Hanekawa confirmed the new entry notification and knew with certainty that Ōtsutsuki Isshiki was dead.
He dismissed the Thousand Handed Buddha statue and stepped forward with confidence.
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki was in a state of absolute devastation.
Kaguya had ambushed him first, costing him both legs. Then the Buddha statue had pummeled him relentlessly. Now barely a third of his body remained intact—mostly his head, the rest a mangled mess of blood and exposed flesh.
Hanekawa's gaze settled on Isshiki's eyes.
The Sharingan and Byakugan were theoretically transplantable to any ninja, though the process was messy. Just look at Kakashi—he'd struggled with his borrowed Sharingan for years. Isshiki's Byakugan weren't ordinary either; most ninjas would collapse under the strain of implantation.
Hanekawa could handle it. But he had no interest in other people's eyes. He was a perfectionist about such things.
Besides, he already had Byakugan.
[S-Rank Talent Entry: Byakugan]
[Trigger Condition: Defeat Ōtsutsuki Isshiki]
[Effect: Ability to switch your eyes to Byakugan at will]
[Note: Can absorb the Dojutsu techniques of Isshiki Ōtsutsuki and gain his abilities]
Just as Wood Style came in different versions—Yamato's and Hashirama's—so too did the Byakugan. The Ōtsutsuki clan version was leagues beyond the Hyuga variant.
The system, as always, had been considerate. The Byakugan he'd obtained was the Ōtsutsuki version, and it didn't interfere with his existing Rinnegan. He could switch between them freely.
Hanekawa raised his hand. Chakra flowed outward like invisible fingers, carefully extracting Isshiki's eyes. They floated before him, suspended in mid-air.
His consciousness reached out. The eyes trembled as he drew in their pupil power, absorbing the techniques Isshiki had mastered: Daikokuten and Sukunahikona.
Daikokuten functioned similarly to Kamui—a pocket dimension for storing objects. Sukunahikona, though less known, was far more useful. It had two effects: shrinking objects (anything except living beings) and shrinking himself. The latter had saved Isshiki's life when Kaguya first attacked.
Hanekawa's eyes shifted. His Rinnegan transformed into Byakugan.
The world became crystalline. The Byakugan's strength lay in its penetrating vision and 360-degree field of view—no blind spots, no surprises. The Sharingan and Byakugan each had their purpose. Together, they made him nearly untouchable.
He deactivated the Byakugan and exited Isshiki's dimension.
The moment he stepped out, a wave of energy hit him like a physical force. It was so dense it seemed almost tangible.
Hanekawa's eyes found the source: Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, standing motionless before the sacred tree, a crimson Rinnegan now visible on her forehead.
What the—
He approached cautiously. The closer he got, the more he felt it: her chakra was completely out of control, surging like an ocean in a storm. For someone of Kaguya's caliber, that shouldn't be possible. Chakra control was instinct for her.
Unless...
She absorbed too much at once.
The fruit's chakra was overwhelming her system. It wasn't critical, just uncomfortable. She'd stabilize eventually.
Kaguya's eyes snapped open.
"I didn't mean to—" Hanekawa started.
"I'm just checking on you," he said smoothly, taking a half-step back. He didn't want her thinking he was launching a sneak attack.
Kaguya's expression flickered with pain. She seemed to struggle for words.
"You've got too much chakra in your body," Hanekawa explained. "You'll feel off for a while."
Kaguya stared at him, then suddenly grabbed his wrist and pulled him against her.
Hanekawa froze as endless chakra poured into his body.
What is she doing?
"I'm lending you my excess chakra," Kaguya said coldly. "You can return it later."
Oh. That's... actually smart.
But the flow didn't stop. It kept coming, more and more, until Hanekawa felt like he was about to burst.
"Stop!" he gasped. "Kaguya, stop!"
She didn't respond, her eyes closed, an almost peaceful expression on her face as she continued dumping chakra into him.
"That's enough! KAGUYA!"
