Capítulo 284: Chapter 285
Kyomu only half believed Hagoromo's explanations. It wasn't that he was overly suspicious, but given all that had happened in the ninja world, he couldn't be unaware of Hagoromo's involvement. Kyomu even suspected that Hagoromo might have been one of the masterminds behind the scenes.
Kyomu gestured for Hagoromo to continue speaking.
"Before we go on, I'd like to know what your true intentions are," Hagoromo said, looking directly at Kyomu. "If we are to be honest with each other, my brother and I need to understand your specific plans."
"Haven't I already told you my intentions?" Kyomu countered. "You didn't think I was joking, did you?"
Hagoromo exchanged a glance with his brother, then gave a wry smile. "Kyomu, I'm not sure whether to call you audacious or just arrogant by nature. Leading the people of the ninja world to attack the Otsutsuki home planet—how realistic do you think that is?
We both know why Madara and the others managed to defeat Isshiki that day. You may say you can do it, but how can you possibly contend with the entire Otsutsuki clan by yourself?
Even if you can, what about the ninja world? How do you plan to protect it? If you fail, what will become of the ninja world?"
"That's why I need to control the Pure Land," Kyomu said, looking at Hagoromo. "I intend to complete the rules of the Pure Land, making it a true place of reincarnation. Once that's done, the Karma Seal of Isshiki will no longer be an issue."
Hagoromo's eyes widened as if he had realized something. "Kyomu, are you planning to... That's too..."
"Can it be done?" Kyomu downed his cup of tea. "I can guess that the Pure Land's Shinigami is somehow related to you. Otherwise, your sons' reincarnations wouldn't have been so seamless."
"Yes, it is related to me," Hagoromo admitted. "But my connection with him isn't as you might think. He wasn't created by me; he existed in the Pure Land long before.
However, the Pure Land Shinigami lacked consciousness and acted purely on instinct. To enable my sons to reincarnate, I shared a part of my soul with him, giving him awareness and allowing him to act under my influence."
"Impressive." Kyomu clapped his hands. "Is that how you handled the Ten Tails back then, too?"
"I only used my soul as a guide, allowing the newly born Tailed Beasts to develop their own consciousness and souls. They are complete and independent entities, related to me but not influenced by me," Hagoromo explained.
Kyomu raised an eyebrow. "Hagoromo, your influence in the ninja world runs deep."
"After existing for a thousand years, one must have some achievements," Hagoromo said with a smile. "However, despite my efforts to cultivate the ninja world over the past millennia, I never considered an idea like yours."
"Offense is the best defense."
"Everyone understands that principle, but Kyomu, you may be overestimating yourself." Hamura interjected. "Do you think my brother and I haven't wanted to do the same? What we lack is not the desire but the necessary strength."
"Strength?" Kyomu pointed to himself. "I have it."
"You?" Hamura sneered. "If my brother and I still had our physical bodies, do you think you'd be stronger than us?"
Kyomu poured himself more tea. "If it were a one-on-one fight, I might struggle. But if the two of you came at me together, I see no reason why I would lose."
"Listen to yourself—do you not find your words ridiculous?" Hamura said angrily. "If you struggle against one of us, how could you possibly win against both of us?"
"That's not necessarily the case."
Kyomu shook his head but didn't elaborate further. "If you don't believe me, we can try."
Kyomu wasn't just bluffing. This month's refreshed passive skill was somewhat special, giving him the confidence to venture into the Pure Land alone.
[Passive Skill: Ninja Do Not Die from Being Outnumbered]
[Skill Description: During the duration of this skill, when facing two or more enemies, regardless of whether the attack hits, you can continuously use your strongest move within the next second after each attack without any cost.]
[Note: This passive ability does not activate when facing a single enemy.]
[Skill Duration: 30 days]
[Message: If there's one Otsutsuki god, I might not be a match. But if there are two or more, sorry, but your lives are mine.]
Though this month's passive skill had its limitations, it was incredibly powerful against groups. This was Kyomu's trump card.
