The Hyuga Shall Stand Above, In The Heavens!

Land of Rain.

Outside the Akatsuki's base, by a regular courtyard pavilion, Obito was strolling forward. 

The short distance took him several minutes to cover due to his half-paralyzed body. 

He plopped down at the edge of the pavilion, ignoring the drizzling rain, and looked up at the black figure sitting there, claiming to be the embodiment of Uchiha Madara's will. Frowning, Obito muttered a curse under his breath, calling him useless, and his arm twitched uncontrollably. 

"What's wrong with you?" 

Even in front of Black Zetsu, Obito still spoke in a tone mimicking Uchiha Madara. 

That made sense since he was now taking on the name of Uchiha Madara. 

Looking at his companion, Obito couldn't bring himself to express concern; he just felt that Black Zetsu had been increasingly lazy compared to before. 

And that tendency was growing stronger. 

"I? I'm perfectly fine." 

With his pitcher plant head, Black Zetsu, merged with White Zetsu, spoke in a hoarse voice. Although he claimed to be fine, he didn't even glance at Obito. 

"What's not normal is this world, don't you know that?" 

That guy...

Obito fell silent upon hearing this. 

This world was indeed not normal, but as the will of Uchiha Madara, Black Zetsu had recently shown less interest in the Infinite Tsukuyomi, even ignoring his attempts to control Kirigakure Village and being indifferent toward the handling of the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, Karatachi Yagura. 

That was an important part of the Infinite Tsukuyomi! 

He was quite unhappy with Black Zetsu's attitude. 

How could someone who achieved great things take everything so lightly? 

But he also had no idea what was going on with Black Zetsu.

Since the day he met Hyuga Hitoshi, Black Zetsu had often found himself spacing out. He would freeze for hours at a time, and now, he had even started drinking! 

Grabbing the cup from Zetsu's hand, Obito frowned. 

"White Zetsu has no sense of urgency, so what's the point of you drinking?" 

"I don't know what's going on, but you're definitely not living up to Madara's will right now!" 

I don't respect you. 

Obito didn't say the last sentence out loud, but Black Zetsu could clearly understand his meaning. 

What a pitiful guy. 

You wouldn't understand. 

If you spent a thousand years striving for something, only to realize it was all in vain, you'd drink your sorrows away too. 

With a pitying glance at Obito, Black Zetsu didn't feel like arguing. He silently sank into the earth, planning to find a spot where he could see the moon and gaze at it until dawn. 

As for the Infinite Tsukuyomi? 

He'd leave that to Obito. Whether it succeeded or not didn't matter—after all, Mother was now completely free. She didn't even want him as her son anymore! 

With his anger and sadness, Black Zetsu took the flask with him and left, leaving behind a disordered Obito. 

The Infinite Tsukuyomi plan hadn't even started yet, and it was already running into problems. This was something Obito had never expected. 

He didn't understand Black Zetsu's sudden laziness, but it didn't matter. As long as Obito was still around, still working hard, that's all that mattered. 

Shaking, Obito stood up and transformed into Uzumaki to leave the scene. 

The control over Karatachi Yagura was reaching a critical point. Kirigakure Village would soon become a battlefield, and as for the war with Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Konohagakure, he had already told Nagato not to interfere. 

With Kakuzu and Konan safely back, Sasori of the Red Sands was badly wounded, but his core was still intact. As for Orochimaru, who was always scheming, it was probably better that he left. The Akatsuki's next steps were to quietly build up strength, take full control of the Land of Rain, and wait until Nagato could master the Six Paths of Pain and the Rinnegan. Then, the plan would begin. 

However, 

Looking at Black Zetsu's attitude, it seemed like reviving Uchiha Madara might not even be necessary. Black Zetsu, as Madara's will, didn't even want to do anything. Maybe Madara himself had a problem. What if a lazy Madara was revived? How could that help the Eye of the Moon plan? 

And if Uchiha Madara was revived, how would Obito handle it? 

"The ninja world only needs one Uchiha Madara!" 

He would create a world with Rin! 

Obito's gaze grew determined, and then his form disappeared. 

In the sky, 

The moonlight was full and gentle, but no one knew that the distant moon had already been completely claimed by the Hyuga clan. 

Gazing at the vast universe, Orochimaru was filled with shock. 

Especially when he flipped through the materials left by Hyuga Hitoshi, he gained a new understanding of the so-called Otsutsuki clan. 

That clan was immortal, using the divine tree that absorbed the energy of planets to achieve eternal life. 

"Interstellar colonization? Hitoshi's assessment is quite fitting." 

A hoarse voice came from his throat as Orochimaru seemed to sense something. He slowly turned his head. 

"Orochimaru-sama, this is the child the Patriarch mentioned. He seems to have some kind of strange reaction with the Byakugan within the clan." 

So the next course of action is to study bloodline purification? 

Licking his dry lips with his long tongue, Orochimaru placed his hand on Otsutsuki Toneri's head. He could clearly sense the madness and resistance hiding beneath the fear in the child. 

Heh.

Such a fine specimen.