Hanekawa realized she wasn't listening. He'd have to handle this himself.
An absurd idea struck him. In the original timeline, Kaguya had given birth to Hagoromo and Hamura. The mechanics had always seemed mythical, but...
If she can use Yin-Yang Release with enough chakra, she could theoretically create life.
Gritting his teeth, Hanekawa raised his hands and began shaping the excess chakra like clay, molding it into a human form.
Halfway through, inspiration hit. Why does it have to be sons?
He reshaped the figure into a girl.
Kaguya finally stopped infusing chakra. Hanekawa gasped for breath, exhausted from the effort of creation. But the result was incomplete—a humanoid mass of chakra with no consciousness, no life.
I need Yin-Yang Release.
"Kaguya," he said urgently. "Use Yin-Yang Release."
She opened her eyes, saw what he'd created, and understood immediately. A wave of her hand sent Yin-Yang power into the chakra mass.
The transformation was instantaneous. Skin formed, smooth as a newborn's. Her breathing steadied. A heartbeat became audible.
Hanekawa dressed her quickly.
[S-Rank Talent Entry: Six Magatama Rinnegan]
[Trigger Condition: Obtain the chakra of the sacred tree fruit]
[Effect: Upgrade Rinnegan to Six Magatama Rinnegan]
Of course that's how it triggers, Hanekawa thought, suppressing a laugh. Outrageous.
Still, he was one step closer to synthesizing the "Six Paths Sage" entry. He just needed Yin-Yang Release.
"Dad."
A small voice pulled him from his thoughts.
The little girl was staring at him with wide eyes, perfectly aware of the concept of father despite being seconds old. Kaguya must have imprinted basic knowledge when using Yin-Yang Release.
"Mother," the girl called next, turning to Kaguya.
"I'm not your mother," Kaguya said flatly.
"Don't take it seriously," Hanekawa said, reaching down to ruffle the girl's hair. "She's just being difficult."
Kaguya's Byakugan fixed on him. "Why should I take responsibility?"
"Her body comes from your chakra. Her life comes from your Yin-Yang Release," Hanekawa said calmly. "She's your child."
"You created her," Kaguya countered.
"True," Hanekawa nodded. "Which makes her our child."
Kaguya blinked, clearly caught off-guard by the logic.
"What should we call her?" Hanekawa asked, suppressing his amusement at her confusion.
"I don't know," Kaguya admitted, studying the girl.
"Tsukihime," Hanekawa decided. The name echoed Kaguya's own—both connected to lunar mythology. "What about your plans now? The Ōtsutsuki clan will send people if they learn you consumed the fruit."
"The Ōtsutsuki are powerful," Kaguya said, glancing at the sacred tree. "I'll need the tree's strength to stand against them."
"You're planning to drain this world," Hanekawa said. It wasn't a question.
"The lives here are insignificant," Kaguya replied without hesitation.
"That's short-sighted," Hanekawa said. "I have a better approach."
Kaguya looked at him. "What?"
"I'm half-Ōtsutsuki, half-human," Hanekawa explained. "Humans aren't as useless as you think. They can refine chakra."
Kaguya's eyes widened slightly. "You mean... they can extract chakra naturally?"
"Exactly. If we teach them, you'll have infinite sources of chakra—far more sustainable than draining one planet."
Kaguya fell silent, considering. The logic was sound. Slow, but ultimately more profitable.
"Why didn't you do this before?" she asked.
"Just thought of it," Hanekawa said with a slight cough.
"How?" Kaguya's thoughts were refreshingly simple—if it benefited her, it was worth doing.
"I'll establish a ninja sect. Teach chakra and ninjutsu to the masses," Hanekawa said. And trigger new entries in the process.
"What's my role?" Kaguya asked.
"Be the goddess of the ninja world," Hanekawa smiled. "The divine mother of chakra itself."
Kaguya paused. She'd been about to ask why he was helping her, but his earlier comment about reproduction made her hesitate.
He's not getting anything for free, she thought.
