Figuring out who had deceived him — and by extension, the entire Uchiha clan — was no easy task for Uchiha Madara.
Whether or not one knew the original plot, uncovering the truth behind the stone tablet was anything but simple. If someone didn't know the future, then from a chronological standpoint, the deceiver had likely been dead for a long time. The stone tablet had an extremely long history, and no one could say for certain when exactly its contents had been altered.
Even if someone did know the plot, Natsuhiko didn't think Madara would easily suspect Black Zetsu.
Black Zetsu was far too cautious, and far too skilled at exploiting human nature to hide himself. Uchiha Madara was an incredibly proud man. He was so confident in himself that he believed even after death, he could still control everything. Because of this, he would never suspect the "being born from his own will" that he himself had created.
As long as Black Zetsu didn't overstep too obviously, he could remain hidden indefinitely. To put it bluntly, unless Madara himself noticed something wrong with Black Zetsu, no one could predict how this matter would develop.
"The worst-case scenario is probably the same as in the original story — getting 'stabbed in the back' while having a nice chat with him."
Natsuhiko stood before the massive golden Tenseigan. His own eyes had already turned a deep, clear blue.
As his eyes continued to evolve, he could feel the overwhelming majesty of the Tenseigan more clearly than ever. At the same time, he seemed to sense a faint presence hidden within it — a presence so ethereal yet so chilling that it sent a shiver down his spine. The power contained within that silhouette was truly terrifying.
Natsuhiko could roughly guess who the owner of that presence was. If he wasn't mistaken, it belonged to Ōtsutsuki Hamura.
In the original timeline, when Naruto and Hinata came to the moon, Hinata had indeed met her ancestor — the soul of Ōtsutsuki Hamura. This was something Natsuhiko had been deliberately avoiding, yet couldn't truly forget.
Because it meant that the Sage of Six Paths and his younger brother had most likely never truly died.
From what he knew of the original story, it was entirely possible that the two brothers were still alive. If they were truly dead, how could they still possess such immense power and appear in soul form to grant Naruto and Sasuke their power-ups?
Natsuhiko refused to believe they had died. The only logical explanation was that they had simply changed their way of existing — continuing to observe the shinobi world from the shadows.
Death wasn't particularly rare for most beings. But for Ōtsutsuki, especially after learning about the existence of Karma, Natsuhiko's understanding of what "death" meant for them had changed drastically.
He had poured everything he had — even exhausting his chakra — just to defeat a single careless and arrogant Ōtsutsuki Urashiki. Even after winning, he had still been extremely cautious, worried that Urashiki might have left behind something like Karma.
The Sage of Six Paths brothers had existed for over a thousand years and had even sealed their own mother. Natsuhiko had no idea how powerful they truly were, but he was certain that dying was something extremely difficult for them.
"So they've actually been alive this whole time, silently watching over the shinobi world… But what exactly are they trying to achieve?"
Natsuhiko couldn't figure it out. Were they simply waiting for Indra and Asura's reincarnations to grow up, reconcile, and reseal their mother? That seemed far too simple. If they could give away their power so easily, couldn't they have reinforced the seal themselves?
Especially since the Sage of Six Paths had even taken his power back in the end. Natsuhiko refused to believe the old man was incapable of doing more.
He was sure the two brothers had their own agenda, but without more information, there was no way for him to know what it was. Natsuhiko was skilled at analyzing intelligence, but without sufficient information, even he couldn't utilize that ability.
He was also very restrained. No matter how curious he was, he wouldn't overthink things without enough evidence. After all, strictly speaking, he was an outsider who had smuggled himself into this world. He had to remain cautious about certain matters — especially anything involving the Sage of Six Paths brothers.
Shaking his head lightly, Natsuhiko placed his hand on the Tenseigan. At the same time, his entire body was enveloped in the deep blue chakra of his Jōgan.
In an instant, the chakra of the Jōgan resonated with the Tenseigan.
Through this resonance, Natsuhiko could feel the Tenseigan's power even more clearly. At the same time, the white-robed figure within it became slightly more distinct.
The figure was ethereal, yet somehow real.
Pushing aside all unnecessary thoughts, Natsuhiko focused entirely on the task at hand. Under his control, the Tenseigan's power began surging into his body and converging toward his eyes.
His eyes had already undergone one evolution. Now, they had once again reached their limit. What he needed was the Tenseigan's power to help him break through that limit and reach a new realm.
The Tenseigan's energy continued flowing into him. His eyes began undergoing an indescribable transformation.
The massive Tenseigan shone like a sun, continuously releasing its power, while his Jōgan greedily absorbed it.
"Buzz!"
