While Hyuga Sho observed the changes in the Shinobi World...
Beyond Earth, high above the planet.
More precisely... the moon.
The void suddenly split apart, breaking into chunks that turned black one after another. In the end, it became a pitch-black space, seemingly connecting two different times and spaces.
Then...
A figure walked out of the rift in space and time.
He wore a white robe, its style differing from that of the ninja in the Shinobi World.
To be more precise...
It was somewhat similar to the style of Puppet Kaguya-hime.
Only... it was the male version.
His attire, styled after that of a thousand years ago, hinted at his uniqueness and difference.
Those Byakugan, exactly like those of the Hyuga Clan, swept left and right.
A forehead protector with a notch missing served as an ornament between his brows.
"Is this the place...?"
Otsutsuki Urashiki floated through space. His gaze crossed the moon and glanced at the planet below.
The azure Earth reflected in his eyes.
Otsutsuki Urashiki sensed the surroundings for a moment, then curled his lips into a faintly mocking smile.
"Before Momoshiki and the others arrive, I'll confirm things first..."
The world of Kaguya Otsutsuki...
As his voice faded, Otsutsuki Urashiki leaned forward and flew down toward the Shinobi World...
Three days later... Konohagakure.
"Hayate..."
Uzuki Yugao knelt on one knee before Gekko Hayate's grave.
Gekko Hayate was still dead.
Three days earlier, someone had discovered his body.
Gekko Hayate's expression at the time of his death had been one of terror, as if he had seen something extremely frightening.
And the cause of his death was very strange...
Gekko Hayate... had died by suicide.
That was right.
It wasn't murder, but suicide.
This was truly bewildering.
Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao had already