Earlier, during the decisive battle between Konoha and Kumogakure.
On the moon.
Deep within a cold palace, a white-haired old man abruptly opened his eyes on a stone bed.
"It appeared again..."
The old man struggled to sit up, pressing a withered hand against his chest.
Just now, through the Giant Tenseigan at the moon's core, he had once again sensed a fluctuation both familiar and unfamiliar.
That fluctuation came from the distant surface.
It was faint, yet exceptionally pure, as though a power of the same origin were calling out.
"How is this possible..."
The old man muttered to himself, a trace of astonishment and doubt flashing through his eyes.
Trembling, he made his way into a vast circular hall. At its center floated a gigantic golden eyeball nearly a hundred meters tall!
Golden-white light flowed across the eyeball's surface, and immense chakra surged around it as though tangible, enveloping the entire hall in its power.
It was the supreme treasure of the Moon Otsutsuki Clan-the Giant Tenseigan!
The old man walked up to the Tenseigan, slowly raised both hands, and formed an ancient seal.
Hum-
The Giant Tenseigan trembled slightly, light shifting across its surface as an invisible ripple spread outward, piercing through the moon and extending straight toward the surface.
The old man's consciousness descended to the surface with the ripple, like a deity gazing down upon the mortal world.
Moments later, he saw the plains along the Land of Fire's northeastern border, the battlefield strewn with corpses, the fleeing Kumogakure ninja, and...
The traces left by that golden pillar of light that had just dissipated.
"Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion..."
The old man whispered involuntarily, his eyes filled with shock.
Although its power fell far short of one unleashed by the moon's Tenseigan, it was undoubtedly the