"Ban! You've come at the perfect time; I was just about to discuss something with you."
Madara Uchiha his arms, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes. "What are you discussing? Continue being my lackey?"
"Not a follower."
Hashirama Senju didn't seem to mind Madara's mockery at all, and took out a leaf that shimmered with a strange blue light from his pocket.
"I found this deep in the eastern forest. Its Chakra properties are very special; it can neutralize toxins."
Ban gave a soft hum, but his gaze was involuntarily drawn to that leaf.
The Chakra fluctuations flowing over it were indeed unusual, carrying a certain ancient and unfamiliar aura.
Tsunade immediately stepped forward, took the leaf, and examined it carefully. "This kind of Chakra reaction... I've never seen anything like it before."
As a top-tier medical-nin, her professional intuition was immediately triggered.
"So?" Madara asked, raising an eyebrow.
Hashirama turned to Tobirama and said, "I'd like to apply for a research team to venture deep into the eastern forest; perhaps we can develop a new medical system."
Tobirama Senju nodded upon hearing this. "Alright, Little Tsunade, you go with your older brother there and take a look first. If it's truly worth researching, I'll agree."
"Yes, Second Grandfather!"
Tsunade nodded in agreement, and suddenly everyone felt a familiar Chakra fluctuation appear in the center of the command post.
The space rippled like water, and Hoshino's figure appeared out of thin air.
" Hoshino?" Tsunade exclaimed in surprise, "Weren't you in the southwestern mountains?"
"It's all taken care of. The rest is nothing to worry about. The follow-up cleanup work is up to you!"
Hoshino looked around at everyone, his eyes still empty, but everyone could feel a kind of invisible 'gaze' on him.
Tobirama Senju frowned and asked, "What do you mean? Where are you going?"
"I have more important things to do upon returning to the Shinobi World."
As soon as he finished speaking, Hoshino's body completely disintegrated, turning into countless streams of light that pierced through the roof of the command post and disappeared into the sky.
Everyone looked up.
Those points of light, like shooting stars moving in reverse, streaked across the sky and sped toward the Shinobi World.
The command post was completely silent.
After a long silence, Madara Uchiha scoffed, "Playing tricks."
Tobirama Senju tapped the table, drawing everyone's attention back.
"Since Hoshino says the southwestern mountain area has been dealt with, let's trust his judgment for now. The most urgent task now is to proceed with the post-war work according to the original plan."
Ōnoki floated to the front of the map, his short fingers tracing over several key areas.
"The northwestern mining areas, controlled by Kumogakure and Iwagakure, are experiencing the fiercest resistance and require reinforcements. The eastern and southern areas of Konoha and Sunagakure are relatively stable, allowing us to allocate some personnel there."
Tsunade carefully put the blue leaf away.
"My great-grandfather and I will first go to the eastern forest to investigate this plant. If it truly has medicinal value, it can alleviate the public's resistance."
Hashirama nodded. " Tobirama, I'll leave this to you."
"Don't worry!" Tobirama Senju his arms, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. "Get back to work! Remember, gather here in three days to report back. If anything unusual..."
"I understand, I understand, I'll report immediately."
Tsunade, already impatiently packing her medical kit, "Let's go, Grandpa, while it's still early."
Hashirama Senju cast an inquiring glance at Madara Uchiha: "Want to come along? We might make an interesting discovery."
Madara Uchiha sneered, "I have no interest in playing your plant-gathering game."
"Etc!"
Tobirama Senju tried to stop him, but Madara Uchiha had already left the tent and disappeared.
He sighed, "That willful guy..."
Soon, only Tobirama and Ōnoki remained in the command post.
Outside the window, the metal shell of the intelligent puppet reflected a cold light in the sunlight, and in the distance, the sounds of engineering troops repairing buildings could be heard.
The ruins of the ancient city of Rōran.
A cluster of silver-gray metal buildings stands majestically.
This is the most important strategic facility in the Shinobi World, the Dragon Vein Control Center.
The towering alloy tower pierced the sky, its surface flowing with pale blue Chakra patterns, and dozens of intelligent puppets patrolled along predetermined routes.
Three hundred meters underground, the core control room of the Dragon Vein.
Shion sat cross-legged in the center of the circular altar, her white priestess robes fluttering gently in the fluctuations of the Dragon Vein's energy.
The Pupil of the Pure Moon his brows opened slightly, emitting a soft purple light that echoed the ancient runes engraved on the altar.
As a priestess of the Land of Demons, she had long been able to control these special eyes at will.
The control room was dimly lit, with only the Dragon Vein energy pool emitting a faint glow.
Shion got up and walked to the edge of the pool, looking down at the ever-changing vortex of energy.
Suddenly, an unusual ripple appeared deep within the vortex.