"Tsukihime is our child, and your descendant," Kaguya said, pointing at the girl. "Your goal of having offspring is achieved."
Hanekawa laughed. "You can create another child using your own chakra if you want."
Kaguya's expression shifted. "Don't you understand what reproduction means?"
"Of course I do," Kaguya said, turning away slightly. "We'll discuss this later. Prepare for the ninja sect."
She didn't want to lose face in front of a half-blood.
"Not urgent," Hanekawa chuckled. "Let's solve housing first."
Kaguya nodded slightly. She was bound to the sacred tree now, so the sect should be built nearby. It would let her monitor everything and absorb the chakra naturally.
Hanekawa formed seals. Massive chakra erupted outward as trees burst from the ground, rapidly growing into complex wooden structures—homes, training grounds, everything they'd need.
"Does this ability come from the sacred tree?" Kaguya asked with rare curiosity.
"Yes," Hanekawa said casually. Many theorized that Hashirama's Wood Style was connected to the tree. It made sense—both were trees.
"Why seal it?" Kaguya continued.
"Because I'm half-blood. I can't use abilities instinctively like you do," Hanekawa explained. "I need seals."
Kaguya nodded slowly. "You're intelligent."
"Thank you," Hanekawa accepted the compliment.
Indra and Asura must exist, he thought, watching Tsukihime. Which means Hashirama and Madara exist. And if Tsukihime becomes what Hagoromo was...
Kaguya formed seals. Another row of wooden houses materialized.
"I learned!" Tsukihime exclaimed excitedly, creating her own structures.
Hanekawa's eye twitched. Of course she did.
Born from the sacred tree itself, she was naturally gifted beyond measure.
"Tsukihime, open your Byakugan," Hanekawa said, studying her eyes. "Like your mother's."
Tsukihime's eyes widened, but nothing happened.
"Could it be the Rinnegan instead?" Hanekawa opened his own Rinnegan. "Where are your eyes?"
Tsukihime closed her eyes in concentration. After a few seconds, they opened—revealing a perfect Rinnegan.
"I have Daddy's eyes!" she said happily.
Kaguya blinked. The child she'd created with Yin-Yang Release had inherited Hanekawa's Rinnegan. The evidence that Tsukihime was truly their child was mounting.
"I'll teach you tomorrow," Hanekawa said, clapping his hands. "For now, let's eat."
"Eat?" Tsukihime asked, confused.
Kaguya had the same expression. As Ōtsutsuki, they didn't need food.
"Come inside," Hanekawa said, pushing open the door.
"Okay!" Tsukihime bounded after him eagerly, looking around with wide-eyed wonder.
Kaguya followed, unmoved.
Hanekawa retrieved his storage scrolls from his dimensional pocket—a fortunate side effect of time travel. Modern kitchen utensils and ingredients, preserved perfectly. He began cooking for a goddess, her daughter, and himself.
The aroma that emerged was unmistakable.
"It smells amazing!" Tsukihime's mouth watered.
"I won't eat," Kaguya said flatly.
"I made enough for three," Hanekawa said, picking up a piece of fried shrimp and bringing it to her lips.
"I said I—mmph!"
Kaguya froze as the shrimp entered her mouth. Her Byakugan fixed on Hanekawa with a mixture of surprise and indignation.
"How is it?" he asked innocently.
"It doesn't taste good," she said after swallowing, her tone unconvincing.
"Delicious!" Tsukihime's eyes lit up as she bit into her portion.
"If it doesn't taste good, eat more," Hanekawa suggested with a smile. "Maybe it'll grow on you."
Kaguya said nothing for a moment, then picked up her chopsticks.
Hanekawa blinked. She's actually going to eat.
"Mom, try this!" Tsukihime placed grilled fish in Kaguya's bowl.
Hanekawa added chicken.
Kaguya was silent for several seconds before picking up a piece. She chewed slowly, deliberately, as if evaluating every flavor.
She's not heartless, Hanekawa realized. Not yet, anyway.
That was good news for everyone.