The winds of change swept across the shinobi world, but they had little to do with Hayashi.
He remained seated quietly within the pavilion, calmly observing the world below.
To be honest, the extraordinary perception ability bestowed upon him by Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki was incredibly powerful. It functioned almost like a world-spanning eye, allowing him to observe events across the entire shinobi world.
No wonder Hagoromo had remained so composed even after Madara awakened the Rinnegan. It turned out he had been prepared all along.
At this moment, Hayashi finally felt a little like a mastermind operating behind the scenes.
From the moon, a simple action from him could influence the course of events in the shinobi world, disrupting Fugaku's plans and ultimately leading to Danzō's miserable death in the snow.
The feeling of controlling events from afar was surprisingly satisfying.
Still, because of these developments, Hiruko's role as a hidden piece on the board had become far less important.
Originally, Hayashi had arranged for Hiruko to infiltrate the Akatsuki and replace Danzō as his source of information within the organization.
However, after traveling to the moon and unexpectedly meeting Hagoromo, he had gained something far more valuable.
Even so, there was no harm in letting Hiruko continue with the plan.
Now that Danzō was dead, entering the Akatsuki under a new identity could at least help accelerate the Eye of the Moon Plan.
Closing his eyes, Hayashi shifted his attention away from the shinobi world.
Instead, his perception extended deep beneath the moon.
The first time he entered Hamura's tomb, Kaguya's sudden cry for help had nearly scared him out of his wits.
But as time passed, his courage gradually increased.
Even Hagoromo had appeared. At this stage, there was no way Kaguya could break free from her seal.
And when faced with a legendary figure imprisoned for a thousand years, curiosity was inevitable.
Every so often, Hayashi used his newfound perception to check on Kaguya.
He jokingly referred to it as visiting a prisoner.
Initially, he had been extremely cautious, only daring to take quick glances before withdrawing.
Over time, however, his confidence grew.
Eventually, he even began communicating with her.
Of course, they did not speak directly.
Instead, they communicated through spiritual connections established via chakra.
Every living being possessed mental energy, and chakra could connect those thoughts together. This was one of chakra's fundamental properties.
Long ago, Hagoromo had founded Ninshū based on this principle, hoping people could understand one another through shared understanding rather than conflict.
In its original form, chakra had been meant to connect hearts and minds.
That was the method Hayashi and Kaguya currently used.
Even so, communicating was not easy.
Kaguya remained sealed within the massive Chibaku Tensei. Penetrating those countless layers of seals with his perception was like diving into the depths of a vast ocean.
Every visit consumed considerable effort and could only last for a limited time.
Hayashi took a slow breath and projected his consciousness inward.
Logically, the depths of the moon should have been consumed by endless darkness.
Yet within the sealed prison, soft chakra lamps floated in orderly rows, illuminating the area with a gentle glow.
Beneath those lights stood a beautiful woman clad in elegant robes.
Her long white hair flowed like silk.
Kaguya slowly opened her eyes and looked toward the only person she had communicated with in thousands of years.
Naturally, she could perceive Hayashi as well.
After all, the ability he was using ultimately originated from her power.
At present, Kaguya's strength was suppressed to an extreme degree.
Otherwise, she would never have tolerated Hayashi's repeated intrusions so calmly.
Over the course of many visits, Hayashi had noticed something interesting.
Every time Kaguya observed him, she did so with her Byakugan alone.
The Rinne Sharingan on her forehead remained tightly shut.
The Rinne Sharingan was known as the supreme dōjutsu, the eye that governed life and death. It originated from the Chakra Fruit of the God Tree itself.
After consuming the fruit, Kaguya awakened that eye and gained chakra.
Now, however, the Ten-Tails had long since been divided into the nine tailed beasts and scattered throughout the shinobi world.
Because of that, Hayashi suspected her Rinne Sharingan was affected by the seal as well.
Perhaps that was one of the reasons she remained unable to escape.
Still, none of that truly mattered.
Eventually, Kaguya would attempt to return through another person's body regardless.
Whether it was Madara or someone else made little difference.
