But even so, that did not diminish Otsutsuki Toneri's interest in Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.
After all, this fellow had taught three immensely influential disciples. The fearsome reputation of the Sannin-sex, gambling, and drugs-had spread throughout the Shinobi World.
"Otsutsuki Toneri, was it? What an unusual name. I hope you won't mind if I call you Toneri," Kurenai Yuhi said with a smile after her brows drew together slightly.
She had never heard the surname Otsutsuki before.
Beside her, Asuma Sarutobi was also frowning in thought. Judging by this polite boy's elegant bearing, he must have received an excellent education.
But was there an Ōtsutsuki Clan anywhere in the Shinobi World?
(Please support me in every way!)
Chapter 13: What's Your Father's Surname? Seventh update
"Not at all. Have you two just returned from a mission?" Otsutsuki Toneri smiled, then shook his head at Kurenai Yuhi and asked softly.
As the foremost ninja village in the Shinobi World, Konoha maintained extremely strict entry and exit records, and Otsutsuki Toneri and his companion had only just come down from the moon.
With these two ninja accompanying them, they could enter Konoha with ease.
"That's right. Toneri, you look so young. Are the two of you traveling alone?" Kurenai Yuhi nodded, then asked curiously, seemingly in passing.
After all, these two children were far too young. Otsutsuki Toneri looked only seven or eight, while the girl was at most a little over ten.
"Ah, yes. My father passed away not long ago. I've always wanted to see the continent. Although I'm blind, I'd still like to experience its sights."
Otsutsuki Toneri sighed softly at her question, then gave a bright, innocent smile. Together with his delicate, adorable face, it made him seem full of sunshine.
Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma fell briefly silent at his words. Seeing the world-what a modest goal.
For ordinary people, nothing could have been easier.
But this child...
"I see... That's quite a wonderful dream. But the continent isn't safe. Perhaps you could wait until you're a little older, Toneri." After a moment of silence, Kurenai Yuhi spoke with a touch of heartache in her voice.
This child was not even ten, yet he had lost his sight forever. It was truly a pity.
And his cheerful yet complicated tone said a great deal. Perhaps this child, who now seemed so mature...
His childhood must have been difficult. After all, a blind child was bound to be shunned by his peers, or even bullied.
"That's right, Toneri. If you're going to Konoha, you could stay there for a while. Konoha would be very happy to welcome you." Asuma also gave a hearty, friendly smile. He was an outgoing, easygoing man.
Although he still harbored some wariness toward the two children, Otsutsuki Toneri's politeness and hopeful attitude toward life left him with a very favorable impression.
"Thank you both, but let's discuss that when the time comes. I have Quxian to protect me, and I'm not entirely helpless myself, so there's no need to worry about our safety." Otsutsuki Toneri smiled gently, neither refusing nor accepting.
Stay in Konoha? Not a chance!
Good as Konoha was, it was ultimately no place for Otsutsuki Toneri to settle down. He needed to grow stronger, and he already had a direction in mind.
Once he obtained the eyes, awakened the Tenseigan, and greatly increased his strength, he could begin putting things into motion!
"True, Quxian is very strong. But I noticed that Quxian's... her eyes are the Byakugan?" Kurenai Yuhi was not surprised. Given how abruptly they had extended their invitation, it was only natural that Otsutsuki Toneri had not immediately agreed.
Then Kurenai Yuhi turned her beautiful red eyes toward Otsutsuki Quxian, who had not said a word.
This girl's eyes were the Byakugan!
She had never heard of anyone in the Shinobi World possessing the Byakugan outside the Hyuga. After all, the Hyuga Clan protected its clan's Kekkei Genkai extremely thoroughly.
They had even developed the Caged Bird Seal for that purpose!
Moreover, barring exceptional circumstances, the Hyuga Clan did not marry outsiders!
They needed to preserve the purity of their bloodline, so they generally married within the clan to produce offspring and ensure that purity!
That was why Kurenai Yuhi was genuinely curious about why Otsutsuki Quxian possessed the Byakugan.
"Quxian's eyes are indeed the Byakugan, but she didn't obtain them elsewhere. She was born with them." Otsutsuki Toneri smiled as he explained on Otsutsuki Quxian's behalf, without elaborating.
Nor did he explain what the surname Otsutsuki represented.
There was no need. Besides, even if he explained, they probably would not believe him.
Ordinary people simply would not-and could not-understand how badass the Otsutsuki were!
The world of Naruto had seen so many years of warfare, but ultimately, it was really just infighting within the Ōtsutsuki Clan...
The crown prince, Uchiha Sasuke, Obito Uchiha, Madara Uchiha, Hashirama Senju, Otsutsuki Toneri, and the Momoshiki Otsutsuki trio who appeared later.
Which of these top-tier powerhouses had no ties to the Ōtsutsuki Clan?
Really, one sentence summed it up. If you wanted to know whether someone was badass, you only needed to ask one question.
"What's your father's surname?"
That was all it meant. To see whether he had any connection to the Ōtsutsuki Clan, you only needed to know his surname...
