Chapter 123: Reactions from All Sides, New Powers of the Rinnegan

Chapter 123: Reactions from All Sides, New Powers of the Rinnegan

As the saying goes, one stone stirs a thousand waves!

The climactic battle between the Moon visitor Shinkurō Ōtsutsuki and the Akatsuki leader spread faster than the Uchiha Clan Extermination Event, the Hidden Leaf Village Destruction Plan, or even the recent annihilation of Kumogakure.

Hardly had the dust settled before the Four Great Ninja Villages—having already planted spies in Kumogakure after learning of its plan to bomb Amegakure—received immediate reports. Within a day, detailed intelligence dossiers lay on the desks of the Five Kage. By the next morning, even the smaller nations and hidden villages had caught wind of the news.

Keywords like "Moon visitor", "Shinkurō Ōtsutsuki", "Rinnegan", "Ten-Tails Statue", "Meteor Rain", and "Wood Release" rippled across the Ninja World.

The revelation that the Akatsuki leader was a descendant of both the Uzumaki and Senju clans electrified the world. Not only did he wield the Rinnegan, but he had also awakened the Wood Release bloodline limit—the legendary power of the Sage of Six Paths that once ended the Warring Clans Era. His colossal wooden avatar had withstood a cataclysmic meteor storm, overshadowing the fame of the Wood Release ninja Izayoi.

Both were Wood Release users, yet the Akatsuki leader had ascended to godhood, while Izayoi had only graduated a year prior. The gap was insurmountable.

With the Six Paths Sage’s eyes and the Sage of the Six Paths’ Wood Release, Nagato became universally acknowledged as the strongest ninja alive—uncontested.

No one dared challenge him.

His track record spoke for itself: the Akatsuki’s ranks brimmed with S-rank missing-nins from every village, and even Kumogakure’s legendary A/B combo had crumbled before him like children’s toys.

Only the existence of Shinkurō Ōtsutsuki prevented Nagato from being hailed as the god of this new age.

The Moon visitor’s parting words, however, left the Five Great Villages sleepless.

The ultimate power of this new era might no longer lie in the Sage of the Six Paths’ Wood Release, but in the mythical Sage’s Eye—the incomparable Repulsive Force and Gravity Release. These abilities felt like forces from another dimension, utterly alien to the ninja arts of the Five Villages.

But there was a silver lining: two wielders possessed this power, and they were enemies.

If only one had existed, the Five Villages would have lived in terror, waking each day fearing their villages might share Kumogakure’s fate—or worse, become vassals of Amegakure.

After all, not every peerless warrior was a Hashirama Senju. Most would follow the path of an Uchiha Madara.

…

“I never imagined the mysterious Moon visitor was real,” muttered Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage, staring at the intelligence reports and photos smuggled out at great cost. His eyes lingered on the image of the wooden avatar, recalling the colossal Susano’o of Uchiha Madara.

“If even the Sage of the Six Paths’ Wood Release could be matched… Could the fabled Susano’o, said to kill all who glimpsed it, grow this mighty?”

He murmured, “What exactly is this Ten-Tails Statue?”

For the first time, he believed Jiraiya’s theories. The Sage’s Eye holders were fighting over something—a treasure so potent that even in such a battle, the Akatsuki leader had yet to wield it.

“This era may spiral beyond control,” Ōnoki whispered, gazing at the sky. “Iwagakure can no longer stand apart.”

…

“Such power… truly exists?” Mei Terumī, the Mizukage, voiced her disbelief. “With this strength, why didn’t the Sage of the Six Paths and Uchiha Madara conquer the world?”

Unfamiliar with the true might of Wood Release and the Sharingan, Mei had assumed Wood Release was merely a kekkei genkai that dominated tailed beasts in team battles. She never imagined it could create titanic avatars shattering meteors or unleashing five-element composite ninjutsu.

“This power alone could’ve let the Sage rule the world single-handedly,” she mused. “And Hidden Leaf had two such beings? It’s unthinkable they didn’t conquer everything.”

The clan name “Ōtsutsuki” puzzled Master Yuta. Scouring his memory, he found no record of it.

