"So, Kaguya, even if the two of us work together, we still wouldn't be able to stop the Ōtsutsuki main family in the end?"
After hearing Kaguya's explanation, Uchiha Ryūjin frowned slightly.
Thinking it through, it made sense.
The Ōtsutsuki clan was an interstellar race that had spent countless years traveling the universe, searching for suitable planets to cultivate God Trees. Their scale was far beyond a single world.
No matter how strong Ryūjin had become, his power was still rooted on this planet. Facing an entire cosmic-level clan was not something he could take lightly.
"Ryūjin, don't jump to conclusions," Kaguya replied steadily. "The Ōtsutsuki clan is powerful, but not every member is extraordinary."
"Only a very small number are qualified to consume a chakra fruit."
"And because of the nature of the fruit, each clansman can only handle one. No one can consume a second."
"So even those who have eaten one, while strong, are not overwhelmingly so."
Ryūjin raised a hand slightly. "Hold on. When you say 'a small number,' how many are we talking about?"
Kaguya paused briefly before answering.
"When I left the main family, there were thirty-eight clansmen who had consumed a chakra fruit."
"Thirty-eight?"
Ryūjin's expression shifted. That number was far from small.
"In the vast universe, not every planet can grow a God Tree," Kaguya continued. "Even among those that can, the resulting chakra fruits differ depending on the planet's energy."
"On top of that, talent varies. Even among those who have consumed a fruit, their strength is not equal."
She looked directly at him.
"Based on your chakra, you would rank within the top ten among those thirty-eight."
"Top ten…" Ryūjin muttered, rubbing his nose.
That wasn't reassuring.
"And there's more," Kaguya added. "The clan also has Four Great Elders and a Clan Leader."
Ryūjin blinked. "Those aren't included in the thirty-eight?"
"They are not," Kaguya replied without hesitation. "Those thirty-eight are considered ordinary clansmen."
Ryūjin let out a breath, his expression turning flat.
"That's something you could have mentioned earlier."
"I cannot clearly describe the strength of the Four Great Elders," Kaguya continued. "I cannot even sense their power."
"As for the Clan Leader, I have never seen him. But someone who holds that position would not be ordinary."
Ryūjin gave a dry laugh. "Yeah, no surprise there."
"This planet was classified as barren by the clan," Kaguya said. "Even if the main family discovers it, they are unlikely to send anyone too powerful."
"So we still have time."
"Like Momoshiki?" Ryūjin asked.
For the first time, Kaguya's expression showed clear surprise.
"How do you know about Momoshiki?"
"That part doesn't matter," Ryūjin replied. "What matters is where he stands among those thirty-eight."
"Below the top thirty," Kaguya answered immediately. "If he comes, you can defeat him easily."
Ryūjin nodded.
That matched what he knew. Momoshiki wasn't much of a problem.
The real issue was what came after.
Defeating one would only attract more. Eventually, the attention of the main family would fall on this planet.
And when that happened, things would get complicated.
Ryūjin exhaled slowly. "This is getting annoying."
The planet's energy had a limit. That limit defined how far someone here could grow.
Even if he stayed for thousands of years, his strength would barely improve.
That meant he needed another approach.
"Kaguya, what are you planning to do next?" Ryūjin asked, shifting the topic.
Kaguya went silent.
A thousand years had passed. Everything she once knew was gone.
Faced with that reality, even she hesitated.
"I haven't decided," she admitted.
"Then stay in Konoha for now," Ryūjin said casually.
After a moment of consideration, she nodded.
And just like that, Kaguya became part of Konoha.
Within days, her presence spread throughout the village.
Everyone knew that a woman with an almost divine aura had appeared.
She rarely spoke, and only ever interacted with the Hokage, yet that didn't stop people from admiring her.
At some point, Ryūjin casually referred to her as the "Rabbit Goddess," and the name spread quickly.
Most villagers didn't understand the origin, but to them, it fit.
To them, she truly looked like a goddess.
Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside the Hokage Office, Uchiha Ryūjin sat behind the desk.
Before him stood the village's high council, including Utatane Koharu, Hyūga Hizashi, Uchiha Fugaku, and Nara Shikaku.
Everyone was present.
After lengthy negotiations, the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning had finally reached an agreement.
Kumogakure was settled, and Konoha withdrew its forces.
At the same time, Kirigakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure had all paid war reparations.
The structure of the Five Great Ninja Villages no longer existed.
Konoha stood alone at the top.
With everything stabilized, Ryūjin made his decision.
"I'm stepping down as Hokage."
The room fell silent.
"Hokage-sama, why now?" Nara Shikaku spoke first. "No one else can lead Konoha the way you have."
"Exactly," others added. "Konoha has reached its peak under your leadership. This isn't the time to step down."
Ryūjin waved them off.
"I'm good at fighting. Running a village? Not my thing."
"Now that everything is stable, I'm not needed here anymore. Someone more suited can take over."
"And I've got more important things to deal with."
His tone made it clear he wasn't negotiating.
Seeing that, no one pushed further.
"You decide on the Sixth Hokage," Ryūjin continued. "Until then, Shikaku handles village affairs."
"Unless it's critical, don't bother me."
With that, he stood and walked out.
The council remained behind, already discussing the next Hokage.
They quickly settled on Uchiha Fugaku.
Ryūjin, however, had already left the building.
He headed straight to a quiet courtyard on the edge of the village.
Kaguya's residence.
The house itself had been built by Ryūjin using Wood Release.
"You're here," Kaguya said, standing in the courtyard and looking up at the sky.
Ryūjin had noticed she did that often.
"Kaguya," he said, getting straight to the point, "how does your clan locate planets across space?"
Kaguya turned to him, slightly surprised.
"The observation is handled by the Council of Elders," she explained. "Ordinary clansmen are not involved."
"When a suitable planet is found, its coordinates are announced, and someone is sent."
"As for how they actually observe them, I don't know."
Then she paused.
"You're planning to leave this planet?"
"Yeah," Ryūjin replied without hesitation.
Since this world had reached its limit for him, staying here was pointless.
Changing direction was the only option.
Back during the Nine-Tails incident, he had already confirmed something important.
Other worlds existed.
Through a summoning jutsu left behind by Sasori of the Red Sand, he had once opened a passage to the Soul Society.
That alone proved it.
If one world existed, then others might as well.
If that was the case, then he had a path forward.
Unfortunately, Kaguya couldn't provide the method he needed.
That left only one option.
The scroll Sasori had left behind.
Back then, that technique had opened a passage, and even Kenpachi Zaraki's attack had passed through it.
If an attack could cross it, then maybe a person could too.
Still, this wasn't something to rush.
That technique was meant for summoning, not travel.
Taking risks blindly wasn't his style.
"Call Orochimaru back," Ryūjin decided.
Orochimaru was the best researcher available.
If anyone could analyze that jutsu, it was him.
Soon, Orochimaru returned to Konoha.
The moment he received the scroll, his eyes lit up with excitement.
"Ryūjin-sama, a technique like this actually exists?"
He immediately buried himself in research, ignoring everything else.
Seven days later, he reported back.
"Ryūjin-sama, this passage is extremely unstable. It likely cannot carry a living person."
Ryūjin narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Then modify it," he said. "Make it usable."
Orochimaru hesitated.
"I will try, but this technique is incredibly complex. I haven't fully understood it yet."
Ryūjin glanced at him, expression indifferent.
"Then figure it out."