After an unknown amount of time, Natsuhiko felt an incredible change beginning to occur in his eyes.
Along with this change, he sensed the power within his eyes growing stronger and stronger. His eyes were undergoing a profound metamorphosis.
"Thump."
Suddenly, he seemed to hear the sound of his eyes pulsing.
"Thump."
With each pulse, it felt as though his eyes were breaking through some kind of membrane, becoming stronger with every beat.
"Thump."
Finally, the pulsing gradually slowed down, while the power accumulating within his eyes grew increasingly dense.
"Buzz!"
When the power finally reached saturation, Natsuhiko clearly felt his eyes reach an entirely new height.
Terrifying power flowed through his eyes. He could feel his overall strength rising once again.
Blue light shot toward the sky as the destructive chakra of the Jōgan spread wildly throughout the interior of the moon. Natsuhiko couldn't help but feel intoxicated by the overwhelming surge of power. He knew his strength had increased by a massive margin compared to before.
Although the overflowing energy might cause some unpredictable consequences, Natsuhiko had no time to care about that right now.
After experiencing the tremendous boost, his expression gradually shifted from intoxication to solemnity.
Because within his eyes, the white-robed figure had become increasingly clear — so clear that it now stood right in front of him.
---
"Was that power just now from Senju Natsuhiko?"
Outside the temple, Uchiha Madara stared at the tightly shut doors deep within the temple with a deep frown.
Just moments ago, he had clearly felt an incredibly powerful surge of energy erupt from within. Even at his peak, he wasn't sure he could have resisted that level of power.
"So this is Senju Natsuhiko's strength... or rather, the strength he gained from this evolution?"
Madara already knew the answer, but the sheer magnitude of that power was still shocking. Although it probably hadn't reached the level of the dead Ōtsutsuki Urashiki, it was already beyond imagination.
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki was a fellow clansman of the Sage of Six Paths. Even if that arrogant fool had been defeated due to his own carelessness, his strength couldn't be denied. Yet Natsuhiko had managed to kill him with his previous power.
Of course, Urashiki's own arrogance had played a major role. But if Natsuhiko didn't possess highly refined combat skills and rich battle experience, how could he have won? How could he have killed a being that was practically a god?
Therefore, Natsuhiko's growth couldn't be measured by raw power alone. What was truly terrifying was the combination of his refined techniques, combat experience, and now this newly enhanced strength.
"It should be Natsuhiko. That chakra and that power… Has his Jōgan finally completed its evolution?"
Senju Hashirama sensed the energy for a moment before nodding with certainty. He looked genuinely pleased.
"Now that Natsuhiko has grown stronger, our future will be much brighter. Madara, you should work hard too!"
"Hmph."
Madara snorted coldly and didn't bother responding. Work hard? In his current state, how was he supposed to work hard? That brat Natsuhiko hadn't even revived him properly. What was he supposed to do?
Even if they didn't fully revive him, at least giving him a better body so he could exert more of his strength wouldn't be too much to ask. But he didn't even have that.
To be honest, Madara was extremely frustrated. Even though he knew these issues would take time to resolve, watching his old friend and the person he once hated the most both walking around alive while he remained in this half-dead state still irritated him greatly.
Shaking his head, Madara forced himself to stop thinking about these annoying matters.
Now that Natsuhiko had obtained the power he wanted, he would probably return to the shinobi world after a short period of adaptation. When that happened, Madara would naturally go back with him. And once they returned, he would likely welcome his own rebirth.
Although this rebirth would be very different from what he had originally planned, at least he would have achieved his goal in a sense.
Still, Madara hesitated. There were still some things he hadn't fully explained yet.
While he didn't particularly mind revealing certain matters, he did care about how foolish he must have looked after being deceived so thoroughly. Telling Hashirama and the others about his arrangements in the shinobi world would, in a way, be admitting just how stupid he had been.
Even though Madara had already somewhat acknowledged his mistakes, Hashirama and the others still didn't know the full extent of what he had done. They didn't know he had created an agent to cause chaos in the shinobi world, nor did they know he had given his Rinnegan to a boy from the Uzumaki clan.
If he remained silent, it might create unnecessary friction later on.
After thinking it over, Madara decided it would be better to tell the Fifth Hokage the truth. Although he trusted Hashirama more as an old friend, the person who could most effectively avoid unnecessary awkwardness right now was clearly the Fifth Hokage.
'Telling that kid the truth can be considered giving an explanation. It'll also make it easier for me to take back my eyes later without needing further explanations.'
Madara didn't see admitting his mistakes as a big deal. What mattered was finding a more composed and advantageous way to handle the situation.