“Could there be a portal linking the Moon and our world?” he speculated. “Did the Ōtsutsuki clan—ancient ninja of legend—migrate to the Moon long ago, taking the Ten-Tails Statue with them? Are they related to the Sage of Six Paths… or his enemies?”

The thought left him aching. “When myths become reality, even divine power resurfaces. I wonder if this is a blessing or a curse for our age.”

…

“Only months ago, the Ninja World felt familiar. Now, I don’t recognize it anymore,” sighed Lady Chiyo of Sunagakure, staring at the reports. She longed to swap places with the Hidden Mist—far from this chaos.

“We can only hope the Hidden Leaf’s Wood Release ninja survives,” Ebizō said grimly. “May the Akatsuki leader and the Moon visitor stalemate long enough for that Leaf ninja to grow… or for the Moon visitor to prevail. Only then will the Five Nations breathe easy.”

Chiyo sighed. “Neither side is one we can challenge. Our only choice is to wait—and pray the end isn’t too bloody.”

Ebizō remained silent, clutching the photo. The tragedy of the weak: to be butchered without a say.

…

“Rinnegan and Wood Release… Could the Sage’s Eye be the Uzumaki’s true bloodline?” Tsunade wondered aloud in the Hokage’s office. She studied Karin and Izayoi’s Wood Clone, frowning. “Could our bloodline be tied to the Sage of Six Paths?”

You’re not wrong, Izayoi thought, skimming the Forbidden Scroll.

Karin chuckled awkwardly—she’d been a backwater Grass ninja last year, clueless about ancient secrets.

Tsunade pressed on, “The Rinnegan… Are they different Sage’s Eyes? Legends only speak of the Six Paths Sage’s Rinnegan. The Rinnegan’s wielder should be the ‘loser’—but why did Shinkurō Ōtsutsuki call the Six Paths Sage the failure? Why say the Rinnegan is the ‘loser’s eye’?”

“Could the Six Paths Sage have been the loser? Did the Rinnegan’s wielder steal the Ten-Tails Statue, flee to the Moon, and leave the world to the Sage?”

She groaned, tugging her hair. “Ugh! Why are all these ancient figures and powers popping up now?!”

Izayoi finally spoke, “Isn’t this good news? If myths become reality, and our bloodline ties to such power… doesn’t that mean our limits could rise to match them?”

The three women blinked at his calm confidence. Karin’s eyes sparkled with admiration; Shizune beamed with respect. Tsunade’s face softened.

“Maybe the Yin Seal preserves youth,” she sighed, “but not ambition. I suppose I’m getting old.”

Resolute, she ordered, “Take the Forbidden Scroll. Your growth is our priority now—I’ll take responsibility if Danzō objects.”

“Then I won’t hold back, Hokage-sama,” Izayoi replied.

…

“Ōtsutsuki… Rinnegan…”

Hiashi Hyūga stared at Shinkurō Ōtsutsuki’s photo in the Hyūga estate. “So that branch of our clan truly exists… We Hyūga are descendants of the Sage…”

“The Caged Bird Seal… Could it be tied to them? Why did our connection vanish?”

…

Izayoi’s true self, however, cared little for the world’s reactions.

Using the Flying Thunder God Technique, he returned to his underground base beneath the traditional estate, raising its barrier. He remained hidden, while the “Izayoi” outside—his Wood Clone, infused with stolen chakra—continued its charade.

As last spring, Hinata Hyūga tended to the blindfolded Izayoi in secret, managing his daily needs. But this time, their relationship confirmed, Hinata dispatched a Shadow Clone to inform her father before moving into Izayoi’s home permanently.

Compared to her gentle and nurturing self last year, Hinata Hyuga now had a playful streak. She had developed the same habit as Izayoi—while tending to him, she always enjoyed taking photos herself or using Shadow Clones to do so. At times, she'd even tease Izayoi by capturing unflattering photos and dirt, unafraid of him doubling the revenge once he recovered.

Hinata Hyuga curiously asked, "Izayoi, can your Rinnegan evolve like the Sharingan?"

"I can feel my Dōjutsu power growing stronger. It should be able to evolve further", Izayoi nodded. "Or perhaps it's unlocking greater power."

