Chapter 168: Hagoromo's Doubt

Ryujiro stood in the void, staring intently at the elder before him—Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the legendary Sage of Six Paths and eldest son of Kaguya Otsutsuki.

His coffee-colored hair, the two distinct horns on his head, the white robes adorned with six black magatama markings on his chest, and the red spiral symbol on his back were all as described in the legends.

But most striking were his luminous purple Rinnegan, radiating an aura of overwhelming power.

"Hagoromo Otsutsuki," Ryujiro said gravely, recognizing the figure before him. 

Hagoromo's brows furrowed slightly upon hearing his name. He hadn't expected anyone from this era to know his true name.

Most referred to him simply as the Sage of Six Paths, unaware of his real identity. Could it be that Ryujiro truly was an outsider, as rumors suggested?

"Nice to meet you, Ryujiro," Hagoromo greeted him calmly.

Despite the oppressive aura emanating from Hagoromo, far greater than anyone Ryujiro had encountered, Ryujiro remained unfazed.

By now, Ryujiro had nearly completed his evolution to a higher life form. If anyone could sense Ryujiro's uniqueness, it would be the Sage of Six Paths.

Indeed, Hagoromo was equally shocked by the vast, almost boundless life force radiating from Ryujiro.

Even at his peak, as the Ten-Tails' jinchuriki, his life force hadn't been this formidable.

Was this truly something a human could possess?

He also sensed a mysterious power within Ryujiro, one that even he found unsettling. This only made Hagoromo more cautious.

"So, the sealing technique they used to bring me here was your doing," Ryujiro remarked casually.

"Just a small trick," Hagoromo replied with a faint smile. "I simply wanted to meet someone as unique as you."

"Unique, huh?" Ryujiro mused. "You've been watching me all this time, haven't you?"

Hagoromo's eyes narrowed, a flicker of surprise flashing across his face. How did Ryujiro know that?

Had he been aware of Hagoromo's surveillance all along? Even Kaguya herself hadn't shown such keen awareness. Just who was Ryujiro?

"Ryujiro, I have one question for you," Hagoromo said, his expression turning serious.

"Do you intend to destroy the shinobi world?"

Ryujiro blinked in surprise, then chuckled.

Of course, to Hagoromo, he must seem like a harbinger of disaster, especially given the current destabilization of the shinobi world.

"No," Ryujiro answered, still smiling. "My goal is simply to unify the shinobi world, nothing more."

"Just unification..." Hagoromo murmured.

He understood that, in truth, he shouldn't interfere with the affairs of the living, as everything followed the natural cycle of cause and effect.

Perhaps the fall of the Five Great Nations was inevitable.

"I see," Hagoromo finally said. "In that case, I will not intervene in the matters of the shinobi world. I hope you are true to your word."

Hagoromo stared at Ryujiro for a long time, as if trying to decipher something deep within him. Then, the surrounding space began to shift once more.

Meanwhile, back in the Land of Water, Mei gazed in horror at the beautiful yet terrifying figure before her—Hinata, who had entered her Tenseigan mode, radiating an aura of god-like power. 

No one had expected that Konoha had another monster besides Ryujiro.

Mei recalled Tsuchikage Onoki's warning and realized that the girl he spoke of was indeed this member of the Hyuga clan.

The sheer power of her eyes, never before seen in the shinobi world, was terrifying.

"Where is Ryujiro?" Hinata asked coldly, her gaze freezing Mei in place. 

A moment ago, she had sensed Ryujiro's presence vanish suddenly, leaving her uneasy.

Although she believed nothing could harm Ryujiro, his sudden disappearance had unsettled her.

Mei smirked, despite her fear. "You'll never see him again. He's been sealed in another dimension, never to return!"

Boom!

A wave of murderous intent erupted from Hinata, plunging the temperature around them to freezing levels.

Everyone nearby felt the overwhelming pressure and fear, wondering what the Mizukage could have said to provoke such wrath.

Mei trembled, her face pale as she stared at the terrifying girl before her.

This girl was a monster—a young woman with such immense killing intent, how many lives had she taken?

"Ryujiro will return," Hinata stated firmly.

"You have no idea of his power. He's never considered people like you worth his time. But I won't forgive anyone who offends him."

In an instant, Mei's eyes widened in shock as blood gushed from her throat. Clutching at the wound, she fell to the ground, lifeless.

At that moment, a familiar figure appeared on the battlefield.

"It's Ryujiro-sama! Ryujiro-sama has returned!"

"Ha! I knew there was nothing in this world that could stop him!"

"Lay down your weapons! The Mizukage is dead! Surrender, and you'll be spared!"

The Mist shinobi and their allies stared in disbelief at Mei's lifeless body. Their leader was dead—slain so effortlessly. 

The battle's outcome was now clear.

With the death of Mei and Mifune, the will to fight drained from their forces. Konoha, ever victorious, stood at the summit once more.

The Four Great Nations had fallen, and the shinobi world's unification was inevitable.

Yet, despite his triumph, a lingering concern remained in Ryujiro's heart. Where had Madara and Obito disappeared to?

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