"Whoosh!"
In the dead of night, a figure swiftly moved through the Royal Capital, constantly concealing himself and avoiding the patrolling guards.
Within the silent cemetery, Hyuga Setsuna emerged from a shadowy corner. His Byakugan was already activated as he gazed at a tombstone near the center of the cemetery.
"So the God Tree Shard is here."
"No body? Is that because of the God Tree Shard?"
His Byakugan saw through the tombstone and into the coffin, where there was only a string of prayer beads. Red light occasionally flashed across them, as though they had sensed something.
Hyuga Setsuna quickly approached the tombstone near the center. As he looked at it, surprise flashed through his eyes.
"Akishinomiya Shiori, the Daimyo's wife?"
Shiori's name, photograph, and life story were clearly engraved upon the tombstone.
Hyuga Setsuna looked at the delicate and beautiful young woman in the photograph. She did indeed bear some resemblance to Grandma Shiori in her old age.
He carefully read the inscription detailing her life.
Born during the Warring States Period, before the Land of Fire and Konoha had been established... Was she from the same era as Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju? No... perhaps even earlier?
She died in the tenth year of the Land of Fire.
Thoughtfulness filled Hyuga Setsuna's eyes. In other words, Grandma Shiori was Akishinomiya Yuri's grandmother, or perhaps even great-grandmother?
Did Akishinomiya Yuri know about this?
Or had Grandma Shiori never told her?
At that moment, Otsutsuki Kaguya urged him from within the Sealing Space.
"Setsuna, my Ten-Tails, the God Tree Shard, is below!"
Thinking of the Ten-Tails, which had been separated from her for a thousand years, returning to her—even if it was only a tiny fragment—filled Otsutsuki Kaguya with great joy.
After hearing Otsutsuki Kaguya's urging, Hyuga Setsuna stepped