But by a rough estimate, several hours should have passed.
"Grandmother, it's getting late. I'll come visit you again next time," Otsutsuki Toneri told Kaguya Ōtsutsuki with a soft laugh.
He had to go to the Shinobi World tomorrow. It was an excellent opportunity, and he had no intention of returning once he left.
By the time he set foot on the moon again, the Ōtsutsuki Clan would presumably have been wiped out completely.
"...In that case, go," Kaguya Ōtsutsuki said calmly, momentarily taken aback by his words before a ripple stirred in her eyes.
Although she very much enjoyed having someone to talk to, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki also understood that Otsutsuki Toneri could not stay with her for too long.
After all, he still needed to grow, and she also hoped he would grow up soon enough to help undo her seal.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki would not lose sight of what mattered for something secondary.
"All right, Grandmother. Give me a hug." A trace of a smile appeared on Otsutsuki Toneri's delicate face, his eyes tightly shut. Then he stepped forward and hugged Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's legs...
Well, he was still short. That was as high as he could reach...
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki froze, a trace of astonishment appearing in her utterly pure Byakugan. Then, after a moment's thought, she looked at the adorable child before her, gently placed her palm on Otsutsuki Toneri's head, and softly stroked it.
This child...
A glimmer flickered in Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's eyes. He seemed very fond of her, his affection entirely undisguised.
It had been a very, very long time since she had felt affection like that.
But Kaguya Ōtsutsuki did not dwell on it, simply assuming that this child regarded her as family.
They were indeed family, relatives who shared the same bloodline.
Otsutsuki Toneri pressed his face against Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's kimono, and a faint fragrance drifted into his nose.
He could not describe the scent, but it was very pleasant and left him feeling somewhat refreshed and at ease.
"Grandmother, I'll come visit you again next time. It won't be long. Grandmother, please believe in me." After a long while, Otsutsuki Toneri released Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and spoke to her with a smile.
The resolve in his words allowed no doubt!
"I believe in you. You're an exceptional child! Go on." At his words, the corners of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's lips could not help lifting slightly into an extremely faint smile. A hint of warmth entered her voice, unlike her earlier cool composure.
This child truly was different, and Kaguya Ōtsutsuki had come to understand that.
He truly trusted her and felt close to her. As the Rabbit Goddess, she could easily sense those feelings.
"Grandmother, you look so beautiful when you smile." Otsutsuki Toneri tilted his head, his innocent child's voice young and sincere. He looked utterly adorable, though his eyes remained tightly shut, which was a pity.
However, the Rinnegan in his palm allowed him to see the outside world.
Even with only a faint smile, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki was still breathtakingly beautiful.
"You aren't the first to say that. Unfortunately..." A look of reminiscence flashed through Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's eyes before she sighed softly.
Yes, her children had actually said the same thing to her back then, but in the end, they had betrayed her!
They could not understand her actions. Their wills ran counter to hers, and they had even fought her to the death before finally sealing her away.
"Don't be sad, Grandmother. I won't disappoint you," Otsutsuki Toneri said with a soft laugh. Naturally, he understood whom Kaguya Ōtsutsuki meant.
But that would never happen. He could not possibly disappoint Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
From the moment he decided to meet Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, he had already chosen the path he would take in the future, as well as the enemies he would face.
It was only the entire Shinobi World. So what if they were all his opponents?
He, Otsutsuki Toneri, had long since prepared himself!
"Focus on getting stronger first. Your current strength really is rather lacking." Kaguya Ōtsutsuki smiled faintly without expressing any stance.
A single statement proved nothing. Kaguya Ōtsutsuki understood that very well. Human lies were the most terrifying weapons of all.
"..." Otsutsuki Toneri fell silent. How had the subject turned back to his strength again?
He was only seven! Having his current strength was already astonishing, all right?
Fine, you're strong, you're amazing. Sorry to bother you.
"No need to be like that. You still have time to grow. Consider this a first-meeting gift from your grandmother." Kaguya Ōtsutsuki naturally noticed Otsutsuki Toneri's silence, and her faint smile seemed to deepen a little.
She extended a slender finger, and a ball of white light flickered into being before slowly flying into the point between Otsutsuki Toneri's brows.
"Grandmother?" Sensing the additional images and memories in his mind, Otsutsuki Toneri looked toward Kaguya Ōtsutsuki with delight.
Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack! All-Killing Ash Bones! Expansive Truth-Seeking Orb! Yomotsu Hirasaka!
There were also techniques of every nature and more. Kaguya Ōtsutsuki had actually given Otsutsuki Toneri all her techniques!
Aside from Amenominaka, the ocular technique exclusive to her own Nine-Tomoe Rinne Sharingan, she had held almost nothing back!
"You possess a bloodline that is no less impressive than my own, and you have awakened the Rinnegan. You can learn all these techniques," Kaguya Ōtsutsuki said with a faint smile. She had sensed Otsutsuki Toneri's surging emotions.
This also brought a feeling called happiness into her otherwise tranquil heart.
"Thank you, Grandmother!" Otsutsuki Toneri hugged Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's legs again. She really was a super boss!