But resistance?

No one can resist Hitoshi-kun, and no one can escape his control. Orochimaru has known this for a long time.

In fact, what he's doing now is exactly what he's always dreamed of. Orochimaru has no problem cooperating with Patriarch Hitoshi.

With a gentle pat, the cold and calm Jun, who was skilled in human anatomy, easily put Toneri to sleep. He waved his hand, signaling the clan member to follow him to the lab, but his steps paused for a moment.

"From now on, just call me Snake Minister."

He's already taken on the role. As long as Hitoshi-kun keeps his word, there's no reason why the position of minister can't remain his.

The moon was bright and the stars sparse.

Under the moonlight, the Hyuga clan's land was quiet again, and Patriarch Hitoshi's private estate finally returned to peace.

The Goddess of the Moon, Uo, who had been calling out, had finally fallen into a deep sleep.

In the next room, Patriarch Hitoshi wiped Yugito's small face. The sleeping cat seemed to sense something, letting out a hoarse "meow" and slowly opened its eyes, revealing a pair of slanted animal eyes.

"Please be kind to this child."

It was the voice of the Two-Tails, with a bit of bitterness but more respect and submission.

"I've stopped controlling her a long time ago. She just doesn't know it yet. So please be patient with her. She will make the right choice."

Patriarch Hitoshi understood this well and nodded at the Two-Tails.

Patriarch Hitoshi never mistreated his own people. Their bond was sealed with a bloodstained gun barrel, symbolizing their friendship.

After getting the answer she wanted, the Two-Tails looked at the terrifying man with awe, then returned to Yugito's body. 

However, Patriarch Hitoshi saw clearly that when the Two-Tails returned, Yugito's eyelid twitched.

He didn't point it out, giving the little cat enough dignity.

What would happen in the future? No one could know.

But tonight, everything was understood without words.

Time is uncontrollable.

Unless one has divine power or, like Patriarch Hitoshi, possesses a forbidden eye technique, the gears of time will not stop turning for anyone.

This is true for the universe.

And it is true for the ninja world as well.

Since the Nine-Tails Incident, the strongest ninja village in the Land of Fire, Konohagakure, has been shrouded in sorrow. If the world had a color scheme, Konohagakure would definitely be dominated by black and gray.

Kumogakure saw the opportunity after the Fourth Hokage's death and the Nine-Tails Incident, launching a strong attack on Konohagakure. The clever Danzo sought reliable allies, including the balance of Oonoki, and added another enemy for Konohagakure.

Over the past years, the two sides have fought from the Konohagakure Defense Battle to the Land of Fire Border Counterattack and finally to a war of attrition where lives and resources were piled up. Death became the unique atmosphere of the three countries.

Within the ninja world, no one expected that the first ninja village would prove to be so resilient.

As Oonoki and Yetsuki Ai reached the later stages of the war, they felt trapped, but neither of them was willing to give up. They silently chose to continue the battle with Konohagakure, determined to hold out to the end.

They soon received the latest news. It seemed that Rasa's Sunagakure Village had offended the Land of Wind Daimyo. The meager military budget couldn't even cover Sunagakure's expenses, and now Rasa, while struggling to manage Shukaku, had to use his ability to control sand and gold just to make up for the village's costs.

As for Kirigakure Village, the situation was even worse. It seemed the newly appointed Fourth Mizukage had gone mad, turning the entire Kirigakure into a blood mist, with no resources left to involve them in the war.

Thus, with the conclusion of the Third Great Ninja War, the battles between Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Konohagakure were especially brutal.

But everyone knew, no matter how brutal the battle, there was always an end.

The three great nations and their respective villages understood that continuing the war would lead to no real outcome. After a year and a half of fighting, they all quietly reduced their involvement on the front lines.

However, the reasons behind the reduction of troops differed. At least it was different for Konohagakure.

Iwagakure's situation was due to their supply lines being too long. If they used the newly built Kamigawa Bridge, they would have to split their forces with Kumogakure, which could easily raise suspicion from the neighboring Land of Wind, leading to possible conflict with the unstable Rasa. So, they had to keep relying on the route through the Land of Thunder.

But the cost of transport was no small matter. After more than a year, the Land of Earth's Daimyo seemed to have started complaining.

The situation in the Land of Thunder was slightly better, but as the main force, their losses were severe. War is fought with money and resources, and now Raikage had to consider the costs—would it even be worth continuing the war to exhaust Konohagakure, given the losses they were facing?

The cost-benefit ratio was becoming a problem, and a ceasefire seemed almost necessary.

---

As for Konohagakure, 

in the Land of Fire...

Inside Konohagakure Village, Uchiha Itachi, now a year and a half older, walked through the village with his older brother, Asuma.

His wise eyes reflected the numbness of the villagers and the elderly waiting at the village gates, hoping to see their loved ones return, even though they knew it wasn't going to happen.

What had the war brought to Konohagakure?

Itachi, with his compassionate gaze, watched it all unfold.

Compared to before, he had come to understand that some wars had to be fought, even if there was no real gain.

But some problems, in truth, could have been avoided.

