"The mother of the Sage of the Six Paths? The source and progenitor of all chakra?"
Neji was visibly stunned by this string of formidable titles, standing frozen in place for a long while, unable to find his voice.
Lately, he had been wondering, given the power Allen currently wielded, what kind of individual would even be qualified to stand as an enemy to this terrifying man. But he never imagined the final answer would be this.
The mother of the Sage of the Six Paths? The origin of the entire chakra power system in the shinobi world?
Either of those identities, taken on its own, was enough to shake one to the core.
After all, in the eyes of most shinobi, Hashirama Senju, who ended the Warring States Period, was already worthy of being called the "God of Shinobi." The Sage of the Six Paths himself was a figure of legend; there was even debate over whether he truly existed. As for the Sage's mother, more than 99.99% of people had never even heard the name.
"Are the Sage of the Six Paths and his mother... actually real?" Karin blinked, asking in a hesitant tone.
Seeing the red-haired girl trying her best to look cute to grab his attention, Allen chuckled and nodded. "Yes. Not only are they real, but there's quite an interesting story behind their relationship. Well? Would you like to hear it?"
"Of course! Please, tell us," Neji replied, bowing solemnly.
"It likely begins thousands of years ago, when an extraterrestrial woman named Kaguya descended from the heavens..."
Over the next half hour, Allen calmly explained everything he knew. He spared no detail, covering the relationship between the Ten-Tails and the Divine Tree, the origin of Nagato's Rinnegan and the Akatsuki, and even Obito's true identity.
By the time the secrets were out, Neji was utterly shell-shocked.
Especially upon realizing that the Hyuga bloodline actually descended from Hamura, the younger brother of the Sage of the Six Paths. He fell into a silence that lasted five minutes before finally managing a wry smile. "So... all of us Kekkei Genkai clans are essentially just the result of alien bloodlines spreading through the population?"
"More or less. Some were also disciples and descendants of the Sage when he founded the Shinobi Sect. And that moon above our heads? It's the cage imprisoning the Progenitor of Chakra. As long as she lives, the turmoil and chaos of this world will never truly vanish, and humanity will never be able to enter a new era. Therefore, we have only one task: to slay a god." Allen announced this in a firm, unquestionable tone.
"Slaying a god..." Neji's heart skipped a beat.
"Yes. To an extent, Kaguya's power is incredibly close to that of a true deity. To most people, she is a dangerous and terrifying goddess. Even I'm not entirely certain I'm a match for her."
As Allen spoke, a glimmer of anticipation flickered in his eyes.
Though he had yet to meet Nagato with his Rinnegan or witness the true extent of the legendary Madara Uchiha's power, his deep research into Tailed Beasts and Senjutsu, combined with his massive consumption of extraterrestrial genes, had allowed him to grasp the root of chakra.
This meant that if Allen wished, he could evolve his Mangekyo Sharingan into the Rinnegan at any moment and condense his own Truth-Seeking Balls. Aside from Kaguya, Hamura, and Hagoromo, there wasn't a fourth person in this world who could threaten him. As for the half-baked Six Paths Modes of Madara, Obito, or Kabuto, they weren't even worth mentioning.
"The rumors were right! You really are a lunatic! A rational lunatic!" Neji couldn't help but exclaim.
Allen shrugged with a smile. "I'll take that as a compliment. You know, there's often only a half-step between a madman and a genius. If my goal is achieved, it will be an absolute blessing for this world. Only when shinobi and chakra have completely exited the stage of history will the common people at the bottom finally have the chance to master their own destinies."
"If you were to replace the Sage's mother and become a god, what would you do?" Neji posed a sharp, serious question.
"I would do nothing, just as I am doing now. Besides, I've never believed that simply possessing power entitles one to call themselves a god. 'God' is an abstract concept; it should never become a tangible, existing thing." Allen stated his view without hesitation.
"You... you aren't from this world either, are you?"
Neji suddenly looked up, staring into Allen's violet eyes. In the past, such a thought would never have crossed his mind. But after hearing the tale of Kaguya and the Divine Tree, he realized that the aura of "otherness" Allen carried, his fundamental disconnect from his surroundings and his unusual way of thinking, were all hallmarks of an outsider.
The shinobi world was simply too insular and backward for most people to ever consider such a possibility.
"Smart! Remember how the Konoha shinobi found me? In truth, I had just arrived in this world from another. And the Nen abilities I use? Those were brought over from that other world as well." Allen didn't bother hiding it, admitting the truth quite openly.
Since the world had already been invaded by outsiders, one more wouldn't make much difference. He almost hoped the Sage of the Six Paths would find out and manifest just to give him a proper fight.
"Wait, you're from a different world? What kind of place is it?" Karin's eyes went wide with curiosity.
Allen smiled. "It is a colossal world. While human civilization occupies only a small part of it, they have still created a magnificent society. Whether it's technology, culture, education, or social systems, it is a hundred times superior to the current shinobi world."
"No wonder... no wonder you've always looked down on shinobi, hidden villages, nobles, and Daimyos! It's because you've seen something better!" A look of realization dawned on Neji's face.
"Exactly. Believe me, this world will be far better off without shinobi and chakra. While war may never truly disappear, at least humans will be in control of their own fate. Alright, enough idle chatter. It's been quiet for long enough; it's time to head out and get some exercise. How is your progress with Sealing Jutsu?" Allen asked with interest.
"I've mastered it completely! If you need me to, I can extract a Tailed Beast from a Jinchuriki at a moment's notice," Karin promised confidently.
Neji added, "Me too. And I'm quite eager to test out the Nen ability I've recently developed."
"Oh? You've already developed your Hatsu?" Allen raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Evidently, following his physical modifications by Orochimaru, Neji had gained the ability to use both Nen and chakra simultaneously. Tests had shown he was a textbook Manipulator, the category most likely to develop "unreasonable" rule-based powers.
"Yes. I think you'll be quite surprised when you see it. So, tell us, who is our target this time?"
At the mention of his new power, Neji broke into a confident smile.