The Six Paths Brothers Grow Up

"By my reckoning, you've reached that day."

Nanchuan You looked at the two children before him, unable to keep a smile from spreading across his face.

Many years had passed in the blink of an eye, yet his appearance remained unchanged, fixed in the youthful visage he'd had back then under the influence of Kaguya's Chakra.

But before him, his two children had grown up, now youths nearly of age.

As his and Kaguya's children, the Hagoromo Brothers had inherited the pure bloodline of the Otsutsuki Clan, their innate talents exceptionally outstanding.

With Nanchuan You's full support over these past ten-plus years, they had grown at a rapid pace.

Now, it was about time for them to go out and train.

"If you want to leave, then go ahead."

Nanchuan You spoke: "Your days ahead are still long. While you're young, it's good to go out, see more, and experience different scenery."

"Father, you agree?"

Hearing Nanchuan You's reply, the Hagoromo Brothers felt a surge of joy in their hearts.

They had harbored the desire to go out for a long time, having applied several times before, only to be refused by Nanchuan You on the grounds that they were too young.

This time they came to apply again, expecting no different outcome, but instead received a pleasant surprise.

"In the past, I didn't let you go out because you were still very young, not yet at the age for travel and experience."

Nanchuan You said with a smile: "As for now, the situation is different."

"In another year, you'll come of age. By my reckoning, it's time for you to go out and see the world."

"Father..."

The Hagoromo Brothers were stirred with emotion.

In truth, by the standards of the ninja world, they were already old enough to be considered adults.

Some families at their age might already have wives and children.

But Nanchuan You was their father after all.

As a father, he wanted his children to stay by his side a little longer, to leave only when they had the ability to discern right from wrong.

And now, clearly, that time had come.

With that, the Hagoromo Brothers took their leave of Nanchuan You and went back to pack their bags.

In the days before their departure, they visited various places, bidding farewell to their teachers and friends.

But when they reached a certain palace, hesitation and caution crept onto their faces.

This was none other than the Kaguya Palace, where Otsutsuki Kaguya resided.

As Otsutsuki Kaguya's palace, it was decorated with grandeur and splendor, every corner exuding an air of luxury and nobility.

Everything within was adorned with the finest things.

Walking through the palace, Hagoromo and Hamura both frowned at the decor.

"Mother is still too extravagant..."

The thought crossed their minds.

Though husband and wife, Nanchuan You and Kaguya had different styles.

Nanchuan You lived simply, content as long as his basic needs were met, with no high demands for other living conditions.

But Kaguya was different.

As a member of the Otsutsuki Clan from beyond the heavens, Kaguya naturally held an aloof posture.

To put it bluntly, across the entire ninja world, aside from Nanchuan You and the Hagoromo Brothers and a few others, everyone else was nothing but ants in her eyes.

Even after spending considerable time with Nanchuan You, her views hadn't changed much.

With such a mindset, everything she used was naturally the best.

She took whatever she wanted from the entire world.

Originally, without Nanchuan You, this attitude would have inevitably led to great disaster.

After all, with Kaguya's nature, she would simply take whatever she wanted without regard for anything else.

As for how many people below died, that was utterly irrelevant.

Fortunately, with Nanchuan You around, these matters didn't cause much impact on the outside world.

Even when taking from others, different methods yielded different results.

In this regard, Nanchuan You was clearly far superior to Kaguya.

Just like planting the God Tree—Kaguya could only think of sacrificing the ninja world, while Nanchuan You could find ways to make the entire ninja world willingly contribute Chakra, achieving a sustainable cycle of exploitation and harvest.

As long as the methods were good enough, one could harvest while minimizing the impact on ordinary people, even steering things in a positive direction.

This was one of the reasons the Hagoromo Brothers held Nanchuan You in such high esteem.

In contrast, the Hagoromo Brothers held far more complex views toward Kaguya.

As their mother, they naturally cherished and protected Kaguya.

Yet beneath that affection, they also harbored considerable dissatisfaction with some of her other actions.

"Just for decoration, to waste so many Chakra Crystals..."

Hagoromo looked at the ornaments around him and the blooming garden outside, frowning inwardly.

If it were merely ordinary extravagance, given Kaguya's status, no one would have said a word.

After all, by identity, Kaguya was the Empress of the Land of Ancestors, noble and exalted—it was only fitting that she used the finest things in the world.

But there is a limit to everything.

As a member of the Otsutsuki Clan, Kaguya's greatest love was not mortal jewels or treasures, but all kinds of pure chakra.

Thus, within her palace, everywhere were creations of pure Chakra Crystal.

Inside the palace stood a statue of Kaguya herself, carved entirely from pure Chakra Crystal.

The Chakra Crystal consumed for that single statue alone equaled the amount extracted by a million people in one year.

Behind the palace lay a vast Chakra Garden, planted with all sorts of chakra-devouring plants, whose yearly consumption of Chakra Crystal was incalculable.

Adding Kaguya's own absorption, merely sustaining her required the yearly chakra output of countless people.

If all that consumption could have been put to proper use, how many things could have been accomplished?

Walking deep into the palace, the Hagoromo Brothers found Kaguya in the garden.

She understood their purpose in coming but said nothing, still wearing that same indifferent expression, as if no emotion stirred within her.

To her, the entire Land of Ancestors was like her own family's territory.

Traveling within one's own territory was akin to an inspection—naturally, there was nothing to discuss.

As for danger, it was utterly beneath mention.

With the Hagoromo Brothers' current strength, no one in the entire Land of Ancestors could harm them.

"When you've had your fill of play, remember to return early."

She spoke flatly, saying nothing more, simply gazing at the blooming flowers before her.

From beginning to end, Kaguya's tone and demeanor remained cold and calm, forming a stark contrast to Nanchuan You's concern.

Before her, the Hagoromo Brothers looked at Kaguya, seeming to want to speak but holding back.

In the end, they said nothing at all, silently withdrawing.