He had already made up his mind. After all, it was obvious that among the three Hokage present, Natsuhiko was the one who truly made the decisions.
'But why hasn't that brat come out yet?'
Feeling the still-fluctuating chakra, Madara frowned. Even after Natsuhiko's evolution had finished, there was still no movement from inside. That terrifying chakra continued to spread, exerting an oppressive pressure that even his Edo Tensei body found difficult to endure.
Shaking his head, Madara stopped thinking about it. Hashirama and Tobirama didn't seem particularly concerned either.
What they didn't know was that at this very moment, Natsuhiko looked as if he had seen a ghost.
---
Staring at the white-robed figure that had appeared right in front of him like a phantom, Natsuhiko's body stiffened slightly.
His Jōgan had seen this silhouette before, but he had always assumed it was merely a residual image left behind by the Tenseigan, or perhaps an imprint of its original owner. He hadn't paid it much attention.
But now, he realized he had been wrong.
This wasn't some residual image or imprint.
This was a conscious soul.
Through his Byakugan, Natsuhiko could clearly see the thoughtful expression on the figure's face and feel the immense power it radiated. If something like this could still be called a "residual image," then residual images in this world were far too powerful.
To be honest, Natsuhiko was very confused. He didn't understand why this person had chosen to appear now. He wasn't from the Hyūga clan, and this wasn't even his first time coming here. Under normal circumstances, if this being had wanted to show himself, he should have done so much earlier.
Was it because his Jōgan had evolved and allowed him to see the figure that the other party had no choice but to appear?
"You seem to have many questions, child."
Just as Natsuhiko was deeply conflicted, a clear and gentle voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
"You're wondering why I appeared, and you're also wondering about my current state, aren't you?"
Natsuhiko opened his mouth slightly but then closed it again.
It was true. He was extremely confused — both about this person's current condition and about his own situation.
At this moment, Natsuhiko felt as if he had been transported into a golden space. He had no memory of this place. He guessed it might be some kind of mental space, or perhaps an energy space created by the Tenseigan. But none of that had been confirmed yet.
More importantly, he had no idea how he had even gotten here.
The method of silently transferring both his location and his consciousness was what truly terrified him. Especially now, when he couldn't even sense the power within his own body — something he had never experienced before.
"Actually, there's no need to be confused or worried. I simply wanted to have a chat with you, child."
The white-robed figure smiled. With a slight movement, his appearance became much clearer.
At the same time, Natsuhiko finally got a good look at his surroundings. He was indeed inside a pale golden space. There was nothing visible within it, yet he strangely felt as though everything existed here.
This bizarre sensation lasted only briefly.
When the white-robed man casually waved his hand and a table appeared in front of them, Natsuhiko understood a lot more.
'This entire pale golden space is filled with special energy. This guy is directly converting energy into whatever he needs.'
Natsuhiko was inwardly astonished. This level of control was terrifying, but he knew it wasn't impossible. After all, everything in existence was ultimately energy — just expressed in different forms.
This man — Ōtsutsuki Hamura — could directly transform energy into things that normal people could perceive and interact with. Natsuhiko could understand the principle, but he had no idea how it was actually done.
This was the ultimate level of power manipulation and comprehension. Natsuhiko couldn't even begin to imagine how difficult it was to reach this stage.
"Please, sit."
Hamura sat down first. He lightly tapped the table with his finger, and a tea set appeared along with it. He poured two cups of tea before smiling at Natsuhiko and speaking.
"There's no need to be so wary. The place you're in right now is a power space formed by the Tenseigan. It's isolated from the outside world. Only consciousness — or more accurately, the soul — can enter here."
He paused for a moment, then chuckled softly as he looked at Natsuhiko, who still hadn't moved.
"As for who I am… I believe you already have the answer, don't you?"
"…Yeah."
Natsuhiko nodded slightly and walked over to sit down across from him.
Although he still didn't know how he had been pulled into this space, he could sense that this person didn't harbor any obvious malice. It was a strange feeling, but it was there.
However, that very feeling immediately made Natsuhiko even more alert. When dealing with someone like Ōtsutsuki Hamura, no amount of caution was excessive.
"If I'm not mistaken, you should be the legendary younger brother of the Sage of Six Paths — the true master of this temple, Ōtsutsuki Hamura, correct?"
"It's been a long time since I've heard that name. It does bring back memories."
Hamura nodded lightly and took a small sip of tea. After a long moment, he spoke again.
"I can feel that you're very wary of me. To be honest, I'm quite curious why. Strictly speaking, I should be the one on guard, because the bloodline inside your body has already mutated. You've transformed from Ashura's bloodline into that of an Ōtsutsuki. I still haven't figured out how you managed that.
