308. Planting A Tree in Mount Myoboku

Hanekawa entered the Raikage's office.

Compared to the Hokage's office, this one was far more sparse.

The reason?

The Fourth Raikage had treated it as half-office, half-gym. In the corners, various pieces of workout equipment—dumbbells and the like—were scattered about.

Hanekawa's gaze settled on the Raikage's chair. After a brief consideration, he swapped it out for one identical to the Hokage's. Sitting in the new chair, he stretched lazily.

Becoming the Fifth Raikage had gone smoothly. All it took was a fight with the Fourth Raikage. Of course, the real deciding factor was his and Kaguya Otsutsuki's overwhelming strength.

"Kaguya." He patted his thigh.

Kaguya stepped forward and sat on his lap without hesitation.

Hanekawa wrapped his left arm around her waist, then noticed Samui standing nearby. Her head was lowered, lips lightly bitten—clearly troubled by something.

"Samui." He called out. "Come here."

Samui blinked, startled. Her eyes flicked briefly to Kaguya.

After a few seconds of hesitation, she cautiously approached and settled onto his right thigh. Kaguya's earlier displays of power had left a deep impression on her.


Even though they'd worked together just last night, Samui couldn't shake the lingering fear.

With a woman on each leg, Hanekawa inhaled their distinct scents, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction.

But pleasure could wait. First, he needed to address his new Raikage secretary's concerns.

"Samui." He turned to her. "What's on your mind?"

Samui met his gaze, hesitation flickering in her eyes. After a pause, she asked: "Will… Yugito and the others be alright?"

Hanekawa inwardly nodded. As expected. Samui had, after all, grown up with Yugito Nii, Mabui, and the others.

"Don't worry. I won't kill them." He said it casually.

In the shinobi world, strength ruled supreme. And when strength surpassed all, everything else became trivial.

For Samui's sake, he could spare them. Women with her combination of beauty and obedience were rare.

"Thank you." Samui exhaled in relief.


Having spent so much time with Hanekawa, she'd learned to read him well.

If he said he wouldn't kill them, he wouldn't. At worst, they'd suffer a little.

Thinking of Yugito's behavior, Samui figured she deserved some hardship.

Maybe it would finally make her grow up and face reality.

"I'm the Hokage. I can't stay in Kumogakure long-term." Hanekawa mused for a moment. "From now on, you and Mabui will handle things here."

"Understood." Samui responded automatically—then paused. "Does that mean… I won't return to Konoha?" Her voice carried unmistakable reluctance.

Becoming the Raikage's secretary meant leaving her ANBU position. Which meant no longer staying by Hanekawa's side.

"I have the Flying Thunder God Technique." He chuckled.

"I said I can't stay long-term, not that I won't stay at all. A few hours a day is manageable."

Kumogakure held little value for him, but for Konoha? It was a different story.

With Tsunade still around, he'd held off on acting against the Fire Daimyo. But the Lightning Daimyo? That was fair game.


Hanekawa planned to take direct control.

From there, things would be simple.


Kumogakure shinobi would secure resources—minerals, ores, anything valuable. Konoha's shinobi, along with Kakuzu's Thousand Sunny Company, would process and sell them.

His thoughts turned to Mei Terumi.

In theory, Kirigakure, with its mastery of marine resources, might've stood a chance.

But now, facing both Konoha and Kumogakure? Defeat was inevitable.

Samui flushed slightly but couldn't hide her relief.

Two or three hours a day was more than enough for her. After all, given her stamina, she could only last half an hour anyway.

"Samui." Hanekawa's right hand slid downward, fingers slipping beneath her black skirt. "I have a task for you."

Samui tensed, eyes locking onto his. "Though I'm now Raikage, I lack trustworthy subordinates."

His fingers traced the curve of her thigh. "Assemble an ANBU squad for me. Seventeen members, for now."

"Understood." The request was daunting, but she agreed. "Just find the people. I'll handle the rest."

His plan was simple: Genjutsu

Memory alteration.

Finding shinobi in Kumogakure loyal to him was like searching for a needle in a haystack. This squad's mission? After he took control of the Lightning Daimyo, they'd manage the Land of Lightning in his stead.

"Mhm." Samui didn't question him, though her mind was already working. Kumogakure wasn't a monolith.

Take Ginkaku and Kinkaku, for example.


Plenty of shinobi disagreed with the Fourth Raikage's methods—especially after the Third War's crushing defeat. Recruiting them would be enough to form an ANBU squad.

"That's all for now." Hanekawa wasn't in a hurry. Kumogakure wasn't going anywhere.

"Kaguya." He turned to the silent woman on his left. "How are the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails?"