For example, the current stalemate.

Itachi's intelligent mind believed that if his father had led the Uchiha clan without hesitation and persuaded the Hyuga clan to do the same, the war would likely have ended quickly.

But his father didn't seem to want to do that, and the Hyuga clan felt the same way.

In the early stages of the war, Konohagakure's two-tomoe Sharingan had been a powerful symbol, but as the war dragged on, their performance was more by the book, just completing their tasks.

Yes, many Uchiha had died, but leaving aside the facts, wasn't it expected for a whole clan to sacrifice itself for the village?

The village could no longer bear any more turmoil!

---

"Itachi, I have this bad feeling that my father is planning something troublesome," Asuma said, his brows furrowed as he stopped walking.

"Recently, he's been getting too close to Uncle Danzo. Honestly, he's about to step down and yet he's making me, his son, worry about it."

The Third Hokage? 

Itachi remained silent. From his position, he knew he shouldn't criticize the Hokage. This was a sensitive topic in the village.

It was especially so now that rumors were spreading in the village—rumors that the Third Hokage would step down after the war. That made it all the more inappropriate for him to speak out. 

Besides, it was his friend's father. He had no right to comment. 

"Let's go. Have a couple of drinks." 

Passing by a tavern, Asuma lit a cigarette for himself, handed another to Itachi, and suggested they go inside to drink, chat, and exchange opinions about the village's situation. 

But Itachi clearly wasn't interested. He accepted the cigarette from Asuma and tucked it into his pocket without smoking. A faint look of apology appeared on his face. 

"I can't today. I want to check on Sasuke." 

Right. Sasuke had been staying with the Hyuga clan these past few days. 

Asuma suddenly understood and regretfully bid farewell to his good friend. 

Just as Itachi wouldn't judge his father, Asuma refrained from judging Itachi's father, Fugaku-senpai. 

But even if they refrained from judging, the rumors about their fathers had already spread like wildfire throughout the village. 

And in terms of shock value, it was about even. 

However, the nature of the rumors was completely different. 

Asuma's father was criticized for being an unworthy Hokage, while Itachi's father was simply a personality issue. 

For example, there was a shocking rumor from within the Uchiha clan that Fugaku, frustrated by the lack of a third son, wanted to divorce Mikoto and remarry. However, to preserve Mikoto's reputation, divorce was changed to taking a concubine. What puzzled everyone was that the bridal sedan chair, carried out from the Uchiha clan, ended up stopping at the Hyuga clan's compound. 

The more you thought about this, the crazier it seemed. The more crazy, the more impressive Fugaku appeared. 

After bidding Asuma goodbye, 

Itachi quickly headed to the Hyuga clan's territory. 

The compound was now fully constructed, its massive size making the other ninja clans of Konohagakure quite envious. Yet, they still refused to leave the village center. 

The Hyuga clan's private training ground on the side of the compound was another sight that left Uchiha Itachi stunned. 

He had never seen a technique like this—an enhanced form of *Rotation*. It centered on Hyuga Hizashi, with everyone holding hands and spinning together, creating a mobile human tornado. Not only did it amplify the technique's power, but it also allowed for movement. 

This technique, called the Great Rotation Battle Formation, hadn't yet been revealed to the ninja world. 

Crossing the training ground, Itachi reached the Hyuga clan's main hall area. Here, Clan Leader Hitoshi and his girlfriends played with the children of the clan. Further back was Hitoshi's private residence, and another, quieter area seemed to house non-combatant members, though it looked somewhat desolate to Itachi. 

Entering the main hall, Itachi bowed to Hyuga Hitoshi and quickly approached Sasuke. Picking him up, he smiled and carried him to a corner to play. 

The peaceful atmosphere, with birds chirping and flowers in bloom, felt like a paradise compared to the heavy, deathly tension of the village. But Itachi kept his eyes straight, focusing on playing with his brother. After dinner, he would take Sasuke back to the Uchiha compound for a short stay. 

Funny enough, Sasuke now treated going back to the Uchiha as visiting someone's home. It was as if the Hyuga clan was his real family. 

"Do you like daughters?" 

Sitting formally in the main hall, 

Hyuga Hitoshi had one arm around a one-year-old girl when Tsunade, her cheeks slightly flushed, asked the question. 

"I like them all, as long as they're my own." 

What kind of response was that? 

*What, are you implying I'd cheat on you? Forget cheating—how am I supposed to cheat when you won't even plant the seed? Do I have to beg you for it, you lousy man?*

Tsunade snorted, seemingly dissatisfied with Hyuga Hitoshi's response.

Hyuga Hitoshi didn't explain further. Instead, he lowered his head, focusing calmly on the little girl cradled in his left arm, and smiled.

Her name was Hyuga Hinata.

She was the fresh blood of the Hyuga clan, born amidst the flames of war.

The end of the war progressed as expected, much earlier than in the original timeline.

However, it remained uncertain whether the final outcome after this truce would differ.

The opportunity he had been waiting for seemed to be approaching.

"It's time to decide whether to stay or leave."

---

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