blend of amusement and irony washed over Tobirama.
The Warring States Uchiha were full of hotheads. And now? The clan is led by someone like Fugaku.
He suppressed a laugh.
Then—his face suddenly stiffened.
A chakra signature approached.
"Who's there?" he asked sharply.
"Captain Tobirama, Lord Aoba requests your presence," came the voice of a Konoha ninja from beyond the door.
Kawaki Aoba… Tobirama narrowed his eyes.
"Understood. I'll go see him shortly."
"He said he'll wait at his residence. The message has been delivered. Farewell."
Footsteps faded into silence.
Tobirama stood in thought.
Kawaki Aoba… what are you planning now?
Reaching up, Tobirama Senju rubbed his brow, feeling a tinge of helplessness.
The overuse of his chakra had left him drained. His vision was slightly blurred—not because of any eye technique, but due to prolonged mental strain. He had planned to rest well that night and rise early the next morning to continue refining his chakra control techniques.
But now it seemed rest would have to wait.
"Calling me at this hour... is that kid doing it on purpose?" Tobirama muttered, standing and straightening his robes as he prepared to leave.
He had once considered that when his strength returned to a sufficient level, he would personally seek out Kawaki Aoba to inquire about the secrets behind his resurrection.
Now that Aoba was summoning him, it was even better.
Besides, for the boy to take the initiative... it likely meant he was prepared to speak plainly.
"Not very old, but quite dramatic. Making me come to him." Tobirama grumbled as he stepped onto the road.
---
At his home, Kawaki Aoba—a young man with an enigmatic past—was brewing tea. Hearing the familiar chakra signature approaching, he paused, then smiled faintly.
He wasn't concerned in the slightest.
After all, the older generation had their own way of expressing emotions. A little grumbling was to be expected.
Moments later, Tobirama Senju arrived and stepped into the room, his sharp gaze taking in the surroundings.
"I didn't see a single guard on the way here. Aoba-dono, your security is appallingly lax," Tobirama said pointedly, his tone sharp as he emphasized "dono."
Still smiling, Aoba responded, "You are a senior. How could I let you call me 'dono'? If anything, it should be me addressing you as Second Hokage-dono."
Tobirama's eyebrow twitched slightly, but he let it pass. His expression sobered.
"You're the one responsible for my reincarnation. I suspected it early on… but the precision and power of the technique involved—it's beyond any known summoning or resurrection I've ever encountered."
Indeed, Tobirama had inspected his new body thoroughly. There was no sign of rejection, no irregularities in chakra flow. It was as if he had always inhabited this form.
That defied all known logic. Not even his own Edo Tensei had achieved such seamless results.
Only someone on the level of the Sage of Six Paths—or someone with forbidden knowledge—could accomplish such a feat.
"You didn't just bring me here to show off your handiwork, did you?" Tobirama sat and took a sip of the tea that had been placed before him. His tone was more measured now.
The truth was, he had initially tested Aoba's attitude by acting standoffish. But seeing the younger man's calm and respectful demeanor, he responded in kind.
Respect, after all, must be mutual.
---
"There is something else," Aoba said at last. "Because I possess a unique kekkei genkai, I've done extensive research into ocular powers, including the Sharingan."
Tobirama's gaze narrowed.
"Most Mangekyō Sharingan," Aoba continued, "burn out from overuse. And without a sibling transplant, they cannot evolve into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. However... there are exceptions."
He withdrew a small sealed tube from his sleeve and placed it on the table. Inside was a small sample of white biological tissue.
"This is tissue from White Zetsu—a clone created using Hashirama Senju's cells. Its properties are similar to the First Hokage's chakra, though less corrosive. The Uchiha known as Obito once used this material to sustain his Mangekyō abilities far longer than usual."
Tobirama's eyes widened slightly. "White Zetsu… from Kaguya's army?"
"Correct," Aoba nodded. "With these cells, one can sustain Mangekyō-level abilities longer without going blind. It's not the Eternal Mangekyō—but it's close."
He pushed the vial forward. "With your research skills and access to a viable reference like Obito, enhancing ocular sustainability should be within reach."
Tobirama picked up the vial, frowning thoughtfully. "You've collected some curious items, haven't you?"
Then he changed the subject.
"Your strength… it can't just be from that faint trace of Hyūga blood. So—is it all thanks to scientific enhancement?"
Aoba laughed inwardly. Scientific enhancement? You mean pumping my body full of bizarre experiments? No, thank you.
But aloud, he said tactfully, "I wouldn't call it science. I simply explore the potential of chakra—and seek to understand the world's secrets."
Tobirama nodded slowly. He could sense the truth in that.
---
Then he posed a direct question.
"Aoba, your strength already rivals the greatest in the current era. And you're still young. So tell me—what do you plan to do with that power?"
He remembered clearly what Aoba had once said to Uchiha Madara: words about unifying the shinobi world.
"Are you seeking peace?" Tobirama asked.
Aoba didn't hesitate.
"To achieve true peace, unification is essential. And unification cannot be achieved without short-term pain. That's the truth. I believe you, of all people, would understand that—unlike your idealistic brother."
Tobirama remained silent for a long moment.
Yes, he understood.
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