"I placed them in the Beginning World of my Amenominaka." Her voice was cool.

"But it's not a permanent solution. I need the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. The Divine Tree must be replanted."

"I can summon the statue." Hanekawa nodded. "Where should we plant the tree?"

The Demonic Statue was the God Tree's husk. To plant the tree was to plant the statue.

"Somewhere energy-rich." Kaguya paused. "Like the Pure Land."

"The Pure Land already has one. A second would be redundant." Hanekawa shook his head. "Two Divine Trees would disrupt the souls there. Not worth it."

As a human, he had more scruples than Kaguya.

And there were souls he cared about—or rather, souls Tsunade cared about.

Hashirama Senju.

Mito Uzumaki.

The Divine Tree could absorb chakra, but the souls could remain undisturbed in the Pure Land.

"I have a better idea." A faint smile touched his lips. "What about Mount Myoboku?"

"Acceptable." Kaguya's expression didn't change.

The Divine Tree was the Otsutsuki's means of harvesting worlds.

It could absorb any energy—natural energy included—and convert it into the Divine Tree Fruit's nourishment.

After a thousand years, only three places in the shinobi world still brimmed with natural energy: Mount Myoboku. Shikkotsu Forest. Ryuchi Cave.

And given the ancient toad Gamamaru's past schemes, the choice was obvious.

"Samui." Hanekawa withdrew his hand. "Stay here. Kaguya and I have business to attend to."

"Yes." Samui stood, cheeks flushed. Her legs felt unsteady—his fingers had been anything but well-behaved. "If Mabui comes looking for me, tell her to wait."

"Understood." Samui pressed her thighs together slightly and bowed. Once Hanekawa left, she planned to change her underwear.

"Be careful." She added after a moment.

Even with Kaguya's power, Mount Myoboku was one of the Three Great Sage Regions.

Rumors spoke of the Great Toad Sage's strength rivaling the Sage of Six Paths. It was hard not to worry.

Hanekawa chuckled and ruffled her hair. Samui's perspective was limited—but that wasn't her fault. How could she have guessed the woman beside him was the legendary Rabbit Goddess?

-
Deep within Mount Myoboku, at the temple

The Great Toad Sage's eyes snapped open. Sweat beaded on its forehead as it gasped for air.

"Great Elder! Was it a vision?" Fukasaku hurried forward. The Great Toad Sage's prophecies came through dreams—but this reaction suggested something dire.

"I saw… the tree." The ancient toad rasped.

"The Divine Tree?" Fukasaku paled.

"Yes."



The Great Toad Sage said with lingering fear, "And this dream showed the image of the Divine Tree from the Shinobi Sect a thousand years ago."

"Wasn't the Divine Tree split apart by Princess Tsuki?" Fukasaku asked puzzled, "Now that the nine tailed beasts are scattered across the major shinobi villages, how could they possibly be gathered again?"

"Princess Tsuki has already died and gone to the Pure Land," the Great Toad Sage pondered and said, "The only shinobi in the world who could possibly reunite the nine tailed beasts is Hanekawa."

"That's true," Fukasaku agreed, "Hanekawa's strength displayed in the previous shinobi war was no less than Hashirama Senju's."

Hashirama Senju once pacified the warring states and established the five great shinobi villages.

Now Hanekawa could also sweep across the shinobi world and retrieve the nine tailed beasts.

"But why would Hanekawa want to revive the Divine Tree?" Fukasaku suddenly changed the subject, "He's a shinobi from Konoha, born and raised in this world. It's impossible for him to revive the Divine Tree and destroy the shinobi world."

Just then, footsteps came from outside the temple.

"Ma, why are you here?" Fukasaku turned and saw Shima. The two were a married couple and high-ranking members of Mount Myoboku, revered as sages.

"Hokage Hanakawa of Konoha has arrived. He says he wants to see the Great Elder," Shima answered.

"What?" Fukasaku was shocked.

"Pa, why such a big reaction?" Shima asked curiously.

Due to Jiraiya, Mount Myoboku had always maintained good relations with Konoha.

In her view, Hanakawa's visit was reasonable since he was Tsunade's student, and Tsunade and Jiraiya were teammates.

"..." Fukasaku hesitated to speak.

Hanekawa's visit would normally be nothing.

But coming right at this moment, right after he and the Great Toad Sage had discussed the Divine Tree—there must be some connection to his sudden appearance.

"Great Elder, what should we do now?" Fukasaku looked at the Great Toad Sage and asked.

"He's already at our doorstep. We have no choice but to see him," the Great Toad Sage paused and asked, "Did little Jiraiya come with him?"

