"Father, Toneri is neither a flower in a greenhouse nor an infant in swaddling clothes. Toneri needs to weather storms. If I keep living under your protection, when will I ever truly spread my wings and soar?"
Otsutsuki Toneri answered without hesitation, his delicate, adorable little face filled with unwavering resolve.
Go back to the moon? Grow up for a few more years?
Not happening! Absolutely not!
He had had enough of that damned place. He absolutely would not go back, not in this lifetime...
Well, actually, I will still have to go back someday...
"And Father, please trust Toneri. Trust your son. Nothing will happen to me! Please, you must let Toneri stay in the Shinobi World!"
Seeing hesitation appear on Otsutsuki Yuku's face, Otsutsuki Toneri hurried to press his advantage.
No matter what, he had to seize this opportunity to stay in the Shinobi World. If Otsutsuki Yuku flatly refused...
Then he could only take a gamble and run away with Otsutsuki Quxian that night!
The struggle on Otsutsuki Yuku's face deepened at those words, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. He very much did not want his child to remain on this already twisted, chaotic continent.
But...
Looking at the expression on Otsutsuki Toneri's face, Otsutsuki Yuku could not help sighing deeply inwardly.
This child has never pleaded with me like this before, has he?
Indeed, never. Perhaps because of the veiled mockery he had experienced when he was little, his temperament had always been far more mature than that of his peers.
Very well... very well...
"All right. Since this is your decision, Toneri, I agree," Otsutsuki Yuku said with a hint of weariness. At that moment, he truly could not bear to part with him, and he was deeply worried about this child's safety and future.
But this was his decision, after all!
"Thank you, Father! Toneri absolutely won't disappoint you!" Uncontainable joy appeared on Otsutsuki Toneri's face at those words. He had succeeded!
Just as I thought, using gaining experience as an excuse gives me a very high chance of success!
Otsutsuki Toneri rejoiced inwardly. With permission secured, he had nothing more to worry about.
He had finally broken free of that foolish clan on the moon and become his own man!
His chance to put his abilities to work had arrived, too!
"Heh... but I must still remind you: on this continent, you must be careful in everything you do! Whoever stole the statue is certainly no ordinary person!"
Seeing Otsutsuki Toneri's delighted expression, Otsutsuki Yuku could not help smiling faintly. Still, he then gave him a solemn reminder.
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had definitely been stolen by someone from the Shinobi World. There was no doubt about that!
And to reach the moon undetected and take away such an enormous Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, that ninja undoubtedly possessed extremely formidable Space-Time Ninjutsu.
That was Otsutsuki Yuku's deduction. Otherwise, there was simply no explaining how such an enormous Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had been taken away without the slightest disturbance.
"Yes, Toneri will be very careful." Otsutsuki Toneri answered respectfully, though inwardly he could not help finding it rather strange and amusing.
Of course the person who stole the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path is no ordinary person. He is Madara Uchiha! The second human in hundreds of years to awaken the Rinnegan through his own efforts!
But Madara Uchiha is already dead now...
"I trust you, Toneri. In both talent and intellect, you are extraordinarily gifted. Your future will undoubtedly be brilliant! I don't know why you are so fixated on power, but I believe you have your own considerations. Still, take care. Be careful in everything you do..."
Otsutsuki Yuku nodded in satisfaction, then solemnly cautioned Otsutsuki Toneri. Yet by the end, he still let out a helpless sigh.
He did not understand why Otsutsuki Toneri was so eager to improve his strength, but he trusted Otsutsuki Toneri, and that was enough.
"Father..." At those words, Otsutsuki Toneri froze briefly, then could not help feeling somewhat conflicted.
This father really did treat him very well.
(New book, asking for all your support! There'll be extra updates! Meow, meow, meow?)
Chapter 10: That Kid Is Actually Blind! Fourth Update!
"Since you want to stay in the Shinobi World, we'll need to change our itinerary. Do you still want to go to Konoha?" Otsutsuki Yuku disregarded the complicated expression on Otsutsuki Toneri's face and asked with a soft laugh.
This child, who does he think I, Otsutsuki Yuku, am?
I am his father. Isn't it perfectly normal for me to care about him?
But since Otsutsuki Toneri wanted to stay on this continent to gain experience, their itinerary did indeed need to change.
"Yes. Toneri wants to visit Konoha and see that branch of our kin." Otsutsuki Toneri composed himself, then turned his face toward the sky and spoke slowly.
The Hyuga Clan descended directly from the bloodline Hamura Otsutsuki had left on the Shinobi World's continent, inheriting his purest Byakugan bloodline.
The Ōtsutsuki Clan on the moon, meanwhile, had inherited Hamura Otsutsuki's pure Otsutsuki bloodline.
The relationship between the two was actually just like that between Hagoromo Otsutsuki's two sons: Indra of the Sage Eyes and Asura of the Sage Body!
He had to visit the Hyuga Clan. His eyes required the Hyuga Clan's purest Byakugan!