Not only that, but you somehow obtained the power of the Byakugan and mutated it into a special eye somewhat similar to the Tenseigan. Everything about you is quite fascinating. Even your very existence is remarkably strange."
Hamura continued smiling as he looked at Natsuhiko and took another sip of tea.
Cold sweat ran down Natsuhiko's back. He hadn't expected this man to see through him so completely. The feeling was extremely unpleasant.
Still, he maintained a calm expression and asked in a seemingly casual tone, "Oh? How exactly am I strange? I'm just a descendant of the Senju clan."
"Just a descendant of the Senju clan?"
Hamura put down his teacup. What he said next made Natsuhiko's entire body stiffen.
"Well, that's not entirely wrong. Your body does indeed belong to the Senju clan. But what about your soul?"
Natsuhiko had long suspected that someone like him — a transmigrator — might eventually be discovered. After thinking about it for a long time, he had concluded that if he ever encountered beings who constantly observed the shinobi world and possessed unimaginable power, his identity as an outsider would likely be exposed.
The people he had been most wary of from the beginning were none other than the Sage of Six Paths brothers.
Even though he had been deliberately avoiding this issue, he had never been able to forget the possibility that the two brothers were still alive.
Now, Hamura's words had confirmed it.
They knew he was an outsider.
To have his biggest secret seen through so easily — and to realize he might have been under observation the entire time — filled Natsuhiko with disgust and genuine fear.
This world belonged to the Sage of Six Paths brothers. Their influence over the shinobi world was beyond imagination. As an outsider who had entered this world, the risks he faced were equally unimaginable.
However, Natsuhiko forced himself to stay calm. Panicking wouldn't help him now.
He didn't know exactly how much Hamura knew, nor how much the Sage of Six Paths himself knew. For example, where he came from, or the existence of the mysterious system inside his body — could they see those things too?
More importantly, he had been in this world for many years and had already changed a great deal, creating countless unpredictable futures. Yet the two brothers had simply watched without taking any direct action against him.
Did that mean they were actually weaker than they appeared?
Natsuhiko quickly dismissed that thought. If they were weak, then who in the shinobi world could truly be called strong?
A more likely possibility suddenly appeared in his mind.
'They might be deliberately letting me be, just to see how much change I can bring to the shinobi world.'
This thought, while seemingly far-fetched, felt strangely plausible.
From what he knew of the original story, the time rules in the shinobi world were quite simple. If someone traveled to the past, their actions could affect the future. It wasn't a case of creating entirely new timelines.
Naruto's team traveling back in time and meeting Minato was proof of this. Even though Minato sealed their memories, their actions had still influenced the future — yet the future remained unchanged.
Unless something truly world-altering happened — like Orochimaru abandoning ninjutsu to research mechanical technology and creating something like a mechanical Nine-Tails Naruto — the shinobi world would likely continue along its original path.
Since the brothers could use the power of time to observe countless possible futures, Natsuhiko's appearance and the changes he brought might have already been within their calculations.
If that was the case, then his existence, while creating unpredictable futures from the perspective of others, might actually be something beneficial to them.
It would also explain why they had never moved against him and had instead allowed him to act freely.
"Indeed, I am an outsider. Although it wasn't my intention to come here, due to certain accidents, I ended up in this world."
After sorting out his thoughts, Natsuhiko let out a soft sigh before probing further.
"Since you already know I'm an outsider, why haven't you done anything? For example, sending me back?"
"You mean, why haven't we eliminated you as an uncertain factor?"
Hamura looked at Natsuhiko with a faint, amused smile before shaking his head.
"Why would I do that? Or rather, why would we do that? You're very wary of us — something I didn't expect, considering this is technically our first meeting.
But it doesn't matter. I can tell you this: we've been watching everything you've done over the years. We don't know where you came from, and honestly, it doesn't matter. What matters is what your presence can bring."
Hamura paused and took another sip of tea. A rich tea fragrance spread through the space. Even though Natsuhiko knew the scent was likely just an illusion created in his mind, the sensation felt incredibly real.
What Hamura said next made Natsuhiko's heart skip a beat. He felt like he had guessed correctly.
However, he remained silent and simply looked at Hamura, waiting for him to continue.
"Actually, you can try guessing. Go ahead and tell me what you think we're thinking."
Hamura smiled as he looked at Natsuhiko and slowly placed his teacup down.
"As a shinobi, you've long since developed your own analytical abilities. You're an excellent shinobi. I believe your capabilities in this area are quite strong."
He paused once more, then spoke with a meaningful tone.
"Actually… you should have already guessed it, shouldn't you?"