"Disturbances in spacetime?"
She frowned slightly, her fingertips lightly touching the surface of the pool, and a circle of pale purple ripples spread out.
Just then, the hidden door in the wall slid open silently, and Orochimaru, wearing a white coat, walked in slowly, his golden snake eyes sweeping over the Dragon Vein Pool.
" Shion -kun, the supply transfer from Blue Star is ready."
Shion didn't turn around, but simply nodded slightly. "Thank you for your hard work, Lord Orochimaru."
Orochimaru walked to the control panel, his finger rapidly swiping across the floating screen. "The stability of the Dragon Vein seems to be fluctuating."
Shion nodded slightly, and the purple light emanating from the Pupil of the Pure Moon swept across the energy pool like a searchlight.
Before the words were finished, the space in the center of the control room suddenly distorted, and countless pure energy points condensed out of thin air, gradually forming the figure of Hoshino.
" Hoshino!"
Shion looked up at him, her eyes sparkling, completely unlike the composed priestess she usually was.
Orochimaru examined Hoshino's energy form with great interest. "It seems the matter on the Heavenly Martial Continent has been resolved?"
Hoshino nodded slightly. "It's basically stable. But about the Dragon Vein..."
" The Dragon Vein has indeed been quite unstable lately."
Shion immediately reported, lightly tapping the surface of the energy pool with her finger to summon a holographic projection.
"Look, the spacetime fluctuation index has risen by 17% compared to last week."
Orochimaru added, "I've already had a large amount of supplies prepared on Blue Star as a precaution, ready to be transported over at any time."
"Not enough." Hoshino gazed into the depths of the energy pool, then turned to Shion. "I need your assistance in conducting a thorough examination."
Shion immediately straightened her back. "Understood!"
He then turned to Orochimaru and said, " Lord Orochimaru, the next task..."
Orochimaru waved his hand knowingly, "I'll go arrange the supply delivery. Call me anytime if you need help."
After Orochimaru left, Shion immediately went to Hoshino's side, looked up and asked, " Hoshino, what should we do?"
Hoshino reached out and gently touched Shion's forehead. "May I borrow your Pupil of the Pure Moon?"
Shion immediately closed her eyes, Pupil of the Pure Moon opened fully, the purple light resonating with Hoshino's energy body.
The space around the two began to distort, gradually forming a purple energy vortex.
"Relax and follow my guidance."
Hoshino's voice rang directly in Shion's mind.
Shion felt her consciousness being drawn through layers of energy barriers, deep into the core of the Dragon Vein.
There, she witnessed a breathtaking sight: countless spatial rifts spread out like a spider web, and in some of them, she could even see unfamiliar starry skies.
"This is!" Shion's consciousness fluctuated.
"Don't be afraid," Hoshino reassured her. "These are all disturbed points in spacetime."
Just then, a huge crack suddenly expanded, Shion was horrified to see a giant eye emerge from the other end of the crack, coldly watching them.
Just as Hoshino was preparing to evacuate with Shion's consciousness.
The massive spacetime rift suddenly trembled violently, and a figure clad in a white divine robe slowly emerged from it.
The person wore a pure white mask, revealing only their eyes and three eyes between their eyebrows.
It was a pair of Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and Rinnegan emitting a deep blue light between its eyebrows, surrounded by nine jet-black Truth-Seeking Orb. Its mere existence distorted the surrounding spacetime.
"That is..."
Hoshino immediately intensified his protection of Shion's consciousness. "Don't look directly into his eyes!"
The mysterious man seemed to have sensed their spying, and the blue Rinnegan between his brows suddenly turned.
In an instant, countless spacetime rifts lit up with red light.
To Shion's horror, she discovered that each crack reflected a fully equipped army of ninjas, clad in uniform white armor, their eyes gleaming with a cold light.
"A million-strong expeditionary force..." Hoshino's voice was unusually solemn, "... all contained within his space."
The mysterious man suddenly raised his hand.
Shion felt her consciousness being locked by an invisible force, as if she were entangled by thousands of threads.
"Retreat!"
Hoshino made a quick decision and retreated rapidly, carrying Shion's consciousness with him.
As their consciousness returned to their bodies, Shion staggered and fell to her knees, Pupil of the Pure Moon uncontrollably shed tears of blood.
" Hoshino, that person's eyes..."
" Six Paths Level powerhouse... it seems the Shinobi World doesn't have much time left."
The morning sunlight streamed into the room through the curtains.
Hoshino sat at the table, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface, looking more relaxed than usual.
Even after proposing to explore the core of the Dragon Vein with Shion yesterday, the image of that mysterious powerful figure still lingered in his mind.
A being at the Six Paths Level, an expeditionary force of a million...
