The Great Otsutsuki Clan of the Sage Art Kingdom

Due to the influence of Otsutsuki Yuhao, Senju Hashirama's perspective differed somewhat from the original timeline.

In Senju Hashirama's eyes, the title of Hokage was merely a position, one that could never compare to the bond he shared with Uchiha Madara.

Following the pacification of the chaos in the Land of Fire by Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama, and the subsequent founding of the Hidden Leaf Village, the powerhouses of the other four great nations began to emulate them, quelling the internal strife within their own borders to establish their own ninja villages.

One month later, the other four major ninja villages of the Ninja World began to emerge one by one.

Sunagakure ---------- Land of Wind

Kirigakure ---------- Land of Water

Kumogakure ---------- Land of Lightning

Iwagakure ---------- Land of Earth

At the same time, countless other ninja villages of varying sizes appeared, and the Ninja World began to enter an era of ceasefire.

Of course, a large portion of the credit for this belonged to Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, who would intimidate nations still embroiled in war—one by manifesting his Susanoo, the other by summoning the Great Buddha.

Senju Hashirama was more reasonable, always trying his best to politely persuade the other side to cease hostilities, only resorting to force when persuasion failed.

Uchiha Madara, however, was different; he would suppress anyone who disagreed with a single word, using overwhelming martial might to dominate the scene.

In the Hidden Leaf Village, thanks to Senju Hashirama's Wood Release: Wood Creation Technique, countless houses and shops of all sizes had sprung up.

Bathed in the bright sunlight, every street and building in the village radiated a unique charm.

Like a vibrant painting, the lush green fields, rustic houses, and leisurely villagers combined to form a tranquil and harmonious pastoral scene.

Villagers walked along the main street, chatting and laughing, while a group of children played to their hearts' content in the fields. They chased butterflies, trying to catch those colorful wings, or raced against the wind in simple games; their laughter, like the chirping of birds in the early morning, was filled with endless joy and innocence.

These scenes would have been impossible to see even a month ago.

This only served to make Senju Hashirama more steadfast in his dream.

"Greetings, Lord Hokage!"

"Good morning, Lord Hokage!"

As Senju Hashirama walked along, many villagers greeted him with smiles, and every face was filled with a look of happiness.

Just then, Senju Hashirama caught sight of a familiar figure walking into a noodle shop ahead.

Senju Hashirama hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow and take a look.

"The flavor is good, but the variety of noodles is a bit lacking. You might want to try adding some beef offal or beef to the menu."

Otsutsuki Yuhao sat on a stool, eating the ramen on the table as he spoke to the seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth before him.

"Understood, Senior! I'll try your suggestion when I have the time."

Otsutsuki Ichiyo smiled at Otsutsuki Yuhao.

Otsutsuki Ichiyo was the father of Otsutsuki Ichiraku.

Otsutsuki Yuhao wasn't entirely sure if that was true, but he had come here to eat ramen after sensing a faint trace of his own kin.

Otsutsuki Yuhao discovered that the shop owner possessed the aura of his descendants, though Otsutsuki Ichiyo's strength was not high—roughly at the level of an elite Chunin.

He had neither the Sharingan nor the Byakugan; his body was merely slightly stronger than the average person's. He was just an ordinary man who had inherited the Otsutsuki surname.

Otsutsuki Yuhao had used the power of his Rinnegan to verify that he was indeed the father of Otsutsuki Ichiraku, though at this point in time, Otsutsuki Ichiraku had not yet been born.

During their conversation, Otsutsuki Yuhao discovered that Otsutsuki Ichiyo had actually come from the Sea Realm.

His grandfather's generation had been elite Jonin, and there was a large group of Yuhao's descendants in the Sea Realm, all of whom carried the surname Otsutsuki.

Regardless of whether they awakened the Sharingan, the Byakugan, or possessed a powerful body like the Senju clan, their surname remained Otsutsuki. At most, they were divided into the Sharingan Lineage or the Byakugan Lineage.

"It really is you! When did you arrive in the village, Senior Yuhao?"

Senju Hashirama called out in surprise upon seeing Otsutsuki Yuhao.

"I just arrived and happened to run into a fellow countryman. He came here from the Sea Realm; if you have time, you can ask him about the situation over there."

Otsutsuki Yuhao smiled at Senju Hashirama.

"Ah, I'm sorry! Lord Hokage, I grew up in the Land of Fire, so I don't know much about the Sea Realm. I'm afraid my knowledge is quite limited," Otsutsuki Ichiyo said with a bitter smile.

"Oh, I see!" Senju Hashirama nodded, looking somewhat disappointed.

"Forget it, I'll tell you about the situation in the Sea Realm myself!"

"But I haven't returned in a long time. The Sea Realm I know is likely different from what the Ninja World calls the Holy Land of Ninjas today."

"The Sea Realm doesn't have as many bloodline clans as the Ninja World. There is only one ninja clan there: the Otsutsuki clan."

"However, the Otsutsuki clan has many branch families. For instance, while the Ninja World has the Uchiha clan for the Sharingan, there they are known as the Sharingan Lineage or the Byakugan Lineage. There are also the Sage Body Lineage and the Chakra Lineage."

"The Sea Realm has only one nation: the Sage Art Kingdom."

"Ninja ranks are divided into: Genin, Chunin, Jonin, Kage-level powerhouses, and Super Kage-level powerhouses."

"Genin, Chunin, and Jonin are further divided into Special, Regular, and Elite."

"A Kage-level powerhouse is equivalent to the clan leader level here, while a Super Kage-level powerhouse is equivalent to the Super Clan Leader level."

"Both Kage-level and Super Kage-level are divided into: Regular, Elite, and Peak."

"You and Madara are roughly at the Elite Super Kage level."

Otsutsuki Yuhao said calmly.

"Hahaha, I never imagined that Madara and I were already Elite Super Kage. Then, Senior Yuhao, could it be that your current strength is at the Peak Super Kage level?"

Senju Hashirama asked curiously.

"What do you think?"

Otsutsuki Yuhao did not answer Senju Hashirama's question, but instead asked him back.

"This... this?"

Senju Hashirama fell into deep thought, recalling his past battles with Otsutsuki Yuhao.

No matter how powerful he and Madara became, Otsutsuki Yuhao always used his shadow clones to fight the two of them.

From the initial Elite Jonin clone to the current Super Kage clone, every time they thought they might be able to handle Otsutsuki Yuhao's true body, the result was always the same: Otsutsuki Yuhao could use even stronger clones to train them.

If Otsutsuki Yuhao were merely a Peak Super Kage, Senju Hashirama felt that would still be somewhat absurd.

It was only a small difference in rank, so how could the gap be so vast?

If that were the case, it shouldn't be called Peak Super Kage, but rather an existence that transcends the Super Kage level.

"Could it be above the Super Kage level?"

Senju Hashirama asked, not daring to confirm.

"Of course, and I am more than one level above you. Hahaha!"

As he spoke, Otsutsuki Yuhao laughed heartily and tore open a dimension rift.

He left behind a stunned Senju Hashirama and a bewildered Otsutsuki Ichiyo.

Otsutsuki Ichiyo was only a Chunin, and in his understanding, the [Kage] clan leader level was already incredibly formidable.

As for the Super Kage level, he didn't quite grasp it.

He only knew, roughly, that it was even more powerful than a Kage.