Hinata Hyuga's expression turned odd. "Sage's Eye... surely it's not actually the Uzumaki Clan's Bloodline Limit?"

Izayoi, his eyes wrapped in white bandages, simply smiled without answering.

Whenever the underlings or Tsunadeshizune came by, Hinata Hyuga would split off a Shadow Clone to handle them alongside Izayoi's Wood Clone. The same applied when Karin returned home or Hanabi Hyuga visited.

When no one was home, Hinata Hyuga would support Izayoi to walk around, breathe fresh air, or soak in the hot spring while enjoying Tenketsu Striking massages.

Unlike last year's shyness and awkwardness, both Hinata Hyuga and Izayoi now appeared completely natural. The shift in their relationship alone had granted Hinata Hyuga immense courage, her resistance to embarrassment skyrocketing.

As a Yamato Nadeshiko-style traditional woman, Hinata Hyuga regarded caring for Izayoi as her duty as both girlfriend and future wife. This transformation had stripped away some of her awkwardness, replacing it with warmth. It also made Izayoi and Hinata Hyuga realize they were growing up.

Unlike the first Awakening which took half a month, Izayoi's second Awakening—now that his Ultimate Eye Technique had awakened—was about absorbing chakra secreted by the brain and cells to develop the second stage of the Power of the All-Encompassing Nature.

Within just a week, Izayoi's Rinnegan completed its second Awakening. Once the brain stopped secreting chakra, the eyes ceased their movement, and the Power of the All-Encompassing Nature stabilized, Izayoi immediately tore off the bandages and opened his eyes.

The Rinnegan showed no change, still exuding exquisite beauty. However, the pupils now radiated a faint white glow like a solar corona, their profound depth resembling black holes as they exuded astonishing Dōjutsu Power. The weak would tremble uncontrollably at just meeting his gaze, instinctively feeling that his stare could materialize and kill them.

Hinata Hyuga sat nearby across from Izayoi, holding a camera and secretly capturing his current appearance. At this moment, Izayoi appeared focused ahead, but his gaze had actually pierced through the underground base, spreading like an invisible net to envelop several countries surrounding Fire Country, even parts of major nations.

Switching to a God's-eye view, half the Ninja World fell within Izayoi's monitoring range. Switching back to first-person perspective, Izayoi tilted his head back, his gaze piercing through the underground base's ceiling, through the atmosphere, reaching the Moon in space.

The crumbling city, the artificial sun on the Moon, the palace within it housing a colossal Rinnegan, and Shinkurō Ōtsutsuki himself—thirteen years old, not yet entering his 15-17 growth phase, his chakra currently weaker than Naruto Uzumaki's, relying on a medium to use Wireless Puppetry for daily tasks and unable to monitor the Ninja World—were all visible to Izayoi.

"Ridiculously powerful long-range vision and X-ray sight..." Izayoi mused inwardly, slightly whistling.

The enhanced basic abilities from the second Awakening astonished even Izayoi. The colossal Rinnegan could monitor the Ninja World because it had fused all the Byakugan from the Ōtsutsuki Clan's branch families, possibly even those of the main family. Yet Izayoi, after just his second Awakening, could already nearly monitor the entire Ninja World.

Then after the third Awakening—the final evolution—wouldn't his Rinnegan reach the same level as the colossal Rinnegan, or even surpass it? Without a doubt, such a Rinnegan would be nothing like the one Shinkurō Ōtsutsuki could disperse with a single punch.

"Is this due to my eyes themselves, or the Sage's Eye (Red)?" Izayoi mused inwardly, believing the latter's contribution was immense. The Rinnegan was the unification of two poles, but Izayoi had achieved the unification of three. Shinkurō Ōtsutsuki hadn't even entered his growth phase yet, while Izayoi had already completed his second Awakening.

After marveling, Izayoi began exploring the second stage of the Power of the All-Encompassing Nature. Just like the first Awakening, after completing the second Awakening, the Rinnegan gained three new abilities alongside astonishing improvements in long-range vision and X-ray sight.