"I see. Perhaps she's a descendant of the Hyuga who ended up outside the clan?" Kurenai Yuhi pondered briefly at his words, then suggested with a smile.
She did not think anything more of it. After all, no matter how carefully a bloodline was preserved, there would always be exceptions. Perhaps Otsutsuki Quxian was one such case.
Asuma Sarutobi also nodded thoughtfully, sharing Kurenai Yuhi's view.
At those words, however, Otsutsuki Quxian's delicate brows knitted.
"Heh." Her disdainful scoff expressed her scorn for their presumptuous guess.
A descendant who had ended up outside the clan?
If these two had not been getting along so well with Otsutsuki Toneri, Otsutsuki Quxian would already have wanted to reward each of them with a palm strike!
The Hyuga?
However strong they were, could they surpass the Ōtsutsuki Clan on the moon?
The Ōtsutsuki Clan retained an extremely complete Otsutsuki bloodline, and nearly all of them possessed constitutions similar to a sage body.
Their cultivation speed was far beyond that of the continent's ninja. Moreover, Hamura Otsutsuki had once personally led their clan.
Thus, their inherited teachings were far more complete than the Hyuga's.
Put plainly, the Hyuga were pitiful children born to a father but left without a mother's care, while the Ōtsutsuki Clan on the moon were the real, cherished children!
How were the two even comparable?
(Please support me in every way! Writing like mad! My Otsutsuki are the most badass! No arguments accepted!)
Chapter 14: What's Mine Is Mine! Eighth update!
Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma looked somewhat awkwardly at the displeased Otsutsuki Quxian, unsure why this monstrously gifted girl had suddenly become angry.
They thought their guess was quite reasonable...
Perhaps the girl felt too strong a sense of belonging to her current Otsutsuki family, and that was why their words had upset her.
"My sincere apologies. Quxian grew up within the clan, so she's not particularly accepting of the outside world." Otsutsuki Toneri could not help shaking his head with a soft laugh before addressing Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma.
He understood Otsutsuki Quxian's thoughts as well. They were perfectly normal.
After all, Otsutsuki Quxian was also a member of the branch family. Under years of that influence, she could hardly be said to have any fondness for the people of the Shinobi World.
Still, she was not as obsessive or extreme as those people. After all, she had spent more of her time at Otsutsuki Toneri's side.
"Understandable. But Toneri, Quxian's Byakugan... if you come to Konoha, you'll need to be careful of the Hyuga Clan. They value the Byakugan more than most people could imagine."
Asuma smiled amiably. He was fairly broad-minded, so he genuinely did not mind.
Then, however, Asuma grew slightly serious as he gave Otsutsuki Toneri a warning. He was the Third Hokage's son.
He knew a great deal about Konoha's darkness, so he understood very well that if word of Otsutsuki Quxian's Byakugan reached the Hyuga Clan...
The matter probably would not be settled so easily.
The Hyuga Clan was, after all, one of Konoha's foremost clans. Although Otsutsuki Quxian was extremely strong, if the Hyuga Clan used its influence to pressure her...
The two sides would likely become enemies, which would not be good for Konoha.
"Thank you for the warning. I'll be careful," Otsutsuki Toneri replied with a friendly smile.
He had considered this matter as well, and it was one of the reasons he did not wish to stay in Konoha for long.
Sooner or later, word of Otsutsuki Quxian's eyes would reach the Hyuga Clan. Given their excessive obsession with the Byakugan, friendly relations would certainly be impossible.
Besides, Otsutsuki Toneri still needed to obtain a pair of pure Byakugan from the Hyuga Clan!
"But don't worry. The Hyuga Clan can't call all the shots in Konoha yet. If you run into any trouble, feel free to come to me. I do have a little influence in Konoha!" Asuma laughed heartily at his response. He was very fond of Otsutsuki Toneri.
Besides, these two were definitely no ordinary people, and most importantly, neither was affiliated with anyone!
If he could draw them into Konoha's camp, it would surely be a blessing for the village!
That was also part of why he had deliberately brought up the Hyuga earlier: to give the pair a sense of danger, then take the opportunity to help them when the time came and leave them owing him a favor.
Wasn't that perfect?
"Then let me thank you in advance, Asuma," Otsutsuki Toneri said with a faint smile. He could guess something of Asuma's intentions.
But it did not matter.
Konoha would become an enemy sooner or later. There was no need to worry; at worst, he would make a scene when the time came!
The corners of Otsutsuki Toneri's lips slowly curved upward. In Konoha as it stood, aside from the elderly Third Hokage and Danzo lurking in the shadows, there was not a single powerhouse!
Of the Sannin, some had defected and others had left. Konoha was at its weakest, and he truly was not afraid.
The four then had a meal together before setting off for Konoha.
The small town was very close to Konoha. Traveling at a leisurely pace, the four arrived in just an hour.
Before Konoha's broad gates, Otsutsuki Toneri tilted his head slightly toward the entrance, and the Rinnegan in his palm opened a narrow slit.
He saw it: the enormous Hokage Faces Rock in the distance. Even standing here, he could still see it clearly.
Before you continue