"No," Shima shook her head, "Only two people came—Hanekawa and an ANBU shinobi." Having visited Konoha a few times because of Jiraiya, she recognized ANBU attire.

"Then how did they find Mount Myoboku?" Fukasaku asked, horrified.

Shima froze.

She hadn't thought much about it earlier, but now realized the problem. Mount Myoboku's location was special.

Ordinary shinobi could only enter by chance—like Jiraiya, who in the original story accidentally stumbled into Mount Myoboku. Whether it was truly accidental or intentional was unknown.

"Let them in," the Great Toad Sage sighed and said. Whatever Hanekawa's purpose was, they would only know after meeting him.

"Yes," Shima turned and left.

Shortly after, Hanekawa and Kaguya Otsutsuki entered the temple.

The Great Toad Sage was about to speak when its entire body stiffened, overcome by unprecedented terror.

Fear was something unfamiliar to it—it hadn't felt it in hundreds, nearly a thousand years since Princess Tsuki's death.

But a thousand years ago, it had known fear—the fear of Kaguya Otsutsuki and the Divine Tree.

Her power was overwhelming, enough to disregard the entire shinobi world.

Even the three great holy lands could only submit as summons, forced to obey.

The Great Toad Sage stared intently at Kaguya.

Though she wore a mask, the horns on her head and the terrifying chakra within her body made her unmistakable.

"Gamamaru, long time no see," Hanekawa spoke first.

"It's you!" The Great Toad Sage stood up in shock.

Hanekawa had worn a mask a thousand years ago, and with Kaguya drawing its attention, it hadn't noticed him at first. But now, hearing his voice, the familiar tone made it remember.

If Hanekawa was here, then the person beside him must be Kaguya Otsutsuki.

Realizing this, the Great Toad Sage felt its limbs turn cold.


Even after a thousand years, its power had undergone tremendous changes, but it knew it was still far inferior to Kaguya.

What should it do now? The Great Toad Sage stood frozen, sweating profusely.

"Since you recognize us, why not bow?" Hanekawa asked calmly.

"What's going on?" Shima couldn't help but whisper.

"..." Fukasaku silently shook his head.

"Lady Kaguya," the Great Toad Sage bowed slightly.

Shima's eyes widened.

Though it hadn't been present a thousand years ago, it had heard Fukasaku speak of this so-called "Lady Kaguya"—the Rabbit Goddess, Kaguya Otsutsuki.

She had ordered the Sage of Six Paths to spread chakra, creating the Shinobi Sect and the shinobi profession.

Without exaggeration, she was the most powerful figure in shinobi history.

"You're quite sensible," Hanekawa said, surprised. He had expected a fight.

"You jest, Divine Envoy. How could Gamamaru dare to defy you?" the Great Toad Sage said obediently.

It had indeed considered resistance but ultimately chose surrender. In its perception, Kaguya's chakra was overwhelmingly terrifying.

If it acted, death would likely follow.

A thousand years ago, the Great Toad Sage had already understood the ways of Kaguya and Hanekawa—simple and brutal: those who submitted would thrive, those who resisted would perish.

Even if it didn't care for itself, it had to think of the many toads of Mount Myoboku.

Thus, in just a few seconds, the Great Toad Sage made its choice—to submit.

"Might I ask why Lady Kaguya and the Divine Envoy have come to Mount Myoboku?" the Great Toad Sage asked cautiously.

"We'd like to borrow a piece of land," Hanekawa said with a faint smile.

The Great Toad Sage fell into thought.

What did this mean? Coming to Mount Myoboku to borrow land? Hanekawa was now Konoha's Hokage, with immense power.

If he wanted land, he could take it anywhere in the shinobi world. Why come here?

"Mount Myoboku is so vast. Are you refusing to lend even a small piece?" Hanekawa shook his head and warned, "I have time, but Lady Kaguya's patience is limited."

Kaguya cooperatively activated her Rinne-Sharingan.

An invisible wave swept through, leaving the Great Toad Sage, Fukasaku, and Shima chilled to the bone—as if death itself loomed over them.

"I agree!" the Great Toad Sage hastily said.

"Kaguya," Hanekawa turned to her, "Pick a spot."

"That way," Kaguya raised her hand and pointed.

"Let's go," Hanekawa took her hand and left the temple.

"Great Elder?" Fukasaku finally dared to speak once they were gone.

"We must follow them!" the Great Toad Sage gritted its teeth, "We must know why they want this land!"

Mount Myoboku was a mountain range, with the main peak housing the Great Toad Sage's temple.

The rest consisted of smaller peaks and habitable valleys. Hanekawa and Kaguya descended the mountain and arrived before one such valley.