This gift was truly lavish!
The Ōtsutsuki Clan's reserves really were outrageously vast!
(Please bookmark and send flowers, darlings!)
Chapter 7: Entering the Shinobi Continent! First update!
After leaving the sealed space, Otsutsuki Toneri moved Hamura Otsutsuki's stone statue back into its original position.
Then, looking at the statue, Otsutsuki Toneri could not help sinking into thought.
Now that he had reached an agreement with Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, he could begin carrying out the next stage of his plan.
Tomorrow, Otsutsuki Yuku would take him to the Shinobi World Continent. No matter what, he had to seize this opportunity to break free of his restraints and regain his freedom.
He also needed to make arrangements for his eyes as soon as possible. Always relying on perception and the Rinnegan in his palm to see was no solution.
The Hyuga Clan's pure Byakugan...
At this thought, Otsutsuki Toneri could not help frowning slightly. This actually would not be particularly difficult for him, but he had yet to settle on a target.
I'll see tomorrow. Otsutsuki Toneri settled his thoughts, took one last, long look at Hamura Otsutsuki's stone statue, then turned and left the shrine.
Hamura Otsutsuki, a being who possessed the Tenseigan, which represented the powers of creation and destruction, had actually been worn away by time!
Ridiculous!
The next day, with Otsutsuki Quxian's assistance, Otsutsuki Toneri put on his sage robe and washed up. Then they went to see Otsutsuki Yuku together.
"Quxian, would you like to come to the Shinobi World Continent with me?" Otsutsuki Toneri asked Otsutsuki Quxian with a soft laugh along the way.
He was very satisfied with this maid. Her Otsutsuki bloodline was also extremely concentrated, making her a promising talent. With proper nurturing, she might well prove highly useful.
It would be far too much of a shame to leave her to die in the Otsutsuki civil war.
He had no intention of returning anytime soon after leaving the moon this time, so he might as well take Otsutsuki Quxian along.
"Wherever you go, young master, I'll follow." A trace of joy appeared on Otsutsuki Quxian's delicate face, and her pure Byakugan flickered slightly.
She had already had that thought herself, but if Otsutsuki Toneri had not brought it up, she really would have been too embarrassed to ask.
"Then I'll be troubling you to keep looking after me from now on," Otsutsuki Toneri said with a soft laugh. The deeper meaning in his words left Otsutsuki Quxian rather puzzled.
From now on?
Of course I should be the one looking after the young master from now on. Otsutsuki Quxian frowned slightly. She truly did not understand what Otsutsuki Toneri meant.
The two soon arrived at the top of the castle, where Otsutsuki Yuku was already waiting.
"Father." Otsutsuki Toneri bowed slightly. This was the etiquette for showing respect to one's elders, something Otsutsuki Toneri had always observed thoroughly.
Etiquette was still quite necessary.
"Toneri, let's go." Otsutsuki Yuku glanced briefly at Otsutsuki Quxian, who stood behind Otsutsuki Toneri, and spoke calmly.
He did know this personal maid of Otsutsuki Toneri's. She was also an exceptionally talented young girl.
Had her elders not died of illness, leaving her with no one to take her in, and had Otsutsuki Toneri not brought her back, her circumstances would probably not have been so good now.
The strife within the Otsutsuki was simply too fierce.
The three headed straight to the Transportation Array. In fact, there was more than one Transportation Array connecting the moon and the Shinobi World.
Aside from the large Transportation Array that could accommodate many people, there were actually several smaller, simpler Transportation Arrays.
However, they could not transport too many people at a time.
Otsutsuki Toneri and the other two arrived before the Transportation Array. After they stepped inside, Otsutsuki Yuku poured a surge of chakra into its formation.
A flash of white light passed, and the three vanished from the spot.
In a valley within the Land of Fire on the Shinobi World Continent, Otsutsuki Toneri and the other two appeared.
"So this is the Shinobi World Continent!" Otsutsuki Toneri tilted his head up slightly, breathing in the fresh air so utterly different from that on the moon.
His delicate, adorable face took on an irrepressible look of excitement, so intense that it even became somewhat contorted!
The Shinobi World Continent! He had finally arrived!
The crimson Rinnegan in his left palm opened slightly. Otsutsuki Toneri could no longer wait to see this world!
"Toneri, we should be within the Land of Fire, but... hmm?" Otsutsuki Yuku looked at Otsutsuki Toneri with amusement.
He could not understand why his son, who was usually so calm and mild-mannered, was so excited to arrive in the Shinobi World.
Just as he was about to discuss their next destination, Otsutsuki Yuku suddenly frowned and looked in one direction with displeasure.
Otsutsuki Toneri also noticed Otsutsuki Yuku's unusual reaction. Extending his perception slightly, he could not help curling his lips into a smile.
Sure enough, this was the Shinobi World Continent, after all!
Not far ahead, a dozen or so burly men in ragged clothes were charging toward them menacingly.
"Hmph! As expected, this Shinobi World! This continent!" Otsutsuki Yuku's eyes cooled slightly, and his words held no warmth.
Before you continue