In the garden before them, Namikawa Yū wore a faint smile, his manner as gentle as ever, soothing the anxiety in the two children's hearts.
At the sound of Namikawa Yū's voice, Hagoromo and Hamura immediately felt at peace.
"Father."
Standing where they were, they bowed respectfully, regaining their composure.
"We came to ask you a few questions."
Hagoromo's expression grew serious as he said, "They're about the God Tree."
"The God Tree?"
Hearing Hagoromo's words, Namikawa Yū's thoughts stirred. He already realized what Hagoromo was about to say.
Sure enough, Hagoromo's questions were exactly what he had expected.
"I don't know much about the God Tree's origins either. I only know that it is a divine object that descended here with your mother."
Namikawa Yū considered for a moment, then began explaining his understanding of the God Tree.
He hid nothing, both because he did not want to and because there was no need.
The Hagoromo Brothers before him were not outsiders, but his children.
He felt there was nothing in this world he could not discuss with his own children, and he had no intention of concealing anything.
As they listened to Namikawa Yū's account, the Hagoromo Brothers gradually relaxed.
"Nourishing the God Tree requires enormous amounts of chakra and life force."
Before them, Namikawa Yū spoke softly. "That is also why I regularly extract chakra from the people and offer it to the God Tree."
"Otherwise, we couldn't meet the demands of its growth."
"As for life force, that is also essential."
"Father, do you know how many people are killed or injured each year to sustain the God Tree?"
Hagoromo's face was solemn. "Too many..."
"Who knows how many people die every year for this God Tree?"
"Many of them never needed to die, but to nourish the God Tree, even people who committed only minor offenses are ultimately sent to the Temple to be sacrificed to it."
"Those people should have had a chance to turn over a new leaf. Their lives shouldn't have been taken so lightly."
There were very few criminals in the Land of Ancestors now.
That was because, in the present Land of Ancestors, most people who committed crimes were ultimately sent to the God Tree as sacrifices.
To be honest, the process was somewhat cruel.
Some people's crimes might not have warranted a death sentence at all, yet they were now sacrificed to the God Tree.
"Sacrifices are always necessary."
Namikawa Yū spoke softly. "And this is only temporary."
"Over the past two years, far fewer people have been used to nourish the God Tree."
"Most of the life force needed for the God Tree's growth now comes from livestock."
"You know this yourselves."
The God Tree's growth required enormous amounts of life force, but that life force did not necessarily have to come from humans.
The life force of various domestic animals could serve the same purpose.
That was why, years earlier, Namikawa Yū had vigorously developed animal husbandry, intending to replace living human sacrifices with various large domestic animals and thereby reduce the proportion of human sacrifices.
As time passed and productive capacity continued to develop, the day would come when human sacrifice became history and no longer existed on a large scale.
Hearing this, the Hagoromo Brothers' expressions softened slightly.
They had previously been responsible for judging criminals, so they naturally knew this as well.
Over the past two years, the number of people sacrificed to the God Tree had already begun to decline gradually.
Judging by this, Namikawa Yū had made the relevant preparations.
Once enough time had passed, the situation with human sacrifice would improve greatly.
"What about natural energy, then?"
Hagoromo spoke again. "Chakra can be extracted regularly, and livestock can provide life force, but natural energy isn't so easily replenished."
"If the God Tree is allowed to keep draining it without restraint, I'm afraid our world won't be far from depletion."
"That is indeed a major problem, but we have no other choice."
Namikawa Yū shook his head. "As I just told you, your mother's clansmen will track her here sooner or later."
"When that time comes, whether we choose to resist or hand over the Divine Tree Fruit to complete the mission, the fruit on the God Tree will be indispensable."
"And after that fruit has formed?"
Hagoromo fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "People are always greedy, some individuals especially so."
"Father, I understand your intentions, and I know how important that fruit is."
"But I am still worried."
He let out a long sigh, then said, "Given Mother's temperament, will she really be willing to stop after obtaining that Chakra Fruit?"
Hearing his words, Hamura opened his mouth beside him, wanting to say something, but in the end, he merely sighed and said nothing.
Both of them were Otsutsuki Kaguya's children. After so many years together, they knew her disposition all too well.
Given Kaguya's temperament, once the next fruit formed, would she truly be willing to stop of her own accord and spare this world, rather than let the God Tree keep growing and continue trying to produce another Chakra Fruit?
The Hagoromo Brothers thought it was hard to say.
If it were Namikawa Yū, he would naturally keep his word. The Hagoromo Brothers believed their father possessed such foresight and self-restraint.
But with Otsutsuki Kaguya, it really was hard to say.
Given Kaguya's temperament, she had never been one to consider other people's difficulties.
The lives and deaths of this world's mortals had even less to do with her.
She was a lofty deity from beyond this world, and whether in the past or the future, her gaze would rest only on Namikawa Yū.
As for whether others lived or died?
What did that have to do with her?
This world had deep reserves. Perhaps the natural energy remaining within it was still enough to support the God Tree in producing a second Chakra Fruit.
But what came after that?
There was no end to human greed.
That was especially true of a god's greed.
"So when that time comes, you will need to step in."
Looking at the Hagoromo Brothers before him, Namikawa Yū spoke softly.
"Us?"
The Hagoromo Brothers froze.
"I imagine you know your mother's temperament."
Namikawa Yū's expression was calm. "If what you foresee really happens, then naturally, you will be the only ones who can stop your mother."
"Perhaps that is why the Toad Sage approached you. In this world, the only ones who might be able to stop Kaguya are you, her children."
"Father... you?"
Hagoromo and Hamura looked at Namikawa Yū before them, their faces filled with astonishment.
Namikawa Yū and Kaguya had always treated one another with courtesy and respect.
Their earlier concerns had actually stemmed from their fear that Namikawa Yū would stand firmly on their mother's side and become their enemy.
But judging by the situation now, that did not seem to be the case?