With Hagoromo's abilities, he could have eliminated the threat before it fully emerged if he had wished.
Yet as long as Black Zetsu remained active, the danger would never completely disappear.
From that perspective, it seemed Hagoromo intended to resolve everything in a single decisive confrontation.
Every one of them was an old schemer.
"Where did we leave off last time?" Hayashi transmitted cheerfully.
Kaguya offered no response.
Her expression remained as cold and indifferent as ever.
Hayashi was not discouraged.
He simply continued speaking.
"Right, let's continue."
"They say Sasuke's family fell on hard times. Even so, he always liked Sakura. Unfortunately, Brother Sakura never cared much for that fool."
"Then, using Chidori, Brother Sakura stabbed Sasuke through the chest. But it turned out to be a genjutsu."
"After defeating Sasuke, Brother Sakura decided to eliminate Naruto so he could compete for the title of Hokage."
"But Hinata secretly knocked Naruto unconscious and disguised herself as him."
"The two fought eight hundred rounds at the Valley of the End."
"And in the end, they lived happily ever after."
Hayashi calmly narrated his heavily modified version of Naruto's story.
After all, he had plenty of free time.
If he was going to visit an ancient prisoner sealed away for a millennium, telling stories was not a bad way to pass the time.
Naturally, he had another goal as well.
Hayashi hoped to obtain some benefits from Kaguya.
Kaguya had been sealed away for over a thousand years and was completely disconnected from the modern world.
Unlike Hagoromo, who had remained aware of events through his lingering chakra, she had little experience dealing with modern schemes and manipulation.
As the saying went, sincerity might fail, but strategy often succeeded.
Hayashi intended to present himself as an innocent and harmless young man while gradually working his way into Kaguya's confidence.
Ideally, he might even obtain a Kekkei Mōra or two.
Unlike Tsunade, his luck had always been decent.
This time, he intended to make a very large gamble.
Unfortunately, most of the conversation consisted of Hayashi talking while Kaguya silently listened.
Neither the tragic romance between Sakura and Hinata nor any of his embellishments seemed to move her.
Hayashi silently reflected.
Looks like this story isn't very effective. Last time, when I told her the stories of the Seven Calabash Brothers and Snow White, she at least reacted a little.
Eventually, he finished today's story and prepared to withdraw.
Just then, Kaguya finally spoke.
"Can you save me?"
Hayashi's eyes immediately lit up.
He knew the opportunity he had been waiting for had finally arrived.
"How?" he asked.
After a brief silence, Kaguya replied,
"Have you heard of the Ten-Tails?"
"No," Hayashi answered, maintaining his innocent facade. "I've never heard of it."
Kaguya began explaining.
Naturally, her version of history painted a very different picture.
According to her account, she had been humanity's protector.
Then a treacherous toad had coveted her power and manipulated her two sons into turning against her.
In short, a greedy outsider had targeted her inheritance, while her unfilial sons had betrayed their own mother.
If Hayashi had not known the truth, he might almost have believed her story.
Thanks to Hayashi's previous descriptions of the modern shinobi world, Kaguya had already deduced that the Ten-Tails had been split into the nine tailed beasts.
"Gather the tailed beasts," she instructed. "Once they are collected, someone will come into contact with you."
Someone?
Black Zetsu, perhaps?
"As long as the Ten-Tails is restored, I can break free from this prison."
Kaguya paused before continuing.
"When that happens, I can accept you as my godson."
The promise sounded grand.
Hayashi immediately put on a troubled expression.
"I'd love to help, but look at my strength."
"There are many shinobi in the world far stronger than me. How am I supposed to take the tailed beasts from them?"
He scratched his head before adding,
"Why don't you teach me a few powerful techniques first?"
Kaguya's eyes narrowed.
Her gaze became sharp as she carefully examined him.
After thousands of years in isolation, her thought process seemed noticeably slow.
She stared at him for a long time.
Finally, she shook her head.
"You won't be able to learn them."
The regret in her voice was unmistakable.
Combined with that expression, it felt less like a response to a request and more like a look of pity directed toward a particularly slow child.
===
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