Otsutsuki Hamura and Otsutsuki Hagoromo slowly opened their eyes.
"This is? Teacher!?"
"Arisu Sage!?"
After their consciousness returned, the two exclaimed, then looked around in disbelief.
Arisu looked at them and nodded. "Long time no see."
"Teacher, what is going on? Why are we…"
Otsutsuki Hamura was full of doubt and immediately asked.
"Yeah, weren't we dead? Why are we here? Could it be that you revived us?"
Otsutsuki Hagoromo also asked.
Actually, both of them felt a bit uneasy inside. Since the Sage had summoned them, then the backup measures they had left behind were probably already known to him.
Arisu Sage looked at the two and slowly spoke, "It's a long story. This is not the human world, nor is it the nothingness after death that you understand."
"This is a space I personally created, dedicated for the souls of the deceased to live and reside in. I call it the Pure Land."
"From now on, after all living beings in the world die, their souls will come here and find rest."
After a pause, seeing the look of realization on their faces, he added, "You have not been revived. Your souls were simply guided here by me. You exist in the Pure Land in the form of souls."
After hearing this, Hagoromo and Hamura exchanged a glance. The confusion in their eyes completely disappeared, leaving only deep shock and admiration.
"So that's how it is! Teacher truly possesses immense power, creating such a Pure Land space beyond life and death. Even at my peak, I could never accomplish such a feat. It is truly admirable!"
Hamura immediately cupped his hands and bowed deeply to Arisu Sage with respect, sincerely impressed.
Hagoromo also nodded at the side, his eyes full of reverence for his teacher.
To create a place of existence beyond life and death, this ability had already surpassed their understanding.
Just as the two brothers were filled with admiration,
Arisu Sage suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze carrying a faint smile that wasn't quite a smile as it fell on them.
He slowly spoke, "Hamura, Hagoromo, you two brothers really planned well. You even left a trace of your souls in the human world. Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"
As soon as these words came out, Hagoromo and Hamura froze on the spot. Their faces instantly showed awkwardness and panic.
"Haha, Arisu Sage, this… I was really worried about the Otsutsuki descendants we left on the moon. I was afraid they might encounter danger there, and also worried that changes in the human world might affect them."
"That's why I had no choice but to leave a backup, storing a trace of my soul to secretly watch over them a bit. I had no other intentions."
Hagoromo scratched his head first, laughing awkwardly as he hurried to explain, his tone somewhat uneasy.
Hamura also quickly bowed, his tone sincere and apologetic as he hurried to ask for forgiveness, "Teacher, please forgive me!"
"I was worried you might favor Indra too much and feared he would go down the wrong path and bring chaos to the human world."
"That's why I left a trace of my soul within the Rinnegan, to quietly observe your next steps and be prepared if needed. I did not intend to deceive you."
Arisu Sage glanced at them calmly, with no intention of pursuing the matter. His tone remained steady as he arranged things, "What's past will not be pursued."
"You two, since you have come to the Pure Land, will remain here from now on. In the future, help me manage the various affairs of the Pure Land and guard this place where the dead rest."
Hagoromo and Hamura exchanged a glance.
To be able to exist in the Pure Land and continue following their teacher (Arisu Sage) was already the best outcome for them.
The two looked at each other again, both seeing relief and respect in the other's eyes. They immediately responded in unison:
"Yes!"
"Mm."
Arisu then nodded. Both of them already knew Yin-Yang Release, so there was no need for him to teach them.
"Teacher, please wait a moment!"
"I want to ask, my two sons… how are they? Did they continue fighting? How many years have passed since my death?", Otsutsuki Hamura asked.
Arisu looked at Hamura and said softly, "Hamura, I'll tell you later. If we start talking about that now, it won't end."
"Their conflict is still ongoing, but after the Pure Land is properly settled, you can gather together and talk about it."
———
Time flowed quietly, and in the blink of an eye, sixty years passed.
[Mount Myoboku]
Hyuga Ryoichi reached the end of his life.
This old man who had lived for a full hundred years had enjoyed his later years in Mount Myoboku. At this moment, he slowly closed his eyes, completely losing all signs of life and passing away peacefully.
At the instant Hyuga Ryoichi's consciousness completely faded, a gentle yet irresistible force suddenly emerged from the void, instantly capturing his drifting soul.
In just a moment, the original darkness and emptiness disappeared.
Hyuga Ryoichi's soul form instantly became clear.
He suddenly opened his eyes. What he saw was a clear and peaceful white glow, and beneath his feet was a smooth surface like polished jade, completely different from the mortal world.
"So this is… the Pure Land that the Great Sage once mentioned?", Hyuga Ryoichi looked at the unfamiliar yet peaceful scene before him. In his soul state, he felt no fatigue at all. Instead, there was a hint of realization as he murmured softly.
He had lived for a hundred years and had long seen through life and death, but stepping into the world after death still made him feel emotional.
Before he could look around further, a figure dressed in simple envoy clothing quickly walked toward him.
The person had the Byakugan characteristic of the Hyuga clan and wore a familiar smile, clearly someone from his own clan.
"Congratulations, Clan Leader Hyuga, on successfully ascending to the Pure Land!"
The Hyuga envoy stepped forward, speaking in a light and joking tone.
There was not the slightest heaviness of life and death in his words.
"Third Uncle? How are you here?"
Hyuga Ryoichi looked closely at the person in front of him. His previously calm face instantly showed surprise, his eyes full of shock as he couldn't help but ask.
The person before him was clearly his third uncle. Back then, his third uncle had chosen to stay in the Hyuga clan in the mortal world and had not followed him to the Six Paths Sage.
"Hahaha!"
The third uncle laughed heartily and waved his hand as he explained,
"Well, it couldn't be helped. Back then, in the Hyuga clan in the mortal world, I didn't have your kind of opportunity to stay by the Great Sage's side. Living to a hundred years is perfectly normal for you."
"After I passed away, that great person in the Pure Land specially appointed me as the Hyuga clan's guide in the Pure Land, specifically responsible for guiding the souls of our deceased clan members here. You could say I'm still watching over our Hyuga descendants in the Pure Land."
"Come on, I'll take you to the Hyuga clan's exclusive living area in the Pure Land. The elders in the clan have all been waiting for you.", As he spoke, the third uncle smiled and invited him.
Hearing this, Hyuga Ryoichi smiled helplessly yet with relief.
When he was young, he had imagined death countless times, always thinking it was a cold, unknown, and frightening end.
But now that he had truly died and his soul had come to the Pure Land, and he had immediately seen a familiar elder, the fear of death disappeared in an instant, leaving only a deep sense of peace and ease.
"So death isn't really something to fear. Instead, I feel much more relaxed. Third Uncle, I'll trouble you to lead the way!"
Hyuga Ryoichi's brows relaxed as he said with a smile.
"Let's go. Everyone has been waiting quite a while for you, the hundred-year clan leader. They all want to hear what you've been doing with the Six Paths Sage…"
As he spoke, the third uncle stepped aside in a guiding gesture and walked side by side with Hyuga Ryoichi toward the Hyuga residential area in the Pure Land.