The village of Jade Blossom in the Land of Water was perpetually shrouded in mist and drizzle, and today was no exception. Within the metallic fortress that served as the ninja village's stronghold, guards dressed in peculiar attire stood vigilant. They permitted no outsiders to enter; even shinobi from the Rain Village were barred from setting foot inside.
In truth, these fortresses had long been abandoned. Their original master, the Fire Salamander Hanzo, had vanished, and now, a new, unknown figure had taken control. No one knew who this new master was.
At the heart of the fortress stood a massive, radiant statue of an otherworldly design, unlike anything known in the ninja world. The statue possessed eight arms, four pairs of wings, and a serpentine body, standing proudly atop the Rain Village, surveying the land below.
The air was thick with an indistinct aura, as if threads of energy converged upon this place.
Within the largest of the fortresses, a man in white robes sat upon a throne, holding a scepter, his eyes closed in meditation.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed. A white-robed woman approached, her presence exuding an aura of emptiness. As she moved, the surrounding space seemed to distort and overlap, creating an eerie effect.
"Liusha, you've nearly drained this village of its faith energy. Why do you remain here?" she inquired, her voice clear, revealing her to be a woman.
The man on the throne opened his eyes abruptly and smirked, "You don't understand. The people of this village are incredibly ignorant. Their faith is pure and singular, far surpassing that of other places."
As he spoke, he rose from the throne, pointing his scepter into the void. Countless streams of faith energy flowed into him, rapidly enhancing his aura.
The white-robed woman shook her head, sighing, "Are you planning to stay here indefinitely? We've been away from the base for too long. It's time we returned."
The man responded calmly, "What's the rush? We'll return to the ancestral star in a century."
Her heart eased slightly at his words, but she recalled a recent message from their ancestor, causing her to speak with unease:
"Our clan faces a great crisis. One of the three great ancestors has been forcibly stripped of their chakra. This event has shocked all races in the universe..."
The man nodded, "I'm aware. But the conflicts within the realms are beyond our comprehension. Let's focus on our own well-being."
At that moment, the rain in the Rain Village began to cease. Numerous shinobi looked up in astonishment, as such an event was rare in their perpetually rainy village.
Outside the village, a young man in ornate robes approached. It was none other than Senju Yukika.
Yukika observed the village and the rusted metal fortress thoughtfully. He knew that, according to the original storyline, this place would eventually fall under Pain's control. However, someone had seized it ahead of time.
The ambient faith energy couldn't escape his keen senses. From the direction of its convergence, it wasn't hard to deduce where the Ōtsutsuki were hiding.
Simultaneously, the two Ōtsutsuki within the metal fortress frowned.
"An outsider has entered, and his aura is peculiar!"
They exchanged glances, preparing to act, when the fortress doors slowly opened, revealing Yukika's figure.
Thud, thud, thud!
Yukika stepped onto the metal floor, approaching them.
"Who are you? Why have you trespassed into the Rain Village?" the man on the throne demanded, his voice authoritative.
To him, Yukika's face was unfamiliar. Perhaps he could intimidate him and probe his intentions.
But Yukika already knew that the true master of the Rain Village wasn't this man. He was clearly an Ōtsutsuki. The white-robed woman beside him was likely the same.
Yukika sneered, "You two are too deep into your roles. Do you take this place for the Ōtsutsuki ancestral land?"
The Ōtsutsuki pair's expressions changed!
The man on the throne narrowed his eyes, his voice icy, "Who are you?"
He hadn't expected their secret plan on this primitive planet to be discovered.
They believed the shinobi of this world to be weak, like ants, incapable of detecting their presence.
Yet, this young man not only discovered them but also revealed their origins, leaving them shocked.
From their expressions, Yukika gleaned much.
Though the two tried to appear calm, the panic in their eyes betrayed their true thoughts.
Yukika said, "Your people have returned to your star. Only a few of you remain. Isn't it time you left?"
The Ōtsutsuki duo's faces darkened further.
They hadn't anticipated their kin being served on this planet and returning to the ancestral star prematurely.
Now, with their plan incomplete, returning would mean punishment, all because of this young man.
"A native shinobi with such power... intriguing," the man on the throne remarked, swinging his scepter toward Yukika.
The surrounding space chakra rapidly gathered, forming a black lightning bolt descending upon Yukika.
Simultaneously, the white-robed woman acted swiftly, coordinating with her companion to eliminate Yukika promptly.