The first was the Yin-Yang Release Izayoi had longed for. The Yin-Yang Release, like Sealing Techniques, was an ability with extremely variable power potential. If you couldn't master Yin-Yang Release, you'd only be able to create Black Rods like Nagato and Obito Uchiha. But if mastered, combining it with Sage Techniques as the core and integrating the seven ultimate natures, you could create the strongest Ninjutsu below Kekkei Tōta—Six Paths: Truth Seeking Ball! Take it further, and you could even create anything like the Six Paths Sage.

The Six Paths Sage wasn't even the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, yet after death still possessed Six Paths: Truth Seeking Ball—precisely because of Yin-Yang Release and Six Paths Sage Techniques. Now Izayoi had gained one of these foundations. With his transmigrator advantages, current talent, and potential, it might not be impossible for him to one day wield both Rinnegan Chakra Mode and Six Paths: Truth Seeking Ball!

Besides Yin-Yang Release, the remaining two abilities were the Spirit Sphere and Chakra Light Sphere. The Spirit Sphere corresponds to the Rinnegan's Human Path, allowing mind-reading and projecting memories/thoughts like the Crystal Vision Technique. Inserting the Spirit Sphere into a target's body also allows controlling their will and actions. This ability has different strengths compared to Human Path. The Spirit Sphere can control enemies, which Human Path cannot. But Human Path can counter soul-based abilities and has innate genjutsu immunity. If enemies use Spirit Transformation, it's practically asking for death.

The Chakra Light Sphere corresponds to the Rinnegan's Preta Path. Like the Spirit Sphere and Human Path, the Chakra Light Sphere and Preta Path share similarities but each has unique strengths. Preta Path creates a light barrier to absorb enemy Ninjutsu from all directions, countering the Five Chakra Natures. Touching enemies also allows quickly absorbing their chakra to restore one's own.

The Chakra Light Sphere can't absorb Ninjutsu from all directions, but instead condenses a green sphere in the hand that transforms into a beam piercing enemies—devouring incoming Ninjutsu while draining their chakra instantly. After absorbing Ninjutsu and chakra, the sphere can return to restore chakra like Preta Path, or transform into a bomb detonating on-site. The stronger the enemy's chakra, the more powerful the explosion. Draining a Jinchuriki's chakra completely would make this sphere's power surpass even the Tailed Beast Ball.

All three new abilities were support-type. Including previous abilities like Repulsive Force, Gravity Release, and Wireless Puppetry, except for the missing Dimensional Reduction ultimate move, Izayoi was now a well-rounded warrior with balanced offense/defense, support abilities, and summoning power maximized!

Izayoi's lips curled into an involuntary smile, openly displaying his joy. Hinata Hyuga couldn't help moving closer, curiously asking, "Izayoi, are you exploring your new abilities?" As she spoke, Hinata Hyuga's cheeks flushed slightly, remembering the scene when Izayoi first awakened his Rinnegan.

"Yes. Want to see them?" Snapped back to reality by Hinata Hyuga's voice, Izayoi's face showed his familiar mischievous grin, making her heart pound.

"Mm." But the girl seemed to have grown fond of this thrill, suppressing her shyness as she nodded.

"Come, let's watch a movie together." Izayoi first turned off the lights, then pulled Hinata Hyuga into his arms as they lay under the blankets. A green glow tore through the darkness like fireflies, illuminating the embraced Izayoi and Hinata Hyuga.

One hand held Hinata Hyuga tightly while the other cradled a green crystal-like sphere. Under her curious gaze, the crystal displayed scenes of their childhood meeting.

"Izayoi, this is..." Hinata Hyuga's eyes widened, beaming with surprise at him.

"These are my memories." Izayoi grinned, pinching her cheek. "Don't speak, keep watching."

"Mm-hmm..." Nodding repeatedly, she lay in Izayoi's arms, eyes sparkling as she watched the green sphere.

The scenes flickered like a slide show—snowy night meeting at age three, reunion at Ninja Academy at six, the promised training sessions, tree-climbing, water-walking, Taijutsu duels, campfire cooking, Training Suit chases...

Watching their growing selves in the sphere, Hinata Hyuga became entranced. Izayoi, who originally wanted to prank her with some inappropriate videos, had somehow lost that mood, instead holding Hinata Hyuga quietly as he watched, his smile full of happiness.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end