"Gamamaru, have your kin vacate this valley," Hanekawa ordered after a glance.

"Yes," the Great Toad Sage complied immediately.

At its command, movement soon stirred within the valley. A group of toads of varying sizes emerged.

"Great Elder, what's happening?" a large toad holding a smoking pipe asked in confusion.

Hanekawa glanced at it. Though he hadn't met it before, he recognized it—this was Gamabunta, the toad Naruto called "Boss Toad" in the original story.

"Gamabunta!" Fukasaku said sternly, "Don't ask questions you shouldn't."

Gamabunta was stunned.


This was the first time Gamabunta had been treated like this by Fukasaku.

What was going on?

Gamabunta instinctively looked at Hanekawa and Kaguya Otsutsuki.

"Ready, Kaguya."

Hanekawa ignored Gamabunta.

He gazed at the valley, a hint of curiosity rising in his heart.

Planting the Divine Tree—this was his first time seeing it.

Hanekawa activated his Rinnegan.

He raised his hand and directly used the Summoning Technique.

BOOM!

Mount Myoboku trembled violently as a massive weight crashed onto the ground.

The toads instinctively looked up, their eyes widening at the sight of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

The Great Toad Sage suddenly recalled its earlier dream.

Could Kaguya Otsutsuki's goal be to plant the Divine Tree?

No!

Overcome with emotion, the Great Toad Sage took two steps forward—but the overwhelming aura of dread forced it to stop.

If the Divine Tree was planted, it might still live.

But if it interfered now, it wouldn’t survive the next ten minutes.

"Long time no see… Divine Tree."

A flicker of emotion passed through Kaguya’s pale eyes.

Aside from Hanekawa, the Divine Tree was what she cared about most.

Now that she could finally replant it, even she felt a rare stir of emotion.

Kaguya raised her hand toward the Demonic Statue.

An endless surge of chakra poured forth.

The statue shuddered violently.

Under the nourishment of chakra, its withered bark slowly regained life.

Moments later, the humanoid statue sat cross-legged in the valley, arms folded.

Tender buds sprouted from the pillar-like protrusions on its back.

With a thought from Kaguya, the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails transformed into two swirling masses of chakra and flew toward the statue.

The Demonic Statue opened its mouth and swallowed them.

The buds on its body rapidly grew, branches multiplying.

Wrapped in chakra, the branches intertwined, eventually forming a true tree.

After a thousand years, the Divine Tree had returned to the shinobi world.

Despair filled the Great Toad Sage’s eyes.

This Divine Tree was clearly not yet complete—far from the one in its dream.

But it would grow.

And growth required energy.

Finally, the Great Toad Sage understood.

Why had Kaguya and Hanekawa chosen Mount Myoboku?

Because of its abundant natural energy.

But if the Divine Tree absorbed all the natural energy, what would happen to them?

Without it, they could no longer train in sage arts.

Thinking of the other sacred lands—Shikkotsu Forest and Ryūchi Cave—the Great Toad Sage wanted to weep.

Why was Mount Myoboku always the unlucky one?

Either of those places could have hosted the Divine Tree.

Hanekawa raised an eyebrow slightly.

This Divine Tree looked noticeably different from the one in the original story.

Was it because of Kaguya’s chakra?

He waited, but no new system prompt appeared.

It seemed the System wasn’t going to reward him this time.

After all, he’d done nothing but watch.

"Once we retrieve the remaining seven tailed beasts, the Divine Tree will fully recover," Kaguya said.

"It won’t take long," Hanekawa nodded.

His first thought was the Seven-Tails from Takigakure.

Takigakure was the only village outside the Five Great Nations to possess a tailed beast.

The Nine Tailed Beasts had originally been distributed by Hashirama Senju.

As Hokage, Hanekawa technically had the authority to reclaim them all.

He also considered Takigakure’s "Hero’s Water."

He’d previously given some to Orochimaru for research, but nothing came of it.

This time, with Kaguya, he could confirm whether the water truly had ties to the Divine Tree.

"Just having the Nine Tails won’t be enough for the Divine Tree to bear fruit again," Kaguya continued.

"If we feed it the energy of the Pure Land, it should produce one Divine Tree fruit."

"You can have this one," Hanekawa said, looking at her.

"But I want the next one."

"Agreed."

Kaguya accepted without hesitation—even feeling slightly guilty.

In her mind, the next fruit would take another thousand years to grow.

But to face the Ōtsutsuki clan, she needed two Divine Tree fruits.

She could only apologize to Hanekawa for the wait.

Unbeknownst to her, Hanekawa was already planning for the three fruits...

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Worth 2 chapters