"Since that is your wish, Toneri, naturally I support you! But Toneri, since you have already made your decision, I will no longer be traveling with you. Do you understand?"
Hamura Otsutsuki nodded in understanding, then addressed Otsutsuki Toneri solemnly.
No matter how worried he was about his son, since he had already agreed to let him stay in the Shinobi World, Otsutsuki Yuku naturally would not continue accompanying him.
There were still many matters on the moon awaiting his attention, and he could not stay with Otsutsuki Toneri for very long.
After all, he had originally only intended to bring Otsutsuki Toneri to take a look at the Shinobi World before returning.
"Of course. Father, you can leave without worry." Otsutsuki Toneri nodded in understanding, then smiled.
Otsutsuki Yuku's departure would have little effect on him.
After all, with his current strength, Otsutsuki Toneri was more than capable of protecting himself while the truly powerful figures had yet to appear.
"...Be careful in everything. If... never mind. Konoha isn't far from here. This is a map of the Shinobi World. Quxian, take it, and look after Toneri." Otsutsuki Yuku fell silent for a while, then sighed softly, leaving those words unsaid.
This headstrong son probably wouldn't listen anyway, would he?
Otsutsuki Yuku then took out a rolled-up map and handed it to Otsutsuki Quxian. Only now did he understand why Otsutsuki Toneri had wanted to bring Otsutsuki Quxian along...
This child probably planned it all from the start!
"Yes, Clan Head. Quxian absolutely won't let anything happen to the young master!" Otsutsuki Quxian took the map and gave Otsutsuki Yuku her earnest assurance.
Although Otsutsuki Toneri's decision had surprised her too, as far as she was concerned, everything was fine as long as she could follow her young master.
"Father, please... take good care of yourself!" Seeing Otsutsuki Yuku preparing to leave, Otsutsuki Toneri hesitated, but still said those words.
It should be all right, shouldn't it? Otsutsuki Toneri thought.
In the original story, the Otsutsuki Branch Family and the Ōtsutsuki Main Family had fought until nearly everyone was dead or wounded. In the end, the Branch Family had used the Giant Tenseigan, formed by fusing countless Byakugan, to wipe out the Ōtsutsuki Main Family.
That meant this civil war had undoubtedly ended in the Branch Family's victory, though it was actually little different from a draw...
After all, Otsutsuki Toneri had been the Branch Family's sole survivor.
Otsutsuki Toneri frowned slightly in thought. His original plan had actually been to ignore the Ōtsutsuki Clan's affairs.
Let them fight among themselves until both sides were ruined and ultimately destroyed each other.
But...
"Don't worry, Toneri. I won't fail." Otsutsuki Yuku paused at his words, then smiled faintly and left after offering that confident statement.
Naturally, he understood what Otsutsuki Toneri meant: beware of the Main Family. But in his view, their Branch Family was certain to win!
That was his boldness as Otsutsuki Yuku, and his invincible conviction as a powerful man!
Very well... if you're still alive the next time I return to the moon, I won't stand idly by, Otsutsuki Toneri sighed inwardly as he sensed Otsutsuki Yuku moving farther and farther away.
He had his own will as a powerful man, and his resolve would not waver easily. Yet at that moment, Otsutsuki Yuku's fatherly love had still given him some thoughts.
Still, it was no great problem. He would see when the time came.
It was too early to discuss this now.
Otsutsuki Toneri and Otsutsuki Quxian then continued onward. Now that he was free, Otsutsuki Toneri was in quite a good mood.
It was already approaching afternoon on the continent, so Otsutsuki Toneri decided to find somewhere to have lunch first.
After all, he was still flesh and blood. Although he possessed the purest Otsutsuki bloodline, his current strength had not yet reached the point where he could go without food.
They found a restaurant, and Otsutsuki Quxian looked inside. It was very crowded, but there was still an empty table in the corner.
"Young master, let's sit over there." Knowing that Otsutsuki Toneri could not see, Otsutsuki Quxian took him by the hand and led him over.
Although Otsutsuki Toneri's sensory abilities had already reached an extremely high level, Otsutsuki Quxian still arranged everything for him, down to the smallest detail.
"Hey, look. He can't even open his eyes. That kid is actually blind."
"Haha, that cripple must be from some clan, right? He really is pretty."
"Tsk, tsk... that little wench is quite a beauty..."
As soon as they saw the pair, nearly everyone eating there turned to look, then began whispering among themselves.
Both Otsutsuki Toneri and Otsutsuki Quxian had exceptionally delicate features. Dressed in flowing, luxurious sage robes, they had a distinguished air that naturally drew attention.
Hearing those whispers, Otsutsuki Quxian's delicate face darkened. Although they were speaking very quietly, she could naturally hear them with her considerable strength.
And if she could hear them, that meant Otsutsuki Toneri...
Could hear them too!
(Still asking for all your support!)
Chapter 11: The Perfect Maid! Fifth Update!
A cold gleam flashed in Otsutsuki Quxian's pure Byakugan, and she wanted to lash out on the spot. She would never allow anyone to insult her young master!
Before you continue