His strongest attack naturally involved combining his spatial bloodline limit with the Dimensional Slash: Oblivion.
When using this move, Kyomu could freeze space, turning his enemy into a stationary target while using the extreme destructive power of shattered space to obliterate them.
This technique, which combined both control and immense attack power, was Kyomu's ultimate move, the perfect hidden ace.
With the aid of this passive skill, Kyomu could freely use his ultimate move without worrying about the cost, making him practically invincible.
Only Kyomu knew the true power of his passive skill, and since he hadn't shared it, Hamura, who already didn't like Kyomu, naturally didn't believe him.
"Kyomu, do you think I'd believe you?"
"If you don't believe me, why don't you and your brother give it a try?"
"There's no need! I can deal with you myself!" Hamura stood, ready to fight Kyomu then and there.
"Hamura." Hagoromo placed a hand on his brother's shoulder, pressing him back into his seat. "I trust Kyomu."
Hamura looked at his brother, frustrated but sat back down, gulping the tea in front of him.
"Kyomu, is this your reliance, the reason you've grown so strong in just a few short years?"
"Since you understand, there's no harm in admitting it." Kyomu nodded, knowing that Hagoromo had long been suspicious.
Though Hagoromo might be suspicious, he couldn't possibly know about passive skills, nor could he understand them.
The gap between the two was as vast as a dimensional wall.
"If you have your reliance but find it inconvenient to explain, I won't ask." Hagoromo's voice was calm. "But Kyomu, regarding your specific plans for the ninja world and the Pure Land, what are they?"
"Specific plans?"
"Yes, specific."
"And if they conflict with yours, what then?"
"Convince me, and I will support you fully."
Kyomu paused, preparing to lay out his plans in detail. But before that, he needed to confirm a few things with Hagoromo.
"Hagoromo, before I discuss my plans, I'd like to ask you a few questions." Kyomu gestured for Hagoromo to proceed.
"Go ahead," Hagoromo nodded.
"My first question: Are you aware of Black Zetsu?"
"I learned about Black Zetsu later, but I had long suspected a hidden hand, and I guessed it was my mother's doing." Hagoromo was candid. "So I went along with it, letting things unfold."
"This led to a thousand years of turmoil in the ninja world, didn't it?" Kyomu looked at Hagoromo, amused. "You really played the long game."
"Kyomu, you understand that prolonged peace doesn't promote growth." Hagoromo's voice remained calm, though it carried a chilling undertone. "Only the pressure of war drives ninjas to grow stronger, develop various jutsus and battle techniques, and pass down their experiences through generations.
Only this way can the future of the ninja world have a glimmer of hope, a chance to stand against the Otsutsuki in the future."
Kyomu didn't argue. Hagoromo's strategy of treating the ninja world like a breeding ground for strong individuals wasn't entirely wrong or right.
This world was never a place of absolute black and white; the truth was often harsh.
"So, you oppose the establishment of the Land of Dragons?"
"Naturally, I do, but there's no need to stop you." Hagoromo studied Kyomu. "Your life will end someday. After your death, the Land of Dragons will inevitably fall apart. Even if another like you unites the ninja world, empires will crumble upon the death of a great ruler.
War will never disappear. It's a fundamental rule of the world that no one can change."
"The truth is indeed cruel," Kyomu acknowledged. He then looked at Hagoromo. "But why do you assume I will die?"
"I don't know what's happening with you, but there's something increasingly familiar about you. But one thing is certain: if you want to go further, you'll need extraordinary energy.
And the current ninja world cannot satisfy you. Unless…"
"This is where my plan for the Pure Land comes in." Kyomu looked intently at Hagoromo. "I've located Isshiki's hidden dimension, and inside it is a Divine Tree."
"Kyomu, I won't allow you to do that!" Hamura exploded again. "Do you want to become another Isshiki?"
"Let him finish," Hagoromo remained calm, his mind already piecing together Kyomu's intentions.