These are threats that the current Shinobi World cannot easily deal with.
Is it Obito Uchiha?
Hoshino had some guesses in his mind, but he wasn't very sure.
After all, he was only familiar with the white mask on that person's face, and he couldn't be sure if it was definitely Obito Uchiha.
thump thump thump--
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Hoshino replied, turning to face the door.
The door was pushed open, and Shion walked in carrying a tea tray, a gentle smile on her face.
" Hoshino, I've made you some tea."
"Thanks."
Hoshino nodded slightly and reached out to take the teacup.
Shion sat down opposite him, her gaze falling on his empty eye sockets. After hesitating for a moment, she couldn't help but ask, "Your eyes... haven't recovered yet?"
Hoshino took a small sip of tea and said calmly, "Soon."
"How long is 'soon'?" Shion pressed, "You said the same thing last time."
Hoshino put down his teacup, a slight smile playing on his lips. "What, are you bothered by this?"
Shion blushed and lowered her head to fiddle with the tea tray. "I just think... it's a bit of a pity that you're so strong, yet you can't see anything."
"I'm used to it," Hoshino said calmly. "Besides, sensing Chakra is clearer than seeing it with my eyes."
Shion pouted. "But you can't even see the color of the tea."
"The color of the tea?" Hoshino raised an eyebrow. "Bitter, sweet, astringent—it's all the same to me."
Shion couldn't help but laugh out loud, "You really are..."
The two remained silent for a while.
Shion suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, is everything settled on the Heavenly Martial Continent?"
"Okay." Hoshino nodded. "Leave the rest to Tobirama and the others."
"So what's next?" Shion tilted her head. "Are you going to deal with the Jashin?"
Hoshino's fingers gently traced the rim of the teacup. "No rush, the Jashin can't escape."
"Well..." Shion hesitated for a moment, "How about we go for a walk in the streets?"
Hoshino tilted his head. "Hmm?"
"It's just..." Shion said a little embarrassedly, "You rarely come back, it must be so boring to just stay in your room all the time."
Hoshino was silent for a moment, then finally nodded. "Okay."
The streets of Sunagakure were as bustling as ever.
The shouts of vendors, the laughter of children, and the conversations of ninjas mingled together.
Shion walked ahead, glancing back at Hoshino every now and then to make sure he hadn't gotten lost.
Even though she knew he didn't need it at all.
" Hoshino, would you like to try this?" Shion stopped in front of a food stall and picked up a skewer of grilled meatballs.
"No need." Hoshino shook his head.
"Try it!" Shion stubbornly handed him the dumpling. "It's delicious."
Hoshino sighed, reached out and took it, then took a bite.
"How was it?" Shion asked expectantly.
"It's sweet," Hoshino commented.
Shion chuckled, "Is all you can say sweet and bitter?"
Hoshino: "..."
The two continued walking forward.
Shion browsed the various stalls with great interest, while Hoshino quietly followed behind her.
Occasionally, a ninja would recognize Hoshino and bow respectfully, but no one dared to approach and disturb him.
We walked to a quiet corner where there were few people.
Shion suddenly stopped and turned to look at Hoshino: " Hoshino, actually, I've always wanted to ask..."
"Um?"
"Can your eyes really recover?"
Hoshino was silent for a moment, then finally said, "Yes."
"Then why hasn't it been resolved?"
"Because the time is not yet right," Hoshino said calmly. "The will of the Jashin still remains in this world. I need to completely control or erase Him before new eyes can be born."
Shion blinked. "New eyes?"
"Yes." Hoshino nodded, "My own eyes."
Shion said thoughtfully, "So... you're not blind, but deliberately not able to see?"
Hoshino didn't answer, but only slightly curled the corners of her lips. "Let's go, there seems to be a newly opened dessert shop up ahead."
Shion was taken aback. "Don't you not eat sweets?"
"It's okay to try it once in a while."
Shion couldn't help but laugh and said, "Okay!"
The two walked side by side towards the dessert shop, the sunlight shining on them.
Everything seemed so ordinary, as if the war had never happened, as if the future was still far away.
Across the street, Temari stood in the shadows at the alley entrance, her gaze piercing through the street and landing on the two people inside the dessert shop.
Kankuro stood quietly beside her.
Sunlight streamed through the glass window, falling on Hoshino's profile.
Those empty eye sockets should have been unsettling, but at that moment they seemed strangely peaceful.
Shion said something, Hoshino's lips curled up slightly.
Although the smile was small, he did laugh.
"Aren't you going to go say hello?" Kankuro glanced at her.
"No, it's pointless."
Temari withdrew her gaze, turned, and walked deeper into the alley.
Kankuro hesitated, then sighed, and the two figures disappeared at the end of the alley.