Father and Son

In the garden before him, Nanchuan You wore a faint smile, his demeanor as gentle as ever, soothing the anxiety in the two children's hearts.

Listening to Nanchuan You's voice, Hagoromo and Hamura's moods instantly calmed.

"Father."

Standing in place, they bowed respectfully, their composure restored.

"We came this time to ask you a few questions."

Hagoromo's expression turned serious as he spoke: "They're about the Divine Tree."

"The Divine Tree?"

Hearing Hagoromo's words, Nanchuan You's heart stirred, already realizing what Hagoromo was about to say next.

Sure enough, the questions Hagoromo asked next were exactly what he had anticipated.

"As for the Divine Tree's origins, I don't know much either—only that it's a divine object that descended alongside your mother back then."

Nanchuan You pondered for a moment, then spoke, recounting his understanding of the Divine Tree.

He held nothing back—not because he didn't want to, but because there was no need.

The Hagoromo Brothers before him were no outsiders; they were his children.

In this world, he felt there was nothing he couldn't share with his own children, with no intention of concealment.

Listening to Nanchuan You's account, the Hagoromo Brothers gradually relaxed.

"The Divine Tree's nourishment requires vast amounts of Chakra and life force."

Before them, Nanchuan You spoke softly: "That's why I periodically extract Chakra from the people and offer it to the Divine Tree."

"Without this, there's no way to meet the Divine Tree's growth needs."

"As for life force, that too is essential."

"Father, do you know how many people die each year to sustain the Divine Tree?"

Hagoromo's face was stern: "Too many..."

"For the sake of this Divine Tree, countless people perish every single year."

"Many of them didn't need to die, but to feed the Divine Tree, even those who committed only minor crimes are ultimately sent to the Temple to be sacrificed to it."

"Those people should have had a chance to turn their lives around—they shouldn't have died so easily."

Nowadays, the number of criminals in the Land of Ancestors is very low.

Because in this current Land of Ancestors, most criminals who commit any offense end up being sent to the Divine Tree as sacrifices.

To be honest, this process is somewhat cruel.

Some people's crimes may not have warranted the death penalty at all, yet now they're being offered to the Divine Tree.

"Sacrifice is always necessary."

Nanchuan You spoke softly: "And it's only temporary."

"In the past two years, the number of people feeding the Divine Tree has already decreased significantly."

"Now, most of the life force required for the Divine Tree's growth is provided by livestock."

"You're both aware of this."

The Divine Tree's growth requires immense life force, but that life force doesn't necessarily have to come from humans.

The life force from various livestock can achieve the same purpose.

So in the early years, Nanchuan You vigorously developed animal husbandry, aiming to replace human sacrifices with large livestock, thereby reducing the proportion of live human offerings.

As time passes and productivity continues to develop, one day, human sacrifice will become history, no longer existing on a large scale.

Hearing this, the Hagoromo Brothers' expressions eased slightly.

They had previously been in charge of judging criminals, so they were naturally aware of this.

Over the past two years, the number of people sacrificed to the Divine Tree had shown a gradual decline.

From this situation, it was clear that Nanchuan You had made corresponding preparations on this matter.

Once enough time passed, the situation of live human sacrifice would greatly improve.

"And what about Natural Energy?"

Hagoromo spoke again: "Chakra can be extracted periodically, life force can be provided by livestock, but the regeneration of Natural Energy isn't so easy."

"If we let the Divine Tree keep draining it recklessly, the world we live in may not be far from depletion."

"This is indeed a major problem, but we have no other choice."

Nanchuan You shook his head: "As I told you earlier, your mother's clansmen will eventually track us here."

"By then, whether we choose to resist or to hand over the Divine Tree Fruit and complete the mission, the fruit on that tree will be indispensable."

"And after that fruit is produced?"

Hagoromo fell silent for a moment, then spoke again: "Human hearts are always greedy—some individuals especially so."

"Father, I can understand your intentions, and I also know the importance of that fruit."

"But I am still worried."

He let out a long sigh, then spoke: "With Mother's temperament, after obtaining that Chakra Fruit, will she truly be willing to stop?"

Hearing his words, Hamura beside him opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end only sighed and said nothing.

They were both children of Otsutsuki Kaguya, and after years of living together, they understood Otsutsuki Kaguya's nature all too well.

With Kaguya's personality, after the next fruit ripened, would she truly be willing to stop of her own accord, spare this world, rather than letting the God Tree continue to grow and try to bear another Chakra Fruit?

The Hagoromo Brothers found it hard to say.

If it were Nanchuan You, he could naturally keep his word—the Hagoromo Brothers believed their father possessed such long-term vision and self-restraint.

But if it were Otsutsuki Kaguya, it was truly hard to say.

With Kaguya's nature, she had never been one to consider others' difficulties.

The life and death of mortals in this world had nothing to do with her.

She was a heavenly deity high above, her gaze in past and future only ever lingering on Nanchuan You.

As for the life and death of others?

What did that have to do with her?

This world had deep foundations; perhaps the Natural Energy remaining in it could still sustain the God Tree in bearing a second Chakra Fruit.

But what came after that?

Human greed knows no bounds.

Divine greed is especially so.

"So when that time comes, you two will need to step in."

Nanchuan You looked at the Hagoromo Brothers before him, speaking softly now.

"Us?"

The Hagoromo Brothers were stunned.

"You know your mother's nature well."

Nanchuan You's expression was calm: "If the scenario you envision truly comes to pass, then the only ones who can stop your mother will naturally be you."

"Perhaps this is why the Toad Sage sought you out—because in this world, the only ones who might possibly stop Kaguya are you, her children."

"Father... you?"

Hagoromo and Hamura stared at Nanchuan You before them, their faces now filled with shock.

From past to present, Nanchuan You and Kaguya had always treated each other with respect.

Before this, the reason they had worried was actually that they feared Nanchuan You would firmly stand on their mother's side and become their enemy.

But from the current situation, it seemed that was not the case?