"Learn from your brother, Hamura. It's been a thousand years, and you still show no signs of wisdom." Kyomu mocked Hamura before getting back to the point. "I plan to plant the Divine Tree in the Pure Land."
"Just as I suspected. Planting a Divine Tree in the Pure Land, using the souls, chakra, and native energy there could indeed produce a Divine Tree fruit. But Kyomu, have you considered how you'll plant the Divine Tree? Who will be the sacrifice for it?"
"Of course, it will be Isshiki. Who else?" Kyomu replied without hesitation.
"But Kyomu, do you know how long it takes for a Divine Tree to bear fruit?" Hagoromo shook his head. "By the time the fruit matures, you might already be dead."
"That's not your concern. I have my ways to accelerate the fruit's maturity." Kyomu had a complete plan in mind. "Once this succeeds, the Pure Land's rules will become complete, and Isshiki, sacrificed to the perfected rules of the Pure Land, will be utterly destroyed."
"Let me think about it." Hagoromo fell silent, deep in thought. After a long while, he looked up. "How confident are you?"
"Ninety percent."
"Once the Pure Land's rules are perfected and Isshiki is completely destroyed, what do you plan to do next?" Hagoromo asked.
"I plan to give every worthy being a chance at reincarnation, ensuring a brilliant future for the ninja world. Just like your two sons, who were the leading figures of their time with every reincarnation.
Similarly, exceptionally gifted individuals like the Third Raikage, upon reincarnation, would always have a place among the top, provided their bloodlines remain strong.
Additionally, once the Pure Land's rules are perfected, this world will no longer need to expend its origin energy to create souls continuously. Instead, it can accumulate power and return that energy to the living beings of this world.
In doing so, a virtuous cycle is created. Newly born beings will grow stronger, and so will the world."
"So, you've realized it too." Hagoromo nodded. "The strength of this world lies in the Pure Land."
"Of course." Kyomu pointed beyond the white space. "With souls only entering and never leaving the Pure Land, constantly draining the world's energy without giving back, this world will eventually collapse."
"But it's still too risky."
"I'm confident. This isn't a gamble, nor am I seeking wealth through danger. My approach is steady." Kyomu pointed to Hagoromo's Rinnegan. "I've researched the origins of your eyes."
"Kyomu, I'm curious. How do you know these secrets?"
"I have my sources," Kyomu said cryptically before continuing about Hagoromo's eyes. "The Otsutsuki clan's original eyes were the Byakugan. The Rinnegan and Kaguya's Rinne Sharingan with nine tomoe are all products of consuming the Divine Tree's fruit.
And the powers and dojutsu born from consuming the Divine Tree's fruit are all closely tied to where the Divine Tree was planted.
In other words, the Divine Tree is just a power converter, manifesting the world's energy and granting it to an individual through its fruit, allowing them to possess the world's power innately without effort.
Am I right?"
After a long silence, Hagoromo nodded. "Indeed. That's the essence of the Divine Tree and why the Otsutsuki clan is so powerful."
"In that case, by using the Divine Tree to convert the Pure Land's origin into a fruit, wouldn't consuming it grant me the true power of the Six Paths and reincarnation?"
This time, Hagoromo didn't answer immediately. Instead, a faint, almost imperceptible murderous intent flickered in his eyes as he looked at Kyomu.
"Yes, that's correct." Hagoromo quickly concealed his thoughts. "Kyomu, you've convinced me. For the future of the ninja world, I agree to work with you."
Kyomu pretended not to notice Hagoromo's earlier reaction, cheerfully extending his hand. "Then, let's work together happily."
As Kyomu spoke, he discreetly spent ten gold coins to activate this month's passive skill.
In an instant, marks visible only to Kyomu appeared on both Hagoromo and Hamura's bodies—"Second Kill Mark."
Kyomu wouldn't be making his move without backup plans. The one who catches the cicada while the mantis stalks it, the true mastermind behind it all, would be none other than him!
(End of Chapter)
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